Chapter 28 - Her heart full of love.

(Alicent pov)

*hehe

I did not know how long, but it felt as if ages had passed, my hands still tight around my dress,

my cheeks still burning from the words he said to me, my mind still trying to pick it apart but it was far too sweet. Far sweeter than I have ever tasted, and even I could not deny his words of fancy to me.

"I did not pluck you to vent my lust, yes I will honor my word.. but I did so, because I take whatever it is I truly desire." I could hear his words ringing, echoing in my mind, with the warmth of his touch as he caressed my face.

"Such words he says to a maiden, as I said before, he is merely good with his words, nothing more.." I tried to say, but looking at the ring on my finger, a giggle escaped my lips, rubbing it as I gently kissed it with care.

"A sweeting, how I wish I could tell Rhaenyra, well that is hoping she is not mad at me.." throwing myself back on the bed, I stretched my hand to the sun along the covers, I couldn't believe it had been days since I'd talked to Rhaenyra.

"The maids never say anything, nor do I expect them to. When will he return.." While thinking, I spoke aloud, only for my stomach to knot as I leaned forward slightly.

My body quickly standing as the feeling started to sink into my stomach even more, my throat full as I rushed to the tub, my mouth trembled as I let out today's breakfast within the tub, the filth dripping from my lips as I felt a hand touch my back.

"My lady, what is wrong.." A maid said to me, her hand gently rubbing my back, but the accompanying burn within my throat, and spit within my mouth made me unable to do anything but shake my head.

"Misha, go and get the maesters.. quickly!" I could hear talks around me, the maid that was helping me yelled out in a panic, while the one spoken to rushed to get someone to help.

My eyes stained with tears as my hair was pulled back, my body now stiff as my hair was washed, my ears a blur as I paid no mind to the maids talking around me. The world dyed gray for only a moment until I heard something, I had lost track of the happenings around me, never feeling my body be moved to the bed as I heard yells.

"What has happened?" I could hear a voice, one I had wanted to hear all morning, his words full of blame as he spoke to someone.

"Prince Maliketh, calm yourself, we are all worried. The lady is fine, she only had a small mishap earlier, throwing up but she should be feeling better now. There was no blood within it, nor was she in pain after expelling it from her body, we think it was brought on by something she had ingested." The man spoke back to my prince, my eyes cracking open to see, watching as Maliketh stood over the man, his eyes different from what he shows me as he spoke.

"So, you're saying, your not certain about what is going on at all.." Maliketh's words were clean, cutting at the maesters lack of knowledge.

"We can only guess, there is no way to be certain.." The Maester said, trying to stand his ground, or so I thought.

"Yes, it would seem no one, not even the grand maester can deal in certainties, so wonderful the Gods that deal in only speculation." his face grinning as the maesters face grew angry, yet he could say nothing.

"Calm down, my prince, I am only feeling unwell, nothing more." I finally found my words, my heart light seeing him angry about my well-being.

"All of you get out, I have no time for faint certainty. Let Mellos know to come to my room the following day to check her over.." Hearing me, his face changed slightly as he placed his hand on the maesters shoulder, moving him as if a door as he spoke.

"I don't think it necessary, I will be fine, my prince.." sliding my body up so that my back could rest on the pillows, I waved my hand at the notion, I did not think it was worth worrying over.

"Necessary it may not be, but I will not sit by as you grow sick little flower.." His hands soon caressed my cheek, and once more the warmth I couldn't understand, spread like fire within my body.

"As you say, my prince.." I didn't know why, but I felt I had no room to argue, agreeing as a grin came to his face. "Well then, surely your anger can not all be for my sake, tell me what is it, my prince." I was joyful at his care for me, or at least how he shows his care, but there must have been something else, especially from how he had been over such a small matter.

"My little flower.. it seems I will have to leave you, sooner than I thought.." At his words, my mind was ringing, hearing him say something I didn't understand, my eyes looking at him as I thought we were fine, but now he must leave.

"M-my prince? what are you saying?" I could feel my voice raised without meaning to do so, my heart beating, hoping for an answer to my confusion at his words

"Calm yourself little flower.. I will explain.." I was not freaking out, I knew there must be a reason, but to have been promised to one another just for us to be apart felt strange.

I could feel him pull me into his embrace, his arms wrapped lightly around my back, while his head rested on the top of my head. "I must leave for a while, after the tournament, it would seem my brother wishes for me to help lord Corlys in a matter about the shipping lanes.." I could tell he was picking his words carefully, but I did not know why, the problem should not take him away long, so why tell me.

"I don't understand? why does it sound like you'll be gone for a long time, or am I misreading your words." I spoke up, I didn't understand and being left in the dark gave me a strange feeling.

"I understand your confusion, it was not my wish to leave, my brother made the decision, and as such, I will be gone for many months." the words months echoed, my head lifting as I pushed him away lightly, why now, why would he be gone for so long.

"But the wedding date? are we not meant to spend time before it?" I had to ask, It was strange, I understood some couples sometimes courted each other for awhile, but I was meant to wait until he returns to be joined.

"The wedding date has been postponed, your father along with my brother, both of them came to an accord, the wedding would happen when I return. It seems lord Corlys pressed the issue heavily on my brother.." Maliketh's said, turning his body as he stood, pouring whine into a cup as he drank and went over what happened.

"I see, so his grace wishes it.." i knew my father, even if I didn't know everything that he has done, I'm sure my father played a bigger roll in this. "We'll you not tell me, what it is you must do?" I wanted to know, I had a bad feeling weiling up within my heart. What would happen while he was away.

"War.. a group formed by the free cities has taken over the stepstones, raising taxes to the point the merchants would rather the pirates. My brother asked me to put an end to it." His words filled my ear as he put down his cup, leaning on the stone shelf with both hands as he looked down. His voice felt off but it seems like he made up his mind.

My eyes looked at his back, it was a new feeling, how could someone be so close but so far away, the light in the room dyed him in its beautiful glow, his long hair gently moving as he sat still, it seems like I knew him for so long, even if it was only but a moment. I was scared, I don't know what will happen, I was worried, I didn't understand how I could feel like this in such a short time. Is it because he was the one that first bedded me, talked to me without fear, allowed me to speak freely. I didn't know but the feeling wormed itself into my heart.

"Please, just return to me.." I said quietly, my body having already gotten up, my hands stretching out, wrapping around his midsection, my forehead pressed into his back as I spoke the only thing I wanted.

My hands could feel his warmth, my head hearing his ever-so-calm heartbeat, my body melting into him as he turned, his hands rubbing along my arms as a numbing shock ran through my body. His hands tracing up, resting on my face as I felt my head be gently pulled up, his face a soft smile as he held both my cheeks, his lake-like eyes making me forget the hypnotic colors of red, and orange around us. His mouth never opened to say a word, but his eyes told me a detailed story.

His lips slowly brought to mine, as that sweetness once again filled my heart, like liquid fire in my veins, the echoing world a drift in a sea of nothing, as I was pulled close, along these thoughts, as calming waves swallowed the world around us, in this moment it was just two of us, and I knew.

'He will return to me..'