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[---]
123 AC, King's Landing
She didn't know how long she remained there, staring at her reflection, but finally, a sound broke the silence, boots on stone. She looked up and couldn't help but smile at the face that greeted her, "Hello, Aemond."
"Mother," her second son said softly, "May I sit?"
Alicent stared at her son's face, knowing that the eyepatch that he wore hid the scars and his lost eye, courtesy of one of Rhaenyra's bastards. Aemond was the child that she had failed the most, a slight that remained avenged, which proved to the world that Viserys would protect Rhaenyra and her bastard children above his trueborn sons.
It would have been an extreme blow to their faction if her brilliant son hadn't also claimed Vhagar, significantly improving their position in terms of firepower. Eventually, the political effects of Aemond's maiming faded away, as Viserys became sicker, and her father cemented their power over the Court.
But that didn't change that Aemond had been different since that day. He learned how to live with a single eye with a determination that always defined him, and Ser Criston claimed that her son was an extremely talented swordsman in the making, perhaps even surpassing him in raw talent.
And yet, he was different, hence why she thought that she failed him. There was a rage to him, a desire of vengeance, that was always there. There was also a distance between him and the rest of their family that hadn't been there before. Aemond stopped seeking her out for advice or comfort, stopped butting heads with Aegon, which she had been thankful for before she realised what truly happened, and was seemingly more interested in riding his monstrosity of a dragon.
After her brilliant boy had all but finished his lessons years earlier than he should have, she started to take notice of Aemond, likely wishing that he would succeed him as Aegon's Hand one day. He hadn't said it explicitly, but he sometimes asked Aemond to act as his cupbearer when Viserys became too ill to attend his Small Council meetings, but he hadn't done so officially, even if she didn't know why.
If she had to guess, it would have been because people would have focused on Aegon's absence and raised some very uncomfortable questions. It wouldn't have been beneficial to say that Aegon, the boy who they would likely fight to put on the throne, was seemingly more interested in wine and whores, than he did the realm's affairs.
Nevertheless, Aemond's distance towards everyone around him worried her. She had hoped that it would slowly fade away as he grew or healed, but he seemed to resent them all for leaving his maiming unavenged, even if they would have had to defy the King's order to do it.
A part of her wished that she'd succeeded in cutting off that little bastard's eye. Perhaps Aemond would have looked at her differently if she had shown that she could protect him, or at the very least, avenge him. Nevertheless, that distance remained, and Alicent did not know how to mend that rift. She sought him out many times over the years, and yet their conversations remained sparse at best.
It was getting better after some effort on her part, but progress was extremely slow.
Which was why she was surprised when he actively sought to approach her after her conversation with her father, "Of course, Aemond."
Her son sat down with practised ease, a far cry from his stumbling when he first lost this eye, "You stayed in Dragonstone for longer than I expected."
"I know. I wished it were otherwise, but the King wished to stay in his ancestral home for longer."
"Ah," he replied with a wistful smile, "I wish I could have gone with you. It would have been interesting to see where my ancestors landed after the Doom, and I think that Vhagar would have enjoyed staying there."
Alicent's heart mourned at that statement. Her son had always been interested in her heritage as the last children of Valyria, but was never able to truly do it, as most of the tomes on the matter remained on Dragonstone by the order of King Jaehaerys, with the idea of allowing the Prince of Dragonstone to learn of their heritage in their ancestral home before becoming King. Viserys didn't deem it fit to change that edict, and she didn't push the issue.
Rhaenyra had all but secluded herself in Dragonstone after Driftmark and her scandalous marriage to Daemon, and Alicent had been perfectly happy letting the woman stay away on Dragonstone.
Aemond's wistful smile quickly faded away, "I suppose that the sorcerer on Dragonstone was the reason for your extended stay."
"Your father seemed fascinated with the man," the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms explained, "And a King's whims are rarely denied. If it weren't for the sudden… instability in the realm, he would have likely stayed for longer."
Her son hummed gently, "Grandfather seemed also quite interested in this Harry Potter. He spoke at length of the danger he posed to us."
"He is correct in this regard. Not many know of this, but your father decided to dismiss your grandfather as Hand of the King after a single conversation with the man, one that lasted minutes at most."
Despite it occurring over a moon's turn prior, Alicent still reeled in surprise at what had occurred. Daemon, whom Viserys forgave constantly despite his many failings, hadn't been able to convince the King to dismiss her father, not even after years. Corlys Velaryon was also another opponent, and it only took Rhaenyra and her father overplaying their hand regarding Aegon's rightful position as heir, which sent him away. And yet a Harry Potter had somehow done it with minutes at best.
Aemond nodded solemnly before asking another question, "What can you tell me of him?"
Her eyes widened at the request. She hadn't expected this question of all things, not from Aemond. Her second son always had this intensity to him whenever he felt passionate about a subject; usually, it was dragons. She wasn't sure why he seemed to feel so strongly about the sorcerer, but she didn't like it.
And yet, she didn't have it in her to deny him. She had failed him many times before, and she yearned to get as close as they once were before he lost his eye. She released an explosive sigh before staring into the distance, "The Potters, both husband and wife, are… strange."
Aemond seemed taken aback by this answer, "Strange? That is not the description that I imagined."
"Yet, it is likely the most fitting. They come from strange lands, have strange mannerisms, wear strange garments, and possess strange items that they claim to have found in their travels."
"I know. I was there when Grand Maester Mellos examined Father's music box and Aegon's dagger at Grandfather's urging. He seemed to understand how the music box was made, at least the basic concepts. He did have a blacksmith examine Aegon's dagger and found it to be made of steel and attributed the colour to some kind of dye or material that didn't do anything more than change the steel's colour. I believe Mellos called it a remarkable display of craftsmanship."
Alicent inwardly grimaced at these words. She hadn't known of her father demanding that Viserys and Aegon's gifts be examined. She understood the wisdom of it all, but she couldn't help but feel slighted at the fact that her own mirror and Helaena's gifts were not examined either.
Then again, her father likely imagined that Aegon or Viserys would have been the best targets for any of Potter's designs, and they were the gifts that looked the most striking. A necklace of a butterfly encased in glass, and a mirror, no matter how impressive, were known quantities, while the music box and the dyed dagger were not. And all of the gifts were also examined on Dragonstone by Rhaenyra's Maester as well, and yet, that logic did not lessen the sting of her father's priorities any further.
Deciding not to show her displeasure, she focused on the clear disappointment in her son's face, likely at the lack of magic in the gifts, "I believe that the Sea Snake returned with many strange and rare items after his journey to Yi-Ti."
Aemond snorted, "The Sea Snake did not have a drop of a liquid that somehow healed the King in seconds. Speaking of which, were the rumours true? Did the sorcerer heal my nephew and niece?"
Alicent grimaced once more, "He did. I do not know if he did it in the same manner as the King, but your brother was there when it happened, and so, he might shed some light on the matter."
The Queen couldn't help but suppress a wince at the reminder of the sorcerer's words regarding her grandchildren's condition. She wasn't sure if he told the truth, that Helaena's marriage to Aegon had been the cause of their condition, but she must admit that the twins were too quiet and subdued when they were born, a stark contrast to now, where they looked healthier and were growing quite quickly.
If the sorcerer's words were true, then she had done a disservice to her children and grandchildren, especially given that she was the one who pushed for their marriage to go through. But what choice did she have? Rhaenyra had pushed a betrothal between Helaena and Jacaerys, and she couldn't allow her daughter to marry a bastard of all things. Instead, she would make her Queen, just like her mother before her. Alicent hadn't known that her grandchildren might have suffered because of her choice. Ah, the Gods were cruel indeed.
Aemond hummed, "He has been… calmer since his return."
For the first time, this was a topic that gladdened her, and she grasped it like it was a lifeline. "It seems like fatherhood agrees with him, and placing two of the eggs that Dreamfyre just laid in his children's cradle made him quite joyful. I can only hope that it would remain this way."
Her son looked dubious at the hope in her voice, before unfortunately returning the subject to its origin, "What else can you say about the sorcerer aside from the fact that he is strange?"
"I have not interacted with him much, other than after some unpleasantness with Shadowbinders that sought to attack him, and when Daemon's daughters fell ill. All I can say is that he and his wife are very intelligent and perceptive, but as I said, very strange, and preferred staying in their manse on the beach than in Rhaenyra's fortress. Helaena would likely tell you more of them. She seemed to enjoy their company in the few times they came to the castle."
Aemond's eyes widened, "Helaena, truly?"
Alicent could understand his surprise. After all, Helaena disliked the company of others. In fact, most of her conversations had been with Aemond or Alicent, preferring to play with her insects.
"I was surprised as well," she said, wishing that she wasn't trying her best to prolong her conversation with her son by using his fascination with a sorcerer of all things, "But she seemed to take a shine to them, and the sorcerer seems to understand her ramblings somehow. Speaking of which, where is Helaena? I haven't seen her this morning."
"I saw her speaking with Tyland Lannister on my way here," he replied casually before righting himself, "I suppose that you disagree with Grandfather's assessment of the Potters, that they are not a threat. They healed Jaehaerys and Jaehaera, after all. They would not have done that if they were Daemon's creatures, as Grandfather claimed."
The Queen of the Seven Kingdoms stayed silent for a few seconds, thinking of an appropriate response to her son's question, "The truth is that I do not know. You know, as I do, living in King's Landing, that people very rarely show their true plans to the world. They might have healed Aegon's children, but they have also ensured that your grandfather would be removed from his post as Hand of the King, a tremendous blow to our cause. The King's behaviour has also changed since he went to Dragonstone, and given that we know that they are capable of magic, there is the chance that the Potters could be involved in that change. It seems wise to be wary of such a development, to say the least."
That was the most accurate answer she could manage. Alicent disliked the sorcerer and what he represented, believed him to be a great threat. Looking back, she could see that he likely healed her grandchildren to get Aegon's gratitude and support, which he used heavily when Viserys announced the betrothal between Aegon the younger and Jaehaera. Still, while this betrothal complicated things, it did give her an opportunity to steal a supporter of Rhaenyra by betrothing one of their daughters to Jaehaerys, who would be King, one day.
To her surprise, Aemond scoffed at her response, "Vermithor would not have chosen Father if he were someone's thrall. Father's mind is his own. I am sure of that."
Alicent frowned at that but chose not to argue. She didn't know much of dragons despite her husband and children riding them, but she couldn't see how riding a dragon related to not being under some kind of spell.
However, what she did know was that Aemond was quite passionate when it came to dragonlore, "Perhaps, but that doesn't change the fact that a foreigner, whose goals are a mystery to us, has influenced the realm in a way that we have never seen before."
"The Small Council has spent much time and resources trying to learn more of this Harry Potter, even in Essos, and has little to show for it. They even invited some House in the Reach who shared their name to come to King's Landing. That was quite an entertaining day," he replied with a smirk, "The only object of interest they were able to find was that the Essosi seemed rattled by the Second Doom, especially in Volantis and Qarth. Grandfather was quite frustrated, but after my return from Harrenhal, he'd grown quite obsessed with the sorcerer."
Alicent opened her mouth, only to stop completely, "Harrenhal? What were you doing in Harrenhal?"
Her son tilted his head in confusion, "Did Grandfather not tell you? I just saw you leave his solar."
She grabbed her son's hand tightly, fear overwhelming any type of hesitation, "What were you doing in Harrenhal, Aemond?"
"Grandfather asked me to go there to broker an agreement with some bastard witch who had taken over the castle."
"We have messengers for that, Aemond."
Her son shrugged, "The witch had asked for a Dragonrider to come, and Grandfather accepted. I was quite surprised that he had. It seemed quite reckless on his part, especially given that I almost died at that witch's hand."
"What happened?" she hissed, her face paling with every second.
What followed was a tale that made Alicent wish to throttle her father. Otto Hightower was a pragmatic man. She knew that very well, but he never took unnecessary risks, especially not when his blood was on the line.
To think that he sent her son to Harrenhal. HER SON! To become bait to some monstrous witch and be saved by the Sorcerer, with Harrenhal completely destroyed. Anything might have happened. Aemond could have easily arrived earlier and been killed by the witch, and she wouldn't have known about it. He would have died after they spent years barely speaking with one another.
She would not have it, not anymore.
Aemond then shook her shoulders, and her dangerous thoughts were broken, especially as she stared at her son's concerned eyes, "Are you well, Mother?"
"I… I am. I'm sorry, Aemond. I did not know… I never thought… I'm sorry."
"Think nothing of it, Mother. You were not in King's Landing at the time."
"I know," Alicent replied while frowning, "Do you mind if we continue this conversation later? I'll need to think."
Aemond looked surprised but nodded, "Of course, Mother. Let us continue this in the evening. I still have many questions about your time on Dragonstone."
He then left, with Alicent almost regretting sending him away. She was happy that he was speaking to her once more without any prompting, but she didn't believe that she could think clearly, given the information that he gave her.
Her father had almost gotten Aemond killed, and now he had to gall to speak to her about failing, because she couldn't change the King's mind about a decision that involved him. And to consort with witches, of all things. How dare he?
Her prior conversation with her father was odd, and Alicent had attributed it to his not taking the loss of his position nicely. She could understand that. After all, a sorcerer had come out of nowhere and upended years of work to put Aegon on the throne, but that did not excuse sending her son to a witch's clutches.
She looked around and hadn't even noticed that she had stopped before the doors to her chambers.
Ser Criston spoke up behind her, "Your grace, if I may… Perhaps Lord Otto…"
"Not now," she interrupted, perhaps too harshly, "I know that you mean to comfort me, Ser Criston, but I need to be alone for now."
Alicent entered her chambers and sat down on one of the chairs, looking out of the window. Her son had nearly died, and no raven had warned her. No word. Nothing. Her father sat across from her earlier like nothing had happened, seemingly more focused on Harry Potter than he had been on his grandson. If not for the sorcerer, Aemond might never have returned.
Without even realising it, Alicent noticed that she had taken the mirror, Harry Potter's gift to her, and she instinctively looked at her reflection. She looked powerful in a way that she certainly didn't feel. She looked like a proud Queen, regal and composed, untouched by doubt or pain.
Her hands trembled slightly as they held the mirror, and for a moment, she wished she could believe what it showed her, and yet, she knew that it was false. Resolve started to settle in her chest, and she knew what she should do.
She put down the mirror and immediately walked out of her chambers with purpose. It wasn't long before the Kingsguard let her enter, and she saw Viserys staring at his marble reproduction of Old Valyria, "Ah, Alicent. I was not expecting you," the King said without turning, seemingly preoccupied with his statues rather than with his wife, "Not that I do not appreciate your presence. I was on my way to meet with Rhaenys to introduce her to the Small Council."
"My love," Alicent said, "I wished to ask you for a favour."
Viserys' brows furrowed, "If this is about the betrothal, Alicent, then my decision is final."
"It is about my father, your grace."
"Is Otto well?" her husband asked, his eyes widening slightly.
"I believe so," then the words were spilt from Alicent's mouth, "There is some trouble in Oldtown, and my cousin, Ormund, has just recently succeeded his father as Lord of the Hightower. I believe that my father wishes to help him ease things, but Ormund's pride would not allow him to ask for help. Perhaps some guidance from an experienced man, such as my father, would be enough to quell the unrest. And it being a royal command would soothe my cousin's pride."
The King's eyes widened at her answer, "Are you sure, Alicent? You argued for your father's presence in the Capital fervently in the last few days."
"My home is in danger, your grace. Riots spill onto the streets of Oldtown, and the Maesters are too busy with some issues in the Citadel to heal the injured. After all, my father could easily return to King's Landing after these issues are dealt with."
Viserys nodded, "Then I will be glad to help you, my love. Is there anything else that you need? I believe that I will soon be late to the Small Council meeting. King, I might be, but it wouldn't do to leave my subject waiting."
"No, that is all, your grace. Thank you."
Alicent quickly left the room, her face pale and her hands shaking at what she had just done. She had just betrayed her father, done explicitly the opposite of what he asked of her, and all but ensured that he would be sent away from the Capital. Her faction would be weaker without him there. And yet, she couldn't help but feel powerful at what she had just done.
After all, for just a small moment, she felt like the Queen she had seen in the mirror, and she wouldn't let anything stop her.
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AN: That chapter got away from me a bit, and I know that it was a bit of a slow one, but I needed to get it out of the way before things got interesting. Anyway, the idea was to show a bit of progress with Alicent's character, while also having Aemond show his fascination with Harry, given that he saved him. There was also the fact that he told Alicent about Harrenhal because he knew that it would come down on Otto, since he was angry at him for essentially sending him to Alys Rivers to die. As usual, please let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions.
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If you want to support me, check out my patréon at https://www.patréon.com/athassprkr
I tend to upload drafts of early chapters on there to get people's opinions on them, so you can read up to 20 chapters ahead as a bonus.
Thank you guys for your support in these hard times.