Fire of Passion and Thrones

Chapter 8: The Danger

After the argument, the princess felt utterly weak. She was consumed by anger at herself, finally realizing the extent of the damage she had caused to the love of her life and their child. She should have been their protector, but instead, she had become a threat. The realization shattered her and she began to cry uncontrollably. She wished she could turn back time and undo her mistakes, but that was impossible. Sitting outside on the stairs, she wept quietly until exhaustion overcame her, and she eventually fell asleep.

Outside, it was eerily quiet, but inside the castle, chaos reigned. Everyone seemed to be running in different directions, unsure of where they were headed. The king was awake, his face etched with sadness, while the masters rushed to the queen's chamber, their expressions grave. The aftermath of the fight had left a mess, and it was clear something was terribly wrong.

Alicent had started bleeding, and the danger of losing the child loomed over her like a shadow. She knew it all too well, feeling it deep within her. Fear gripped her heart. Although there were people everywhere, Alicent felt utterly alone. The only person she truly needed wasn't there. 

Thankfully, Ser Harwin Strong had been the one to find her. Realizing the urgency of the situation, he immediately ran to find Princess Rhaenyra, determined to inform her about the queen's precarious condition. He searched tirelessly, hoping to find her in time.

A few minutes later, the pain was gone. The queen and the baby were fine and there was nothing dangerous. Though Alicent had been crying, she eventually fell into a deep sleep. She slept like an angel, her breathing calm and steady. 

Finally, Ser Harwin Strong found the princess. "Rhaenyra, you should come to Alicent, now," he urged.

Rhaenyra hesitated. "I don't think she wants to see me. We argued, and—"

"I was looking for you," Ser Harwin interrupted, his voice urgent. "She started bleeding. She was in pain and wanted you to be with her. I couldn't find you in time. Now I don't know how she is. Let's go, hurry up."

Fear gripped Rhaenyra as she ran towards the queen's chambers. Along the way, she encountered several servants who detailed the queen's condition. Her heart pounded with guilt and anxiety as she listened. Upon reaching the chamber, Rhaenyra quietly dismissed the servants, insisting that she be left alone with the queen. As they exited, she approached the bed where Alicent lay, a lone tear escaping her eye. Rhaenyra gently reached out and kissed the queen's forehead, her voice a soft whisper as she spoke a single word, "Sorry." She repeated it over and over, her heart aching with regret. Settling beside Alicent, Rhaenyra took her hand and gazed at her beautiful, brave, and perfect queen. She stayed by her side throughout the night, never once looking away.

The sun rose, casting a warm glow over the room. Rhaenyra was still holding the queen's hand, watching her carefully. As Alicent opened her eyes gently, the first thing she saw was Rhaenyra. After a few seconds, Alicent placed her hand on her belly, looking terrified.

"Everything is fine," the princess said softly. "Both of you are fine. Do you need anything, my love?" Rhaenyra gently placed her hand on the queen's cheek.

Alicent took a deep breath, unsure of what she wanted to do. She remembered the promise she had made a few months ago about punishing Rhaenyra if their child was ever put in danger because of her. And yesterday, it had all happened because of Rhaenyra. Alicent felt furious. But on the other hand, here she was, with Rhaenyra by her side. No one else was around them. With this gentle touch, she felt something different—something that had been missing for these months. She didn't want to lose it again. But she knew she had to say something.

"When it happened, where were you?" Alicent demanded, her voice laced with emotion. "I demand you to be here, but you were missing. Please, tell me the truth. Were you fucking—"

Rhaenyra interrupted her, "I swear on the memory of my mother, no. I was outside, furious because of my actions. I was crying, and I didn't even realize when I fell asleep. Harwin found me and informed me about your condition. When I came, you were already sleeping. They told me there was nothing to worry about. I stayed with you the whole night, Alicent. Please, trust me."

Alicent saw the tears in her lover's eyes. She felt that her stepdaughter was telling the truth.

"I was so afraid, Rhaenyra. The thought of losing the baby—" Alicent started crying, her words breaking into sobs. She couldn't even finish the sentence, the fear still raw in her voice.

"Shhh," Rhaenyra whispered soothingly. "All the bad is in the past now. You're safe and nothing will happen to you or our baby." The heir to the Iron Throne gently wrapped her arms around the queen's waist and comfort her.

They held each other in a tender embrace for several minutes. When they finally pulled apart, Alicent looked into the crystal blue eyes of her stepdaughter. Her expression was a mix of vulnerability and yearning.

"I needed you, Rhaenyra," Alicent confessed, her voice tinged with longing. "I just wanted you to be there, but..."

She paused, unable to continue. The weight of her words hung in the air.

Rhaenyra, feeling a swell of emotion, stood up, intending to leave. She feared that staying would only lead to more arguments and strain between them. But to her surprise, Alicent reached out and grasped her wrist.

"Please, don't go. Don't leave us again," Alicent pleaded softly, her voice laced with fear and desperation. "We need you. Please stay."

Rhaenyra was taken aback. She hadn't expected this vulnerability from Alicent. Her heart softened and she knew there was no other place she wanted to be at that moment.

She climbed onto the bed beside Alicent, Rhaenyra hugged her gently, then placed her hand tenderly on her lover's swollen belly. She spoke softly to the unborn child, her voice filled with love and sincerity.

"Hello, little one. I'm your other mother. You might recognize my voice, but I haven't had the chance to introduce myself to you. I'm Rhaenyra, just your mother and your mother's lover. I love you and your mother more than anything or anyone else in this world. I've made mistakes, ones that have caused problems and I'm truly sorry for them. I promise to you and your mother that I won't do anything to harm you. I'll protect you at any cost, always and forever. Can you forgive me, my little angel? If you do, then maybe your breathtaking, angelic and perfect mother will forgive me too."

Rhaenyra pressed soft kisses on Alicent's belly, sealing her words with a tender promise.

Alicent's heart swelled with emotion, tears streaming down her face. She felt something she hadn't experienced before—a profound sense of safety, love and warmth. Unable to resist, she leaned in and kissed the princess.

"No more heartbreaks, Rhaenyra Targaryen," Alicent said with a sweet, hopeful smile.

Rhaenyra returned the smile, her heart lighter than it had been in a long time. "No more heartbreaks, Alicent Hightower," she said and they both giggled softly, finding solace in each other's arms.