Thank Me / Criston Cole

18. Reciprocated

Guiltless/ Theon Greyjoy Out now!
"Numbing the pain for a while will make it worse when you finally feel it." Larys countered.

"I'm already feeling it." Tully assured. "It's the worst feeling ever."

"Heartbreak." Larys agreed.

"Okay Aemond is a dickwad and we need revenge." Mallory demanded marching forward. "I cant believe him-" after all Tully's pining Aemond shut her down so maliciously that Mallory wanted to rip him apart. 

This is how a good girl turned into a villain. This is when your rom com turned into a thriller and Mallory was about to be the axe wielding psychopath after what Aemond had done. 

"Hi." Helaena whispered. They silenced glancing back at Helaena. "Dont hate me too," helaena begged. "Please. Im still your friend. Aemond was way out of bounds."

"He would be lucky to get someone as awesome and amazing as tully." Mallory declared wrapping an arm around Tully.

"He was an idiot. Power of the crown got to him I suppose." Helaena rocked from heels to toes as she debated what to say. Tully couldnt look at her. "I dont believe anything aemond said. Yes you followed after him but you had a crush. Who cares? You are still my friend. You werent just hanging out with me to get to him. Right?"

"I do like you helaena." Tully agreed. "But I hate your brothers."

"I hate them too at the moment but aegon is dead so we dont have to worry about him." Helaena offered lightheartedly.

"Aemond is going to marry you." Larys spoke up. Tully knew it shouldnt hurt but it did.

"The idea would have excited me before but not anymore. I saw how in love you were with aemond and I could never love him like that. I want a love like that." Helaena admitted.

"No you dont." Tully grumbled. "I was a fool."

"Thats the best thing a girl can be in this world. A beautiful little fool."

+

"They are coming? Are you sure this is a good idea? I thought you liked alicent?"

"That was before two of her offspring made my little sister cry." Larys corrected. "I will head to the castle at night fall. Set the signal but for now..." larys looked to Tully he reached out grabbing her hand. "We just have to wait." Larys remarked. "All will be right."

"I'm not really good at patience, what are we waiting for again?" Mallory questioned.

"Patience is bitter but the fruit is sweet."

Tully had to do something with her hands so she made bread. She kneaded the dough and boiled a stew marinated the veggies and meats- she would be a great wife one day. She would keep her man fed and happy. She stuck the rolls in the stone oven adding more logs and watching the flames flicker to life. She glanced back at larys. He had a bag with him he filled it with carefully measured tinctures. Tully knew better than to ask. She trusted larys.

Mallory however did ask.

"Whats that? Where you going? What you doing? You need help? Ohhh this one sparkles-" mallory declared as larys snatched back his vial.

"Dont touch it mallory." Larys corrected

"It is deadly? Poisonous? A diarrhetic? A laxative? Make them shit themselves into complete embarrassment and humiliation!" Mallory declared with malice.  Larys sighed tucking his tincture away. "Come on come on come on come on come on.-" she repeated over and over again. " tell me!" she begged. " let me in on your secret mission. I would be a super awesome secret agent. I can already see myself in a sexy black outfit. Kicking ass and taking names. Or whatever it is secret agents do."

"Im off." Larys countered. "Alone." He added giving mallory a pointed look. "Save me some supper. I will surely be hungry when I return." Larys kissed tullys temple and headed off as if it was just another day. Tully and mallory ran to the window and watched him limp off.

"Its going to be alright." Mallory assured. "Even though I dont have a damn clue what he is doing- Criston?"

"He came to see you. Romance is not dead." Tully half whined. "Go to him." Mallory ran out the door and clung to criston. Tully couldnt hear what they were saying but she loved the smile on Mallorys face as Criston kissed her.

" you came to see me? You went against my father's wishes to cut ties and you came to me instead. We really hard like Romeo and Juliet." Mallory decided

" I missed you I can't stop thinking about you. How is your leg?"

" oh, good as new!" She assured doing a little jig. " won't you come in my darling?" She gestured dramatically to the front entrance. "Tully!" She squealed out. "Look who came for a visit. To see me." Mallory had the same completely lovestruck look that Tully add when she first thought she fell in love with aemond. Except when tully looked at Mallory and criston their love was reciprocated. It wasn't one-sided are all in her head. It was reciprocated. He had just as much lovestruck look on his face as Mallory did as he held her close.