I See Fire / Jacaerys Velaryon

Chapter 3

After talking to my mother for a while I decide to go back to my chambers. I walk down the dark hallways of the Red Keep and I see Luke in front of Balerion's skull. I quietly walk up behind him and place my hand on his shoulder. He slightly jumps and turns around to look at me. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." I say to my younger brother with a smile. "It's alright." He says with a small smile.

"How have you been Luke?" I ask him. "I've been well sister." He says with a fake smile. "Luke." I say and he sighs knowing I know that he is lying. "I'm worried about being Lord of the Tides. I don't want to be the ruler of Driftmark." He says solemnly. "Lucerys you will be a wonderful ruler." I say as I place a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Nephew, my betrothed." Aemond says from behind Luke and I. Luke and I turn to look at him. "I would like to speak to my betrothed, alone." Aemond says as he looks at me. Luke nods and walks away from us. "What is it?" I ask Aemond as I pick at my nails. "My mother has decided a date for the wedding." He says and my eyes widen in shock. "When?" I ask quietly. "A week's time." He says and my heart lurches in my chest. "How wonderful." I say as my eye slightly twitches. "Indeed." Aemond says with a smirk. "If you will excuse me." I say as I walk past him toward my chambers. After being out of earshot from Aemond I run to my chambers as tears fill my eyes.

I enter my chambers and quickly close my door as my tears begin to fall from my eyes. "Rhaella?" I hear someone say and I quickly look up and wipe away my tears. "Jace! How did you get in here?" I ask my brother. "Your handmaiden let me in." He says as he stands up and walks towards me. "What's wrong? What happened?" He asks urgently as he places a comforting hand on my cheek. "The date of the wedding has been set." I say as tears form in my eyes again. "When?" Jace asks. "A week's time." I say as a tear falls from my eye. Jace quickly wipes the tear away and wraps me into a hug. "I don't want to marry him. Anyone but him." I sob into my brother's shoulder as he runs his fingers through my hair. "I know Rhae. I know." He says using my nickname from when we were children.

"I have an idea." He says and I tilt my head to the side in questioning. "Let's go for a ride on dragon back like we did when we were younger on Dragonstone." He says and I smile. "You remember that?" I ask him. "I remember everything." He says with a smile. "Race you there!" I say as I run out of my chambers. "Hey, that's not fair!" He yells and I laugh as I continue to run through the halls of the Red Keep.

I run outside of the castle and through the gardens of King's Landing with a smile on my face. I run through the back alleyways and finally arrive at the Dragonpit. I laugh and straighten out my back as I catch my breath. I turn around as I hear someone run up behind me. "You cheated." Jace says as he bends over and places his hands on his knees to try and catch his breath. I laugh and shake my head. "You were just too slow brother." I say with a smile and Jace holds his hands up in a mock surrender.

"Shall we?" I ask and he nods. Jace goes into the Dragonpit while I stick two fingers in my mouth and whistle for Valathore. Valathore's black wings flap towards me as Jace emerges from the Dragonpit with his dragon, Vermax. I look over at Jace and smile as Valathore lands behind me. "He's grown." Jace says as he points at Valathore. "So has he." I say as I point at Vermax. Jace nods and climbs on Vermax's back. I smile and use the leather ropes on my mount to climb on Valathore's back.

"Sōvēs!" Jace and I say in unison to our dragons. Both of them take off into the sky as the cool air hits our skin. I laugh as the wind blows through my brown hair and the cold air stings my skin. I look over at Jace and smile as his dragon flies next to mine. Valathore may be nearly three times the size of Vermax but size does not always matter especially in battle. Jace looks over at me and smiles. Jace pulls on Vermax's reigns and Vermax soars above Valathore and appears on the other side of me. I laugh and pull back on Valathore's reigns and we soar higher into the sky. Valathore breaks through the clouds and I laugh feeling the freedom of flying on dragon back.

After flying around for about another hour Jace and I decide to land back at the Dragonpit. I climb down the ropes on Valathore's back and plant my feet on the ground. I go to Valathore's head and put my hand on his nose. Valathore growls softly and looks deep into my blue eyes. I pat his nose and he roars and flies away. "Valathore has become quite tame I see." Jace says as he approaches me. "Only towards me." I say with a smile. "Aegon found that out firsthand when he tried to mount Valathore." I say with a laugh remembering the memory.

Jace and I start the long walk back to the Red Keep. "I missed this." I say as I look over at Jace. "What?" He asks with a smile. "You. Walking with you, talking with you. I missed you brother." I say with a smile. "I missed you as well sister. I missed you so much." Jace says as we reach the castle. We go inside the Red Keep and Jace walks me to my chambers.

"Come back to Dragonstone with me." He says after a few seconds of silence. I tilt my head to the side in confusion. "Jace you know I can't do that." I say to him sympathetically. "Then we can run away together where no one will ever find us." He says and I sigh. "Jace-" I begin before he cuts me off. "Just think about it." He says with a smile. I nod and Jace walks to his chambers.

I enter my chambers and close the door behind me. I smile and go to my bathing chambers. "Where have you been?" Anastasia asks and I gasp in surprise not expecting her to be in my chambers. "I went out for a ride." I say as I take off my jewelry. "With Jacaerys?" She asks and my eyes widen.

"Why are you here?" I ask her trying to change the topic. "I came here to tell you about the meeting tomorrow discussing your brother's-" she begins before I cut her off. "Ah, yes I know very well about that." I say with a sigh as I strip my clothes off. "Wonderful. Now back to the topic of why you were dragon riding with your brother." She says and I sigh in annoyance. "I was catching up with my brother who I have not seen in five years." I say as I get into the bath and dunk my head under the water to try and escape this conversation but when I reemerge Anastasia is still here. "Fine. I won't question the matter anymore right now but I see the way you two look at each other Rhaella." Anastasia says as she stands up and exits my chambers. I sigh and ponder her words as I dunk my head under the water again.

I get out of the bath and slip on my nightgown. I climb into my soft bed and pull the covers over my body. I close my eyes as visions of Jace enter my mind and I slowly drift off into a peaceful sleep thinking of my brother.