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The night stretched on.
Plates were cleared. Glasses refilled once, then left untouched. The warmth of conversation softened into that comfort only family dinners left behind.
Kara stretched, clearly full.
"That was amazing," she said, beaming. "I forgot what real food tastes like."
Raven gave Arthur's mother a small, sincere nod. "Thank you for having us."
Adam stood and offered an easy smile. "You're welcome anytime. Both of you."
Arthur reached for his coat.
"Arthur."
Her voice stopped him.
He turned.
His mother stood near the table, hands folded together as if she hadn't decided what to do with them yet. Her smile was there, but it wavered at the edges.
"Could you stay for a moment?" she asked. "Just you."
Arthur nodded at once.
"Of course."
"Girls," she said, "would you give me a moment alone with my son?"
Kara glanced at Arthur, then nodded. "Sure. We'll wait outside."
Raven lingered for half a second longer, her eyes searching Arthur's face as if she sensed what was coming. Then she inclined her head and followed Kara toward the front of the estate.
The doors closed.
Arthur turned back to his mother. She didn't sit. Instead, she stepped closer and took his hand in both of hers, her grip warm and grounding.
"Arthur," she began, hesitating, not because she lacked the words, but because there were too many of them. "You feel… different."
Arthur didn't answer immediately.
She shook her head, already anticipating his defense.
"No.. don't misunderstand me. It's not your power or your gifts. Not even the things people whisper about you."
"And it's not because of the rings, or what you can do." She searched his face, brow creasing. "It's something else. Something I can't name just yet."
She exhaled, a soft, shaky breath.
"It's like when a storm is coming. You don't hear the thunder yet. The sky looks normal. But something in your chest knows." Her thumb brushed over his knuckles, back and forth, a habit she'd had since he was a child.
Her fingers tightened slightly around his.
"You look at me the same way you always have," she continued, voice quieter now. "But there's something behind your eyes. Like you're standing somewhere far away, carrying things you won't let anyone else see."
She lifted one hand and placed it gently against his cheek.
"Is everything really okay, Arthur? Because when I look at you… it feels like you're carrying worries that don't belong to one person."
For a moment, Arthur said nothing.
Arthur covered her hand with his own, pressing his cheek into her palm just slightly, as if anchoring himself.
"Mom," he said gently, "I'm alright."
She searched his face, unconvinced.
"I am," he repeated, softer. "I feel… alive. More than ever. I've just learned how fragile things are. How easily they're taken."
He let out a quiet chuckle.
"It's true I've taken on… responsibilities. Big ones. Guess my face isn't very good at hiding it anymore."
She laughed, a little, despite herself.
"You always were terrible at lying to me," she said.
"I know," he replied, smiling. "But I promise you, whatever I'm dealing with, I chose it. And I can bear it."
She studied him for a long second, then nodded slowly. Not because she fully believed him, but because she trusted him.
"Whatever you say, my son," she murmured. "Just… stay safe."
"You too, Mother."
She pulled him into a hug then tight, unyielding, full of every memory she had of him scraped knees, late nights, quiet worries. She held him as if she could anchor him to this place by sheer will.
When she pulled back, she rested her forehead briefly against his and whispered:
"No matter how far you go… no matter how heavy the world becomes… remember this, you don't have to save everything to still deserve peace."
Arthur's eyes widened just a fraction. And he said nothing.
As he stepped away, he closed his eyes, heading toward the door where Raven and Kara waited, one thought echoed in his mind clear and absolute.
'No matter how far I walk, no matter how much weight settles on my shoulders…'
'There will always be a place I refuse to let the darkness touch.'
'Not because I am strong.
But because I remember who I was before strength ever mattered.'
He opened his eyes, looking past Kara and Raven.
'Let the universe demand its due from me.
Let the road ahead grow cruel and unkind.'
'But this..'
'This warmth. This home of mine. These people who gave me a name before I earned a title..'
'They will never pay the price for the life I chose.'
Arthur glanced back at his Family home.
'I shall stand between you and everything that would dare reach for you.'
'This is the one truth the universe will obey.'
Kara's voice cut through his mind.
She stood a few steps away, hands tucked casually into the pockets of her jacket, moonlight catching in her hair. "So, Arthur?" she said, tilting her head slightly. "Shall we head back now?"
Arthur's expression was calm, too calm perhaps but the smile he offered was genuine.
"Yes," he said simply. "Let's go."
Kara smiled back, satisfied, already turning toward the path leading down the drive.
Raven didn't move.
She had felt it the moment he spoke, something subtle, deep inside of him.
Her eyes lingered on his face, Arthur caught her gaze.
For the briefest instant, the mask slipped, not enough for Kara to notice, not enough for anyone else but Raven saw it. The quiet resolve.
Her lips parted, as if to say his name.
Then she closed them again.
Raven gave a small nod instead, turning to follow Kara down the steps.
Arthur watched them go for a moment then stepped forward following them.
Arthur's mother stood near the tall window that overlooked the estate grounds, one hand resting against the glass, her eyes following the faint silhouettes as they moved down the long path three figures slowly swallowed by the night. The porch light cast their shadows far ahead of them, stretching and thinning until they disappeared beyond the estate gates.
For a moment, she looked smaller than she had at the dinner table, in a way only mothers became when watching their children walk away.
Adam stepped up beside her, slipping his hands into his pockets. He didn't speak immediately. He knew better.
"…He even walks differently now," she said at last, her voice low, almost to herself. "Did you notice that?"
Adam nodded. "I can't say yes to that mother, only you notice these kinds of things."
She exhaled softly at that, a faint smile touching her lips before fading again. Her gaze remained fixed outside.
Outside, the last trace of movement vanished beyond the gates.
Adam leaned against the window frame, his shoulder brushing hers. "You know," he said, a small smile forming, "there was a time I worried about him every single day. Even when he was standing right in front of me."
She turned her head slightly. "And now?"
"Now?" Adam let out a quiet breath. "Now I've seen what he's capable of. Not just the power, choices and the restraint he shows, power consumes and changes people for the worst most of the time. The way people like Raven look at him. The way Kara trusts him without question." He shook his head softly. "I don't feel worried about my little brother anymore. Not the way I used to."
Her eyes searched his face. "You don't?"
"No," he said with certainty. "Because whatever's out there… whatever dares to cross his path…" He paused, choosing his words carefully. "I don't think the world realizes yet what he can do."
She closed her eyes for a moment, letting that sink in.
When she opened them again, there was a quiet strength there, pride braided tightly with love.
"He was always like that," she murmured. "Even as a child. Never the loudest in the room. Never the one who demanded attention." Her smile returned, soft and aching. "But still the brightest."
Adam smiled. "After me."
She laughed, then straightened, stepping back from the window.
"…Come now, Adam." she said gently. "It's cold near the window, you should go rest as well."
/-\
If you Like this story! Check out my other stories! Solo leveling in Westeros.
&
If you wish to read more or simply support me than check out my patreon at
"https://www.patreon.com/FrenzyAren"
You can Get Access to 3 More Chapters OR 7 More Chapters if you want