Chapter 3 - The Proposal
"Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live" - Norman Cousins
Adeline's POV
When we arrived the next morning in Kings Landing, I was at odds. I had felt so excited to be here, in the warm weather, with all the noise and people, and yet, I knew what this meant. This meant my freedom, life, and body were no longer mine. I would soon be his.
The meeting
As we enter the gates to get inside the courtyard of Cair Paravel, I became impressed all over again. Its been so long since I've been here, I forgotten what it looked like. It was beautiful. And as I look out the carriage window, I see them. The Pevensies with their staff and guard. I caught his eye. I looked away instantly.
When the carriages came to a stop, everyone started to exit them while my father and grandfather, who were on horseback, demounted and went to go greet them. But before they could get to the High King, he came over to my carriage. Like a gentleman, he opened the door and held out his hand.
I stared at his hand, hesitant. It was as though it was the first time I ever really saw his hand. Or him for that matter. Thats when Katara nudged me and I realized I had to do something. So I gently placed my hand in his as I stepped out of the carriage in the most careful footing that I could to make sure I didn't slip. As I stepped out and stood in the courtyard, I noticed how everyones eyes where on us, to see how our first interaction as an engaged couple would go. It added to the pressure that was already there.
I looked at him, and he said, "Hello", with a bow. He had a look on his face I couldn't quite name. What an attractive face though.
The Walk
It was after dinner when the High King asked my father for permission to walk with me on the beach. It was sunset and beautiful.
When we got down to the beach, I took my shoes off and we walked in silence for a while. I could never find the right words to say to try and start a conversation, everything just seemed so wrong. I could tell he felt the same way too. It was difficult trying to figure us out. It all seemed to stump me, which was a first. Us walking together became awkward. We had spent the day together, but there were always others there to fill the silence. But now we were alone, in a sense anyway.
"Do they always follow you? Your guards?" he had asked.
"Yours don't, I see" I said back.
"No, not around here anyway. Do you ever grow tired of them being with you all the time?" he asked.
"Yes, but my grandfather and father have insisted that they be with me at all times, they can be a bit overprotective. This is one of those things where there was no point in arguing, I just had to accept it." I replied.
We walk for just a little longer, make small talk about the weather and how good dinner was, until we get to a stone bench near where the grass and sand met. As we take a seat, I can tell he is nervous. Then, he reaches in his pocket and pulls out a ring box.
"Um, I got you something. I know it might be a little late, but I thought better late than never." He opens it and there was a ring, a beautiful one. "I thought that since we were engaged, you would need an engagement ring." He takes the ring out, I hold out my hand, and he tries to put the ring on my ring finger.
As he puts in on, there is this strange electricity I feel when he holds my hand steady to put the ring on. It's something I haven't felt in a long time.
Once it's on, it's strange. Feels and looks strange, as though it doesn't belong there, but it does. A paradox.
"Do you like it? If not, we can get one you would like." he said, somewhat nervously.
"Its beautiful" I say. It really is.
As we walk back in silence, I can tell we are both feeling the same thing. Sadness. Sad that we will be forever tied to each other, complete strangers.
I go to bed that night and lay there, looking at the ring. What a beauty it really is. The moonlight really brings out the sparkle in it. My dreams are filled with thoughts about how he would of thought of it all, the boy I had loved oh so long ago.