ASOIAF: The Red Lion and the Crazy Child

When he was ten years old, his father died and his mother left soon after, a victim of the same illness. Gwayne would have given in to grief if it weren't for his cousin Cerella and her friend, Daeron. who was the blacksmith's son. They helped him fill the void, especially Cerella who shared the same pain, her father died a week before Gwayne's father, they visited the village's small stone Sept daily for two weeks, asking for mercy for the village's sick. After a month, most recovered, and over time, everyone began to forget that it even existed. The three were inseparable during that time, sometimes Gwayne would put a rope in the window for Daeron to climb up at night. It happened so many times that Ser Lymond had already accepted, one day he went downstairs and found his grandfather eating his breakfast. He looked at him immediately and said.

— Daeron hadn't come down?

He just hung his head in shame. Then his grandfather's laughter brought him back.

— no problem, little boy. Ser Lymond said. — I know what my blacksmith is like, he is a difficult man.

Gwayne raised his head in relief. — but you should have told me, so you will be grounded and pray in the morning in the sept. The little guy snorted. — I like the septum... he soon realized that his mouth had betrayed him and closed it with his hands.

— then, without Daeron and nothing from Cerella, you will eat your meals in your room. Are we understood?

— yes sir. Gwayne said, lowering his arms in defeat.

— go back to the room, I will send the servants to bring breakfast for you... and Daeron. — Ser Lymond turned and forked a piece of bacon with his fork.

Gwayne had run back to his room, his punishment lasting an entire week. For the remainder of the year, he, Cerella, and Daeron were inseparable. They loved playing in the woods near the village. Gwayne and Daeron fought over who would be the knight defending the princess and who would be the ruffian. Then they took long branches and used them as swords. Other times they would race on the lake, Daeron always won in that one. He was small and fast, difficult to find another boy like him in the village. Cerella was always the first to be found watching Daeron, she was a willful little girl, always with a smile on her face. Their grandfather, Ser Lymond always had to send one of his knights after them, then they would turn around and go straight to the armory, to meet Ser Desmond Linger, the master-at-arms of StrongPride. Gwayne was the best swordsman among the village boys, he was tall and strong for his age, he had a cunning look and a good arm for a spear. Ser Lymond wanted him trained as a knight. Daeron was another story, he was small and fragile, he had a lot of disadvantages against the other boys, but over time he improved after asking me for some advice. I said the obvious, he'd better improve himself as a spearman or archer. And that's what he did, over time he improved a lot, even becoming the best archer in the training group. Making Lady Cerella happy with his deeds. The other boys, who didn't like it very much, attacked him with words. the plump cub of one of my grandfather's knights said. "the blacksmith's son shouldn't train here" tears ran in Daeron's eyes.

— leave him alone. —Shouted Cerella—

It was then that my spear reached his mouth. He looked like he was going to cry because of the small cut on his cheek, so he ran away and Cerella burst out laughing. The other boys ran after him.

— they're scared to death of you, Gwayne.

Gwayne had given her a half smile.

— this shows a bit of intelligence on their part.

Then, Daeron wiped his eyes with his sleeves.

— he is well? Cerella asked.

— I am, it's nothing, My lady. — He replied. Remembering his low birth.

Cerella placed her hand on her chin, and bit her lip, studying why he called her a lady out of nowhere.

— it's time to go, let's go Cerella. Gwayne said, placing the spear on his shoulders. — see you tomorrow, Daeron. Then, he walked to the weapons depot and placed the spear and shield in place.

Afterwards he called for Cerella again, and they walked back to the castle talking.

After a few days, something different happened. It was an ordinary day, he got up, did his duties with Septa Lorren, trained with Ser Desmond, played with Cerella and went with Daeron to the woods to swim, Cerella couldn't go because she had a dance class. They swam and when the afternoon twilight began they returned to the village, the day finally came to an end. he showered and went to bed. he fell asleep quickly, he was in a deep and good dream, until he was ripped from him, he woke up with a beast choking him, it looked like a man, or it looked like one... It had wings, Gwayne thought. but he saw nothing. Just darkness, except for the eyes... Sickly yellow eyes. He tried to scream but the beast was suffocating him too hard, he was close to losing consciousness, he realized that he was dying. but he fought until the end because he knew that if he gave up, everything would be over. no more laughter or joy, Nothing!

Until the bedroom door opened, letting in a brief light from a torch. then the thing turned and released him. Gwayne panted on the bed, paralyzed. Then he heard a scream. It could only be Cerella, he thought quickly, then snapped out of his paralysis. he jumped on the creature to give his cousin a chance to escape. Outside the guards were excited and entered through the castle door, they opened the main door shouting and Ser Lymond came out of the bedroom door with sword in hand shouting for his grandchildren. Ser Lymond, thought it was Tywin Lannister coming to finish what he started in the past. He quickly went downstairs.

- what happened? He asked furiously one of the guards who came through the door.

— we don't know, Lord. — at that moment a terrifying sound came from the second floor — the beast moved violently, throwing Gwayne against the wall, and then running madly against the oak and iron window, completely destroying it.

then the guards and Ser Lymond ran to the second staircase, to the grandchildren's room.

Gwayne was screaming in pain on the ground as the guards entered, the last thing he saw was Ser Lymond making space between them. "Who was that girl?" He thought before turning it off.