The King's Feast 20: Alicent IV
Alicent was sitting in the godswood, taking in the fresh smell of spring blossoms, and admiring the lush green of the leaves that had just so recently regrown on the trees. Whilst the royal gardens were closed for repairs after Daemon's grand entrance there a week ago, Alicent decided to sit in the godswood instead, whenever she was not occupied with looking after Jocelyn.
It was the closest thing there was to home.
It was also the place in which many memories were made for Alicent, many of them good, some of them bad, most if not all of them with Rhaenyra. She remembered the days she used to sit with her, reading books with her and singing songs. She also remembered whenever she had to convince her to stop sulking and go do her duties.
I also remember yesterday, where I confronted her over those horrifying rumours.
Regardless of the nature of Alicent's memories, there was no doubt she would miss the days she spent here with Rhaenyra, as it was announced she was to marry earlier that day.
Even I am to marry one day, we all must someday.
Whilst she was staring up at the midday sun, a young page came up to Alicent.
"Yes?" she asked, politely.
"Your father summons you to his quarters." The young boy said, before running off.
Alicent got up and dusted the grass away from her green gown and walked to the exit.
Gods, I only just got here. It is no matter, there is enough time to come back later, or another day perhaps.
She made her way out of the godswood, passing by some lords and ladies as she went. She nodded to Lord Caswell as she went under the grand stone arch and into the middle bailey, who nodded back to her nervously. Alicent noticed one or two handmaidens nervously looking at her, but when she turned to look at them, they quickly turned away and skittered off.
What has happened?
The Tower of the Hand was the tallest building in the Red Keep, though it was not as wide nor as well fortified as Maegor's Holdfast. Outside, it had crenelated walls, and as with the whole Red Keep, it was painted in a bright red shade. Inside was the bedchambers for Alicent and her two brothers, and of course on the top floor, the large chambers made for the Hand of the King.
Alicent walked past the hallway that led into the Small Hall, which was still a large hall despite its name. It was able to seat hundreds, though it was still magnitudes smaller than the throne room. On the walls leading to her father's quarters were an epic mosaic that depicted Aegon being crowned King by the High Septon. Outside of the entrance of the chambers stood two of the household guards of House Hightower, Ser Wylis on the right of the door, and the Commander of the guards, Ser Humfrey Costayne, on the left.
"Good day, Lady Alicent." Ser Humfrey nodded, politely.
"To you to, Ser Humfrey." Alicent replied as she entered her father's chambers.
The entirety of the top floor of the Tower of the Hand was dedicated to her father, and on the eastern side was her father's solar that overlooked the Blackwater, while the western side was her father's bedhcambers. Where most Hands would fill their quarters with imposing tapestries and grandiose decorations, her father chose a more modest approach, with some Seven Pointed Stars hung up on the walls, and the only tapestry was a small display of the famous Citadel of Oldtown, with its two sphinxes that guarded its entrance.
Father must be in his private chambers.
Alicent walked to the large oak door that was the entrance to the private chambers and knocked on it.
"You may enter, Alicent."
Alicent entered the room, and her father was sitting at his table, wearing a black doublet and matching breeches, engrossed in the task of writing a letter to someone.
"Father."
"Daughter. Make preparations to return home. I have been dismissed as Hand. Lord Lyonel Strong is to replace me." He said, calmly, barely even looking up and acknowledging her.
"D-Dismissed? Why d-did that happen?" Alicent asked.
Surely His Grace has not removed my father from his post, why would he do such a thing?
"I am sure you are well aware of the recent rumours surrounding Princess Rhaenyra. His Grace saw fit to dismiss me on the grounds of notifying him of it, most likely due to your ardent defence of the Princess."
"M-My defence of her?"
"Yes, your defence of her."
"She swore she was innocent! It was your ambitions that caused your dismissal. If you hadn't been so desperate for Thoren to marry Rhaenyra, you would not have spread those rumours, and this wouldn't have happened! It is the same as all those years ago, when you sent me to His Grace's chambers, and when that failed-"
Her father finally looked up at her and acknowledged her presence.
"You may accuse me of being ambitious, but one thing I am not is a liar, daughter. Numerous of my sources confirm what happened. Had you not been so blind as to who she really is, I would still be the Hand." Her father said, sternly. "You and your brothers are to depart on the morrow. Prepare Jocelyn for the journey ahead, and it is bound to be a long one, so I should not delay you any further. You may leave, in the case that you need to say your goodbyes to anyone in the capital."
"Y-Yes father."
Alicent left the room with her head spinning, and she didn't even acknowledge Ser Humfrey's greetings on her way out.
My father, dismissed? And due to my defence of Rhaenyra? She swore she was innocent; how could I not believe her? Mayhaps I should have taken my own father's side instead. I have failed him once already, and now I have gotten him removed from his post. Gods, what have I done?
Alicent was also expecting her father to be more enraged, as he was all those years ago, which only added to her confusion.
Alicent quickly headed down the stairs and out of the Tower, all while her head still spinning. It was all happening so fast. First, the rumours regarding Rhaenyra, then the next day her father was dismissed as Hand, and she was the one to blame for it somehow?
All these years, I have longed to return home, but now that I will, the taste of it is bitter.
On her away out of the Tower, Larys Strong seemed to come out of the walls and walked beside Alicent.
"Lady Alicent." Larys said, struggling to keep up, hobbling on his cane.
"Lord Larys." Alicent replied, cautiously.
I have never spoken to the man in all my years here, what could Lord Lyonel Strong's son possibly want?
"It is truly a dark day for the realm, your father has served it well for many a year, and now..."
Is he here to gloat of his father's new position? Is that what is afoot?
"Your father is to replace mine; it is a good day for some."
"That is true, my lady, but there is no denying the contribution your father made as Hand to both His Grace and King Jaehaerys before him. I do hope you are faring well in these... trying times, especially with your dear friend, the Princess, being so unwell too."
She is not unwell? What does the Clubfoot mean by this?
"Rhaenyra is unwell? I have not heard such a thing."
"My apologies, my lady, but last night the Grand Maester delivered a tea to the Princess' chambers. On the orders of His Grace, too, I believe."
A tea? Could it be moon... No...
"The last I saw of her, she was well, mayhaps you were misinformed."
"Oh, forgive me, my lady, then maybe I must have been mistaken." Larys replied, every so softly. "What a relief. I thought since Mellos himself... her condition must have been serious. It is a great happiness to have been proven wrong."
"Yes." Alicent bluntly said, walking away from Larys, leaving him standing alone in the middle bailey.
Was a tea truly delivered to Rhaenyra? But she was not unwell, I saw her yesterday. If she was well, then it only must have been moon tea. No... mayhaps she came down with a sickness after... Gods... what is happening today… it is all so perplexing... I must pray to the Crone to grant me wisdom.
Alicent hurried to the royal sept, passing by two Rosby squires training with swords and shields. The royal sept within the Red Keep was one of Alicent's favourite places in the Red Keep, as well as the godswood and the royal garden. Though it was much smaller than the Starry Sept back home, or even Maegelle's Sept which was in the city, it was still beautiful, with hundreds and thousands of scented candles all over the sept, and it had white marble statues of each of the Seven on each corner.
She slowly entered the sept, nodding to the two Targaryen guards that were posted outside of it, and as she descended the steps, she saw a man kneeling in front of the statue of the Mother, with a dagger in his shaky hands being held at his stomach. Beside him lay a bright white armor that shone in the candlelight, and a pale white cloak was neatly folded next to him.
"Ser Criston!" Alicent called, as he dropped his dagger and quickly turned around.
She ran up to the knight, helping him up from the ground. Luckily, Alicent had arrived just in time, and Ser Criston had not yet harmed himself.
Ser Criston collapsed into Alicent's arms as she grabbed him, sobbing as a child might sob into its mother's.
"What... Ser Criston? I do not... why are-" Alicent stammered.
Why would the man be wanting to kill himself?
"My vows... I swore... Mother forgive me..." Ser Criston sobbed uncontrollably at her.
"Your vows? Ser Criston, please, what do you speak of? What did you swear? Ser Criston, what have you done?" Alicent demanded.
"My cloak... I have soiled it..." he spluttered, breathing heavily, with tears filling his bloodshot eyes, and running down his stubbled olive cheeks.
"You have soiled your cloak, is that what you are saying?"
"Yes... my lady... forgive m- no... I cannot be forgiven... for what I did... to the Princess... I do not..."
The Princess, what has happened? Is that why she is unwell?
"What did you do to her? Is the Princess harmed?" Alicent asked, concerned for her friend's safety.
Ser Criston waited a moment, to finally catch his breath. "The previous night... she came back late... then she took my helmet... then... I should not have... I despoiled her... why did I do that…"
"You despoiled the Princess?" Alicent gasped.
She swore that she was unspoiled to me!
"Yes... I should have said no... but I took her maidenhead... the morning after I only realised what I did… Gods why... and then the night after... she said she were to marry Jason Lannister, and she wanted to fly off to Dorne with me. How could she offer such a thing? I broke my vows, I soiled my white cloak, but she claimed it was no matter! How will deserting to Dorne restore my honour, how? Are my vows worth so little to her?" Criston demanded, his voice changing from sadness and regret to full of bitterness and vitriol.
No... no... she swore! And I believed her! And my belief in her is what got my father dismissed! How could I have been such a fool?
"You still have your other vows, Ser Criston, do not this, I plead you not to! I forbid you to die, please!" Alicent cried.
"No... I cannot." He sighed. "How can I wear the white cloak again... how can I protect the King, how can I when I cannot even protect myself from my desires? I am the Princess' sworn shield, how shall be able to fulfil my duties when just the sight of her is a reminder of what I did?"
All those years. All those years, I defended her. And what did I get in return?
Alicent clasped her hands together.
I refused to see her for who she really is. Father was correct; I got what I deserved for being so blind.
Alicent thought long and hard about what she would say next.
If Rhaenyra wants to play this game, then so can I.
Alicent unclasped her hands and took a deep breath.
"Then you do not need to remain as Rhaenyra's sworn shield. There is another option."
"What do you-"
"Rhaenyra is to marry, she shall have a husband to protect her. She will no longer need a protector. So, pledge yourself..."
Gods forgive me.
Alicent took another deep breath. "To the Queen. You may have sinned, Ser Criston, but the Mother's mercy can extend upon all of us. Confess your sins in front of the Seven, and surely the Father shall be just towards you. There is still a chance for your redemption, for you to fulfil your vows. Swear your sword to Queen Laena Velaryon, swear to protect her and her children. And take Prince Daeron under your wing, teach him the ways of sword and horse, treat him as if he were your son, and help prepare him."
"Prepare him?"
"Prepare him to be a King."