Upon the death of her Lord Husband, Enora Hightower returned to the Red Keep. The eldest daughter of the Hand arrived just in time to attend the tourney in celebration of the predicted birth of the King's heir.
Female!OC x Viserys Targaryen
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Enora was not afraid of the Stranger. At ten he had taken her mother from her, destroying her once close knit family in the process. After the death of her mother, Enora was left to pick up the pieces. As her father sunk into his work in order to fill the emptiness his wife's death had left him with, Enora took over caring for her younger sister.
Now the Stranger had once again left her to pick up the pieces all alone. Her husband's death had come at no surprise, Lord Peake's health had been failing since the second anniversary of his marriage to his second wife. Enora had cared for her ailing her husband all while he still expected her to lay with him. And though she hated it at the time Enora couldn't help but be grateful for her two children that came from it.
The widowed mother now sat in a carriage meant for the royal family. No doubt her sister's close companion had ordered the carriage to pick her up from the docks. The carriage steadily rocked side to side as the wheels drove over the uneven cobble roads. Enora's entire life was in this carriage and the wagon following close behind carrying all her family's possessions.
Enora's young daughter, Ilaria laid in her arms fast asleep from the long journey from Starpike to King's Landing. Enora gently pressed a finger to her daughter's chin, closing the babe's mouth. Though the young mother was used to the bodily fluids and liquids that seemed to always accompany young children, she didn't wish to get drool on the front of her black velvet dress and ruin the fabric.
Unwin sat beside his mother and infant sister, playing with a wooden toy ship. It was hard for Enora to believe that in six years Unwin would be expected to return to Starpike and rule as Lord Peake. He was just a boy. Barely even eight years had passed since his birth. In his absence his uncle, Enora's late husband's brother, served as regent.
As the carriage slowed down, Enora gathered her nerve. She had finally returned after ten years away.
"Lady Enora Hightower, Dowager Lady of Starpike, Dustonberry, and Whitegrove, eldest daughter of the Hand and her children." A knight announced as Enora exited the carriage, Ilaria held tightly to her chest.
The Red Keep looked the same as the day she had left. The same reddish brown bricks made the walls and the same dirt dusted the bottom of her skirt. Servants, Nobles, and Knights all bustled around attending to their duties.
Though on the steps of the Keep stood something different. No longer was Alicent the small eight year old Enora had left behind, all knees and elbows. In her place stood a beautiful young woman of ten and eight.
As Alicent rushed down the steps forgetting all propriety, Enora passed her young daughter to the awaiting maid. Opening her arms just as Alicent crashed into her.
"Oh, Nora, how I've missed you." Alicent buried her face into her elder sister's chest.
"I've missed you more, Ali." Enora smiled as she rested her cheek against the top of Alicent's head. Tears pricked at the edge of Enora's eyes as she held her sister. Her sweet sister. The very one Enora had cared for and raised following their mother's death. Feeling a tug on her skirt, Enora pulled away looking down upon her son. "Alicent this is Unwin, Unwin say hello to your Aunt Alicent."
The young boy smiled up brightly at his aunt, his two front teeth missing. "Hello."
Alicent knelt down before her nephew, taking one of his hands in hers. "Hello, I'm your Aunt Alicent."
Enora smiled down at the sight before her before looking around the courtyard, searching for someone. "Where is father? Did he not deem my arrival a priority?"
"He is in a Small Council meeting, the King wants to have everything perfect for the upcoming tourney."
"Tourney? What is the cause for celebration?"
"The Queen is pregnant, the King wishes to celebrate his heir."
"But the babe is not even born yet, what if it is a girl?"
Alicent merely shrugged in response, before taking Enora's hand. "Let me show you to your apartments. You must be tired from the long journey."
Enora nodded, taking Unwin's hand in her free one as Alicent led her into the Keep. Everywhere Enora looked she was greeted with solemn looks as Lords and Ladies paid their respects to the young widow.
★・・・・・・★
It hadn't been until several hours later that a servant had fetched Enora at her father's request, the woman had been in the middle of readying her children for bed when the maid had entered. Knowing she couldn't keep her father waiting, Enora bid her children goodnight and quickly followed the maid out into the hall.
It had been years since Enora had last walked through the halls of the Red Keep to the Tower of the Hand. Distant and faded memories greeted Enora at every turn and corner, memories of happier times when her mother was still alive caused a small smile to grow on Enora's face. She remembered watching after young Alicent and Princess Rhaenyra, chasing the toddlers through the halls.
The sound of a throat clearing caused Enora to snap back to the present. The maid stood in front of the doors to the Hand's private meeting chambers, awaiting Enora's order. At the young widow's nod, the maid pushed open the door and announced Enora's entrance.
Otto Hightower sat at his desk, his quill scribbling across a piece of parchment. The only sign of his acknowledgement of Enora's entrance was one raised finger, signaling Enora to wait. Brown eyes trailed around the room, still so familiar but now Enora felt like she was trespassing. She remembered sitting on the myrish rug in front of the fire playing with Alicent when she was barely two years old as their mother sat on the nearby settee, busying herself with her embroidery. Back then laughter and warmth filled the smaller room, but now the room felt so cold even with a fire roaring in the fireplace.
A chair scraping against the stone floor alerted Enora of her father standing up. Familiar strong arms wrapped around Enora, sweeping her into a hug. The daughter tensed for a moment, not expecting any comfort from her father. It took a moment for Enora to relax into her father's chest, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"My daughter," Otto greeted, pulling away slightly so he could look at Enora's face. "You have grown so much, you look so much like your mother."
Tears welled slightly in her eyes at Otto's words, did she finally have the father from her youth back. "I have missed you father."
"I have missed you too." Otto spoke, placing a kiss on Enora's forehead. "I am so proud of you Enora, you gave Lord Peake a son. The next Lord of Starpike, Dustonberry and Whitegrove is a Hightower. You have increased our station, my dear."
"Thank you, Father." Enora replied, a slight frown tugging at her lips as Otto pulled away. Part of Enora wanted to chase after this version of her father, demand he stayed after sending her away and abandoning her.
Otto turned from his daughter and returned to his desk, picking up his quill once again. "That is all, Enora. You may return to your quarters."
Knowing better than to argue with her father, Enora swallowed her pride and left the room. Not even bothering to bid her father goodbye in her anger.
