Fragile Things / Alicent Hightower / Criston Cole (2.1)

15. Not My Baby

Kill me kill me not my baby not my baby. Blood trickled to the floor and avalon woke in a fever soaked haze as she tried remember what was real and what was fictional. Just a dream.

She was overwhelmed with feelings of exhaustion and terror. She had already been tired and not sleeping well since the death of her husband since everything really. But she had collapsed against her racing heart. She didn't know. She collapsed of tiredness out of panic out of the sheer Will that she could not open her eyes anymore or that the horror was just too great it stole the life from her.

Avalon jumped out of bed pulling the door open criston stood guard he turned as he heard the door unlatch.

"My queen, you need some rest." Criston remarked.

"My babies-"

"safe and sound." Criston reminded her. She was clammy to the touch. He led her back inside and she noticed the cribs. Alice and aeron fast asleep. "Alyssa is having a sleepover with aemond as well." Criston added.

"Those men," she whimpered "i had an awful dream..."

"It wasnt a dream unfortunately. They are being questioned as we speak."

"If by questioned you mean-"

"Tortured. Well the remaining one at least."

It came back to avalon in flashes. Criston speared that man that had grabbed aeron with such force and speed she thought his head was going to snap off his neck. She remembered the hesitation of the second man at cristons brutal killing of his companion that made him want to run too. A few holes in him slowed him down just enough as avalon dropped down pulling aeron from the dead mans tightening grip.

"Sit," criston urged kneeling before her. "You are safe."

"Am I?" Avalon questioned "are my children?"

"I will keep you safe." Criston assured. "I will guard you constantly. The children will never be left alone."

Avalon pulled at her fingers anxiously. Criston stepped closer kissing her forehead. He promised he would do everything in his power to protect her and the children, his focus would be on her completely.

"I'm scared, Criston." Avalon whimpered. "I dont want to believe Rhaenyra capable of this... coming after my children..." but it was a logical answer. Who else would want to attack them? Especially after Luke's attack and fall... to his death no doubt. Aeron whined out and she moved swiftly to him

"It's OK, my darling. It's OK my love..."

Alicent peered in confused upon seeing criston but after the attack she assumed it was for the best that avalon had extra protection.

"There's no point in wasting my night trying to fall asleep. I close my eyes, and I see them trying to hurt my boy and my little Alice." Avalon mumbled.

"We are going to have a funeral." Otto decided the next morning.

"What?" Avalon demanded.

"Let the people think-"

"That my son is dead?"

"It will make them ban together with us. Show that Daemon and Rhaenyra are child killing monsters." Otto demanded. Avalon looked to Aemond, his face turned down.

"Did you send assassins to murder children in their beds?" Rhaenyra demanded once they were alone

"I sent the queen's vengeance for her son." Daemon shrugged

"What did you tell this "vengeance"?"

"What did you say to him, Daemon, because I am accused of trying to kill avalons youngest son."

"I was clear in my instructions: Aemond, the brother of Aegon the Usurper.  I cannot be responsible for a mistake."

"Cannot be responsible?" Rhaenyra hissed "If Aemond was not to be found, what were your instructions then?"

"And where were the member of this council while the murder  threatened their king?" Aegon demanded.

"Were you also threatened, Your Grace?" Tyland questioned.

"I could have been!" Aegon shouted.

"Aegon please." Avalon begged.

"I just want to help." Aegon assured.

"I know sweetie...." Avalon agreed looking to otto. "I will make an annoucement." Avalon corrected. "Otto is right. I hate saying that but its true. THe people should know what they are capable of."

"Behold the works of Rhaenyra Targaryen! Pretender to the throne!"

"Thank you for coming." Avalon declared. Criston stood behind her and alicent beside her. "It is true there was an attack on the castle last night." Avalon informed them. "Men breeched the gates, im sorry if any of you were startled by the commotion."

"Pay attention to your aunt."'otto told aegon. "She knows how to speak to them you could learn from her."

"They came after my children. My little Aeron and Alice." Avalon told them.

"The babies!" Someone cried out.

"They are scared but alive." Avalon assured. "The men are being delt with as we speak."

"Who did this?"

"A trusted advisor is getting to the bottom of that but we do have reason to believe-" avalon began but Otto stepped forward.

"Rhaenyra Targaryen. Rhaenyra the cruel. She sent these men to attack innocent children. In hopes to kill them in their sleep." Otto declared.

"Luckily for me our commander, ser criston cole came just in time." Avalon assured smiling back at him.

"Where were you when the attack took place?" Criston questioned following arryk down the hall

"With King Aegon" arryk answered

" And you were not in the private quarters where you might have prevented the crime" criston realized.

"His Grace wished to entertain his companions in the throne room." Arryk answered

"But if you had thought to go upstairs..."

"Where were you, Lord Commander?" Arryk challenged.

"I was luckily with the queen and heard the commotion before things went too far." Criston answered "Your brother is a thief and a traitor to the crown!" Criston decided.

"Im scared." Aeron whispered

"Im Right here baby...." Avalon wished vaera would come home already. She missed her eldest daughter dearly and was distraught at the idea that she was in danger so far away.  "We have set up more guards- this is ser Barnes. Hes going to keep an eye out for us. Along with criston. You know criston," aeron nodded. James Barnes nodded to aeron from the doorway.

"Did bad men kill daddy?"

"No. Sickness took your father." Avalon corrected.