who: @lucreziasredwyne where: highgarden, some days before departure to dorne
the atmosphere within the glistening beautiful paradise that was highgarden was entirely sombre, though it was the tension within the orbs of the nobles that truly felt like the blade slicing through the air; the mourning was something they could stand, something they knew would ease with time, and yet this tension of feeling as though they were caught between being the hunter and the hunted continued. there would be more of those who had supported him out there, more of those who had somehow shot the arrow that ledged itself into the throat of his only sister, and with that the pearl of highgarden was no more.
he had hardly slept since it had happened, that which he was able to have plagued with visions of all those that had been left behind between the realms of men and the hereafter. those he felt he had utterly failed, looking upon him through a veil that was ultimately one of the gods and time itself.
he refused to look upon the orbs of any his small council members for the first week, keeping in complete solitude in his chambers as he went through list after list of those belonging to each house, the darkest parts of his mind whispering that he needed to strike whilst he still could. that arrow had been meant for him, had it not, and in the end the bond of family had been his saviour. the bond of family would be the downfall of the man that had finally stepped too far into the scalding sun, and he would surely see him burn for it. eventually, he had met with lord garland hightower regarding state business and the economy that continued to go on, despite the emotional turmoil the court of highgarden had been thrown into by the assassination of their princess.
that, and the news he had heard concerning a certain mistress of ships he had considered one of his closest for many a year, to the point she once was to become his own good sister, many moons ago. they had seen each other change and mature over the years, and whilst many had assumed their relationship was a carnal one, she had always been an exception to his ways; the gods had granted them something so utterly good, a bond that they shared with the rest of those closest to them. there was no way he would ever do anything to taint that.
and so, upon hearing the news that the lady of the arbor had ventured to the sept in the morning, cedric instead decided to wait in her chambers for the sept was no place for the man that was becoming a king of thorns himself. no gods would bring him to his knees, not when they were clearly so merciless and cruel to subject their children to such sickening and twisted games. when her silhouette appeared in the door, he slowly stood from the velvet chair he stood upon.
“need i call you mistress now?” he asked, alluding to the clear rumours that had once again picked up regarding the pair. he paid no attention to them, for all in the reach and those closest to them knew the truth.
the guilt had no doubt been etching away at her over the course of these weeks, hazel orbs tired and suffered; it was a sight that caused his heart to break, and how he would instead wish to see her eyes narrow at him in irritation as they once did. in a few strides, the man had crossed over to where she stood and wrapped his arms around her frame, an embrace that was one of comfort, of forgiveness and love in itself. “i can’t have you blaming yourself, lu.” he muttered into the top of her head, pulling away as he peered down at her from his towering figure. “i won’t.”