Chapter Text
First Moon of 110 AC
Alicent would never admit it, but she had been intrigued by Daemon Targaryen, hearing stories about Lord Fleebottom before she arrived at King's Landing and after when she was ten. She was intrigued by him even though her father never liked Daemon Targaryen. He loathed the younger prince.
Otto grounded his teeth, smiling at the proclamation that King Viserys and Queen Aemma spoke, announcing the betrothal between Lady Alicent Hightower and Prince Daemon Targaryen. The thirteen-year-old lady was smiling and graciously thanked the King and Queen. Daemon merely smiled. Alicent wasn't sure whether he was angry or smug. Probably smug, is what she thought. Rhaenyra looked pleased, even if there was a tightness in her smile.
Alicent picked at her fingers, drawing blood for the entire night of the feast.
Many were upset, but she wasn't one of them.
The next day the Queen summoned her for some tea. Alicent curtsied, smoothing her lavender dress. Aemma was sitting on a loveseat, with her feet propped up and her belly swollen. She looked tired as Alicent sat down across from her, smiling. "How are you feeling, Your Grace?"
"I am well as I can be, Lady Alicent," She told her. "I should ask you that same question, dear. Have you and Daemon talked?"
Alicent shook her head. She hadn't seen Daemon since their betrothal was announced a day ago. Alicent had wanted to talk to him, but her father had delayed her. (More like forbade her.) Otto Hightower wasn't pleased with this, but he couldn't change the King's mind, especially because Viserys kept touting that it was Aemma's brilliant plan. The Hand of the King was not happy at all.
"He will come to you, Alicent. Daemon is many things, but he is loyal, and he is," Aemma smiled as she looked past Alicent's shoulder. "... Right here."
Alicent whipped her head around to see Prince Daemon. He held something behind his back as he bowed to his good sister. "Your Grace," His violet eyes flickered and stayed on Alicent. "Lady Alicent."
"Your Highness," She murmured, trying not to feel the heat on her face from his piercing look.
"To what do I owe the pleasure, Daemon?" Aemma asked.
"I came to see my betrothed. One of the guards said she came to spend time with you." He came forward and stood in front of Alicent, towering over her. He thrust out his hand and had a lovely necklace in his gloved hand. "For you, my lady."
Alicent blinked, surprised, and she gently took it. It had the Targaryen symbol of the three-headed dragons. It was cold and smooth, with green jewels surrounding the neckline. "Made of Valyrian and emerald?"
Now it was Daemon to look a bit surprised, then amused. "Good eye, Lady Alicent."
He stood behind her, and Alicent moved her hair to the right side, giving him access to putting the necklace on. It felt cold around her neck when he clasped it, letting it fall around her. Daemon walked around her to see her and murmured, "Beautiful."
It made Alicent blush and Aemma chuckle. "Thank you, my prince."
Her mind was still on Queen Aemma. She was concerned for the Queen and future good-sister. It seemed it had been written on her face because Daemon looked at her, still smiling, and held out his arm. "shall we?"
Aemma didn't object to Alicent leaving, and the young woman was swept away by her betrothed. They walked out of the chambers down the halls of the Red Keep. Alicent kept seeking glances at Daemon, who seemed to be very quiet. They haven't spoken to each other yet. Here he is, giving her a necklace!
"Everyone in this place pities you," Daemon finally broke the quiet, glancing her way.
Alicent shrugged. "I try not to listen to gossip. I am pleased with this match, and I hope you feel the same." His lips curved upwards as if he was pleased. Maybe he was.
Days blur as wedding preparations are in order. Rhaenyra helped, but Alicent felt her friend was upset over this. Upset over Alicent marrying her Uncle... She tries not to let it get to her, even as Rhaenyra's Valyrian eyes pierce into hers whenever they talk in the Godswood. As if Alicent had stepped on her toes or taken a toy. They had not spoken to one another since.
They continued to walk every day past the servants before coming to Godswood. Every time. The tree while many thought it odd or frightening, Alicent liked the tree and the peace this area of the Red Keep brought. She closed her eyes for a few seconds and almost heard Rhaenyra's voice calling her before she opened her eyes to the present. She was to be married to Prince Daemon Targaryen. It still did not sink in even as her dress was made and the preparations with Aemma. Her father was not pleased, but he could do nothing about it. The marriage would go on, and Queen Aemma was pleased with the news.
Aemma even presented crowns for Alicent to try on for the wedding, Rhaenyra sulking in the corner. Yet Alicent seemed to enjoy the time with Queen Aemma, who was preparing her for the role of a princess of the realm and to be Daemon's wife.
Even with the joys and turbulent times of the wedding, Alicent found herself almost every night in the library. She would curl up with a book as footsteps could be heard but were too engrossed in words to pay attention.
"Enjoying the tale, pretty bird?" Daemon's voice interrupted her concentration. Alicent looked up. He was amused as he looked at her.
She nodded, a smile on her face. She was getting used to Daemon's presence as the days ticked closer to their wedding day. "I am. What brings you at this hour, my prince?"
Daemon shrugged. "Caraxes and I were flying around. We lost track of time." He gestured to the window where the moon and stars hung in the sky. "Have you ever been taken flying, my lady?"
Alicent shook her head. "I prefer having my feet planted on the ground."
"Well, in the morning, I'll take you flying on Caraxes." Alicent tried to protest, but he shushed her placing his gloved finger over her lips. She felt flushed in his presence and hated that she might be going red, making it obvious. Daemon took her hand and looked down at her bloodied fingers. The same fingers she had picked, torn and made bleed to give herself pain and control. He kisses the fingertips while his eyes look down in concern over her fingers. "You will be free."
Free from what?
She was not sure anymore, or perhaps she did not want to even think of who she would be free from.
The next day Alicent got up and dressed to fly. Black pants and a green dress shirt, the sleeves long and fitting. It had been a gift from Rhaenyra when her friend had wanted to get Alicent to fly, but she hadn't been able to persuade her friend to do so. Now Daemon had gotten her to fly. She laced up her boots, grabbed her green cloak, and ventured out of her chambers to the dragon pit. She wondered if Daemon would be there to trick her but true to his words, and he was there waiting for them.
He was waiting for her in the dragon pit, a smirk on his handsome face as he patted Caraxes' snout. The Bloodwyrm looked up to see the young maiden walk towards them, huffed.
"Lady Alicent, good morrow to you!" He shouted in greeting as she approached him. He eyed her outfit with absolutely no shame. Gone was the dress; in place were breeches and a dress shirt that looked close to what Rhaenyra wore but in different colors. Black and Green. She looked at him shyly but seemed a bit afraid as she looked up at the sky for a moment. He reached out and took her hand and took her closer to Craxes, placing it on its snout. The dragon nudged Alicent's hand lightly, and it made her smile.
"Hello," She said to the dragon and him.
"Let's go," Daemon said and helped her on the saddle before getting right behind her. Alicent realized she was sitting directly in front of Daemon, and fear shot through her before Daemon's arms secured themselves around her, gripping the ropes for the dragon. She swallowed thickly at the feeling of the heat of both man and creature. "Say the word, Alicent. Sōvētēs."
Alicent gripped the reins tightly next to Daemon's hands. "Caraxes, sōvētēs!" The Bloodwyrm roared loudly. Undoubtedly, it had woken up the Red Keep and alerted everyone that Daemon was leaving. They just did not know that Alicent Hightower was flying alongside him. It took off, first taking a run and then leaping, its red wings flapping to get itself off. She shut her eyes briefly until Daemon told her to open them; how he figured she closed them. Alicent wasn't even sure. When she did, she couldn't help but gasp at the sight in front of her. She was flying and saw the clouds close to their heads. She boldly reached out, touching it as it disappeared through her fingers, leaving water in its wake. She laughed freely, wildly, and loud for only the heavens, Caraxes and Daemon to hear.
She could feel Daemon's breath on her right ear as he said, "You enjoy it, my lady. It frees you, and this is what it is. This is freedom."
I want this. I want this freedom as it should have been long ago, but Father forbade it. Otto Hightower and her Uncle Hobert Hightower had forbidden her from going North to her mother's family, to the "heathen family of the north," as her Aunt Lynesse called it, disrespecting her mother in the process. Her brothers didn't defend their mother or her family; only Alicent tried. She tried, but it always fell on deaf ears, tittering with laughter because while her brothers inherited the blonde hair of the Hightower, Alicent had inherited the red hair and pale skin of the North. Of her mother, Lady Sansa Hightower.
"Dive, Caraxes!" Daemon shouted in High Valyrian, and Alicent pressed herself closer to Daemon and shouted, not out of fear, but joy, as the dragon dove down. They both laughed, wind bitting their skins as they came down to the earth, only for Caraxes to pull up at the last second. They flew gently towards the Red Keep once again. As they got closer to the ground of the dragon pit, she realized that a small gathering had come in there. Dread pulled at her because she knew that it would have been only a matter of time before the lot of them had come to see this spectacle between the couple. But something blooming inside herself that perhaps had been awakened as she flew Caraxes with Daemon simply did not care. As Daemon put it, up there, it was freedom. With him, it would be freedom.
She wanted that.