Full Bloom / Alicent Hightower x OC Male

8. There She Is

'Welcome back, Princess. I trust your ride was pleasant.' Ser Harrold Westerling remarked as Rhaenyra slide from the dragons back.

" there she is." Miguel drawled.

" and watch out here she comes." Alicent agreed.

'Try not to look too relieved, ser.' Rhaenyra said with a grin as she walked past him and her dragon was brought back into the cave. Targaryen's and their dragons.

" I suppose I should get going don't want to be seen caught talking to the lady alicent hightower. My reputation would just be destroyed." he teased.

" I'll find you later."

" please do or else I'll have to come hunting you down." Miguel agreed kissing her hand. "My lady."

"My Miguel." She answered.

'I am relieved. Every time that golden beast brings you back unspoiled, it saves my head from a spike.' Westerling called after her but she ignored him as she always did when it came to his or anyone else's concerns with her dragons. Including her mother, she didn't understand. No one seemed to understand her obsession except perhaps maybe her uncle. Who happened to be a monstrosity of a man that no one seem to trust and yet he was commander of the guard. 

'Syrax is growing quickly. She'll soon be as large as Caraxes.' Alicent remarked her gaze shifting away from Miguel towards her friend

'That's almost large enough to saddle two.' Rhaenyra told alicent. But Rhaenyra was the wild one and Alicent the tame. Even in her relationship with Miguel, she was very tame only stolen kisses and handholding that was as far as she would go because she was a lady. She couldn't have her reputation tainted even for a man she loved because she knew they would never be together not really. And he seemed OK with their stolen moments at least for now Although her mind wandered to what would feel like with him. To have more.

'I believe I'm quite content as a spectator, thank you.' Alicent assured her as the dragon keeper Elder started speaking in High Valyrian talking to the dragon trying to get her calm and come inside.

'Dohaeras.' Syrax grumbled and gave little roar of distaste of being stuck and not flying around. Alicent tensed at the dragons growl as she struggled to be put back into the pit. Alicent wondered if the dragons really wanted if they could just fly away and do whatever they wanted if anyone would be able to stop them... were these claimed dragons? The thought crossed her mind on occasion, especially when the dragons were not listening to the dragon trainers who were supposedly in control. 'Naejot!' he demanded and Syrax roared again as she was moved into her holding with much grumbling and complaining

Rhaenyra watched her before realizing how later she was. She made her way quickly to her mother side, the baby was due any day now. Alicent chased after her. The sound of horses neighing, birds cawing as she got inside caught her attention. The closer she got the slower she walked, a pace suitable of a princess.

" any day now don't you think?" Alicent questioned. "The delivery of another child..."

" my father thinks the babe will arrive on the day of the tournament. That my mother will finally give him a son." Rhaenyra drawled pushing the doors open.

'Ah... Rhaenyra. You know I don't like you to go flying while I'm in this condition.' Queen Aemma told her daughter with a cluck of her tongue.

'You don't like me to go flying while you're in any condition.' Rhaenyra corrected.

'Your Grace.' Alicent said curtsying before the queen. She always like the queen the queen was kind and compassionate. She had a sweet smile and she had lost so many children. It seemed unfair for a woman to have to constantly be subjected to such things. But she was the queen and she had to give them-the realms and the king a son. A proper heir.

'Good morrow, Alicent.' Aemma said kindly.

'Did you sleep?' Rhaenyra questioned her mother.

'I slept.'

'How long?' she pushed and Aemma chuckled.

Alicent found it funny that her friend seemly only cared for one person, her mother. She use the term friend loosely when it came to the princess because although they did see each other every day lessons together and So much more. Rhaenyra only ever cared for rhaenyra. She wondered if she told her about Miguel what she would say if there would be anything worth saying or if she would rat her out to her father because if it wasn't the rhaenyra  show the princess did not care. She liked to be the center of attention, which was why she was constantly late for council meetings, which was why she was always smelling of dragons smoke, she always provoked everyone in superior power. because she liked the attention and even scolding, all eyes were focused on her.

'I don't need mothering, Rhaenyra.' She reminded her.

'Well, here you are, surrounded by attendants, all focused on the babe. Someone has to attend to you.' Rhaenyra told her confidently.

Alicent would've faded into the background like a wallflower. Maybe that was why her and Miguel got along so well he blended into the background and she wanted to blend right with him.

'You will lie in this bed soon enough, Rhaenyra. This discomfort is how we serve the realm.' Aemma told her solemnly.

'I'd rather serve as a knight and ride to battle and glory.' Rhaenyra told her and there was a murmur of laughter around the room to which Rhaenyra shot a glare back at them. She was meant for things bigger than marriage and babies. Alicent knew the truth of it being a woman. They were born for babies. it was the men that were Destin for more, but the women were destined to grow plump with babies time after time again. Rhaenyra would see that soon enough being the princess she should've already known this.

'We have royal wombs, you and I. The child bed is our battlefield. We must learn to face it with a stiff lip. Now take a bath. You stink of dragon.' Aemma said kissing her daughters cheek.

"Where are you off to? " rhaenyra questioned as Alicent started off quickly down the hall.

"You realize you're supposed to be at a council meeting right now being your father's cup bearer." Alicent reminded her.

"But you see you are not so where are you running off to? " Rhaenyra questioned.

"I long for solitude." Alicent answered.

" why are you lying to me?"

" I'm not lying you're busy and I can't join you for council meetings... so I will tend to my studies." Alicent corrected. " perhaps I will see you after."

" OK weirdo." Rhaenyra agreed heading off.