Kassius’ heart was thudding hard in his chest, dry throat and sweating palms not exactly a result of the weather. It would be the first time he was going to see his family in a year. He had spent the year sending letters back and forth with his brothers and sisters assuring them that he was doing well, and had been well-received by the Martells. He also would have liked to have included in his more formal letters to his parents, the assertion that he hadn’t done anything to shame the Reach in Sunspear, just yet. In fact, he thought people rather liked him. But he hadn’t bothered to write that because he knew what his father would have said. In that stern voice of his, he would have eyed Kassius and said simply, “I believe I should be the better judge of that, son.” And he couldn’t bear that even in letter form.
When he had received the message that his family was coming to visit, he had been excited, as he had dearly missed them all, but the closer the date came, the more anxious he got. He had to prove that he was doing them justice. He couldn’t embarrass himself and the Tyrell name while his father and mother were here. Lord Nymeros would be generous, but Lord Garrothan would just… he wouldn’t be angry, but he’d look so… expectantly disappointed. Kassius hated that most of all. His father had never gotten angry at him when he had made mistakes, but that silent, long-suffering disappointment was worse than any punishment he could have received.
Kassius paced anxiously up and down the hall, adjusting his clothes subtly, nervously waiting for some sign that the Tyrells had been spotted at the gates and were being admitted to Sunspear.
“What’s wrong, my love?” Came a bright, childish voice.
Kassius gave an undignified scream and jumped nearly a mile, before turning towards the source of the voice and recognizing Myria, her dark eyes looking up at him with an innocent curiosity. He cleared his throat and backed away from her for some reason he didn’t yet understand. “Ah! Uh. P-Princess Myria.” The words came out in a whoosh of escaping nervous energy. He swallowed loudly, not even realizing he’d done it. “There’s nothi-“
A horn blew and the arrival of the Tyrells of Highgarden was announced, and all the blood drained from Kassius’ face, the words locking up in his throat. He didn’t know why he was this nervous. He’d lived with his family most of his life, this shouldn’t be any different. Attempting to collect himself, he turned around to head for the stairs… only to find that he was right on the edge of them, and tripped, almost sending himself careening down the steps before he grabbed onto the short railing, also managing to slam his face into that railing hard enough to leave a little red mark on his forehead. He forgot he’d left Princess Myria standing in the hallway without a proper reply to her question, as he picked himself up and dashed down the stairs.
Everyone gathered to properly greet the Tyrells. At the entrance hall, the very first person Kassius saw was Sillowen, holding little Jana’s hand. His face brightened immediately, his love for his sisters dispelling his nervousness for a bit. Jana tugged her hand free of Sillowen’s and darted forward to give him a big hug. He laughed and spun her around, and for a moment, he was just Kassius as he had been in the past year or so. Happy, almost carefree.
“Kassius.” The man’s voice froze him in his tracks, and he set Jana down immediately. His father didn’t mind them playing around in the privacy of their home, but the tone of his voice made it clear that it was unsightly conduct in someone else’s house.
Tugging his tunic straight again, Kassius managed to say, “I- I am glad you have come, Lord Tyrell.” Garrothan may have been his father, but all of his children knew that it was only proper to address him as Lord Tyrell in polite company, at the very least. He swallowed, took a deep breath and looked up into his father’s face. In front of everyone’s eyes, the nine year old boy seemed to wilt and shrivel like a dying flower, any semblance of confidence vanishing in the space of a moment.
A tug on his sleeve got him to look down, and he saw Princess Myria standing there right next to him, looking quite upset. “Are they upsetting you? I will make them go home.” She seemed to offer, relatively quietly. Jana peeked at her from around his legs.
“No!” He yelped, loud enough for everyone to hear, startling both little girls.
“Kassius.” His mother reprimanded sharply.
He cleared his throat again, then spoke to Princess Myria a little more quietly, anxiety still rolling off of him, “They’re my family, Princess. I am very happy they’re here, truly.”
“Kassi.” Jana tugged on his sleeve, too. “Kassi, spin me again!” She demanded.
He smiled at her, relaxing again a little, but told her, “Not now, Jana, but later, I promise. After the feast.”
The whole group made their way to the banquet hall, and as they walked, Sillowen managed to catch Kassius’ arm. “Don’t mind father and mother too much, Kassius. After this one feast, I’m sure they’ll spend the days mostly concerned with Lord Martell, and then you can just enjoy our company. I’m sure Jana will be happy to play with another girl her age. You just have to get through this one feast.” He smiled at her wanly and nodded, trying to look convincingly reassured. He just had to get through this one feast. If only that seemed possible.