I Think He Knows // Viserys Targaryen

10. Hot Pies & Lies

The presentation was beautiful. The food laid out decadently before them when Rhaenyra and Laenor arrived.

"The chefs outdid themselves." Rhaenyra remarked. Alisha offered her a small smile but didnt correct her.

"Look at this hot pie!" Laenor declared. "Thats awesome, thats really awesome!" He looked to Alisha and he could see her pride beaming through her smile.

"Ali made all this." Viserys corrected.

"Aegon and Viserys helped." Alisha added smiling to him.

"Ali?" Rhaenyra sneered. What was with the nickname, the pet name, no Rhaenyra didnt like that at all. 

"Rhaenyra look at this thing! It's beautiful. Wonderfully done!" Laenor told Alisha. "And the detailing, did you make- you made leaves out of dough!" Laenor declared as he pulled one off taking a bite. 

"I tried to make a dragon on top but it looks more like a horse or bear I suppose when it baked." Alisha remarked. 

"That looks nothing like a dragon." Rhaenyra hissed. Alisha kept her smile as she looked to her hot pie. She thought it was beautiful, maybe she shouldnt have said anything. 

"It's gorgeous, I almost dont want to eat." LAenor declared. "This must have taken you forever."

"Thank you. Thank you so much." ALisha whispered as they sat down. 

"MMM!" Laenor moaned out as he took a bite. "My mother would love this! My father, we need to invite them, they would love this!" Laenor declared. 

"Of course, I would love to me- see them again." Alisha agreed. She had met them of course she did. She was the queen, she surely met them many times. The wedding included but that night was a blur at times. 

"Can I put in a request for them?" Laenor questioned through another forkful. 

"Of course." Alisha agreed. 

"Turnips. Buttered turnips." Laenor remarked. "My mother loves them and if you can make this taste like heaven I bet you can make turnips taste delicious too." 

"Of course, I would love too." Alisha agreed. 

Aisha looked to Rhaenyra as she ate silently. She knew the real Alicent said they werent close but Alisha had hoped they could try again. Try... for the first time, even if Rhaenyra didnt realize Alisha was a new person. Start a new. 

Alisha wanted to ask do you like the food? What do you think? What could I make you? Don't hate me. I'm not her. Alisha stared back at her silently though before Rhaenyra looked up meeting Alisha's gaze. Alisha offered her a hopeful smile but Rhaenyra pushed her plate away, all while keeping Alishas gaze. 

A heavy breath filled her as she looked to Aegon. Alisha cut up his pot pie into smaller pieces needing something to do with her hands. 

"Everything is so delicious." Viserys praised. Alisha smiled back at him before kissing Aegon's head as he babbled to himself. 

"When did you start cooking Alicent? I never knew you to have any skills." Rhaenyra remarked and Viserys choked down his food as he looked to his daughter. 

"I... didnt have much time while here with my studies and then... Aegon. Babies are a lot of attention. They take up a lot of time..." Alisha offered. "But he and Helaena are quite worth it." She added. 

Alisha answered Rhaenyras questions, her interrogation as the meal went on but Alisha felt more and more nauseous. She had been so excited but Rhaenyra had a skill at belittling others it seemed. 

Maybe this was the true reason the real Alicent left. Rhaenyra's constant torment. Alisha didnt like it. Maybe she wanted Rhaenyra to stay far away. If this was how she was going to be queen one day, she understood why the people didnt want her. Why they wanted a boy of three compared to a woman grown as their future leader. 

"Where did you get your inspiration from for this artistic meal?" Laenor pondered happily. 

"Across the narrow sea they-" Alisha began her smile reappearing. 

"Where?" Rhaenyra countered and Alisha took a sip of her drink.

''At your wedding actually. I met a baker and she... she told me of... thats why I was late." Alisha offered. "Thats why... I was running late. I was admiring the cake... and I got to talking." ALisha stammered out nervously. "She... the chef the baker told me... and I..." SHe took another sip, she didnt like Rhaenyra's glare, it made her nervous.

"I didnt know you baked, you never did before." Rhaenyra hissed.

"We dont know much about each other lately it seems." Alisha offered. "Perhaps that is something we... work on?" Viserys nodded pleased as Laenor finished off his piece and went in for the last piece of pot pie. Alisha helped clean up the food from Aegon's face to avoid Rhaenyras harsh stare.

"Doesnt seem like something to work on. What would there be besides betrayal?" Rhaenyra countered drinking down her wine. Alisha looked to her before helping Aegon down from his chair. 

"Whos ready for dessert?" Alisha questioned getting up. "Aegon helped me. I wanted to make something blue, to honor your Velaryon roots..." Alisha offered and Rhaenyra scoffed out a breath. "It's a... lemon and blue spirulina cheesecake." Alisha offered trying to keep a smile on her face. "I will be right back." She offered as she ducked her head, heading out. Viserys saw her shoulders slump as she left.

"Rhaenyra whats wrong with you?" Viserys demanded.

"What?" Rhaenyra hissed.

"She is trying to make an effort. She is trying to make an effort and you have been coming at her with snide comments and condescending questions since she sat down." Viserys declared.

"The queen is just trying to help. An olive branch." Laenor agreed.

"I dont know what she put in your food but I'm not falling for her tricks." Rhaenyra countered as she got up. She shoved past Alisha and she almost dropped the tray. "I'm not hungry." Rhaenyra sneered as she passed. 

"I'm full but I'm willing to eat Rhaenyras portions." Laenor assured reaching for a mini cake. 

"Enjoy." Alisha whispered taking a seat beside Viserys. 

"Dont mind her." Viserys whispered kissing her cheek. "Everything was delicious and so beautiful my love." he assured her. 

"This is heaven! I'm never leaving and we are always eating together." Laenor declared. Aegon had shoved his face in the little cheesecake and had blue all over his cheeks and nose. 

"More, more, more!" Aegon begged licking his lips.