Full Bloom / Alicent Hightower x OC Male

20. Romeo

" you know, I was debating scaling your window, but these vines..." he gestured up and down the side of their house "are not sturdy enough to carry my weight. Or else I would've."

" OK Romeo." Alicent chuckled.

" are you pleased to know that I would scale buildings for you?"

" I wouldn't want you getting hurt, but if I was ever trapped in tower like a damsel in distress, I would love to come and rescue me." Alicent assured.

" I would just use my wit and my charm and... my botanist skills." Miguel agreed. " my knowledge of plants would certainly get me somewhere in life."

" I think it's quite a useful skill."

" I know which plants are poisonous which help with healing it is useful. I'm sure I could poison the guards and make my way sneakily through the castle. You're trapped in...."

" and what would you say when you found me?"

" I think the question my dearest is what would you say when I came bursting through the door as your hero?" Miguel questioned  Alicent debated that as she wrapped her arms around him.

" what took you so long?" She teased.

" fair enough." Miguel chuckled kissing her.

'It's only been half a year since my mother died, and already they tried to marry my father off and replace me as heir. I know those men and how they plot in their secret councils when I've been sent away.' Rhaenyra muttered.

"You cannot worry at the matters of lords and kings, Rhaenyra." Alicent reminded her, hesitantly she kept going. "What if your father were to remarry?" She had been thinking more and more of her own marriage, her impending marriage she assumed... she wondered what it would be like when she was married to some old fat Lord forced to push out babies until the day she died. The queen was the queen and yet she didn't really have much of a life.

Rhaenyra stared at her disgusted by the thought of her father getting remarried.

'Your father loves you. He chose you for his heir." Alicent added.

"He didn't choose me. He spurns Daemon." Rhaenyra corrected. Which was correct. But viserys did love his daughter. She also happened to be the only choice in heirs so... she was default heir. Alicent sucked in a tight breath.

"Kneel with me. I find this is a way to be with my mother. Here in the quiet of the Sept... I feel close to her. I know it sounds foolish." Alicent remarked. She realized that in this place of silence and candles her thoughts got to wander and she got to sit beside Miguel hands clasped. But no one looked at them funny no one thought anything strange just the two of them praying.

"I don't think it's foolish." Rhaenyra told her and Alicent looked at her in disbelief. "I don't." she confirmed.

"Good... because I thought you might try. I... If not for me, then, perhaps for them." and Rhaenyra let out a long sigh. Alicent prayed that she had the courage to tell her father about miguel.

"What do I say?" Rhaenyra pondered.

"Whatever you wish. It's only for you and the gods to know." Alicent reminded her.

"I want him to see me as more than his little girl." Rhaenyra admitted.

"Mine own father does not know the language of girls either." Alicent informed her making Rhaenyra chuckle. The language of girls was strange. She didn't understand her best friend most of the time and yet she felt so comfortable in her skin for the first time since she met Miguel. She always felt out of place in the capital because her father was hand of the King and her best friend was the princess, but she was the daughter of a second born son at her core. The girl that had lost her mother. The girl that always felt like she was trying to be the best to keep up with the Royals around her. Until Miguel. She didn't feel like she needed to be someone else or try to be this person that she wasn't.

'When I wish to talk with him... I know that I must make the effort."

"Do you have a specific course of action to propose, my lord?" Viserys questioned.

"Join our families. Wed our daughter, Laena." Corlys told him and Viserys face pinched. "Unite the two great surviving Valyrian houses. With the Targaryen dragons and the Velaryon fleet bound in blood, you can show the realm that The Crown's strongest days are ahead... not behind." Viserys couldn't look at him he turned the room, trying to maintain his composure.

"I must admit... I haven't given marriage much thought. It hasn't even been half a year since Aemma passed." Viserys reminded him.

" The realm expects you to take a new wife soon or late, Your Grace, to strengthen your line and produce more heirs. You could not ask for a stronger match than Laena."

"I heard that the king is looking for a bride." Miguel remarked setting up a picnic for them. Alicent felt her throat go dry. "His wife hasnt been dead all that long, the poor man, he's being forced to marry no doubt."

"Did you hear who?" Alicent questioned taking a long sip of wine.

"No." Miguel admitted. "But lord Corlys Velaryon was coming out of his chambers looking quite smug." Alicent chuckled hoping he was right and that they had struck a deal.

" his daughter is more child than us."

" we are not children, my dear we are grown-ups."

" do you really think 10 and six to be a grown-up?" Alicent pondered. Maybe if she truly thought of herself as a grown-up she wouldn't need her father's permission her father's blessing she could just do what she wanted to do. Be who She wanted to be and love who she wanted to love. 

" we're grown enough to do many things like kissing the park and hold hands in the dark."