✓ | 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝑾𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝑻𝒐 𝑹𝒖𝒍𝒆 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 (R.STARK 2/3)

Chapter Five::Welcome Back

"Maybe that should be your new nickname," Delvin mused, his hand interlinked with his sister's as they walked to breakfast, not abandoning the other's side at all. He smirked at her, a taunting smile that she had grown used to so quickly. "Maybe," She smiled back, her speed quickening when she smelt the gristle of bacon hoving in the air outside the Great Hall. "My children," Their mother exclaimed warmly, holding out her arms to them both, as she waited in the entrance to the large room. It was, to their surprise, lit up with a vast amount of candles, looking more homely than it had ever done before. "Mother," They both mumbled, in a dull, interested and mimicked tone. Neither of them particularly liked the woman, and no matter how much effort she put into welcoming them back to their home, their hatred was unlikely to simmer down anytime soon. Raina didn't bother with any further acknowledgement to the woman, and instead dropped her brothers grasp in order to venture into the hall where food might be found. She hadn't eaten a real meal in over a year. Sure she'd eaten in the King's company, but nothing on the road could ever beat the breakfast served at Deepwood Motte. She took her old seat at the furthest end of the table, where the youngest had been taught to sit, and where, conveniently, she was the furthest member of the family from her father, which was probably a bonus when considering how much she despised the man. 

It didn't take long for her brother to take up the seat beside her, him only vaguely paying their mother any attention when entering the hall, and was instead far too focused on the food lining the table to care what kind of introduction she had prepared for them. 

The two Glovers had spent the night in Raina's room, curled up atop her bed like they did when they were children, whispering between themselves into the early hours of the morning, not wanting to close their eyes, only wanting to preserve their time together. Raina still had failed to get much rest, and had been thankful for the distraction of her brother to keep her from thinking too much. She could still see him- whenever she closed her eyes she could picture it as though she was there, and that made her feel sick. It haunted her. Like a nightmare she couldn't wake up from. So the last thing she wanted to do was close her eyes for a duration longer than a brief moment, in fear of having to live through such an event again. She couldn't watch him die. Not after already seeing it first hand, seeing it on more occasions, when she was supposed to be safe from it, would surely drive Raina mad. She supposed Delvin felt the same, as he had failed to get any sleep either, and had spent most of the night merely talking to Raina about all sorts of things that she'd somehow forgotten over the years. 

She glanced to the side at which he was sat, already tucking into the thick layer of food atop the ebony surface, and only briefly caught sight of the relaxation setting in on his features. They were home, and for a small period of time, they were alright, and everything was, more or less, as they had left it before things became hectic. Raina was about to start eating too, when Greyson barrelled in, same brown plates rattling as he charged into the Great Hall, and his moppy hair windswept back across his head, revealing the same piercing dark eyes as their mother. "What is it?" Their mother asked impatiently, flinging down the fork she had previously been gripping anxiously. "Finn," Greyson heaved, his breath departing from his lungs, expelled during his run up the long stairwell at the front of the keep. 

It was the simplest thing either child had heard all morning, yet upon hearing his name, both Raina and Delvin jolted to life, bouncing from their seats and sprinting past their uncle to the door. Their brother was alive. He had come home, was all Raina could think as she bolted past her eldest brother, and began down the stairs until she caught sight of him. Finn bared no smile, but gazed up at the young girl with an expression riddled with relief, as he began the climb to meet her. "Ray," He nodded carefully, his arm at an awkward angle against his leathers, as though he was trying to keep it from moving. Broken. Raina assumed. "Brother," She gasped, cautiously flinging her arms around his broad shoulders, and embracing him as well she could with his injury. "Finn!" Boomed a voice from over Raina's shoulder, catching the younger twos' attention before the third Glover joined the embrace, a proud grin written in his features. "Careful, careful. He has a bad arm," Raina fretted, flailing her hands helplessly at Delvin before he could fully launch himself at his younger brother. Delvin nodded, and stepped away slightly to survey the damage previously done. "He'll live," The older brother mused, before slinging his own, muscled arm over the shoulders of Finn, and dragged him up to the door. Their mother had already fetched Clerk, and had made him greet Finn before he was even in the keep. "You haven't grown much then," Remarked a voice from the bottom of the stairs, whose owner Raina had failed to acknowledge when welcoming her brother home. Turning to spy whom it was that had made the remark, Raina almost screamed, the sight of the man in front of her shocking her more than she'd ever thought possible. "How are you- You were- They said you- I thought- What?" She blurted, eyes wide with surprise as she gazed at the man now approaching. His own armour rattled as he began to stomp up the stairs, blond hair overgrown compared to it's usual neat state, and a thick layer of hair now invading his chin, masking now tanned skin. He had got bigger, not taller, but more muscular. The look agreed with him, Raina had to admit, but the surprise of seeing him was more overwhelming than his actually appearance. His large arms were soon around her, pulling her close to his well-built body, that shook with his echoing chuckles. Raina didn't hesitate before barrelling her small frame into him, eager to know if we were real, or whether this was her mind playing tricks, desperate for some company to the point in which she'd imagine him to be back here, now. 

"How long has it been?" His voice rang out in her ears, now calmer and less...him, than it had been before. "Almost 4 years." She mumbled, head buried against his chest, as though this were her last chance to hug him before he dissolved into mist. "How long have you been back?" She dared to ask, eyes closed as she inhaled the smell of smoke that lurked in his clothes, and a distinct scent of wine, still lingering on his armour. "Long enough to save your brother's arse," He chuckled lightly, but not in the same, rowdy way he usually did, this was gentle, like he was handle a child. This was how he had always acted around Raina. Sensitive and careful. She wasn't a fragile child anymore, but welcomed his calm behaviour nevertheless. "Have you missed me?" He inquired, and she could already hear the smirk in his voice. "Not at all." She replied quickly, aware of the note that still lingered in her pocket, which she had gone to great lengths to ensure stayed there. "Good girl, Glover."