Fragile Things / Alicent Hightower / Criston Cole (2.1)

6. Tears

"Avalon..." alicent had just been told that viserys changed his mind about rhaenyra and wanted to tell her the news. He wanted aegon to be king. But avalon wasnt in her chambers. Alicent waited for her a while before returning to her own for the night.

Avalon wished she would have went to check on Viserys that night but she was so wound up that she needed a walk and then the lights were out and she didnt want to wake up but when she woke they were greeted with the most unfortunate news. Avalon moved like a ghost through the darkened halls her feet sluggish but her heart fast as she moved to Viserys chambers.

Viserys was gone, Avalon screamed. She ran to Viserys side and cried into his lifeless body.

Alicent was told next. Alicent went at once to the king's bedchamber, accompanied by Ser Criston, he had been guarding her door that night. Even though both women usually shared a bed this night had been one in need of some solitude for them both. Once they had confirmed that Viserys was dead, Alicent ordered his room sealed and placed under guard. Avalon didnt move from viserys side, she wept and wept and wept.

Alicent went to tell the council, Avalon sobbed over Viserys, she knew he was dying but selffishly she wanted more time with him.

The serving man who had found the king's body was taken into custody, to make certain he did not spread the tale. Ser Criston returned to White Sword Tower and sent his brothers of the Kingsguard to summon the members of the king's small council. It was the hour of the owl.

Avalon stayed with the king.

They all knew his death was coming but Avalon wasnt ready to live in a world without Viserys. She had Viserys in her life from the moment she was born, she didnt want to know a world without him. Aeron and Alice would forget him and Vaera- oh Vaera, she loved Viserys most in the world. She was going to be just as heartbroken as Avalon was. She had to tell the kids but she couldnt find the strength to move.

''The King was well last night... by all accounts. Which of you here can swear that he died of his own accord?" Beesbury glared around the table.

''Which of us are you accusing of regicide, Lord Beesbury?''

''Whether it was one of you, or all of you, I care not." Beesbury yelled. ''I will have no part...'' he moved to leave but Criston slammed him back down.

''Sit down!' Criston demanded and Beesubury screamed out before his head was slammed into the stone. His blood oozing on the table as he slumped lifeless before them.

'' Ser Criston.'' Alicent warned. He got a little carried away but it was only in the defense and honor of his queens.

''Throw down your sword and remove your cloak, Ser Criston.'' The commander demanded pointing his blade at Criston's armored chest. Criston pulled his blade free but didn't put it down. He held it out pointing his own blade at the commander. ''I am your Lord Commander, Ser Criston. Cast down your sword.''

''I will not suffer insults to Her Grace the Queen.'' Criston warned.

''There was no insult to me, Ser Criston.'' Alicent said weakly as she sat back down. ''Y... Put aside your blade.' She requested  ''Has it come to this? Lord Commander, enough. Avalon would hate this!" She added. "Hate that we are fighting. She is sobbing over viserys right now unable to pull herself away." Alicent rasped. "Bht work needed to be done. You needed to know... so for her sake can we stop pointing our swords at each other? We are on the same side."

'' Let us have Lord Beesbury removed.'' The grand maester Orwyle requested

''No.' Otto corrected immediately as the grand maester sat back down. ''The door remains shut until we finish our business. Storm's End is of concern.''

⛈️

''Where is Aegon?'' otto demanded looking around.

''He's not in his rooms.'' Alicent informed her.

''N-Not here.' Helaena answered as though Aegon was ever with her. "Check with vaera." Otto marched back out.

"Father." Alicent called after him but he didn't stop.

''What's happened?' Helaena asked and Alicent sat next to her.

''Your father...'' Alicent began.

''There is a beast beneath the boards.'' Helaena hissed.

''Oh, my dearest love.'' Alicent said hugging her.

"Vaera? Where is Aegon?" Otto demanded

"Try knocking old man. I could have been indecent." Vaera sassed.

"Vaera Rose have you seen him?"

"No. Its so early. Whats going on?" Vaera demanded but otto marched back out and vaera flopped back into bed to watch the light stream in from the curtains.

''Ser Erryk.'' Otto remarked walking up to him in the gallery sharpening his blade. ''Where's the Prince?''

''Forgive me, Lord Hand. I do not know.'' Erryk admitted rising before him.

''But you're sworn to protect him.'' Otto reminded

''He exploits his authority to order me away, and then he evades me, my Lord." Erryk answered.

''I believe he may have left the Keep secretly, gone into the city. Find him.''

Avalon didnt know how to say it. But aemond already knew. Of course he did ans of course he was going to be angel about it. Aemond held her as she cried comforting her when she should have been comforting him.

''Prince Aegon's not to be found within the castle walls, Your Grace." Criston informed Alicent but stopped and stared at avalon and aemond.  "Your father has sent Ser Erryk into the city to find him. Ser Erryk knows Aegon. He has the advantage." Criston added and Alicent nodded thinking.

"Aegon ran away? That doesnt make sense." Avalon countered. "Why run? What was he afraid of? He couldnt have known."

"I trust again to you, Ser Criston, and to your loyalty." Alicent told him and Criston nodded. "Aegon must be found, and he must be brought to me. The very fate of the Seven Kingdoms depends on it." Alicent instructed. Criston of course agreed.

"Did father really name him heir?" Aemond whispered after convincing avalon to let him join criston.

"Seems so." Avalon agreed.

"Why not... why not me?" Aemond whispered shaking his head.

"I dont know my love. I choose you over and over again." Avalon assured. "But he is your elder brother... dont hold this against him my darling." She begged. Aemond gave a tight nod before fixing his blade at his side. "Criston..."

"I will protect him with my life". Criston agreed giving her hand a squeeze.

"I have to tell vaera..." avalon whispered walking off. Aeron and Alice were too little to really know or understand what death was. Alice wouldnt miss viserys at all. She really only knew mama. Aeron knew of viseryd but he had faded a lot in the years since aerons birth.

Alyssa was a mamas girl but she loved viserys. But vaera. Vaera loved viserys most In the world. More than avalon loved him possibly and she didn't think that was possible.

" so I know I took forever and ever to read this but Dad said I had to read it so I did and you know what it wasn't terrible is he up yet? Are the maesters with him? I want to Talk to him about it."

Avalon's heart broke all over again, tears streamed down her face and her beautiful little vaeras smile dropped, and confusion filled her

"Mum what's wrong? What happened? Wh-what... is daddy OK?" Vaera rasped her chest suddenly tight, she fisted her dress at her sides, and she knew with her mother's tears that nothing would ever ever be right again. "No." Vaera sobbed out. "No."