Chapter Text
Failure again.
The thought echoed in his mind as he slumped against the gnarled trunk of an oak tree. His left hand pressed desperately against the gaping wound in his side, but the blood seeped through his fingers, warm and unrelenting. The noise of battle had faded into a distant roar, the screams and clangs of steel now mere whispers on the breeze.
The Trident's waters glimmered in the distance, tainted with the red of countless fallen men on both sides of the war. He could hear the rush of the river, mingling with the soft rustle of leaves overhead. The air was thick with the scent of iron and earth, mingling with the sweet, cloying aroma of crushed grass.
His vision blurred, the edges of the world starting to fade into a hazy darkness. He remembered the charge, the clash of swords, the cries of his comrades. He had fought valiantly, striking down enemies with the ferocity of a cornered wolf. But in the end, it was not enough. It was never enough.
He had really tried this time, but it seemed some things were already set in stone, immutable despite his efforts. It was such a shame; Rhaegar would have been a great king. He could have prepared the realm for the coming of the Others much earlier.
The sky above was a canvas of twilight hues, the last rays of the setting sun casting a golden glow over the battlefield. He could almost feel its warmth, a cruel contrast to the cold that was slowly seeping into his bones. His breath came in ragged gasps, each one a struggle, each one a reminder of his failing strength.
He would have to think of another way to approach things once he woke. He just hoped that fate would grant him a better position to start from. Climbing the ranks as a bastard, even with the knowledge he possessed, was harder than he had expected.
A single tear traced a path down his dirt-streaked cheek as the pain became unbearable. The feeling of dying wasn’t something he would ever get used to. The world was growing darker, the sounds fading into silence. He closed his eyes, the weight of his failure heavy upon him. As the last breath left his lips, he found a strange peace in the embrace of the Stranger.
He will try harder and better next time.