Autumn Kiss 💋🍁 || Criston Cole

027 • IN YOUR ARMS

Most of all, Alicent recognize that she had spurned someone so devoted to her, and to whom she herself was so devoted to, in the most despicable way possible.

Alicent exited the room and shut the door gently. Ser Criston barely registered it, so drained and forlorn that sound seemed muffled. "Your Grace." He curtly bows.

Almost without thinking, Alicent said quietly "Let us return to my chambers, Ser Criston."

His head raised slowly, his eyes focused again. After a week of misery, some hope returned to him, albeit only some. A sentence alone is no indication of a return to favor.

Still, she did not look at him as they walked the halls silently. He knew not what to expect and could only hold to an expectation of disappointment.

When they returned, she gestured for him to enter. She sat silently as he stood in front of the doorway. She did not know how to begin, he dared not speak before her. She still did not look at him, looking down at her hands.

"You…will be pleased to hear Prince Aemond will recover fully in time."

"That is…very good, Your Grace"

"And…you may wish to visit him soon in time for him waking up."

Criston nodded "I surely will, I would not want to miss it Your Grace."

They were quiet for another moment when Criston asked "What did you speak to the Queen about on the day before yesterday?"

"Errr…yes, the day before yesterday, she offered her well-wishes and informed me that Lord Stark's family is coming to court to come to some understanding."

"Well, that is good, putting this matter to rest."

"Yes, I'd agree" Alicent said half-muttered.

Criston tried to maintain his good fortunes. Talking, talking was good. Do not say too much, wait for her to speak.

"The Northen lords are of course none too pleased about this matter" Alicent said exasperated.

"Do you think they will…begin hostilities?"

"Well, Gods only know what the Starks will say when they come before Rhaenyra."

Perhaps his wife can challenge the princess to a knitting contest for the North next." Criston cursed himself and quickly followed with "I am sorry, I should not make light of this." He feared he had moved too fast to speak to her with familiarity again.

"No, it's quite alright" Alicent chuckled for a moment before her face settled with a hint of a smile remained. An hour or two ago, the situation would still be too raw for her.

But, now she knew her son would survive and be well again soon. Cregan Stark, however, tried to kill her son and is now dead and buried without his head. In that way, she did find the power within her to laugh. Criston was encouraged enough to smirk himself now.

"I forgot you could be so funny" she said in a nervous voice, unsure of how to regain the comfort with which they could speak before.

"I try when the time calls for it." Alicent sighed as the smile disappeared, as she approached him. "Ser Criston…please forgive me, I said things that were absolutely…wretched. Things I didn't mean. Not only that, I've abandoned you unjustly. I was so shaken by seeing Aemond wounded before my very eyes that I blamed you…when I should not have."

It was as if Criston was returning to life from death "You're already forgiven, my Queen."

"I shouldn't be, you do not speak the way I spoke to someone so kind as you. You don't wish someone dead who you struggle to be without. You do not rage and rail against someone you…need." Alicent swallowed.