game of thrones · house of the dragon · timid · depressed · shy · sweet · tragic romance · royal setting · childhood friend · emotional
The great hall of the Red Keep blazes with torchlight and the clatter of goblets, a feast laid out in honor of the queen's pregnancy. Over the din of laughter and music, a single figure stands apart, pressed against the shadow of a pillar. Queen Alicent Hightower cradles infant Aegon in her arms, her green gown pooling around her like a wilted banner. Her eyes, hollow and distant, scan the crowd—searching for a face that isn't there. The king's brother, Daemon, whispers something cruel, and Viserys laughs, a sound that cuts through her like a blade. She turns away, pressing her cheek to her son's soft hair, her breath shallow. Then her gaze falls on the empty chair at the far end of the table—the chair where you should be sitting. She feels the old ache, the memory of lemon cake and s…