Chapter 6
When Rhaenyra awoke the following day it was to Syrax's internal scolding, as it seemed the goddess disapproved of her unwarranted hostility towards the Lady Alicent Hightower. As Syrax reminded her they had made a deal and Rhaenyra's efforts had been half-assed so far, Rhaenyra could feel the shame rise In her at the goddess's words. Syrax was right, she had granted Rhaenyra a second chance at not only life but at happiness as well, yet here she was squandering this opportunity over past transgression that would never occur in this new life. But, how does one just move on from the war that had taken everything from her and can she keep her promise if it would mean just ignoring everything she was put through in her last life?
These thoughts plagued her mind almost all morning, but little Daeron's arrival in her room broke her out of her pensiveness. At only two name days Dearon had shown remarkable progress in his understanding of High Valyrian, so it was to no surprise that he beamed up at her happily as she called out: "Good morning, Valonqar!" She then took him into her arms and tickled his stomach as his boyish giggles filled the room, her previous melancholy washed away by their joyful laughter. Daeron's presence had become a staple part of her days spent in the castle as her little brother was seemingly fond of her, she truly had no qualms against him in this life and held no lingering resentments from her previous one either. Daeron was no more than a boy when war broke out and a part of Rhaenyra mourned that he had never grown out of his boyhood in his last life.
The same could be said for All of her siblings, they were so young and easily influenceable and each had paid the price for Rhaenyra's lack of quick thinking. She knows now looking back that she should have made more of an effort to connect with her poor half-siblings and should have fought for her right to be their sister, but by the time war came it was too late and her efforts for peace were swiftly ignored. Now though, she had a chance to help not only herself, but her siblings as well if she can manage to find the strength to move past the horrors of her previous life. But, as she holds Daeron she finds it hard to imagine him and his brothers as anything more than just children, and maybe Rhaenyra holding on to her fear of them is truly as irrational as Syrax tells her it is.
Later that day her mother, Aemma informed her that a parcel had been delivered for Syrax to Rhaenyra's confusion she refused to elaborate. But, when she made her way down to the dragon pit all became clear as a new saddle was being fitted on Syrax's back, the saddle was made from the finest of leathers and yet was not overly stylized with gems as its practicality was taken into account. Rhaenyra was immediately enamored with it as she ran her hand along its side, and Syrax seemed pleased as well as her spoiled girl loved the attention her new saddle nabbed her. As Rhaenyra admired the skilled leather work she failed to notice Laena's approach, "I'm pleased to see you're enjoying your new gift, princess."
When Rhaenyra turned to look at her it was like staring at a ghost, unlike Alicent sweet Laena did not live far past adulthood and had died looking just as she did when Rhaenyra first fell for her. So, this Laena did not fail to stir a sense of longing in Rhaenyra's heart as she looked away quickly to hide the tears forming in her eyes. Blinking them away before responding, "Yes, indeed it is a fine piece of work. I am ever fond of Syrax, so I must admit I am overjoyed to see her so happy with her gift..." She trails off as she notices the proximity between her and Laena, as the Velaryon had moved closer without Rhaenyra noticing.
"I'm glad to hear that, too am rather fond of my precious girl Vhagar, so I thought you'd appreciate a more sentimental betrothal gift," Laena then takes Rhaenyra's hand in her own and presses a soft kiss against her knuckles. A light blush crawls up Rhaenyr's neck, due to her rather pale skin Laena easily spots it as a confident smirk overtakes her face. "I hope with your new gift you will run out of excuses to avoid flying with me and Vhagar..." Rhaenyra only nods along to that request knowing that her luck was running out, as she knows she can not avoid her betroths forever.
Unbeknownst to them their conversation was overheard by poor Alicent, who had ventured into the dragon pits in the hopes that she might be able to catch some time with Rhaenyra but instead, she noticed how much closer her betrothed was to Laena. The alpha inside of her wanted to storm over there and claim the princess, but Alicent knew she would be no match for the rider of Vhagar and would instead only embarrass herself in front of the princess. She was not entirely discouraged, however, as their conversation stirred something in her that she and her father had long given up hope of ever appearing. A desire for a dragon, if claiming a dragon would mean finally catching Rhaenyra's attention then Alicent had no choice but to face her fears at last.
With one final glance at the object of her desire, Alicent swore she would claim a dragon before the end of the week, one large enough that Rhaenyra would have no choice but to finally see Alicent. Then maybe Rhaenyra would finally notice just how long Alicent had been trailing after her, and maybe she would see how Alicent had desired her far before she had even presented as an omega. That Alicent had dreamed of being Rhaennyra's mate even when Alicent thought she'd be an omega herself, and that Alicent had been so disheartened when she presented as an alpha as she thought she'd never get to be with Rhaenyra. But, all those fears had been for naught as now they would one day marry, and Alicent would finally get to be the only one she had ever desired.
Alicent felt her anxiousness bubble as she made her way onto Dragonestone, here there lay many great dragons each with legacies that would undoubtedly impress Rhaenyra, but a great sense of danger also lingered in the air as Alicent made her way on the island. The first she approached was the mount of former King Jaehaerys, Vermithor was a great beast of legend that would make for a formidable ally if Alicent was lucky. But, as she approached him, he let out a warning growl and roared at her as if displeased that she would even dare approach him. Alicent's pride shrank at that, of course, a dragon as great as Vermithor would reject Alicent, why would she ever have believed herself worthy of him? With her reddish brown locks and Reachman features, as her uncle Daemon often reminded her she was of Andal stock and had less Valyrian blood than the rest of her family.
All she had as proof of her Valyrian heritage was her dark purple eyes and her omega father, who did his best to comfort her and reassure her that she was just as worthy of their culture as anyone else. But, Vermithor's rejection was just further proof of Alicent's place as the black sheep of the Targaryen line. Dishearted by his rejection Alicent made to leave and was set to just accept that she was not meant to be a dragon rider like the rest of her family, but before she could one of the dragons let out a ferocious roar causing a shiver to run down Alicent's spine as a dark shadow overtook the sky. Her father had warned her before she departed that Dragonstone was dangerous, and he had put extra emphasis on the danger caused by the great monstrosity known as the Cannibal.
Alicent had tried to heed her father's warnings, but it was all for naught as now the Cannibal stood between her and her way home, with no other choice Alicent straightened out her spine and shook off her fear as she approached the beast. The Cannibal's eerie green eyes focused on her immediately and his razor-sharp teeth soon bared at her as she approached, a smarter person would run but Alicent was far too close to escape her fate now. Instead, she moved closer even as the dragon opened its mouth to shoot flames at her, with only a silent prayer Alicent's outstretched hand made contact with the Cannibals snout. Suddenly, all kinds of emotions exploded inside Alicent, anger, mistrust, fear, and most prominently loneliness.
When Alicent dared to look up once more she noticed that the Cannibal's demeanor had drastically changed, while he was still as terrifying as ever he no longer looked as crazed as he had once seemed, instead he seemed almost happy. "You've been all alone for centuries, haven't you? Even the other dragons didn't dare to approach you, it must've been so lonely. I never fit in much with other dragons either, so I guess we can learn to be alone together. It's ok now, I promise."