My Tears Ricochet // Alicent Hightower

96. Living Challenge

''My love.'' Viserys said softly his breaths growing shallow and then they stopped.

+

Davina woke curled into Alicent naked limbs tangled together. She felt Alicents hand dragging along her skin and she hummed into her as she tightened her grip. 

Davina whispered into the early morning light. The sun was barely up. But Davina had never felt so alive. 

"Alright lover, I think Viserys should get some sun today, I think it will be good for him to leave that stuffy room." Davina remarked as she looked to Alicent. "I also want all his linens cleaned again. It smells like death enough in there." She added. 

"Thats a good idea." Alicent agreed. Thats when the knock on the door ruined their peace. "Dont move." Alicent whispered kissing her quickly. 

"Wasnt planning on it." Davina agreed. 

"Hello?... Are you sure?" Alicent whispered pulling her robe tighter. "Davina." Alicent whispered, tears swatted away from her cheeks. 

"I also need to speak with-" Davina began as she was already planning out her day. Alicent sat on the bed leaning into Davina. "What happened?" Davina questioned running a hand through her hair.

"The king is dead." Davina couldn't process the words she spoke. 

"What?" Davina questioned.

"The king, Viserys... He is dead." Alicent whimpered and Davina felt her heart stop. "Davi, I'm so sorry-"

"No... he's..." Davina felt dizzy, Alicent felt tears fall from Davina's eyes and onto herself. Alicent held to Davina as she couldnt sit up by herself.  "You're sure?" Davina questioned and Alicent nodded once and a sob escaped Davina's lips.

"Oh Davi, I'm so sorry."

+

"We saw him last night... before he..." Davina leaned back in the chair, a shaky breath on her lips.

''What is it that could not have waited an hour? Was Dorne invaded?" Tyland mused as they gathered around the council table.

''The King is dead.'' Otto told them all. Alicent sat at the kings seat silently.  Tears in her eyes her hands clasped on the table. Davina couldn't believe he was gone. Viserys had been in her life her whole life. He was her big brother, he became her closest friend and biggest supporter.

Davina loved him, she honestly never thought she would love Viserys again after the first few husband disasters but she did. she loved her brother and now he was just gone. Alicent picked at her nails, making her cuticle bleed. Davina reached over and grabbed her hand she glanced up at Davina, Davina's own vision hazy with tears. Davina brought Alicent's hand to her own lips and pressed a kiss to her hand. Neither was listening both just processing. 

"But desperate times."

"What is so desperate about it?" Davina countered. "I need to tell my children. Alicent needs to as well. I need to see them and hug them and cry. You all lost your king and you're ready to move on so quickly. He was my brother. My blood and hes gone."

"We grieve his grace."

"Things must be done though."

"I understand that...." Davina assured.

"You are his heir, princess. He named you. He claimed you as his heir. We all agree." Harrold declared. 

"We need to start-"

 "I need to stop." Davina corrected. "You don't think I'm angry? You don't think I want scream and shout and burn things to the ground? I do but I'm holding back because the world is in a haze, of Davina is the heir and now the king is dead. Thats a lot for anyone to process in a moon let alone a night. Viserys named me his heir, himself. He did that. But he is my brother... not just the king to me." 

"We grieve with you princess but we need to act-"

"We need to secure the houses, those that were not present release the statements, both statements declaring the heir and our new Queen." Otto agreed. 

"And houses that do not agree with Viserys decision well they have sons and daughters in need of alliances." Tyland added. 

 "And if we don't handle this quickly... I understand your distance from this he was weak and dying for many years... I don't want to shove my children into unions, any of my children." She added because Alicent's children were her babies too. "I won't. I don't care." Davina told them.

''What of Rhaenyra?''

''The former heir cannot, of course, be allowed to remain free and draw support to her claim.'' They all nodded in agreement, Rhaenyra had to go.

''You mean to imprison her.'' Alicent corrected confused.

''She and her family will be given the opportunity to publicly swear obeisance to the new King." Tyland told her gently.

''She will never bend the knee. Nor will Daemon, which you know." Davina spat. ''You plan to kill them.... And all here accede to this.'' She asked curiously.

''A living challenger invites battle and bloodshed."

"What of Jace, Luke and Joffrey? They have done nothing." Davina spat. ALicent looked nervously to Davina.

"They all must bend or they will break..." Tyland told her and Davina stared back at him. She wouldn't hurt them. Not the ones of Gael's seed at least. 

"It is unsavory, yes. But a sacrifice we must make to secure your own succession, princess.'' Otto agreed. ''And then there is Daemon to consider.''

Davina was getting more and more revved by the moment. So many thoughts so little time and so fucking early. She was in such a good mood too.

'The King wouldn't wish for any unsavory...''

Viserys wouldnt want Rhaenyra dead. But davina did want her head.

"I want to be the one to remove Rhaenyras head. Or heart." Davina told them. "She will not bend so she shall break. If she begs for mercy well that will be a sight to see but Daemon... there is no mercy for him.''

'' And yet...'' Tyland began. "Those boys-"

''One more word, and I will have you removed from this chamber and you and Fury can have a talk!" Davina spat as she rose up slapping her hands down on the table. "I love those boys, I don't give a damn about Daemon, bring me his head for all I care. Rhaenyra has been given many opportunities and she has failed every time, she is done getting second chances." Davina told them all confidently. "Her children do not want the throne, they never have. I will take Jace, Luke and Joffrey in as my wards and they will be safe here. Not a soul will touch them." Davina seethed. 

"Are you sure?" Alicent questioned. 

"Rhaenyra can be given a choice. I'm confident she will choose wrong." Davina assured. It was the least she could do for Viserys memory was offer her a choice. Bend the knee.