Chapter Text
"Ring the bell when you have an answer"
The audacity.
The door closed behind Alicent with an audible thud, leaving Rhaenys behind in oppressive silence. How laughable that Alicent would think to sway her so easily. How arrogant of her, to assume she would be manipulated by a few honeyed words and harsh blame against her husband and their allies.
As much as Rhaenys might mistrust Rhaenyra, she was still the queen that Viserys had chosen to succeed him. No matter their personal grievances, Rhaenys would not betray her cousin's memory, nor the word of her house or her own integrity. Rhaenys scoffed at the mere thought of it. She would not be swayed. Regardless of the truth that lay in Alicent's word. It was not a matter of truth or lie after all - rather of loyalty and pride. And insatiable pride is my house's greatest flaw.
She chuckled humourlessly. There would be no different answer from her than the one already given.
She stood at the window leading to the courtyard, watching the few servants that had not been locked into the cells beneath the palace. I would have rather joined them, than be caught within these walls, inside the tempest of my own mind. What other thoughts would plague her after all than the imminent death of her lord husband?
Her stomach twisted uncomfortably. How much loss could one person suffer before their heart turned to stone inside their chest. Her children taken from her, her own parents long dead and buried, now the stranger had seen fit to claim her good-brother and cousin within a single day, while her husband's fate was yet to be decided, and her dragon was parted from her.
She sighed, forcing the thought from her mind. Now was not the time to drown herself in her own misery. She had to find a way out of this prison and back to her grandchildren.
She finally tore her gaze away from the window and crossed the room in a few long steps. She took a seat on the double bed and leaned against the headboard. The right side, not her usual left, as she noted with slight amusement and a heavy heart.
Now all she could do was plan her next steps as she waited for the Queen's return.
The bells had long since stopped ringing when Rhaenys heard a knock on the door to her chamber.
She waited a moment, expecting the door to open, but it remained stubbornly shut.
With a sigh, she rose from the bed and took position in the middle of the room, straightening her back and taking a deep breath. She would not be cowed. Not by the dowager queen, and not by their new usurper king.
"Come"
Just as she had expected, it was Alicent.
She strode into the room with confidence, head held high and eyes unreadable. However, Rhaenys was not a stranger to presenting a brave front. No matter how schooled the queen meant to present herself, Rhaenys noticed just how tightly her hands were clasped and how the strain in her shoulders betrayed her nerves.
"It is done", Alicent said, eyes trained to a spot on the wall behind Rhaenys' shoulder, avoiding her gaze.
The princess tilted her head to the side, waiting for her unwanted guest to elaborate. She did, after another moment of heavy silence. "Aegon is now the ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. The whole city witnessed it. It's over."
With satisfaction, Rhaenys noticed how Alicent's voice shook slightly. Interesting.
Of course she had heard the sept's bells, the cheering and laughter echoing through King's Landing and reaching even the Red Keep. Only years of practice, suppressing anger and disappointment, had enabled her to stay calm and not scream in rage. Her anger had since cooled - nonetheless, she did not trust herself to speak on it quite yet.
"I have come to ask you again to bend the knee, Princess. Swear obeisance to my son and I promise you, no harm will come to you while you remain here." Rhaenys scoffed.
"I believe I made myself clear the last time you visited my…rooms." She stopped and waited until Alicent finally met her gaze. She purposely made her eyes harden. "I will not bow to the usurper. And I will not turn against my husband. Or my grandchildren."
Alicent shook her head even before she had finished. "Please, cousin. You must see that this course of action will not prove wise". She made a few steps towards the princess but stopped immediately when Rhaenys turned her back on her and went to pour herself a cup of wine.
"Wise or not, I have made my decision. Why don't you return to your son and your father and report back to them" Her voice was full of derision. Alicent did not rise to the provocation.
"You misjudge me, cousin, I…"
"Do NOT call me 'cousin'", Rhaenys spat, barely stopping herself from throwing her wine glass against the wall. "You are no kin of mine, Alicent Hightower. Not when you have betrayed the man who was of my blood so blatantly."
"I have done no such thing!", Alicent cried, finally responding in kind.
Reminiscent to the last time she had visited Rhaenys' chamber, she went to take her elbows in her hands. The princess' gaze was murderous, however, and warned her to not get too close. So the queen stopped short and clasped her hands again in front of her.
"I have told you, Princess. The king himself named Aegon as his heir in his dying moments. It is the truth, I swear it." That gave Rhaenys pause. Alicent, despite all her faults, was a deeply pious woman. An oath such as this, was not something she took lightly. So she truly believes that Viserys changed his mind? After years of defending Rhaenyra's claim again and again?
"I do not know what Viserys might have told you, but I knew my cousin. He would have never supplanted Rhaenyra. And if he indeed told you to crown Aegon, then he was not in his right mind, and his words should not be paid any heed." Rhaenys noticed how her words made Alicent flinch the slightest bit. She smiled. "You are no fool, Alicent. You must see that none but your own house will be inclined to believe you. Any who would follow your son are either traitors or cowards. I am neither."
She turned her back again to Alicent and brought the wine cup to her lips to take a sip. "Now leave me be, if I am not to be executed today."
Barely a day had passed when there was a knock on her door again. A maid had been assigned to tend to her needs, but Rhaenys had come to recognise the nameless woman's timid knocking. Nameless, since she refused to answer any of her questions, including her own name. No, this was Alicent again.
Four times, not as timid, but nowhere near the loud noises the guards made. In truth, Rhaenys was amused that the queen chose to knock at all. She was visiting a prisoner, no matter that prisoner's station. A station and title that are less than worthless in these halls, she thought sardonically.
"Come"
This time she did not bother to get up from her chair. Her fate here was sealed, regardless of the respect or disrespect she afforded the queen. Why bother then.
She poured herself another cup of wine. At least in this they have proven hospitable.
"Princess Rhaenys", she greeted.
"Queen Alicent", Rhaenys answered flatly.
When nothing else seemed to be forthcoming, Alicent took a seat across from her, smoothing down her dress as she sat. "I believe I have made myself more than clear by now. There is nothing left to discuss", she raised her cup again and took a sip of wine.
When Alicent failed to answer, she continued. "I would hate to waste the queen's time, when there is a war looming on the horizon." She chuckled lightly.
"I fail to see the humour in this, Princess" Rhaenys ignored her, choosing to focus her attention rather on her chipped nails. Such a bother. How was it that her nails always became brittle when she was forced to spend time in King's Landing. It was as if every single fibre of her body craved to be away from this place. And no wonder - the foul smell of the city mirrored the rot inside the Red Keep perfectly.
"Good men will die for a senseless cause. That is nothing short of a tragedy."
Rhaenys' head shot up at this. "Do not pretend as if the death of good men is any of your concern, my queen", she made sure to pour as much contempt into the title as she could. "It was you who started this war, by forcing a crown on your son's head, when he is not worthy of it. Rhaenyra will never let this stand and you know it. Neither will she tolerate the unlawful imprisonment of her sons' kin, not to mention one of the most valuable dragons under her command."
Alicent scoffed. "By insulting my son, you speak treason, Rhaenys. But I would expect no different from you." Rhaenys raised a challenging eyebrow. "I do, however, believe that you overestimate your own value to Rhaenyra. Your fate is only of little consequence to her. She still fears your wrath for the death of your son. She might even be glad that you are out of reach, kept away from her two youngest, who share no blood with you."
"Be that as it may", she answered, vaguely amused by Alicent's newest attempt of provoking anger from her by implying she would intentionally hurt little Viserys and Aegon, "but we both know that my husband, as Rhaenyra's most influential ally, would not stand for my treatment here. It will only be a matter of time until he presses Rhaenyra for action."
"Your husband might yet die, Princess."
Rhaenys tried to mask the flash of pain that must have shown in her eyes for a moment. "Or he might not. In any case, the Lord of the Tides will not have me locked away by our enemies, if for nothing else but the honour of his house."
Alicent nodded slowly, contemplating her answer. "All of that still means nothing, if you do not live to see the day your family comes to free you."
Rhaenys couldn't suppress a rather un-lady-like snort at that. Alicent's jaw clenched. "You are rather transparent, I'm afraid, my queen."
"I am not here to veil my words. I merely mean to beseech you to save your own life." There was a strain in Alicent's voice that truly surprised Rhaenys. After all, what was it to her whether her late unloved husband's cousin lived.
"Your concern is touching", she said with an air of boredom, "but if you are worried for my continued health, it is your son and the Hand you must speak to."
"The king will not harm you, if you only declared for his side.", Alicent made to take hold of her hand across the table, but she pulled it out of her reach, meeting her eyes with an air of challenge. Don't lay your hands on me, Hightower. The Queen didn't acknowledge the wordless exchange. She merely retracted her hand and brought it back to her lap. "No one would expect you to fight your own blood, but your public support for King Aegon is non-negotiable. It is all I am asking of you."
"A shame then", was all she answered. I would rather die.
Alicent led out an audible sigh. Then she left without another word.
Two days had passed since Alicent's last visit and Rhaenys started to resign herself to the fact that the queen would not return.
Not that she had any interest in yet another pointless conversation about her loyalties, but the more time she spend alone in her quarters, the more her sanity began to crumble. It had been more than a week now, since Rhaenys had last received word of Corlys' condition and the uncertainty was killing her. Unfortunately, the only one who was likely to share any intel with her would be the dowager queen. Perhaps she would use the information as goods to barter for Rhaenys' support, or try and convince her again to change her mind, but at least she would know that there had been any news at all.
Alas, there was nothing she could do from inside her prison, but pray and hope. Like a maiden in distress. How quaint.
She had spend the last days doing just that. Alternating between praying, watching the servants below, drinking, sleeping and praying again. At this point, she had exhausted her knowledge of the existing gods in Westeros and beyond. Even the Stranger himself had to listen to her begging. Normally it would be damaging to her pride, but the gods did not share the words spoken in the absence of men.
Her maid still refused to speak with her. She merely appeared every morning, midday and evening to bring her meals, refill her water and wine and empty the chamber pot. Fortunately, she had also brought her some dresses, or else she would be stuck with garments she had worn upon her arrival.
And the armour I brought. Perhaps the day will yet come when I get to wear it again.
She cast a thoughtful look at the polished breastplate in the corner next to the bed. Targaryen red, missing any sign of her new house. The house of her husband and children. The house that at least never betrayed me. Even if Corlys had left her behind in grief, running from his own pain, she had never had reason to doubt his love or his devotion.
After her father's and grandmother's death, she had no allies left in the house of her birth - excluding her granddaughters of course. None that she could trust at least. Or who trusted her. For all of Viserys' grand words, he had never treated her the same again after the Great Council, as if he couldn't quite believe she would accept Jaehaerys' ruling without starting a war. Perhaps I should have. Proven them right, fought for my throne… and then I would not have to ask myself what could have been.
Impatiently, she tore her eyes away from the armour. Too late for regrets now. She had no use for the Iron Throne. Her heirs were both dead, her true-born granddaughters would not be accepted as queen any more than she had, and her grandsons were the heirs of the chosen successor. If nothing else then at least Corlys will have what he wanted. Blood or no, Jace will be known as a Velaryon who ascended the Iron Throne.
The small gleam of pride she felt at the thought disappeared as fast as it had come. What use was it all, if her husband was not there to witness his success. Legacy might satisfy his ambition, but not her own wishes. What did a name matter, when all who bore it were dead. When all of her family was dead.
Baela and Rhaena are still alive. And so are Lucerys, Jacaerys and Joffrey. And still it felt as if she had lost everything.
Without anything else to do, she sat down in front of the dresser and picked up a comb. As long as appearances were being upheld, the truth could not touch her.
I am a prisoner here, waiting for my execution. But I will be damned, if I behave like one.
Combing her hair is how Alicent found her the day after.
Like on the last occasions, she knocked on the door four times, then waited for Rhaenys to call her in.
"Princess"
"My Queen" Mocking the queen with her own title never ceased to amuse her. Alicent, as always, remained unbothered.
"I have spoken to the Hand. He means to advise the king tomorrow to order your execution"
Rhaenys' hand stopped of its own accord. It took all her willpower to continue with even strokes, relaxing her shoulders in the process. It would not do to seem…unsettled.
"I have asked him to give me more time to convince you" Rhaenys gave a short, humourless laugh. "How very kind of you, my Queen".
She did not even afford Alicent a look and continued with the task at hand. Despite of the queen's tight control over her emotions, Rhaenys could sense her growing frustration. "Are you not concerned at all for your own life?", she half-yelled, fed up with the aloof way Rhaenys kept reacted to everything she said. The princess merely hummed, still not looking at her guest.
"Fine. If you care so little, then I shall tell the Hand and King that there is no use waiting any longer. I hope you realise that your death is inevitable, should it come to that." She had come closer to the dresser and stood now only two metres away from her. "Is that what you want?!"
Finally, Rhaenys put down the comb, looking her square in the eyes. "There is nothing you could say that would make me bend the knee to the usurper. I am not afraid of death, and I will not lose all self-respect by betraying my convictions." She did not turn away her gaze, even as Alicent swallowed from the intensity of it.
"I am touched by your inexplicable need to protect me, but it will change nothing. You are fighting a losing battle." Something closed off in Alicent at that. Her eyes became suddenly cold and she drew back her shoulders.
"I see", she said, turning her back on Rhaenys and crossing the room towards the door.
"Well, who am I to keep you any longer from joining your lord husband. I shall inform the king..."
The world suddenly came to a screeching halt. Alicent kept talking in the background, but Rhaenys could not hear it. Please…no. It can't be… She must have misunderstood. Alicent was playing a cruel joke on her. Another manipulation to get her to cave. Would she truly be as heartless as to inform her of her husband's death in such a callous, unconcerned way? Or perhaps it was her punishment, for not showing the queen more gratitude for her troubles. He can't be dead, he can't be.
Nothing could kill him, she had always thought so. He was the strongest man she knew, with a will of steel and a propensity to survive any terrible obstacle that fate would throw his way. Even when word had reached her of his fatal wounds, deep down she had still been convinced he would survive it. He simply had to. What would she do without him by her side? Who would she be without him?
Quickly, like an overflowing water barrel she felt herself close to bursting. A pressure built up in her chest that she did not know how to deal with. She felt her breath getting shorter and desperately grasped for the armrest of her chair. "Wait", she squeezed out, stumbling to her feet.
"Please, my queen, tell me what you know". She did not like how the words lacked any of their usual bite, how her voice sounded thin, as if she were close to breaking. Alicent, however, did not turn back around.
"I know very little. It is said that he set sail for Dragonstone to declare for Rhaenyra, but when his ship reached the port, the fever had claimed him."
Rhaenys could not have stifled the half-sob that escaped her even if her life had depended on it. The ground suddenly seemed unstable under her feet.
Without another word, Alicent left Rhaenys' chambers and closed the door with an audible thud.
Rhaenys' legs could no longer bear her weight.