Chapter Text
Rays of white sunshine peaked through the curtains. The intrusive light caused Alicent to stir. Alicent's eyes slowly opened, and her first instinct was to jump up and begin moving out of fear of oversleeping. She was up before dawn most days. Not because she had to be, but because she rarely could sleep for more than a few hours at night.
She didn't get up. She instead rolled over to look at the empty right side of her bed. She had struggled to fall asleep all night. Her mind had been ravaged by anxiety and fear preventing her from rest. She was a woman alone in the world now with no husband to protect her. What was a woman of twenty and five to do with no husband and children? Alicent didn't know, but she wasn't wholly afraid to find out.
For all her worry and concern about widowhood Alicent somehow felt lighter. The death of her husband yesterday had been a definite shock, but she would be a liar if she were to deny, even to herself, that she felt some sense of immediate relief at the news. She was not happy her husband was dead. She loved Criston. She had been with him eight years. She was seventeen when they married, and though she hadn't had much say in it she knew things could be worse. She could have been married off to a man who beat her or took pleasure in cruelty. Thankfully her husband had just been like most ordinary men. He cared little for her thoughts, paid little attention to her generally, and only expected her to dutifully attend to her wifely tasks with no complaint. Alicent had been raised to expect as much, so her lot in life had never disappointed her. Passed from her father to her husband, she hadn't known life without being under the thumb of someone else. She supposed the relief she felt was just the feeling of finally being in control of her life, but the relief she felt was also accompanied by fear. Life without Criston was uncharted territory.
Alicent laid in bed for a few minutes longer, but knew she needed to start her day. Her mind was full with things she had to do. There were chores around the farm to see to, she was supposed to meet with Lyman at noon to plan for Criston's funeral and burial, and then she was expecting her neighbors from nearby farms and other friends from town to stop by this afternoon. It was tradition for folks to bring food by and to give their condolences when a community member passed away. Alicent had made what seemed like dozens of chess pies over the years, her specialty, for various families in mourning, and now it was her turn to accept people's kind offerings of support.
Alicent got up to dress. She pulled on a simple dark blue dress and her usual floral apron, and she braided her hair and pinned it all up into a simple bun. She turned after she was done to look into the mirror in the corner of her small bedroom. She looked the same as she had yesterday, but still she searched her reflection for signs of change. Maybe the change she felt was purely internal.
Alicent tended to the farm and cleaned up her small home in anticipation of the events scheduled for later.
It was late in the morning when Alicent began to boil water for a bath. She wanted to get cleaned up before her meeting with Lyman Beesbury. He had been the local mortician now for a little over a decade. Before the area had an undertaker, family and neighbors handled everything when someone died. Now there was a designated professional to take care of all the gruesome tasks, and Alicent couldn't be more thankful for that.
Alicent had grown up on this small farm. She'd lost two brothers, a mother, a father, and now a husband all while living here. Every inch of this land and home seemed to hold a memory of someone no longer here with her. This was both a comfort and a source of grief.
Alicent bathed and changed into her only black dress. It was the same one she had worn for every funeral she'd attended over the last nine years including her oldest brother and her father. By the time she was just done emptying her wash basin there was a knock to the door.
Alicent left her bedroom and walked out to answer.
"Mrs. Cole, again my sincerest condolences for your loss," Lyman said, as he entered the house. Alicent pointed in the direction of where she had chairs still out. She had already begun rearranging her main room to make room for where Criston's coffin would be for the wake and funeral, and had moved her dining table and chairs out to the barn for now, but left two chairs behind for this meeting. She had some smaller tables she would use tonight for the food everyone would bring by.
"Thank you," was all Alicent could manage to respond. She wasn't yet used to accepting people's condolences. It felt as if Criston might walk through the door any moment.
It was Lyman who had come by from town yesterday evening to tell her about Cole dropping dead in the middle of town. He took Criston's nicest suit and shoes, and they made tentative arrangements. He had promised to return at noon today, to allow Alicent more time to think everything over, so they could make the final arrangements for the funeral and burial. They agreed the wake would start tomorrow morning; people would be allowed to come by the farm and say their goodbyes. Criston had lived in this area for almost ten years, and in that time he'd made many friends. Plus, many people would come just because he was married to Alicent and out of respect for her. Then at 4pm the funeral will begin and eventually culminate in the carrying of Criston's casket to the small family cemetery there on her family's property. The next time she was in town she would order a marker made for his grave.
After they walked through all the details Lyman left and Alicent had a few hours before she knew neighbors and friends would begin stopping by to drop off food and check in on her. She didn't know what to do with herself. She suddenly had a burst of nervous energy.
She decided to take a walk to her nearby pond. This time of year there would be all types of wildlife including ducks and various other birds that she loved to watch and feed. Alicent often would take walks to the pond when she had a little free time and wanted to clear her mind. She grabbed her hat and then took off down the road towards the edge of her property where the pond was located.
She walked with her mind lost in thought. There was much to be done over the next few weeks as she transitioned into sole owner and operator of the farm and she was making lists and notes in her head.
She approached the pond and immediately felt better. The sunlight reflected off the surface of the water and there were indeed several ducks on the far side of the pond wading near the edge.
Alicent was upset with herself for not bringing a blanket to sit on, but made her way towards the large tree near the pond where she often sat enjoying its shade. As soon as she got near she noticed a discarded dress, under clothes, shoes, and a beautiful straw bonnet.
"Whose clothes are these?" Alicent wondered, but she was not puzzled for long, because then someone came bouncing up out of the water smiling and gasping for air.
Alicent had never seen this woman before. The sight of a strange woman swimming naked in her pond was shocking. Alicent didn't know what to make of the scene. She wanted to yell out and ask this woman who she was and what she was doing here, but the sound was caught in her throat. She stood almost hidden behind the tree entranced at the image before her.
The woman was slender, but not petite. She had long light blonde almost white hair that lay wet down her back and shoulders. She looked like she was likely pretty tall and there was something regal but also wild about the woman Alicent thought. Alicent knew everyone who lived in this region for miles and miles. She hadn't seen a new face in this area for many years. Criston was likely the last new person she had met, and that was almost nine years ago. Here in these mountains there weren't many reasons to travel this way unless you lived here or knew someone who did. It was an isolated and self-sufficient community, and really the only life Alicent had ever known. The farthest she had ever traveled from home was just fifty miles north to the city on the few times she traveled with Criston to market to sell their wool.
The woman began to swim in her direction, and Alicent began to panic. She worried that she looked like some deviant spying on a naked woman who was unaware of her presence.
"I have been spying on this woman without her awareness," Alicent admitted to herself, but it was her pond and she had a right to be here. It was this woman who was trespassing.
The woman stepped out of the pond and began to walk towards the tree. Alicent began to flush. Without use of a mirror Alicent knew her face was redder than the tomatoes she grew. Alicent had never seen another adult woman naked before. The sight was not altogether…unpleasant to her eyes. In fact Alicent thought the woman was quite beautiful, and the acknowledgement of that thought was oddly unsettling for reasons Alicent couldn't pinpoint, but she had little time to contemplate it before the woman saw her.
The woman stopped walking towards the tree, crouched down where she stood, and tried to cover her intimate areas with her hands.
"Who's there?" She called out. "I can see you over there behind that tree!"
Alicent came out from behind the tree with her eyes closed.
"I'm Alicent Cole, and this is my property. Who are you?" Alicent asked back.
"I'm sorry, but this is my property now, or so I thought. I'm Rhaenyra Strong, and my husband and I just bought the Tully Farm. I was under the impression this pond was ours," Rhaenyra replied, as she started to walk again towards her discarded clothes.
Alicent's eyes remained tightly shut even as the woman's voice grew nearer.
The Tully Farm was a large property with an impressive log cabin that bordered directly on Alicent's land. The Tullys had settled there several generations ago, just like Alicent's family had, but none of the Tully children had any interest in staying here to run it. After Olenna and Nayton Tully both passed away the children had listed the property for sale. It sat vacant for the last five years. The pond sat right at the edge of both properties, and both families in the past had always enjoyed it. It had never been an issue worth fighting over.
"Well, I suppose technically it belongs to us both. My family and the Tullys never squabbled over whose property it truthfully belonged to. Neither of us fenced this area off," Alicent responded, her eyes still closed. She could hear rustling and knew Rhaenyra was dressing again.
"Well, if it's alright with you I'd love to continue in that tradition. There is no other body of water nearby and I do love to swim," Rhaenyra said, slightly breathless as she hurried to redress.
Alicent could see no issue with continuing to share the pond, and she was also warmed by the fact that she had new neighbors. The Tully Farm was the closest farm to hers, and having people close by would be nice. Something about Rhaenyra already had Alicent sure they would be friendly moving forward.
"That sounds alright by me," was all Alicent said in response.
"Good, because that dip in the pond turned my entire day around. I was… in need of a cool and relaxing swim. You can open your eyes now," Rhaenyra said, and Alicent's eyes slowly peaked open to find Rhaenyra still wet, her dress clinging to her, but fully clothed and smiling wide.
Alicent began to redden again at the sight of Rhaenyra's beautiful red dress stuck to her body. Rhaenyra's nipples were hard and poked luridly through her damp clothes. Alicent was again shocked to feel…she didn't know what she felt, but she knew it wasn't normal and nothing she had ever felt looking at anyone before. Even Criston. She put these thoughts out of her mind and looked away. Her sudden turn away was caught by Rhaenyra who looked down at her own body.
"I do apologize for my appearance. I did not intend to go swimming when I went for this walk, but upon seeing the pond I could not deny myself, and I obviously brought no towels," Rhaenyra said.
"I… understand. No need to apologize," Alicent said softly, still looking away.
"I had every intention of stopping by soon to introduce myself to our new neighbors. I definitely didn't intend for our first introduction to be you seeing me as naked as the day I was born and then now I stand here a soaking wet mess. I fear I've scandalized you," Rhaenyra replied.
Alicent noted that there was no shame in Rhaenyra's voice, only apparent concern for Alicent's embarrassment.
"You have not. I just haven't met anyone new around here in years. I've been totally taken by surprise. You've done nothing wrong," Alicent said, looking Rhaenyra squarely in the face.
Alicent's eyes took note of the sharp cut of Rhaenyra's jaw, the line of her chin, the small ridge of her nose, and the deep blue of her eyes that looked like lakes Alicent could drown in.
Rhaenyra smiled again. It was a small half smile where only the right side of her mouth rose a little, and Alicent couldn't help but find it adorable.
"I need to get home and get dried up and changed. Would you like to walk with me? I've got some pie and I can make tea," Rhaenyra offered. "I'd love to get to know you and learn more from you about this area and the town."
Alicent wanted to join Rhaenyra, but she knew she needed to get back. People would begin arriving at her home very soon.
"I… My husband died yesterday, and people will be arriving at my home shortly to visit and give their condolences," Alicent replied.
Rhaenyra began to close the small distance between them.
"Oh. Oh my. I'm so sorry to hear that Alicent. My goodness. May I hug you?"
Alicent was again taken by surprise. She hadn't been hugged by anyone in a long time, and in just a few minutes of meeting Rhaenyra this new person was initiating such intimate physical contact. Alicent didn't even realize that she was nodding "yes" before Rhaenyra's arms were around her.
Alicent closed her arms around Rhaenyra. She thought she would be annoyed by the sudden cold wet body pressed up against her own, but the touch and the sentiment moved her greatly. Tears began to roll down her cheeks before she could stop them. This was the first time she had cried since finding out that Criston was gone. The sudden emotion snuck up on her. She was embarrassed again to be crying in the arms of a virtual stranger.
They stood there by the tree in front of the pond hugging for how long Alicent didn't know. It could have been two minutes or it could have been ten. Eventually Alicent composed herself, and Rhaenyra pulled back. Alicent's dress was now wet as well, but not so bad that it wouldn't dry quickly.
"I've embarrassed myself several times and I've only just met you," Alicent said, her tone light and joking, but clearly still emotional.
"You've done no such thing," Rhaenyra said, her voice full of compassion.
"I've got to be getting back now, but if you and your husband want to stop by my farm in a few hours many of the local townsfolk will be by, there will be plenty of food, and it'll be as good a chance as any to start meeting everyone. I'd love to meet your husband as well," Alicent said.
Rhaenyra nodded. "Of course. We'll be there. This road takes us right there?"
"Yes, my house is just roughly half a mile from here," Alicent answered.
They exchanged goodbyes and parted ways. Alicent thought about her interesting new neighbor for most of her walk back to the house.
***
Rhaenyra was not at all interested in moving to a sleepy mountain town and even less interested in farming, but Harwin had dreamed of being a mountain man since he had first heard the Paul Runyan folk stories as a little boy. When traveling nearby, sometime last year, he became aware of a cheaply priced farm and his imagination took off. He returned two months ago to find the property even better priced and still for sale. Rhaenyra had not been with him and was therefore unable to talk him out of it. He came back home having purchased a farm, and all she could do then was begin to prepare for their move. They were from Kingslanding; a coastal city that was bustling with people and activity. Rarely a quiet moment ever found her living there, but here quiet was all there seemingly was, and Rhaenyra found it unsettling. Harwin had been off in town all morning running errands and she had been busy unpacking and organizing their new home. A few hours of that and she was in a sour mood. She already felt lonely and isolated and they'd only been here for two days. That's when she had decided to go for a walk and then ultimately for a swim.
Coming out of the water she had been surprised to find Alicent hiding behind that tree. As soon as she could get a good look at the woman Rhaenyra was no longer afraid. Alicent seemed shy and not at all mean. After dressing she had hoped her new neighbor would come over for tea, but upon hearing that her husband had just died the day before Rhaenyra was overcome with sorrow for her new acquaintance. Rhaenyra had always been an affectionate person. Her own parents had been loving and she never went long without their affection growing up. Now she showered her husband and friends with affection easily. Harwin hadn't been a particularly affectionate man, but he'd grown used to Rhaenyra's ways. She liked to believe he'd grown to love them even. He definitely never complained. She hugged Alicent under that tree with zero reservations. From one human to another she wanted so desperately to comfort Alicent in her grief. When she realized Alicent was crying she said nothing, but continued to hold her until she was sure the tears had stopped flowing.
Alicent invited her and Harwin to come by her farm later, and Rhaenyra accepted immediately. It was unfortunate to meet her new neighbors under such sad circumstances, but the chance to be around people and make new friends was exactly what Rhaenyra needed. She knew if she was going to adjust to this change in lifestyle, having friends and some sort of social circle here in the mountains would be a necessity. Plus, she knew very little about farming and understood that she might need to lean on the expertise of these folks who had lived here and farmed here forever.
Harwin made it back home in the early evening. His cart was packed with goods and items from the local town, and he was unloading it when Rhaenyra came outside to greet him.
"Seems you've bought everything there was to buy in town on your trip," Rhaenyra said, as she walked up.
"We'll need all of this I promise," Harwin replied between grunts as he carried a heavy tool from the back of the horse drawn cart.
"I met our closest neighbor today. Alicent Cole. Her husband died yesterday and I accepted an invitation to go by her farm this evening. People from the town are stopping in to give their condolences. There'll be lots of food and we can meet folks," Rhaenyra was rambling, but she didn't know why. There was some odd emotion just beneath the surface, some feeling she couldn't quite identify, that made her nervous all of sudden as she spoke to Harwin about Alicent. Harwin, for his part, seemed completely oblivious.
"I heard people talking about it in town today. A man just fell over in town, from his heart stopping right cold, and never woke up. Folks said he was young and fit. It's been quite the shock to the entire town. I didn't realize he was our neighbor." Harwin jumped up into the cart but kept talking, "Now his wife is alone?" Harwin asked.
"I'm unsure. When I met Alicent I was at the pond and she was alone then, but she might have children or other family," Alicent replied. "In either case we'll know soon. Once you're finished here I've got your wash bowl ready with hot water and a fresh shirt laid out for you to change in. Then we can head on over. I never touched the pie I made yesterday, so I'll bring it as well."
Harwin just nodded in response and continued to unload the cart. Once he was done with that and had cleaned up and changed they decided to walk the slightly under two miles to Alicent's home. They were still getting familiar with their new lands and wanted to take a leisurely walk up the road to take it all in.
When they arrived there was a small crowd of roughly a dozen ppl milling about inside and outside of the home. There was a small fire lit in a pit outside that a few people were gathered around. It looks like they were enjoying some type of dark alcohol. As Harwin and Rhaenyra walked up Harwin recognized someone and waved. The man waved back and walked towards them.
"Harwin, so nice to see you again," the man said, as he approached.
"Yes, Jason. Nice to see you again as well. Jason Lannister, this is my wife Rhaenyra Strong. Rhaenyra, this is Jason Lannister, he runs the general store in town."
Rhaenyra smiled and extended a hand to Jason before saying, "Nice to meet you."
Jason smiled back as he shook her hand and replied, "The pleasure is all mine." He took a sip of his drink and then continued speaking to them, "I didn't know you both had met Criston."
"We hadn't," both Harwin and Rhaenyra replied simultaneously.
Harwin looked at his wife and smiled, "Rhaenyra met Alicent today, and we were invited to stop by. We couldn't turn down the chance to spend time with our new neighbors and meet folks. Even though the reason for this gathering is rather grim."
"Ah yes, grim indeed. No better young couple around these parts than Alicent and Criston. It's taken us all by surprise that he's gone, but we will come together to make sure Alicent is taken care of. Poor thing has lost her family, then her husband, and now she's left to manage the farm on her own. She's one of us though, and we'll see her through no matter what," Jason said, sounding very sincere, but Rhaenyra could also tell he was already deep in his cups.
"I think we'll go in and say hello to Alicent," Rhaenyra said, trying to kindly end their talk with Jason.
"Of course, and if you'd like to join us by the fire outside for a bit of whiskey please do," Jason replied, as he smiled, turned, and walked back towards the fire. Harwin and Alicent walked arm in arm towards the entrance to the small farmhouse.
As they entered the main room of the farmhouse there were tables with many different dishes laid out where a handful of people stood fixing plates of food. There were also a few people in groups socializing, and a couple of kids playing quietly. Rhaenyra wondered whose children they were.
At first no one noticed them, but then several people turned to look at them, all with inquisitive looks on their faces. It was then that Rhaenyra heard Alicent's voice.
"Rhaenyra you've made it."
Rhaenyra turned to see Alicent walking out of the kitchen area towards them.
"I'm so glad you could come. You must be Mr. Strong," Alicent said, reaching out to shake Harwin's hand.
"Just Harwin is fine," Harwin replied. "I'm so sorry for your loss."
Alicent's smile fell. Rhaenyra felt for her deeply even though they barely knew each other.
"Thank you. It's so nice of you both to come. Please come inside and help yourselves to anything. There's so much food and I'll never be able to eat it all," Alicent said, leading them further into the main room.
"I knew you said there would be plenty of food, but this is a feast. I brought you a blueberry pie, but I'm sure all these baked goods here taste much better," Rhaenyra said, humbly.
"I love blueberry pie," Alicent said, softly. "I'm sure I'll enjoy it. Thank you."
Rhaenyra sat the pie down next to the other dishes, and the three of them suddenly fell into an awkward silence.
Rhaenyra was thankful their brief uncomfortable moment was ended by two women walking over to them.
Both of the women looked middle aged and were slightly graying. As they came to stand beside the three, one of the women looked at Rhaenyra and Harwin and said, "Well, who do we have here?"
Alicent spoke up, "Rhaenys, Corlyn, this is Mr. and Mrs. Harwin Strong. They just bought the old Tully Farm. Alicent and Harwin, this is Rhaenys and Corlyn Velaryon."
Everyone shook hands and greeted each other with a smile.
"So, you two are related?" Harwin had to ask, Rhaenyra assumed, because Corlyn had dark brown skin and Rhaenys had a pale complexion.
"Yes, we are sisters via adoption," Corlyn explained. "I never married and Rhaenys' husband died many years ago, so we live together up in the cabin on Redwyne Hill. Been there almost twenty five years now. Longer than Alicent here has been alive."
"They're both midwives together. They delivered me and most of the people my age or younger around here," Alicent added in.
"That's incredible," Rhaenyra responded earnestly. "I had dreamed of being a nurse when I was really young, but everyone said it was men's work, so I never gave it much thought as I got older. I've always been interested in caring for people."
"Well, if you're interested in being a midwife I think I can speak for us both when saying we'd be happy to train you. As we get older it'd make us both feel better to know we had trained people in this community to take over our work when we're gone. Someone has to deliver the babies as they never stop coming," Rhaenys said, with a light chuckle.
Rhaenyra was taken aback by the offer. She didn't immediately respond.
"We've just now started to settle into our roles as farmers. I do believe my dear wife will need a bit more time adjusting to that, before she can take on any more new roles," Harwin chimed in.
Rhaenyra didn't want these women to think Harwin made her decisions for her, so she spoke up as well, "He's right I'm afraid, but if the offer is not time sensitive I'd love to reconsider it later."
Rhaenys and Corlyn smiled. "Of course dear, you let us know if you change your mind," Rhaenys replied.
Harwin and Rhaenyra parted from the three other women and began making their way around the home introducing themselves to everyone. After they met all the towns folk inside Rhaenyra made them both a plate of food then they sat in chairs on the porch to eat. After eating they eventually did make it back by the fire where Jason introduced them to everyone outside.
Rhaenyra had never been much of a drinker, but she joined in when Jason offered her and Harwin some of his whiskey. The first few sips burned Rhaenyra's throat on the way down. She couldn't understand the appeal, but after a few minutes the liquid started to warm her up from the inside out and it began to erase away her anxiety, that she wasn't even fully aware of until it was melted away. The appeal of this dark liquid was no longer lost on Rhaenyra. She felt lighter in spirit and mind than she had in a long time.
Rhaenyra and Harwin stood by the fire drinking, talking with their new friends, and enjoying their surroundings for quite awhile. Rhaenyra hadn't expected to have a good time tonight. They were gathering because of a death in the community, and they barely knew anyone, but yet she already was feeling at home among these people. Everyone was being so warm and welcoming.
Rhaenyra turned and saw Alicent walk off towards a barn situated on the right of the farm house. Perhaps it was the whiskey, but Rhaenyra felt compelled to follow her. She was drawn to Alicent, and she wanted to talk with her again before leaving.
Rhaenyra walked to the barn, but no one was inside. She walked back outside and decided to check behind the barn and that's where she saw Alicent sitting on a bale of hay.
"If you need a moment alone I'll turn back," Rhaenyra said, disturbing the silence.
Alicent looked up and gave her a small smile. "No, your presence is welcome. I just needed a break. I'm… feeling morose and no longer in the mood to hide it. I thought it best to take a moment."
Rhaenyra nodded, but didn't get too close. She stayed standing off to the side.
"Both my parents are dead," Rhaenyra said, her tone matter of fact. She hadn't planned on sharing that, but the whiskey also seemed to have loosened her lips.
"I'm sorry," Alicent said, and Rhaenyra felt her sincere empathy.
"No need to be. It's been a long time. My mother died in childbirth when I was 12. My father died several years later of a long standing illness. With each loss I felt more and more alone in the world. As if I belonged nowhere and to no one. I'd known Harwin all my life. He was like a part of my family, and so I clung to him, and eventually I married him, so that I would never be alone." Rhaenyra couldn't believe she was sharing this with Alicent, but something made her want to open up and bare herself.
Alicent seemed slightly shocked by this information, but she said nothing and only patted the spot next to her on the hay bale and encouraged Rhaenyra to sit.
"I guess I just wanted you to know that I know loss too. I understand grief very well. I know what it's like to feel alone and adrift. If you want to talk I'm all ears," Rhaenyra added as she sat down.
Rhaenyra looked over and was made breathless by the way the moonlight shone down on Alicent. The sun hadn't set that long ago, but it was already very dark. Alicent's auburn hair was in several braids pulled up into a bun, her skin was like porcelain, her eyes round, doe-like, and brimming with unshed tears. Rhaenyra had the urge to hug her again, but refrained.
"She's beautiful," Rhaenyra thought, but put the notion quickly out of her mind.
Rhaenyra's internal monologue was interrupted when Alicent spoke again, "Criston did so much around here. I honestly don't know where to begin without him. My daddy ran this place and then Criston took over. I've been managing the house and smaller chores since I was little, but I know almost nothing about caring for our sheep or selling the wool. I helped Criston with everything, but I mostly just took his direction. Why he did the things he did I never did ask, and now I walk into the barn and see tools I have no idea how to use to do tasks I don't even know need to be done. I can cook, clean, sew, garden, shoot, and so much more, but now I'm supposed to know how to shear sheep and negotiate with wool merchants too. I don't just feel alone. I am alone."
Rhaenyra reached out and grabbed Alicent's hand in hers. Alicent turned to look at her and they made eye contact in the moonlight.
"You're not alone. It seems that the Seven have brought us together, because I too have so much to learn about farming and homesteading, and would very much prefer to have a friend to learn with and from. Harwin is no use as he already thinks he knows everything and is a poor teacher," Rhaenyra said, cracking a smile, and Alicent smiled too.
Alicent looked away and spoke again, "I lost my mother young as well. From a fever she caught. My father died several years ago too. He drank himself to death. I had an older brother who died in the Westerosi-Dornish war, and a younger brother who died of consumption. I didn't choose Criston, like you chose Harwin, but he was all the family I had left just the same."
Rhaenyra was surprised that Alicent was opening up to her as well, but was greatly pleased by how easily they related to one another. Their lives had been very different, but also much the same.
Rhaenyra was going to respond but was startled by Harwin appearing from the side of the barn.
"I've been looking for you. I thought we might head back home soon. I'm exhausted and we have much to do tomorrow," Harwin said, as he walked towards his wife.
Rhaenyra realized she was still holding Alicent's hand and let it go. The moment they were sharing was now seemingly over as Alicent stood up.
"I should return to my guests anyways," Alicent said, dusting pieces of hay off her black dress. "Criston's wake starts tomorrow at ten am and the funeral and burial will start at four right here at the farm. You both are welcome, but I understand how busy you must be with your new farm. Your presence tonight was very kind."
"We will be here tomorrow for the funeral," Harwin replied, and Rhaenyra was grateful she wouldn't have to twist his arm to get him to agree, because she wanted to attend and would have come without him if she had to.
"Yes, you will see us both tomorrow," Rhaenyra added.
"Thank you both again. See you here tomorrow," Alicent replied.
Alicent walked away back towards her home, and Rhaenyra watched her walk away for a moment before gathering herself and pulling Harwin by the arm.
"Come on husband, let us go home."
Harwin offered his arm, Rhaenyra took it, and they began to walk back around the barn and off towards their new home.
Once they made it to the road Rhaenyra couldn't help but to look back. Alicent was standing in the doorway of her house talking to someone that Rhaenyra couldn't see, and unfamiliar feelings stirred inside Rhaenyra. She was confused and scared by them, but also felt excited and nervous. It had been a while since she had made a new friend, and she could tell she and Alicent had the potential to be very close. Rhaenyra guessed her odd feelings were just because she was thrilled to make a new friend.
Harwin began listing all the things they needed to get done before leaving for the funeral tomorrow and his voice snapped Rhaenyra back around and out of her thoughts about Alicent.
"Does that sound good to you?" Harwin asked, and Rhaenyra wasn't even sure what he was referring to. She just nodded.
Harwin seemed not to notice that she hadn't been paying attention and continued on listing out their to do list.
Rhaenyra gave Harwin her full attention on the rest of their walk home, but thoughts of Alicent remained somewhere at the back of her mind.
"I may like it here in the mountains after all," she thought with a smile as they headed back up the moonlit dirt road.