it has been a long, arduous journey to dragonstone, one years in the making. one that he and his father had fought hard to make, while taking every precaution, ensuring that news of their survival did not reach the wrong ears. or, in fact, any ears at all, outside of the few trusted men who had helped them. his father had protested his choice of destination, claiming that they should have boarded a ship to the free cities, perhaps sought sanctuary further north. somewhere that their would - be assassins wouldn't find them. but harwin had been adamant; he'd sworn an oath, to the princess, and it was one he intended to uphold, despite his new... limitations.
despite the intense recovery he had endured, harwin has never achieved a full range of motion on his right side again, after the damage the fire had caused, and his lungs never quite feel as full anymore, not after the thick smoke had nearly choked the life from him. his sword hand is almost useless now, unable to curl into a fist, or grip the hilt of a sword, and so he has trained himself to use his left, though he knows he will never match his previous skill. his father suffers more severely than he does, wheezes and splutters through most every breath now, and is unable to walk or sit a horse for extended periods of time. it has... delayed their travel.
but here he is at last, making the long trek up to the castle, the weight of anxiety settling heavy on his shoulders, making his feet drag even more than his now - perpetual weariness. it had not occurred to him, somehow, that his presence at rhaenyra's side may no longer be required, nor welcomed. she has her husband now, has brought more children into the world — what can he offer now, broken, and half the man he was? still, every step carries him closer, closer to the woman he loves, and time seems to distort as he makes it to the gate house, speeding up and slowing down in equal measure. a guard, pale in the face like he's just seen a ghost, scurries off to fetch someone — rhaenyra, he hopes, not daemon — while another escorts him to the great hall to wait.
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