She sees it coming, the short arc of steel in Alicent’s hand and feverish fury in her eyes. They collide almost gracefully, the inevitable intertwining of hands like ice and hands like fire. They shove and reach and tear at each other, fumbling for something to grab and hold, to love so hard it breaks.
Rhaenyra hears her boys call out and startled gasps from her gathered family, Alicent’s ragged breathing layered over top like a thin film of madness. Rhaenyra thinks she’s a bit mad too with how much she’s enjoying this.
She should be reaching for a blade and seeking blood of her own but all she feels is the chasm inside, widening, darkening. She’s hungry, it’s sickening how much she aches for fingertip bruises and her own blood dripping to the floor. She feeds on the red hot glow of Alicent’s rage, so different from her usual cold and distant loathing. It is intoxicating, her touch and her smell and the dagger stained with red. Rhaenyra wishes this could last longer, but her children come before gleeful violence. She calms her breathing and steps in closer.
“My pain has been enough for you in the past, why must you search for more of mine to hurt. Play your games and believe what you will, but should you ever touch my children you will learn the true meaning of fire.”
Alicent scoffs, “I am not afraid of you.”
Rhaenyra runs her hand down Alicent’s arm, shaking with force, and grabs the dagger by the blade. She cannot force down a smile when the steel breaks her skin and Alicent’s eyes widen. Rhaenyra leans forward to speak in Alicent’s ear and says almost tenderly.
“You should be, they would hear your screams in Winterfell.”
Rhaenyra would have given it all up for her, the throne did not know her as Alicent Hightower did. She would have fought a thousand men, taken any oath, bent both knees. She would have reduced the realm to smoke and bone just to hear Alicent’s silken laugh one more time. Love will forever be the death of duty and the love they shared is seared so deep in her blood, she will never be rid of it.
“I am not afraid.” Alicent repeats, they both know she’s lying.