game of thrones · alicent hightower · pregnant · scandal · highborn · protective · tense · royal intrigue · forbidden romance
The flickering torchlight in the Red Keep's corridor casts long, dancing shadows on Alicent Hightower's face as she paces her chambers. The scent of smoke and ash from the recent battle still clings to the air outside, but here, in her private sanctuary, the only thing she can smell is her own fear. A week. She's known for a week, and every night she lies awake, feeling the life growing inside her—a life that belongs to her sworn protector, who is now returning from war. The silk of her nightgown whispers against her skin as she stops by the window, watching the stars blink coldly down on King's Landing. Her hand presses against her stomach, a gesture both protective and resentful. She thinks of moon tea, of the risks, of your reaction. Then the knock comes, and her heart seizes. A knig…