Rhaenyra had been cooped up in her chambers for hours. Being heir was a lot more work than expected, but she was willing to continuously prove to the kingdom that she was the right choice for an heir. So, she never complained about her duties as heir to the iron throne.
There was a knock on Rhaenyra's door. She was thankful for the disruption because there was a headache forming that would only make her moody.
"Enter."
One of the many servants enters Rhaenyra's chambers and bows to her. She stops her draft that was to send for her cousins Laenor and Laena to return and looks up, waiting for the omega to speak.
"Princess, you are requested by the king in the throne room at once," she informs the alpha. Rhaenyra grips the pen in her hand slightly harder to release her anger toward her father. Her father always did this.
"Did he say what for?" she asks. The servant quickly shakes her head, and Rhaenyra nods, dismissing the servant. Once she leaves, Rhaenyra slumps in her chair and groans.
What could he possibly want from her at this hour?
Rhaenyra mentally prepared herself before walking to the throne room. When she enters, her father is sitting on the throne with Otto Hightower standing next to him. The king's hand only ever meant bad news for Rhaenyra. He was a thorn in her side that didn't have any plans of being removed.
Rhaenyra plasters a practiced smile on her face as she approaches the throne.
"Rhaenyra, thank you for joining us. We have some business we must take care of." Viserys says, getting right to the point. Rhaenyra knew that she was already going to dread what he wished to speak about with her. "What is this of, father?" Rhaenyra asks.
"We need to discuss marriage and who will become your betrothed."
Rhaenyra holds back a groan. She knew that since she had been named heir, she would be required to choose an omega so that they could produce heirs to the throne and keep the line of succession going.
"I have had many houses offering their children to marry off to you. House Velaryon is one of the houses that I am hoping you choose. Please, daughter. I am giving you the freedom to choose your mate, but you have until spring's end to decide whom that may be."
Rhaenyra nods, wanting to be anywhere else, especially in her chambers. She just wanted to curl up in her bed because being heir to the throne was hard on her. Besides, she was already certain that there was only one person meant for her.
"If I may speak," Otto Hightower begins, but Rhaenyra stops him, refusing to hear whatever stupid words come from the man. "No, you may not." Rhaenyra immediately says, stopping the man from poisoning her father with his words. Viserys audibly sighs at his daughter’s banter with his hand. Sure he can get on his nerves sometimes too, but the banter that Otto had going on with both Rhaenyra and Daemon gave Viserys a headache.
"What is it, Otto?"
Otto smirks at Rhaenyra before speaking, "There will be many high-born omegas for your daughter to marry. However, if she were to marry one belonging to house Velaryon, there wouldn't be much of a gain for your house because your families are so tied. Your bloodlines run back centuries and are intertwined with each other. Maybe, you should consider other options." Rhaenyra knew that Otto was wrong. House Velaryon is much older than house Targaryen, yet he continues to poison her father. This man suddenly caused Rhaenyra's headaches to worsen.
"Thank you, Otto, but this matter is between my daughter and I. You are dismissed for the night." Viserys says. Otto bites back his tongue before he says something that he may regret before nodding his head and exiting the throne room.
Once he leaves, Viserys finally speaks, "I am leaving this decision to you, my daughter. I do hope that you understand how much of an honor that is, and I expect that you choose something that will give our house a gain in power." He reminds Rhaenyra, “As you know, I have no plans to remarry now, so you are the only way to continue the Targaryen dynasty. The blood of the dragon will flow in your children.”
She has had the idea crammed into her head that marriage was only a gain for power ever since she presented as an alpha and was named heir to the iron throne. She knew what was expected of her, even if her heart yearned for another.
Viserys noticed that Rhaenyra obviously didn't want to be there and was trapped in her own head. "The hour is growing late. You may return to your chambers now, Rhaenyra. But please, think about what I have said to you. I will need a decision from you as soon as possible." Her father requests. He made a mental note to follow up with Rhaenyra to discuss her progress on choosing a mate later in the week.
Rhaenyra quickly nodded before exiting the throne room and walking to her chambers with a load of information she had to process. When she opened the door, she was quickly met with a strong yet familiar scent filling her room. She knew who it belonged to instantly. It was her favorite smell and made her smile as she surveyed the room, suddenly feeling energized and happy to play the omega's game.
"I know you're here," Rhaenyra reveals, almost teasing the omega that was feeling quite playful with the alpha. She inhaled the air around her to see if her smell was getting stronger, hoping she was getting closer to revealing the sweet scent of vanilla and lavender.
Rhaenyra peeked behind one of the changing screens, failing to find someone behind it. She peered inside the bathroom, but there was no one there. Then, her eyes fell on the lump that settled on Rhaenyra's bed under the sheets that weren't there when she had left.
The heiress slowly walked over to her bed before quickly pulling the covers back to find someone under them finally. Rhaenyra couldn't help but smile.
"Alicent Hightower, what are you doing in my chambers?" Rhaenyra asks before tackling the omega into the bed with a hug. Alicent began to laugh as Rhaenyra placed kisses on her neck and lips.
"Rhaenyra!" was all Alicent could let out between laughs.
When Rhaenyra pulled away, both girls sat up, smiling at each other. Rhaenyra leaned into the other girl and placed a chaste kiss on her lips to tease the omega. Alicent smiled before leaning in and stealing another kiss from her.
The princess and lady eventually fell into the position they tend to always lay in, with Rhaenyra's head in Alicent's lap while Alicent ran her hand through Rhaenyra's hair. It always made Rhaenyra tired without fail when they were like this. It was as if no one else mattered, and they were just two girls in love with each other, not the daughter of the king’s hand and the heir to the iron throne.
Between the four walls of Rhaenyra's chambers, they could just be two girls that were falling in love. Rhaenyra wished it could always be like this, even though they both knew it was impossible.
"I hope you did your reading for Septa Marlow this time, Rhaenyra," Alicent says, almost scolding the other girl. Rhaenyra rolls her eyes. "Of course I read it," she tells her. Alicent narrows her gaze at the other girl.
"That's what you said last time and the time before that. How far did you think an answer of 'lord something' was going to get you, anyways?" Alicent reminds her, but they both know that Rhaenyra is lying. In truth, she did try to read it, but Alicent came into Rhaenyra's room and distracted her from finishing her reading. So, it was technically Alicent's fault as much as it was Rhaenyra's.
After moments of content silence, Alicent is the one to break it, "What did your father want from you, my love?" Alicent asks. Rhaenyra groans, closing her eyes, not wanting to talk about her father. Alicent knew that something was troubling the princess, and it always hurt Alicent to see her like this.
"Is he troubling you? You know that I am always here to listen, Rhaenyra." Alicent reminds her. The princess finally opens her eyes so that Alicent can see her beautiful purple eyes, which are rare to see people with.
"My father wants me to get married. He has granted me to pick someone by spring's end, or it will be up to him to decide who I marry." Rhaenyra finally tells her.
Alicent stills her hand in the beautiful white hair. Rhaenyra knew that Alicent didn't particularly enjoy talking about marriage with Rhaenyra. She didn't know why, but she usually avoided the topic all together when the two lovers spoke.
"He wants me to marry my cousin Laenor. How obscure would that be!" Rhaenyra continued, but Alicent's hand remains still and she doesn't respond to the princess.
Rhaenyra finally notices Alicent’s mood shift and sits up, taking Alicent's hand into her own, "what is wrong, my love?" Rhaenyra asks. She never understood why Alicent would shut her out sometimes like this.
Alicent let out a mumble that Rhaenyra wasn't able to hear. She lightly grips Alicent's chin so that their eyes meet. "Talk to me, Alicent, please." Rhaenyra almost begs. They both knew that Rhaenyra didn't beg for things very often, but when she did, they both knew that the matter was rather severe.
"Take me as your wife," Alicent speaks up. It almost took Rhaenyra off guard. "Is this why we stay hidden? Because you are so repulsed by our love that you would rather keep me as a whore than make me your mate?" Tears were forming in Alicent's eyes. They both knew that Alicent was over-exaggerating and that Rhaenyra had never thought of her as a whore. Alicent wouldn't even let Rhaenyra lay with her, telling her that it was sacred for omegas to wait according to the sevens.
Alicent had kept these emotions bottled up for too long and needed to let go. Now just happened to be the moment that her bottled-up emotions had exploded.
"Alicent... You know that you are the one for me-" Rhaenyra was quickly cut off,
"Then why do you hide our love?" Alicent almost snaps back before lowering her head again.
Rhaenyra wasn't sure what to say. Sure, she had entertained the idea of marrying Alicent Hightower, but the Hightowers already had strong ties to the royal family, and her father would never approve of it, much less Alicent's father, who had loathed Rhaenyra ever since she was named heir.
"Night after night, I dream that one day you would take me to Dragonstone and wed me in your family’s tradition, but then I wake up to remember what our lives are like." Alicent confesses. It broke Rhaenyra’s heart to see her like this, and she could feel her alpha calling out to attempt to soothe the omega next to her.
"Alicent, our fathers-"
"To hell with our fathers! I love you, and you love me. Isn't that enough?" Rhaenyra could hear Alicent's voice break. Rhaenyra knew that there were so many problems with them getting married, even if it was the only thing Rhaenyra wanted.
"And what if my father rejects us?"
"I thought you did not care about what he thought? Or was that a lie? You say you love me, but how am I supposed to know your word is true?" Alicent was picking at her nail beds again. Rhaenyra had always noticed the bad habit and would stop her whenever she saw her lover doing it. When she noticed this time, she took her hands into her own and squeezed them.
A moment of tense silence passes before Rhaenyra speaks, "Is this what you wish for?" Rhaenyra finally asks. Alicent looks her in her eyes before nodding.
"It is all that I ask from you."
Rhaenyra leans in and places a sweet kiss on Alicent's lips. "I will report to my father first thing in the morning."
~
Alicent left Rhaenyra's room in the late hours of the night. It wasn't uncommon for the wait staff to see Alicent leaving the princess's room, but it never stopped them from the gossip about the heiress's rumored lover.
Rhaenyra stayed true to her word, going to her father’s chambers first thing in the morning as his wait staff was dressing him for the day.
One of the servants announces her presence before stepping into his chambers.
"Rhaenyra. To what do I owe the please this early? We are yet even to eat a meal today." Viserys says with a short laugh. Rhaenyra smiled at her father but kept her face rather serious.
"I was wondering if I could speak to you alone, father?" Rhaenyra asks, and his face drops slightly before he dismisses his staff, and it's just the two of them in his chambers.
"Is this about our conversation last night? Because, if you think that marriage is negotiable, then-" Rhaenyra stops him before he gives himself any more doubts. "No, father. I understand my role as heir to the throne. I come to tell you that I have decided on a mate." Viserys widens his eyes in slight shock. He thought that Rhaenyra would put up at least some type of a fight about marriage.
Her father’s silence prompted her to continue speaking, "I wish to marry Lady Alicent Hightower." Rhaenyra says, standing tall and proud of her decision. Viserys pondered the decision momentarily before shaking his head.
"I cannot let you go through with this, daughter. A marriage to house Hightower wouldn't strengthen any ties we have with them. Otto is my hand, for god’s sake!" Rhaenyra shakes her head. She wished he understood that she was coming from a place of love.
"Father, you don't understand. I love Alicent Hightower. I am in love with her, and she is in love with me. There is nothing you can do to change how we feel about each other, and I wish that you support our marriage, or else I might run off to Dragonstone and marry her there before you could stop me." Rhaenyra snaps at her father. She had prepared herself for his disapproval, and if she were being honest, she practiced that speech in front of the mirror in her chambers.
Viserys groans, placing his head in his hands. "You have put me in a very difficult position, daughter of mine," Viserys tells her, but Rhaenyra stays silent, standing by all she had said. "If I approve this union, what does our house gain from it? Everyone knows that marriage is simply a political statement." Rhaenyra already knew that, but her heart lays with Alicent, and she knew that she wanted to make Alicent her mate.
"You married for love," Rhaenyra says after a moment of silence. "No, I was betrothed to your mother because of a political agreement. I just happened to fall in love with her." Viserys says, correcting his daughter.
"Please, father. I would give anything to marry Lady Alicent. I will stop complaining about my duties, I will go to battle, name it, and it will be done."
Viserys thinks for a moment leaving Rhaenyra in tense silence. He looks at her, shaking her head. "I will support your marriage on two conditions." He finally says, allowing Rhaenyra to let out a breath she didn't even know she was holding.
"You will be wed in our house's tradition, and you will also give yourself no less than three possible heirs." Rhaenyra didn't even have to consider the offer before agreeing to the deal with a smile. She walked over to Viserys and hugged him for the first time since before her mother passed away.
She found Alicent in her chambers later that day. She had been searching for her lover all day, but couldn't find her anywhere. But, when she found her, the smile on Rhaenyra's face was one Alicent hadn't ever seen before.
"What's got you so happy, my love?" Alicent asks as she sits down on her bed, Rhaenyra following her. "I spoke to my father today." Rhaenyra finally says. Alicent meets her eyes with a hopeful stare.
"He approves of our union," Rhaenyra tells her. Alicent smiles before tackling Rhaenyra into an unexpected hug, followed by a kiss on her lips. Rhaenyra laughs, kissing her soon-to-be wife back.
They lay there, falling into their kisses before Rhaenyra pulled away, rolling them, so she was now on top of Alicent.
"I can’t believe I get to marry you, my love," Alicent says, smiling, causing Rhaenyra to smile back. "My father’s only condition to our marriage is that we must marry in Targaryen customs in Dragonstone, as well as produce three children minimum to keep our bloodline going," Rhaenyra tells her.
Alicent had no problem agreeing to these conditions. The children one made her slightly nervous only because of the stories of the pain omega's have to go through while giving birth and the constant possibility of death. But, Alicent would instead take that risk rather than not marry Rhaenyra.
"Suddenly, I think I see my future with three little Targaryen boys running around Dragonstone," Alicent says. Rhaenyra laughs before kissing Alicent once again.
Rumors already began to go around as the two girls were seen even closer together than they usually are. They didn't plan on announcing the engagement publicly for another few days. Still, one of the servants must have overheard Rhaenyra and her father speaking because the next thing they knew, there were already whispers of their marriage in a matter of hours.
~
Late that night, Alicent was summoned to her father’s chambers in the late hours of the day. That's when she remembered that only he could ruin an occasion as beautiful as her engagement.
Alicent entered her father's chambers to find him seated at the desk in the center of his chambers. He looks up to see his daughter, who he had been expecting.
"I heard through the castle walls that you have finally done it."
Alicent leans against the door, lowering her head and nodding. Her father smiled and hummed his approval. "My daughter, Queen Alicent." Alicent picked at her nails, positive she was drawing blood, but she didn't care. If she were being honest, she deserved the pain for all of the lies she had told Rhaenyra.
"Is this all you wish from me tonight, father?" she asks. Otto nodded quickly, dismissing his daughter back to her own chambers so he could continue the draft he was working on. But, before she could leave, he stopped her. "Oh, Alicent? I'm very proud of you."
Alicent felt sick to her stomach. Otto had never told her he was proud of her, and this was the first time she had been told. Alicent was developing a deep hatred for herself, knowing very well what she was doing to Rhaenyra.
Did she feel shameful for doing her father’s bidding on the future queen? Of course, she did. After Queen Aemma died, Otto sent for his daughter to seduce her best friend in order to get his blood to sit on the iron throne. He knew it would work because the young heir was drowning in the grief of her lost mother. Alicent was reluctant about it, but she knew she could never say no to her father, or something might happen to her. So, she began to flirt with her childhood best friend.
But, it was quite easy for Alicent to seduce Rhaenyra when the Targaryen heiress was in love with her. And it was even easier when she found herself falling in love with Rhaenyra Targaryen.