Chapter Text
When Alicent had first seen you, she thought you were a man. A man with a pretty face, and a smug grin. Dressed in leather armor, hair short and swept back. She stared down at you from the window as you sauntered after your patron, Prince Daemon. Somehow, you felt her stare.
You looked up and found her face. With dirt still on your cheeks, you sent her a grin and a wink.
She blushed and pushed herself away from the window. When was the last time anyone had… looked at her like that? Ever? Alicent waved away the thought. There was no way you knew who she was. Once you did, you would likely shrink away in terror.
Alicent was the Queen, after all.
Alicent would only realize your true gender when you joined Daemon at that little party the King threw for him.
Daemon stood laughing and reminiscing with his older brother. Drink in hand.
She approached from behind, poised and with a winning smile. All the while mentally screaming, because Viserys was clearly drunk. And had also clearly forgotten his brother had been sent away for good reasons. Rhaenyra was enjoying her time, although Viserys held clear irritation for her failed tour to find a husband. It made Alicent sad to see her friend in such a position. No one should be forced to marry. Though it is not about "should", it is a "must", to perform one's duty.
Dressed in Targaryen colors, the young Queen still felt out of place in her new family. Three babes and three years later.
Ah, there was a fourth person in the group. You.
You were dressed plainly. Yet far too masculine to not draw eyes. A pair of brown breeches, a loose red tunic, and a thick brown belt. The belt sat around your waist, displaying your feminine shape. You were washed, and your hair fell nicely now that it was cleaned. Gods, your hips and thighs were not of a man. Your shoulders though… clearly, you were a fighter. A blend of feminine and masculine, soft and hard. Rough and beautiful. She inhaled sharply.
Why had she even noticed that?
You turned to her, a flash of recognition “Your grace”, your voice was smooth but raspy.
She smiled back at you tightly “Good day to you… Ser… Lady…?”
How was she even to address you? What House were to from? You did not look like you belonged here at all. There was a ruggedness that denoted a simpler life. A life that apparently brought you to know The Rogue Prince in some bizarre twist of fate. Alicent wondered when she would have a twist of fate that benefited her.
Daemon chuckled “Lady? Gods, I would never call her a Lady”.
Alicent raised her brows at that. She looked to you, you did not seem insulted by that. Strangely enough. Typical, she thought, that such a strange and chaotic man would bring a cross-dresser home with him.
You shot him a toothy grin “We aren’t in a warzone anymore, Prince. I might have enough coin to go on a Husband tour myself!”
A beat of silence. Then you and Prince Daemon laughed. What? Why was that so funny?
“Perhaps Prince Daemon and… his guest.. would care for a tour of the gallery? He hasn't yet seen the new tapestries gifted to you by Norvos and Qohor”, Alicent was determined to play her role.
Even if no one else was.
“Oh, the tapestries”, King Viserys had a look of almost whimsical humor.
“W-W-Would you like to see the tapestries?”, Viserys and Daemon now doubled over in drunken laughter. And an audible fart from the King.
Rhaenyra looked slightly uncomfortable. You, on the other hand, looked openly annoyed.
Viserys snapped with a quick “He has no interest in such things”.
“I'd like to see them”, you said “Would the Queen honor me with a tour?”
Daemon eyed you with a slight smirk. Ballsy thing you were. He hoped you knew what you were doing. After all, he didn't want to be banished too soon.
Alicent was taken completely off guard, she looked between you and her Lord Husband. There was no way she was going anywhere with you alone. You were a stranger in many ways. The King must see that you should not be left with his wife unsupervised and----
Viserys shrugged “More a Lady than you thought, eh Daemon? Your scout, she wants to see… go ahead. Do no deprive yourself.”
So much for defending his bride.
“Well, allow me to be your guide”, Alicent forced a light tone.
She had expected you to be rough, rude, and uninteresting. You proved her wrong during the tour.
You came from a modest family of seamstresses and carpenters. This came with a shocking amount of knowledge on fabrics, dying, and the meaning of patterns.
You had come to Red Keep with your patron, Prince Daemon. He took you on as a scout, having met you as a young teen stowaway. He had bonded with you in the Stepstones. And something dangerously close to a mutual respect was formed.
Nothing to your name. No House, no dowry, no formal education. Just a young woman of eight and ten with a sword and a quick-wit.
Alicent felt… almost inadequate compared to you. You were her age, and you had already lived out three adventures. A Lady soldier. Never to be knighted, but with a name people may remember after you’re gone. And she… she was the Queen. The Queen who got laughed at by her drunken Lord Husband. Disrespected by her stepdaughter who she once served, who she was once a good friend to.
“He laughed at you, he shouldn’t have”, your words made her turn to you quickly.
The young Queen laughed “Oh, the King is just in a good humor today. The arrival of his brother, your master, has brightened him greatly”.
You and she stood alone in the gallery. Few ever came in besides the Queen.
“A man is still a man, crown or no crown. Sad thing that is”, you said.
Gods, were you right about that. She wished she could clap her hands and agree with you out loud. To do so would be wildly inappropriate.
The Queen shook her head “Your concern is appreciated, but misplaced”.
And she meant that first part. No one ever seemed to really care. The King had always been… kind… but he felt like a partner in an occupational sort of way. She cared for him. She did. And she had children by him. Still… there were times where he made her feel like a child that needed to be put in her place.
You took a step to her and tilted your head “When I was in the Stepstones, there was a lot of ugliness. Blood. Pain. Death. Fire. It’s hard to remember that there’s a world outside of all that”.
Alicent’s mask slipped “I imagine it would be”.
“When I saw you, in the window…”, you were closer now “You are the first thing of beauty I’ve seen in years”
Alicent nearly choked on air. She looked at you with wide eyes and red cheeks “I… Thank you… good Lady”.
“Gods”, you smiled “I could get used to that word of its you saying it”.
Her eyelids fluttered, what was this?
“Do you not think of yourself as a Lady?”, she asked.
You shrugged “I don’t think of myself as anything with a title. Titles start to feel like chains, I think. Just like words like ‘she’ and ‘her’. People tend to choose what you’re able to do when they put those words on you”.
She let you come closer, your hip nearly touched hers “I suppose that is true”.
“Lucky me, I’m just ugly enough to pass for a lad”, you snickered with a bit of tooth.
Alicent spoke without thinking “You are not ugly. You…”
She now realized how close you stood to her. Your neck and collarbone illuminated by candlelight. The way your jaw shifted as your lips pulled back into a grin. She shouldn’t like what she sees.
“…Are a comely young lady”.
“The Queen finds me comely?”, your grin only grew.
Alicent felt her heart leap “Yes, well, I only mean that I am sure with your reputation, we can find you a suitable husband”.
You snorted “I’d rather not, your grace”.
“Why not? You are of a suitable age, have made a name for yourself… we could match you with a Lord of a good House!”, she smiled at you genuinely.
The young Queen imagined helping you choose dresses. Maybe something green. Fixing your hair would be difficult, but not impossible. Alicent had missed having someone to style and to dress and to… take care of.
“My Queen, I am fit for no man. Nor would I want to be”, you had a spark in your eye.
The Queen’s mouth dropped open “A-Ah… I am sure you do not mean… you cannot…”
She brought a hand to her own chest. Were you…? A lady that laid with other ladies? She needed to get away. To be seen with one who do brazenly gave in to sin? Ruinous! So… why was she still standing with you?
“Does the King give you all you need?”, your hand went to her hand that stayed at her side.
Alicent turned her head from you sharply “I beg your pardon?”
Where were the guards? Far away, hopefully. Wait. No. She needed the guards to take you away.
“Have you ever wanted more?” you took her hand in your own. Your nails were short, cut back to better suit the life of a scout. Rough hands. You had rough hands.
Alicent swallowed “I have no need for more”.
“You’re the Queen”, you brought up her hand to your lips. Alicent let out a soft breath and turned to watch you kiss her knuckles.
You were insane. Completely insane. Kissing the hand of the Queen while her Lord Husband revels outside. You could be hung for this.
“A Queen should have more. More than anyone”, you said “You deserve more, don’t you? You gave him three babes and no problems”.
Alicent had not realized it until now, but she had started to lean into you. Your eyes were so intense. Your touch was so sweet. And your words hit deeply. More… what was more?
“What do you think of as being… more?”, Alicent felt your other hand touch her lower back.
You pulled her close “Whatever my Queen would like it to be. A kiss, a touch, an embrace that lasts till morn. I would like to give more to you… for giving me my first look of something beautiful”.
An embrace that lasts till morn?
Alicent’s eyes fell to your lips. They looked soft. Softer than the ones she had to kiss at night. Your hands were so warm. A woman should not make sure feel so… good.
“Perhaps… “, her lips drew nearer to yours “A taste of more… would not be wrong?”
Footsteps echoed up the corridor. Alicent ripped herself away from you and took several steps away from you.
King Viserys stepped into the room “Ah, there you are”, he was slightly unsteady “Told you I could find our ladies, Daemon!”
Alicent rushed past him. The King was joined by Prince Daemon, who gave you an almost apologetic look.
You watched her leave with a slight frown. Was that too forward? If you were scheduled for the axe tomorrow, you would know for sure.