𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔

𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐖𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍 𝐈𝐅 𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐖 𝐇𝐀𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐇𝐄𝐑, if baela ignored her to simply keep walking. alicent's sons had caused her pain in the deaths of rhaenys, in jace most recently, why would she want to hear anything from her or even give her the courtesy of recognition ? alicent was a prisoner after all along with her daughter, she should not be given the same things as she was before. rhaenyra had been generous enough to give the small things--time in the godswood, permission to roam the walls as long as she is escorted, a maid to attend to their needs. the idea of being a prisoner, in her mind before now, meant thrown in a cell with chains clasped 'round her wrists. though, alicent's entire life had been on prisoner or another had it not ? something rhaenyra was well aware of & perhaps that is where her clemency comes. nonetheless alicent will not unappreciate what has been given.

the words spoken to her by @moondanceir, the acceptance of their interaction, had surpried alicent. it is shown in her widened eyes, in the tiny gasp she takes in.

it was true there was a certain anxiety that had settled in her chest as soon as it had been official the other woman was with child .          for as little as she verbalized it ,   the queen had an unbearable fear regarding child bearing   ―   she has seen her mother go through it ,   time   &&   time again ,   until it had taken her life .          surely ,   it would not be the case   &&   rhaenyra prayed to the gods the babe would be born healthy   &&   grow happy .          each time they were together   &&   alicent would move ,   rhaenyra was already on her feet ,   trying to aid her in anything she needed or wanted   ―   perhaps it would have been exactly the same way she'd have acted given the chance all her earlier pregnancies were spent with the targaryen in her vicinity .          the redhead's discomfort regarding that life growing inside of her did not go over her head at all   ―   in a way ,   she felt guilty ,   selfish as if she had put this idea of having a child together in her head despite having been a mutual agreement .          perhaps all of it explained the need of taking care of her personally ,   always side eyeing any lady-in-waiting or servant that would get in her way   ―   nevertheless ,   they understood ,   always did ,   even gestured the queen to assist them .

there are no retorts coming out of her ,   not when she watches the woman acquiescence with barely a complaint   ―   or at least ,   the smallest one came out of her ,   the queen decided to let it slide for the time being .          lilac hues watch her as she settles next to her ,   fingers already turning   &&   fidgeting with the rings adorning them as brows give a slight twitch .          it would not happen ,   for as persistent as alicent was on the matter ,   the thought would leave her mind before actually going through with it ,   perhaps it'd be sudden tiredness ,   thirst or just the need of being close to rhaenyra in the privacy of their chambers .          because of it ,   the queen does not say a word ,   she does not fight back as she'd usually do .          finally ,   head turns to glance at the lake ,   gaze lifting as she notices the birds flying by .          ❛ ⠀ i listened to petitions .          it does not get any better than the first time ...          however ,   it's more bearable now . ⠀ ❜          the uneasiness that came the very first time she sat upon the iron throne ,   listening to the people's burdens ,   their needs ,   it was no longer there .          still ,   the queen felt for her people ,   she has helped them as best as she could ,   continued to do so .          hearing their hardships from their mouths was the hardest part .          attention turns back to her with a furrowed brow ,   stealing a quick glance at her belly once more before looking back up at her face .          ❛ ⠀ you haven't said a thing .          about the dragon egg ,   i mean .          syrax will lay a new clutch soon ,   we must choose one for the babe . ⠀ ❜          

𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐋 𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐑𝐇𝐀𝐄𝐍𝐘𝐑𝐀'𝐒 𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐒 𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 considering alicent had been witness to some of the late queen aemma's struggles, how deeply she yearned to give viserys the sons he craved until it killed her in the end. what a terrible day it had been the day she died, the day the one son she was able to give followed her---though soon enough that role, that responsibility, had fallen onto alicent's own shoulder through no desire of her own. what once had been aemma's burden was transferred onto her & alicent had never been more terrified of the prospect seeing the ends it had met in the previous queen. 'what if it happened to me ? what if the children i did not want be my own undoing ?' a thought the young queen often ruminated on in the quiet of her chambers with hand placed over her belly. thank the gods the same fate had not befell her all times before & it would not now yet the queen still allows her beloved to fuss, hover, & watch as closely, as protectively, as she wished. it was a simple comfort to rhaenyra alicent had assumed, one easily given without much irritation or hesitation in it. as alicent had reassured multiple times: she was not her mother, this babe would not harm her nor take alicent away from her.

at the mention of the dragon egg once more, it being mentioned more & more in the passing weeks by @zaldarias , alicent lowers her eyes. a certain guilt creeping up her spine but she remains silent.