121 AC
Inside Casterly Rock, the feast to mark the end of the tourney after Alex swiftly won the archery as well.
Cadwyn looked at the sheer gluttony of food spread before him. He was sat with Lord Serret's men and Alex, if he showed up. Cadwyn knew Alex hated the lords, he didn't expect it to be this much. Jaimie was sat right next to Cadwyn while Lord Serret was across, being lauded around by Lord Jason Lannister. Queer, since Lord Lannister endlessly threw slights to Lord Serret.
"You told Alex that if he missed the feast, my father would skin him alive once we get back, right?" Jaimie questioned.
"I think he knows, young lord. He just doesn't care. However, if you ask me, threaten him by hiding his food. Trust me, then he will listen," Cadwyn chuckled.
Jaimie had a devilish grin at that. Cadwyn was belting out laughter. Jaimie was a funny lad with a funny face. He was also super shy around others, which was surprising. He only came out of his shell whenever Roger, Alex, or he were there.
Then the door swung open, grand fucking entrance. Cadwyn smiled.
Alex walked in, his garments now fine-tuned with peafowl livery. The whole feast went into silence. Lord Lannister, with Lord Serret on his left and the Queen to his right, looked at Alex with fervent curiosity. Cadwyn always wondered how Lord Serret dealt with this.
Alex quickly found his place by his side, the seat reserved for him. A big, burly man, towering but not as big as Alex, got up and shouted,
"Toast to the Bloody Fowl, fucker was a demon in everything. House Baratheon bids you welcome to Storm's End whenever you find yourself visiting, and do visit. TO THE BLOODY FOWL!" His voice dominated everything.
Alex got up and smiled, cup of ale in his hand. He took a massive chug as if goading on the Baratheon heir.
The Baratheon obliged. By the Seven, did they drink. Everybody else was simply losing out to these two monsters.
Many lords came to the table to try and speak to Alex, but they were being blocked by either Jaimie or Cadwyn himself. Cadwyn made sure to direct them to Jaimie whenever a lord would come, and Jaimie the same whenever a knight would come. It was a plan concocted by Lord Serret and Alex. Lord Serret feared Alex's loose tongue, and Alex did not want to speak to the arrogant lords.
Alex simply spoke only a few words whenever truly pressed and then redirected any questions to Lord Serret, who was being preoccupied by the Queen herself. It all changed when the fucking prince came. Oh gods, why did the prince have to come?
"Do you let commoners eat with you, or is that a lesson in pity?" Prince Aegon mocked as he came to the table to find Alex.
Cadwyn was expecting this. His less-than-noble blood affected everything, especially since he wasn't a knight. Alex had saved him one day from nearly killing two knights who insulted his Evelyn as he was picking out flowers. Laughing at whichever woman the poor commoner chose as his wife, his knuckles whitening as the memory returned. Alex saved him by offering them out for a spar, to which he beat them to a pulp, rearranging facial structures with ease.
He couldn't offer those out for a spar or a duel, if he would spill noble blood, the consequences would be dire. Alex got away with it because he could. Not Cadwyn. Cadwyn was once again grateful for his gentle giant of a friend.
Jaimie spoke first, cutting Alex off before his tongue got them all in deep waters.
"My prince, Cadwyn is sworn man to Ser Armstrong. He is due for his knighthood in a moon," Jaimie spoke effortlessly.
"Yes, the poor playing at knights. Anyway, Ser Armstrong, may I ask, wherever did you learn how to fight like that? My brother and I were fascinated by your hand fighting, we haven't seen the like in King's Landing," the prince spoke with all the puffed-up ignorance in the world. His air reeked of, look at me, I'm a royal while you aren't.
Alex finally spoke, his mask not showing his rage, which Cadwyn knew was there.
"Your Grace, I was taught by my father. Where he got it from, I am unsure, but every day I am grateful for his teachings." Alex surprised himself as well as Cadwyn.
When did the fucker get so elegant, Cadwyn remarked to himself.
"My father is also instrumental in my life. I am glad we find common cause in our love for our fathers. Pray, tell me, what will you do next? Surely, you must want for more, grasp for something," Aegon inquired.
"My prince, I want for nothing. Only to serve the realm," Alex said humbly. Cadwyn swore he saw Alex grin.
Aegon then nodded and issued an invitation to visit him whenever he was in King's Landing. Cadwyn knew what a boon this was. Any invitation from royalty was sure to be a great prestige indicator and wealth. Alex had no need for it. The golden dragons he would be getting from the Lannisters, Cadwyn knew, Alex would give to the villagers, not all of the dragons, lest he crash the economy. Just one or two here and there, and more public works. He kept rambling about public works, Cadwyn remembered.
Aegon and his kingsguard walked away, and Alex let out a big sigh. He then whispered to Cadwyn,
"Cad, remind me never to do a tourney again wherever royalty are, fucking rich kids man, the worst."
Cadwyn couldn't hold back his laughter, his belly hurting from the gut. Cadwyn knew his friend and respected him. Cadwyn then asked the true question.
"We aren't going back, right, not right away?" Cadwyn knew how his friend was, angsty, a little bit depraved when it came to his enemies, a vicious prankster, but Cadwyn knew when his friend was withholding something.
"I gotta find a sword. I'll be back within two moons. I leave tonight. Tell Lord Serret to not fuck up my earnings, and it's up to you to keep my house in order. I trust you, Cad, I really do. Brothers." Alex threw out an arm for a clasp.
Cadwyn clasped with a fervent passion. He knew there were things to ask Alex and not ask Alex. Why two moons though? Cadwyn only went back to drinking heavy and being jovial. Life wasn't bad.
Evelyn, if only you were here