NOVEL NEXT Chapter 26: Sapphire Eyes
Early in the morning, before the sun rose, before the birds sang, Gwayne crossed the village borders, heading towards the castle and from there to the built floors, to wash the blood that was on his hand. When he returned, the sun was already shyly showing its face. Thri was lying on his bed, he lay down next to her and slapped her ass, making her yawn and turn to his side. "Did you get what you wanted?" she said, her voice sleepy. "Yes, go back to sleep." He slept for only a few hours, not wanting to delay his tasks, agreed before Thri, but it was already a little late. He went down to the kitchen. "Is it ready?" Gwayne said, seeing delicious bread in the oven. "Almost, my lord," the servant said, with a smile. He took a bread that had been made earlier and went to the entrance, where he found Cerella. "Good morning, you woke up late today. — she said, her dress covered in sweat. "Has the dance class arrived?" She crossed her arms. "What did you do last night?" Gwayne kissed her forehead. "Something important." "You missed the news," she said, looking at the horizon with a sad face. "Our grandfather will be leaving in a week to join Lord Stafford Lannister's host at Lannisport." Gwayne looked intrigued. "I need to speak to him, where is he?"
"He's in the hall, I think, getting things ready."
They saw barrels of wine being taken from the cellar and taken to the pantry. Cerella laughed. "The day is coming, I need to wash." Then Ser Lymond came across the hall and smiled when he found her. "I'm glad you're here, Gwayne. We have things to talk about, I'll join Ser Stafford's host to defend the west, I'll take a few men and stop by Lord Wulf's camp to talk to him about it." "Well, the last time I said that, I did it wrong... Sorry about that, but I have to do it again." Ser Lymond sighed. "You'll be the Lord of Vikary while I'm gone, I know it will do some good." "I will... But won't you be here for my wedding?" he asked, intrigued. "I will be, the Roxtons should be arriving soon." Ser Lymond was right, for on the afternoon of the following day the sound of a horn announced Lord Roxton's entourage. Gwayne quickly put on his clothes, without hiding who he was, he put on his white leather robes, with red details and a rampant lion. The servants gently helped him put on a red cloak, letting out jokes and smiles. Daeron had not appeared since then. Then he left and went to stand beside his grandfather and cousin at the entrance to the castle, they were all there. Ser Patrick, Ser Desmond, Septa Loren, Thri, the steward Walter and the Maester. On both sides, the knights of the house were lined up, with lance and shield bearing the Vikary standard.
Behind, the common folk crowded to see the arrival of the visitors. Three lines of pompous knights came down the main road, their armor shining and their helmets ornate, carrying the Roxton banner in their colors. Behind them, a huge white and blue carriage could be seen, with gold details and the rings of their house ornamented around it. The knights made way for the carriage to stop right at the foot of the steps, which finally revealed what lay behind them, two other carriages and the men who would come to join our cause, five hundred men well armed and equipped, ready to fight and die for the lady of Roxton and her future husband. Gwayne smiled at the sight of them. One of the Roxton knights opened the carriage door and bowed as Lord Luwyn appeared, in all his pomp and splendor in the finest robes. Just like his wife, Lady Elinor Costayne, with her two daughters getting off right after her, then finally the most graceful of the people who got off the carriage, surpassing all in beauty and pomposity, the future Lady Reyne, Lady Olivia Roxton. Gwayne got off to her, taking her by the hand and helping her down. They both smiled at each other. "My lord," she said, making a golden bow. "My lady," he replied, crowning her hand with a chaste kiss. Then he bowed to the other ladies and Lord Luwyn, who was smiling from ear to ear. It seemed to Gwayne that his daughter's happiness was even more important than the gold of Castamere.
He also saw behind Lord Luwyn some older and pompous men, he thought they were the lords of Roxton. Ser Lymond joined them, embracing Lady Olivia like a daughter and bowing to Lord Luwyn. "Good to see you, good friend," he said to Luwyn. "This is the knight who destroyed Lord Edmure Tully's army, and who was knighted by Ser Jaime Lannister," Lord Luwyn exclaimed, with the rest full of admiration for his vassals and knights. "And now he will be my son by law, let us celebrate!" Ser Lymond clapped his hands and two rows of servants and the steward came forward, they would help the lords and ladies find their rooms in the castle, and would also carry their belongings to their respective rooms. Cerella came down and bowed to Lady Olivia, who did the same. Then Thri. She arrived and bowed quickly, with a smile on her face. Olivia looked at her with a suspicious look, but it only lasted until she saw the pendant of faith around her neck. They exchanged a brief smile. Lord Luwyn's guards entered the carriage and took out a large, richly ornamented chest. Lord Luwyn looked at Gwayne and said. "This is the wedding gift." Gwayne smiled. "Take it to my room, ask the servants." he said, going up the stairs with Ser Lymond, already beginning to discuss the wedding. Lord Luwyn looked back and saw Lady Olivia with her arms intertwined with Gwayne's, and smiled happily, turning to Ser Lymond, confiding something in him.
— I didn't completely believe in my daughter's dreams, but after your letter arrived telling of your grandson's exploits in the war, he is the man she always talked about! Gwayne called one of the servants and ordered him to tell the groom to prepare his horse. "You took me through your flower gardens, let me take you to one of my favorite places, my lady," he said sweetly. "I look forward to seeing you, my lord," she replied. The groom boy came carrying a huge bucephalus from the stable, already saddled. Gwayne grabbed her by the waist and put her on the horse, mounting right behind. Lady Olivia blushed and smiled at Cerella. Gwayne guided the horse through the crowd, and the soldiers made way for them. He rode toward the west exit, along the beach route. Gwayne helped her dismount and took her hand, they walked together along the sands of the beach while he guided the horse by the reins. The water was extremely blue, a perfect reflection of the sky, the sun was burning hot. It was a beautiful afternoon in the golden forest, the birds sang in the trees and the seagulls swooped down on the water and returned with fish in their mouths, on the horizon of the ocean merchant ships glided through the waves and colorful shells stood out among the white sand. "It's a beautiful place, it will be my favorite place too," she said, her voice soft. "My first time seeing the western sea." She looked him deeply in the eyes. "Let's sit..." she pointed to a small rock and smiled. "There, it's perfect.
They sat and talked, and Gwayne told her everything she needed to know about the woods and the West. "Tell me about your dream, Olivia..." he said gently, "in more detail." "My father took me on a trip to the Old Town when I was a little girl, but I caught a disease from one of those dirty essosi, I almost died, and then I dreamed. I hovered between life and death for months, when Mother and the Maiden visited me." Gwayne looked at her with interest. "The Maiden asked to keep me untouched, and Mother revealed to me that I would be the mother of a dynasty." He stood stern-faced in the sun, and she raised her hand to his face. "My lion..." she said, her voice appealing. "Now tell me about yours, what was revealed to you?" "The warrior told me that I would be the sword that makes the kingdom reborn." "Avenge me! Kill the raven and let the boy rise to the heights! Save the queen! Save the kingdom of men! Viserys! Gudrunn." He repeated these words desperately, but I see no sense in them. — he said, his voice firm and his face impassive. — Which raven must I kill, which boy will rise to the heights and the queen... "We will find out what these words mean together, let's start with the first thing. 'Gudrunn,' she murmured. — What is it?"
— They are a family from the island of Drum, born of iron who converted to the faith of the seven after a storm in the middle of the sea. Lord Wulf and his family saw the warrior that day among the thunderbolts. According to Wulf, there was a battle in the heavens and the warrior himself subdued the drowned God. — Gwayne sighed. Olivia's eyes were shining with excitement and wonder. Gwayne touched her face with his huge hand. — Do you understand? — he asked. — the warrior appeared like a colossus in the middle of the ocean and subdued a monster, this is greater than all the legends that have ever been told to scare children, this is the power of the gods. But... — But? — she asked, curious. "The sky father judges all men with justice, but there was no mercy or justice in what happened to our poor princess, how could the gods be so blind or indifferent to allow such horror?" — Gwayne found himself thinking about the texts of Septon Barth. — Nothing... — he replied, continuing. The Gudrunn burned many villages in Essos for following the wrong Gods, the warrior said they would be by my side and that's why my grandfather went after them and told them about my dream. "Aerea" — he let out. "Evil keeps her company, Gwayne," Olivia said. "But I will go find her, I promised I would save her." Lady Olivia took his hand and squeezed it for reassurance.
"From blood the kingdom will be reborn, and Aerea will be with me when it happens." He stood and she stood beside him, her face shining golden as the sun and her eyes like sapphires.