Chapter Text
Laena Velaryon groaned, her hips pressing down ferociously against her hand as her fingers pumped in and out of her dripping cunt. This was no longer about pleasure and hadn’t been for some time. It was nothing but raw need, the desperate attempt to satisfy a heat that had already gone on for far longer than she would've liked.
As she fucked herself, her head was a jumble, filled with a parade of the court’s comelier alphas: Princess Rhaenyra, the Cargyll twins, a handsome young squire she’d seen in the training yard, and a tall, red-headed cook from the kitchens each made appearances, taking their turns claiming her, their thick cocks filling her aching sex one after another, their knots spreading her open so much further than her own slim digits could manage.
The only thing keeping Laena sane was the hope that this was almost over. She was already well into the third day of misery and it felt like if she could just push herself over the edge one more time, the fever might break and she could have a little peace. And so, in spite of her fatigue and soreness, she did her best to find release, grinding her palm against her throbbing clit as her fingers tried to supply at least a taste of the fullness she craved.
Caught up in her own desperation, it was hard to tell which sensation or fantasy finally did the trick. Something did though, because at long last, a ragged climax ripped through her weary body, coating her fingers and inner thighs in her release as a broken whimper slipped from her throat.
She was a mess when she slumped back down onto the bed, panting and utterly spent. The sheets were stained with a mixture of sweat and slick, not mention bits of meals she’d been too distracted to bring back to her table. Those same fluids clung to her skin, her intimate parts were aching, and her limbs felt heavy from nights spent with only restless sleep.
The only consolation was that her head was finally clear, but without her lust to cover it up, an uncomfortable feeling of having been used was left behind. It was a ridiculous thought in its way, given that no one had been there with her, but not really. It was her own body that had taken away her freedom, chaining her to its desires until she gave in, over and over again.
Not willing to stay in that state any longer than she had to, Laena pulled herself up from the bed and threw a robe on over her nakedness. Now that her heat had ebbed, the silky fabric felt pleasant rather than oppressive and she took a moment to rub it against her skin, reminding herself that her suffering was over. Unfortunately, the rumbling in her stomach put the lie to that idea and so she stumbled toward her sitting room and the bell that would summon her servants to prepare a meal and a bath.
Before she rang it, though, her eyes were drawn to a parchment on the floor. It must’ve been slipped under her door sometime when she lacked the wits to notice and so she picked it up and broke the seal.
My Dear Laena,
I realize you’re in no condition to speak with me right now, so I left this letter for you to read once you’re in a better state. Unfortunately, the king has decided on a royal hunt and given that it’s ostensibly being held to celebrate the birth of our daughter, Rhaenyra and I can’t avoid coming along. I’d love it if you could join us, especially since I’m sure my wife will have to accompany her father at least some of the time. If not, I will certainly understand given that your heat has just ended, but I would appreciate the company and I suspect you might as well.
Best Wishes,
Alicent Targaryen
Laena set the paper down on a nearby table with a sigh. On the one hand, she was exhausted and not much of a fan of royal hunts. At the same time, fresh air did sound good after three days spent locked in her chambers, and besides, she was the princess’ lady-in-waiting. As such, she was expected to be by her side, and even if she wasn’t, Alicent had become a close friend. Conversation and a little sympathy from a fellow omega would be welcome, as well as maybe a discussion of how to avoid this kind of misery in the future.
****
The autumn wind carried with it a definite chill but that wasn’t a problem in the royal campground. Huge braziers surrounded the feasting tables, ensuring that the king would be able to dine in comfort on both on the day’s catches and the numerous delicacies brought along from the Red Keep. When Laena arrived shortly after mid-day however, Viserys was absent, as were most of his entourage. Only the ladies of the court, along with their servants and guards, remained behind, enjoying a light lunch ahead of the feast that would follow once the hunt was finished.
As the wife of the crown princess, Alicent was preeminent among that company but the crowd at her table still wasn’t large. The princess preferred the company of a few friends to a throng of sycophants and Laena already knew everyone present. There was Lord Merryweather’s daughter, Alia, the oldest of Lady Redwyne’s three daughters, Meriss, Yvane, the younger sister of the lord of Riverrun, as well as the Ladies Celtigar and Manderly. The first three were her fellow ladies-in-waiting, the others younger members of the court who had become friendly with Alicent.
It was Alia, a plump but pretty beta with strikingly black hair, who noticed her arrival first. “Laena! You came!”
“I could hardly refuse her Grace’s request,” she declared, though a playful grin let Alicent know she didn't actually feel compelled to join her. “Where are the little prince and princess? I was looking forward to seeing them.”
“Visenya is finally napping,” Alicent said. “And Jace insisted on accompanying his sire on the hunt. With all the stories he’s heard, I think he expects to find mammoths and manticores in the Kingswood.”
Laena sat down at the table, her mouth watering as the servants brought over a steaming bow of fish soup and a slice of fresh apple bread. She had eaten before departing the Red Keep but heats left her ravenous for days. “I’ll see them later then. Either way, it’s good to be outside,” she said, tearing off a hunk of bread and shoving it her mouth.
“You’re not wrong about that,” Yvane agreed, shaking her head. The red-headed omega was of an age with Laena, having only presented about a year earlier. “By the end of my last heat, I could barely stand the sight of those four walls. If the guards didn’t open the doors, I would’ve tried to break them down with my bare hands.”
“What both of you need are mates,” Lady Celtgiar declared. The dark-eyed omega had gotten married only a year earlier and was steadfast in her belief that everyone else should do the same, the sooner the better.
Her zeal didn’t necessarily make her wrong. Since Laena’s own mother was a beta, she’d had little experience with heats growing up, but she could vividly remember watching Alicent and Rhaenyra stumbling back to their chambers together after their indiscretion in the wheelhouse. Though clearly lust-addled, they had also been happy, beaming at one another and stealing kisses as they made their into the castle. It was a far cry from her own recent misery and it was easy to see why an omega could be eager to find a mate.
“And just whom do you have in mind?” she asked Lady Celtgiar.
“Oh, there’s no shortage of eligible alphas at court,” she replied. “Or even a beta, if one strikes your fancy.” Alphas were considered preferable as mates for omegas, given their greater stamina when dealing with heats, but it was far from a rule.
“What about Ser Harwin?” Alia suggested. The alpha’s star was rising at the court. His father served as the King’s Hand and there were rumors that connection, as well as his friendship with Rhaenyra, might lead to his appointment as the next commander of the city watch.
Laena drank some more of her soup before answering. “I don’t know. He’s handsome enough, and a fine knight, but he doesn’t really catch my fancy.”
Lady Manderly shook her well-coifed head. “I suppose a Velaryon can afford to be particular.” Her resentment was unsurprising; she had come to court in the hopes of making a good match for herself, only to find that the most eligible suitors were generally reluctant to relocate to the North. By contrast, it must have seemed that the only daughter of House Velaryon’s famed lord had unlimited prospects.
“It’s hardly so simple,” Laena objected. “Whatever I want, I’m sure my father intends to be particular as well.” Indeed, he had long had his heart set on a royal marriage to overcome the disappointment of Rhaenys being denied the Iron Throne, but thus far, he had been thwarted, both with the king and Rhaenyra, and it remained a sensitive subject.
“Everyone has their own difficulties when it comes to arranging a suitable marriage,” Alicent pointed out charitably.
“Well I don’t care what Laena says, I think Ser Harwin is delectable,” Alia declared and with that, the ladies moved onto other topics, first Harwin Strong’s better qualities and then the court’s latest scandal, in which one of Lord Lyonel’s hedge knights had been caught deflowering an omega nephew of Lord Reyne behind a pile of halberds.
As the others laughed and gossiped, Alicent looked to her. “After the feast tonight, come and speak with Rhaenyra and I in our tent,” she said quietly. “There’s been news on this subject that you should hear in private.”
****
“So how was the hunt?”
By way of a response to Laena’s question, Rhaenyra rolled her eyes. The crown princess sat opposite her on a small couch in her tent, Alicent cuddled up by her side. The two were quite open in their affections, Rhaenyra especially seeming to defy anyone who had an objection to her marriage to say so aloud. Right or wrong, she had risked everything to have the mate she wanted, something that Laena admired.
“Dreadfully dull. I never liked hunting much to begin with and the way my father has somebody herd all the beasts in front of his spear doesn’t leave much sport to it.” She shrugged. “At least Jace had a good time. Even if we didn’t find any manticores, all the trumpets and banners were exciting.” Alicent gave her a questioning look and she added, “Don’t worry, Ser Harrold and I kept him far away from any flying spears and arrows.”
Alicent leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Thank you. For that and for putting up with your father's vanity. As the heir to the throne, it’s expected that you go along.”
“As my father also reminded me. We had a long talk on the way to the Kingswood, which brings me back to you, cousin.”
Laena took a sip of her wine and braced herself before asking, “What about me?” Royal interest could be a very good or very bad thing, but either way, it was generally significant.
“Your marriage. Now that your father’s finally won his war in the Stepstones, he’s worrying about it again and he reached out to mine.”
Now it was time for a much deeper drink. “About a marriage to the king?” she asked apprehensively. That had been her father’s desire a few years earlier, before Viserys had decided on Alicent instead. But that match had been thwarted by Rhaenyra and now Laena worried her father was going to try again for the royal marriage of his -if not her -dreams.
Rhaenyra held up a hand. “No, no, not that,” she said and as Laena’ relaxed, the alpha laughed. “You seem relieved.”
“It’s not that your father isn’t a kind man. It’s just…”
“He doesn’t seem as if he’d make a compelling mate? Don’t worry about it,” Alicent assured her with a knowing smile. “You’re not the only one who feels that way.”
“Anyway,” Rhaenyra continued, “My father still isn’t planning to remarry, so yours is looking around for another match and he wants the king’s help to arrange it. I think he still feels he’s owed a favor for the insult of turning down your hand.”
“I’m sure he does.” Though he was usually a loving father, Corlys Velaryon's anger could be volcanic. After the king chose Alicent, he’d resigned his seat on the small council and stormed off to a war in the Stepstones that Laena was pretty sure had more to do with his wounded pride than the value of the islands or the threat of the Crabfeeder. “So, do he and the king have anyone particular in mind?”
“Not that he told me,” Rhaenyra replied. “At least not yet.”
“Which is why you need to start looking for a suitable match yourself,” Alicent added. “It will be a lot easier to sell your father on someone you’ve already picked then trying to change his mind once it’s set.” She gave Laena a slightly abashed look. “Otherwise you might find yourself in the position of having to do something rash to get your own way.”
“Yes, and I don’t even have a dragon to escape on.” Laena hoped she didn’t sound overly bitter about that last part. She’d loved flying the few times her mother took her on Meleys but the egg placed in her own crib had never hatched and she had not yet been able to claim another mount for herself. Someday you will, my dear, Rhaenys had promised her, but someday could feel very distant at times.
“So, is there anyone who’s caught your eye?” Alicent asked. “I know you said Ser Harwin wasn’t to your liking.”
“Not really,” she admitted. Laena wasn’t exactly picky. There were plenty of both men and women whom she found attractive but there was a difference between someone who might flash thought her mind during a heat-addled fantasy and someone she would actually want to marry. A good mate might be a blessing but a bad one could make life miserable. “I suppose I haven’t been looking very seriously.”
Rhaenyra shrugged. “It turns out if we don’t look for ourselves, our families are happy to do it for us. Anyway, I thought it best to warn you.”
“I appreciate it. Did the king say anything else of interest?”
“Only this bit of gossip. Apparently, my uncle is coming back to court.”
“That’s hardly a surprise,” Laena said. “Now that the war’s over, he’ll need to find a new way to pass the time, just like my father.”
Rhaenyra gave her a sly smile. “Normally, I’d agree with you, cousin, except for one thing: his wife is coming too.”