The Lightning Prince - Preparations. (Patreon)

Alicent Hightower, Winter Fort – The North.

"Again," Lady Stark said sternly.

As usual, Alicent held her breath as she watched the Stark soldiers hurl themselves at her beloved James. Spears and swords gleamed, imbued with magical power, as they descended at tremendous speed toward her impassive Prince.

"RAAAAHGH!" James shouted, gripping his sword with both hands as he began weaving through the sea of enemies with deadly precision and lethal efficiency.

As always, watching her Prince train was hypnotic for Alicent. A couple of months had passed since they had arrived in Princess Lyara's domains, and to say they had been interesting would have been a gross understatement.

The training for the expedition to the North had been brutal, much closer to survival training than anything else, and to Alicent's surprise, the Northerners had not focused solely on magical training.

But on physical conditioning as well.

James dodged the thrust of a northern spear, only to answer with a punch straight to Mikken's face before throwing him over his shoulder and slamming him onto the ground. But her beloved Prince had no time to enjoy his small triumph, as two more soldiers had already thrown themselves at him. None of them showed the slightest mercy.

In the Princess's own words...

Neither would his enemies.

Wise words...

Though harsh ones.

During the first few weeks, Alicent had been forced to make a superhuman effort not to intervene whenever she watched the beatings James had to endure. Even so, every single night she made certain to receive her beloved Prince unclothed, armed with the oils and potions necessary to ease the agony his body suffered after those merciless training sessions.

Oh, Alicent knew perfectly well what so many people said about her. Outside the Sky Palace and Albion, where she was respected and treated with courtesy, everyone saw her as nothing more than a whore, the Prince's lover, nothing but a toy for the Crown Prince to satisfy his lust with until the day he married Princess Rhaenyra.

The redhead merely let out a quiet snort. Once upon a time, such words had driven her to countless nights of tears, making her feel humiliated by the endless insults and lack of respect she endured.

But now...

Now Alicent understood exactly where those comments came from.

Envy.

Because the young Hightower possessed something they desired with all their hearts.

Something the Lords, Ladies, and even the common folk of the Realm would gladly kill to obtain.

The love...

And the ear...

Of Prince James.

Something those proud and hypocritical Lords and Ladies could only dream of possessing.

Alicent sat at James's right hand, her back straight and proud, while those who looked upon her with veiled contempt knelt and humbled themselves to please the Crown Prince of Albion.

It was...

Extremely exhilarating for the young redhead, if she were being honest.

"A penny for your thoughts?" Rhaenyra's voice said as she entered the training hall accompanied by the young Lannister and Baratheon Ladies, who were quite evidently exhausted. It was obvious the three of them had just come from their lessons.

Alicent smiled at the Princess before replying with her customary courtesy and elegance.

"I was thinking about the Princess's words. Apparently, Prince Daemon was spotted alongside Caraxes in White Harbor. It is likely that he will arrive at Winter Fort later tonight," Alicent said with a heavy sigh, causing Rhaenyra to frown as well, immediately understanding why Alicent had been so distracted.

"I understand... you're worried about James," the Princess said with understanding as she took a seat beside the redhead, while the young Baratheon and Lannister Ladies watched the Prince's training with open astonishment.

Alicent sighed softly.

Though she could hardly blame them.

The sight was captivating, after all.

"I know you are as well," Alicent said with a hint of reproach, making Rhaenyra sigh before nodding gently.

"I am, but it isn't something I wish to dwell on right now. James will be fine, Lizzy. He is the third most powerful wizard on the continent, and the expedition will consist of the very best Westeros and Albion have to offer. It will be a small army marching beyond the Wall," the Princess said with determination.

Alicent calmed somewhat after hearing Rhaenyra's words, but it was simply impossible for her to stop worrying.

She...

Loved James.

It was not something she felt ashamed of.

She loved him with all her heart.

Alicent quite literally lived for him, and she knew James loved her as well.

Her James...

Could have kept her as his mistress for the rest of her life, he could have summoned Alicent whenever he desired a woman to warm his bed or he could have denied her any honor and kept her as nothing more than his whore.

And he did not.

The Crown Prince of Holy Albion would take her as his wife.

He would give both her and the children they would one day have his family name.

They would bear the title of Dukes.

A title entirely unknown to Alicent, but apparently one of great significance in the homeland of King Harold.

Duchess Alicent Potter, the young redhead could hardly wait to be honest, not for the title itself, but for the moment that she finally could gives her man healthy children.

She craves to be a mother to be honest, to nurture her man's children with his breasts...

Alicent's thoughts were interrupted by the sudden opening of the doors to the chamber, revealing a figure she truly had not expected to see for at least another couple of hours.

Prince Daemon Targaryen himself.

"Well, well... it seems Uncle Daemon arrived sooner than expected," the Princess said, looking curiously toward the Rogue Prince as she elegantly crossed her legs.

A habit that both Rhaenyra and Alicent had adopted in Albion.

The Rogue Prince walked toward the Ladies, his calculating gaze fixed more upon James's training than on anything else.

"Dear niece," the Prince said, inclining his head politely toward Rhaenyra while, as usual, ignoring the rest of the Ladies gathered around her.

Something that, truthfully, Alicent did not care about in the slightest.

It wasn't as though Prince Daemon had ever been someone she found particularly likable to begin with.

Rhaenyra nodded gently, looking at the Prince with curiosity.

"Uncle Daemon, I see you arrived earlier than expected," the Princess said with amusement, watching as the Prince remained far more focused on James's duel than on anything else.

"Rhea left Rune Palace alongside the twins to fly to Albion. Apparently, they're both rather interested in finding out who will be the first to steal Aemon Potter's virginity," the Prince said, making both Rhaenyra and Alicent snort with amusement.

"I only hope they arrive in time. The last thing I heard was that Lily caught her brother with one of the maids, his trousers around his ankles. Aunt Viserra was... less than pleased," the Princess said with a smile, making Daemon snort.

"I'm quite certain the twins will be delighted to hear that news," he replied with amusement, just as James finished off the last of the soldiers, who hit the floor of the training hall with a heavy thud.

"Enough. Excellent work, James. It took you longer than I would have liked, but that's something that will come with experience," Lady Stark said approvingly, making her Prince smile softly.

At least...

Until Lady Stark, with absurd speed, made a series of strange gestures with her hands, unleashing a powerful magical blizzard directly at the unsuspecting Prince. Completely caught off guard, he barely managed to raise a hastily improvised shield before being hurled several meters across the room, crashing onto the floor with a heavy impact.

"AAAHHHHG!" James groaned in discomfort, while Prince Daemon burst into loud laughter, finding the entire situation utterly hilarious.

"Always expect the unexpected, young cousin," the Rogue Prince said with his usual arrogance.

James was back on his feet almost instantly, only to defend himself and evade two more attacks from the beautiful Lady.

"Focus, James! In battle, a single mistake... a single moment of hesitation... and you're dead. Defend yourself and regain control of the situation!" Lady Stark ordered as she glided across the hall, launching spell after spell at the still-overwhelmed Prince.

Alicent watched with concern as Lady Lyara moved like a she-wolf, attacking from different angles and constantly keeping James off balance.

"He still has much to learn," Prince Daemon said with a heavy sigh, watching as, after several minutes, James gradually regained control of the duel and slowly began forcing the Stark maiden onto the defensive.

Rhaenyra looked at her uncle, defiance shining in her violet eyes, before declaring,

"James is the second most powerful wizard in the Kingdom, Uncle. I've seen what he's capable of," the Princess said, defending her betrothed with the ferocity of a dragoness.

The Prince looked back at Rhaenyra before replying.

"Perhaps. But unlike his father, my young cousin has yet to be tempered by battle. At James's age, Harold Potter was already a Conqueror," he answered, silencing Rhaenyra on the spot.

After all...

The Prince was right.

"But don't worry, niece. I'll make sure your betrothed is tempered beyond the Wall. There will be plenty of wildlings to kill, and the legends of the First Men speak of giants and creatures born of nightmares. I am... eager to test the edge of Dark Sister against them," the Prince said with a smile full of anticipation.

Rhaenyra rolled her eyes and was about to answer, but Prince Daemon did not give her the chance.

"Who knows? Perhaps James will steal himself a wildling girl to warm his cock during the journey. From what I've heard, the cold is relentless, and there's nothing quite like a tight, wet cunt to keep the chill away," the Prince said, laughing loudly as he watched the outraged expression spread across Rhaenyra's face.

The very same expression...

That also adorned Alicent's face.

"You are in the presence of four Ladies, Uncle. Conduct yourself in a manner worthy of your title. We do not have to tolerate your vulgarities," Rhaenyra snapped furiously at the Prince's insinuation.

Daemon merely laughed even harder before turning away and making his way toward the center of the training hall, no doubt intending to discuss the upcoming expedition.

"The Prince wouldn't actually do that... would he? They're wildlings!" Lady Cassandra asked, hesitation evident in her voice.

Both Rhaenyra and Alicent let out soft snorts of barely concealed amusement before the Princess answered.

"A cunt is a cunt, and James is used to having the warmth of a woman beside him every single night. Without Alicent at his side... who knows how long he'll last before he 'steals' one of those northern whores," the Princess muttered, her brow furrowed as she clearly began plotting something inside that brilliant mind of hers.

"What are you thinking, Rhaenyra?" Alicent asked, genuinely curious about whatever was going through the young Princess's mind.

Princess Targaryen remained silent for a long while, still lost in thought.

Then...

Slowly...

Her violet eyes lit up.

A mischievous smile spread across her face.

"I'm thinking that we're going to give James a farewell he'll never forget. We'll give him more than enough reasons not to even consider getting lost between the legs of some wildling whore," Rhaenyra declared, wearing the very expression Alicent had learned to recognize whenever the Princess had either a terrible...

Or a magnificent...

Idea.

The redhead simply had no idea which one it was this time.

Suddenly, Rhaenyra turned her gaze toward the young Ladies Myrcella and Cassandra.

An enormous, playful smile spread across her face as she spoke.

"My Ladies... I certainly hope you don't have any plans for tonight!"

Alicent watched as both young Ladies blushed from head to toe, immediately understanding the unspoken meaning behind Rhaenyra's words.

The redhead merely let out a quiet sigh.

Apparently...

She was going to have a very eventful night.

She was not mistaken.

Leaf, Fist of the First Men – Beyond the Wall.

"Have we still received no word from our scouts?" Acorn, one of her youngest brothers, asked as he watched warily while the Raven continued screaming over and over again that everything had been ruined.

Leaf simply shook her head, silently observing the woman's twisted body writhing among the roots, a dreadful premonition settling deep within her.

Ever since the Lord of Lightning had arrived in Westeros...

Everything had changed forever.

The old songs had changed their melody.

Ancient prophecies had become useless.

And, most importantly...

Magic had returned.

Stronger and more vigorous than ever before.

Harold Potter had been a blessing for her people. His mere presence had nourished the Heart Trees in a way never before witnessed. The South was slowly embracing magic and the ancient gifts with open arms, eager to earn the favor of the Lord of Lightning.

And the King's influence reached even this place, where magic had done something that, for the first time in centuries, seemed impossible.

Children had begun to be born among her people once again.

Alas...

Not everything could be good.

For as magic grew stronger...

So too did both sides of it.

The light...

And the darkness.

And the reports coming from the North were...

Alarming, to say the least.

"HE HAS DOOMED US! THE LORD OF LIGHTNING HAS DOOMED US ALL!" the deranged woman screamed, struggling with all her strength to move her frail body.

Something Leaf knew...

Was simply impossible.

Wasn't it?

Leaf's troubled thoughts were interrupted a second later when two of her brothers emerged from the forest, running at full speed into the clearing of the Fist. Their faces conveyed only one thing.

Concern.

"Is everything alright?" she asked, a dreadful feeling settling in the pit of her stomach, causing the two of them to exchange worried glances before answering.

"No... they're gone... The human clan that lived closest to the Lands of Eternal Winter has disappeared completely. No bodies... no survivors... just like..." one of them began, only to be interrupted by Leaf.

"Just like that time... at the beginning of the First Long Night," Leaf whispered, trembling at the mere memory of that bloody age.

Every Singer present immediately began murmuring among themselves in alarm, while those few who had survived those ancient days could do nothing but shudder at the thought of living through that nightmare once again.

Leaf refused to allow panic to take hold.

Stepping forward with determination, she shouted,

"SILENCE!"

Every eye immediately turned toward her, waiting for her words.

Waiting for her orders.

"The circumstances are no longer the same as they were during the First time. Magic grows stronger with every passing day, and we now have a potential ally beyond the Wall of Men. Harold Potter is the key. His power is immeasurable. With him fighting at our side, we may be able to end this before it becomes an even greater catastrophe!" Leaf cried, causing her brothers and sisters to begin whispering among themselves with renewed excitement, relief clearly visible upon many of their faces.

"How are we supposed to contact him? Ever since your encounter with him, he has made certain to block our sight through the Heart Trees within his domains," one of her brothers said, obvious disapproval evident in his voice.

And although her brother was right...

Leaf knew something they did not.

"It will not be necessary. The Heir of the Lord of Lightning is preparing for an expedition into our lands. Apparently, the Human King has realized that something is happening. An expedition is being assembled to venture into the Lands of Winter," Leaf said, causing everyone present to exchange hopeful glances.

"Prepare a delegation. We will send a small party to track down the Lightning Prince and guide him safely to the Fist. The fate of the world is at stake," Leaf declared with unwavering determination, prompting everyone around her to nod enthusiastically, their minds already focused on the task ahead.

Completely distracted...

By the fact that the Raven's eyes had, for a single fleeting instant, lost their maddened gleam...

And gained only one emotion.

Hatred.

But that...

Was a story for another time.