22 December
Alicent used to love christmas when she was a little girl.
The holiday was a big deal in the town where she used to live. From the houses, to the streets, the shops and the churches, everything was heavily decorated. Alicent remembers loving to go to the Christmas Market and the ice rink more than opening her gifts.
But when she was 7, her father got a new job for a big company in a big city far from where she lived and the whole family had to move out to a new city. Christmas there was way different, the streets were still decorated, there was a christmas market and an ice rink, but it felt...too foreign, too unfamiliar. The feeling only got worse when her mother died when she was around 11 years old.
After almost ten years in this big city, Alicent went back to her old town to go to a christian l boarding school for girls. She celebrated Christmas there, alone...Well ‘celebrate’ was a big word since all she was doing there was going to church and watching bad christmas themed movies after.
For three years, Alicent never went back to the city for christmas, she swore to herself she wouldn't go back.
But this year was different, Alicent was 19, she had finished her final exams and was now in the so-called city after three years of not stepping a foot in it. The only reason she was back was because her older brother, Gwayne, had a baby earlier this year and her father wanted everybody around for the newborn's first christmas.
What type of aunt and sister would she be if she didn't come to see the new baby of the family...(she also didn't find a good excuse when her father invited her.).
So now it was 22 of December, three days before Christmas, and Alicent was standing on the porch of the house where she spent all of her teenage years. She had a knot in her stomach that has been here since she got in her car.
Nothing had changed, in the city or the front of her house, everything was the same. She didn't change that much either...
After a moment of hesitation, Alicent realized that she was being dramatic. She was just spending Christmas with her family...everything would be over in like a week. So, she took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.
Thankfully, the person answering the door was Gwayne, the oldest of her brothers and the easiest person to deal with in her family.
''Finally ! You're here !''
Gwayne let her get in and they shared a quick hug before making small talk. At the end he told her that she could go upstairs to settle in her old room and that her brothers will be waiting for her in the living room downstairs.
When the Hightower got to her room, she was a little shocked and even sad to see how empty it was. Of course it was empty...she wasn't leaving here anymore, it wasn't really her room anymore. Alicent always hated being home when she was younger though so she really didn't understand where this sudden feeling of nostalgia was coming from… Maybe it was just the idea that she grew up and was basically an adult now that really hit her.
As planned, Alicent settled down before going downstairs. When she got in the living room, she saw three men drinking wine, her three older brothers.They all turned around when they heard her footsteps. Thomas, the youngest of her brothers, gave her a genuine smile.
''Hey lili !''
Alicent rolled her eyes a little when she heard the nickname before sitting down on the last free chair.
''Don't call me that...'' She muttered under her breath before pouring herself a glass of wine.
She heard the laugh of Lucas, the second son of the family.
''Come on lili don't be mad...''
Alicent sighed and was about to respond but Gwayne calmed things down (like always).
''Why can't you just say hello like normal people ? Can't y'all just act like a happy family ?''
The three other siblings just rolled their eyes or sighed and silence then filled the room. It was quite awkward but Alient was used to it by now.
Her and her brothers didn't really grow up together. Since she was 9, all her brothers were away in boarding school. They only spend time together during the school breaks and that was because their mother would force them to do a bunch of stuff together. But then, her mother passed away and they all just grew more distant resulting in awkward silence when they were together, just like right now.
Alicent turned towards Gwayne to break this silence.
“Where’s your wife ? And the little boy ?”
“Oh,they’re both away, she took him for a walk.”
''And where's dad ?''
''Probably whining in his office...'' Thomas started but Lucas hit him in the stomach before he could finish.
The youngest Hightower frowned, feeling quite confused and turned to Gwayne since he was probably the only one who would give her a proper explanation.
Her brother noticed her eyes asking for an answer and sighed.
''Dad got fired.'' He said quickly before drinking his wine.
Alicent just looked at him speechless with shock and disbelief all over her face. She then looked around and realized that everyone in this room knew about this except her.
''Why am I the last person to know about this ?!'' She said a little more angrily than she intended.
Gwayne stood up from his chair and walked towards her before putting a gentle hand on her shoulder to calm her down.
''We just guessed that dad already told you. This happened a month ago.''
''You sure he didn't tell you ?'' Thomas asked, sounding genuinely surprised. ''Aren't you supposed to be his favorite ?''
Alicent breathed in and out and tried to stay calm as she heard the stupid questions.
''I'm not his favourite...but anyway, not the point.'' She turned her attention back on Gwayne. '' He got fired for real ?''
''Yeah...Well he says that it was an agreement on both sides but I think that's what he's telling himself to save face. We all know Rhaenyra never liked him and probably got rid of him the second she could.''
If the news of her father being fired shocked her, the mention of Rhaenyra just prevented her from breathing. She felt her heart beating way too fast and it was like there was a heavy weight on her chest. But curiosity and the need to know were apparently stronger than these uncomfortable feelings.
''Wh- what , Rhaenyra ?''
''Well yeah, since Viserys died a few months ago...Rhaenyra is technically the new CEO but Rhaenys is doing the job until she finishes university'' Gwayne calmly explained.
''If Rhaenyra wants something to be done, like firing our dad, then it will be done.''
Alicent nodded along with the explanation while drinking, still a little dazed by the revelation.
''Do y'all think she only came back in city to fire him ?'' Lucas asked with his usual condescending smile.
Alicent choked on her drink. She coughed loudly and only took a second to breath before speaking.
''Rhaenyra is back in the city ?!'' She asked in a hurry that made all her brothers frown.
They just all nodded and that's when the panic started in her. She needed to be alone, to think clearly. She got up from her chair and started to leave the living room.
She heard the voice of one of her brothers asking her where she was going and she just mumbled something about seeing her dad.
Alicent was biting at her cuticles while climbing the stairs. She couldn't believe Rhaenyra was here, in the same city as her. That's exactly why she promised herself to not come back.
She shouldn't be this stressed, they were in a big city...they'll probably won't see each other. At least that’s what she told herself as she was pacing in the hallway.
''Alicent.''
The firm voice of her father made her stop her pacing. She looked around and finally noticed that she was in front of her father's office and noticed that the door was ajar.
She knew that she couldn't just ignore him so she closed her eyes, gathered some courage, and opened the door fully.
The little Hightower had a weak smile on her face and was picking at her cuticles behind her back. Her father was sitting at his desk, staring at her. He didn't return the smile. He looked tired and it was like he has aged of ten years since Alicent last saw him.
''You arrived a few moments ago didn't you ? Why am I only seeing you now ?'' He asked coldly.
Alicent took a few seconds to find an answer her father would tolerate (she grew pretty good at this).
''I was saying just hello to everyone downstairs and took a moment to talk with them before coming upstairs to see you.''
Otto looked at her a certain way. She hated when he was looking at her this way, like he was searching for a mistake or lie. It always made her feel bad and guilty.
But her dad finally smiled. It wasn't a bright smile that reached his eyes but still, she could finally breathe normally again.
''Good. I'm happy that you're here Alicent.''
''Im happy to be here...'' That was a complete lie.
''You should go get ready, were going to the restaurant tonight.''
''We are ?''
''Yes your favourite too...to celebrate your arrival.''
''Oh...well thank you''
Her dad smiled again before taking a newspaper laying on his desk to read. She took this as the end of the conversation and left the office.
The restaurant was pretty full and loud, something that didn’t surprise since it was the most popular one here. It was actually so popular that she had to do a bunch of small talks with people she met in high school. But now she was having the best meal ever and actually enjoying herself since nobody around her was asking her questions about her life as they were all having their own conversation.
Just when she thought that maybe she’ll survive this week with her family, Lucas's voice snapped her out of her head.
“God, she’s really here…”
Everybody at the table turned their heads to see what the man was talking about. That’s when Alicent noticed her. Rhaenyra.
The Targaryen was sitting at a big table a few inches away. She was in the middle of a bunch of people that Alicent knew were her family. Alicent saw Rhaenyra laughing and her heart skipped a beat. Seeing Rhaenyra again felt surreal, the woman didn’t change that much…the only new thing she noticed was that The Targaryen cut her hair.
Alicent noticed that everyone around her moved on with the topic of Rhaenyra and they all went back to talking with each other, but she however couldn’t move on…her eyes were glued on the Targaryen. A wave of panic and guilt violently hit her. The girl she thought she would never have to deal with or see again was now a few tables away and that was probably just her bad karma…
She suddenly got up from her chair and mumbled something about going to the bathroom, she needed to be alone.
Alicent literally ran into the restroom and sighed in relief when she saw that it was empty. She chose the nearest sink and grasped it with both of her hands while breathing in and out.
Rhaenyra was here, in the same city, in the same restaurant. Alicent couldn’t remember the last time they were in the same room…no that was a lie. The memory of the last time she saw
Rhaenyra was so fresh in her mind it was like it happened yesterday. In her garden, she yelled things she would forever regret…
The memories were swirling in her mind and the guilt was hurting her stomach so she turned on the cold water and splashed it on her face. The Hightower closed her eyes a moment before looking at her reflection in the miror. A mess. That’s what she was right now and probably what she had been for the last 3 years.
After ten long minutes, Alicent finally gathered up some courage to go back to her table. She walked out of the bathroom, her head down and her eyes locked on the camera of her phone, trying to fix whatever she could on her face.
She was actually so preoccupied with her reflection that she accidently hit someone.
“I’m so sorry…” Alicent mumbled before looking up to see silver hair and a confused face.
Rhaenyra Targaryen was in front of her. Her violet eyes were looking at her. Rhaenyra looked good, she always looked good effortlessly… And she was now taller than her but only a few inches.
Alicent couldn’t move. They both stared at each other for probably a few seconds but it felt like way longer. And then Rhaenyra’s confused eyes turned cold, a cold that was piercing the Hghtower’s soul. She wished that she could just run away but her body wouldn’t listen.
The Targaryen looked like she was about to say something but she finally resigned. She just sighed and rolled her eyes before walking towards the restroom.
And Alicent just stood there in the middle of a hallway, with her teeth already ripping apart her cuticles before she even realized it.