[D8 EE] The Wounded Dragon

[Ser Lorent Tyrell]

He exhaled slowly, wrapping his arms around her as gently as he could manage. "This is not your fault, this isn't your fault," he insisted. When he drew back, his jaw was tight again, tendons standing out in his neck. "Has he done this before?" Lorent whispered hoarsely.

[Alicent Feyther]

She shook her head. "No, never..." She thought back, considering what he'd said, tears prickling her eyes again. "He's been... He always looked after me. He accused me of sneaking around on him, but I wasn't trying to..." She brought her good hand up to wipe her tears again. They wouldn't stop, though.

"He comforted me after a nightmare just the other day..."

[Ser Lorent Tyrell]

Lorent pulled her close, holding her to his strong chest, breathing in the scent of her hair. He didn’t rush her, breathing deep and steadily as her tears fell.

[Alicent Feyther]

It was like a dam breaking. She held onto him tightly with her good arm, clinging to him as she finally let out the pain she'd been trying to hold in without realizing it. She buried her face in his chest to muffle the noise at least, even if she couldn't stop the subbing and tears the spilled. Shame, feeling betrayed, feeling guilty... all the mental and emotional pain rose up and seemed to spill out at once. She was embarrassed to be showing this kind of weakness now, but that only made it worse. So she just clung to him for a few minutes until the tears finally at least slowed.

[Ser Lorent Tyrell]

Not knowing what else to do, he just held her as she cried herself out. He will answer for this, Lorent thought bitterly, by the Seven, I will see that much.

[Alicent Feyther]

Eventually she sniffled and calmed, swallowing. "Okay... We... We should go get me looked at, shouldn't we...?" She looked up and him and smiled a little, rallying emotionally.

[Ser Lorent Tyrell]

Smiling warmly, Lorent brushed the tears from the cheek her brother hadn’t hit, “all right then.” He kissed her forehead softly and escorted her out of the tent. Once outside, his arms fell to his sides, gaze alert, keeping an eye out for Caim. Only once they were away from the pavilions, headed to the Keep, did Lorent place a reassuring hand on the small of Alicent’s back.

[Alicent Feyther]

Fortunately, the man didn't make an appearance, presumably occupied elsewhere. She was grateful for the hand on her back and his obvious care and gentleness with her, making the event earlier easier to compartmentalize.

[Ser Lorent Tyrell]

Inside, Lorent stopped a servant and requested directions to the Maester. As they were being led to the Raven Tower, the knight finally realised that he’d been holding something, and that it was now gone. His gait faltered half a step, looking down at his free hand, hissing annoyedly through his teeth.

[Alicent Feyther]

She paused for a moment, looking toward him. "Is something wrong?"