"Eyes Like The Sea"
Chapter One
It was a hot day in a summer that showed no sign of ending, the beauty of the Reach was in full bloom, and Loras Tyrell was miserable. The gods must have been mocking him by presenting such a beautiful sight on his last day at Highgarden. Tomorrow would be the last time he'd look at it for who knew how long, years perhaps, and to make it even worse, the place he'd be going to was... well...
Loras turned away from the view of the gardens and paced across the terrace restlessly. Willas sat in silence, surely preparing for what he knew his brother was about to say.
"I don't want to go," said Loras for what must have been the twentieth time. Willas sighed.
"You don't even know what it will be like. Go to Storm's End, and give it a chance."
"I don't need to 'give it a chance'. I know what it's like squiring for a high lord. Father's squires hardly have anything to do - they get about as close to battles as the sun does to the moon."
"Only you would complain about squiring for someone like Lord Renly. You won't be ignored, Loras. Renly will have his duties to attend to at Storm's End, but I'm sure he'll devote plenty of time to you and your training."
"He's not a knight," Loras grumbled, another grievance repeated for what must have been the twentieth time. Willas sighed again.
"He is a knight, and a lord as well," he said, which made Loras turn away with a huff. "He's one of the most notable men in the kingdom. The lord of the Stormlands, brother to the King - I know you're arrogant, Loras, but even you cannot deny that there are few men who it would be more honorable to squire for."
Loras could not care less about honor in a matter like this. Renly had received his knighthood at the same time he received his lordship, and it was said that Renly was only a child then, so what could he truly know about becoming a knight? And why couldn't Willas understand that? Loras glared at his brother in silence, and Willas' amused smile just made him angrier.
"Who, then, would you rather squire for?" Willas asked.
"A knight, a proper knight. Ser Barristan Selmy's squire is likely to be knighted soon, I could take his place, or Ser Arys Oakhart could take on a second squire..." Both men did more than sit on a fancy chair and listen to smallfolk complaints all day, and better yet, they were members of the Kingsguard. It was Loras' private ambition to join the Kingsguard and take the Kingslayer's record as the youngest member ever, and there would be no better way to achieve his goal than to squire for one of its current members. "Or a sworn sword of Highgarden, or even some hedgeknight who at least earned his title. Anyone but Renly."
Willas was not convinced. He raised an eyebrow at Loras. "And how do you think father will feel when you tell him that you won't go squire for Renly? You know how pleased he is about arranging this. After all, the lord of Storm's End might have a very good reason to begrudge the Tyrell family."
Loras bristled. How many times had that been brought up, and what did Loras have to do with the Siege of Storm's End? He'd been no more than a babe when it had happened. "He's not a knight," he repeated petulantly.
"He is a knight, and he's a kind, charming man who's very intelligent and agreeable. I met him last year when he was jousting at the tournament for the King's nameday."
Loras perked up at this. "Did he do well in the tournament?"
"... No," Willas admitted after a pause, "he rode only twice before being unhorsed. But that was against a knight far older than himself, and the crowds still cheered for him, even in defeat."
Loras shrugged away the small remaining hope he'd had. "They weren't cheering for his skill, then. What does it matter?"
Willas sighed. "Loras, come here."
"I don't want to."
"Loras," Willas said, and Loras grudgingly shuffled over to sit on the edge of the stool that Willas' bad leg was propped up on. Willas reached out to rest a reassuring hand on Loras' knee.
"You need to give it a chance. Renly may not be as perfect a warrior as you expect you should squire for, and perhaps you won't be riding into battle as often as you like, but there's more to squiring than that. And this is still a wonderful opportunity. Storm's End is an impressive sight, and you can train with the master-at-arms there. He'll have a different style than Ser Vortimer so there will be plenty to learn. And just think of the friends you'll make in a new place."
Willas had always given good advice, but there was nothing he could say to make this any less horrible. "I don't care about friends. I'll have to leave behind my family when I go."
Willas raised an eyebrow in amusement. "And tell me, how would that be any different than if you were going to King's Landing instead?"
Loras ducked away, caught in his own words. "It wouldn't," he admitted.
"Exactly. Now you're just complaining for the sake of complaining. You'll like it, Loras. I promise you will."
I won't, Loras told himself.