Eventually the day that Loras was scheduled to return finally came. Penrose had left the morning before to retrieve him from Bitterbridge and Renly had been restless all day, sat at the window of his chambers, watching for their return.
They still had not arrived by the time dusk was falling and yet still Renly sat at the window ledge, watching the road that was rapidly being swallowed up by the shadows absent-mindedly. Having failed to reach the castle before dark, Renly knew there was a fair chance that Penrose would have stopped for the night at an inn, not wishing to travel by night. Renly pushed this thought aside. He had no desire to go to bed quite yet. And so, ignoring the overwhelming urge to yawn and the fact that he could barely keep his eyes open, he remained seated at the window, the stone of the ledge cold and hard underneath him as it dug into his thighs.
He sighed. He should probably turn in for the night. It was unlikely that they would return now that the road was all but completely obscured by darkness, only the dim moon providing any light. He really should go to bed. But perhaps he would wait just a little longer he decided. Just in case.
He had no recollection of falling asleep, but he figured he must have done when he awakened abruptly to someone shaking his shoulder. He groaned and tried to roll over, remembering just a little too late that he'd been sitting on the window ledge.
Strong hands broke his fall and pushed him back on to the ledge.
"That looks comfortable!" the person remarked and at Loras's voice Renly opened his eyes, smiling sleepily at him.
"Good trip?" He managed, rubbing his eyes.
Loras laughed, grabbing his hand and pulling him to his feet. "I'll tell you all about it in the morning if you like"
Renly opened his mouth to protest, but instead only yawned, making Loras laugh again. He wanted to curse him. How could anyone be so awake and chirpy at this hour? He was too tired to complain though and let himself be led to his chambers, collapsing on to the bed and back to sleep as soon as his head touched the pillow.
…...
Loras was there in the morning when he woke, already dressed and sitting cross-legged on the end of his bed like he'd never been away. Renly was pleased to see him there. He had woken with a vague recollection of seeing him last night but had feared he'd only dreamt it.
"Morning" Loras was smiling.
Renly returned the smile, sitting up and blinking in the morning light. It seemed like a nice day outside. Sunlight was streaming through the curtains, warming the room with its glow and making Loras' curls shine like golden silk.
"You never did tell me about your trip" he yawned, leaning back against the headboard.
"It was late"Loras shrugged nonchalantly.
"Still I would have listened"
"I know" Loras said simply.
Renly grinned "Well will you tell me about it now?"
"Later, first I have something for you" He shifted, leaning over the edge of the bed to pick something up off the floor.
Renly regarded him curiously. They had agreed the year before not to do name day presents. Renly hadn't wanted him to feel pressurised into buying him something, and besides, both of them had enough money to buy anything they desired anyway.
"I know we agreed not to, but I didn't actually spend any money so it doesn't count"
Renly laughed "You really didn't have to but I guess that seems fair enough!"
Loras tossed him the bag. "I know you like them, and the ones you Storm Lords try to grow here are really really bad..."
Renly opened the bag and peered in. He laughed. Trust Loras to bring him peaches.
He grinned "All the way from Highgarden?"
"Not quite." Loras admitted "To tell the truth I completely forgot until we got to Cider Hall, but I'm sure the Fossoways wont miss them..."
"You stole them!?"
"Well technically I guess... But the Fossoways wont mind. Garlan's just been betrothed to one of them. And besides I only took eight"
Renly glanced in the bag, only five. "What happened to the other three then?" He asked, curious.
"Well I ate one" he admitted "And then Penrose sat on a couple. He says it was an accident but personally I have my doubts."
Renly couldn't help but laugh. He rather enjoyed the feud that Loras and Penrose seemed to be engaged in, even if it did leave him stuck in the middle between the two of them.
"It's surprisingly difficult transporting fruit by horseback" Loras insisted "You should appreciate the effort it took to get these to you. First I had to steal them, and then I had to hide them from Garlan so he wouldn't know that I'd stolen from his betrothed's house, and then I had to protect them from Penrose's backside. Surely you have to appreciate the effort"
Renly continued chuckling "I'm not sure I should be condoning theft, but yes I definitely appreciate your efforts Loras!" He leant over to ruffle the younger boy's hair, rather pleased that Loras had evidently thought of him while he'd been away.
"Anyway let's not stay in here. I can tell you all about my trip outside, in the sunshine" Loras grabbed Renly's hand and pulled him out of bed, going to his wardrobe and chucking clothes at him. "Get changed" he ordered.
Renly did as he was told, sighing dramatically. How did it happen that his squire was the one giving him orders now. That was not how this relationship was supposed to work.
…...
There was barely a cloud in the sky as they wandered down through the courtyard, aimlessly following the path that would lead them out of Storm's End. Renly smiled, glad things were back to normal. He felt more content than he had in months. The sunshine was warm on his face, and Loras was at his side.
They stopped just beyond the gates, Renly sitting down in the shade of a large chestnut tree that grew a few hundred yards outside the castle walls. It was a marvellous specimen of a tree, tall with sturdy branches that could withstand the raging winds that often swept over the land off Shipbreaker bay. Renly had been told once that the tree had stood since before the demise of the last Storm King several thousand years ago. It sounded rather like an unlikely tale to him, but still, he liked to believe that it was true. He had a vague memory of gathering chestnuts from underneath its boughs with Maester Cressen when he'd been very young. He lay back, reminiscing about the brief few years he'd enjoyed before Robert's rebellion had stolen his childhood from him. He had not collected chestnuts since before the siege and before Stannis had taken Maester Cressen from him. Renly sighed, he had loved that kindly old man.
Loras had not joined him on the grass like he had expected him to.
Glancing up, it seemed that Loras had other ideas in mind. He was staring up at the tree, and Renly could see him mentally working out the best way to go about climbing it.
Sure enough he turned to Renly. "Want to climb it?" He asked, grinning.
Renly laughed. Loras could be very predictable sometimes. Or maybe he just knew him that little bit too well.
"Why not" Renly agreed cheerfully. He supposed really that he was probably past the age where it was at all dignified to climb trees, but seeing as he'd never had anyone to join him in such activities when he was younger, he was not going to pass up the opportunity now.
Still laughing he got to his feet and pulled himself up on to the lowest branch, admiring how little it bent under his weight.
Loras followed up after him, pulling himself up onto the branch almost effortlessly. Renly was rather surprised by the sheer amount of strength Loras seemed to have for someone so slender. Indeed he seemed to have filled out slightly during his stay at Highgarden, no doubt as a result of training with his brother who Loras told him was unrivalled with a sword.
Smiles on their faces, they both climbed higher and higher up into the tree, ducking branches and pushing themselves through leaves until Renly found what looked like it might be a relatively comfortable branch to sit on.
Swinging one leg over the branch, he settled himself against the trunk, Loras joining him further along the branch. The branch was narrower there but it seemed to bear Loras' weight with ease. It no doubt helped that Loras probably weighed next to nothing Renly thought.
"So how was Highgarden?" He asked, leaning lazily back against the trunk.
"Good" Loras answered "Just how I remembered it"
"And Willas?"
Loras frowned "He'll never joust again" he said rather sadly "But he insists that he doesn't mind. To be fair to him, he's probably telling the truth. He always was much more interested in books than anything else. I think he probably only jousted in the first place to please my father. Regardless I will still tear that Oberyn limb from limb if I ever lay eyes on him."
Renly didn't doubt it judging from the bitter note in Loras' voice "Do I take it that we are going to have yet another war between the Reach and Dorne?" He teased, trying to lighten the tone. "My brother wont be pleased!"
Loras rolled his eyes "If I had my way there would be. But Willas is too forgiving. He says he doesn't bear him any ill will."
"Well it was an accident wasn't it?"
"He claims it was. But we all know his reputation. No one concocts lies like the red viper of Dorne."
Renly smiled. He was going to point out the lack of motivation for injuring Willas, but he didn't much fancy setting off Loras' temper. so he decided to change the subject.
"And Margaery?" Renly's words seemed to have the desired effect. The anger went out of Loras' eyes instantly, and his expression softened.
"As well as ever" he was smiling again "It was a lovely surprise when she came to meet me at Bitterbridge. She's grown a lot and she seems much more a young lady than a girl now, but she's still the same Margaery I always knew."
"Penrose tells me she's beautiful" Renly confided.
Loras nodded, before raising an eyebrow "What was Penrose doing leering at my sister?" He demanded indignantly. "I always knew he was a bad sort" he added under his breath.
Renly laughed "You know Loras, you should be nicer to Penrose. Despite the fact that you drive him up the wall, he's surprisingly fond of you."
"It's my charm" he said, smiling lazily up at Renly, curls falling over his eyes.
Renly grinned. He didn't doubt it.
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, Renly watching the leaves dancing in the breeze. A few chestnuts were already growing on the branches, and Renly made a mental note to gather them up when the time was right. They were nice cooked in the ovens he remembered. Even Stannis had enjoyed the roasted chestnuts that Brella had used to make.
"You know, apparently Stannis found a hawk round about here once." he said absent-mindedly to Loras after a few moments.
Loras looked at him curiously.
"mm hmm it was injured and they say that he nursed it back to health."
"From what you've told me about him, your brother doesn't sound like the sort to be taking in injured animals." Loras laughed. "Sounds more like the sort of thing Willas would do."
"To be honest I can't imagine it either really. But the older servants insist that he did. It was a goshawk and he named it Proudwing. He tried to train it but it never flew higher than this tree. It would only fly to to the lower branches and back again no matter how hard he coaxed it. Apparently Robert laughed at him, and called it Weakwing instead."
"And what happened to it?" Loras asked.
"You know what" he said looking up at Loras "I really don't know what happened to it. Or if it even happened at all. It's probably just a tale made up by servants who have taken one too many trips down memory lane."
Renly glanced down at the ground, trying to imagine Stannis nursing an injured bird back to health. It certainly didn't sound like the Stannis he knew. The Stannis he knew was cold and uncaring. He had cared for Renly, but out of duty not affection. Perhaps the tale was made up after all Renly mused. Servants were always making up tall tales.
…...
The sun was entirely gone by the time they returned to the castle. Renly had remembered to tell Loras about the Tourney that he had began organising in his absence. As he had expected, Loras had been excited. He was too young to compete and he had accepted this with surprisingly good grace. He would enjoy watching and helping Renly prepare like any squire should he had said.
They were still discussing the plans when reached Renly's chambers, Loras flopping down on the bed lazily. Renly smiled at him as he sat himself down at the table, running his hands over the smooth mahogany.
"I was going to send out the invitations tomorrow Loras. I've had Brella write letters to all of the smaller lords, but I thought I should do the great houses personally. " He reached for his quill and the pot of ink. Before putting pen to paper however, he grinned, having a sudden thought "You know Loras, maybe you should do it, seeing as before you left you were complaining about how little you actually do as my squire!"
Loras rolled his eyes but dutifully sat up and came to join him at the table. "This wasn't quite what I had in mind" he muttered under his breath. "But if you insist my lord" he sighed, smiling rather insolently up at Renly. "Who do you want me to write to?" he asked.
"Hmm lets see" Renly ran through the great houses in his mind "Well the Tullys, the Arryns, your family of course. We should probably invite the Starks too even if we know they wont come... I'll write to Robert and Stannis myself" He paused, before grimacing "and let's not forget the Lannisters either... We wouldn't want to slight the great Tywin would we!"
Loras laughed, writing down the list. His hand was just as Renly had expected it to be, elegant with no traces of the ink smudging. "My family probably wont come either" he said as he wrote down the Starks, a note of disappointment in his voice "Willas wont be able to travel by then, and there's no way they'd go off to a tourney and leave him."
Renly nodded. "That's a shame, but invite them anyway."
Renly left him to it, crossing the room to look out of the window. He was sure he'd forgotten somebody. Pacing slightly he racked his brain. He had left out the Greyjoys on purpose. They would probably consider it a slight to be invited to such a frivolous thing as a Tourney, and besides he didn't much fancy the raping and pillaging that the Iron Islanders tended to bring with them. Brella was taking care of all the lesser lords. Surely that constituted everyone. And yet he was still sure that one of the houses had slipped his mind.
He sighed as it dawned on him. "Oh and of course I forgot the Martells!"
Loras dropped his quill in horror. "I will never forgive you if you make me write to the snake that crippled my brother" He said, eyes flashing daggers at Renly.
Renly smiled "Don't worry I'm not going to force you to write to Prince Oberyn. Its Prince Doran that I'm asking you to write to, not his more volatile brother." He paused, looking imploringly at Loras. "I know how you feel about the Martells Loras. But I can't not invite them."
"Fine. If you insist" Loras did not look happy, but he did as he was told for once, writing an invitation for Prince Doran and his family. Renly watched over his shoulder as he wrote, making sure that Loras didn't write anything incredibly rude that he hoped Renly wouldn't see. The handwriting was slightly less neat than the others had been Renly noted, but it was at least devoid of anything offensive.
Loras glared up at him when he'd finished, shooting the invitation he'd just written a look of pure disgust. "I hope they don't come."
"They wont" Renly laid a hand on Loras' shoulder. "They say Prince Doran has trouble walking these days. There's no way he's travelling through the Red Mountains for a tourney" Prince Oberyn might though he thought rather guiltily. Loras would not be happy to say the least. Sighing though, Renly pushed the thought aside. They would cross that bridge when and if they came to it.