Autumn Kiss 💋🍁 || Criston Cole

03 • THE LAST STRAW

After hearing Rhaenyra's apology about Ser Harwin's yard bluster, she still offer to marry her son to her daughter, Alicent immediately goes to see Rhaenyra; they both try to be civil yet emotion and tension rip from them, along with the passion that was building between them prior to the last ten years.

Rhaenyra bit the inside of her lip as soon as the words left her mouth. Commanding her husband, Laenor to remain in Kings Landing by her side instead of abiding by his wishes of battle and traversing the sea, something that's been in his blood as a Veleryon and the son of The Sea Snake.

It was as if someone forbade her to take flight on Syrax, leaving her stunted in one place, rather than in the air, wind licking at her platinum locks.

Laenor stayed in stunned silence. His tipsy stupor simmered at her words as he gripped tightly onto his cup of wine.

"I'll do as my wife and princess commands," Laenor said. "Stay by your side, whatever you wish."

Rhaenyra jerked at how quiet Laenor sounded as if he was scolded by a parent and didn't want to say much. Maybe motherhood hardened her to that degree, but she never wanted to be as stern with Laenor.

He was just keeping up with appearances for the past ten years, like Rhaenyra and wanted to go back into the life he once had. She couldn't blame him for that.

"Laenor, I-"

The Princess was cut off by the door to her chambers opening.

Ser Harwin, comes in and bows his head before speaking. "Princess, Queen Alicent Hightower would like to speak with you," he announced.

Rhaenyra's entire body froze at the kingsguard's word. What could Alicent possibly want? To ridicule her sons appearance like she did before? Mock Laenor of how someday the kids will resemble him? The thoughts swirled in Rhaenyra's head for a moment, picking and tearing at the straggled end of her gown.

"Rhaenyra?" Laenor called to her.

Rhaenyra's head jerked up to see Laenor at her side, concern marking his face along with a sense of uneasiness she'd seen before they became husband and wife; a look of uncertainty about the future and what it would be like with Rhaenyra.

"I thought we've been through this, Your Grace," Laenor snapped.

Ser Harwin stepped to the side as Alicent walked in slow, her green dress sweeping the floor, yet with her head held high as she always did for the past ten years, as if she was better than what Laenor and Rhaenyra seemed to have falsely created to her.

"I'd like to speak to the Princess alone, Ser Laenor," Allicent said. "If the Princess would have me?"

Alicent's voice was sharp and commanding, a tone she used in frequent during the ten years she began growing in her role as queen. Rhaenyra couldn't help but not look at the Queen, not because of fear, but because of the remnants of the past; memories that swirled and caught up in the cogs of her mind only heightened with the hormones childbirth brought with her: memories of being with Alicent.

"Rhaenyra?" Laenor said. He rested a hand on her arm, breaking her fidget fit of yanking on a straggled piece of her gown.

"Y-you don't look so good, Alicent can leave if you aren't up for another one of her intrusive fits."

The hardened look that graced Laenor's face was gone, replaced with an air of concern he carried a lot during the past ten years.

Childbirth and it's many complications rocked Rhaenyra,she's still experiencing some pains of childbirth from their third son, Joffery. Laenor would try and soften her up with jokes that didn't humor her at all, yet he was always there for her and their sons, whether or not they were his blood.