All the Ser Criston Cole Spoilers You Need for Optimal 'House of the Dragon' Thirst

House of the Dragon has only been dominating our Sunday nights for a few weeks, and we’re already thirsty, nay parched, for Ser Criston Cole—sexy knight and all around great-seeming guy. Like, would let him save me from a wild boar in the woods any day! Anyway, while Ser Criston has largely remained in the background, he’s actually a pretty major character in Fire & Blood—the Targaryen history book that House of the Dragon is based on. So, like, casually wondering what happens/if Criston has a thirsty romance with anyone (specifically Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen)? We have the answer to both those questions, but please be advised that SPOILERS are ahead.

Some Background on Ser Criston

He was born the “son of a steward in service to Lord Dondarrion of Blackhaven,” in case that means anything to you. Meanwhile, he’s described as 23 years old with “pale green eyes, coal black hair, and easy charm,” and he’s apparently a “favorite among the ladies at court”—including Rhaenyra who gets herself a crush and starts calling him “my white knight.” In fact, Criston eventually becomes Rhaenyra’s personal protector.

Rhaenyra Gets Lessons in Seducing Ser Criston…From Daemon

According to the account of someone named Mushroom in Fire & Blood, Daemon tells Rhaenyra that when Criston looks at her, he “sees the little girl you were, not the woman you’ve become.” He then offers to “teach you how to make him see you as a woman,” which apparently involves kissing lessons and lessons in the art of “pleasuring a man with her mouth.” He even takes her to visit brothels and learn about “womanly arts.” However, according to Mushroom, Rhaenyra stays a virgin due to wanting Criston to be her first.

Criston Fully Rejects Rhaenyra

Rhaenyra eventually tells Criston how she feels, but he’s “horrified” and “spurns her,” which is obviously crushing. At this point, Rhaenyra and Daemon’s whole kissing lessons thing is revealed, and Daemon is exiled. So….what happens to Criston? He’s made Lord Commander of the Kingsuard, but fear not! This story is far from over.

Criston and Rhaenyra (Maybe?) Hook Up Before Her Wedding

Ahead of Rhaenyra’s wedding to Laenor Velaryon, two Fire & Blood “sources” (aka Mushroom and Septon Eustace) give accounts of her and Criston’s vibes. Per Septon Eustance, Criston slips into Rhaenyra’s room, confesses his love, and tries to get her to flee with him on a ship—but she passes. Per Mushroom, Rhaenyra finds Criston alone in a tower, bars the door, takes off her clothes, and muses “I saved my maidenhead for you, take it now, as proof of my love.” Ser Crison is too honorable to take her up on the offer, so Rhaenyra ends up losing her virginity to some dude named Ser Harwin Strong. Either way, plot twist:

Criston and Rhaenyra Become Enemies

To the point where he’s described as “the most bitter of her foes” and switches over to Team Alicent (aka Rhaenyra’s step mom and former friend). And when King Viserys dies, Criston is right there by Alicent’s side— and instrumental in the plot to prevent Rhaenyra from taking the throne. He even places the crown on Alicent’s eldest son Aegon’s head and eventually becomes his hand. During this era, Criston is known as Criston the Kingmaker, but he dies during one of the many battles in the Dance of the Dragons (aka Rhaenyra and her half-brother Aegon’s fight for the Iron Throne).

On that note, I bid you farewell!

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