I See Fire / Jacaerys Velaryon

Chapter 2

My eyes flutter open as light floods into my chambers. I look out of my window to see the sun rising on the horizon. I throw the covers off of my body and stretch as the cool air kisses my skin. I place my feet on the cold stone floor and walk to my wardrobe. I put on my training gear which consists of black trousers, a red tunic, and my leather boots.

I go to my vanity and tie my hair back into one long braid with several intricate braids flowing into the main braid. I don't bother applying tint to my lips and cheeks since I am going to train. I grab my Valyrian steel sword, Willbreaker, and my dagger and attach both of them to my belt.

I open my door and walk down the winding hallways of the Red Keep. I enter the training grounds and smirk as I see Aemond beat Ser Criston Cole yet again. "Are you finally ready for a real challenge?" I ask Aemond with a smirk as I approach him with my sword drawn. "I wouldn't want to damage your pretty face, my betrothed." He says as he flips his sword around in his hand.

Jacaerys pov

"It's smaller than I remember." Luke says as we walk down the stairs to the training yard. "It looks exactly the same." I say with a smile remembering all the times I trained here with my father and brother. "Oh, Luke come on." I say excitedly as I run down the remaining steps. I watch two twin brothers spar with one another and I smile remembering my twin sister.

I look around the yard and smile as I see a section of carved-out rock on the stone wall near the gate. "See I told you this would still be here." I say to Luke with a smile. "And you thought you could swing Criston's Morningstar. Almost took your own head off." I say with a smile as I ruffle Luke's hair. He smiles and I look at the weapons in front of us. I pick up one to test the weight and I look over as I see Luke frown. "What's your problem?" I ask him confused as to why he isn't happy to be in our childhood home. "Everyone's staring at us." Luke says quietly. I make a noise and smile as I act like I am lunging at Luke with a sword. I admire the sword in my hand as I run my hand along the cool blade.

"No one would question me being heir to Driftmark if-if I looked more like Ser Laenor Velaryon than Ser Harwin Strong." Luke says to me quietly. I sigh and put down the sword in my hands. "It doesn't matter what they think." I say to my brother. We both turn around as we hear the loud clash of swords behind us. I look at the large group forming around the two people and I pat my brother on the shoulder. We both run over to join the crowd in watching the two people spar.

Luke and I share a worried look seeing Aemond with an eyepatch covering his left eye because of what happened six years ago. I then divert my attention away from him and to the person across from him. Their back is turned to me but their brown hair looks familiar. The two clash swords with one another. The brown-haired person breaks away from Aemond and rolls to the ground. The person then quickly flips back up to their feet and points their sword at Aemond's throat.

"You've gotten better my betrothed." Aemond says and my eyes widen in shock. "I've had good practice." The familiar female voice says. "Rhaella?" I ask in shock. She turns around and looks at me as a wide smile spreads across her face. "Jacaerys!" She yells in joy as she drops her sword and runs towards me.

Rhaella's pov

I wrap my twin brother into a tight hug not wanting to ever let go. "I've missed you so much." I whisper in his ear. "I've missed you too dear sister." He says as he runs his fingers through my hair. I break away from him and look into his dark brown eyes. My brother and I are very similar as far as looks go. We both have dark brown hair and light skin from our father but the main difference between us is our eyes. While Jace got our father's brown eyes I got my mother's bright blue eyes.

I look beside Jace and see Luke. "Luke." I say as I wrap him in a hug. "Sister." He says as he wraps his arms around me. We break away as we hear a guard say "Open the gates." We all look towards the gates as Vaemond Velaryon walks through. Vaemond passes by Luke and sends him a sharp glare. I put a comforting hand on Luke's shoulder and he looks up at me. I offer him a small smile and a nod of encouragement. He smiles in return and then looks between Jace and I. "I'll allow you two time to catch up." Luke says and walks back into the castle. I look over at Jace and we share a smile.

I walk back over to my sword and pick it up. I dust off the hilt and then sheath it. "You have grown sister." Jace says with a smile. "As have you, brother." I say with a smile of my own. "Walk with me?" I ask him and he nods.

Jace and I walk through the gardens of the Red Keep and converse. "I see you and Aemond are still betrothed." Jace says and I nod with a sigh. "Indeed. Alicent says we will be wed soon but I doubt it. She said that five years ago after all." I say and he nods. "You do not wish to be betrothed to Aemond?" He asks. "You know I don't Jace." I say as I stop walking to turn and look at him. "He is horrible, he's cruel and he doesn't care about me. The main reason he wants us to be wed is so he can have his revenge on you and Luke." I rant to my brother. "Then don't marry him." Jace suggests and I shake my head and laugh. "It's not that simple." I say with a smile. "Sure it's not." He says playfully. I lightly hit his shoulder and we continue to walk through the gardens.

"I've missed you, sister." Jace says after several seconds of silence. "As have I you brother." I say with a smile as I loop my arm through his. I lean my head on his shoulder as we admire the scenery around us. "I'm not the only one who has missed you." He says and I look up at him. "Mother was a wreck when you first left even Daemon missed you." He says and my eyes widen. "I haven't seen mother yet." I say and he smiles. "Go." He says and I nod and run back to the castle.

I quickly run into my chambers and strip off my training clothes. I grab a red satin dress from my wardrobe and a pair of black heels. I take my hair down from its braid and braid my hair how I normally do. I quickly apply tint to my lips and cheeks and place ruby earrings in my ears. I also put on a ruby necklace and matching bracelet. I look at myself in the mirror a final time and straighten out my dress. I exit my chambers and go to my mother's old chambers.

Once I finally reach my mother's chambers I knock on the door. "Enter." I hear my mother say. I slowly open her door and I see her standing in the middle of her room looking back at me. "Mother." I say as tears of joy fill my eyes. "Rhaella." She says with a wide smile as she holds her arms open. I run to my mother and crash into her arms. I let my tears of joy fall as my mother runs her fingers through my hair. "My sweet girl, how I've missed you." My mother says as she pulls me back to look into my eyes. "I've missed you so much, mother." I say as she wipes away my tears. I smile as we wrap one another into a warm hug again.