#trampled under your pretty queue.

[dowagergreen]

@ofvalyriansteel continued from [x]

alicent stands resolute, straight backed and contemplative. she's only survived this long by thinking proactively, and considering situations before they strike. usually it provides her with clarity and a steadier hand but this whole affair is fraught with emotions she's trying desperately not to acknowledge. whatever pull she might feel toward rhaenyra and the comfort of their shared youth, it can't be allowed to flourish here. not now. she has the strength of her convictions and she lets it lead her now.

the very sentiment that rhaenys speaks has been nagging at the dowager's mind for hours already. daemon -- a rogue to his very core. there is no predicting what he might do. alicent knows better than anyone that her children are in danger. they are a direct threat to rhaenyra's rule and, as much as it might pain her to admit it, she can no longer trust her to protect them.

"i'm afraid it may be impossible to appeal to prince daemon's reason, if it has ever existed." her voice is strong but careful. alicent has lived her entire life at court, privy to the inner most workings of the royal family. they are a temperamental, protective bunch at the most unpredictable of times. "we've drawn up the best terms that we could think to offer. if you've any counsel to provide on your cousin, princess, it will be greatly respected and taken into account." despite the desperate nature of aegon's ascension, she doesn't wish for this to come to blows if it can be avoided.

[dowagergreen]

starter call ; @honormine

alicent has found her time as queen to be a period of constant learning. both to be alone, and to be surrounded by people. sometimes both at the same time. she is isolated in ways she didn't know a person could be isolated. even now as she stands, alone, beneath the harrowing presence of the weirwood tree she can see people bustling about in the hallways on either side. near her but apart. this dissonance doesn't seem to vacate despite her privilege, or her status. there are many who wish to be near the queen, but very few who can still see alicent hightower underneath.

she catches sight of harwin as he walks along the corridor and it reminds her of a worry she's been stewing over for days now. too many to count. "ser harwin." her voice calls out, strong enough to be heard but still gentle. this isn't the command of a queen, merely a request. "do you have a moment so that we might have a word?"

[dowagergreen]

starter call ; @chaieos

alicent has been up since dawn, unable to sleep and too restless to stay in bed. she's been busying herself with any task she can think of. seeing to the handmaidens, making sure the children got up in time for their responsibilities, and going over correspondence before the late afternoon council meeting. she's walking down the hall now to head toward the gardens as the sun finally reaches it's apex in the sky when she sees aegon coming from the opposite way. he sees her, as she does him, and attempts to turn around but she calls out to him before he can disappear around the corner. "aegon." her voice isn't angry but it's stern enough to signal that it would be unwise for him to attempt to ignore it. to his credit, he halts and she approaches, hands folded together over her stomach. "should i even dare to ask why you aren't in your lessons?"

[dowagergreen]

@fyredreamt continued from [x]

alicent watches her daughter carefully. and while she does not mind the need for caution, she is aware of it. helaena is far from fragile. in fact, the queen has witnessed on more than one occasion the princess' ability to be spirited and every bit as much of a dragon as her brothers, but she shows her fire in a much different way.

"please, do not get upset, my love. that was not my intent." alicent reaches over slowly to place her hand over helaena's and gently, to avoid startling her. she only wants to use a soft touch to encourage her to unclench her fist. "as long as you are content, i have nothing to complain about. especially when you are so much more well behaved than your brothers." she gives a small, genuine smile that seeps into her tone as she speaks. it's very rare to get such an expression from the queen these days, especially when the storm swirling around their family is gathering darker and heavier with each passing day.

"while we do have to keep up our obligations," she starts, removing her hand from helaena's to give her leverage to lean back into the sofa, relaxing the stiffness of her back ever so slightly. "just between you and me, i find it all a little suffocating as well. they all mean well, but it can feel a bit like being spectated."

[dowagergreen]

@inmydrcams continued from [x]

now that causes a smile to tip up the corners of the young queen's mouth. a real smile, one that actually lights up her eyes. she finds laena's candor refreshing. her position has caused many a lady in the realm to attempt to flock to her side but very few of them speak to her like a person. it's all small talk and mindless gossip delivered in a proper, lilted tone. very rarely does anyone speak to her in a way that reminds her what it had been like before her marriage, and before the throne had completely engulfed her in it's shadows.

"assuming i can trust that you'll keep this just between us," she begins in a voice that tips low conspiratorially. "i don't care much for the model either. it's always seemed to take up an exorbitant amount of time, and space." time that she feels could be better spent elsewhere. ruling, or perhaps examining ways to improve the conditions of the city for the smallfolk. alicent tries, and considers them in all she does, but she can only do so much. the king could do so much more. "i've heard his grace has also collected many histories about old valyria if those might pique your interest. still not as good as the real thing, i'm sure, but more accessible at present."