BELOW ZERO: The Green Knight & The Winter Wolf VOL 3 (Cregan Stark x OC)

PROLOGUE

Prologue:

"So the matter is settled then... Jacerys and Helaena will wed once both come of age. Helaena will be queen while Jacerys is king." Queen Alicent said without even looking in Rhaenyra's direction. She kept her gaze on the table that was keeping the distance between them.

Rhaenyra took note of that and turned her own tired gaze to her father, King Viserys Targaryen, who was smiling like the fool he was. He never wanted to see his second wife for what she truly was when it came to Rhaenyra and her children. Although today was the exception, for Alicent agreed to wed her only daughter to Rhaenyra's first-born son.

King Viserys smiled at his eldest daughter and took a sip of his wine. "Now, we must discuss Princess Alana."

Jacerys's twin sister. Rhaenyra had hoped to wed her to Aegon and keep her living in the Red Keep for as long as possible but Alicent had already secured a match between Aegon and a girl of Storm's End a few years prior.

"Aemond, perhaps?" Rhaenyra meant to keep that thought in her head until it had been spoken elsewhere.

Queen Alicent shook her head. "No, not Aemond. Perhaps we could find her someone more suitable."

"Aemond wishes to be a knight someday, Your Grace. I find that comforting if he decides to take up residence here in the Red Keep. Alana will always have a place at court." Rhaenyra explained.

King Viserys did not wish to hear of it.

"She is a princess and my granddaughter. I will see her wed to someone who inherits land and titles. Aemond unfortunately does not. He is far down the line of succession and unless a plague strikes us all down and leaves just him and Alana there is nothing for him to give her." He explained before looking up at his own Hand. "Lord Otto," He smiled. "How is your son?"

"Gwayne is a gallant knight, Your Grace."

"And not suitable for a girl of Alana's age." Alicent chimed in quickly. "He's just turned twenty."

"Alana is twelve." Viserys said. "She has years before she would have to even court him, Alicent. Do you not know how many years there are between you and myself? I find that we have much in common and we enjoy each other's company. We've had four children after all-"

Rhaenyra had to keep herself from gagging aloud hearing her father speak of what he and the queen do in their private chambers. It wouldn't be as bothersome if he was just some king speaking that way, but since he is her father and Alicent was once her best friend.. It turned her already weakened stomach.

"That is not the point, Viserys, and you know that. May we speak of this matter privately?" Alicent seethed through her teeth.

"No we may not." Viserys countered. "Because you do not get a say in this. You are not his mother.. Lord Otto, pray tell, do you approve of a union between House Hightower and House Velaryon? Your son is heir to Oldtown, is he not?"

"He is, Your Grace." Otto nodded but his face remained stone cold as though he were at a funeral. His eyes shifted to Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen as she sank lower into her seat. "Princess Rhaenyra, I do not wish to have the final say in this. I will leave the decision up to you."

Leave the decision to me, Old Lord Otto? I would sooner send my daughter to the savages of the north than to wed your imbecile son. Rhaenyra had to fight the urge to say the words aloud to him. Her tongue would soon begin to bleed from how hard she'd been biting it during this small council meeting

With the huff of a breath she shrugged ever so slightly. She knew she had to keep the peace and even if she and Otto Hightower both agreed that Alana and Gwayne shall not court nor wed, King Viserys would still push the union. He is the king after all.

"I do not want for Alana to even meet him until she is of age. The will court here in King's Landing and once they are wed they will remain here until he has no choice but to return to Oldtown. Fair?"

Otto gave a single nod. "Fair."

"I want to host a dinner." Viserys said with a smile. "Invite Daemon and Laena and their children. Rhaenys and Corlys too. I want to celebrate the betrothals!"

"Celebrate the betrothals yet Gwayne will not be here because Princess Rhaenyra just said she does not wish for her daughter to meet him until she is of age. To which I strongly agree with her." Alicent said. "We can celebrate Jacerys and Helaena but we will wait until Rhaenyra deems her daughter as ready before we have an engagement dinner for Alana and Gwayne."

Rhaenyra also agreed to that. "Thank you, Your Grace." She said to Alicent.

Alicent smiled at her as her cheeks flushed scarlet. Looking down from the Princess of Westeros and heir to the iron throne and picking at the skin around her nails. A horrid habit that Rhaenyra knew she'd never kicked even since their days of girlhood.

Days that swirled in Rhaenyra's memory and sometimes took her breath away. Wishing she could go back to simpler times. Times when nothing mattered aside the two of them... She kept her eyes on the queen as she gracefully rounded the table to grab a quill and ink to write to her brother about the betrothal.

This woman will drive me to nothing short of madness... Rhaenyra thought to herself as she watched Alicent's every move on this very day.

It was apparent that Alicent took notice of this and blushed even hotter. Once the meeting was called to an end, Rhaenyra had scurried back off to her chambers. Trying to process all that has happened in just this one day.

Hours go by and the sun rests in the sky and the moon rises. Rhaenyra finds herself pacing the halls of the Red Keep in darkness with nothing but a candle in her hands. Her night gown flowing with her silk robe in the breeze from the open windows that she passes by.

She stops by one of the biggest windows in the keep that looks over the harbor. She exhales and feels a presence aside her. When she turns her head she sees Alicent standing there in her robe with her long curls cascading down her back.

"My grandchildren will be your nieces and nephews... But then my other grandchildren will be your grandchildren as well..." Rhaenyra said with a tang of shock and annoyance. "How do we continue to let these men in power control what happens to girls who are too young to choose for themselves?"

Alicent sniffles and places her hand over Rhaenyra's. "You and I are victims to them as well."

Rhaenyra nodded. "I can only hope that when Jacerys is king he will implement new rules and create a new normal. I did not want this for my daughter.. To have her hand pushed where she does not want it."

"Have you told her yet?" Alicent asked curiously as her thumb grazed over the top of Rhaenyra's hand.

She shook her head. "She was so happy to hear of Jacerys and Helaena... I did not want to crush her with such a burden. How did Helaena take the news?"

A smirk curled on Alicent's lips. "She is fond of him... She asked if he would like to come to her chamber soon and see her insect collection. I told her I'd speak with you first."

A nod from the princess. "Of course... Jacerys would love nothing more than to spend time with her and learning of her likes and dislikes. Perhaps she can share her passions with him as well."

"Do you remember when we wished to run away from here..." Alicent said. "We wanted nothing more than to go to the Free Cities and be.. Free."

"You've kept my secrets for so long Alicent... You could have told Viserys about me and Harwin... That Laenor is-"

"Like us?" Alicent turned to look at Rhaenyra. "Why would I ever do such a thing? You and I have a duty to have children. Laenor cannot provide that and... You and I cannot put children in each other..." 

Rhaenyra smiled. "Shall we go pretend that we can though?" 

And so they did.