Autumn Kiss 💋🍁 || Criston Cole

017 • IN LOVE & FRIENDSHIP

The raven was sent with all secrecy possible, Criston made sure of it. Aegon was ripped from the drunken night of idiocy he had hoped to enjoy.

Delivered into his brother's keeping, Criston informed them both that they were to under no circumstances leave and to stay close for word from their mother.

"I should thank you, Ser, to have gotten me out of payment for my copious ale drinking" Aegon declared.

Aemond beat him about the back of his head "Keep silent, fool! With our father lying dead, you act so low?! Gods, what have we done to deserve you?"

As daylight barely crept above the horizon, it was clear Dragonstone was informed and just as quick to act. To Otto's dismay, the news did not within Kings Landing long and Syrax was above the red keep.

Upon hearing this, Alicent rushed to the courtyard where Rhaenyra would surely be to seek her out. The princess approached the Queen, close and quietly enough to speak to her and her alone.

Alicent was surprised to see Rhaenyra great with child, she would have regretted bringing her hence if that family and their dragonriding did not come so easy.

Some yards away, Criston Cole eagerly watched to see if he might be required.

"Alicent, you must not allow your father to proceed. I am my father's heir, the throne is mine." Rheanyra began.

Alicent's glare was harsh and incredulous as she said "My son will be king, my son is king, Rhaenyra, why would I deny him that?"
My father has not claimed your lives, you are owed little more."

Rhaenyra spoke quickly and urgently "Your son will be a poor king, Aegon does not wish to rule, surely you can see this! You know this. It is your father's wish he take the throne, not Aegon's."

Alicent spat back "And what of you? To disinherit your own brother? Have the gods not granted you the ability to feel shame? Is that not the act of a godless tyrant unfit for the crown?"

Rhaenyra sighed with frustration "Why then did you tell me of Viserys' death, Alicent? Why have I come hence if this is your preposition?"

Alicent balked at the question. "I wrote you to spare you and your family violence. I see now I was especially right to do so, for fear of your unborn child. I am a woman of faith, I still have a decent heart and could not allow it. I could not allow it, if not for our past connection, merely for aversion to carnage. As for the throne, why should I not use my authority as queen and do what I see fit without you? Perhaps when you depart, this is the news you should return to Dragonstone."

Rheanyra retorts. "Alicent! I do not wish for war, neither do you. For the sake of the friendship we once had, please help me."

Alicent shook her head aghast. "Friendship?! You dare invoke friendship to allow you to cast aside my son's claim and leave them at the mercy of you and Daemon?"

Rhaenyra nodded in understanding "Alicent, on the lives of my children, by my dear mother's memory, I swear to you no harm will befall your children, nobody will ever do a thing to hurt them. They shall have places at court and all the titles and privileges as befit their birth. In fact, it is my intention to see that your children, or even your children's children, are to marry with mine. Your blood WILL sit the Iron Throne, I swear it."

An interesting proposal, surely not springing from Daemon. If he had his way, every one of them would lose their head or be fed to the dragons and be done with it all.

"What assurances can you give me, Rhaenyra? Do you have anything to make me trust a word you're saying?"

Rhaenyra did not argue at her concerns "That's a fair question. Yet here I am, my dragon is far enough back that if you summoned Ser Criston, you'd have my life then and there. You will know when I intend to arrive back in the capital, Nearly every sword in this city is loyal to you and your family. Even Daemon and myself on dragonback could not stand against you all and hold the throne, not indefinitely. Why would I walk into such danger for anything but truth?"