Chapter Text
Alicent stares at the corpse of her husband and wonders what to do…she knows what her father would want her to do and she knows what Rhaenyra would want her to do. She thinks she knows what her husband, Viserys, would want her to do. She thinks of her children, always of her children. Aegon, her prince. Almond, who was so angry. And Helaena…
“I would like to toast to Baela and Rhaena. They'll be married soon. It isn't so bad. Mostly he just ignores you... except sometimes when he's drunk.”
Alicent doesn’t know what Helaena would want her do.
Alicent leaves her husband’s body, commanding the Ser Westerling to allow no one entrance as the King was exhausted from the night’s events. She goes to Helaena’s chambers, only remembering as she enters that her daughter is a mother now. Fourteen and a mother. Alicent never wanted that for her daughter. She thinks of another girl married too young, though so fierce she was not as young as Alicent when they chained her.
Helaena is thankfully alone when Alicent enters. The twins must be in the nursery. Aegon is likely in some whore’s bed.
Alicent shakes her daughter awake. Helaena doesn’t seem surprised to see her there in the middle of the night. Alicent takes a moment to fortify herself.
“Father is dead isn’t he?,” her child asks.
Alicent breathes in deep and lets is out slowly through her nose, “Yes, sweetling. I am sorry to say that the Stranger has come for your father. It grieves me deeply, but I find myself grateful he will suffer no longer.”
Helaena looks down and tangles her fingers together. She steals a glance up at Alicent and then looks back down, “Aegon is to be King then?”
“Your Father made your sister, Rhaenyra, his heir. And that is why I am here, Helaena. You must understand that your grandfather and much of the Small Council would see Aegon on the throne. But I must speak to Rhaenyra. I need you to take Dreamfyre to Dragonstone and bring Rhaenyra here. I am sorry to ask this of you,” Alicent looked at the top of the Helaena’s head as her daughter continued to stare at her twisting fingers.
“Of course, Mother,” Helaena’s lips tilt up slightly at the corners as she looks up at the Alicent once more and rushes forward to give her mother a brief, crushing hug. Then, she is off, dressing in her riding clothes.
Helaena is in flight within the mark. With any luck, her father’s people will not notice or will think it Aegon carousing with Sunfyre.