CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
❛the iron islands.❜

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EARLY 130 AC ⸻ Iron Islands ⸻

THE IRON Islands are the least populated, and perhaps the smallest region in the Kingdom. Lady Genevieve Greyjoy was as Iron Born as they come. She was strong, intelligent, wise, and cold. Everything she needed to be, and she did it well.

Anxiety filled Rhaenyra's being about Daemon's whereabouts, so when she received a raven from Genevieve herself about where he was, she immediately mounted Syrax to confront him.

Caraxes shrieked in glee once Syrax had landed next to him. He had been a lonely beast since Daemon fled.

Rhaenyra nodded towards Caraxes before dismounting. Letting the salty air engulf her, she began her trek to find Daemon.

Opening the doors to the large castle, Rhaenyra was met inside of a bustling room filled with men, yet she was met with none other than Genevieve. "My Queen, welcome to the Iron Islands."

Rhaenyra's lips twitched as she tried to smile politely, shoving down the conscious feelings of Daemon.

"Where is he?"

It was then that Daemon let himself be seen, coming out from the belly of the people. "I wasn't expecting you."

"You have done well here." Rhaenyra added, letting her eyes gaze upon the men who were bustling around, readying themselves for war.

"They are sworn to me." Daemon added.

"And to whom are you sworn to?" Rhaenyra's voice was firm, yet it wavered.

The men and Genevieve watched as the two bickered in High Valyrain.

Daemon rested his forehead against Rhaenyra, letting the moment be between them.

Then, he turned towards the men. "This is the true Queen, Rhaenyra! First of her name, protector of the realm." His body turned slightly, letting his eyes grace her. "I am meant to serve you, and all of these men with me, until death, or the end of our story."

It was then that Daemon bent his knee for her, letting the sea of men do the same.

"We will fight for our Queen!"

⸻

A knock pulled Lyria from her thoughts.

Lyria's head whipped up from her needlepoint to the door, where Alicent came into view.

"Lyria, my dear." Alicent began.

Lyria perfected her posture, readying herself to put on a fake smile for her. It wasn't that she hated Alicent, she just saw through her motives and knew her taste for her wasn't pure.

"I wanted to, first congratulate you," Alicent's voice wavered as she sat in an empty chair, in front of Lyria. "I am ecstatic to welcome another grandchild."

"Thank you." Lyria smiled.

With a nod, Alicent continued on. "I also wanted to apologize for how I have treated you."

"It'-" Lyria began, attempting to wave away the matter but Alicent pressed on.

"From the day I met you, I have judged you and treated you poorly. That was not fair to you, and I wish I could take it back."

Lyria's eyebrows furrowed as she listened to Alicent. This didn't match up . . . this was odd. Something was off.

"It's alright, truly." Lyria promised, even though a simple apology couldn't undo endless entitlement.

Alicent smiled warmly before leaning to press a hand against Lyria's own. "I am truly honored to have you a part of our family."

Lyria only smiled at her, "I am honored to be a part of it."

Alicent stood, feeling the awkward tension pick at her spine. "Aemond got lucky." It was more of a whisper as she left, but Lyria heard it, nonetheless.

As her eyes drifted back to her needlepoint, letting her hands fall into a mindless rhythm, she wondered just what that could be about.

⸻

Awoken from her slumber, Rhaenyra headed towards the library in Dragonstone.

"Begging your pardon, your Grace." a voice dragged her from her thoughts.

Rhaenyra looked over to see Alicent. She stopped in her tracks, confused. "Who knows?"

"None save my protector. He laid down his sword at your gate." Alicent's feet stepped carefully towards her old friend.

Rhaenyra spoke nothing, just looked towards Alicent in pure confusion, and part disgust.

"I think I've been mistaken." It was hard for her to admit, and entirely too late, but Alicent needed to admit it.

"In what?"

Alicent swallowed. "I was raised to believe there was an order to things, that there was security in following the path laid out for us. I resented you, . . . I think, for caring so little for any of it, for knowing what you wanted. I did not know what I wanted. Only what was expected of me."

Rhaenyra shook her head, "Why have you come here?"

"I've lost my way, or rather, it was taken from me." Her eyes faltered, slightly afraid to look at Rhaenyra. "All those I put my faith in, my husband, my father, my lover, my son . . "

"Ooh," Rhaenyra breathed, a slight chuckle in her words, "The incorruptible queen sullies herself with a lover."

"Do not judge me for what you yourself have done." Alicent was quick to add, "Your father died. I took comfort with another. I too have desires."

"Yes, but you alone made virtue your banner."

"And I clung to it. . . in defiance of you, I think. Who so disdained it." Alicent admitted, "I have been alone, as of late. I walked outside the walls of the city and felt a weight lifted from me."

"How lovely for you." Rhaenyra scoffed.

Alicent moved past that, "I thought, for the first time, what I would choose . . . if not for the duty I put before all else."

Rhaenyra chuckled, finding humor and disbelief in her words, "Shall you cast down your son and rule alone?"

Alicent shook her head, "I do not wish to rule, I wish to
live. To be free of all this endless plotting and striving." Her eyes drifted, "The crown will pursue war and victory at all cost. But as for me . . ." Her eyes met Rhaenyra's, "I wish to take my daughter, Lyria, and my grandchildren and leave it all behind."

Rhaenyra's eyebrows furrowed with a sorrowful sigh, "It is too late . . . Alicent. Did you come here thinking you would be absolved ?"

Alicent shook her head, "When he's gone . . . Helaena as Queen will be the Crown's authority. If you come then, to King's Landing, I will see to it that the guards throw down their arms, we will shed no blood. You will enter as a Conqueror."

Rhaenyra laughed.

"Already you have the stronger hand, Once you take the throne..." Alicent sighed, "This senseless war must end."

"What of Aegon?"

"He is broken beyond recognition." Alicent noted, "He lies in the dark, in pain, in terror. I believe I can prevail upon him to bend the knee . . . "

"No!" Rhaenyra groaned, "You still defend him! If I am to take the throne, I must put an end to the opposition!"

Alicent sighed, her mind conflicted. It took a good few minutes before she slowly nodded, "Do what you must."

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