Suburban Legends / Alicent Hightower / Criston Cole

15. Favorite Knight

Alicent knew that the children didnt like to sit through meetings and banquets once they got their cake they were ready to leave. Ara was almost 3 and although she fluttered around like a queen in the making saying hello to everyone alicent knew that her daughter would rather be playing in her bed chamber with her siblings and... jace. Or taking a walk outside than stuck in this room.

"Elinda. It is time for the princes and princesses bed time." alicent remarked. "Please see to it that they are brought to their chambers." Elinda knew this meant get them to their own nannies and make sure they are dressed for bed they didnt need to be in bed.

"Of course your grace."

Ara was in cristons arms right now chatting up the guards between babbles and words her little mouth concocted when elinda moved to her.

"Princess your mother says its time for bed."

Ara glanced back at alicent.

"Mama!" Ara declared her smile brightening. She leaned out of cristons arms towards alicent as she excused herself from the dignitaries.

"Play?" Ara whispered.

"Yes my heart. Go to bed and play. You did well this evening. I know everyone was glad to see you but it is late."

"So play?" Alicent nodded. She wiggled out of cristons arms and ran to jace grabbing his hand. "We play!" She declared and they took off into the hall.

The switching of the guard came quickly in that moment so criston and harwin headed off after the children. They didnt speak they walked in silence as the kids babbled. Mainly ara.

"Okay petal." Aegon said as she went on and on and on "thats nice petal." he drawled bored.

"It is!" She agreed. Helaena chuckled as Ara grabbed her hand skipping along.

Alicent feigned the smiles and polite conversation but her heart wasnt in it, it never was these days. With Ara and Criston she could handle it but in this room full of people she felt very alone.

When criston was beside her he would whisper stolen words of gossip and amusing facts to make alicent smile a real smile. Ser harrold stood the edge of the room and watched her.

When criston was here he would stay beside her always available an arm to hold if her feet started to hurt or her body grew tired.

Alicent drank another glass of wine as she nodded. The man before plump with awful facial hair that caught crumbs. She focused on the large crumb at his chin how it moved as he talked.

She blinked back into the present as he stopped talking and repeated his question   She hadnt been listening

"Well? Do you think thenking was right?"

"He is king for a reason." Weather right or wrong was not her place to say tonithers only in private. She offered a grim smile before excusing herself and drinking herself to sleep that night.

Cristons door pushed open and he tensed. Alicent wouldnt make her way here. It would be too scandalous yet his door pushed open.

"Ser criston?" She whispered sometimes it was daddy others it was ser criston her favorite knight.

"Aranyani," criston put his blade down as she rubbed at her eyes. "Baby girl what are you doing here?" He picked her up and she snuggled into his chest.

"I had... bad dream." She whimpered. "You protect me."

"I protect you." Criston agreed kissing her forehead.

"I stay?" she yawned back.

"Of course baby." Criston agreed sitting down on the bed. She pulled up the covers around her and pounded into the pillow. "You okay?" Aranyani soon realized cristons bed was nowhere as comfy as her big girl bed but she knew she had to stay with him. He would keep her safe.

Alicent was in a tizzy when she woke. Not only did she drink too much to get through another tedious party, but her little girl was missing. Daeron smiled victoriously. Someone had finally come in and stolen his awful twin.

"Why are you smiling?" Alicent demanded

"I think this is freedom." Daeron decided.

"Oh stop. She is your sister. Your blood!"

"And my tormentor from the tummy." Daeron agreed putting both his hands on his stomach.

"From the womb dipshit," aegon corrected

"Whatever. Shes gone and- NO! Why couldnt you be gone?" He demanded alicent spun around

"Morning." Ara chirped.

"Baby girl!" Alicent ran to her and checked her over. "I thought you were missing!"

"No." She answered confused. "I was sleeping. Did i sleep walk? Am i still dreaming?" She glanced aeound before pinching daeron

"What was that about?" Daeron demanded reaching to pinch her back but she jumped away

"To make sure im not dreaming." Ara answered

"You pinch yourself petal," Aegon corrected

"That sounds painful. Why would I do that?"

"You little-" daeron chased after her

"See shes fine," aegon agreed.

"Ser criston!" Ara shouted "save me!" He scooped her up

"Let me at her!" Daeron demanded. Criston looked to alicent confused.

Alicent understood now. Ara had run to cristons chambers once again. She ran to daddy to make the bad dreams go away. Alicent did the same. Like mother like daughter