The Silent Knight

-12-

I stand leaning against a tree, waiting for Marisia to make her way to stand in front of Matthias. The Queen wanted this to be short with only a select few present. I know she wishes this was different. 

If she were to have a brother, she would most likely be marrying him, as her parents and ones before them have done. Sealing their Targaryen bloodline with blood and fire. Targaryens have dappled in other houses before. This was only if their spouse died or if they were to have an only child as Marisia is. 

I look at him as he stands still, his father officiating the wedding. I rest my hand on the butt of my sword in case something were to happen during their wedding. Matthias was granted a knight of his choosing but since he thinks so highly of himself he refused the service of the Queens Guard. 

He wears a gold suit, lion pins plated on each of his shoulders. He looks ridiculous. The audience turns as the Queen walks into the garden. I gulp as I see her in all red gown. It is thin, effortlessly hugging her figure. Her white hair falls perfectly as two thin braids are tied from the front to the back of her head. Her eyes look directly towards mine as she walks towards Matthias. 

For a moment I pretend as though it was me standing in his place. I begin to wonder if she is thinking the same. I have always believed her to be beautiful beyond perfection but seeing her like this made me feel a way I have never felt before. Before I become more obviously choked up, I clear my throat and look down at my feet. 

When I look back up I see her eyes on him. She smiles widely as if she is excited or happy to be seeing him. He grabs both of her arms as she turns towards him. Her back is facing me and I see her shoulders relax. I clench my jaw and look away towards the small crowd. My eyes landing on a concerned Rose Stark. 

The gaze we share between each other allows me to relax. I cannot show any emotion as it was mandatory I leave my helmet behind for this ceremony. She keeps her eyes on me as if she is comforting me as she did the day of the kings passing. I forget where I am for a moment, keeping myself focused on Rose and not what is happening beside me. Sadness fills her eyes as she can see how difficult it is for me not to break down in front of everyone. 

My heart beats ferociously in my chest. I look around frantically with my eyes as my head stays still, feeling the need to escape. My heart begins to pound in my ears as I see Rose move slightly in her chair as if she was going to come help me. I snap out of my agonizing daze as I hear clapping. I turn back towards them as they pull away from their kiss. I feel something wet fall down my cheek. 

I allow it to fall down to my chin then onto the ground beneath me, knowing that if I move I will create a scene that will ruin us once and for all. I watch as Matthias picks her up, as I would when I would catch her from the tree I now lean my back on. Her favorite tree, the one her father would forbid her from climbing. She only climbed the tree when we would play in this very garden, the one she is now wedding herself in. She laughs and kisses his cheek as he walks her back up the steps and into the castle. With hand movements I order one of my Queens Guard to follow them to ensure their safety. 

Once everyone has left the garden but Rose and I, I fall to my knees. She rushes over to me from her seat and holds my head against her legs as I wrap my arms around them,  sobbing into her black gown. She runs her hand through my hair as my sobbing turns into hysterics. 

"Maddox, its okay your'e okay." She keeps repeating in a worried tone,  trying to pick my head up to prevent me from falling completely to the ground. She proceeds to sit on the ground next to me as my head falls in her lap. She shushes me while rocking me back and forth to calm me down. 

We stay like this for awhile as my chest begins to hurt from crying. She moves the short strands of brown hair out of my face and begins to wipe my tears away. I shudder as I try to calm myself down, feeling nothing but an emptiness surrounding my entire being. 

"You must get yourself together before someone comes out here." She says trying to pull me up. I feel lifeless, as if a part of me has been ripped away. I do as she says and stand, my legs feeling wobbly. Now, I grow angry. 

"I cannot do this Rose. I can not live this way!" I yell as I place my hand on my chest. I turn quickly and punch the all too familiar tree due to my uncontrollable anger. I feel her grab me, turning me towards her. 

"Snap out of it Maddox!" She says holding onto my face tightly as my entire body shakes out of torment. 

My eyes go wide as she breathes slowly, I reciprocate. Feeling a calmness swallow me whole. I move out of her grasp and quickly look down at my hand as bark and blood covers my knuckles. I look at the tree and back at a teary eyed Rose. 

"I'm sorry". Tears begin to form again as Rose pulls me in for a hug. "I'm so sorry." I say softly as I cry into the crook of her neck. I feel her hands make their way through the strands on the back of my head holding them there as I continue to fall apart.