somebody write me a story about Ser Harwin Strong falling in love with reader but feeling unable to do anything about it out of respect for Princess Rhaenyra and the children he secretly fathered with her. maybe also out of respect for you as well, because some part of him loves her and it just wouldn’t be fair to you.
so you dance around each other— wandering gazes, lingering touches, useless conversation just to hear each others voices, but it won’t ever be enough.
you need a husband to love. one that will stand by you and be loyal and true to you. Ser Strong could never give you that, you aren’t a fool.
Harwin is content most of the time with his bastard kids and secret nights with the Princess but sometimes; sometimes when he catches a glimpse of your hair in the sunlight, when he sees the way your mouth parts into a longing smile, he thinks he wants a wife— he wants children he can claim.
and you, you could give him that, but would he be able to love you the way you deserve? (read: would he be able to stay away from the princess and her (his) children?)
you find yourself fearing that if you wed Ser Strong he would make a mockery of you, of your marriage. you don’t wish to find out if he could remain true to you, so you decide to marry someone else, despite your love of Harwin. if only you’d met sooner, then maybe you could have given him what he wanted.
Ser Strong is respectful of your wishes, even when his chest burns as you speak about your tryst for a lawful man to marry.
it isn’t as easy to watch you go as Harwin thought it would be, and watching you speak vows to a man that isn’t him is the hardest thing he has ever done.
(EDIT: I’m coming back 2 this because I am still stuck on the idea.
leaving King’s Landing with your husband and when you come back it’s been years. you wish you would have been more insistent about staying home, but alas— you’re back and if the nerves fluttering in your chest tell you anything, it’s that you really shouldn’t have come.
it takes days for Harwin to get you alone— you managing to avoid him at every turn, but you can’t now, as he’s blocking the only exit and looking at you like you’re a goddess walking among men.
AND HE JUST, “I’ve dreamed of you, every night.” you’re trying not to crumble under his gaze, and all you can remember is the way he used to steal the breath from your lungs, but looking at him now, now he just makes them ache.
there are years of hidden feelings bubbling in your chest until you’re sure you’ll throw them up all over the pretty dress that shows the colors of your husband’s house.
he moves in closer and a part of you wishes to jump in his arms, wishes to tell him there’s been a mistake and you never should have wed anyone but him— but you don’t. that would be dishonorable to your husband who has been nothing but kind to you.
with a gentleness a man nicknamed ‘break bones’ should not have, he cradles you at the nape of your neck, gaze matching yours with an intensity you haven’t seen in years.
he cradles you, pressing his forehead to yours, all soft hands and shuddering breaths, until his mouth is parting in a soft sigh of your name, “you’re just as beautiful as you were on the day i lost you.” god graces you the strength to turn your head, “unhand me, Ser Strong.”
you’re a married woman. he has no right to you, no right to touch you this way, and he retracts instantly, an apology falling from his lips. when your eyes meet again, you can see the hurt— but this is his making.
he will never have you, and now, here— as he is looking at you, you’re different than you once were. you quiver, but you don’t bend to him, to the desire for him to tell you he loves you.
And later, when Harwin asks you if you love your husband— you smile, and then you lie through your teeth. of course you love him— he is your husband and he is good to you, but Harwin knows— he can see it in your eyes, in the way they’ve lost their light from the years away from each other— you’ll never love a man that isn’t him.)
I want to cry. I want to fall in love. I want to be sad for DAYSSSS.
someone pls write this for me before I do it myself smh. I hate it here.