✓ | TOUGH AS THE IRONWOOD (A.FORRESTER 2)

Welcome Home. Chapter Fifteen.

Cynthia wasn't sure she'd ever run so fast in her life - not even as a child had she so much devotion and desperation for getting to one place within the quickest time possible. Or at least she couldn't remember ever having run as quickly as she did today. She'd awoken in the Grove, wrapped in Asher's arms with Talia still asleep beside her - Ryon had gotten up before them, and gone in with Rodrik and Elaena who also weren't there - however, it had been not of natural reasons that Cynthia awoke when she did. Royland came barrelling over, in full plate armour as always that clanged like dry cutlery as he ran heavily through the trees, and his rough northern voice was a harsh sound to awake to. Though in hindsight Cynthia hadn't never appreciated Royland's presence more. "Cynthia. Asher. Your brother requires you in the Great Hall urgently. You have visitors. Important visitors. From the capital." Cynthia didn't know why, but by the oddly mischievous look glowing in Royland eyes, and the curious way his lips curved upwards, she knew instantly who had arrived from the south. With Asher barely awake beside her, and Talia hardly in the mood to make haste, Cynthia bolted instantly, not thinking twice about waiting for the others, and by now knowing her way back to Ironrath with her eyes closed, nothing would prevent her from reaching her home in record time. 

Yet, despite the speed at which she moved, desperately wishing to get back soon, she found that everything around her moved in slow motion, while her mind ran a million miles per minute. It was as though things dissolved around her, while she attempted to comprehend what she'd presumed to be the case of why she was awoken so harshly. Not that she wasn't grateful for that now, given the circumstances, however it had come as a shock at the time. She couldn't quite manage to convince herself of her luck, that in a matter of weeks, her love had returned from the dead, let alone Essos, her brother and best friend married, her sister had done her the greatest favour she could offer by ending the war raging between House Forrester and now the practically nonexistent House Whitehill, and now this. It was as though the gods favoured this otherwise unfortunate family. But that didn't overly phase Cynthia currently, as her legs began to grow numb and her chest tight, she still persisted to run with only one thing, one person on her mind. 

Barging through the courtyard at top speed, Cynthia ignored the guards and familiar faces she passed on the way to the Great Hall, in recollection noting she'd ignored Ortengryn, whom merely smiled knowingly at her passing and carried about his duties without so much batting an eyelid at the antics of the excitable girl, who was long since gone by the time he'd had time to register who'd passed. But Cynthia would have time to apologise for her unpleasantries later, now she had better things to prioritise. It wasn't long before she weaved her way through the veins of the main building, recalling the way to the main room like the arteries on the back of her hand - not at all caring for the servants and staff which she whisked past on her sudden journey. How she had not collapsed long before she reached the building, she did not know, given that her physical ability was nowhere near as good as it should be for such an avid fighter, but then that too was a lesser thought playing on her mind to occupy the space before she burst through the Great Hall doors. 

"Cynthia!" Cried an all too familiar voice as soon as the two doors spread apart, and the short, exhausted girl charged tirelessly through with eager eyes. Her shoulders fell in relief and her face brightened upon hearing the voice that rang out instantly and finding the face to match the easily recognisable tone.  "Mira!" Cynthia screamed, practically, finding the smallest amount of energy she had left to sprint towards her sister and bolt into her arms - hoping never to let go again. Her entire family, those that still lived, were back beneath one room. Everyone was home, alive, and as safe as they could be - and that was something Cynthia could certainly smile about. Mira had been in King's Landing for almost 3 years, having left at the start of the war, and in all that time Cynthia had missed her sister endlessly - now, however, was the time in which she would finally be reunited with one of her closest family members who she'd missed almost as much as Asher. Mira let out a short sob, as she buried her head into Cynthia's shoulder and held the shorter girl as close as physically was possible. "I've missed you, Cyn." She cried into her messed up hair, the distant sound of heavy footsteps echoing from the threshold, through which Cynthia presumed Asher had just appeared. "And I you, Mira." Cynthia laughed through happy tears, tightening her grip as best she could around the slender, familiarly dark haired family member entangled in her arms. "Sister!" Boomed the voice of Asher, who for the first time that week felt entirely heartfelt. "Brother!" Mira was quick to run towards him, once Cynthia released her own grip and watched as the newly returned Forrester ran straight to the blond man's embrace, which was welcomed by both.

Stood weeping the same joyous tears as Cynthia, in the corner, was Elyssa - whom said nothing but instead looked upon her daughter with utmost love and adoration. And to her right were the happy couple - Rodrik looked as though his eyes glassed over in fondness like the other members of his family, but like a true lord he dared not let that show in public, not in front of his wife whom simply smiled at the reunion. Talia and Ryon, also, who had just entered the room had never looked more thrilled upon entering the Great Hall as they did just then, gazing upon their older sister like she'd just appeared from thin air. However, as much as the Forresters were incredibly overjoyed at Mira's returned, there was a sickeningly stale detail that was later introduced, one that left the entire family lacking the same eased warmth that came with Mira's return and instead they felt on edge, stiff and uneasy. 

"This is my betrothed." Mira said through bitterly, gritted teeth - which it would seem was a sign only Cynthia caught onto in that moment, "Lord Morgryn."