The Queen of Westeros had a familiar style. Her chambers were simple, with gold and green accents throughout the many rooms, it was something which comforted Alerie as she stood in front of the King and Queen, it felt like home for a single, fleeting moment. Alicent Hightower - The Queen - was in a dark green dress with a golden belt around the centre, accentuating her waist, her hair had been curled and pulled back from her face, gently cascading down her back, it reminded Alerie of the styles she'd seen in Oldtown on a visit just a few months back. Her eyes were a warm brown, almost mirroring the spindles of hair which burned red in the streams of sunlight.

Alerie thought she was beautiful.

The King, however, did not look as Alerie expected, he was sat on a green sofa in simple dark robes, with thinning white hair and a freckled face. He looked kind though, she supposed that was a good sign.

"My King, My Queen," Alerie curtsies to the royals, and catches a glance at her own outfit. She had not been given time to change before meeting the family, and felt rather embarrassed by how underdressed she was, her travelling cape was still on, with a light blue dress under it. As she rises, Alerie sees the King's youngest children standing in the corner, and Alicent is now leaning down to her height, looking into the child's eyes.

"You do look so much like your mother,"

"I -" That is not what she expected her to say at their first meeting. It was informal...natural, a sharp contrast to Alerie's anxious breaths. "Thank you, my Queen...not many say I do,"

"Well, those have never spent as much time with her as I did," Alerie smiles at that, her teeth shinning through, Alicent stands up straight again, gently touching the young girl's shoulder and leading her to the corner of her drawing room "Come, you must meet Viserys and I's children,"

Alerie curtsies once again and looks up at the three children. Aegon was tall with long curls and did not bother to glance at the girl more than once, his eyes lingering on the door.

"My Prince," she greets

"Hm," he doesn't grace her with an answer, his hands tightly grasped behind his back.

"Aegon," Alicent almost seethes out "Is that how we treat guests: family?"

"Apologies for my brother," Prince Aemond steps forward, a shorter boy with straight hair, he  grasps Alerie's hand in his own and presses a gentle kiss to the back of it "My lady,"

Alerie is unable to respond, unsure of the formalities she owes the people around her. She had been taught all the proper titles and mannerisms, but now, standing in front of three silver-haired royals, she lost all decorum.

"Do not overwhelm the poor girl," His mother chides "Alerie, this is my daughter, Helaenna," Alerie looked up at the tall girl, she was wearing a simple pink dress, a braid circled along the temple of her head, the rest of her hair cascading down her front, her freckles shining in the afternoon sunlight. Helaenna nods, though not out of disrespect, more of nervousness, Alerie decides to speak up.

"Uh...My mother mentioned how you favour many creatures in the gardens. I myself find comfort out there. Perhaps we could walk together one afternoon?" a smile graces the princess's face

"I would like that," Alerie does not see the fond smile on Alicent's face as she turns to look at her husband, who nods in approval.

"Of course, our youngest son Daeron is serving as cupbearer for my uncle in Oldtown, but I hear you two have met, yes?"

"Oh!" Alerie perks up at that "Yes, Prince Daeron stopped at Highgarden for a few days on his travels, he was very kind Your Grace,"

Alerie had been put in charge of welcoming the prince into her home and had formed a quick friendship with the young man, him only being a year her elder. She'd visited him in Oldtown once or twice now, and although she once thought all Targaryen Prince's looked like him, when she saw him next to his Uncle Gwayne, she realised he resembled him greatly. The only difference was his light hair and blue eyes, which twinkled violet while in the gardens with Alerie.

"I am glad he behaved himself -" The King finally speaks up, but is interrupted by the wooden doors being opened by two guards "The Crown Princess and her two sons Your Grace," one announces, and through the doors comes a striking young woman. Her silver hair slightly damp, but brushed and tucked into a large braid at the back of her head. Alerie was drawn to the red dress she wore: golden tulle had been used to create soft waves down the skirt, and gold thread had been used throughout the fabric.

"You are late Rhaenyra," The King scolds and she smiles apologetically, entering the room properly and pressing a soft kiss to his cheek

"Apologies Father, Syrax was enjoying herself, and I did not want to greet our guest smelling of Dragon,"

"Well perhaps-" Alicent is cut off by Rhaenyra standing in front of Alerie, her hand softly rubbing circles on the girl's face.

"And you, must be Alerie Tyrell,"

"Yes, Your Highness," she curtsies and looks up at the woman, the famous violet eyes of Valyria greeting Alerie's own green eyes. Her mother had once described the colour as an ocean - her very own sea green to get lost in.

"I expected a double of your mother to arrive at the palace this morning, it appears I was wrong..." Alerie blinked, once, then twice, it felt like a rejection from her mother's old companion, a way of saying she did not deserve to be in King's landing. Luckily, Rhaenyra notices the small pout that appears on the girl's face and her voice softens "You shall grow into her looks my sweet," she reaches a hand out "Let me introduce you to my sons," Alerie takes her hand, it was rougher than she expected, clearly cracked from dragon-riding. Nonetheless, she lets Rhaenyra lead her along to the other edge of the room, where two young boys appeared to be bickering amongst themselves.

"Boys," the mother says sternly, causing them to straightener their backs and look at Alerie "This is Jacaerys, my eldest," said boy bows to Alerie, and when he looks up, she can see that he has inherited his mother's eyes, though not her hair. Soft brown waves sit atop the young boy's head "And Lucerys, my youngest,"

"Luke," the young boy spoke quietly

"A pleasure to meet you both. Luke," she nods at him, and he grins

"Mother said your family come from Highgarden," Jacaerys speaks up "and so father helped me and Luke pick this for you," he pulls out a singular white rose, its stem crumpled, but the petals untouched.

"Oh!" Alerie's face lights up, reaching out to take it "Thank you!" she twirls it in her hand "The travel here has been long, and my Septa has not granted me breaks to look at the gardens,"

"I'm sure it has been tiering as well My lady," The queen speaks up "I shall escort you to your chambers,".

Alerie nods, despite the longing feeling in her chest. She wanted to stay just a bit longer, enough to learn more about the boys in front of her. Alicent was the queen though, and she would follow her where she said. Alerie finds herself a few paces behind the redhead but looks back to see Rhaenyra kiss her children's heads, Jacaerys waves at her.

The Queen - Alicent, as she had asked Alerie to all her in private - had given Alerie an in-depth tour of her chambers before announcing that she had prepared a feast for Alerie's arrival, when she saw Alerie's panicked face, she assured her that it would just be the King and his children and grandchildren, nothing overly large.

Maris, Alerie's Lady Maid, had managed to unpack one of Alerie's chests already and had several dresses sprawled out on the large four-poster bed, prepared for Alerie after her bath. Her chambers were modest, with a simple bedroom, a small living space and a private bathroom attached.

"Which one should I prepare My lady?"

"Uh," Alerie looks at them all. One was a long red gown - a Targaryen appeasing dress - another, a deep green, something to match with the queen. The third dress was something more familiar to Alerie, light green with golden stitching, her family's crest stretched across the bodice. Her eyes were drawn to the final dress, however, a deep blue with purple sleeves, and several flowers hugging the neckline. It was one of Alerie's favourites, something she felt confident in "This one,".

"A good pick," Maris agrees "Come, you mustn't be late,".

The feast was certainly welcoming, Alerie had been placed directly opposite the King, who, luckily for her, had retired for the night early in the evening, sparing her from his gaze. Alerie was then left with Jacaerys on her right, and Helaenna on her left. During the final course, Aegon had taken his father's seat between his half-sister and mother, using it to converse with Jacaerys.

Ser Laenor, the princess's lord husband was very kind, and asked Alerie about her home, in between trying to get Luke to eat his peas. She'd only realised once sat at the table, that her dress matched with the Velaryon blue he and his sons were wearing.

After the desserts had been served, there appeared to be a lull in the conversation, and Alerie took it as a chance to take a bite of her lemon cake.

"So, Alerie, what brings you to Kings Landing?" The Princess asks "The Queen did not mention her gaining a ward," Alerie puts a hand over her mouth, attempting to eat faster, and she catches Alicent rolling her eyes in the princess's direction.

Before she'd left, Leyla had sat her daughter down and explained exactly what to say when questioned, they'd rehearsed her answers, and this was the most confident Alerie had sounded all night.

"I'm not a ward," she clarifies "My mother felt that she had let herself slip too far from court and from her familial ties. The Queen kindly offered to care for me in The Red Keep for a few months,"

"Oh, well if Lady Tyrell had reached out to me, perhaps I could have -"

"I believe she did," Alicent interrupts, turning to Rhaenyra, wine in hand "And got no reply,"

Aegon sinks down into his seat.

"Oh, and do you talk about me in your exchanged letters?"

"It's hard not to, you do like to make a statement in court," Alerie looked away from the women, she did not mean to cause a disagreement.

"Do not worry," Jacaerys whispers to her "It's not always like this, I'll show you how to have fun," he grins and Alerie finds herself smiling back.

"Perhaps it is time we retire to bed," Laenor suggests

"Yes Husband, it appears The Queen has lost her appetite," Rhaenyra stands, her children following.

Strange, Alerie remembered her mother saying they were once friends.

Leyla could hear the sobs through the doors. She had left Alicent's side momentarily, returning to her own chambers to send a raven to Brightwater Keep. She'd returned now though, and quietly slipped through the doors into the Hightower chambers.

Her raven contained a letter for her father, expressing Leyla's condolences for the loss of his sister. She had to time it perfectly, not wanting to be the one to tell him the news, but not wanting to worry him with an absence of her words.

"Alicent?" she calls out gently, hearing herself echo through the chambers along with the young girl's cries. Underneath it all, she could hear a quiet humming, interrupted by a soft 'shh' every now and again.

It was certainly not Alicent's father. For starters, it was a feminine voice, and secondly, he had not been seen since he broke the news to his children: leaving them in their grief.

Leyla could not understand the man, and she did attempt to now, deciding to venture into Alicent's bedroom, where she found her crawled up in Rhaenyra's arms.

It was Rhaenyra humming, perhaps an old Valeryian tune, her hands in Alicent's hair, softly stroking through the curls. Leyla didn't say anything, she simply slipped off her shoes and got into the other side of the bed, her own arms circling Alicent.

Eventually, her cries quieten, and her breathing steadies, falling into an exhausted slumber. Leyla looks up over her head and sees Rhaenyra's worried face.

"She would not eat, nor bathe until I arrived," the girl whispers "She's worried about neglecting her mother's duties, can you believe it? Her mother is dead and her concern is for the court?" Rhaenyra scoffs, and Leyla knows it is not anger towards Alicent, but rather the environment she grew up in "She should be allowed to grieve without judgement from anyone, especially herself,"

"I know..." Leyla mutters, looking at the brunette's face "She has us, that shall have to be enough,".