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Alicent had slept through the night without being awakened by her guards to say her husband needed her attention. Perhaps she should have known that something was wrong and woke up. It wasn’t until she heard the clanking of armor outside of her door did she wake. “What is it?” She called as the door opened to see her sworn protector on the other side.
“You are required in the King’s chambers, your grace. Come quickly.” She donned her dressing gown and slippers, rushing through the halls to see Princess Rhaenyra and Prince Daemon already in the room. Rhaenyra had tears rolling down her face, openly weeping and Alicent’s heart sank.
“Is he?” Her voice shook. They hadn’t shared a bed since Daraeon was born but in his old age, they’d grown to be friends again.
“He’s gone, Alicent,” Rhaenyra lifted her head from Daemon’s chest. “He passed in the night from the looks of it.” The princess wiped a few tears from her cheeks as she stepped towards the queen. Alicent felt her own tears begin to slide down her cheeks. Before either of the women could speak again, Otto stepped inside the room, sighing heavily and beginning to take charge, demanding all of them leave the room.
“Stop, Father.” Alicent turned to him, tears falling and hitting her dressing gown.
“We have to prepare,” he attempted to sway her.
“No. You are not going to prepare anything, Lord Hand. Your position is at the Queen’s Pleasure.” Otto raised an eyebrow at her as if he was going to berate her right then, but Alicent turned towards Rhaenyra and lowered her head. “My Queen.”
Rhaenyra lifted Alicent’s chin up to her eyes, “My friend, you need not lower your head before anyone. My lord, you may leave us to mourn. What you may prepare is a statement for court about the King’s passing that I will say.” Her arm slid through Alicent’s, leading her over to the bed where the King lay. Rhaenyra reached out to move the bandage over his face and folded his hands across his chest. Her own tears flowed anew. “I should have been here.”
“Do not blame yourself, Rhaenyra. He loved you. His actions yesterday were proof of that.” Alicent squeezed her friend’s arm, giving her a look. “He loved you more than anything.” It caused Rhaenyra to began to sob. Daemon quickly moved across the room but Rhaenyra had already turned into Alicent’s body and held her tightly. He stepped to the side, looking at his brother with his own grief, but he did not separate the two women. He only smoothed Rhaenyra’s hair and kissed her head. He sat on the edge of the bed, holding his brother’s cold hand. Yesterday had mended several wounds between them. He’d been by his side in the moment that he didn’t allow anyone else to help him in, that’s all that mattered.
Alicent murmured softly to Rhaenyra, calming her and bringing her away from the bed, into a hallway alcove so that they might speak privately. It also allowed his children and grandchildren to come say goodbye to the King as well. Daemon was the only one that remained in the room.
“Do you remember… when your father spoke about Aegon’s dream?” Rhaenyra’s eyes cleared for a moment. “You do.” Alicent swallowed. “He was speaking in riddles when I gave him milk of the poppy before bed. He spoke of the prince that way promised… I could not understand it.”
“Stay here,” Rhaenyra said while holding up a finger. She went into the room and was gone for a moment long enough for Alicent to come out of the alcove to go in and look. Instead, Rhaenyra came back out, hiding the smoking dagger that the King had kept so close. Her hands came up to defend herself, but Rhaenyra dragged her back into the alcove. “This. This is what he meant.” Alicent’s eyes drew down to the blade and her mouth opened.
“There’s text…”
“Yes. It’s in Old Valyrian. Father passed the knowledge down to me. I must unite the realm for all of our sakes.” Rhaenyra explained, her finger hovering over the words as she said the prophecy out loud in a hushed whisper, only for Alicent’s ears. “Father told me that our survival as a people may count on it.”
“Then we’ll do it.” Alicent squeezed Rhaenyra’s fingers. Oh how long they had wanted to reunite. Her father was wrong. Rhaenyra was not threatened by her siblings, but by the threat Aegon had spoken about. Something bigger than their houses or their blood. A true threat. “I will stand beside you, My Queen.” Tears welled up in the woman’s purple eyes as she kissed Alicent’s cheek.