Three Fates Bound By Scars

Father, I must disobey.

Arryn's lungs still burned though at least now it was far more bearable, he'd retrieved some of the tonic menders used for scarred lungs. The pain was lesser now though his chest still ached when he took a deep breath. He comforted himself with the fact he could have had a much worse flare up, if he was careful he might be rid of the lingering pain by the end of the week. Elias had insisted on being around him as much as possible these last three days, constantly watching him.

He must have been reminded of what it was like when he was younger, I failed him there too.

Half a hundred times over the course of a decade before he'd sent Elias off to be a general, his brother had witnessed the flare ups. He always made it clear to Mylar he didn't want to be disturbed but Elias wailed or screamed or kicked until he got in. The first time he'd managed to get inside Arryn's bedroom and seen the blue blood staining his chest, he weeped. Thinking it was the plague again, Elias had begged Arryn not to die like mother.

Arryn had assuaged Elias's fears and explained his chronic illness, telling Elias that this knowledge must never leave his mouth. Unfortunately after that, Elias had refused to be kept out by Mylar to the point that Arryn eventually told the old man to give up. Elias never touched him and never got close as Arryn instructed but he stayed in the room, quiet company to the pain in his chest. At times Elias handed him a clean cloth to cough into or brought him tonics from across the room, always Arryn wished he didn't have to see it at all.

Now Elias simply refused to leave him alone until he was sure his brother was well, much to Arryn's deep annoyance. He was strolling through the east end of the royal courtyard, lined with his favored white roses. Being spring, the roses would thrive now more than they had in winter, through much work he'd managed keeping them alive. A couple attendants followed at a distance, the courtyard strewn with guards. The lesser rank after his royal bodyguards watched him, they parted to either side when Elias came through.

Elias was careful to avoid brushing against him as he came to his side, following his gaze to the roses.

"Did you see her?" Arryn asked.

"I did, I apologized for being so absent." He grimaced.

Ever the sensitive child.

"She'd be a fool not to forgive you."

Elias's eyebrows lifted and he chuckled, "Were you just nice? Without any snark too."

Arryn rolled his eyes, "Remind me not to let it happen again."

Elias smiled that foolish grin he loved so much and they started walking down the isle of rose bushes.

"It's been two days, I don't need to be treated like a child today too." He complained.

"You still wince when you breathe a little too deep, I'm not comfortable leaving you as alone as you'd like." Elias whispered into his ear.

He was seconds from lecturing Elias on the fact that he was King and would not be lectured by a prince on how alone he was or wasn't to be when Elias started speaking instead.

"When do you intend to see the prisoner?"

Arryn shrugged, "Tomorrow, I'm sure spending the past two days and this one in a cold cell will loosen her tongue."

Elias turned to meet his eyes, they blazed with rage and determination. "I want to come with you."

"Absolutely not, you're barely under control as it is. I won't have you killing our prisoner in a shift state." Arryn hissed.

"That's not fair." Elias muttered.

What is?

Arryn sighed, pain flaring in his chest for a moment, "Can you promise me, with no doubt in your mind, that you can keep yourself under control?"