𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐛𝐫𝐞 | 𝐣𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧.

𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚. 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐬

A/N: Another time-skip on five years or so, though it is the last one that is so big. 

×

'She is getting worse,' Rhaenyra told her in one of the early mornings, when they met in the garden - Aelina, walking away from Maevrina and her sister having a daily morning walk.

She didn't understand at first, blinking at her confusedly. Her first thought was that there is something wrong with Baela or Rhaena, but when she met Rhaenyra's eyes, noticing the well-known nostalgic glint in them, Aelina got it immediately.

Alicent.

As far as Aelina remembered, and she wasn't interested much, her mother was locked in the very same room, regularly being checked by Maesters or some servants, in the end never returning to her senses properly. If not for Rhaenyra updating twins on the news without asking to do so, they wouldn't even know if she was alive.

Aelina hadn't seen her from their last meeting, and though the years passed quickly, she still remembered how terrified Alicent screamed in her face; not fresh, but no less unpleasant wound, one of the many she left on her daughter and never cared enough to heal.

'Well. Her time is long gone.' She answered with a slight shrug.

'Servants say she talks about her kids a lot these days. I thought, perhaps, you and Aemond are willing to see her for the last time?'

The gaze Aelina cast to her sister was almost betrayed.

Why would she care about Alicent? After all, what happened?

She pursed her lips.

'She is insane. It is not like she recognises us, if you missed this part from our last meeting.'

'I know,' Rhaenyra sighed, taking her hand slowly. 'I understand...'

"No, you don't."

'...But I saw my father on the deathbed, in the same state. And even though he made mistakes, despite everything, I am sure that... I am sure it was a pleasant thing to see his kid, after all. And... Once it is going to be me, and I think if none of my kids will come, I would be so desperate. So–'

'Rhaenyra,' Aelina said tensely, brows furrowing, 'I think you are slightly confusing things. You are a great mother, an amazing one. All your kids and family will be here for you, no matter what. And while Viserys wasn't the best parent for us, he was the better version of himself for you. And that he deserved to see his daughter for the last time. But it's different with Alicent. Maybe Aemond can go - that makes sense. She loved him, he loved her. But asking me? It is ridiculous.'

Rhaenyra muttered something under her nose, closing her eyes for a minute. When she opened them, she looked lost.

'Oh, Visenya, I am not asking much, just–'

Aelina sighed, touching her sister's hand.

'You are at it again,' she nudged her gently.

Rhaenyra tilted her head.

'What?'

'Sister. I am not Visenya.'

'Oh,' Rhaenyra said, face clearing up a little bit. Then, she nodded, shaking her head. 'Aelina. Excuse me, Aelina. I am just... Very tired.'

She was tired, indeed.

It became quite often that Rhaenyra became like this, more reminding her father than ever. She was just past her forties, and despite being so young, she was already slowly losing her mind between painful memories and the past war traumas.