Autumn Kiss 💋🍁 || Criston Cole

031 • EMBRACING GREEN

Before the week was out, Ser Criston and his men had returned. It was late in the day when they reached the capital, the journey consuming most of the day pushing hard to finish before nightfall.

They had marched at a quicker pace, eager to deliver up Otto Hightower to his fate. Otto Hightower had been denigrated and insulted many times, but this folly left him the object of absolute ridicule. Paraded through the streets of Kings Landing, he was laughed at and mocked the entire way. His pride could not before have borne a fraction of what befell him now.

By contrast, Ser Criston was applauded and praised ahead of Otto, the shaming following the acclaim like a storm moving in to replace sunny skies. However, when they arrived before Queen Rhaenyra, all fell silent. She stood above them surrounded by family, lords, and ladies.

Ser Criston was keen enough to see Dowager Queen Alicent some ways behind the Queen. The aurburn haired saw him in turn, acknowledging him for only a moment as her father was brought forward.

Otto's grandchildren all looked down on him too, emotionless. Rhaenyra spoke gravely "Away with him, I will not hear him speak. Get him to the cells."

"Who are you to command me?! You are no queen!" Otto spat back, turning the children's faces to ones of scorn.

"How wrong you are, you foolish old cunt!" Daemon said with a smirk.

Alicent looked forlorn as she led her children away from the scene.

"You have my thanks, Lord Commander" Rhaenyra said with a gracious nod.

"I am glad to be of service, my Queen." Criston tried to act in his role as well as he could, but he had no interest in speaking with Rhaenyra more than he was forced to. It was not her he felt compelled to speak to.

This being the last item required to be done, the army dispersed and the court went about its business, it was nearly dusk. Criston almost dashed his way to Alicent's chambers.

Entering, he saw her sitting and waiting as if she knew he was close at hand. With a silken voice, she told him "I have missed you, husband." He took hold of her moments later and they kissed for what seemed like hours, falling into bed.

"I have seldom been so happy to see anybody in my life." he whispered to her with eager feverishness. Inches from his face, she replied equally eager.

"Criston, thank the gods! You don't know how much I longed for you when you were away."

"I wished to be here every hour of every day." He kissed her again, letting his tongue intertwine with Alicent's.

After a moment, he sighed and lay on his back "I am sorry, my love. I am quite worn down from the long march. Not only that, I could barely sleep without you with me."

Alicent stood behind him and ran her hands along his body "I couldn't either, my bed does not feel complete without you anymore."

Criston laid back and breathed deeply, letting his whole body slump and be at ease. She leaned in and kissed his ear before whispering "I want the door locked and not opened until daylight. Whoever requires your presence, they can wait. Stay with me, Criston."

Feeling her skin on his again intoxicated him "I had no plans to go anywhere. I left you for this long, I will not go again so soon."

Alicent sat herself up and leaned in to kiss his entire body. Even the scent of her hair and her skin put him at ease. It reminded him where he was, who he was with, how he could feel without anxiety.

He didn't know how he had lived without this for all these years. As he placed his hand on her cheek, he said "Alicent…you don't know how much I've needed this."