Kingslanding
(106 AC)
- Rumour has it -

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Years passed, but no one had really recovered from the Queen's death. Especially not King Viserys and Princess Rhaenyra. But he had to marry again, that had always been the custom and always would be. Only he could not imagine a new wife at his side. He did not want to imagine a new wife at his side. And Rhaenyra would not accept a new wife at her father's side.

But while Rhaenyra and her father mourned the past, the King's right-hand man, Otto Hightower, devised a nasty plan. He often instructed his daughter, Alicent, to visit the king. She often brought him gifts, but they often just talked. She listened to him and he felt the need to tell her everything. Everything that depressed him and, of course, the fact that he was being asked to find a new wife.

Alicent understood that it was not easy for him and she assured him that she would help him get through this difficult time. And the more Alicent visited the King, the stronger their bond became and at some point King Viserys made the decision everyone had been waiting for - he had decided who he wanted to marry.

So he gathered everyone who needed to know his decision. Including Otto Hightower. Rhaenyra already suspected what her father was about to announce and gave him her consent. But she had no idea who her father wanted to marry. So she gave her consent for her father to marry her best friend and make her the mother of her possible half-siblings.

And the moment King Viserys spoke Alicent's name, Rhaenyra felt betrayed. Why hadn't Alicent told her? She knew about her father's decision and didn't think it was necessary to tell her? Alicent felt bad. She should have told Rhaenyra, after all, she would now be her stepmother and her new Queen.

Her new Queen. A sentence that both Rhaenyra and Alicent repeated in a continuous loop in their heads. It felt wrong to think about it. It felt wrong to take Queen Aemma's place and yet there was nothing Alicent could do about the King's decision. It was certain - she would be the new Queen, whether she liked it or not.

Rhaenyra lost her nerve. Why did her father and her best friend do this to her days after her 'coronation'? Why did her father only decide to announce his decision now? It would only be a matter of time before Alicent gave birth to a boy, jeopardising Rhaenyra's place in the line of succession. The place that was meant for her and that she would defend forever. She would not let it be taken away from her. Not by a son born to Alicent. Not by one of her possible half-brothers.

She was the only heir and she would be the only heir forever. Regardless of whether Alicent liked it or not. That were King Visery's words, the day every Lord in Westeros swore their allegiance to Princess Rhaenyra and vowed to protect her no matter what. One day, Rhaenyra would sit on the iron throne and make her father proud. Looking down on her possible half-brothers and half-sisters. Thinking that she had made it and that her father had kept his word.

And she would wear the colours of House Targaryen with pride and honour, just like her father and uncle before her. She would bring nothing but pride and honour to her house. She would see to that. She would be a fair and good queen, she swore to herself. And if she failed, her father would forgive her, she knew that.

He would love her forever and would always stand behind her, no matter what disagreements they sometimes had. And Alicent would also stand behind Rhaenyra forever and defend her. Even if it didn't seem that way to Rhaenyra. Perhaps she knew it deep down inside. Or maybe it was just hope that she felt.

But no matter what it was, she knew one thing - she would never approve of the marriage between her father and her best friend.