𝒜𝓁𝒾𝒸𝑒𝓃𝓉 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝑅𝒽𝒶𝑒𝓃𝓎𝓇𝒶~𝐿𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓁 𝓅𝑒𝑜𝓅𝓁𝑒 𝒹𝑜

Grief is a funny thing.

Alicent

Alicent stood under the weirwood admiring the leaves as they rustled with the soft breeze. The castle had been quiet since the queen passed. All trade was postponed until further notice, and the king had locked himself in his chambers. Rhaenyra on the other hand had hardly touched the ground since the funeral. She went flying with Syrax from dawn until dusk, flying further than she was ever permitted, only returning for sleep.

Alicent missed her. She wanted to visit her chambers in the dead of night and hold her and remind her that she wasn't alone, but she didn't.

Grief is a funny thing. She remembered how the grief felt after loosing her own mother, how she just wished her father would leave her alone. He never did. She was all he had left.

She sighed and turned on her heel. She didn't care if Rhaenyra wanted to be alone, she didn't deserve to be.

She walked at a brisk pace through the empty halls and made her way to Rhaenyra's chambers. She barged in and opened the blinds.

"Alicent, what?" Rhaenyra said groggily as she sat up in her bed.

"Come with me." Alicent commanded throwing a pair of trousers and a dirty white shirt in her direction.

"Where?" She asked standing and grabbing the clothes.

"We're going into town."

***

Alicent leaned over Rhaenyra's head and tucked the last strand of her silver hair into the hat, then grabbed her own and placed it on her head.

"We look..." Rhaenyra said standing and stepping back to get a look at the two strangers in the mirror.

"Like boys." Alicent said finishing her sentence. She looked over at Rhaenyra and met her eyes. Suddenly Rhaenyra burst out into a hysterical fit of laughter. Alicent smiled and took Rhaenyra's hand.

"Come."

She led Rhaenyra out of the castle gates, winding to avoid the guards views. Soon they were in the heart of kings landing, weaving through bustling crowds and small street shops. Alicent looked back at Rhaenyra and grinned at her happiness.

"It's astonishing!" Rhaenyra said pulling Alicent in close and wrapping her arm around her shoulder.

"Mayhaps life has halted in the small confines of the Red Keep, but everywhere else, it continues."

"Out of the way boys!" A gruff man shouted as he carried a large wooden plank just a pinky's length away from their faces. They both ducked and laughed about being called boys, and then continued weaving through the thick crowd.

***

Alicent sat down on the end of the dock hanging her legs above the water. She looked over as Rhaenyra took a seat next to her and scooted in close.

"I've only been here once before." Alicent said looking out at the sunset beaming against the water. "My mother and I came once to visit my father. We left Gawayne in the country home so he could practice his riding. Father had work for most of the day, leaving me and mother to our own devices. She took me here."

"Thank you." Rhaenyra said meeting Alicent's gaze. It got silent and Alicent could feel herself leaning closer to Rhaenrya. She knew she couldn't get any closer, but they were so far from the castle. She could feel Rhaenyra's breath against her mouth as it quickened. Slowly, she brushed her lips against Rhaenyra's and then made contact.

All of her feelings that she had kept locked inside came flooding out. Her lips felt so warm, and her hands so soft. She needed to be closer, she needed to make up for all of that lost time. Yet she felt Rhaenyra pull away.

"What's wrong?" Alicent asked as Rhaenyra turned away. She didn't answer and Alicent began to worry. "I- I apologize, I did not want to cause any discomfort"

"No it's not you." Rhaenyra sniffled. She was crying. Alicent suddenly felt a rush of guilt shoot through her chest. Her mother had just died and she was taking advantage of her. "Life truly does continue as if nothing has happened." She said causing a long silence to fall between them.

"Yes, but that does not mean that you have to move on..." Alicent said causing Rhaenyra to face her. "You may take as long as you need. Just know that I am here for you." She whispered tucking a loose strand of Rhaenyra's hair back into her hat.

Rhaenyra leaned in and placed her head on the crook where Alicent's neck met her shoulder and began to sob. Alicent wrapped her arms around her and comforted her, just as her mother had taught her to do as a child.

Soon enough Rhaenyra's sobs turned into sniffles and she freed herself from Alicent's embrace.

"Thank you." She said wiping her face.

"My pleasure."