HOTD SI: The Bloody Prince (OC x Rhaenyra)(OC x Alicent)

Part 21

Chapter 21

RHAENYRA TARGARYEN

The grief from her mother's death still lingered heavily in her heart. A few days had passed since the funeral, as Rhaenyra found herself all alone in the castle that was her home. Riding on Syrax, watching knights spar, and all the other activities that lit up a fire in her heartfelt dry and brought her little to no joy.

The whole castle shared in her grief, and there was palpable tension in the air. Tension she associated with the loss of her mother. Her father had also secluded himself in his chambers in mourning, and she had heard that he had cancelled all the Council Meetings for days since the funeral.

In that pit of grief, she turned toward the glimmer of hope as she recalled a long-forgotten conversation with her dearest friend. And so, one day, she rose early in the morning just as the first rays of the Sun cut through the darkness of the night and turned towards the servants.

"I want to go to the Sept," she asked, and their surprise was rather apparent, for she could be accused of many things, but being religious was not one of them. And yet for some reason, Alicent's words from way back then still lingered on in her memory.

And speaking of that friend, she had been rather absent for the last few weeks. A servant had come and told her that Alicent was sick, down with a fever, and thought it best that the Princess did not visit her lest she catch on the illness.

Though she doubted she would miss her visits to the Sept, and in this way, she would also get to meet Aegon, who had been sparse as well. He did visit her, but even he seemed tense and lost, for some reason.

"As you say, Princess. " Soon enough, she was draped in a modest dress and left for the September. Her heart thrummed in her chest, a sense of unease and trepidation gnawing at her as she stared at those doors. And then, with a final sigh, she pushed open the doors and walked into the massive September.

Being this early meant there was no one in the sept, with only the septas doing the cleaning. It was empty, except for a solitary soul sitting there infront of the candles, praying.

Alicent was here.

She walked upto her, motioning for the servants to stand back as she walked upto her friend, who was so engrossed in her prayer that she missed her approaching her, and to her surprise, she saw two guards sitting on the benches beside her, two Hightower guards who seemed rather well armed for a simple patrol duty.

"I knew I would find you here," she whispered as she knelt down beside her and saw Alicent finally open her eyes as she looked towards her.

"Rhaenyra," she seemed to gasp out, seemingly taken aback as she saw her gulp down nervously, and she did not miss how she instinctively reached for her neck for some reason. And her choice of dress was odd as well.

It was summer, yet she wore a winter dress that covered even her neck. Yet she did not care too much, maybe it was because of her fever.

"How are you feeling?" she asked, for Alicent seemed too awestruck to speak up. Her words broke her out of her trance as she nodded.

"Better," she answered quickly as she wet her lips and then found her eyes falling to the ground.

"I apologize for my absence in the last few days. I should have been there by your side..." she began, and Rhaenyra cut her off.

"It's fine," she said reassuringly as she gripped her hand and smiled.

"You need to take care of yourself first," she said and Alicent nodded as she gave her a fragile smile before turning to look up at the statues of the Gods.