stirring the pot "you really thought nobody would find out?" where dunk finds out his wife has been skipping meals bc they've been low on coins.
“by the seven, you barely gave yourself time to chew!”
egg looked up from his bowl, eyes wild and mouth stuffed when he met your gaze. he used his sleeve to wipe his mouth.
"i haven’t eaten all day, my lady,” he said, and his eyes darted down to his bowl. “we’ve been waiting for word from oldstones, and ser duncan said we must preserve coin…”
“and you are still hungry?” the question tumbled out faster than you could consider. "i presume?"
egg was just as eager, “yes. although...i don’t believe ser duncan would take kindly to his portion being taken. he's had some water, but he spit it out. it tasted as brown as it looked.”
it was as if the gods decided to strike you at that moment. egg sighed and set his bowl aside, eyes casted down to the grass. he’d never looked more diminutive.
“the gods have favored you, then," you smiled, and without missing a beat, you picked up his bowl to bring it closer. you scraped what was left in your own, giving him your portion of supper. "i am quite full."
egg perked up, seeing how much you'd given--and there was not a scrap of meat left in your bowl.
"you...you hardly had any, my lady."
"i've had my share of sweet rolls all day. there was a caravan not far from here...offered me a few in exchange for thread."
the boy's nose wrinkled, sniffing out the lie quicker than a man could twice his age. but the look on your face washed him in doubt. you had traded your goods for something sweet, yet you had nothing left? not even for your husband-knight?
"sweet rolls are very fulfilling," he said with caution. yet the moment you handed over his bowl, he couldn't help himself. he refused to listen to you and ate like a wolf pup starved of fresh meat.
as the days wore on, it became your new normal. there was little to share between the three of you, and dunk was so caught up in duty that he ate his suppers much later than you and the boy. you kept his meals hot, and he nearly drooled over the fire every night.
by the end of the moon cycle, he found himself on an early return.
"slow down, lad," he came over to you, his gaze lingering on egg as the boy took a big bite of bread. he practically had a full meal to work on, and dunk immediately took notice of your own state. there was not a cut of beef nor a cup of broth anywhere on your plate—and your plate was nowhere in sight, he realized.
"did you eat?" he asked, his face morphing into concern.
you readied his plate with a nod, "some time ago. i found some berries nearby. they were perfectly ripe."
as you handed over his plate, he took the first bite with a slowness you'd never seen before. he chewed, uncharacteristically unhurried. "you ought to have more than berries."
"they were very filling. i almost gave myself an ache."
"...what sort of berries?"
"i don't know," you paused. "they were red. reminded me of apples, but...not as big."
"she said she'd pick some for the morrow!" egg chirped, his cheeks full. "you still will, won't you, my lady?"
"yes," you smiled, but it was strained. you looked to dunk, who had not once looked away from you. "perhaps if you bought honey, it'll make for a good treat."
dunk watched you for a moment longer. "i might, aye."
until the next evening, when there were no berries in your shared bags. a deer must have plucked the rest, you excused.
dunk knew he was a great fool. egg ran circles around him, ever the clever lad, and you were always gentle in your approach. every passing day you lived was for one another, to guide each other through the hardships of the road. some nights you found yourself in an inn, sharing a warm bed and fevered kisses. others, you were in a ditch, wrapped in a rough spun cloak and shielding the boy from the wind.
it was never easy, and your life was without stability. but you had your constant, and that was your hedge knight.
so why did you no longer trust him?
another evening, and another sparse meal was split between the three of you. dunk stared you down like a predator, listening to every scrape of your spoon as you gave egg the last bits of supper. you looked tired, more so than he'd ever seen.
he was quiet while his squire was around. dunk kept to himself, stirring in thought, while you cleaned the pan and tended to the fire. it felt like ages before egg finished and retreated to his bedroll. still, he waited until he heard egg's soft snores.
"...what is it you've had today?" he asked, tense even when you came to sit beside him. it was difficult not to touch you, to not wrap an arm around you and huddle you close. his anger wouldn't dissolve, but it would soften.
dunk could not afford to soften over you, not over this.
"suppose some trout flew from the river and offered itself?"
"don't play the fool, my love. there were some leftover bread and honey...it made for a good meal." there was no hostility in your voice. no objection. dunk stiffened under your touch, his arm turning to near stone when your head came to rest.
"then why treat me as one?" he kept his voice low; his indignation was unkempt.
your tranquility ended there. you sat up in a heartbeat, head turning to look him in the eye. he felt just as you looked—confused and offended. the question between you was shared, and neither knew how to answer.
"i have done no such thing, duncan."
"you have," he swore, his brows furrowing as he turned fully towards you. "you believe i would not find out?"
"you lied. you so easily wove comfort into egg and i, making us think you've taken care of yourself with senseless fibs—“
"fibs?" you choked back a laugh.
"are you amused?" he hissed, before his voice broke. "does wasting away bring you comfort? are you—this eager to leave me behind?"
you snapped out of it. he'd never spoken to you that way, and a spike of aggravation struck. "i...i did what was necessary."
"by becoming skin and bone."
"by not letting you and the boy starve. i do indulge, duncan, if it concerns you so," your gaze hardened, your voice quieted to a whisper. "and i am not the only one with secrets."
"i have hidden nothing from you!"
"you have," you shot back, "for a time."
dunk shook his head as he gathered what was left of supper onto his plate. he refused to look at you now, even after he pushed the plate over to you.
"i am fine." you trembled. "i told you, i ate long before—“
"you need it more than me. eat, before i feed you myself."
you swallowed your argument, choosing not to test his patience any longer. not with words, at least.
"i have no issue throwing you over my knee," he warned.
oh, how you wished you could snap back. your fingers curled, hands tightening into fists. he glanced down, almost snorting at the sight. you were the first to move, but not to strike him.
you took his plate, your stomach twisting at the aroma. dunk pushed himself over, coming closer as you began to eat what was left. he reached for you, pushing your hair back as the wind blew.
"aye," he murmured, voice softer than before. it was a start. "that's my girl."
cass try not to write over 1.3k challenge impossible…who am i if i don’t challenge my own rules
oh anon what have you done. please enjoy <3
