Page 91 of Once Upon a Crown
And then they all left, and it was quiet again. Except for Gwen. Even if she was often ignoring me, at least she was there. I couldn’t go back to the way it was before. I wouldn’t.
“I won’t let you go alone, Gwen.” I stared her down as she looked into my eyes with equal determination.
After a few moments of bitter silence, she finally conceded.
“Fine, I guess you can tag along.”
* * *
The earth crunched under the wheels of the carriage, every bump and rock causing it to sway a little. Gwen had her cloak wrapped around her like a blanket as she looked out of thecarriage window. I couldn’t help but watch her from the opposite seat. Her expression was full of worry.
Her brother was a traitor, her kingdom was under attack and her family was hiding out somewhere with no way of reaching her. I realised then how alone she must have been feeling. Something which I, unfortunately, identified with very well.
“Here.” I held out the small flask to her.
She looked at me with her nose slightly turned up. “No thank you.”
“It’s not what you think it is and you’re practically shivering. This will help to warm you up a little.” When she didn’t respond, I added, for my own personal amusement, “Unless you’d rather have me warm you up.”
I’d never seen anyone grab a flask so quickly. She tilted her head back, gulping down a big sip. Her surprised expression as she swallowed the tea I’d put in the flask was quite amusing.
“It’s tea.” She handed back the flask. “I thought you didn’t really like tea.”
“I don’t,” I replied, taking a sip for myself, and I immediately felt a little bit warmer. “But you do.”
She looked uncertain but her eyes remained on me.
“Are you looking forward to going back to Mistwood?” It was truly none of my business, but I did find myself curious. It was still her home, after all, even if her family was no longer there.
“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I’d never left Norrandale before. I didn’t know anything apart from Mistwood and our country estate. And now...” Gwen let out a sigh heavy with sadness. “Now I don’t think it will ever be the same again. I feel as though I’m returning to a strange place that I no longer recognise.”
“And what about your brother?” Family was a complicated thing. I didn’t know a family dynamic that wasn’t problematic. But even though I didn’t like Thatcher during his stay atLevernia, from my understanding they were quite close, even if they often bickered like little children.
“Well, if we’re going to start talking about that then I’m going to need something stronger than that.” She pointed to the flask in my hand.
“That bad?” I held out the flask to her and our fingers brushed as she took it from me, her skin warm against mine despite the cool temperature outside.
“You know what he did,” she responded rhetorically.
“He’s still your brother. You’re still allowed to love him. Even if you’re angry.”
She contemplated my words. “I don’t know what I feel for him. Don’t know where he is or if he’s even alive. Cai didn’t mention anything about Thatcher in his letter.”
“Do you think Cai would hurt him? He was his best friend.”
“Thatcher killed the queen mother,” she said sorrowfully. As if it brought her pain merely to say the words out loud. “Cai’s never going to forgive him for that.” She took a sip from the flask. “And I don’t know if I can either.”
I didn’t know how to respond or what words of comfort might be appropriate. The wordcomfortwasn’t exactly part of my father’s vocabulary.
I peered out of the carriage window, watching the light as it slowly diminished.
“It will be dusk soon. I think we’ll stop at the next town and find some accommodation for the evening if that suits you.”
Gwen nodded but her mind was clearly someplace else. She didn’t return my flask, and I didn’t ask for it back.
Chapter 37
Gwen
