My Tears Ricochet // Alicent Hightower

97. Above the Clouds

Fetish/ Larys Strong Out now!
Yes You read that correctly.

''It is our fate, I think, to crave always what is given to another. If one possesses a thing, the other will take it away." Helaena remarked.

'' Yes, Princess.'' The handmaiden agreed, as Helaena looked back to her needle point. She was making a Nargle, she believed the nargles lived in mistletoe but no one ever saw them but herself so she was stitching it for her mother to see.

''What's happened?' Helaena asked and Alicent sat next to her.

''Your father...'' Alicent began.

''There is a beast beneath the boards.'' Helaena remarked.

''Oh, my love.'' Alicent said hugging her.

Davina didnt want to have to do this a million times. She wasnt surprised to find Aemond and Haenry in Draeyas chambers. Fully clothed at the moment at least which Davina wondered if she needed to start showing Draeya how to make the teas, just in case. Vaera and Haezel jumped up on the bed. Valyria and Rhaegar slumped in still tired and Haven was already falling asleep in Haenry's arms again.

Davina opened her mouth but crawled in with them piling in together. Aemond knew what it must mean. His father was dead.

"It's so early." Rhaegar murmured as he yawned out rolling into Valyria.

"I have something I need to tell you all." Davina remarked as Haven's eyes opened, a smile appeared on her face as she crawled up snuggling into Davina before falling asleep again. Davina ran a gentle hand over Haven's head. Too early for bad news. 

"You were crying." Draeya remarked touching her cheek.

"I was." Davina agreed. "Viserys died last night." Davina informed them.

"Uncle Viserys..." Vaera whispered.

"The king, my brother, your uncle died in his sleep. He was sick for a long time which you all know." Davina looked to Rhaegar as he grabbed her hand. "Know that he is with Harwin right now, and Viserys is surly telling your father everything he doesnt already know."

"LIke you are going to be queen." Valyria declared in awe. Davina let out a tight breath. 

"Yes... I suppose I am... will be." Davina agreed. Her kids flocked her hugging her tight. "I'm so glad I have all you."

Viserys was wrapped, his face and body covered in fine cloth, his crown placed upon his stomach. Davina wept over him, her brother, her friend, her family.

+

"I will do you the considerable courtesy of assuming there is a good reason for the outrage of my treatment here this morning. Rhaenys hissed when Alicent entered her chambers.

"My sincerest regrets for the lack of ceremony." Alicent remarked.

" The King." Rhaenys realized. Alicent nodded. "And you are usurping the throne." Rhaenys said through an exasperated breath.

"You heard Viserys yesterday, he declared Davina his true heir." Alicent corrected. 

"He was not sound of mind and anyone with a brain will see that Davina manipulated him. She does that." Rhaenys hissed.

"Davina is a strong and empowering woman." Alicent corrected. "What have you done? She cleaned up flee bottom. She raised strong and amazing children, kept them safe, didnt pawn them off for political gain." Rhaenys scoffed turning away.  " I came here to ask your support but I see that is a lost cause."

" Well, I must credit you for your boldness." Rhaenys seethed as Davina came in.

" House Velaryon has long allied itself with the Princess Rhaenyra and what has it gained you? Your daughter dead... alone in Pentos. Your son cuckolded. Laenor was a fine warrior, a good father to the boys yet Rhaenyra didnt give a damn about you or him. Not then and certainly not now. Rhaenyra's heirs are none of yours. I love them but lets face it they are not of Laenor's. It is your husband who grasps so heedlessly for the throne." Davina reminded her bluntly. ''And even he has abandoned you: gone these six long years to fight a desperate battle, returning grievously, if not mortally, wounded, leaving the Lady of Driftmark to chart her course alone." Davina tsked. "You need me. You need us."

" The word of my house is not fickle." Rhaenys said insulted as she walked the room.

" No. But, dear cousin... you more than any soul alive understand what I say now. Princess Rhaenys, I loved my husband... But Viserys would've lived his days a country lord, content to hunt and study his histories," Alicent remarked.

"Viserys liked telling me stories and singing songs. But here we are. We do not rule but we may guide the men that do. Gently... away from violence and sure destruction and instead toward peace." Davina offered hopefully but Rhaenys pulled away from her storming the room with a groan.

"Ive never known you to be gentle Davina." Rhaenys hissed.

"Well thats why I will be queen." Davina agreed. "You might have made a good queen but you so easily bent to others. That is something I do not do." 

''The Iron Throne was yours by blood and by temperament. Viserys would've lived his days a country lord, but as Davina said... Here we are." Alicent remarked. "And Davina will be queen. Davina will ascend the throne with or without the support of driftmark." Alicent went on. 

''Ugh. Is it in the name of peace that you've imprisoned me? And what of my dragon?" Rhaenys questioned not looking to Davina her anger rising.

''If we are overmatched, Rhaenyra will be tempted to strike us, and war will ensue." Alicent reasoned.

"I don't want Jace, Luke, or Joffrey getting hurt in Daemon's rage." Davina went on.

''Without your dragon, she may be persuaded to negotiate. Peacefully, it is what Viserys would have wanted." Alicent offered. "They will fight back."

"We all know her and Daemon are stubborn mules." Davina agreed. 

 "If it's Driftmark you want, you shall have it for you and your granddaughters to pass on as you see fit." Alicent added. Davina and Alicent worked well together.

" You are wiser than I believed you to be... Alicent Hightower." Rhaenys turned to Davina though, venom in her gaze.

" A true queen counts the cost to her people." Alicent reminded her.

" And yet you toil still in service to men. You desire not to be free, but to make a window in the wall of your prison. Have you never imagined yourself... on the Iron Throne?" Rhaenys countered and Davina stared at her for a long moment a heavy silence filled them.

"Are you not doing to the same?" Davina countered. "You husband, your grandsons, all the men that always told you that you couldnt rule alone. Yet Viserys made me his heir. Gave me the power... I have sat the iron throne. It's not so comfortable." Davina remarked. "But damn if the view isnt great from up there."

'' I'll leave you with your thoughts. Ring the bell when you have an answer.'' Alicent offered grabbing Davina's hand.

"You are going to burn the world down Davina." Rhaenys called after her.

"Perhaps." Davina agreed. "Wouldnt you rather be above the flames when it happens instead of burning with Daemon and Rhaenyra?" Davina asked as she left the door sealing closed behind her.

+

"Davina, we have a problem." Criston remarked.

"We have many problems." Davina countered as she marched the halls.

"There is a man... he said to tell the hand... how would you like to die, Davina... I had him restrained but he just chuckled." Criston remarked.

"Where is he?" Davina questioned.

"Black cells."