✓ | POOR JUDGMENT (A.FORRESTER)

Old Friend.Chapter Two.

  A/N: Really sorry I didn't update, kinda lost the enthusiasm for this story but i'm back! Will update again soon i promise hope you liked it.

The anticipation was killing her; with Talia humming at her side, Cynthia was hardly restraining from barging into the Great Hall and hugging her once close friend. She had heard awful things about what had happened in the war and was merely thankful that Gared had returned home in one piece. Rodrik and Lord Gregor hadn't been so lucky. Talia had been distraught upon hearing about the death of her brother and father, and even with Gared home again she couldn't hide the sadness she felt. Neither could Lady Elyssa. With mourning her late husband and eldest son, she was struggling with looking after her other children; thus why she was thankful for Cynthia being here.

Cynthia was Lord and Lady Forrester's ward; she had been adopted by them when she was merely 4 years of age from Lord Galbart Glover, her father whom had given her away when his other children had died. Cynthia did not know much of her past life or family, but she hadn't really cared. She had a perfect life with the Forresters. She had developed a great relationship with her new family, but now that was all falling apart.

Placing a loving hand upon Talia's head, Cynthia let out a sigh, trying her best not to think of anything in particular. She was saddened by the loss of one of her closest friends, and her adopted father, and with Asher having been gone for so long, the last thing Cynthia wanted to do was think about any of it. The only thing serving as a good distraction was the dream she had not long awoken from. It was distressing to think that after so long, such a vivid dream had caused her to think about the blond haired boy whom she missed so much. She couldn't help but be phased by it, constantly thinking about him. For all she knew he could be dead as well, joining his father and brother in the afterlife. She dared not think about it, trying her best to focus on anything else. Ethan and Talia had wanted to go into the Grove that afternoon to play hide and seek with Ryon, and she now considered going with them. Perhaps it would do well for her to get outside and breathe some fresh air for once.

Without warning, the door beside her flew open, revealing Lady Elyssa whom looked entirely surprised to see the two of them still standing outside. Her face softened upon seeing her daughter and instead she bared a smile, relieving Cynthia more than ever. "May we see him now, mother?" Talia piped up, ceasing her humming to speak eagerly. "You may," Lady Elyssa said softly, watching as Talia dashed into the room, leaving her mother and Cynthia alone in the corridor. "He can't stay, can he? Not after what he did..." Cynthia sighed, knowing full well that Gared had avenged his family, though that was not how the Whitehills would see it. "No, sadly he can't." Elyssa said with a disappointed expression, before she followed her daughter into the great hall. Trying to hide her disappointment, Cynthia walked through the door, letting loose a smile at the sight of her once good friend. "Gared!" She gushed, walking quickly over to him and engulfing him in a pleasant hug. "Miss me that much, did ya?" Gared chuckled, wrapping his arms around her. They had been like brother and sister growing up, neither of them were really part of the Forrester family, yet here they were. "I'm glad you're home safely," She smiled, releasing him and glancing down at the bandage on his leg. "How bad is it, Maester?" She questioned quickly, turning to Ortengryn who stood beside Lady Elyssa smiling. "He can keep the leg, but sadly there's nothing we can do about the face," Maester Ortengryn stated, chuckling softly along with the others. The light humour in the room made it easier to look past all of the horridness that had come upon the family over the past week, having heard the news of Rodrik and Gregor, there wasn't much that could detract from that awfulness, apart from this.