𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐒 𝐅𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐍 over tumbleton, but the keep does not quiet; there is much to be done to ready for the coming battle. over and over the events of the afternoon repeat themselves in the knight’s mind’s eye, as if the outcome might somehow change if he fails to review each detail with adequate scrutiny. if gwayne been delayed only a few hours on the road back to tumbleton, he would have returned to find his nephew and his cousin slain, like as not. ormund has named the boy king, and sealed his fate. it seems now the only way to keep him safe is to put him on the throne, whether he wills it or not.
in the hours since, gwayne has been down to the forges and obtained a proper sword for daeron, a blade of true fighting weight, sharpened to kill; it now stands in its sheath against the wall behind him. guards will be posted outside the prince’s chambers as he sleeps, gwayne will see it done, but who can be trusted, save for himself and lord roxton, who will no doubt have been posted elsewhere? the prince must be able to protect himself if it comes to it and the dagger he carries at his hip simply will not do. but the talk of bloodshed can wait, for now, as much as it gnaws at gwayne to put it aside; @zaldrurys has brought them supper to share.
[ 𝐍𝐎𝐍-𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐁𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 ✉ / 03. brings them food and water and watches to ensure they eat. ]
the gesture alone brings about gentle smile as gwayne clears a place on the small wooden table to set the tray of food and ale. how did you grow to be so kind, in spite of it all?
❛ i spoke harshly with you earlier, and for that i am sorry, ❜ he says, lifting his downcast gaze to meet daeron’s. it is a rare thing for gwayne and his nephew to misunderstand each other as they had upon his return. gwayne is changed by what he has seen, what he has done, and the full scope of that transformation is not yet known to him. there is one certainty, though, regardless of what has become of his honor: ❛ i will never leave you behind, daeron, i swear it. ❜
