The Gentle Queen: HOTD

New Heir |8|

Alicent was helping Rhaenyra get ready for the ceremony. "Has Lilly spoken with you today?" Rhaenyra asked, looking at the girl through the reflection of the mirror she stood in front of.

"No, I went to her chambers this morning; she wasn't there. A maid said something about my father calling for her." Alicent replied, shrugging her shoulders, before the door was opened.

"Lady Lillian," a guard announced, letting Lilly walk in, causing both girls attention to go to her.

"Good evening, Sister," Alicent said, looking at her. Then, back at Rhaenyra, they both looked awkward, making Lilly even more nervous.

"Evening sister, Rhaenyra, do you need any help? I thought I would see you before the ceremony," Lilly asked, walking closer to them and messing with her dress sleeve.

"Will you tell me why you have been seeing my father in his chambers at improper hours lying to me to Alicent? I thought we told each other everything." Rhaenyra asked, glaring at the red head as she turned so her attention was completely on her.

"His grace asked for my words of wisdom; I guess I only ever went to the king's chambers after he requested me," Lilly said, not wanting to lie to her but knowing she couldn't tell the full truth or her sister would pay the price.

"So you keep him company; what is your goal to become queen? Give him a son." Rhaenyra asked, glaring harder at her, making tears well up as she saw the hurt look on her friend's face and the distraught look on her sister's face.

"No, no, that is not my plan. I swear it. I would never do anything to hurt you, Rhaenyra. You are my close friend. I would never do that to you. I am not even of age to marry yet. I do not wish to marry your father, regardless of his title and power. You know that I cannot disobey a king's order. If he demands my presence, I must go. I have no choice in the matter; I am only a lady," Lilly said, defending herself.

"Then why lie and hide it from us?" Alicent questioned her little sister with an accusing look.

"Because the king wished for me to not discuss it, and I did not wish for either of you to get the wrong idea." Lilly insisted.

'You are right, Im sorry, Lilly truly, I am, um, would you do my hair? Alicent sucks at it," Rhaenyra said, receiving a gentle slap from the brunette next to her, making all three girls laugh, not realizing the chain of events that were soon to happen that would rip them apart.

Lilly began braiding Rhaenyra's hair and felt guilty. She knew she would have to marry the king, and she knew Rhaenyra would hate her. The thought made her tear up, but she blinked them away. This was Rhaenyra's day, and she would not ruin it.

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"I, Corlys, Lord of the Tides and Master of Driftmark, promise to be faithful to King Viserys and his named heir, the Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. I pledge featly to them and shall defend them against all enemies in good faith and without deceit. I swear this by the old gods and new."

"I, Lord Hobert Hightower, Beacon of the South, Defender of the Citadel, and voice of Oldtown, promise to be faithful to King Viserys and his named heir, the Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. I pledge featly to them and shall defend them against all enemies in good faith and without deceit. I swear this by the old gods and new."

While the lords pledged their loyalty and fatality to the new heir, the old heir was angry at his brother and the world because, again, he was pushed to the side by his brother and was forced to abbandon Lillain, leaving her alone with the snakes.

"I, Boremund Bartheon, promise to be faithful to King Viserys and his named heir, the Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. I pledge featly to them and shall defend them against all enemies in good faith and without deceit. I swear this by the old gods and new."

Lord after lord, house after house, pledged their loyalty and feats to the king and new heir, Princess Rhaenyra Targareyn.

Rhaenyra faced the lords and ladies who filled the throne room before making eye contact with Alicent, who received a smile, making her stand taller, before she looked at Lilly, who smiled and nodded to her.

"I, Viserys Targaryen, first of his name, king of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the seven kingdoms and protector of the realm, hereby name Rhaenyra Targaryen princess of dragonstone and heir to the iron throne."

All the lords and ladies, or those who held positions above the common folk in the throne room, bowed to the king's new heir, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, who was now the first female heir and would be the first woman to sit on the iron throne and rule. When the king passed, she would inherit dragonstone and seven kingdoms with many years of peace.

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"How could you let this happen?" Otto shouted at Lilly as she quietly sobbed from her seat on the couch, not used to her father's anger.

"I tried, father. I really did. He was adamant about naming Rhaenyra his heir. I'm sorry, but there was nothing I could have done." Lilly cried, whimpering in pain, as her father grabbed her cheeks harshly.

"That is where you are wrong," he said, letting go of her face. "You can make the king choose you as his next wife; you can give him a son, a true and proper heir." Otto said as he poured himself wine.

"I haven't even bled. The septa told me at my lessons that one is ready for marriage and children; once they bleed, I haven't begun my cycle," Lilly said, trying to give him a reason to change his mind.

"You will bleed soon. You are nearly ten and two. Many ladies bleed by then. Get out of my sight. I do not wish to see your face. Such a disappointment." He said he was making her stand up and walk to his door.

"If you manage to marry the king, Alicent will stay here with you and the princess, and she will have full range to marry whomever she pleases. Common folk, Lord, I dont care, but only if you marry the king and forget Lord Calloswerth, because if you fail, I will marry you to someone much worse and far from here, so you will never see your precious friend and sister," otto said, knowing it would get through to his young daughter.

"Yes, father, I understand," Lilly whispered before leaving his chambers to go to her own.