"Your Grace" Rhaenyra greeted Lilly, approaching her on the beach with Alicent, both girls looking tense as they looked at Ser Criston and Ser Arryk, which Lilly noticed.
"Please leave us," she asked softly, nodding her head at the two men, assuring them she would be fine.
"Is there something I can do for either of you?" Lilly asked, formally messing with a ring she wore.
"We wished to speak with you without the presence of the council and the king," Alicent answered this time, not looking at her sister but at the sunrise near them.
"You wish to speak with me but won't look me in the eye. Terrible lack of respect you have, Lady Alicent," she snapped, making the women stand taller.
"You are right, your grace. I wished to say my peace. I am sorry, Lillian."
"And what could you possibly be sorry for, Alicent?"
"For everything, Lilly," she answered.
"As am I," Rhaenyra stated, stepping closer, looking nervous.
"We abandoned you; I blamed you for my father choosing you; I lied and supported him in choosing you a mere child as his bride; I called you horrible things, and you forgave me so easily; and then I abandoned you for half a year, leaving you alone to give birth alone; and I ignored my father abusing you and raping you; I lied about remaining a maiden, which led to you being hurt terribly."
"Yes, I am aware of everything you have done." Lilly cut her off.
"And I left with her. I chose her and left you alone and afraid you were a child having a child, and I never thought about anything or anyone except myself, and I am sorry for that because I love you, Lillian, and I am so sorry." Alicent added
"You have shown no remorse for your actions. It has been eleven years since you walked away, and I still protected you both, but you completely abandoned me. You have no idea the pain I suffered."
"We know"
"No, you don't. You may think you do, but you don't. Rhaenyra Alicent, you have no idea the pain I felt when I was raped, when I was berated and beaten, or when I worried for my children's lives. You have no idea the pain and fear I felt giving birth alone again and again or how I felt when I lost four children before I even met them or how I felt when I held my son as he died mere minutes after being born. You have no idea."
"Lilly," both whispered, tearing up.
"You dont know because you both had each other; you had your husband, whom I fought for; you to married Alicent; and you Rhaenyra, you had Laenor, and you were carrying three bastards who the king loves and adores, but he won't look at my children who share my hair without seeing them as bastards."
"You don't understand Laenor couldn't."
"Couldn't get his cock hard for you, so add another in your marriage bed if that does not work. There are more ways to put a man's seed in a womb, but no, your duty was not pleasurable, so you did not do it," Lilly snapped, cutting the Targaryen princess off.
"You are right, as you always have been, Lillian. I have made too many mistakes. I have been horrible to you and my siblings, but I promise to fix my wrongs. Protect you and your children. I want us to be sisters again to be like we used to." Rhaenyra pleaded.
"I should have never left you alone. You have sacrificed everything for my happiness—your childhood, your innocence, your body, and your mind—the chance to have your wish to marry a man who you love, and you may never forgive me. I understand if you don't, but I love you, Lilly, and I want my little sister back." Alicent cried
Lillian was at a loss for words. The one thing she wanted these last years happening right now was getting her sisters back. Her children would be protected. They would be safe. She could become her old self once again.
"I can't forgive either of you right now, but after some time I am sure I can, but we will never be how we were. I am not that girl, and neither are you two. We have changed and matured, but I would like to have my sisters back. I really would."
Both Rhaenyra and Alicent understood why she couldn't forgive and forget, and they were ok with that forgiveness will come; at least they get their sister back. Both of them smiled at each other before tackling her into a hug, making the young red-headed queen laugh.
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"Uncle Daemon, can I ask you something?" Aemond asked softly as he walked up to the man who stared out on the beach more than his mother.
"Always kiddo," Daemon assured the boy raising a brow.
"Um, well, wait, why is my mother with those women?" He asked, glaring at the sight.
"I am not sure, but I am sure your mother can handle it, and Ser Criston and Ser Arryk are not far from her," Daemon assured the boy, making him nod.
"Now what did you wish to ask?"
"Vhagar was Aunty Laena's dragon, but now she is unclaimed, and I was wondering if I were to claim Vhagar, would you be insulted or angry with me, or if you would think it disrespectful to Laena?"
Daemon smiled a little. He knew this kindness the young prince was showing was all his sweet mother, who raised each of her children into wonderful people so far.
"You wish to claim Vhagar?" Daemon asked, stepping closer to the boy who gulped.
"Yes, not tonight or tomorrow, but preferably before she or I leave," Aemond answered, making his uncle look thoughtful.
"I appreciate you asking, but to claim a dragon is the dragon's will. If they will bend, no one but themselves will decide who is worthy of them. Laena and Vhagar were close. A strong bond is what they shared riding for ten and one years. Laena was Vhagar's first rider in decades. You have my blessing to attempt to claim the beast."
"Thank you, uncle, I won't let you down," Aemond swore, making him smile before kneeling down.
"You would never let me down, Aemond. I just ask that you run away if she shows any signs of rejection. Your mother cannot lose anymore people." Daemon silently pleaded
"I will," Aemond answered.
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"Aemond, darling, it's quiet early; everything ok?" Lilly questioned as she, Alicent, and Rhaenyra walked up the steps.
"Yes, mother, I just wished to talk with Daemon about what we discussed." Aemond answered, sending a nasty side eye to his 'aunt' and'sister' before silently asking if his mother was okay, making her chuckle.
"I am fine. Why don't you go inside your turning into an ice cube?" She fretted, feeling his cheeks with her hands kissing his head, watching as he rushed inside.
"He doesn't like us very much," Alicent mused.
"You haven't given him much reason to like you, Lady Alicent." Daemon spat, rolling his eyes, making Rhaenyra glare.
"Do you have something to say, niece?" He asked, standing taller.
"Daemon, please don't," Lilly asked softly, making him sigh. Talking through his eyes, it was clear to him that she had forgiven them, and he didn't like it.
"We are going to move on; they know I cannot just forgive nor will I forget what they did and that we won't be as we once were, but being friends at least is better than nothing." She explained
"You are too forgiving, Lillian." Daemon muttered, kissing her head and letting her know he did not agree with this choice but he would respect her choice before heading back inside the castle.
YOU ARE READING
The Gentle Queen: HOTD
Fanfictiona young Lillian Hightower's world is shattered when she is forced into a loveless horrid marriage with the king Viserys Targaryen. Stripped of her freedom and subjected to unimaginable cruelty, she embraces a facade of positivity, clinging onto hope...
