from the ashes - hotd

sīkuda

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Carrden walked down a long corridor, his boots smacking against the stone. It had only been four days since Raina and he arrived in King's Landing. He was not sure he could get used to the capital. While he liked to think Sunset Harbor rivaled the capitol in size, it did not. King's Landing was a tightly compacted city, overflowing with people. Everyone here was a stranger to him, eager to further themselves however they could. There was no sense of warmth in the capitol, everyone was worried about themselves and not of each other.

He was able to write a letter to his father, telling him that Raina and himself arrived. But he kept the letter pretty short, he never knew who would read it before it reached Sunset Harbor. Otto Hightower definitely seemed like someone who would read letters not meant for his eyes. The much older man never ceased to make Carrden angry. It was like the Hand of the King had this aura around him that sparked Carrden's desire to hit him. Or perhaps it was the promise he made to his father, that if his sister did not marry Aemond, that Sunset Harbor would burn.

Either way, Carrden hated him.

It was very amusing to him, that even in a new place that he could always find his sister in the library. As he opened the large wooden door, he was greeted by his sister curled up in a chair by the slightly ajar window. Her ginger hair cascaded over her shoulder and over the side of the armchair. Her eyes focused on the page of words in front of her. Carrden had to clear his throat, as she was engrossed in her book to notice him.

"Carrden!" her freckled face smiled at him.

"It's like you never left home," he joked, coming to stand beside her chair, getting a beautiful view of the Narrow Sea.

"The library is much bigger here than at home." Raina argued, placing a spare sheet of parchment in the book to save her place before closing it, "If you've come to make fun of me, excuse yourself."

Located in the middle of the castle, the large room had countless aisles of books. The beautiful artwork was placed on the walls that were not occupied by books, and along the wall that Raina sat were large floor-length windows that let all the natural light flood the room. Standing right in front of the window lets one see into the endless Narrow Sea, but also the orange roofs of the city. It was truly an alluring spot to read, and Carrden realized why his sister liked this spot so much.

Carrden pouted, "Me? Make fun of you? Never!"

Raina glared at her older brother, "Carrden please, what is it?"

"Well, I was wondering if my kind and sweet sister would accompany me on a walk through the gardens. And then you can come back and read all the books you would like."

Raina looked out the window, in thought, before turning back to her brother, "I would love to."

Carrden grinned, holding out his arm. Raina grabbed it, leaving her book in the chair she was previously occupying.

The gardens were always a pleasing sight. Obviously very well kept, the flowers were in full bloom, and a sweet smell drifted down the path that Raina and Carrden walked. After feeling the warmth of the sun on her pale skin, Raina was happy Carrden made her come outside. It was a truly beautiful day, and the next time she decided to read she would come outside instead.

"I sent a raven to Father, to tell him of our arrival," Carrden spoke.

Raina grinned, "That is great! I was thinking of sending one myself. Perhaps to Mother though-"

"Sister, perhaps you could leave the letters to me?"

Raina looked at her brother confused, "Why? Am I not allowed to send my own letters?"