Bruce couldn't say he didn't think about the two of you often, how could he not? Mihnkhoa was his closest confidant in his youth, and you, his betrothed. Life was simpler.

If he focused hard enough, he could still hear the three of you giggle and joke through the halls of the Red Keep. You'd get yanked away by your mother, the snickering of your brother, Kal-el, still seemed fresh in his ears. Khoa would get plucked away by a Lord Commander of the King Guard he was warding under. Then Bruce would eventually have to return to his home in the North.

The burden of taking care of the North had preceded the importance of yourself, you came to terms with that after the nth goodbye. Begging your brother to seize the betrothal.

In Bruces' absence, you and Khoa had grown close.

Ser Minhkhoa Khan took his oaths and swore his sword to you. He became your Sworn Sword, by your side and only yours. You both still shared mead and meals, coming to resent Bruce's absence. While Bruce built up the North, becoming Warden of the North, holding honor close to his heart.

As much as you loved your brother he was almost naively cruel in the most unintentional way.

The cold of the North nipped at your nose, almost pleasantly refreshing as you walked around the castle, finding the stone walls harshly beautiful. You were careful not to overstep your boundaries, you knew that Bruce had grew a life here without you, adopting wards and so on. A heavy ache in your chest left in his place.

You'd known about your brothers plans on making Bruce the new Hand of the King which felt like a complete sucker punch to the gut.

The sounds of arguing pulled you out of your thoughts as you push open the wooden door leading to the mostly vacant Great Hall.

"I couldn't abandon my duties!" Snapped a harsh voice, your eyes landing on Bruce before Khoa gave him a sharp glare.

The two of them couldn't be more different, Khoa in silver armor and his White Cloak while Bruce was covered in his furs.

"But abandoning us was fine?" Khoa snapped back.