Hey Stephen / Larys Strong (3)

3. Prince Charming

Hey Stephen? Larys felt like an idiot of course someone as beautiful and smart as Willa Swann would have a husband. Gods he was so foolish. He went home alone and collapsed into bed. Tully was married now and he was alone. Always alone.

Larys tried and failed at pushing this Stephen person from his mind.

Stephen Swann? Who was he? What did he look like? Tall and handsome and whole no doubt. Larys grit his teeth, he was never getting to sleep.

Willa had been so sweet to him, they talked, he helped her get extra food- Us- willa had said this would last us, he thought, stupidly, that she might have meant us as in them, he wasnt thinking US meant another person all together, one that would compete with Larys for WIlla's heart.

But there was no competition. Willa's heart was clearly already stolen and claimed by another. Larys clenched his fists and punched into his mattress. 

He got up and debated going back to the castle and seeing if they had the log of all the houses and the unions. He would see how long they had been married- larys hadnt seen willa with any man for as long as he knew her, she never spoke of anyone. Not that they had real conversations in the past but still. A husband would have come up with all of Larys sort of almost, kind of flirting.

Stephen? Fuck stephen... she probably was. Larys felt murderous. 

He lay back down and closed his eyes but sleep didnt come. Stephen. Hey Stephen... her words echoed in his mind on loop as he pictured her kissing her husband and giving him the food they had picked out, imaged this stephen person taking off Willa's dress and kissing every inch of her. 

Now Larys was both turned on at the image he had pictured of WIlla naked and furious that another got to be the one to love her right. 

"Your brother is in a mood" Mallory remarked. 

"What?" Tully's head snapped around. "Larys?"

"Morning, love." Larys whispered. "How are you feeling today?" He forced a smile, but Tully saw the sleepless bags under his eyes. 

"What happened last night with Willa?" Tully questioned. 

"You know this stage of pregnancy can be exhausting, are you eating enough? Remembering to stay off your feet? Give yourself a break?" Larys questioned. 

"Larys what happened last night after we left?" Tully begged. "Please I'm your sister, tell me." 

"Nothing, I walked her home and when I got home I couldnt sleep. My leg was bothering me." Larys offered. "I'm fine I promise." Larys assured. "Just need a good nights rest tonight." 

"Okay." Tully agreed unconvinced but she wanted to believe him. 

"Good morning." Willa waved as she passed and Larys watched her go. Tully nudged him. 

"Good morning." He croaked out. 

"She seems lovely, she is beautiful too." Tully whispered linking her arm with Larys. "You walked her home you say?"

"Nothing happened, it was late and dark and I didnt want her to get hurt, the streets can be dangerous." Larys offered. 

"Because you are a gentleman." Tully agreed. "Are you going to see her again?"

"It was pure coincidence that we ran into each other." Larys countered. 

"Go run into on accident again then." Tully urged. Larys shook his head giving her hand a squeeze. "Larys you were there for me through everything, I do mean everything." She added pulling him to a stop. "I love you so much, you are the best man in the world. She would be lucky to have you."

"Thank you, Tully, but I think its a bit more complicated than that." Larys countered. 

"How so?" Tully pondered. She waved to Luke at the tables in the study. He beamed back at her, jumping up from his work. 

"Its just different love. Dont worry about me." Larys nudged her forward. "Your husband missed you dearly." Larys gaze shifted to Willa on the balcony, he found himself moving to her. He didnt know what he was going to say or ask, he knew what he wanted to ask... who the fuck is Stephen? But when he got to her side she smiled at him and he forgot how to speak. 

"It's such a lovely day." Willa whispered leaning on the railings. "It's funny, I always feel like a princess when I'm in the castle, but Cinderella, you know? Pre prince charming." 

"I think that was Snow White." Larys recalled. "Snow white and Prince Charming... I have a little sister." He reminded her, as willa laughed out. Larys fell in love with that laugh. 

"I think you are right." Willa agreed. "But out here," she added. "This is like the Cinderella moment, when the sun hits your face and the handsome man comes up to you and everything just falls into place." 

"You are certainly beautiful enough to be a storybook princess." Larys agreed. He should have asked, she called him handsome after all but he didnt want to ruin things bringing up Stephen.