Mommy's Boy

Anonymous:

alicent gets SO much hate from the fandom even from aemond writers 😔 i trust you and your good taste that you don’t hate her and write something where aemond’s wife and alicent absolutely ADORE each other and aemond loves to see it and is so happy about his two favourite people in the world being so close

Yes, the more I watched the show the more I grew to like Alicent until her line “Hesitance to murder is not a weakness”, then I was like “yep I love this woman.”

The Driftmark scene is such a powerful one, I included some of the dialogue. Alicent’s reaction was justified, no one was backing her up, or taking responsibility for MAIMING her son, so she felt the need to escalate the situation. And good for her.

Word count: 1366

Aemond x reader | fluff | Pro Alicent Hightower | Sweet drabble

The shouting is what had alerted you to something being amiss in the castle, raised voices echoing up the empty stone corridors as you poked a curious head out your bedroom door.

You had been sent to be princess Helaena’s handmaiden at the age of thirteen, finding the Red Keep to be suffocating most of the time, thankful for this chance to travel elsewhere. Driftmark had proven to be lovely, even if the reason for your journey was not at all a happy one.

Pulling on your heavy nightrobe, you made your way hastily toward the sound of shouting coming from a firelit room at the end of the hallway. You peeked in, seeing that it was indeed very crowded, children clinging to their parents as Viserys and Alicent argued. You spotted Helaena over by the large fireplace standing beside her brother, Aegon. Next to them, sitting on the sofa, blood covering his swollen face…you gasped audibly, drawing the attention of those standing nearest to the entrance.

Aemond clearly very injured, the boy you’d become close friends with had stitches running down the left side of his face, his eye…you blinked back a sting of sudden tears, his eye had been slashed out. Not caring what gossip arose from your actions, you hastened to Aemond’s side. He looked up at you in mild surprise at your sudden appearance, his expression turning stony as he tried to turn the injured side of his face away from your probing gaze.

You touched his hand that clutched at the cushions, opening your mouth to say something, but a scuffle of movement behind you caught your attention as Alicent went for Viserys’ knife and turned toward Rhaenyra and her children.

Rhaenyra intercepted her, the two women locked in a standoff with the other, Alicent gripping the blade tightly in her shaking hand.

“You’ve gone too far.” Rhaenyra said emphatically, still holding tight to her once-friend’s arms.

“I?” Tears streaked down Alicent’s face as she continued struggling. “What have I done, but what was expected of me? Forever upholding the kingdom, the family, the law while you flout it all to do as you please!”

“Alicent, let her go!” King Viserys, old as he was, looked livid as he yelled at his wife.

“Where is duty? Where is sacrifice?” She continued, taking no heed to the king. “It is trampled under your pretty foot again.”

“Release the blade, Alicent.” Otto’s measured voice this time, trying to reason with his daughter.

She continued staring at Rhaenyra, refusing to drop the knife, her expression morphing from desperation to a look of betrayal. “And now you take my son’s eye, and to even that you feel entitled.”

“Exhausting, wasn’t it?” Rhaenyra at last responded. “Hiding beneath the cloak of your own righteousness. But now they see you as you are.”

With a sharp cry, Alicent broke away from her grasp, bringing the dagger down, cutting deep into Rhaenyra’s arm. The room fell deathly silent, each person present sensing the gravity of what had just occured. The dagger fell from Alicent’s open palm, clattering on the stone floor.

The heavy air was broken as Aemond spoke, drawing your attention back to him as he approached Alicent. “Do not mourn me, mother.” His voice was soft, tired. “It was a fair exchange. I may have lost an eye, but I gained a dragon.”

You knew his words were more to draw attention away from what had just occurred, his mother injuring the heir to the Iron Throne. Though young, Aemond was no fool, and neither were you. You were aware of his abiding love for his mother, watching as he took her hand in both of his, laying his injured head against her chest.

The scene cleared quickly after that, parents ushering their frightened children back to bed. You lingered in the hall, wanting to stay by your friend’s side. Helaena touched your shoulder, smiling at you weakly before departing the room as well.

After several long moments, the room was empty save for you, Aemond and Alicent. It took minutes more for Alicent to come back to herself, taking a deep breath and looking down at her son. “Come, Aemond, you need to rest in order to heal.”

Her gaze lifted to you, seeming surprised to see you standing still by the fire. “Y/N, the hour is late. You should also be in bed.”

You noticed Aemond didn’t look at you, standing motionless, gripping his mother’s hand loosely.

“Can I be of any help at all, your grace?” You weren’t sure why, but the question you posed, and the earnestness behind it, had an effect on the queen. Her expression softened, lip trembling slightly. “I will call on you in the morning, Y/N. For now, get some sleep.”

Call on you she did, and for many weeks following it was Alicent and Aemond you spent the majority of your time with. Helaena didn’t seem to mind, in fact she would accompany you often, helping where she could, fetching hot water and healing ointments for her younger brother.

Aemond’s demeanor at your presence, at first tense and cold, eased as time passed. He looked at you more, allowing you to change his bandages and read to him at night.

Alicent was warm toward you, quickly becoming someone you looked to as a maternal figure, filling an ache in your heart you’d been unaware was there. Her gratitude for your help and care was obvious, it grew apparent not many others in the castle shared your sympathies for the prince. You heard many unkind whispers spreading throughout the Keep, doing your best to pay them no attention.

One day, Aemond almost fully healed, you were packing up the many salves and ointments the maesters had provided. Alicent approached you, touching a warm hand to your shoulder as she often did. “Y/N, you have gone above and beyond any expectations I had of you in helping my son. You are the handmaiden of my daughter, I know you are friends but why do you care so for Aemond’s wellbeing?”

You looked up into her face, smiling slightly. “I heard what happened, I saw how alone you were that night. No one else helped, and I don’t think that’s fair.”

“Oh child.” Alicent’s eyes grew bright with unshed tears as she pulled you against her in a tight hug. “You are a balm sent from the Mother Herself.” She lowered herself to crouch at your level, cupping your chin with her hand. “If you ever find yourself in need of anything, you come to me.”

She placed a brief kiss to your forehead before sending you out of the room, back to your normal duties.

From then on, the two of you became close as though she were your actual mother and you, her daughter. Many years passed; she was the one you went to when you had questions about growing into womanhood, about all troubles that weighed upon your mind. Your bond with Aemond only strengthened as well, he sought you out often in your reading nook of the library. You would stay up late nights with the prince discussing all interesting things from the history of dragon riding to the customs of Ancient Valyria.

When you were sixteen and he thirteen, Aemond began teaching you some Old Valyrian, at your request. He saw how much Alicent adored you, her face brightening into a fond smile whenever you walked into a room. He loved you for it. There was precious little that brought true happiness to Alicent, her affection for you soothed her troubled heart.

Aemond observed your interactions often with a soft smile upon his face, his feelings for you slowly growing from friendship to something more. He couldn’t name what it was that had changed, there were precious few in his life whom he could say he genuinely loved. His mother was top of that short list, his one defender, the woman who had vouched for him when no one else did. Your evident devotion to her, the time you spent talking to her, leaning your head on her shoulder, had left a warm impression upon Aemond’s heart. He wouldn’t forget the peace you brought those he cared for most, and he intended to make sure you stayed in their lives.