✓ | POOR JUDGMENT (A.FORRESTER)

Quiver.Chapter Sixteen.

"Arthur, I cannot thank you enough for this." Rodrik stated, placing a firm hand of appreciation on Arthur's shoulder. "It is no trouble, Rodrik. If it keeps her from causing trouble through the entire North, then I am doing the Kingdom a service," Arthur replied coyly, sending a priceless smirk in the young girls direction. She merely smacked at his arm aimlessly, a pout forming at his insults. Though he was right, she would sooner reek havok throughout the North than make it to White Harbour in one piece. "I'm more concerned about what you'll be getting up to with me gone." She quipped, eyeing him with a death stare with enough strength to disarm a thousand men. "Me? Causing trouble? You must be confused, love." Arthur joked innocently, with Rodrik's laughter from their side egging the pair on. "Enough, be gone. Or you'll miss the boat." Rodrik chuckled, pulling his younger sister in for one last hug. "Be safe," he whispered, gripping her tightly as if never wishing to let go. "You too, brother." She sighed, enjoying the feel of her brother's familiar arms. "And don't kill too many Whitehills without me or your brother," She added with a laugh, pulling away from the hug and sparing a saddened smile in his direction. Then came the barrelling young girl, who had lost too much already to lose her only remaining sister as well. "Must you go?" She questioned, a frown on her face as singular tears escaped her growing eyes; a gaze that was too similar to Ethan's for Cynthia to bear. "Aye, I must make sure Asher returns safely." She responded, hugging onto the small girl gripping her waist. Talia was shorter than her, not by much, but short enough to not reach her height. The two girls hugged for the longest moment, not wanting to be separate for even a moment. "Look after Rodrik for me," Cynthia smiled, whispering to the young girl and making her laugh one final time.

Turning to her mother, Cynthia smiled again, hugging the older woman with as much love as the others. "Be careful out there, Cyn." She mumbled, holding her in her embrace for a moment. "I will." Cynthia replied, trying her best to disclose the obvious sadness of the situation. Pulling back from the only mother she had ever known, Cynthia smiled at them all, before finally looking back to Arthur. "Ready Quiver?" She asked, another coy smile escaping onto her otherwise sad expression. "As I'll ever be, come on Glover." Arthur chimed, turning to attend to his horse. Smiling at the waiting Forresters, Cynthia went to join her companion on the road ahead, clambering up onto the steed she would ride there. "Iron From Ice." She heard from behind her, Talia's small face proving to look a lot sterner than it had done moments ago. Once again Cynthia found herself proud of the strength that young girl possessed, and found that she saw a great deal of herself in the her. Which may prove useful in the time of woe the family faced when on the brink of war. "Iron From Ice." Cynthia replied, her smile shrinking though not fading. Once ready, Arthur and Cynthia set off, leaving Ironrath behind. Cynthia was unsure as to when she would see her home again, but knew that when she did return, there would be another Forrester ready to fight.

"Do you remember the farmer's boy, at Rillwater Crossing? The one with the dark hair and big build, used to torment you?" Arthur spoke up, once they were securely within the shelter of the Wolfswood. "Indeed, used to want Mira's hand in marriage," Cynthia laughed, recalling the many times the big boy was turned down by the timid yet stern Forrester. "Aye him, what ever happened with him?" Arthur chuckled, basking in the shared memory. "Asher caved in his teeth." Cynthia replied simply, a proud smile slipping onto her blank face. "Ha! Why am I not surprised?" Arthur exclaimed, shaking his head with an annoyed grin. "What do you mean?" Cynthia inquired, facing her partner on the second horse, as he rode slightly ahead. "Asher beat any boy that went near you, anyone that wasn't a Forrester best fear for their lives around you," Arthur replied over his shoulder, chuckling at whatever he wished to say, "just look at me." He added, continuing forward on his trott.

Oblivious to what Arthur was implying, Cynthia followed his actions so that she may return to his side. "He was bullying me," She retorted, defending Asher's reasoning as best she could, yet she remained blind to what Arthur clearly shot. "And I was dancing with you, not quite the same thing is it?" Arthur stated, the dim smile not slipping from his mouth. "So what are you saying? Asher hated you both because you were close to me, in whatever way? How does that make any sense?" Cynthia argued further, noting Arthur's faint chuckle at her ignorance. "He was always protective over the things he liked," Arthur mused, not looking at the stunned girl that rode at his side. "Of course he liked me, we grew up as siblings," Cynthia continued, though now seeing the fault in her logic. "He was never like that with Mira, or Talia, only you." Arthur said so blatantly that it was almost completely obvious what he meant, and proved Cynthia's oblivious tendencies as she had not seen it until now. "I think you've got this wrong Asher wouldn't-" "Wouldn't he? Can you not think of any other occasion where he might have hinted to it? Not even my name day where he would dance with you, and only you? Or all the times he would only speak with you when he was distressed or angered? Not once did it ever occur to you?" Arthur persisted, stopping on his horse and suddenly looking a lot firmer about his suspicions than he had done before.

At that thought Cynthia paused, recalling as much as she could about her favoured Forrester in hopes she could discover anything to fault Arthur's logic. She had loved Asher since she turned 10, and in the 8 years that followed this was all she ever wanted to hear, that there was a small chance he liked her beyond sibling affection. But considering the circumstances, it was not the ideal time to be hearing of such a theory, nor did Cynthia want to relish in it until she was certain he was safe. But that didn't help the on going scavenge for memories linked to Arthur's accusations. There had been plenty of times the pair had been closer than any of the other siblings, but until now Cynthia had dared not look at that in too much depth. There was the occasion when they had been playing hide and seek within the grove, and she had wandered off in search of a place to hide; she'd been clambering through bushes when she'd gone to trip, and suddenly two strong arms held her so that she would not fall. It had been Asher, immediately there to catch her before she could be harmed in any way. Then there was the occasion he'd climbed a tree to show Cynthia he could go higher than Rodrik, and when he came to the ground, he held an immaculate and beautiful flower that he had tucked into her mess of hair with such a gentle hand she would never have thought it to be the same Asher whom had moments before beaten her bully to a pulp.

There was one of her favourite memories, where Talia practised her singing in the Great Hall, in front of Mira and Cynthia, only to be interrupted by two of the Forrester boys barrelling in. Asher had urged Talia to continue her singing, offering his hand to Mira who danced with her brother cheerfully whilst Ethan and Cynthia span around the room whilst laughing their heads off. It was only after a few moments that Asher came to retrieve his rightful partner from his younger brother, and danced with her endlessly. Without any assistance of alcohol or unknown company, Asher was a brilliant dancer, and they danced until the sun was setting over Ironrath, and the room fell golden with the sun's warming rays. Cynthia, tiredly, walked to the window, leaning against a wooden banister as she marveled the beautiful view. The twins and Mira made for Rodrik's chamber, hoping he would join in their gathered group, but Asher remained. He stood behind Cynthia and gazed over her shoulder. He'd reached for her hand and held it in his own for ages without uttering a word. It was only when Lord and Lady Forrester went to enter the Hall that Asher did anything at all. He leaned in close and pecked her cheek softly, whispering "You're a great dancer," Before vanishing out of the Hall entirely.

At these memories, Cynthia could see where Arthur may have gotten his suspicions, yet she refused to agree. She knew if it had been the case he would not have been caught lying with Gwyn Whitehill, like he had so foolishly done. She knew he would not have left without so much as an argument in her case, as she knew he so desperately wished to stay, at any cost.

Shaking her head, Cynthia focused more on the road ahead than the thoughts toying with her mind as she rode forth. Asher, the one man and only man she had ever dreamed of being with, had not loved her, nor did he like her as Arthur persisted her did. He was merely an affectionate and protective brother. Perhaps he favoured her more as she was not his flesh and blood, whereas Talia and Mira shared his parents. Though it might have just been a result of the things they shared in common that had him so caught on her. Whatever it was, she refused to acknowledge it, no matter how much her heart waned from having an unrequited love for this specific Forrester, or the lack of his presence, she would not believe the conspiracy Arthur taunted to start. Not until he was at least there to prove it wrong.