Chapter Text
Rhaenyra would love to hold that the very first moment she laid eyes on Alicent Hightower, it had been the woman’s beauty that had struck her first. In truth, she’d never seen such a wonder of a woman walk before her in true form. As it stood, the auburn haired woman was the single most comely and elegant woman she’d ever met. Her soft eyes, her pouty lips, even the one dimple on the left side of her cheek. Yes, it should have definitely been Alicent’s beauty that had struck her first.
As it was, it wasn’t. When Rhaenyra first saw the beauty that was Alicent Hightower, it was the older woman’s sadness that had affected her first.
If fate hadn’t worked out the way it did, if the stars hadn’t aligned so perfectly so that Rhaenyra knew there must be a God out there, she wouldn’t have met the woman at all. She’d been meant to spend winter break away from university in Dragonstone, with her father and cousins. She’d been looking forward to it, truly. She’d not seen her father since she’d begun her sophomore year of college back in August, and it’d been even longer since she’d seen Laena and Laenor, or even her Uncle Daemon.
It would prove to be longer, as she’d come to find when her father instructed her over the phone to remain in Oldtown for the break. A terrible winter storm had made its way through Dragonstone, and it would be a while before her home city was safe for travel.
“You’ll stay with me then,” her suitemate Aemond had told her simply when she’d relayed the news to him. “We’ve got a pretty dope guest house.”
They’d been kicking around on the campus soccer field when he’d said it, with as much ease as though he was choosing what they should have for dinner in the dining hall. As hard as the younger boy often seemed, he was always soft where it mattered. Most had no idea, but Aemond Cole was just the person to offer up his home as though it were a cup of water. And, because Rhaenyra truly had nowhere else to go, and no one else to ask, she’d said yes.
That was how she found herself now, standing at the doorstep of Aemond’s house, a few duffle bags at her feet. She knocked on the solid wood door with a confidence that only Rhaenyra Targaryen knew how to mimic.
“Just a moment,” she heard a velvety voice say from the other side of the door. Aemond’s mom, she presumed.
Rhaenyra shifted on her feet, striking as relaxed a pose as possible. She’d never met Aemond’s mother before, but from what she’d heard from her friend, the woman could be intimidating.
The sound of the door unlocking rang in Rhaenyra’s ears, and she found herself shifting on her feet again. She leaned on the back of her heels this time, with her arms crossed at her front. When the heavy door opened, the blonde struggled to keep her jaw closed.
Intimidating? Yes. Protective? Yes. Withdrawn? Yes. In all of the words Aemond had used to describe his mother, drop dead fucking gorgeous had failed to leave his mouth.
“Rhaenyra, is it?” the woman asked, a soft yet barely there smile on her face. Her hands fidgeted just subtly at the frame of the door as she leaned against it.
“Yes, ma’am. Rhaenyra Targaryen, I’m a friend of Aemond’s,” Rhaenyra said as she stuck a strong hand out to meet the woman. Rhaenyra only noticed how firm her own hands were when she felt the softness of the woman’s. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Cole.”
Rhaenyra wondered for a brief moment if she’d imagined the woman’s hands grow stiff at her own name, cringing to herself as the older woman pulled away.
“Ms. Hightower is fine, actually. Please, come in. It’s awfully cold out.” Aemond’s mom smiled politely as she stepped aside, opening the door just a bit wider. “It’s good to finally meet you, Rhaenyra. My son talks of you so often I feel I may already know you.”
Rhaenyra laughed, picking up the duffel bags at her feet. She hoped to herself that Ms. Hightower didn’t notice that she’d severely underpacked for her stay. “Only good things, I hope?”
Rhaenyra stepped inside of the home, and noticed instantly how pristine it was. She’d come from old money herself, so she knew this was not it. No, Aemond’s home screamed new money louder than she’d ever heard it. Whites and tans and beiges were all about the home, and its minimalist look rivaled one of the homes she’d seen on Home Network. It was lovely, but it didn’t appear lived in at all.
“Mostly good things,” she heard the woman chuckle softly from behind her. Rhaenyra turned to find Aemond’s mom closing the door, and felt she wasn’t meant to see the frown on the woman’s face. When Ms. Hightower noticed Rhaenyra’s attention, she was quick to straighten her posture and brighten her face. All but her eyes, which Rhaenyra noticed were quite sad. “Aemond is just upstairs in his room, first door on the left. I was just about to get started on dinner, but he’ll show you to where you’ll be staying.”
Tentatively, Ms. Hightower placed a hand on Rhaenyra’s arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. With that, the woman began walking towards what was probably the most elegant kitchen Rhaenyra had ever been in. And she was from Dragonstone, for goodness sake.
Picking up her bags, which were far too light for a month’s stay, Rhaenyra began making her way towards the stairs. It wasn’t until she was halfway up the stairs that she realized she should’ve left her shoes at the door, but by then it was too late. She made her way towards Aemond’s room, and after knocking twice she found her friend playing a video game in front of the TV.
“Rhae! You made it,” he shouted, a wide grin finding its way to the curve of his lips. He tossed off his headset and left his controller forgotten on his room floor. “Oh man, this is gonna be freakin’ awesome. We’re gonna get into so much shit this break, bro.”
Rhaenyra laughed as Aemond came around to give her a quick hug. She knew the only “shit” they would be getting into was FIFA, Minecraft, and the occasional party. Of all of her friends, Aemond was the most low-key.
“I’m sure we will,” Rhaenyra said, letting her hair fall just below her shoulders. She swiftly went to swipe the controller from the floor. “But is that before or after I whoop your tail in League of Dragons?”
***
Rhaenyra did, as it turned out, whoop Aemond’s tail in League of Dragons. She wouldn’t stop teasing him about it as he showed her out to the guest house. The small house was just a few steps away from the main house, right next to a small and frosted pool.
“It’s got a personal kitchen, but to be honest my mom’s an amazing cook, so I wouldn’t bother using it if I were you,” he told her as she set her bags down on a king sized bed.
Rhaenyra looked around the studio home and noticed that it, at least, had a bit more color than the rest of the place. There were a few green accent chairs strewn about, and a green piano that looked to almost be for decoration.
“You know I don’t know how to cook anyway, Aem,” Rhaenyra said easily, plopping down onto the white coated bed. “Thank you again, man, for letting me stay here. I mean, it’s not an estate on Dragonstone, but it’s a pretty nice second,” the girl said, a teasing smile upon her lips.
“At least it’s not under a pile of snow, you jerk,” Aemond laughed, tossing a pillow at a smiling Rhaenyra. “I’m gonna go see if Harwin’s on Minecraft. You want me to send him a kiss for you?”
A loud scoff left Rhaenyra’s throat as she leaned against the assaulting pillow. “Ha! He wishes. Send him a nude instead, will ya?”
Aemond chuckled as he walked towards the door of the guest house. “Mine or your’s?”
Rhaenyra put a finger to her lips, tapping on it in pretend thought. “Surprise him.”
***
A little while later, Rhaenyra found herself sitting at the green piano in the corner of the guest house. She’d never learned to play, but she remembered her mother playing to her often when she was younger. Her mother would play her to sleep, play her to wake, play to her nearly all through the day. Rhaenyra wished she’d learned how to play, if only to hear those same songs again.
“Do you play?” Rhaenyra heard from behind her just as she’d been fingering around the piano keys. She turned around to find a timid looking Ms. Hightower. “I’m sorry, I thought you’d heard me knock.”
The younger blonde laughed, an easy smile finding its way to her face as she moved away from the piano. “I don’t, but maybe I can teach myself while I’m here. Do you? Play, I mean.”
Ms. Hightower stood by the door, her hands clasped together in front of her as she looked around the guest house. “I do, but I’m not all that impressive. I used to be much better when I was younger.”
Rhaenyra felt herself rise quickly from the piano bench, feeling as though she’d intruded onto something private of the woman’s. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know this was your’s.” Of course it is her’s, Rhaenyra thought, this is her home.
Aemond’s mom quickly waved her hands in front of her before bringing them again to a rest in front of her chest. “Please, play if you’d like. Everything in this guest house is for your use while you’re here. Just try not to play too late into the night, is all. My bedroom window is just outside your’s, so I’ll likely be able to hear if you decide to play at 2 AM.”
“Of course, no playing the piano at 2 AM. Got it,” Rhaenyra nodded profusely as she pushed the piano bench back under the instrument. Ms. Hightower laughed, and Rhaenyra felt herself straining to see if it reached her eyes this time. “I meant to say thank you, earlier, Ms. Hightower. Thank you for allowing me into your home.”
“The pleasure is ours, Rhaenyra.” Rhaenyra had never liked the sound of her own name until it left the woman’s lips. “I’ve just come to tell you that dinner’s ready, if you’re hungry. I’ve made beef stew and vegetables, Aemond’s favorite.”
“Of course,” Rhaenyra slipped on her shoes before making her way across the room. “Will Mr. Cole be joining us?”
And really, Rhaenyra probably shouldn’t have asked it. Really, it was none of her business whether the woman’s husband would be present at dinner. She told herself that she’d only asked out of courtesy, but perhaps she’d just wanted to see the woman’s reaction at the mention of her husband.
“Not tonight, no. He’s tied up with work,” Aemond’s mom said, digging just subtly at the nails on her fingers. With that, she turned towards the door, offering Rhaenyra a polite smile. “I’ll see you at dinner, then.”