from the ashes - hotd

hāre

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Sleep did not welcome Raina that night. Her mind wandered to many different places, her thoughts could not be tamed, and she suffered greatly because of it. The next morning, Lady Lusia found her daughter uncomfortably asleep on her bed, her body contorted in a very unusual angle. Not many words were spoken between the two that morning, as the older woman helped her daughter bathe and braid her hair. It was this sort of familiarity that Raina would miss, the comforting touch of her mother, as her nails gently pulled her hair back. The smiles and funny faces the two made towards each other in the mirror. And yet that morning, Raina could see her mother's swollen eyes. The strained smiles that they shared. Lusia was just as upset as her daughter was.

"Did Carrden tell you he would accompany you to King's Landing?" Lusia spoke, gently squeezing Raina's shoulders.

Raina turned so quickly, it caused a sudden pain up her neck, "Father agreed to this?"

Lusia smiled, tears welling in her eyes, "Yes, your father is allowing both my babies to leave. At least you two will have each other."

Raina frowned, her own eyes starting to feel heavy, "Mother, I-"

Lusia kneeled in front of her daughter and grabbed her hands, cutting Raina's sentence short, "Raina, my sweet baby girl, you must promise me you'll be aware. King's Landing is not like Sunset Harbor-"

"of course mother-"

Lusia's grip tightened, "You may be my smartest child, baby. But your father and I have sheltered you too much, I-I thought I had more time to show you, but I feel some relief that Carrden is accompanying you. He's not the same boy as he was. He'll protect you."

"Of course, I will."

Both women let out startled gasps of fear as Carrden entered the conversation, leaning against the doorway. He couldn't help but chuckle at the sounds they made, "I did not mean to scare you."

"How long were you standing there?" Raina inquired.

"Just as you spoke my name. I swear." Carrden held up his hands in defense, crossing the room in a couple steps, grabbing his mother's hand as she rose to greet him.

"Mother, you have nothing to fear. I will protect Raina; no harm will come to her while I'm around."

Luisa smiled fondly at her son, leaning up pressing a kiss to his forehead, "I am much relieved than."

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Saying goodbye was harder than Raina wanted to admit. Tears slid down her face as Lani crushed her in a hug. Neither girl wanted to let go. Behind the embracing duo, Lawren and Ashlei watched them with sorrowful gazes.

The Aelius family stood in the front of their estate. Two horses snorted softly as they pulled the Hightower carriage from the stables to their position behind the girls. More hooves could be heard as a line of Hightower Knights followed the carriage, their green flags swaying gently in the morning breeze.

"Lani, sweetheart," Ashlei spoke, curling her arm around her daughter, bringing her to her chest as a form of comfort. Lani struggled at first, however she soon melted into her mother.

Raina watched the girl with tear-filled eyes, she wished she could say no, that she would not leave. However, that was not an option. She had no choice, only duty. A shadow fell over her, and Lawren smiled softly down at her.

"One more hug for your favorite brother?"

A scoff came from behind Raina, Carrden stood next to his mother, his arm wrapped around her.

Raina laughed and was soon engulfed by her brother's large frame, "I'm going to miss you." She mumbled into his shoulder.

Lawren pulled by slightly, so that he could see his little sister's face, "Do not fret, Raina. Father, Mother, Ashlei, and I will be in King's Landing in a couple months to attend the wedding. I do not plan to make you a stranger."

Raina nodded, grateful. Lawren released the girl, and then she caught the eyes of her father who stood away from the group. His usual kept hair was disheveled, his eyes tired. This was taking a toll on every member of the Aeulis family. Raina made her way towards him and wasted no time in throwing her arms around his middle.

Gilbar felt relief flood his old body, his own arms coming up and bringing his daughter tightly against his chest. He also felt his own eyes start to swell up with tears, "I'm sorry, Raina."

Raina looked up, her pale hand coming up and wiping away a tear that slid down her father's aged face, "I know, Father."

Behind the father and daughter duo, Tobias laughed giddily in his uncle Carrden's arms. Because of his age, he did not fully understand the circumstances. However, overtime he would come to understand. Meya stood beside her younger brother, watching the exchange.

"I'm sorry to interrupt the goodbyes, however the Lord Hand wishes to take leave." A knight spoke, his tone anything but remorseful.

Gilbar and Raina made their way closer to the others. Raina pulled her sister and Tobias in a hug, upset that a proper goodbye could not be said. Lusia kissed her daughter on the forehead, making Raina promise to write. Giving everyone one last strained smile, Raina accepted her brother's hand stepping up the carriage steps. Once she sat down, she watched with her bloodshot and teary eyes as the faces of her loved ones disappeared as the horses pulled the carriage forward. Carrden smiled sadly at his sister, sharing the same feeling, and grabbed her hand offering his support.

The Lord was uninterested in the exchange and said nothing as he closed his eyes and waited for sleep to overcome him. He could care less about the Aelius siblings. However, this marriage between Aemond and Raina was prevalent. The Hightower family needed the money and resources that Sunset Harbor provided. Otto was aware he was pushing his own agenda, but with the King's health declining and Princess Rhaenyra isolated with her demented husband Daemon, there was no one to stop him from pursuing his ambitions. 

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