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: He was born in the light, she in the shadows, yet it was her who would become her sun. [Modern AU. Kevan/Dorna]
Author's note: This story is a bet from Assassin Master Ezio 91.
Shadow and Light
Chapter 7
Tywin allowed himself to relax as he was enjoying a hot cup of coffee. Kevan and him had been working for the entire morning, skipped lunch and it was about 4.00 pm. They earnt a break. He looked at the picture of his wife and children. To think his son and his daughter would celebrate their birthdays soon! Time flied way too fast for his liking. Sometimes, he wished he could just relax at home, ejoying life with Joanna and the twins. But he couldn't. He was the head of the Lannister family, he had to make it powerful again. His father had done the best he could, he knew. But he never as a man fit for the said job. He'd relax once old and grey, everything given to Jaime so he could carry on the legacy. Oh, Cersei would have her part too, and he'd never prevent her from helping her brother. They lived in modern times and he knew fine well women could do just as good as men, and often they even did better than them.
"I could give the ownership to Cersei if Jaime proved unable to do it or if he didn't have an interest in it." He thought
He had to admit he was a bit old-fashioned in that regard. While he had no issues in passing the torch to Cersei, he had always thought he'd pass it to his son first. However, he kept in mind all the efforts Kevan and him were doing to make sure the Lannisters had the respect they deserved. One of his children could take his place. But the person who'd take his place had to care first. And for that, it was way too soon to decide between the children. And besides, they could have siblings. Joanna had started to tell him about having another child. A sister to play with Cersei, so both could share secrets. A brother for Jaime, for him to play soccer or bond over childish adventures. He liked the idea of their children running and laughing their hearts out in the garden, joining their cousins. However, he felt it was a bit too soon, the twins were still so little! Joanna had seemed to understand his point of view.
The voice of his brother took him out of his thoughts.
"How did you propose to Joanna?"
He raised an eyebrow. If Kevan asked that, it meant only one thing: he felt ready to get married and his choice was Dorna. Tywin admitted easily that the Swyft girl would make a fine bride for his brother. Kevan disliked drama, he was the happiest around his family and wanted nothing more than to live his life in his own little den, raising his future cubs, helping him if he was needed. Dorna was the kind of woman he needed. A woman who had no taste for fame or drama, yet having still her own strength and her intelligence. A discreete kind woman for a discreete dutiful man. A perfect match. And Dorna genuinely loved him, she loved the twins, she was Joanna's friend. And she also came from a good family. However, for Kevan's happiness, that last point, he would have let it slide had Dorna been born from a poor family or came with a heavy or dark background, if she was still the same kind of person. He liked her well enough and Kevan had done so much for him, he had sacrificed so much for him! He could still remember his inner conflict when his brother decided to drop college to start helping him with the business because, alone, he was actually drowning. How many times had Kevan told him to go home and enjoy his life while he'd finish things up, often coming back to his place past midnight and still arriving earlier than he did the following morning? He had often felt guilty about it. He knew he had issues accepting help or asking for it in the first place, even from his own kin, but Kevan and him had a bond. He loved all of his siblings, but Kevan was the one he loved the most. They understood each other. Kevan had sacrificed the potential dreams he had to help him, because they were family. He could say he wanted to help and was happy to be able to help, he could say that as much as he wanted to, it'd never erase this feeling from him. So, letting Kevan find his own happiness, with whoever made him happy, that was the least he could do, knowing fine well that his brother would never endanger his family. As he finished his cup, he replied:
"I didn't."
Kevan seemed puzzled.
"Joanna proposed to me." He revealed
His brother's face was priceless and he had a hard time containing a laugh.
"Joanna proposed?" Kevan repeated
"She did."
"So, how did she.."
"That was pretty much straight forward. She came to me and asked me, between files, if I wanted to marry her. I took the ring I had purchase for her from the drawer and gave it to her as my only reply."
It made sense for Kevan. Tywin had always been one for direct things. And maybe being straight forward could be the right thing to do. Kevan knew himself rather well, even if he wanted to, he'd never really be one for candlelight dinners where the engagement ring would be hidden in a piece of cake. He didn't mind a bit of romance from time to time, especially if it meant it made Dorna happy. But he knew she liked simple things too. What mattered was the sincerity in the words, not how the event was planned or scheduled.
"Thanks." He said with a small smile
Tywin only nodded before he decided that they had done enough for the day.
XXXXX
Even if he had decided to go for a simple way, Kevan still felt anxious, wondering how Dorna would react. After all, they had been dating for such a short period of time! However, he had never been more assured of anything in his entire life: Dorna was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He loved her, he loved everything about her, even her drawbacks, because they shaped her into the person she was, just as much as her qualities did. Nevertheless, he kept in mind that maybe it wasn't so sure for Dorna. He knew she loved him. She didn't need to say it for him to understand it, how she acted was enough for him to know she loved him the way he loved her. But maybe she didn't feel ready. Marriage was quite a committement after all and knowing her, it was a sacred bond. Maybe she'd feel it would be too soon. Maybe she'd feel she was too young. And maybe the timing wasn't right. Her exams results had just came in, right on the day he thought of proposing and sadly, Dorna hadn't made it. What was even more frustrating was that she had missed it from just a few points. She didn't seem really upset though, because due to her results being so close to what was asked to succeed, the staff had decided to give her another chance with an oral exam, thinking the closeness showed she had the skills and the results might have been caused by were sitting in their favourite restaurant, just enjoying the evening.
"Is something bothering you?" She asked. "You seem a bit off."
He offered a smile.
"I'm fine."
She didn't seem to but it, but she didn't investigate further, knowing he wouldn't react well to that. Kevan was kind of secretive and if he wanted to open up, he'd do that on his own. Pushing him to open would just make him even more closed off.
"Though I admit I have something on my mind." He admitted
She was right.
"Nothing bad or concerning, don't worry."
"You know you can talk to me, if you feel like it."
"It might not be the right moment. After all, you just had your results."
"Exams can be retaken, even dropped."
"Dropped?"
Kevan was surprised. He knew Dorna had opted for the teaching field to please both her father and herself, though he knew it was more for her peace.
"I learnt this from you and your family. I have wasted so much time doing what others wanted me to do. I'll take the oral exam but if I fail, there is no way I'm letting my father decide of my future again. And if he isn't happy with it, well, he can just cry about it. I might not be a lion, but I don't want to concern myself with the opinions of sheeps. Not anymore."
He smiled. Confidence suited her.
"So, what's on your mind?"
He took a short breath to give him courage.
"I know we've been dating for a short period of time. However, nothing has ever felt so right in my head."
He took out the ring he had purchased, still in its box, and he put it delicately on the table for her to open. Her expression while discovering the jewel was priceless. The ring in itself had a sober and classic design, round with one single gem. When she saw the materials, Dorna understood immediately. A golden ring with a ruby. The Lannister colours from their old sigil, back in the old ages. Kevan was asking her to marry him. Kevan Lannister, from the powerful Lannister family, was asking the country girl she was to be his wife.
"Dorna. Will you do me the honour of being my wife?"
She smiled, her eyes almost teary. She had never imagined Kevan would consider her as a wife, always thinking he deserved someone better, someone more glamourous.
"If you do me the honour of being my husband."
He couldn't help laughing before he gently kissed her, the ring on her finger shining with the lights above them.
To Be Continued
