Lord Otto Hightower was not stupid, he knew that his daughter Allicent becoming queen was only the first step to making sure his blood sat on the iron throne. The second step was making powerful allies, and who was stronger than House Tyrell.
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A small celebration was quickly put together and thrown in the Gardens. Maren stood by her husband off to the side, watching as her stepdaughter and Prince Daemon listened to the King as he spoke of his brother's adventure, pride filling his voice.
"No no no no. I will not revisit this debate." the King argued with his brother. "You were always mother's favorite.
"Here comes the princess," Otto whispered into her ear as the king continued his one sided argument. "Go join Alicent."
Maren stepped forward, at her husband's order, joining the small group of royals. Alicent flashed her stepmother a thankful smile, as the redhead stood to her right side, blocking the princess from her view.
"Our mother, she had no regard for custom or tradition, rules. And I sadly, was no great warrior."
Turning her body to face Prince Daemon better, and further block the princess from Alicent's sight. "My prince, I wished to congratulate you on your victory."
"Yes, congratulations on your victory, Kepa." The princess spoke gaining her father's attention, who seemed displeased with her presence.
"Thank you Princess," Prince Daemon smiled at his niece. "And thank you Lady Tyrell."
"Actually it is Lady Hightower now," The queen spoke up, placing a gentle hand on her friends shoulder. "My stepmother."
Maren laughed at the title. "How I wish you wouldn't call me that," the two young women shared a smile, much to the confusion of the Princess. "We used to play together as children in Highgarden, I consider the queen my closest friend and I would hope she shared the sentiment."
"Of course I do."
"How lovely to see step daughter and step mother not only remain close but strengthen their friendship." The King spoke looking between his daughter and wife.
Silence followed the King's words, before Alicent, ever a quick thinker, spoke up. "Perhaps Prince Daemon would care for a tour of the gallery? He hasn't yet seen the new tapestries gifted to you by Norvos and Qohor."
"Oh, oh," the king mocked his wife. "Would you like to see the tapestries?"
The king could barely finish his question before he and his brother broke into laughs. Maren noticed Alicent began to pick at the skin of her thumb. A nervous tick the new stepmother had come to know.
"I'd like to see them." The princess said.
"Oh well then you should not deprive yourself." The King dismissed his eldest daughter. Turning back to his brother as the Princess walked away a
d sat on a bench not to far away.
"I think I'd like to see them again, Alicent. Such a wonderful idea, this heat was beginning to get to me." Maren spoke up, grasping her stepdaughter's arm with one hand and beginning to fan herself with her other hand. "Pardon us, your grace."
With that Maren directed Alicent to walk away. "She looks quite pitiful, like an orphaned puppy" Maren whispered, taking care no one else heard.
"Yes she does." Alicent stared at her former friend. How she wished they were still friends and she could go to her, but Rhaenyra had made her choice and now Alicent had Maren as a friend.
