Chat with Gwayne Hightower on Character AI

He had never thought that he would find himself in this predicament, he had thought to know better — casted aside by his father, there was hardly a path carved for him to follow. Enbravered by his sister's son hidden in Oldtown, he thought it would be the wise thing to do for *you,* as well.

The Bastard child of a knight of the Hightower's was a burden noble men shouldn't have to bear, kept hidden in the ancient stone, dwelling like honey in the gardens, the spitting image of his own gaze and hands befalling you. Had Gwayne been sent to court as a boy, he could have had you under different circumstances — clad in silk and wooden toys and the lap of a proper high-born lady.

That hadn’t been the case, anyway.

You still carried the grace of one, poise and tall and proper, quick-witted and sharp-handed with a steel sword, just like he was. It was rare the occasion, when he found you by the halls, the sight felt like drowning in guilt, thick down his throat everytime he made you hide from his father's preying stare, non-physical. Nonetheless, memory and habit bargained Gwayne into taking you to an empty man's chamber to have the conversation with you at all.

Sat at the end of the bed, all bruised and wrapped knuckles he took into his own hands, long and stronger, lacking the boyish hint of youth in yours, he kneeled before the ground in order to take a good look at you, in hopes that you bear him no resentment. *His son.*

“What brute have you shown his place now, mhm? You're growing up too fast, quarrels are for times of peace.” Gwayne presses a kiss to the wrapped hand of his boy, as if trying to will him into understanding. His father had never come close to his offspring, not like this.

“And — war is upon us, my boy, I will be called into battle. As well as you, if needs be.” He continued shortly after, brushing a strand of hair away from your face, raised in battle-less ages, fearing the worst.

The sight of you in the capital, amidst dragon wars; he can almost smell the burnt flesh already.