Growing Strong

Avoiding

It's been weeks. Weeks since Julianna Strong had visited Gwayne Hightower. Weeks since Alicent had come and told Julianna that her father was looking for her. And then Gwayne hasn't been able to speak to her since. She had stopped visiting him while he was bedridden and even after he was allowed to walk around the Red Keep. When they would see each other from across the hall she would quickly turn and run away from him. 

Questions ran through Gwaynes head. Had he done something to offend her. Did she get in trouble from visiting him so much? What had happened to cause this drift between him and Julianna? 

Now Gwayne sat in his chambers with his sister as she spoke about her time at  court. "And then Rhaenyra-" "Do you know why Julianna has been avoiding me. Have i done something wrong?" Gwayne questions his sister. Alicent stares at her older brother her  mouth going into a thin line. "Has someone said something about us spending time together?" Gwayne continues. Alicent becoming anxious due to her brothers questions begin to pick at her nails and nervous tick she had developed over the years. 

Alicent knows why Julianna has been avoiding her brother. She was aware of her fathers interest in her friend and the fact that Julianna came to her chambers later that  fateful night and asked her if she had any idea about her fathers proposal. Alicent of course knew her father had a liking towards Julianna a liking that he shouldn't but she had no clue that he would ask for her hand in marriage and she could not even fathom the idea of her Lord Lyonel Strong agreeing to marry his only daughter from his second wife. 

"Do you know father intends to marry again?" Alicent asks trying to ease into the topic. Gwayne groans at the change of subject that his sister started. "Good for him, but I didn't ask about father." Gwayen states staring at his sister who fidgets in her seat. 

"He has already found the lady he will marry. "She says ignoring her brothers glare. "Oh and who is the lucky lady that has the honor of marrying our father." Gwayne says sarcastically. "Your not allowed to be mad at me." Alicent says causing Gwaynes brows to frown. "Why would I be mad at you?" He ask concerned. "Jut promise me you won't be mad at me." She begs. "Fine I promise. Who dose father intend to marry." Gwayne says sitting up straight in his seat.

"Father intends to marry... Lady Julianna Strong." As soon as the words left Alicents mouth Gwayne was standing and running out the door in anger.  

Julianna was sat in the garden stitching two pieces of white silk together. If she wasn't allowed to have a choice of whom she marries or how her wedding was going to be she instead that she be allowed to make her own dress. So here she was sewing her fabrics together to make her dress before adding any details. 

"You didn't think to tell me that you will be marrying my father. Therefor becoming my step-mother." Julianna looks up towards the voice seeing Gwayne Hightower staring down at her with anger and sadness in his eyes. 

"I-I. I should go." Julianna says quickly standing up to leave on for Gwayne to grab her arm. Not in a way that would hurt her but more in a pleading way begging her to stay. "Why didn't you tell me." Gwayne ask his voice soft. "I didn't want you to look at me differently. I didn't want you to look at me like your fathers wife but as who I am. I didn't want to lose you." Julianna says as tears begin to fall down her face.  Gwayne turns her around bringing her into a hug. He places his head on top of hers holding her tightly. "You won't lose me I will be there for you as a. A friend. Like you were there for me while I was bedridden." Gwayne says pulling away from her to look at her face.  With that they embrace once more. 

Unknown to the two Otto Hightower watched from the balcony a scowl on his face. 

***

Gwayne is not happy. Otto is not Happy. Julianna is not Happy.
What is Happiness in House of the Dragon?

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