The King's Feast 13: Alicent II
"Rhaenyra!" said Alicent jovially, excited to see the Princess again.
Rhaenyra, in her gold and red gown, ran up to Alicent and gave her a warm embrace.
"Oh, it is good to see you again, sister, I could scarcely wait until that damned tour was over!" smiled Rhaenyra.
You could scarcely wait so much; you ended it early.
"I take it the tour did not go well?" asked Alicent.
"To put it lightly, Alicent, not at all. I could not believe the audacity of some of the suitors, one was just a boy, and another was older than Vhagar!" she laughed.
"Are you at least considering going to Dragonstone later in the year?"
Father would not like it if she didn't.
Alicent's father had spent weeks and months organising the tour, sending ravens all across the Seven Kingdoms, and Alicent had worked equally as hard, convincing Rhaenyra to go to the tour. It seems as though her efforts were in vain, as Rhaenyra had returned early.
Rhaenyra scoffed. "I told my father I would rather clean the stables than go back on that damned your again, if the first round of men are any similar to the second."
"It may not be so bad this time, Rhaenyra, you never know. What of all the young lords and knights you spurned by not even considering them? Mine own brother was to be on the second leg of the tour."
"Well, Ser Thoren lives here in the Red Keep. If he so wishes to ask for my hand in marriage, let him, though I am pretty certain I would not satisfy him in the bedchambers."
"You do realise you cannot keep running away from marriage for so long, Rhaenyra. Even a princess is not above her duties. Someday, you must do them."
"Then, when that day comes, I shall fly to Dorne with Syrax and live there."
She was tired of having to convince Rhaenyra to do something, and Rhaenyra promising to do it, and Rhaenyra not doing, and Alicent still having to defend Rhaenyra to her father and the King.
"Then, when that day comes, your father will not give you a choice, Rhaenyra. He has been merciful, letting you choose your own husband, as I've said about a million times before. Mine own father would not give me the privilege. The King named you his heir, and has still kept you as heir. Why not repay him some gratitude?"
"You know, what, Alicent? I am tired of speaking of that bloody tour, it is all everyone has spoken about to me today. Let us talk about something more interesting."
She does not listen. Will she ever listen?
"Sure, Rhaenyra, but the topic will be brought up again soon, nonetheless." Alicent sighed.
"But soon is not now, is it?" Rhaenyra smiled. "What of you Alicent, how is young Jocelyn these days?"
Alicent had been acting as a sort of mother to her niece, Jocelyn, as of late. Jocelyn's mother, Lady Mullendore had passed away in the childbed, and Gwayne, Alicent's brother, had preferred to spend most of his time in his cups rather than with his one year old daughter.
"It is... not so bad, in truth. Jocelyn is a good babe; she does not cry too much." Alicent smiled. "But I guess it definitely is easier since I did not need to birth her myself."
Rheanyra grimaced. "Yes... the childbed..."
Another reason she does not wish to marry soon, or at all.
"What of the recent chatter? Have you heard about Lady Johanna Swann?" Alicent quickly asked, changing the subject.
Johanna Swann was kidnapped by the Triarchy two years prior, and her uncle still refused to pay the ransom, likely to strengthen his own claim on Stonehelm. The Triarchy was on everyone's minds as of late, as well as the King's refusal to take military action there. Even Alicent, not having a mind for warfare, did not understand why the Iron Throne had not called its banners to rid the Stepstones of the Crabfeeder. Rhaenyra declared that if she was the Queen, she would ride into the Stepstones herself on Syrax, with all the power of House Targaryen and its dragons and all of the Seven Kingdoms united behind her.
Alicent and Rhaenyra sat in the godswood for the remainder of the late afternoon, talking about all the latest court gosspi and reminiscing about old memories, until the sun grew low.
Just like old times.
Though Rhaenyra was jovial during their conversations, Alicent noticed a hint of melancholy in her voice, that she would miss just sitting in the godswood, reading books and talking all day.
I shall miss this when I am married too, Rhaenyra, but we all must get married one day.
Alicent dismissed herself after a while, as she was having supper with her father and Thoren that evening, and Gwayne if he would bother to attend.
The supper was a simple meal, with only three courses to be served, and no musicians or fools to entertain them afterwards. They began on a platter of nuts and dried fruits, as well as a selection of cured meats.
"It certainly was a hectic day. Prince Daeron's name day, which was interrupted by Daemon, and then Rhaenyra returning after that," said Alicent, in between a helping of pine nuts.
"It most definitely was." Thoren laughed. "It seems like more has happened in the past day than the past two years."
"Yes, it does, Thoren," their father said. "Despite the Princess'... refusal to continue with the tour, do remember that your… task has not changed."
"But if she is turned off the idea of marr-"
"She may be turned off the idea, yet she is still unmarried and will have to eventually marry soon."
Thoren bowed his head. "Yes, father."
"And what of... my marriage, father?" Alicent asked, slowly.
"Once the Princess' marriage has been arranged, I shall find a suitable husband for you too, fret not, Alicent."
"Prince Daemon has returned and is unwed, that could be an option." Thoren said, sarcastically.
"Absolutely not." said their father, bluntly. "I would rather send Alicent to the Silent Sisters, then marry her to... that Rogue."
"T'was only a jape, father. Besides, Alicent has been quite busy with little Jocelyn, having to play mother to her while Gwayne is busy fucking serving women and filling his cups with all the wines in King's Landing." Thoren said, scornfully.
"It is not easy for Gwayne, in truth, brother. Yes, he may not... attend to his duty as a father, but he lost his wife less than a year back. It is... difficult for our brother." Alicent said.
"Difficult aye, sister. But that does not give him leave to behave... like he does. He shirks all of his duties and is bringing shame upon the Hightower name."
"Thoren is correct, Alicent. His recent behaviour does bring shame upon our house. I shall have a word with Gwayne whenever I next see the boy. He of all people knows very well that hardships should not stop us from behaving accordingly."
Alicent knew that losing someone close to you is never easy, so in a way, she felt pity on her older brother, despite his unruly actions and lack of care towards his daughter.
The next course was a roasted pike, served with buttered neeps and carrots, alongside a lemon and egg soup. The remainder of their supper was quick, as the hour was already late. Alicent and her father and brother talked about some of the newest rumours being spread amongst the handmaidens, as well as some funny stories from the training yard. Thoren was first to dismiss himself, as he was already starting to fall asleep before the final course, which was a strawberry pie and a serving of sweet cream.
"Daughter, there is something... I need to ask you."
"Y-yes, father?"
"The Princess. She continues to evade her responsibilities. It took... a worthy effort to arrange the tour, and she ends it early. Mayhaps she would be a better fit to Gwayne than Thoren," he scoffed.
"What of Rhaenyra concerns you?" Alicent gulped.
"Less that it concerns me, but more that it concerns the King. He understands that you are one of the few people the Princess enjoys the company of these days, and that you know of her disposition better than most, better than His Grace, certainly. You constantly vouch for her goodwill, but he has doubts... especially regarding this recent debacle. His Grace has asked me… to ask you whether... he should keep her as his heir."
Alicent gasped. "The king named her as his heir."
"Yes, and he can un-name her. Lord Corlys and the Queen have no doubt been in His Grace's ear to name the young Prince Daeron as heir instead, as have others. If you still... believe that Rhaenyra is worthy of her position as heir... let me know now... so I can advise the King in due course."
And yet another time where I must defend Rhaenyra's name.
"Yes... yes... Rhaenyra is stubborn, and headstrong… but what Targaryen isn't? She still... knows of her duties... and she shall still do them..."
"Are you certain of this, Alicent? That she is fit to rule? Because what you say here may not only affect the line of succession but even the plans of our family. I know you bear a love for her, but answer truthfully in this, daughter."
"... yes... I still believe so... Rhaenyra will... do her duties. Tell His Grace that… she should remain as heir."
Rhaenyra, you owe me one.