Disclaimer: Game of Thrones is D&D's property, after being GRRM's property. Or else, Lancel would be the happiest kid in Westeros, should it be mine.

Summary: 18 years ago, Kevan and Dorna's firstborn son got taken away and despite their best efforts, he was never found. The couple had lost all hopes… Until a young man, with Kevan's smile, arrived in their younger sons' school.

Author's note: A huge thank you to Assassin Master Ezio 91 who helped in making the chapter guide and in brainstorming with me !

Author's note 2: English isn't my first language, it's french. If you see any mistake or issue with the language, feel free to tell me so that I can improve.

Author's note 3: Yes, Lancel's character here is a lot inspired by Emma Swan from Once Upon A Time.

WARNING! THIS FANFICTION CONTAINS MATURE THEMES SUCH AS ABUSE. IF THESE TRIGGER YOU, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SKIP THIS FANFICTION. THANK YOU.

The Lost Cub

Chapter 7

Dorna was sitting next to Lancel, a cross stitching project in hand. However, her eyes could not focus on her work in progress. They were always drawn to her oldest son. She studied him. He was such a handsome young man! He wasn't like she had imagined, he was better. She couldn't believe the man in that bed was her little baby, the one she had kissed goodnight before he was taken away from her during a windy night. She had missed it all. She had missed every transformation of his, every milestones. He had to comfort himself after a nightmare. He had to soothe his fevers himself. He had to face hardships by himself. He had to heal from heartbreaks by himself. All while growing to believe he wasn't wanted, that he wasn't even considered as a human being, that nobidy loved him, that no one could ever love him. She took a damp cloth, tried to ease him, hoping the cold would do him good as he was burning up and sweating. She could feel her heart aching with every painful, whistling breath of his, sometimes cut by a rough cough. At her request, Kevan had told her about his place. He wouldn't go back there, she vowed. He belonged here, with them, even if unaware of their blood link. He belonged in a proper home. The only thing that eased her in all of this was that Lancel seemed to have friends, people who cared. His boss, for example, almost sounded maternal towards him and had called later on, to check on him, as a friend worried, not as a boss trying to see if her employee would come back. One of the regulars Lancel served had seemed anxious too. Having not seen him at school, Myrcella had called the twins to have news. Janei had left several plushies to keep him company and the twins were always up to look after him. She hoped he could feel how loved he was.

XXXXX

It hurt. Everything was painful and burning inside of him, but his chest was what ached the most. He felt so tired, so drained! However, things seemed different, weirdly different. He could feel sheets around him, warm and soft. A good mattress for a change, comfy enoug h to sleep in but firm enough to ensure his back wouldn't hurt. The air was different too, it smelled... Pure. Clean. He wasn't home anymore. Was he in a hospital? Martyn... That was it! Martyn had called the emergencies and he was in a hospital. He couldn't blame him, he would have done the same thing, but how was he going to pay? Or to pay Martyn back? And work... And school... He felt exhausted again, weak. He was hearing more and more the sounds around him. He slowly opened his eyes. He was in a room, but not a hospital one. Near him, a woman was humming, working on some sewing project. She seemed to be in her late fourties, of average height. She seemed frail and kind. Were was he?! He tried to get up in a hurry, only to cause her to notice him and to cause him dizziness. She stopped him from getting up, embracing him gently.

"Hush now. It's okay." She said

Even her voice was soft.

"It's okay, it really is."

He could feel his fever still acting up, his chest being as painful as ever, sweat on his forehead rolling down his temples. Dorna could see the confusion in his eyes.

"My name is Dorna, I am Martyn and Willem's mother." She started to explain kindly. "You fainted while Martyn was visiting you."

"Why..."

"He knows that hospitals aren't your forte. He called and we took you home, so you could recover."

She was being a diplomat, he noticed. Before a realization hit him. Martyn knew about his money issue and his parents agreed to have a stranger under their roof while sick and dying. Just because that man as a friend of their son. Either they were stupid or they were extremely kind. He was a money pit on top of everything.

"How... How much..." He managed to whisper

"Don't you worry about money. The doctor and the medicine have been all paid. Your boss and school have been warned about your absence, they both understand and wish you to recover."

"How much..." He repeated

"Zero."

He seemed even more confused. They were sheltering an orphan, a friend of their son they knew nothing about, for free?! Was he already dead?

"You don't owe us anything. We offer it to you. Martyn and Willem told us your story. We want to help you. Now, just rest, okay? I'll call the doctor. After that, I'll bring you some soup, how about that?"

He felt too unwell to fight back and he let her put him back on the pillow. Martyn and Willem were the reason he was here. Their parents wanted to help him. That was a first, a family wanting him, expecting nothing in return. He closed his eyes and fell fast asleep.

XXXXX

"Shouldn't you be in bed?" Dorna worried as Lancel went down the stairs

"I'm not up for long." He answered

He made his way to the kitchen, where Kevan and her were.

"How do you feel?" Kevan asked

"A bit better, thank you. I won't be bothering you any longer. I'll go home." He replied

"Nonesense, you don't bother us, you can stay as long as you like! And besides, you're still not completely recovered! You need your rest." Dorna gently argued

"I already owe you too much."

"You don't owe us anything, we told you, we're just glad to help."

Kevan told Lancel to sit, a bit worried as he was seeing him flinching.

"My wife is right, you don't owe us anything. And no, we don't do it out of charity or pity."

Lancel nodded, still it was hard for him to accept.

"You know, we were thinking. We have that spare room that is desperately empty. And while your place seemed to have been well thought in terms of furniture, it isn't a healthy place for a recovering young man or a recovered young man. We were wondering if you'd like to have that spare room and live with us."

Lancel's surprise was painful to them. What hurt Kevan the most was that sparkle of hope in his son's eyes at the idea of living in a proper place.

"How much is the rent?" He asked, trying not to sound excited

"What rent?"

"For the room and house."

"There is none."

"You can't expect me to believe that I could share a home with a family without any fees to pay."

"And yet, it's the truth. We don't want to ask you for a rent, for food or clothes fees."

His son seemed disturbed to say the least. It seemed to good to be true to him.

"We took a liking on you. And your story moved us. It's just too bad it's too late to adopt you now."

"It wouldn't have worked. It never worked with previous families."

Kevan didn't reply, his throat dry. To know his son had jumped between homes, that he didn't understand why he didn't need to pay, was killing him inside.

"What about your son? Martyn and Willem told me you found your long lost son. What if he wants to live with you?" Lancel asked

So the twins had prepared him in a way. Yet, Lancel was still too fragile to be told the truth. It had to wait.

"He doesn't feel like it for the moment, he does not feel ready. And we can always expand the house." Kevan said

Lancel shyly agreed, feeling ill-at-ease and confused.

It was only when Janei cheered at the idea of him staying, of the twins's sincere joy to have him stay with them, that he relaxed and stopped wondering.

For some reason, he felt like he was part of a family.

He felt he was home.

To Be Continued