Chapter 52: The Stranger
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Richard POV
Inside the dimly lit room, I stood in the corner, invisible yet present, watching the familiar scene unfold once again—a scene that had haunted me every moon for the past year.
Alicent lay in bed, cradling a golden hair babe to her chest, her expression soft yet weary as she nursed our child.
She was the future Alicent, a vision of delicate beauty. Her dark hair fell in loose waves around her face. High cheekbones framed her gentle features, and her full, rosy lips held a quiet warmth. Her almond-shaped eyes shimmered with life, framed by thick lashes, as she gazed down at the infant in her arms.
"Where is Richard?" she asked the midwives, her voice carrying a blend of strength and vulnerability. Her sapphire eyes lingered on the golden hair babe as she stroked his tiny hand.
I opened my mouth to answer her, to shout, I'm right here!, but the words withered on my tongue.
She couldn't hear me. She couldn't see me. Because this wasn't real—it was a dream.
A cruel, recurring nightmare that bound me to watch this moment over and over, powerless to change anything.
One of the midwives stepped forward and murmured, "Out hunting my lady."
Hunting. The word burned in my ears. My future self had left—left her during the birth of our child.
Rage boiled in my chest, my fists clenching as I trembled with fury. How could I, the man who swore to protect her, abandon her at such a moment?
Alicent's gaze dropped, her joy dimmed by a shadow of sadness. She kissed our child's forehead, her eyes glimmering with emotions I couldn't soothe.
Seeing her like this shattered me every time. Her lips moved again, forming words I couldn't hear, words the dream kept from me, and only revealed after a new dream.
And then, she appeared.
The faceless woman stepped from the shadows, her presence unnatural and chilling.
Unlike the other midwives, her face was a void—a blank canvas that sent a cold shiver down my spine.
She moved silently, holding a small cup of water.
"No, no, no—don't drink it!" I shouted, rushing forward, desperation tightening my throat. "Alice, don't drink it! Please!"
But my cries were useless. I lunged to knock the cup from her hands, but my fingers passed through it as if I were a ghost. The faceless woman offered the cup to Alicent, who accepted it with trusting hands.
"Alice, stop! Don't drink it!" My voice cracked as I reached for her. She raised the cup to her lips, took a small sip, and smiled faintly before leaning back into her pillows.
The world began to fracture. The dream quaked and flickered, shuddering like a reel of memory breaking apart. The midwives vanished, leaving only chaos behind.
Blood seeped into the sheets beneath her, spreading in a dark tide. Alicent's head lolled to one side, her body lifeless. The infant in her arms wailed, his cries sharp and piercing, but no one came to his aid.
I dropped to my knees, staring at her still form, at the crimson-stained bedclothes that marked her end.
The faceless woman was gone, as she always was, leaving me alone with the aftermath.
Every time, this moment came. Every time, I watched her die.
My chest heaved with sobs, raw and broken. I slammed my fists into the ground, my cries echoing in the emptiness around me.
I reached for her, for the child. But the dream would not let me touch them. It only let me watch as the love of my life faded before my eyes, again and again.
For a while, I had sobbed, hoping to wake from this dream.
But a moment later, a sudden, cold weight settled on my shoulder. My body stiffened as a jolt of dread coursed through me. Slowly, I turned, my breath catching in my throat.
Behind me stood a dark figure cloaked in shadow, draped in a black hood that obscured his face. Beneath the hood, there was nothing—only an impenetrable void where his features should have been.
The air around him seemed to warp, heavy and oppressive, as if reality itself recoiled from his presence.
I tried to move, to spring to my feet, but my body felt paralyzed. I was frozen, helpless before this ominous figure.
"Do not panic, Richard. I mean you no harm," the figure said, his voice deep and hollow, echoing as though it came from the depths of a cavern.
My mouth opened to speak, but no words came. I gritted my teeth, summoning every ounce of strength to break free from the invisible bonds that held me.
My body began to heat up, instinctively tapping into the power that coursed through me, but before I could fully ignite, the figure moved.
"You fool." His voice carried a sharp edge now, anger lacing his words. In an instant, his hand shot out, gripping my head like a vice and slamming it to the ground.
The impact sent a jolt of searing pain through my skull, and for a moment, I thought my dream-self might shatter like glass.
The pain was too real for a dream. Too sharp. And his strength—how could it exist here, in this space of visions and shadows?
"Do you not realize?" he hissed, his voice low and furious. "Alicent lies asleep with you. If you lose control, you will burn her alive."
His words struck me like a blow, and I stilled, forcing my racing thoughts into submission. He was right—if I gave in to the fire within me now, I could endanger Alicent in the waking world.
The memory of the last time I nearly lost control flashed in my mind: the bed singed, her sleeping form inches from the flames.
I exhaled slowly, the heat ebbing from my body.
"Who are you?" I demanded, my voice hoarse as I sat up. "Are you the one responsible for these dreams? For showing me Alicent's death over and over again?"
The figure released his grip, stepping back. His silence was unnerving, the void of his face unreadable.
"Yes," he finally said, his tone calm, almost detached.
I clenched my fists. "What do you want from me? Why show me these visions? Why torment me like this?"
The figure tilted his head, as if considering his answer. The weight of his presence pressed down on me, making the silence unbearable. Then, he spoke.
"I want you to save her." The words echoed in the emptiness around us, their simplicity hiding an unfathomable depth.
My mind reeled. Save her? From what? From who? My thoughts spiraled, questions piling upon one another.
"Why?" I demanded, my voice rising. "Why do you want to save her? And who are you?"
He hesitated, his shadowed form flickering slightly. The dream began to tremble, the edges of the world growing blurry.
My time here was running out.
"I…" he began, but his voice faltered as the dream unraveled further. His form began to fade, unraveling like smoke caught in a gust of wind.
"Wait!" I shouted, scrambling to my feet. "Who are you? Tell me!"
But he was already disappearing.
The void of his face turned toward me one last time, his voice a whisper that lingered even as the world dissolved around him. "We'll see each other again."
And then I woke from the dream. Immediately feeling a warmth beside me.
As my senses returned, I realized I was lying in bed, and Alicent was curled against me, her arms wrapped around my right shoulder in a tender embrace.
Her smaller frame was nestled close, her legs entwined with mine, sharing a quiet warmth that chased away the lingering chill of the dream.
She wore the white nightgown I had helped dress her in the night before, after helping her out of the dress she'd worn to the celebration.
I let out a slow breath, momentarily calmed by the sight of her.
Her face was serene, framed by her soft ebony hair, her lips curved into a faint smile as she slept. The moonlight streaming through the window highlighted her peaceful expression.
But the calm didn't last. A wave of fear swept over me as the memory of the dream returned, sharp and unrelenting. The strange figure's words echoed in my mind: "If you lose control, you will burn her alive."
My heart clenched at the thought. If I had let the fire take hold in my dream, even for a moment… Alicent, here beside me, warm and alive, could have been harmed.
I sighed, running my left hand through my hair, frustration and guilt tangling together in my chest.
Alicent stirred against me, her cheek pressing softly into my shoulder. A small, contented sigh escaped her lips, and she snuggled closer, her warmth grounding me in the present.
Her frame fit perfectly against mine, and I couldn't help but notice the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she dreamed, her breath warm against my skin.
She seemed so at peace, unaware of the storm raging inside me.
Her smile deepened in her sleep, as though she were dreaming of something pleasant, something far removed from the nightmares that haunted me.
The thought both comforted and pained me. She deserved this peace. She deserved a life free of danger and uncertainty.
"I won't let that future happen," I murmured under my breath, my voice barely audible in the stillness of the room.
I tightened my resolve as I watched her, brushing a stray lock of hair away from her face. She shifted slightly, her fingers curling against my chest, but her expression remained soft.
For a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to smile, the warmth of her presence pushing back the shadows of my mind.
The strange man's words lingered. Save her.
"I will," I vowed quietly, the words carrying a weight I hadn't yet spoken aloud.
"I'll protect you, no matter what it takes." I said softly toward Alicent.
I stayed still, afraid to disturb her, yet the feel of her wrapped around me was a comfort I hadn't known I needed. For now, the nightmares were gone, replaced by her gentle presence.
…
Note: Hope Y'all enjoyed the chapter, just wanted to give some explanations for chapter 50. This will also help things make sense for future chapters.
The stranger appears once again. Who is he? What's his motive? Is he good or evil?
Find out in the future chapter.