Chapter Text
It’s Us Against Consensus and I Will Burn the People Who Hurt You the Most
Chapter Eight: Creature
Rhaenyra’s POV
It had been nearly two years since my father had married Alicent Hightower. I took every opportunity to pray to the Fourteen Flames. I would reaffirm myself to their vision. They had shown their faith in me as heir with every miscarriage, but I had to do the work. I was making the alliances that I could. Some lords were waiting for a son to see if my father would change succession. Some were waiting to see what that son might be like. There were lords that would prefer to kneel to a man, but were willing to agree that there were women that might be better for this position than a specific man. There were men who knew that my father would mostly keep me as heir even if there was a son to be born.
It was just one wish on the tip of my tongue when I prayed. I asked that no child of Valyrian blood be born from Alicent Hightower or any other non-Valyrian bride. So my father wouldn’t have a child that could be raised against me. Even a daughter could be dangerous. I knew that because two years had passed, they had examined everything Alicent ingested. In the beginning, they thought that she was just sensitive to something. She was put on a special diet so they could make sure. They had become desperate enough that they were beginning to make accusations of someone plotting against them. They were looking for poison or tinctures that were being given to her purposely.
I knew that it wasn’t poison. I knew that it was my gods protecting me and that it was her gods abandoning her. She went to the sept every day to pray, but it didn’t happen for months. Her womb remained cursed. Then she announced that she was pregnant and she seemed smug. She was making it to the end of the pregnancy. She strutted around the Red Keep, but I knew this would end badly for her. She would only allow Maesters near her because she thought I was out to get her. One of her maids brought information to me. The child stopped moving and barely had a heartbeat within her. They were afraid that something happened to it. And she felt weaker with every passing moon that came.
“It’s almost time” Lyla Tyrell said.
“She’s in labor” I said.
“Yes” she said. I was getting dressed.
“That was what that shriek was” I said.
“She does sound awful” she said.
“She’s in labor. I suppose not much is to be expected” I said.
“No” she said.
“How close?” I asked.
“Close” she said.
“Good” I said.
“Good?” she asked.
“Things will change no matter the result” I said.
“Yes” she said.
“I would rather know how it will change as soon as possible” I said.
“Of course” she said.
“Do you know how it plays out?” Ellise asked.
“If it’s a boy, either my father changes succession in that moment or they push him into it. I would have to make more powerful allies. If my father changes succession, I will concede in exchange for some power” I said.
“Hmm” she said.
“If he doesn’t, I will need to wed and have a son first. They need a son after me as an excuse to support me” I said.
“Yes” Laena said.
“If it’s a girl, it’s less of a desperation for me for now. The Hightowers will want her to try again as soon as possible” I said.
“Yes” she said.
“They might try assassination attempts in case. To make sure it’s her daughter that wins out if she can have only girls” I said.
“That’s treason” she said.
“Which I won’t be able to prove if I’m dead” I said. They might try because she was having a hard time conceiving.
“Right” she said.
“There’s the third path” I said.
“Third?” Ellyn asked.
“If it’s stillborn” I said.
“Oh” she said.
“They’ll keep trying in that case, but that means she’ll attack me. She’ll think I did something if it happens” I said.
“But that’s what we’re hoping” she said.
“Yes” I said.
“Easier” Laena said.
“I can deal her insanity” I said.
“Yes” she said.
“I’ll remain here” I said.
“Alright” she said.
“You were all remain in your rooms” I said.
“What?” Clementine asked.
“We cannot let any accusations hit” I said.
“So you will walk on eggshells in your own home?” she asked.
“Just today” I said.
“Alright” she said.
“It’s best” I said.
“Agreed” Laena said.
“She hurt me” I said. Laena was the only one that remained in the room with me.
“She was cruel first” Laena said.
“Yes” I said.
“She deserves cruelty” she said.
“I didn’t poison her” I said.
“I know” she said.
“You know?” I asked.
“You would have discussed it with me and you’re smart. If it was poison, they would have discovered it already and stopped it” she said.
“Yes” I said.
“Hmm” she said.
“I asked for it” I said.
“Never say that out loud again” she said.
“I know” I said.
“Good” she said.
“Yes” I said.
“It’ll happen soon” she said.
“Yes” I said.
“And we’ll know” she said.
“Yes” I said.
“What will you do?” she asked.
“In any case, I’ll go to Dragonstone” I said.
“Really?” she asked.
“I must learn how to rule and I will need time” I said.
“Yes” she said.
“And that will also help me avoid any assassination attempts” I said. I would be safer there if they got desperate enough.
“True” she said.
“Yes” I said.
“I’ll go with you” she said.
“You don’t have to” I said.
“I want to” she said.
“Oh” I said.
“We’re family” she said.
“We are” I said.
“Yes” she said.
“I’m not too worried” I said.
“No” she said.
“Hmm” I said. There was a scream across the keep from Alicent. It was from seeing something she deemed monstrous. The door to my rooms opened. Bianca Strong came into the room.
“She gave birth” Bianca said.
“And?” I asked.
“They won’t tell me anything” she said.
“But?” I asked.
“The healers intervened and are willing to show you” she said.
“Alright” I said.
“It must be horrible” she said.
“A stillborn” I said.
“How do you know?” she asked.
“Because if it wasn’t, there would be joyous shouts across the keep and they would have called for me in their smugness” I said.
“Oh” she said.
“I will go” I said. I stood up.
“I’ll go with you” Laena said.
“Alright” I said.
“Yes” she said.
“Hmm” I said. We left with Harwin.
“Your Grace” a healer said and they bowed as I went into the small room.
“Stillborn?” I asked.
“Yes” she said.
“And they removed it” I said.
“It’s monstrous” she said.
“Yes” I said.
“It was a boy” she said.
“Hmm” I said.
“We knew as soon as she went into labor that it was a stillborn. We thought you would want to see it” she said. I nodded.
“You were right” I said.
“Come” she said. She led me to the corner and I saw the dead child. I knew why Alicent screamed. The child was deformed without eyes and with scales.
“Oh gods” I said.
“Yes” she said. The gods had truly been on my side and caused her pain.
“Hmm” I said.
“And?” I asked.
“The queen had a tantrum and screamed. She commanded the creature to be taken away” she said. I imagined so.
“Did the king see?” I asked.
“She screamed so loud that he was alerted” she said.
“And he came in to see the creature” I said.
“Yes” she said.
“How did he react?” I asked.
“He was horrified and there were whispers that he blames her Andal blood” she said.
“I see” I said.
“Yes” she said.
“Do you?” I asked.
“It’s happened with Targaryen women before” she said.
“Yes” I said.
“And they have lost babies” she said.
“My mother included” I said.
“But the last bride that had this happen to her was Cercei Hightower” she said. I had to work to keep myself from smiling.
“They are making comparisons” I said.
“Yes” she said.
“Hmm” I said.
“It’s possible that the Andal blood was rejected” she said.
“Yes” I said.
“We don’t know” she said.
“And the Queen?” I asked.
“She is in deep pain” she said.
“Difficult labors” I said.
“Yes” she said.
“Thank you for your service” I said.
“Your Grace” she said. She bowed and I left the room. I went to go see Alicent. Father was there, looking disappointed. Hightower was angry and Alicent was in bed.
“You” Alicent said.
“Alicent” father said.
“You did this to me” she accused. I looked hurt.
“Your Grace—” I said.
“She poisoned me and killed my child" she said.
“I didn’t. Father, you must believe me” I said. He came over and took my hands in his.
“I know you didn’t. You could never. You’re too good” he said, genuinely.
“No, she did this. I know she did” she yelled.
“Alicent” Hightower said. Even he knew it wasn’t a good idea to accuse the Realm’s Delight of such an act as this.
“Don’t listen to her. She’s still grieving. She doesn’t mean it” father said.
“Of course. I was in my room all day. I just came when I heard to offer my sincere condolences to you and Alicent” I said. He pulled me in for a hug and I shot her a triumphant look.
