dancing with our hands tied | r. targaryen

ii.

110 A.C.
KING'S LANDING
•••

ALAYNE WOKE THAT MORNING WITH A HEAVY FEELING IN HER CHEST. She didn't need to remind herself what day it was, it was like her body already knew. She didn't attempt to sneak in her morning reading, but instead, she decided to lie in bed and stare up at the canopy.

She thought of joining her father and sister for breakfast so that they may all grieve together, but she knew the chances of that happening were rare. And even if they did Alayne felt that she'd feel more discomfort than comfort being around her family.

When she was finally able to will herself out of bed, she got ready for the day and made her way toward Queen Aemma's apartment. Ser Lorent was standing guard as he always did, and he bowed his head as Alayne passed by him.

"Lady Alayne," he greeted, making no comment about how the lady was on time today. She gave him a short smile as he opened the door to Aemma's apartment. As she entered, she found the queen's bed empty.

Alayne looked out of the window of the Red Keep, watching with a small smile. The sky was decorated with colors of orange, purple, and pink, colors her mother had loved dearly. She heard the soft clearing of a throat and Alayne's smile quickly slipped away as she turned and saw the Queen standing there, hand over her round stomach.

Alayne dropped her head in reverence, "Your Grace."

"It is just I, Alayne," Queen Aemma says dismissively as she steps near the young teen by the window. She takes in the sight that Alayne had been looking at. Her lips spread in a smile as she looks over at Alayne who happens to meet her gaze.

"You're out of bed," Alayne states.

"Yes well, I thought it would be awful for us to be stuck inside this rather drab apartment this day," Aemma says, "Would you like to take a walk with me? It seems to be a lovely day outside."

Alayne's eyes drop to the queen's stomach, "Is it okay for you to be on your feet?"

"I'll be fine," Aemma responds, "Now come on."

Aemma extends her arm to Alayne which she stares at momentarily before accepting it with a small smile. The two of them make their way out of the apartment with Ser Lorent wordlessly following them.

"Rhaenyra has been spending a lot more time with me. We take our supper together," Aemma says as she looks over at Alayne with a small knowing smile, "Do you have anything to do with that?"

"Not at all," Alayne says as she shakes her head, "It seems that Princess Rhaenyra has come to her senses."

Aemma's lips spread in a smile, "Thank you."

"You have no need to thank me," Alayne responds as she looks at the queen, "Especially since I went against your wishes." 

"Yes," Queen Aemma says, "We do need to have a discussion of your aversion to listening."

Alayne's lips curve in a smile as she looks away from the queen and at the green leaves that rest in the trees near them, "My mother always told me to never blindly follow authority. To take orders, think it over, and then decide if I want to obey or not."

Alayne laughs softly as she looks at the queen, "It was the only thing that ever stuck with me, never to blindly obey. Mainly because it gave me a reason not to listen to her or my father. It certainly has gotten me in a lot of trouble and has potentially made me my father's least favorite child, but it was her lesson. It was the way she thought, and I will carry that with me forever."

"Do you miss her?" Aemma asks.

"Every day," Alayne whispers as she blinks away tears, "I just – without her I feel like an outsider in my own family. Alicent and I, we were never close but when my mother fell ill it was the first time in my life where we truly felt like sisters. Sharing a bed, sharing tears, the same nervous habits. And now she hates me."