Rich Man / Tyland Lannister / Aislynn Hightower

28. Star Gazing

With a labored breath Viserys stepped out of the carriage only to collapse to the ground.

''Fetch the Maester!'' Harrold shouted.

''Get back.'' Lyonel demanded.

''Get Mellos! Get back!'' Harrold demanded.

'Prepare the crucible. We'll need leeches.'' Mellos remarked. Alicent watched as her husband fell to the ground, hoping for death. It was like Aislynn knew. Alicent looked to her as she held Helaena bouncing her gently on her lap.

"He's not dying." Aislynn offered.

"I didnt say anything." Alicent corrected.

"Right but you were thinking damn if he dies wouldnt that make life easier." Aislynn countered innocently.

"I need to speak to Ser Criston." Alicent declared. "I need to know. I need to know Rhaenyra wasnt lying."

"She was lying." Aislynn corrected. "Mabye not about Daemon but the moons teas... yikes. Glad I dont need to worry about that now that hubby and I are so happy."

"Are you?"

"Why did you say it like that?" Aislynn countered.

''Ser Criston... you've been summoned.''

''I left the Princess just minutes ago.'' Criston countered

''Not the Princess, ser. The Queen.''

"Ser Criston, Your Grace." A handmaiden said as the door swung open, Criston took cautious steps into the queens chambers.

''That will be all.'' Alicent agreed. Criston looked between Aislynn and Alicent as he came in. ''I fear I must question you on a, on a delicate matter, Ser Criston.''

''I am your servant as always, my Queen.''

''It concerns our dear Princess Rhaenyra. Please.'' Alicent pat the spot next to her and waited for him to sit next to her. hesitantly he removed his sword from his hip and sat stiffly next to her. His gaze shifted to Aislynn but she offered a coy smile as she rocked Helaena innocently as though this wasnt a lose your head conversation.

''You are her sworn protector and rightly loyal to her.'' Alicent remarked.

''I am.''

''The night of Daemon's return... there's been a rumor... or rather, my father received an accounting of... a lapse of morals that may have occurred between... It is, of course, unthinkable for me to question the virtue of the Princess, whom I hold in highest regard, but, I-I, I did, however, wonder if... I'm not unaware that in flush of youth... there may be errors made...'' Alicent didn't know how to say it but she needed to know her father was a good and right man. Alicent let out a long sigh as she looked to Criston. ''breaches in resolve, breaches, or rather lapses...''

"Did you fuck Rhaenyra?" Aislynn simplified. Alicent opened her mouth to object but yes that was what she wanted to know.

''It happened, Your Grace. The sin you allude to. I have committed it. At her instigation, it is true, but that should... It is no excuse.' Criston agreed as he stood up.

"Oh honey no, her? Moody little dragon." Aislynn tsked teasingly.

''My oath has been broken. I have dishonored myself. I deserve no consideration. But if... as a clement Queen, you are inclined to pity... I would ask only this... that rather than gelding me and having me tortured... you would sentence me mercifully to death.'' Criston offered.

"Mercifully." Aislynn repeated looking to Alicent impressed that a man took such responsibility. "Off with his head!" Aislynn declared. Criston looked eyes with her and her lips curled up into a smile.

''Thank you for your honesty, Ser Criston. You may go.'' Alicent informed him and he stared back at her but she seemed content.

"Let me walk you out." Aislynn agreed.

"I dont understand." Criston whispered.

"Thank you for your candor Criston. Lets talk under better circumstances next time." Aislynn offered before closing the door on him. 

''You have carried King Jaehaerys's legacy. And kept the realm strong.'' Lyonel corrected but his answer didn't satisfy Viserys. ''Is it not better to live in peace than to have songs sung after you are dead?''

'Perhaps. But there is a part of me wishes I'd been tested. I often think that in the crucible, I may have been forged a different man.''

'' Many that are tested, only wish to have been spared it.''

''Another lord might assure me that I would rise like Aegon the Conqueror given the chance.'' Viserys remarked bitterly.

''Your Grace, that is... You're right. You're right... as always." Lyonel told him.

''It is perhaps best not to know.'' Viserys countered drinking the potion.

+

"Hey gorgeous," Tyland remarked coming outside. "The kids are asleep."

"Thank you, baby." Aislynn agreed. 

"What are you doing out here?" He wrapped his cloak around her as he sat beside her, she pulled it tighter around herself. 

"Just stargazing... cloud gazing." Aislynn corrected. "I find when my mind is clouded its best to stare at the clouds, the real ones but I have a predicament." Aislynn admitted.

"There are no clouds." Tyland remarked as he looked up.

"My predicament." Aislynn agreed. He wrapped an arm around her and she leaned into him. 

"Whats on your mind that you need the clouds for love?" Tyland asked. "I wouldnt have anything to do with your clouded mind." Tyland pondered.

"You are always on my mind." Aislynn remarked. "But this is about Viserys and Alicent." 

Aislynn's mother, was a gypsy. She was beautiful, otto always said that Aislynn looked like her but she never saw it. She was always this light that Aislynn wanted to be when she was younger. Aislynn stared up her finger tracing along the constellations. 

Aislynn's mother had an odd way about her but she was wonderful. Everyone loved her, all the Hightower siblings thought she was perfection... she doted on them calling her sun, moon and stars.

"Sun, moon, stars." Aislynn whispered. Tyland knew why Aislynn wanted the clouds though. But he loved hearing her say it. 

"Yet you want clouds." Tyland said in her ear as he pressed a kiss along her neck. 

"I said what about the clouds mama?" Aislynn recalled. "Are they not special? and you know what she said? I know you do." Aislynn remarked, his beard tickled her neck as he kissed along her sensitive flesh. "The clouds help clear our minds of problems, they pull back the pain or confusion, they take it away, which is why they give us shadows." Tyland smiled softly as Aislynn explained. He wished he could have met her mother. Aislynn had become a mother to her younger siblings when she was just a child herself. She had to grow up fast, so she was fiercely protective of them, just like her brothers were protective of her. 

"Shadows so we dont..." Tyland offered waiting for her to fill in the blanks.

"So we dont have to carry our worries. They are still there, the confusion the worry the pain but most things that cloud our minds are things we cannot change." Aislynn informed him and she was right. ''So the clouds take it from your mind and place it behind you so you can forget about it."

"She sounds wise. I wish I could have met her, told her what an amazing woman she raise and that I'm so grateful to have you as my wife." Tyland declared. Aislynn chuckled. 

"It was a bunch of gypsy shit." Aislynn corrected honestly.  "But I loved it."

"What's clouding your mind my love?"

"Ali is worried that since he is back, he is going to want to try for another child. I need to have another talk with him apparently." Aislynn decided. 

"Threatening the king is a skill of yours."