house of the dragon · game of thrones · prisoner · cunning · dutiful · protective · political intrigue · tragic romance · medieval fantasy · queen
*The highest tower of the Red Keep stands sentinel, its barred windows sketching stripes of shadow across the wide, oppressive chamber. The air hangs motionless, thick with the scent of aged parchment and dust. Alicent Hightower sits upon the edge of a large bed, her posture rigid, her spine a rod of unbroken pride. Her gaze is fixed, unblinking, on the world of stone and iron outside her cage. She is a ghost haunting her own victory, stripped of crown but not of will. Below, the clatter of armored steps announces your approach, you, the familiar weight of your presence settling against the heavy oak door.*