#crumbledstatues

[celtigaar]

@crumbledstatues said: "what if they kissed?" for aegon (because you know i had to) / send "what if they kissed?" for a scene where our muses kiss, even if they aren't shipped together

——— the great contradiction of large parties was that the more people attended, the less likely you were to be seen. as such it was a surprisingly simple endeavour to slip away unnoticed, provided one was careful to not be gone too long. and could anyone blame her if she should feel stifled and hot indoors, what with so many people and so much dancing, and desire fresh air? and wasn't it only right that a lady not go out alone at such an hour? and wasn't prince aegon so kind to escort her?

cerys waited until the sounds of the festivities had fallen behind.

❝ you're out of wine. ❞ she gestured to the empty cup he still held. ❝ i might have some left. ❞

but she didn't pass her goblet to him, though it was yet half-full —rather she sat the vessel aside, placed her free hand upon the back of his neck, and gently guided him down to kiss and allow him to taste the wine still on her lips.

[zobriezalarys]

@crumbledstatues asked: ❛ hold still. this might sting a little. ❜ - from Alys

she   holds   his   hand   before   he   has   a   chance   to   move   it   away   and   let   it   as   it   is.   it   would   not   be   the   worst   of   his   injuries   and   he   is   not   going   to   be   stopped   by   a   mild   cut   on   his   hand   when   he   had   suffered   worse.   shoulder   had   been   burned   with   an   arrow   on   fire   and   yet,   he   lives.   but   alys   rivers   is   a   mystery   of   a   woman   who   does   not   seem   to   have   aptitude   for   protocol   or   decour,   or   to   be   aware   that   she   should   not   speak   to   a   king   consort   in   such   a   manner.  

but   he   had   never   been   a   royal   who   cared   for   rules   and   he   would   not   do   so   now,   so   he   keeps   hand   still   and   looks   at   the   emerald   gaze   of   the   woman.   "you   keep   giving   me   things   i   might   start   to   think   you   are   poisoning   me,   witch."   the   nickname   is   given   in   amusement   and   perhaps   a   jest   as   he   watches   her   work   on   the   cut,   whatever   ointment   is   put   there,   the   wound   does   not   ache   at   the   touch   and   soon,   there   is   fresh   cloth   to   be   put   around   it.   "this   is   nothing.   I   do   not   scare   away   from   injuries   easy,   alys."

[onetrueheir]

@crumbledstatues (aegon) sent a raven: ❝ Come to bed, and bring that awful wine. ❞

Normally it was her who was attempting to cheer him up when something had gone wrong in the day. It was a nice change up, if not a bit surprising when his words rang through the quiet room. They'd finished supper and the table had been cleared and she was certain he would have been off by now. Yet here he was inviting her to his chambers for the evening so long as she brought the so claimed awful wine; it wasn't the worse they'd been served.

Rhaenyra had followed with her surprise to his chambers, a bottle in tow that was placed aside once seated. Though the bottle did not remain full as they both found themselves indulging on the sweet berries that left her with a warm hazy feeling. She sat there now, glass half filled, and eyes looked to the other to watch the light glow of flames dancing across his face.

"So handsome..." she murmured, a thought spoken aloud, but held truth. Aegon was handsome, always had been, and there was no denying it. Free hand soon reached over and fingers ghosted over cheek before moving to card through white trusses as she smiled softly. "Thank you. For this evening...I did not know what I would do with myself once we parted from our meal," she whispered, fingers lingering in his hair before finally falling back to her lap.

[zaldrizescrowned]

STARTER ( RHAENYRA ) / @crumbledstatues

It was a strange feeling to walk these halls again, none of them feeling like home. Everything had changed since she'd last set foot inside the Red Keep and it made her feel nauseous. What had all this madness been for?

As her feet carried her to the royal apartments, that feeling didn't fade but only got stronger, until she reached her destination. The rooms behind the doors she stood before had once been her fathers and were now inhabited by a man her heart was undecided about. Her brother had stolen her crown, but part of her could not deny that the boy had never truly had a choice in the matter. He had been made her foe the day he was born, his mother and grandfather had seen to that.

As the guards at the doors pushed them open, she straightened her back and took a long, deep breath. Inside, the rooms smelled of illness and fear, the stench of incense and blood mixing together. She'd been told of Aegon's injuries, but seeming them for herself gave her pause.

"I have ordered the maesters the prepare something for the pain," she spoke, stopping at the end of the bed and looking at her brother. Perhaps she was a fool to offer aid, but even now there was the smallest spark of hope. Perhaps there was more than just hatred and envy in this family of theirs.

[vezosdaria]

@crumbledstatues asked: ❛ how long has it been since you've slept? ❜ From Helaena

The   dim   light   of   the   candle   flickered   in   the   corner   of   the   room,   casting   long   shadows   over   Aegon   hunched   figure.   He   sat   silently,   eyes   fixed   on   the   door   to   Jaehaera's   chambers,   his   mind   drifting   in   a   place   where   neither   waking   nor   dreaming   could   reach   him.   His   heart   felt   heavy,   as   if   the   grief   for   Jaehaerys   had   long   since   burned   through   him,   leaving   only   an   empty   shell   behind.   He   couldn't   cry   anymore—his   tears   had   dried   with   the   passing   days—but   sleep,   too,   refused   to   offer   any   relief.

The   quiet   rustle   of   fabric   caught   his   attention,   and   he   glanced   to   the   side.   Helaena   stood   before   him,   her   pale   eyes   reflecting   the   same   exhaustion   that   weighed   him   down.   They   had   both   lost   so   much,   too   much,   and   it   showed   in   the   dark   circles   under   her   eyes,   the   way   her   shoulders   slumped   under   the   invisible   weight   of   grief.

"How long has it been since you've slept?"

Aegon   shrugged,   looking   away.   He   didn’t   know.   He   wasn’t   sure   if   it   mattered   anymore.   His   gaze   returned   to   the   door,   still   and   silent   like   the   tomb   it   felt   like.   Helaena's   presence   was   a   comfort,   even   if   they   both   stood   on   opposite   sides   of   their   sorrow.   Neither   of   them   spoke   further,   but   he   felt   her   close,   just   as   broken,   just   as   sleepless.   After   a   moment   he   offers   his   own   question.   "What   about   you?"   A   short   pause   as   the   king   as   is   aware   that   her   mind   was   sometimes,   stranger   than   anything   else.

[vulpynus]

@crumbledstatues asked ; “People are born great but yet need to grow into greatness” - from Alicent (hi mom! ❤️❤️❤️)

"not everyone has the chance to grow into it, nor does everyone wish to, i imagine." her gaze lingers upon the boys down in the courtyard below for a handful of seconds longer before it returns to her own daughter. she reaches out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear, hand coming to cup her cheek before allowing it to drop away again.

"it is hard when you have to watch your own children following whatever path they end up taking." there is much she might have changed for her children, had she been able to, had her voice been heeded over otto's. she knows the worry that comes with misliking the situation they find themselves in. "they are still young, they haven't had to bear the weight of any responsibilities as yet. they will grow when the time is right, when they must. try not to worry yourself too much when they are far from perfect. they don't need to be perfect."

[bloodymyhands]

RHAENYRA WAITS, so long that she almost doesn't expect an answer any longer. alicent touches her throat and her eyes speak to how distraught she seems to feel, and all at once rhaenyra feels guilty. her hardened expression gives way, and the tears behind her eyes are blurring her vision. she's finding it increasingly difficult to stop herself from pulling alicent into a hug. even many years later, she longs for it. her limbs ache to reach for her. she clings to the sleeves of her gown, resisting the urge. the threads of her control feel as though they may be snapping.

those soft, sad brown eyes will be her undoing.

i had to see you, alicent says, and it does nothing to answer her question. actually, it serves to confuse her more. but why, alicent? she wants to scream. why in the world would you need to see me? what is there to be said that hasn't been already said? and if there is more, why has it taken so long to get her here? rhaenyra had given up hope long ago of a reunion. she's only now shaking off the truth that she had never had daemon on her side, not truly. there's many things at play even she does not understand. yet, here she stands. waiting. for what, she is unsure.

she longs for it. even now, face to face with the truth, she longs for something unknown. she aches for alicent, and she can't understand why. underneath the surface, her love brews, and it has never once stopped simmering. not throughout all these years, and not now.

"why?" she asks again, stepping closer despite herself. it's a dangerous game she's playing by moving in alicent's orbit. soon she will be stuck in it. "have you come simply to tell me that we cannot go back to how we were? have you come to seek refuge, despite all that you've done?" her eyes search alicent's, longing for answers. she lowers her tone, not wanting to scream at her, not wanting to sound as desperate as she feels. "you see me now. i am here, alicent." finally, she ends in a whisper, those tears finally falling over. "right here."

MAYHAPS IT HAD BEEN A MISTAKE TO COME HERE, thinking she would bare her heart and soul, all for them to die on her tongue. So much would remain unsaid between them, how Alicent had longed for their closeness underneath all of the revilement. Every curse spewed her way had been met with twice as many prayers in the sept, twice as many wishes to draw them back together. Letters written, sent, unanswered from the one Alicent wished to speak with the most. Far more had been written and consumed in flames. Unspoken confessions, unfulfilled promises.

The harsh reality of war seemed to have settled long ago, although it now arises to the surface. None would be there to save her, utterly alone. Dismissed and dismantled, merely a shadow of a Dowager Queen lurking in the halls of the Keep. There had once been the belief she had a voice, that at least some listened as she ruled in her husband’s stead upon his sickbed. Truly, it had been for naught. Now she stands without honor, without the Gods to guide her — for they have done nothing but spite her very being from the beginning.

Why is she here? Why did she come searching all of this way for the woman that stands on the opposite side of her? One that she had influences so much destruction towards? One that hurt her in return? Battered hand comes to lay against her throat, fingers pressing into the sides underneath her ears to ground herself, if only for a moment. The pulse underneath her fingertips give way that she is in fact here, cast in shadow, awake and alive. Why does she haunt her?

“I had to see you.” The simplest answer she can manage. I had to see you after you cursed my every waking thought. I had to see you after I longed for what we once shared, what we can never share again. I had to see you to give myself an answer. I had to see you to give myself closure. I had to see you to tell you I was wrong.

I had to see you to set myself free.

[celtigaar]

@crumbledstatues

——— cerys hardly blinked as she looked at him. that was in part due to the lingering adrenaline —he had frightened her badly; and in part a means of attempting to figure him out. she didn't wish to close her eyes lest she should miss something, some expression or gesture, that would lead her to understand him. she continued to stare after he had finished apologizing.

he'd acted thoughtlessly, brusquely, but had not done her harm. if he had intended to hurt her, surely her stating that he was scaring her would not have stopped him. why then was he here? why did he fidget so? why did he ask to stay even if only to sit here in the dark? why did he apologize, again and again? why should he claim to not know why he came?

❝ you can hold me, if you like. ❞ her voice broke the silence that had fallen between them, but she did not like the sound of her words, so stiff and awkward. too unconcerned, when she was anything but. vulnerability did not come naturally to her. cerys tried again, softer, touching the cushions of the settee she sat on.

❝ come over here. i want you to hold me. ❞

[onetrueheir]

@crumbledstatues (alicent) sent a raven: i feel something broken inside me. you can't fix it. no one can.

The feeling she spoke of was all too known. It formed the day her mother passed and grew when her brother Baelon followed soon after. If she were to visualize it, it would appear as a crack in the sides of the stone walls, growing deeper and longer as time passed. As one more loss was stacked upon shoulders that she did not fathom would carry so much in such a short span of time. And each time the jagged blade of life came down from the heavens with a thunderous blow to the earth below her feet, she felt more broken than the last strike.

So she knew all too well of what Alicent spoke of, but she held her tongue as to listen to the queen regent. Eyes that grew misty watched as the woman before her paced the floor and that took notice of how hands were clasped. She knew her old friend was picking at her nails as she did when they were younger, a sign that she was stressed. And if it had been that time when they were just girls, she would have sought to comfort her. But now? Now she could not do that though every inch of her being screamed for her to do so.

When the other woman fell silent aside from sniffling, eyes finally fell to glance at the stone floor. Arms remained crossed ever so slightly as breath nearly hitched in her throat with each one she took. "If I can not fix what is broken...then why do you come here tonight, Alicent?" she asked sullenly, head raising so that eyes looked upon her. "Why does it sound as if you are seeking help in fixing what you claim to be unrepairable?"

[zaldrizescrowned]

STARTER (TYELLA) / @crumbledstatues

Aegon burned, Aemond regent and Alicent discarded. Things had changed fast, and drastically, at the Red Keep in the last few days. Messages had already been dispatched to Dragonstone to inform Queen Rhaenyra of the irony of it all. Tyella had found it hard to keep her amusement to herself, if she was entire honest. The only thing that held her back from any snide remarks was her fear of the Prince Regent. Now more powerful than ever, his punishment for her betrayal would be long and painfull, that much she was certain of. So she was not about to taunt the Gods and risk exposure.

Sitting in Alicent's chambers, fingers carefully at work on a piece of embroidery, she watched the Queen Dowager from the corner of her eye. Sighing, she put her work down. "You seem restless, Your Grace. Shall I call the Grandmaester for something soothing?"

[crumbledstatues]

HER COUNTENANCE REMAINED NEUTRAL, although her heart beat wildly against her ribcage. She was no longer privy to scandal, it tainted her family daily before her title had even been graced to her in marriage. It's the world that politics lay in: slander and whispers. You use the ones that can gain your advantage and dispel anything else. She sipped on her wine and let her son tire himself out, praying the alcohol would soothe her as it seems to do to many others. There was no way she would confess this to him. Her father wanted nothing to do with it, so she would keep it tucked away for only the Gods to see.

"Your sister is reeling in the loss of Jaehaerys, as are you. Her riddles and rhymes are of no concern. They are simply that, riddles and rhymes." Guilt plagued her the second the words left her lips. Her Helaena, gentle, innocent, and yet she would besmirch her like this. She lifted herself from her seat slowly, like prey, abandoning her goblet. Raw fingers twitched as they ache to lay against some part of Aegon, touch him, comfort him as a mother should, but she cannot. She would not. "I would never do anything to tarnish your name, your claim, this cause we have fought for since your birth. Whispers are simply that... whispers. You must learn to discern them."

" I am the fucking King mother ! " Aegon snapped as he looked at Alicent. His eyes were full of anger and hurt as he spoke. "A man came into the castle and cut my boy's throat without anyone seeing him." A sigh then left his lips. "How can I be King and feel so powerless?" His eyes then lowered while he thought to himself.

When Aegon looked back at Alicent he felt a bit of anger towards her. "And you mother?" He asked. "You were in bed, weren't you?" Slowly he got up from where he was siting and walked over to Alicent. "And who was in bed with you, mother?"

Shaking his head he turned his back to Alicent. "You don't think everyone knows? I hear the whispers mother; they speak such evil and wicked things about you and Criston Cole." Turning to face her once more, Aegon looked at his mother. "I didn't want to believe these whispers but then Halaena told me everything and I'd like to know what you have to say about that?"

----> @crumbledstatues <3

[celtigaar]

@crumbledstatues said : hc + 🚶‍♂️ for a habit-themed headcanon / send an emoji for a headcanon

cerys visits the great sept fairly regularly even though she doesn't like it. it is very different from the claw isle religious sites, which tend to be smaller, more aesthetically reflective of the sea, and tied to older valyrian and celtigar religious practices. the sept feels foreign and cold to her, but she attends anyway as a social practice. she also has a small altar in her room to the maiden that is arranged in the celtigar style and is arguably more about giving her a piece of home than serving a religious function.

[onetrueheir]

@crumbledstatues (alicent) sent a raven: ❛ you don’t have to be gentle. i won’t break. ❜

Soft breath of a laugh leaves the princess, lips coming to a halt and pausing with ascending the others thigh. "I'm very aware of that, darling," she murmured, violet eyes peering up at her from where she knelt between Alicent's parted legs. "But I also wish to take my time...to savor this moment...and you," she hummed, teeth gently nipping at warm flesh before tongue snaked out to sooth the mark. It was a rare moment that they had any lengthy time together, but today the Gods were in their favor.

Laenor had taken the boys to Driftmark to spend time with their grandsires; plus it gave her husband time with his lover. He knew what she was up to as she knew what he was doing, but that was how their marriage survived. How they kept up the charade of their union. But her mind was the furthest from thinking about him or their children, thoughts swarming with ideas of how to spend the gifted day with the woman beneath her.

Falling silent, Rhaenyra's lips continued to blaze a path upwards towards the familiar sweet musk that awaited her. The thought alone made her mouth water with anticipation, her hands smoothing up along hips before following curves of sides before shifting to take hold of supple breasts. She kneads at the queens breasts as face draws near to what she most desired and she is ravenous. It shows in how mouth opens, tongue slithering out to drag languidly over moistened sex with a low hum, tongue gently probing its way through soft flesh. And she welcomed the slight tickle of darkened hair brushing against nose and face as eyes come to close, far too focused on tasting the other woman.

[onetrueheir]

@crumbledstatues

Rhaenyra and Alicent flying on Syrax

By marina.ab.art 

[firebloodicee]

" I am the fucking King mother ! " Aegon snapped as he looked at Alicent. His eyes were full of anger and hurt as he spoke. "A man came into the castle and cut my boy's throat without anyone seeing him." A sigh then left his lips. "How can I be King and feel so powerless?" His eyes then lowered while he thought to himself.

When Aegon looked back at Alicent he felt a bit of anger towards her. "And you mother?" He asked. "You were in bed, weren't you?" Slowly he got up from where he was siting and walked over to Alicent. "And who was in bed with you, mother?"

Shaking his head he turned his back to Alicent. "You don't think everyone knows? I hear the whispers mother; they speak such evil and wicked things about you and Criston Cole." Turning to face her once more, Aegon looked at his mother. "I didn't want to believe these whispers but then Halaena told me everything and I'd like to know what you have to say about that?"

----> @crumbledstatues <3

[onetrueheir]

@crumbledstatues (aegon) gets a plotted thing.

Aegon the Conqueror married both his sisters, this was known and spoke of in regards to their history. It was tradition, to be expected between an elder sister and younger brother to wed. Though it had not been the original plan nor course of action taken, it was what happened when all else failed. They had been promised to others, but nothing came of those unions that would ensure the bloodline or status of house Targaryen. And with the kings declining health, whispers of who would rule the seven realms began to stir up questioning of whether Aegon would challenge his older sister.

So a proposition was made between Rhaenyra and her father; she recounted Aegon first of his name and his two sister wives. How if Old Valyria was still in existence in a physical form ( outside of the blood that coursed through their veins ) there would have already been a plan set in motion. And given her half brothers activities and lack of discretion on top of who would take the Iron Throne upon Viserys' death, she thought it was the right plan.

Her marriage to Laenor Valyrian had proved difficult—there was no blame for either of them, the Gods had made them into their own people and that was of no fault to them—and he had all but fled the country ( she had helped of course but that was something only he and herself needed to know. ) Meanwhile Aegon had been tearing a path through Kings Landing and becoming nothing more than a drunk. It was not befitting of a possible, soon to be, king.

Their union was nothing but for duty and tradition. Rhaenyra had loved her half brother when he was but a child, had enjoyed their time together though it had been brief. He was all but a stranger to her now as a grown man she now called husband though some days she felt like his mother dealing with his tantrums. Such was the case this afternoon as they stood across from another, the princess staring at him with furrowed and annoyed brows.

"Do you not hear yourself, Aegon? You sound like a petulant child who has been caught doing something wrong and now has to deal with the ramifications of their actions!" Her voice had rose as anger and annoyance grew, bubbling up inside her and festering like a sore.

They knew that their marriage was that of duty and political. That they could have their engagements outside of their marriage and neither would fuss over it, but there were limits. Boundaries sat in motion that would make it so neither would be questioned nor would the house of Targaryen be embarrassed. He had done nothing but the latter for weeks now.