from the ashes - hotd

lanta

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Raina sat, her legs folded under her as she lounged under a tree in the garden. A book was placed in her lap, and she diligently skimmed the pages, her eyes taking in as many words as she could. She lifted her head, closing her eyes for only a moment, welcoming the warmth the sun provided. At this moment she was truly happy. Her brother after six years was home, her eldest brother and his children were home, and most importantly Meya and Tobias would be staying in Sunset Harbor until Lord Jason and Lord Jarok returned from King's Landing.

"Reading again, dear sister?" Raina looked up as a large shadow cast over her.

Raina looked up, expecting Carrden to be looming over her. A grin on his handsome face as he teased her for having her 'nose in a book'. After their adventure to the very garden she sat in, Carrden excused himself for some refreshments. The teen girl had thought he had been gone for a rather long time but paid it no mind as she lost herself in her book. However, she was pleasantly surprised as she locked gazes with her oldest brother Lawren. He wore a red tunic that meshed nicely with his dark hair, a perplexed look across his face. This caused concern in Raina.

"Yes, brother. Are you alright? Did the meeting with the Lord Hand go well?"

Lawren paused, not expecting her to comment about the meeting so soon. He closed his eyes, his mind scrambling to form a coherent sentence. Their father had asked Lawren to bring Raina to his study so that he could break the news to her. However, as he gazed down at his little sister, innocently sitting in their family garden, the sunlight highlighting her youthful face, untouched by the harsh reality of the world. He decided that he would tell her, so that he may also comfort her.

"Raina..." he struggled to speak for a second, his mouth opening but no words came out.

The younger girl watched with a frown on her freckled face, as her brother failed to form a proper sentence.

"Is everything alright?" she asked, worried.

"Could I have a seat?" he suddenly asked, barely giving Raina anytime to move over before he placed himself beside her, almost sitting on the bottom of her dress.

"O-of course Lawren..." Raina was a little confused, "Lawren what is this about?"

"Can I not sit with my little sister and also enjoy the sun on my face?"

There was the cheeky Lawren that Raina was used too, not the stuttering mess that was attempting to talk to her seconds ago. She attempted to mask her confusion with a fake smile, but it was very unsettling to see her brother acting this way.

"Sorry for my confusion brother, but this is not like you.."

"Oh, well I suppose you are right. How can I get anything past you..." he chuckled dryly, no humor in his eyes, "A-s as you know, Father and I had a meeting with The Hand."

She nodded, and he continued.

"In this meeting, Otto purposed a marriage-"

Raina's mind froze, there were only two options, her or Carrden.

"-between you and the prince, his grandson Aemond."

She knew it! Of course, she should have expected that answer. She knew it was coming eventually. That she would have to get married and leave Sunset Harbor.

"And father agreed?" she choked up, pressing her lips together roughly, trying very hard to keep her emotions in control. Because even though she knew this day would come, she was still sad. She was going to have to leave her home and family.