THEY ARE SO FAR FROM THE SEA, yet Qarl doesn’t feel as homesick as he thought. He might not be able to watch the waves crash against the sand or hear the sound of it, but Qarl has realized a very important thing : he can be far from the iron islands and carry them with him at the same time, a bit of them, at least. He can be miles from it and still be home, in a way. Asha is his home, his safe haven, it cannot be otherwise.
Soft curve of his lips soon becomes an amusement fueled grin, because she seems to have missed his point, the whole reason why he made them leave the comfort of warm spaces. This would have been far smoother on the islands, of course, where one of the traditional rites for marriage has the couple ankle-deep into the water, as they perform their vows before the drowned god —— this is the closest thing he could think of, without venturing too far. It might not be recognized by the law, and they might not be wed for long ( if she agrees to it ), he knows all of it, has held this truth in his heart for days, yet it is not relevant. Not when being able to call her wife even just once would be enough to fill his heart with joy.
« Sacred vows have to be made near the water, remember ? » he laughs, mouth close to her skin and arms behind her back, then drops a kiss on her nose, quick and sweet. « You already have my heart and my life, it is only fair to offer you my hand too. Do you take it ? »
qarl’s smile is as bright as the sun itself, & it warms her just as thoroughly, even in the bitter cold. & asha knows his smiles by now, can decipher their meaning with merely a glance. & this one betrays both humor & excitement -- both in precious short supply as the end of the world approaches. she cocks her head in confusion, understanding proving evasive even as qarl loops his arms about her & draws her in closer, warm lips touching momentarily to the chilly bridge of her nose.
but then he speaks again & it clicks. sacred vows, verbalized so softly they are nearly swallowed up by the creek’s soft but constant babble. yet asha hears them clear as a bell.
❝ qarl . ❞ his name is spoken like a prayer, fingertips rising to splay gently over his scarred but still smooth cheek. asha has never been the godly sort, but suddenly she finds herself overwhelmed with reverence. it can only be a miracle that they had survived this long & found themselves together still -- for she had prayed for that alone when she’d been imprisoned & trapped in that accursed blizzard. & it may be so that qarl is too lowborn for her to wed, & asha may already have a husband awaiting her back in the isles. but the world itself is coming to an end, if the maesters are to be believed. & asha intended to spend whatever time remained to her with qarl. her free hand seeks his, slips their fingers together & grips tightly, their hands entwined tightly between their beating hearts. ❝ if you freely offer your hand to me, then i will gladly take it. it would honor me to be your wife. ❞ laughter bubbles up from her throat at her use of the unfamiliar word, the sound joining with the soft song of the stream. all water flows to the sea, asha knows. the creek will carry their vows to the ocean. the drowned god will hear them soon enough. ❝ you know that i am yours, my love. you will always have me. every part of me. for as long as i live. & long after i am gone from this world, still you will have me. ❞
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