Light the Way

CHAPTER 14. between waters

SAMIRA

Samira sat in the corner of her sister's chambers, small and unnoticed, as she often was. The soft flicker of the hearth's flames cast shadows that danced along the stone walls, giving the room an eerie glow. Alina lay on her bed, curled in on herself like a wilting flower. Her beautiful hair, once the envy of every girl in Oldtown, now lay in tangled knots. The vibrant spark that always shone in her eyes had dimmed to a hollow, vacant stare.

Samira wrapped her arms around her knees, pulling them to her chest as she watched her sister. She didn't know what to say. Didn't know how to help. She had never seen Alina like this before—broken, defeated. The proud, adventurous girl who once smiled so easily was now reduced to tears, her sobs quiet but relentless, like the waves crashing against the Hightower far below.

Samira's heart ached, but it wasn't just from sadness. It was from a deep, gnawing fear. She had always looked up to Alina, always admired her for her bravery, her grace. Alina was the one who could dance at court with the poise of a queen and still laugh like a child chasing the wind. But now, that laughter was gone, and Samira didn't know if it would ever return.

The room smelled of lavender and old tears, a faint trace of the oils the handmaidens had left behind after Alina's bath. The scent was meant to soothe, but it did nothing for the heavy weight in the air. Even the once bright sunlight that streamed through the windows seemed dulled, as if the world itself had mourned with Alina.

Samira watched her sister's chest rise and fall in uneven breaths. Her grief was a palpable thing, suffocating the room. Alina hadn't spoken much in days, and when she did, her words were empty, lifeless. Samira bit her lip, wanting to say something comforting, but the words stuck in her throat. What could she say to ease a pain like this?

She glanced at her hands, which were clasped tightly in her lap. She had always been quiet, always kept to herself. She wasn't like Alina, who could charm anyone with a smile or a kind word. Samira preferred the company of her books, the quiet comfort of solitude. But now, sitting here in the oppressive silence of her sister's sorrow, she wished she were different. She wished she knew how to help.

A part of her envied Alina, even now. Alina had loved someone—truly, deeply. She had given her heart to Robb Stark, and in return, she had known a love that burned brighter than any star. It was a love that had left her shattered, but Samira still couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like to love someone that much. To love so deeply that losing them could break you.

Samira had never known that kind of love. She was only twelve, but she was smart enough to know that she was different. While other girls her age whispered about handsome knights and their secret crushes, Samira found herself more interested in ancient histories and the arcane mysteries of the world. She had always been content in her quiet corner, her thoughts her only companions. But now, watching Alina, she wondered if she was missing something.

Could she ever love someone the way Alina had loved Robb?

The thought made her chest tighten with a strange mix of fear and longing. She wasn't sure she wanted to know.

Alina shifted on the bed, her face half-buried in the pillows, and let out a low, broken sigh. Samira's heart twisted painfully. She wanted to do something, anything, to ease her sister's suffering. But she felt so small, so helpless.

Carefully, Samira rose from her chair and padded softly to the edge of the bed. She knelt beside her sister, hesitating for a moment before reaching out to gently take Alina's hand. Alina didn't react at first, her fingers limp and cold in Samira's grasp. But after a moment, she squeezed back, so faintly that Samira almost missed it.