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“Harwin,” Rhaenyra whispered, her hand reaching for his. “You look distant.”
Harwin blinked, the sun shining brightly in the Godswood. Jace and Luke were laughing, as they played, chasing one another under the red leaves. His dark eyes met her own, a shade that reminded him of the Narrow Sea after a storm. The knight smiled, taking her hand and bringing it to his lips, kissing it, his eyes focused on her.
“I am just thinking, my love” he said quietly, a smile forming on his tanned skin.
She raised an eyebrow, a smile on her face. “Well, about what? You must tell me.”
Harwin saw a blush begin to blossom on her face, the shade of weirwood leaves. Jace screamed as Luke began to chase him, a beetle in his hand, as he tried to put it down his younger brother’s shirt. “As my Princess demands,” he chuckled. “I am thinking of how much I love you. How proud I am of our children. How I would do anything for you. I am yours to command Rhaenyra. I hope you know that. Know that I would do anything for you.”
Rhaenyra giggled softly, touching her belly, her eyes following their boys. “I know Ser Harwin.”
Harwin waited for the boys to be out of sight before kissing her softly on the cheek. “I love you.”
Rhaenyra, smiling, placed her hand on his chin, moving his face slightly, so her lips could meet his. “I never knew I could find joy like this,” she whispered. “Find you.”
“Well,” he replied, grinning. “I’ll be sure to never take it away.”
“You promise?” She said, looking at him intensely, pleading with him with only her eyes.
Harwin found her to blinding; her hair the color of the stars on a clear night, her eyes the color of sky. She brought him purpose, a star to follow when the nights grew too dark. “I promise, my princess.”
Rhaenyra placed her head on his shoulder, smiling as she closed her eyes. His arm wrapped itself around her, the two of them lost in their love. Though, they could not show their love as freely as they wished, the two of them took solace in these little moments of blissful peace, hidden beneath the godswood.
Harwin closed his eyes, Jace and Luke laughing at one another, their voices growing more distant as the seconds pqssed. He felt the heat of the sun beat down on him, but something was wrong. It was growing hotter, burning him. He tried to open his eyes, move his body, but he was frozen.
“Rhaenyra,” he tried crying out, but no voice left his mouth.
“Harwin!” He heard a man shout. It took a moment for him to place the voice. His father. “I’m coming. Stay with me, my son!”
The heat was becoming unbearable. He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t think. The pain danced upon his body.
“Harwin,” a voice whispered.
He would recognize that voice anywhere.
“Come with me Harwin,” she told him, his princess. She looked older than he remembered. How long had he been gone from Kings Landing? Wrinkles outlined her face, a scar on her chin.
Harwin felt himself reaching out to touch her, opening his eyes to the Godswood once more, Rhaenyra and the boys, much older than he left them, smiling at him.
“I’m sorry I left Rhaenyra,” he said, taking her hand.
Rhaenyra gently placed her hands on both sides of his face, kissing him softly. “Left? My dear Harwin. You never left me. You will always be with me and the boys.”
Harwin took one last breath, a voice on his lips, as the flames devoured him.
Rhaenyra, he whispered, as he followed her into the light of the Godswood.