❝ There was a feeling of inevitability when I met you. And our lives were fated to converge like some cosmic dance. And I think I had to break your heart and you had to break mine. ❞
As Cressida Black's lungs ceased to draw breath, Aurelia Martell's...
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Day bled into night, hastened by the overgrowth of the trees above them. Rhaenyra's anger quickly simmered into a dull sadness, and Edrick didn't know what else to do but follow her and let her lay her heart out before him. They spoke in Valyrian at his insistence — for all the Kingsguard were trusted with the secrets of the royal family and that Rhaenyra trusted Bethany, he wouldn't take risks.
They tied their horses to a low-hanging branch while the world was still only a dark grey. He and Ser Criston spoke a few, quick words, making a plan for the night. As the kingsguard left to hunt them dinner, Edrick quickly got to work, gathering any dry branches he could find.
Starting the fire was more difficult than he'd anticipated, but eventually, he managed to create enough friction between a thin rope from his saddle bag and a sturdy stick to produce a spark. After that, the task was much simpler, blowing on the spark until it singed the kindling and grew into larger flames.
He sat down, pleased with himself. Rhaenyra and Bethany watched him the whole time, an unreadable look on his cousin's face. They remained in silence a long silence, warm orange light encasing them and separating them from the darkness of the night. It was not a comfortable sort of silence. Edrick felt every second of it pass agonizingly slowly and sensed as Rhaenyra stared at him, waiting for something — a reaction that he didn't want to give her.
They'd spoken for hours before, but not once had the conversation steered away from Rhaenyra's impending betrothal and her frustration at her father's plans. He hadn't realized how little he could say to her now. Not with all the years that had passed, with how she had cried and raged at him during his visit for Alicent and her father's wedding celebrations. Not with how he had told her everything would be alright like one would soothe an unruly child and then left. Left her to the mercies of the court, to be isolated by the Hand as his daughter's womb swelled with a child. Left her to be whispered about when Alicent brought forth a son who threatened her claim. A son who they now were celebrating with more lavish festivities than she'd received for her most recent namedays.
What could he say to her, when that was on his mind? When he felt like he had failed her? There was a wall between them now, and he didn't know how to bring it down. He didn't think he could.
"Are you well?" Rhaenyra eventually asked, breaking the continuous whirring of bugs around them with her pleasant voice. Edrick tore his eyes away from the fire. The orange light illuminated Rhaenyra's relaxed face in a godly way. He felt something tighten in his chest.
"Yes," he answered, unsure of what else to say. The silence stretched between them again, until Rhaenyra sighed and spoke again.
"How is your keep?" Edrick's eyes fluttered shut at Bethany's voice. He leaned back, resting his back on the tree trunk behind him. The surface was hard and rigid, digging into his back through his clothing.
"Thriving. We negotiated some new trade deals recently."
She made a non-commital sound, before scoffing a few moments later and the sound of fabric ruffling drew his stare up to see that she was now standing, shadows darkening her face as her gown was iluminated by the fire. "I don't know what's going on here and for the sake of being able to answer truthfully when my father asks, I want to remain deaf and blind to it," she sighed. "I will take a walk near the camp, but far enough away to not hear you while you sort whatever this is."
