𝒜𝓁𝒾𝒸𝑒𝓃𝓉 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝑅𝒽𝒶𝑒𝓃𝓎𝓇𝒶~𝐿𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓁 𝓅𝑒𝑜𝓅𝓁𝑒 𝒹𝑜

Welcome back.

Rhaenyra

Rhaenyra leapt out of her carriage and ran throughout the red keep, searching for her. She checked her old chambers which looked as if no time had passed, as it always did. She ran through hallways and checked the kitchen before coming to a stop as she remembered exactly where she would be.

She flew through the halls, not caring that she was leaving a trail of water everywhere she went. She turned the corner and sucked in a shaky breath as the garden came into view. It was still pouring rain but there was a brown haired girl standing just beneath the weirwood wearing a light green dress. This wasn't the same girl that had left two years ago. She wasn't even a girl anymore, she was practically a woman, but as their eyes met each other there was no change. They still had that warm embrace that Rhaenyra remembered every so often.

Rhaenyra choked out a small sound that was supposed to be Alicent's name but she was so close to the brink of sobbing, she couldn't seem to form words. She took a step forward, and then another and soon she was running. She crashed into Alicent's arms and they both sunk to their knees sobbing and trying to grasp anything on the other that would prove that what was happening, was real.

They stayed hugging in the rain for minutes. Rhaenyra was attempting to regain her composure but she was so overwhelmed with emotion that she couldn't go a few seconds without returning to sobbing. Alicent was sobbing yet still attempting to wipe Rhaenyra's hair out of her face, she was failing horribly.

Rhaenyra clung to Alicent taking deep breaths and attempting to stop her body from shaking but the rain was still pouring.

"We need to go warm by a fire. Can you walk?" Alicent asked giggling a bit at the state Rhaenyra was in. Rhaenyra smiled and nodded.

The fire in Rhaenyra's chambers crackled and danced as she watched it. Alicent had gone to change her clothes, leaving Rhaenyra alone. She had missed her much more than she had anticipated. She even smelled the same after all that time. Rhaenyra couldn't stop grinning, even for a second.

She never thought she would see Alicent again. The hand took every single letter she had written for her and burned them using the excuse that Alicent was focusing on the seven and she didn't have time for girlish messages.

"Welcome back." Rhaenyra said, greeting Alicent as she walked through the door wearing a lavender dress. She gave a small smile in response and quickly sat down on the chair furthest from Rhaenyra.

The room was filled with an seemingly everlasting silence that felt excruciating for Rhaenyra.

"How was Oldtown?" Rhaenyra asked.

"Fine."

Rhaenyra nodded, not knowing how to further the conversation.

"You never wrote." Alicent said looking hurt.

"Oh! My apologies, your wretched father made it impossible." She said laughing. Alicent didn't seem to think it was funny.

"I must go." She said standing to leave.

"Why? Was it the comment about your father? My apologies, it was only a jest-"

"No it's not that." Alicent said cutting her off.

"What is it then?"

"Rhaenyra... over my time in Oldtown I was taught the scriptures of the seven. Every single evening and morning and midday was the same. The same scriptures, the same lessons I have learned and taught through my life. In those years I was gone I found an understanding." She said sitting back down. "What am I without them? Nothing, Rhaenyra. Without the seven I am not myself. Everything I have ever done had been guided by their judgment, and that is what has made me Alicent Hightower."

"You are more than that. You are a person-"

"I am not Rhaenyra. I am simply an extension for my father. I cannot see you anymore." She said cutting her off once again.

"No. That is what he wants you to think. He sent you away to break you!"

"I have come to this decision on my own terms." She said standing up once again.

"Can we be friends? We don't even have to be friends, you can just be my escort!" Rhaenyra said trying to persuade her to not make this decision.

"We can't. I must go" She said turning, emotionless.

"What is wrong with you!" Rhaenyra screamed at Alicent, causing her to stop mid step. "First you kissed me, and I thought we should stop because of the seven and all you had taught me, and then the last night you were here, you made it seem like it was all going to be the same when you came back!" She stood and grabbed Alicent's hand.

"Rhaenyra let me go."

"No!" She said firmly. She was not giving up her only friend she had ever had. She pulled Alicent around to face her. "Just be my escort. You do not have to be my friend." Alicent's eyes met hers and she knew she had stolen her back from her father.

After minutes of contemplating, Alicent nodded slowly wiping her tear stained face and Rhaenyra let her hand go.

"Welcome back." She said causing Alicent to laugh.