Heir of Shadows, Rhaenyra x Alicent

Chapter 9. Dragonstone

Rhaenyra left for Dragonstone a few days before Alicent. The flight only took a day due to the calm weather. She had not had the chance to fly Syrax much since returning from war so it was nice to be up in the sky again. 

When she arrived at Dragonstone she was greeted by servants. "Your Highness, please follow me." A young girl said, leading her through the castle.

She had not been to the island in years but it had not changed much since she was last there. She was sure Alicent would change that, the girl had always enjoyed decorating and now had an entire fortress to spruce up. 

Her first few days at Dragonstone consisted mainly of unloading her luggage, assigning rooms to her servants and guards, and preparing the castle for Alicent's arrival. Most of the guards and handmaidens were coming over with Alicent, Edya included, so she was stuck with a handful of staff and Ser Harrold Westerling.

It was quite lonely on the island but she knew Alicent would be arriving any day, so it was only a matter of time before the quiet walls were filled with chatter and joy. 

Every evening before she went to bed she went on a walk around the castle grounds to admire the scenery. That night was particularly peaceful, almost eerily so. As she was about to head back to her chambers a handmaiden she did not recognise stopped her in an empty hallway. 

"Your Highness... the White Worm wishes to speak to you tonight. Meet her at the beach during the hour of the wolf."

Rhaenyra's eyes widened, she had heard rumours of the mysterious 'White Worm', an unknown individual who had spies planted across King's Landing. She had figured a few of the servants at King's Landing would work for the spymaster, but having a spy this far out? Perhaps this 'White Worm' was more powerful than she had thought.

 Before Rhaenyra could question the servant she disappeared down one of the corridors. "Wait!" she called but it was too late.

She thought about telling Ser Harrold but did not want to worry the guard unnecessarily and she suspected if she told anyone the White Worm would not show. Rhaenyra knew it was risky but needed to know what the spymaster wanted, so she gave Harrold the night off and snuck out of the castle.

Rhaenyra arrived at the beach early so she had to wait a while. She sat on a rock and stared out to sea, wondering how Alicent was doing on the ship. She often found herself thinking of Alicent when she looked at the sea and wondered if Alicent also looked upon the water and thought of her. She hoped she did.

When the moon rose high in the sky Rhaenyra suddenly felt like someone was watching her. She stood and looked around but could see no one in the darkness. "Hello? Is someone there?" She called out.

"Princess."

She spun around and came face to face with a hooded figure. "Who.. who are you? Are you the White Worm?"

The figure laughed, the voice sounded so familiar to Rhaenyra but she could not place her finger on where she had heard it before. 

"You still do not know?" the figure asked. "Shame, I thought you were smarter than that."

The person reached up and pulled off their cloak. Rhaenyra was not sure what she had expected to see, but it certainly was not Mysaria.

She had not seen nor heard from the whore since their time spent together at the Stepstones and yet here she stood. "What? Mysaria? How.." 

Mysaria smiled. "Princess.. how nice it is to see you again. My my you have grown."

Rhaenyra shifted awkwardly under the older woman's stare. "You are the White Worm?" she asked.