Chapter 11
Their conversation in the gardens, it seemed, was all it took for Alicent to begin recovering rapidly. In a matter of days she'd gone from barely speaking when spoken to, to avidly bantering back and forth as they had when they were but girls.
Perhaps, Rhaenyra thought, she should have tried to bring Alicent to the Godswood earlier.
So miraculous was her recovery, it was only a week before Rhaenyra felt brave enough to broach a certain topic. "Have you..." she started timidly, before clearing her throat. "Have you decided yet what to do with Mysaria?"
The look Alicent gave her was almost bemused. "Why do you ask?"
Rhaenyra flushed. "I only... Despite what she did, she only meant to... It is just..." She swallowed. "You are my oldest, dearest friend, Alicent. And I would not wish to hurt you. But..."
"I know," Alicent said softly. Reaching out, she caught Rhaenyra's hand, and squeezed it. "I know."
"How?" Rhaenyra gasped.
"You're my dearest friend too. How could I not know?" She smiled. "Far be it from me to keep you from your happiness, Rhaenyra. Besides. The Seven preach forgiveness in all things. Perhaps I ought to begin with her."
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Never, in a thousand year, had Rhaenyra ever imagined she would be wed like this. But she'd already had a Westerosi wedding, and a Valyrian one too.
Perhaps a Lyseni wedding and wife would treat her better than either husband ever had.
"Then I declare these two bound," Alicent called to the audience, "their hearts and souls chained forevermore." Turning, she smiled softly at Rhaenyra, and then, to her new wife.
Something unspoken crossed between them then, as Alicent and Mysaria's gazes met, like [evocative metaphor or whatever]. Rhaenyra knew she might never be privy to the understanding between them, but it mattered little. These were the two most important women in her life—so long as they stayed with her, she would be happy.
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[min 500 words of Rhaenisaria sex scene DON'T FORGET]
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When Jace and Luke had died, Rhaenyra had thought she would never be happy again. Now, watching Luke the second chase after Jace the second, she had never been happier to be wrong in her life.
"Did you ever think we would end up here?" she asked softly.
Tucked under her arm, Mysaria hummed. "I'd certainly hoped so," she admitted, "when I chose to make my affections known. I'll admit, I could not have anticipated the details—" She nodded towards Alicent, [doing something cute with the kids idk] "—but even in the black cells, I always had faith that things would work out."
"It almost didn't," Rhaenyra said. "What if—"
Mysaria turned then, catching her hand. "Rhaenyra, my love. All is well. [long speech about how good things are now]."
Pressing their foreheads together, Mysaria sighed. "It has been a long road home, my love. But we're here now."
Rhaenyra smiled then, and kissed her softly. "I suppose we are," she agreed. "We're finally home."