012 The Queen Meets The Queen Who Never Was
Aegon looked at his new sister with an intent gaze; Helaena was cute, her chubby cheeks and her curious gaze roaming all over the place felt interesting to him.
She is known to be a dreamer; her habits a little odd, and her words vague.
'No matter, she is my sister now,' he thought to himself while Alicent lifted her daughter from the cradle.
Currently, the trio is in their room along with a few maids.
"Aegon, Mother is going for a walk with little Helaena. Do you want to come?" Alicent asked with a small smile on her face.
"Yes!" Aegon answered, his face brightening at the thought of walking around with his mother, 'maybe I will run in with Rhaenyra, who knows!' he thought to himself as he stood up.
They both went out of their rooms and began to walk in the dark hallways of the Red Keep.
Aegon was walking beside his mother, his little feet struggling to keep up with his mother's pace. "Mama, slow!" He pleaded.
CHUCKLE
Alicent chuckled as she slowed her pace; Helaena was asleep in her arms. She dismissed the maids when they left their room. "I want to spend time alone with my kids," she said.
While they were walking through the halls, the trio encountered a person. Alicent stiffened when she looked at the person, while Aegon narrowed his eyes at them.
"Good day, Your Grace," Rhaenys said as she bowed a little with a thin smile on her face.
Alicent stretched her lips into a strained smile as she replied, "Good day to you too, Lady Rhaenys."
The torches on the walls flickered with tension between the two ladies as they stared at each other.
"Nice to meet you, my prince," Rhaenys said as she turned toward Aegon, who only stared at her blankly.
Rhaenys tilted her head a little; she heard the rumors about the prince, how he never laughs unless it is for his mother or for Rhaenyra.
'Quite an amusing little thing, aren't you? Getting close to your sister,' she mumbled inwardly.
She darted her gaze back to the Queen, Alicent, while she muttered inwardly, 'Were you instructed by your mother, or are you genuinely interested in her?'
Alicent, noticing Rhaenys's gaze, smiled wryly as she awkwardly said, "Forgive me, my lady. Aegon doesn't smile much."
"It is nothing, Your Grace. I was just thinking how much he resembles His Grace Viserys. I am sure he will grow up to be a valiant knight for his, to be queen sister," Rhaenys said as her smile widened.
Alicent's lips twitched at Rhaenys's jab; she understood what Rhaenys was saying—I support Rhaenyra.
The hall descended into silence as Rhaenys's words hung in the air, while Alicent clenched her fists, feeling the weight of Rhaenys's words.
Rhaenys smirked at the teenage queen. She knew what the lords of the realm were chattering about—they wanted Aegon to be king.
Alicent stared at the woman in front of her. 'I have to be careful with my words,' she mumbled to herself.
She then put on a bright smile as she turned to Aegon and said, "I hope he does become a powerful and valiant knight, My Lady."
She then turned toward Rhaenys and added, "Which mother wouldn't be happy when her son becomes the protector of the innocent and the realm."
Rhaenys's eyes glinted at Alicent's words, 'Clever,' she commented inwardly.
Aegon watched the back and forth with a frown on his face; when he heard Rhaenys's words, he cursed the woman inwardly.
But he was also surprised when his mother countered the Queen who never was, 'She is learning well,' he mumbled to himself with a smile on his face.
'It's enough for today,' Aegon mumbled as he turned to his mother. Looking up at her, he called, "Mama!"
Both the women looked at Aegon while Rhaenys frowned; Alicent understood he was getting impatient.
"Forgive me, My Lady. But we have to go now; I promised Aegon that we would play in the Godswood," Alicent said with a genuine smile on her face.
"Of course, Your Grace," Rhaenys said as she stepped aside, giving way to the queen and the prince.
Alicent nodded at the woman and continued walking along with Aegon.
Rhaenys stood in her place, her gaze lingered on the queen and her son; she watched them for a while before turning around and beginning to walk to her room.
The duo walked in silence, each with their own thoughts. Alicent was thinking about Rhaenys's words and the future of her children.
Helaena had woken up by now and was staring at her older brother, who was in his own thoughts, 'I have a bad feeling,' Aegon muttered to himself.
From the moment he saw Rhaenys, he had a feeling that something had happened.
They both reached Godswood after a while, and Aegon noticed his sister Rhaenyra sitting under the weirwood tree.
"Sister!"
...
Meanwhile, Rhaenys had entered her quarters, her mind filled with many thoughts about the queen and her children.
She gazed toward the table in the middle of the room. "How was the meeting with His Grace?" she asked the man sitting in the chair.
The man had broad shoulders and pale purple eyes; his long hair was braided while his dark skin glistened in the sunlight.
Corlys Valeryon looked at his wife, the Queen who never was. "It went well, but his Grace is worried about the princess." He informed.
"Oh?" Rhaenys raised an eyebrow as she walked toward her husband, "What is he worried about?" she asked as she sat opposite to him.
Corlys looked at his wife for a moment before he answered, "His Grace complains that he is being drowned by the sea of proposals for the princess's hand in marriage. He asked the council to look for a suitor who would do well beside Rhaenyra."
"And what did the council agree on?" she asked as a smile crept onto her face.
"The council is divided," Corlys replied, looking out the window toward the horizon; he continued, "Lord Strong and I have proposed Laenor." His eyes glinted as he thought about his son becoming the King Consort.
"The Lannisters had proposed one of their own." He added.
Rhaenys thought about it for a while but frowned as Corlys had missed a person: "What about Otto Hightower?"
Corlys turned to his wife; he stayed silent for a moment. "Lord Otto proposed his grandson—Prince Aegon!"