Heir of the Dragon

Regent

Criston didn't stop until he and Jessica were in his chambers. He sat her down and Jessica immediately began to pace.

"Princess..." Criston sighed and reached out for her.

Jessica swatted his hand away. "I can't Criston...I just can't."

Criston began taking off his armor. "You did everything you could. From what I saw, none of them really let you fight. And you know, I am grateful that they didn't."

Jessica shook her head. "We're down a dragon now, Criston. Sunfyre, bless him, is now gravely injured...or worse. And as much as Helaena loves to fly Dreamfyre around, she would never dare take her beloved dragon into battle. Vhagar is mighty and imposing and very powerful, but Aemond can't be everywhere at once. If he wants to win this war, he's going to have to send me in to fight whether he likes it or not."

Jessica sighed, moving over to him undress. "I can fight as well as any of them."

"Yes." Criston agreed, "you have a dragon and that makes it so. But that also means you could be killed just like any one of them can."

Criston stepped out of the rest of the armor and turned to Jessica, taking her face in his hands. "You, My Love, are what holds King's Landing together. And if you fall, I can only imagine what horrors Aemond would unleash upon this earth."

Criston took her face in his hands. He leaned down and brushed her lips gently before his lips crashed down upon her own, and his hands pulling on the laces of her gown.

"Criston." Jessica breathed pulled back just enough to look at him.

"We could go to Essos." Criston let his lips brush agaist her cheek. "The two of could leave now. We'd be far away before Aemond would notice that we left."

Jessica closed her eyes, realishing in his touch. "And as you said, my husband would unleash hell upon this earth -"

Criston cut her off with a kiss, pulling her dress off her. "I can't lose you in this war, none of us can lose you in this war."

Jessica could only nod as Criston carried her to his bed.

Alicent burst into the room. Luckily for the pair, Criston had helped lace Jessica back up once they had finished. Criston had put on a simple top and trousers. Jessica was watching Cole ploish his sword. "What happened?"

Criston glanced up at Alicent. "We took the castle. At the cost of some 900 men."

Alicent sighed. "So I've heard."

Criston looked back at his sword. "I left behind a merger garrison behind to protect it and the king's dragon. Sunfyre was long in the dying."

"The king, Ser Criston." Alicent spat out. "What befell him?"

Both Criston and Alicent looked to Jessica, but it was Criston who spoke first. "His Grace fought valiantly."

Alicent pursed her lips. "And Aemond? What was his part in this?"

Criston shook his head. "I could not say. I was not on dragonback."

Alicent looked over at Jessica. "Jesscareya -"

Jessica was already shaking. "It was my fault that Aegon was caught off guard. He didn't expect me to fly to Rook's Rest after him. And before I knew it, Sunfyre and Meleys were locked talon to talon tumbling through the air. Aemond tried to help, but Meleys turned so fast that Sunfyre took most of the blast. Aegon is dying and it's all my fault."

Alicent crossed over and pulled Jessica to her chest. "Shh, Sweet Girl, none of this is your fault."

Alicent gave a look at Criston before she pulled Jessica out of his chambers. She grabbed onto Jessica's arms and gave them a gentle squeeze. "I am taking you to small council, Sweet Girl. I need your help. When the council asks for a new regent to rule in Aegon's stead, I need both your support and loyalty in siding with me. I reigned when your father was long-suffering in his illness and I can do it again. Then you and I will put an end to this war before anyone else we care about is lost."