Autumn Kiss 💋🍁 || Criston Cole

021 • THE ROGUE PRINCE

All the court waited for it. The moment when Rhaenyra Targaryen would come to claim her crown. Hundreds of lords were there to swear fealty, bringing thousands more lowborn to participate in the festivities that came with it.

Disaster had been averted in the aftermath of the King's death, though Otto Hightower's plot had not been thwarted without some lingering effects. Not all the lords were fully behind Rhaenyra, making it more necessary than otherwise for force to be shown and strength projected.

A sign that the Hightower's grasp on power at court has been released. Then, in an instant, the quiet breezy view over the bay gave way to dark figures on the horizon. A score of dragons blotted out the sun over the city, ships came into view on the bay. House Velaryon.

As they approached the Red Keep, the banners on the walls and sigils of all the houses now in attendance were blown back and forth by the gust of dragonwing. When her retinue was assembled, Rhaenyra walked forward surrounded with her family and retainers, slow and dignified.

As one, all the waiting lords and ladies bent the knee as the dragons screeched so loud it was heard in all corners of the city. Prince Daemon, her husband and King Consort, scanned the crowd as if to take note of every face. "Very good. Now, let us proceed." He announced.

"All hail Rhaenyra Targaryen, Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, First Lady of the Andals, and the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Protector of the realm!"

"All hail!" The hall roared back.

Dressed in green, Queen Alicent looked on with her children on either side of her, Ser Criston behind. By her waist, she squeezed hard to his hand to calm herself.

Ser Criston himself needed the same. Seeing Rhaenyra on the throne, staring down at the crowd, he could not help but remember everything they had ten years ago. It had never gotten any easier, not in all these years.

Rheanyra was Queen with another as consort and he was nothing to her. Indeed, quite the opposite, hostility between them had grown and festered for years.

He had been her whore until she wished to be rid of him. He had brooded on his foolishness and could not bear the sight of her.

He knew the blame was not all hers, it would be a lie to say so. This is what hurt him deepest, he could have prevented it all, he did not. Was all this to repeat again with a new woman? Will Alicent get rid of him like Rheanyra did? Ser Criston worried as different thoughts crowded his mind.

When the crowd between to jostle and move towards the throne for the lords of the realm to pledge fealty, he pulled Alicent away and said in a low voice "I must speak to you."

Queen Alicent, confused and concerned, followed his lead nonetheless.

Rushing into a side chamber, Criston looked somber. Alicent spoke as soon as they had stopped moving "Criston, what is the matter? What has unnerved you?"

Ser Criston was still ill at ease, the walk was too short to calm him at all. He took a breath and steadied himself before speaking. "I am sorry, my Queen, that was just overwhelming to me, seeing her in these circumstances. And…I must ask of you something."

"What? What do you ask?" She said confused.

"My Queen…Alicent… you have to promise me that I am not some passing interest, that you will not…set me aside. You must promise me." Ser Criston's orbs gleamed with uncertainty.

Alicent was shocked to be doubted, yet after a moment understood. Her eyes scanned him and she spoke with quietly but urgently "Criston…that shall not happen. I love you. I would have no other man come anywhere as close to my affections as you rest firmly. Do not mistake me, I shall go nowhere without you, be with you until my last day." She tells him bluntly with a soft tone.