Fragile Things / Alicent Hightower / Criston Cole (2.1)

25. Powerless

"Criston?"

"You dont want to know." He corrected.

"Please. My baby was out there. Aegon is on deaths door. I need to know."

"Prince Aemond and i had a plan. Aegon wasnt supposed to be there. Aemond did his best to get the king out of meleys clutches." Criston offered grabbing her hand. "Please dont make me say anymore."

"If you think im short you should see my patience." Vaera warned. "I have been home two days and no dragon cookies upon my arrival. Im the princess. Im fucking amazing. And I used to be the favorite. What is this madness? Where are my dragon cookies?"

"Aegon is basically dead." Alyssa reminded her. "They are busy."

"That is no excuse, Aegon was being stupid and I get punished?"

"We could make cookies." Alyssa suggested. Aeron nodded eagerly.

"But that takes the enjoyment out of sitting back and barking orders." Vaera teased.

"Come on!" Alyssa begged grabbing her hand.

The hour was late and Alicent stayed pacing Aegon's chambers uselessly while Avalon held Aemond hostage. Criston knocked on her door to check on her but Aemond was the one to answer. 

"Cole." Aemond answered stiffly.

"I came to see the queen." Criston remarked clearing his throat.

"For what reason would you have to see my mother at this hour?" Aemond challenged. 

"What are you doing here?" Criston countered. 

"She is my mother, I need not a reason." Aemond reminded him. 

"Aemond," Avalon called out. 

"It's no one mother." Aemond assured closing the door. Criston's lips pursed as Aemond sealed the door shut. 

"Come here honey, I'm not done hugging you yet." Aemond moved to her and Avalon wrapped her arms around him once more. 

"I'm sorry I worried you." Aemond said for what must have been the millionth time. 

"Me too." Avalon agreed. "I'm sorry you worried me. I got vaera back just to think you were going to die. My heart nearly stopped." Aemond rolled his eyes. 

"Dont be so dramatic." Aemond begged. 

"I'm not. And then Aegon comes back nearly dead himself..."

"I'm fine. I'm better than Aegon, the council should see that too." 

"What do you mean?" Avalon questioned. 

"The realms need an heir, a leader. Someone to be king in aegon's stead."

"And you think thats you?" Avalon questioned. 

"Yes." Aemond agreed. 

"Baby," Avalon whispered touching his cheek. 

"I'm next in line." Aemond reminded her. "Me."

"Yes but-"

"Mama," Aemond whispered against her. "Please... you were just as confused as I when my father named Aegon instead of I, maybe this is how it was meant to be."

"Lets not speak of it tonight, a tomorrow problem." Avalon requested kissing him again. "I just want to hold you hostage a while longer."

"I will gladly be your hostage, mummy." Aemond agreed. 

XXX

"The armor was Valyrian steel, but His Grace suffered grievous burns over much of his body." Orwyle remarked. "He has many broken bones. I fear there are more injuries within, injuries we cannot see."

" We are grateful for your works, Grand Maester." Alicent agreed. " Has he woken?"

' No." He admitted. "I must admit, I'm not sure he will ever wake. I have plied my crafts to their fullest extents. Our king's fate lies with the gods now."

Criston watched Avalon as she stared back at Aemond, he was too quiet, too calm, too.... calculated. 

"A king cannot rule in his sleep." Alicent remarked getting up. "The realm will have noticed his absence. Let them hear of his great deeds at Rook's Rest. But now we must name a regent to take his place until he recovers... or does not." She realized.

"A wise strategy, Your Grace." Larys agreed. "A regency will assure the people of the stability of the crown."

"Did you have a candidate in mind, Your Grace?" Tyland questioned. Alicent looked to Avalon hoping she would speak up saying they would rule together but she was focused on Aemond.

"I myself served in this role for my husband. I am well-prepared to do it again." Alicent decided. 

"You played your part admirably in a time of peace, Your Grace," Jasper offered. "but circumstances have changed."

"And do you know war, Jasper?" Avalon countered. "We have known peace because Viserys and my grandfather both kept the peace that Aegon the con..."A valon cleared her throat. "Aegon the conqueror fought hard to bring us. The peace that has been shattered in the moons since my husbands death."

"We need a leader. You cannot deny that."

"I dont." avalon snapped back. "But you will not talk down to my queen either." She demanded. Alicent smiled grabbing her hand. 

"I only meant... that the king does not lack for heirs." Jasper went on. "The obvious choice is his immediate successor, Prince Aemond."

" Agreed." Tyland added. Aemond sat the end of the table his face void of emotion and it scared Criston to see. 

"Aemond is young." Alicent corrected. "And his lack of restraint has already cost us dearly."

"It is experience that offers the surest path to security." Orwyle agreed. "Queen Alicent and Queen Avalon ably shouldered the duties of the realm when their husband's health failed him."

" Experience is valuable, yes, but the dowager queen is a woman." Jasper corrected.

"Is that why I have breasts and a womb?" Avalon sassed. Aemond's face pinched at that.  

"I am no stranger to rule or to sitting at this council. Aemond is a fearsome dragonrider." Alicent remarked. "His skill is best employed in the field, but my experience is needed here, at this table."

"No offense was meant, Your Grace, but...  at a time when we must show strength." Tyland countered.

"And you dont think a woman can do that." Avalon realized. Which was why do many people easily bent to Aegon because they would never bend to a woman. 

"Lord Larys?" Alicent demanded which came as a shock to Avalon because she knew Alicent didnt care for larys.

" I agree, Your Grace. It must be Prince Aemond." Larys admitted. "What would it say if, in response to Rhaenyra's crowning, we raised up a woman of our own?" Larys added. "But, um... but the Hand speaks for the king's voice. Ser Criston, what say you?" Avalon looked to Criston but he kept his head down. 

"Aemond is the next in line." Criston agreed. "It must be him." Aemond got up contented with that answer.

" It's agreed then." he grabbed the center marble and headed to the kings spot he ran a hand over Avalon's shoulders as he passed. "What is our standing in the Riverlands?"