Behind the closed door, Cara closed her eyes, lulled by Yoren's voice. She loved when he sang and played the harp. The young girl would always find a way to stay near him to enjoy his music.
The servant will always bless Adas, this dornish singer for being Yoren's teacher.
Learning music gave the boy a new purpose, a new way to channel his energy while he was recovering. Note after note, song after song, he got better, forgetting about his injuries and the dark terrors that left him restless at night. Music healed him.
And it gave to Cara another reason to really appreciate Yoren. Not that she will ever admit it out loud, of course. Blimau teased her with this topic enough already. She loved his unassuming manners, his gentle smiles, and vast knowledge and now his music.
If she was to be entierely honest, right now she prefered listening to him playing the harp than singing for Yoren's voice was breaking and the result was… perfectible, she would say. Lady Arya said he sounded like a dying gull, which seemed quite harsh to the young servant who thought than someone singing with his heart could never sound so bad.
The servant heard that Yoren had stop playing, so she entered after a quick prayer to the Maiden, so she would not blush. The way he looked at her always made her feel like a maiden from the songs. You could see that he cared, really cared even if he was a lord's son and she, a mere maid.
« -How are you feeling today Cara ? Is Jeyne's newborn any better ? » Their eyes met and she felt her heart miss several beats. And the situation did not improve when Yoren removed his shirt, in a motion smoother everyday, revealing a strapping chest. Traitorous heart.
It was their little ritual, while she applied Maester's Brumi's salve on his back and shoulder, massaging him so it would soak into his skin, she would tell him the castle's lastest gossips.
« -She managed to recover with the Mother's help. Maester Brumi says she'll be complety fine in a few days. » Cara sat on Yoren's bed while the boy layed on his stomach.
She would feel his warm skin under her fingers. The young girl knew all his scars and marks as if they were her own, it felt like she was reading a map of some unkown and faraway land. She loved this feeling, she also loved the way a discreet shiver would sometimes travel down his spine, the way he moved under her hands, unable to stay still for long. The servant even thought she heard Yoren moan quietly several times in his pillow.
Cara would be lying if she said this was not her favorite moment of the day.
When the massage was done, she put the salve away. When she turned to face Yoren, she could tell he was actively trying to avoid her gaze, his cheeks burning red. The boy put on his shirt at an impressive speed, his fingers fumbling on the shirt's front laces.
The young girl tried to find something to say, something that would make Yoren behave like usual. Well, there was always a bit of pink high on his cheeks when the massage was over. But it was very confusing for her having him blushing in total silence, not daring to look at her. She could almost feel the thickness of the silence on her tongue.
But not a single word would come to her whirling mind. This strange silence was about to silence them forever, or so it seemed to both of them, when a firm knock resounded of the door. The door opened, revealing Lord Gendry who was clearly surprised to see her here.
« -Oh, Cara, you're here. Well, I hope everything is all right for you. I would need a word with my son please. » It never stopped to amaze her, to see such a powerful man be ever so polite to every person he met, no matter how low. Like father, like son.
With a smile, she made a quick curtsey to her lord and went out of the room without a single look for Yoren, intimidated by his father's presence. The young servant could feel his gaze on the back of her neck, sending a blazing shiver down her spine.
Well, since Yoren had almost recovered, all of this will be over anyway… It would be better for her to forget those sweet moments they shared she decided. For her feelings could not ever know a happy outcome.
But could she really put the way she felt behind her ? Did she even want to ? Cara tried to imagine her life without remembering Yoren's sweet gaze upon her, the way his voice slightly warmed when he spoke to her… He made her feel unique et precious, like Jonquil. Her life would seem so blue and bleak.
She was so lost in her gloomy thoughts that she almost bumped into Adas, the singer. Cara was very grateful to him for everything he gave to Yoren but he always made her feel unseasy. It was because of the way he looked at her, like he was reading into her very soul.
« -Good morning pretty Cara. If your face is to be believed, your day is not a very happy one. » His dornish accent was so thick you could feel the harsh southern sun on your skin whenever he spoke.
« -Do not brood, it does not suit your comely face. I am not mocking you, do believe me when I tell you we both know a certain boy who saw your beauty too. » And with a wink, he was gone, leaving her blushing so hard you could cook an egg on her cheeks.
It was only when she was laying in her bed, trying to find sleep that the thought hit her. What was Adas doing in this part of the castle at this time of the day ? Cara did not think he had any duty around there… Quite peculiar indeed.
Then she remembered all the things he told her grinned so much it hurted. Yoren did notice her, in the midst of all the young servants who made eyes at him all day along ! Her heart was beating widly in her chest, it felt like a ship on a raging sea, carried by the strongest wind.
She really should lit a candle to the Maiden, the Mother and the Crone while she was at it. She felt she would need the help she could find...