Chapter 7
Alicent stepped into the foyer. Her posture was stiff, her mannerisms carefully composed, but Rhaenyra knew her well enough to see the tightness in her jaw, the way she kept her hands clenched at her sides.
"Please, come sit," Rhaenyra offered, gesturing to the parlor.
As Alicent settled into the chair, her gaze remained fixed on the floor, avoiding any direct contact. Rhaenyra could feel the tension radiating from her, a palpable force that filled the space between them.
"Rhaenyra, I've come to talk about our... situation," Alicent began, her voice cold and detached. "The whispers from the ton are growing louder. Your mother is beside herself with embarrassment…And quite frankly, so am I.”
Rhaenyra's heart ached, but she steeled herself. "You are the one who wished to live separate lives.”
Alicent's eyes flicked up, a hint of anger in their depths. "I meant in the same home…to keep up pretenses. I never expected you to leave and to live with another….woman.” She said the last part with a bitter taste in her mouth.
The unspoken accusation hung in the air, a silent indictment of Rhaenyra's choices. But Rhaenyra knew that the issue ran deeper than just appearances. Alicent's voice was a knife, cutting through the silence, but her eyes spoke volumes of the pain she had been carrying.
"I refused to live a lie in my own house," Rhaenyra said, her voice measured. "And as far as Talisa goes, you very well know that nothing untoward is happening here.”
“Actually, I do not know that.” Alicent's jaw tightened and she sighed in frustration. “Look we have both acted as children. You need to come home. It's your duty to your family and to our house."
The conversation was stilted, each word a dance around the unspoken truths that lay between them. Rhaenyra knew that Alicent was hurt and jealous, but she had made her decision.
Rhaenyra nodded and looked at Alicent intently. “Very well. I will make the arrangements.”
After a few more moments of awkward silence, Alicent stood up, her movements abrupt. "I'll leave you to it, then," she said, her voice clipped.
“Ali, wait.” Rhaenyra stuttered out. This is not how she wanted this conversation to go. Alicent refused to even say three words to her for months and now, her own stubbornness is getting in the way.
Alicent paused at the doorway, her hand on the knob, but didn’t turn around.
Rhaenyra took a deep breath, steeling herself for the words she knew she had to say. “I’m sorry for my part in this. I should never have left you like that. You…what you did was horrible…but I still had a vow to you and I should have never abandoned you. I do not regret going to get my son from the new world but I do regret what it’s cost us.”
The room was so still, the silence screaming louder than any words could. Rhaenyra waited, her heart pounding in her chest, for Alicent’s response.
Slowly, Alicent turned around, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “You’re sorry?” she echoed, her voice brittle. “Rhaenyra, you’re living with her. With another woman. You have a son with her. What about your family? Your duties? How sorry can you really be? I begged for your forgiveness and you were so cold for months. I carried Luke to term all alone. And the moment you return just because I am cold to you, as you were with me in your own anger, and you leave again?!”
Rhaenyra felt the sting of Alicent’s accusation, but she knew it was born from pain. She approached her, her steps tentative. “I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you if you let me, Alicent. I promise you. We’ve both made mistakes. Please understand.”
Alicent’s gaze was unreadable as she stared at Rhaenyra, her hand tightening around the doorknob. “Understand?” she repeated, her voice laced with a mix of anger and sadness. “How can I understand when you throw everything we’ve built together away?”
Rhaenyra reached out, her hand hovering over Alicent’s, desperate to offer comfort, but Alicent pulled away. The distance between them felt like a yawning chasm. Alicent said nothing, her eyes searched Rhaenyra’s face, looking for something she hadn’t found in the letters or the whispers that had followed her. Finally, with a heavy sigh, she nodded. “For the sake of the children, you will move back into our bedroom with me, but I do not wish to share a bed with you in that way…not after everything that has happened.”
“Oh I…of course..I understand.” Rhaenyra nodded dejectedly.
With that, Alicent opened the door and stepped out into the cold, leaving Rhaenyra alone in the warmth of Talisa’s home, her heart feeling colder than the outside world.
///
The rest of the day passed in a blur, and soon it was time for Rhaenyra to return to her marital home. The journey was a short one, but it felt like an eternity, her thoughts racing with the conversation she had just had.
When she arrived, the house was eerily quiet. The servants moved with hushed steps, avoiding her gaze. The warmth of the room she had once shared with Alicent was gone, replaced by a chilly formality that made her skin crawl.
Alicent emerged from the bath, her nightdress a stark contrast to the darkness of her mood. She looked at Rhaenyra with a cool, detached gaze, as if she were a stranger in her own home. Rhaenyra could see the effort Alicent was making to appear indifferent, but the tremble in her hands gave her away.
"Welcome home," Alicent said, her voice devoid of warmth. She sat down on the edge of the bed, her back to Rhaenyra, her shoulders tense.
Rhaenyra approached, her heart heavy with the weight of their unspoken words. "Thank you," she murmured, sitting beside her. "I'm sorry for everything that happened. I know I hurt you, and I want to make it right."
Alicent remained silent for a long moment before she spoke, her voice tight with emotion. "You can't just come back and expect everything to be as it was, Rhaenyra. There's been too much pain, too much said and unsaid."
"I know," Rhaenyra replied, her voice earnest. "But I'm willing to do whatever it takes to fix this. I'll make sure the whispers stop, I'll be here."
Alicent turned to face her, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "And what about the love we used to share?" she whispered. "Can you just turn that back on like a tap?" Rhaenyra reached out to take Alicent's hand, but she pulled away, curling into herself like a protective shell. "Let us just work on preserving the image of the family for now. Everything else can wait," Alicent continued, her voice trembling.
The tension in the room was thick as they climbed into bed, the space between them as vast as the Narrow Sea. Rhaenyra lay there, staring at the ceiling, her thoughts racing with the promise she had made. She knew it would take more than just words to heal the rift between them, to fill the void that had grown in Alicent's heart. But she was determined to try. For their children, for their family, and for the love that had once burned so brightly.
For now, she whispered a soft "goodnight," feeling the coldness of Alicent's shoulder next to hers. The silence stretched out, a stark reminder of the distance that had grown between them. But Rhaenyra held onto hope, the promise of a new dawn that might bring with it a chance at redemption.
///
Rhaenyra awoke to the sensation of Alicent's body pressed against her, the soft curves of her mate's belly and thighs molded to her own. The scent of Alicent's omega washed over her, a sweet, intoxicating aroma that sent a thrill of arousal through her. She quickly felt that she had an erection, tenting the sheets.
“Fuck,” Rhaenyra mumbled as she tried to move her pants slightly to hide the obvious bulge. She wanted to get up but Alicent was clutching onto her for dear life in her sleep.
A few moments later, Alicent stirred and her eyes snapped open, taking in the sight of her and Rhaenyra. Her nightgown had ridden up with the tossing and turning of the night, revealing the soft, creamy skin of her thighs. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she felt a sudden urge to reach out and touch Rhaenyra. But that feeling was quickly quieted her mind and replaced by embarrassment that she was lying on top of Rhaenyra in this way. She sat up with a start, her cheeks flushing a deep shade of red. "I..I need to get ready for the day," she mumbled, her voice thick with embarrassment.
Alicent looked away, clearly mortified. She scrambled off the bed, the fabric of her nightgown sliding back down to cover her legs. "I'll just... I'll go freshen up," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Rhaenyra watched her retreat into the bathroom, the door clicking shut behind her. She lay there for a moment, the imprint of Alicent's body still warm on the sheets.
After a few moments, Rhaenyra pulled herself out of bed and dressed, her mind racing with thoughts of how to fix the mess she had made. She knew she had to approach Alicent with care, to be patient and understanding.
When Alicent emerged from the bathroom, her eyes were red-rimmed from crying. Rhaenyra's heart broke a little more. She took a step toward her, but Alicent held up a hand, stopping her in her tracks. "Please," she whispered, "just give me some space."
Rhaenyra nodded, her throat tight with unshed tears. She knew that pushing Alicent now would only make things worse. Instead, she decided to take the initiative and talk to her father, to put an end to the whispers that had been causing so much pain.
The rest of the morning passed in a blur of activity, Rhaenyra preparing for the day while Alicent tended to Jace and Luke. They exchanged few words, their interactions strained and forced. Rhaenyra felt the distance between them like a physical pain, a constant reminder of what she had lost.
But she was determined to make it right. After lunch, she approached Alicent, who was sitting in the nursery, watching Jace and Luke sleep. "Alicent," she began, her voice soft and tentative. "I've spoken to my father. He understands the situation and will do what he can to quell the rumors."
Alicent's eyes met hers, a flicker of hope and anger mingling in their depths. "Is that all it takes?" she asked, her voice brittle. "A few words to erase the stain on our family's name?"
Rhaenyra swallowed hard. "No," she admitted. "But it's a start. I'll do whatever it takes to fix this."
The silence stretched between them. But for the first time in months, Alicent didn't pull away when Rhaenyra reached for her hand. The gesture was small, but it was something.
///
That afternoon once Rhaenyra left the house to see her father, Dany came over for tea.
“How is it with Rhaenyra back?" Dany asked, her eyes filled with genuine concern.
Alicent sighed heavily, playing with the fabric of her dress. "It's... complicated," she admitted. "My omega has so needy and desperate with her gone, begging for her return. But now that she’s back, I refuse to give in. I feel so restless."
Dany's eyes narrow in curiosity and understanding simultaneously. "Your heat is approaching, isn't it?"
"I think so," Alicent murmured, her voice barely audible. "But I won't...I can't be intimate with her..Too much has happened."
Dany nodded, her expression one of sympathy. "But you're married, Alicent. What about duty and family? She is your family now."
Alicent's jaw clenched, and she turned to look at Dany, her eyes flashing with anger. "Do you really think she's been faithful to her duties? To me?" she asked, her voice sharp. "After she's been living with that... that woman? Spending months with her, Gods knows what they've been doing together?"
“Look I get it. I would be just as upset in your shoes.” Dany nodded understandingly. She understood, but many alphas have mistresses. It’s just the way it is and Alicent may need to accept this, but Dany won’t dare to say that right now based on the venom in Alicent's words.
Alicent's voice grew colder. "I'm surprised there hasn't been an announcement of another bastard already," she said bitterly. "It would be just like her to flaunt it in my face."
The words hung in the air, a stark reminder of the fragility of their relationship. Dany reached out and took Alicent's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Ali, Rhaenyra is your mate," she said softly. "And no matter what has happened, you both need to find a way to move forward. For the sake of your family."
Alicent pulled her hand away, her eyes filled with a mix of anger and sadness. "I know," she said, her voice trembling. "But it's so hard. Every time I look at her, all I can think about is the pain she's caused."
Dany nodded solemnly. "I understand but we did start this by sending her son away," she said.
Alicent's eyes searched her sister's face, looking for some sign of judgment, but all she found was understanding. With a heavy heart, she nodded. “I..I know.” Alicent mumbles sadly. “I did something horrible, unforgivable. But she left and did exactly what I feared she would. She…coupled..with her mistress. She left this home and bought a grand estate for her and she moved in with her. The shame is one thing but…did she even think how that would make me feel? I had a moment of weakness and did something horribly cruel and selfish. But she did something intentional for months. I don’t think I can ever forgive her.”
Dany nodded, her expression filled with sympathy. "You’re going through a lot. But remember, love isn't always perfect. Sometimes, it's messy and painful. But if you truly love Rhaenyra, you have to find a way to forgive her. And if she truly loves you, she'll do everything in her power to make amends."
Alicent sighed heavily, the weight of her sister's words settling heavily on her shoulders. "You're right," she conceded. "I don't know if I can ever forgive her though. And I don't think she's truly ever forgiven me."
As they talked, Alicent felt a warm flush spreading through her body, and she began to fidget in her seat. Dany noticed the change in her demeanor and raised an eyebrow. "Looks like your omega is feeling a bit overheated," she said with a knowing smile. "You are definitely going into heat. I can even smell it as a omega."
Alicent rolled her eyes, trying to play it off. "It's just the room," she protested, fanning herself with a piece of parchment. But she knew better. The signs were clear, and her body was betraying her, yearning for the one person she was trying so hard to keep at bay.
Dany's smile grew into a smirk. "Or maybe it's because your alpha is home," she teased.
Alicent felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment. "It's not funny," she snapped, her voice tight with tension.
"I know it's not," Dany said, her tone turning serious. "But really, Ali, mating with her during your heat doesn’t have to mean forgiveness or even love. Sometimes, it's just about finding release."
Alicent felt a shiver run down her spine at the thought. The idea of using Rhaenyra for her own pleasure was tempting, but it went against everything she had been taught. She was a lady of the court, not some base creature to be ruled by her basest instincts.
Dany looked at her suddenly with concern. Her cheeks were full blown rosy red at this point and her skin flushed. She moved quickly to Alicent's side, her hand pressing gently against Alicent's forehead. The heat radiating from her was alarming. "Ok, you have a fever," She said, concern evident in her voice.
Alicent's eyes fluttered open, her face pale and flushed. "I’m fine," she murmured, her voice weak.
Daenerys turned to a nearby servant. "Fetch a cold rag immediately," she ordered, her tone firm. The servant scurried away, leaving Daenerys to support Alicent.
"Here, drink this," Dany said, handing Alicent a glass of water. Alicent took it with trembling hands, gulping down the cool liquid as fast as she could.
As the servant returned with a cold rag, Dany pressed it gently to Alicent's forehead. Dany turned around, calling for a servant. "Fetch the Duchess," she ordered. "Tell her that her good lady wife needs her immediately."
"No," Alicent protested weakly between sips of water. "Do not get her."
“Gods, you’re stubborn.” Daenerys shook her head. "Your heat will be starting soon," she said, her voice gentle but firm.
Alicent looked up, her eyes wide with worry. "You said I had a few days," she whispered.
Daenerys shrugged slightly, a look of regret crossing her face. "Yeah, no, it’s definitely starting really soon."
“Well..I’ll just go upstairs then. You can go home.” Alicent said softly, her eyes closing as she leaned back against the cushions. The cold rag felt soothing against her fevered skin, and the water helped to cool her down a little.
Dany sighed, knowing that she wouldn’t be able to change Alicent’s mind. "Alright, but if you need anything, anything at all, you send for me," she said, hugging her sister. "I think you should at least consider having Rhaenyra by your side during this time. It's not just about the mating. An alpha's presence can be...comforting for an omega in heat."
Alicent rolled her eyes. "I know, Dany. I'll be fine."
Dany nodded, her expression a mix of frustration and concern. She knew Alicent was too proud to admit she needed help, especially from Rhaenyra. As the door closed behind her, Alicent let out a sigh, her eyes filling with tears. This was going to be a long week.
///
Rhaenyra walked into their bedroom an hour later, her eyes immediately finding Alicent's flushed face. Based on this morning, she had known that Alicent's heat was approaching, but the urgency in the servant's voice had made her stomach clench with worry.
"How are you feeling?" Rhaenyra asked, her voice gentle as she approached the bed.
Alicent's eyes searched Rhaenyra's, looking for any hint of pity. "I'm fine," she said, her voice tight. "But I don't want to...be intimate during this heat."
Rhaenyra nodded, understanding. "It's alright," she said, taking Alicent's hand in her own. "I'm not here for that. I just want to be with you."
Alicent felt a surge of relief and love for Rhaenyra, despite her anger. "Thank you," she whispered, squeezing her hand. They sat there in silence for a few moments, the tension in the room palpable.
Alicent bit her lip, her gaze dropping to the floor. "Can..can you hold me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Rhaenyra felt a lump form in her throat. She had missed this, the intimacy between them, the way Alicent had once looked at her with love and desire. She moved closer, her hand brushing against Alicent's cheek. "Of course," she said, her voice thick with emotion.
They lay down together, Rhaenyra's arms wrapping around Alicent's trembling body. The omega's heat was a potent force, making the air around them thick with need. Rhaenyra inhaled deeply, the scent of Alicent's arousal making her own body respond.
For a moment, they just lay there, holding onto each other, the past and future forgotten in the present. It was all they could do, all they dared to hope for.
As the heat grew more intense, Alicent buried her face in Rhaenyra's neck, her breath coming in short gasps. "Please," she whispered, her voice pleading.
Rhaenyra kissed her forehead, her hands soothingly rubbing her back. "I'm here, love," she murmured. "I'm here."
Alicent woke up with a start, her body drenched in sweat. She looked over to see Rhaenyra sleeping peacefully beside her, oblivious to the storm brewing within Alicent. Her heat had come upon her like a tempest, the intensity of it unlike anything she had ever felt before. It was as if her very soul was on fire, yearning for the touch of her alpha.
Her skin felt too tight, her body too hot, and she could smell her own scent of need permeating the air. Her omega instincts were screaming at her to seek out her alpha, to mate, to knot her.
With trembling hands, Alicent shrugged off her robe and slipped out of her light dress and undergarments, feeling the coolness of the air against her overheated skin. She slid back into bed, trying to be as quiet as possible, not wanting to wake Rhaenyra. But as she moved closer, her body brushed against Rhaenyra's, and she couldn't help but let out a soft whimper.
Rhaenyra's eyes fluttered open at the sound, and she immediately took in Alicent's state. "You're burning up," she said, her voice filled with a mix of fear and longing.
Alicent nodded, her eyes searching Rhaenyra's. "It's...so intense," she managed to say, her voice shaking.
Rhaenyra reached out and touched her forehead, her eyes widening at the feverish heat she found there. Alicent's breathing grew more ragged, her eyes glazed with desire. Rhaenyra's heart broke at the sight of Alicent's pain. She knew that the heat was taking over, that she needed her alpha's touch to find relief. But she also knew that Alicent wasn't ready to forgive her.
"Can you..can you please touch me?" Alicent stuttered the words out, pressing her naked body against Rhaenyra's clothed one.
"Shh," Rhaenyra soothed, her hand carding through Alicent's hair. "You're not thinking straight, Ali."
"I am," Alicent insisted, her voice desperate. With a shaky hand, Alicent reached up and cupped Rhaenyra's cheek, pulling her face down to hers. And before Rhaenyra could protest, Alicent's lips were on hers, hot and desperate. The kiss was clumsy, filled with pain and need, but it was also filled with love.
Rhaenyra froze for a moment. But as Alicent's body pressed closer, her heat radiating through the fabric of her own clothes, Rhaenyra couldn't help but respond. Her arms tightened around Alicent, pulling her closer as she deepened the kiss. The taste of Alicent was like a drug, one she hadn't had in far too long. She could feel her own heat rising in response, her body begging to claim what was rightfully hers.
Alicent moaned into the kiss, her hands roaming over Rhaenyra's body. The kiss grew more urgent, their tongues dancing together in a silent plea for forgiveness and connection. Alicent's body was trembling with need, and she could feel Rhaenyra responding to her. Rhaenyra kissed her back, savoring the sweetness of Alicent's mouth. But she knew this wasn't the time for passion. This was about comfort, about fulfilling a need that went beyond their personal feelings.
Gently, she pulled away and held Alicent in a tight embrace. "Shhh, you’re okay," she whispered into her ear. She began to stroke Alicent's back in slow, soothing circles, whispering words of comfort into her ear. Alicent's body responded to the touch, her hips moving restlessly against Rhaenyra.
Alicent's eyes filled with tears, and she buried her face in Rhaenyra's neck, her body shaking with sobs. ”I need more..” Alicent said in a shaky voice. Alicent's hands moved to Rhaenyra's pants, her trembling fingers fumbling with the fastenings. "I need you," she whispered, her voice hoarse with desire. "Inside me."
Rhaenyra groaned at the thought, her own body responding to Alicent's need. But she knew that this wasn't the right time, that Alicent was acting based on her heat and she might regret it. She gently caught Alicent's hands in hers. "Not like this," she murmured, her voice filled with regret.
Alicent's eyes searched hers, desperation clear in their depths. "Is it because of Talisa?” she whimpered, the question tearing at Rhaenyra's heart.
Rhaenyra's eyes widened in shock. "Gods, Ali, no, never," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "I have not lain with her since long before I met you. It’s only been you. It will only ever be you.”
Alicent's eyes filled with tears, and she nodded, her shoulders slumping in defeat. Rhaenyra's heart ached at the sight of her pain, but she knew that pushing for more would only make things worse. Instead, she held Alicent close, her hand rubbing soothing circles on her back. "I'm sorry I ever made you doubt that," she whispered, her voice filled with genuine regret. "
Alicent's whimpers grew louder, her body writhing with need. They lay there for hours, Alicent's heat rising and falling in waves. Rhaenyra remained by her side, providing comfort and support, never once pushing for more. And as the night wore on, the anger and hurt between them began to melt away, replaced by a quiet understanding and the unspoken promise of a future together.
The room was stuffy, the air thick with Alicent's scent. Despite her own growing need, Rhaenyra remained dressed, her touch gentle and calming. She knew that Alicent's heat was a powerful force, one that could not be denied. But she also knew that she had to be strong, and had to be the alpha that Alicent needed. And she promised she would be from this day forward. But only time would tell if they would truly have another chance to get things right this time around.