I See Fire / Jacaerys Velaryon

Chapter 4

I snap my eyes open as someone barges into my room. "Morning Princess." Anastasia says as she goes into my bathing chamber. I sigh and run my hands over my face. I lay back down and shut my eyes. Anastasia runs up to my bed and pulls the covers off of me. I groan as Anastasia laughs and runs away with my covers. "Anastasia!" I scold her but she just laughs. I sit up and place my feet on the freezing stone floor.

I stand up and walk to my wardrobe. I get out a black dress, one of the few I have thanks to Alicent. Anastasia helps me lace up the dress as I put on a golden dragon necklace. I slide two golden rings on my fingers as Anastasia braids my hair. I put golden earrings in and a golden bracelet around my wrist. I apply tint to my cheeks and look at myself in the mirror. "Something's missing." I say to Anastasia. "Princess if you don't leave now then you will be late to court." She says and I smirk. "What's so wrong with being fashionably late?" I ask and Anastasia shakes her head in disappointment. I look in my drawers and I come upon a red tint. I smile and put it on my lips. I smile as I look at myself in the mirror. "Perfect." I say with a nod as I stand up and walk out of my chambers.

I walk down the hallways of the Red Keep and I come to the throne room. "I am Lord Corlys' closest kin, his own blood. The true unimpeachable blood of house Velaryon runs through my veins." I hear Veamond Velaryon say in the throne room. The guards open the doors for me as I march into the throne room. "As it does in my brother's veins, the offspring of Laenor Velaryon. If you cared so much about your house's blood Ser Veamond you would not be so bold to supplant its rightful heir." I say as I walk toward Veamond and stand beside my mother. "Princess Rhaella so nice of you to finally join us." Alicent says as she sends me a glare. I send her a fake smile and turn my attention back to Veamond.

"What do you know of Velaryon blood Princess? I could cut my veins and show it to you and you still wouldn't recognize it. This is about the future and survival of my house, not yours." Veamond lectures me as I glare at him. He then looks at Luke and I feel my blood boil in anger.

"My Queen, my Lord Hand, this is a matter of blood, not ambition. I place the continuation of the survival of my house and my line above all. I humbly put myself before you as my brother's successor, The Lord of Driftmark, and Lord of the Tides." Vaemond says and I roll my eyes. I look over my shoulder as someone grabs my hand. I smile as I see Jace staring at me. "You're late." He whispers to me. "Am I? I couldn't tell." I whisper with a smirk. "Thank you Ser Vaemond." Otto says from the throne. Vaemond nods and looks back at Luke, my mother, and myself. He then goes to stand with Princess Rhaenys.

"Princess Rhaenyra, you may now speak for your son Lucerys Velaryon." Otto says in a disgusted tone. My mother steps forward and sends a quick glare to Alicent. "If I am to grace this-" My mother begins but she is interrupted by the throne room door opening. "King Viserys of House Targaryen, the first of his name, King of the Andals and Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and protector of the realm." One of the guards announces as my grandfather hobbles into the throne room. He uses a walking stick and has a golden mask covering half of his face. I notice Alicent, Otto, and Vaemond share a worried look and I smirk.

Viserys looks over at my mother and me and I smile at him and bow. "I will sit the throne today." My grandfather says to Otto. "Your Grace." Otto says in irritation as he goes to stand by Alicent. Viserys struggles to get up the steps and a guard quickly rushes to help him. "I will be fine, I will be fine." My grandfather quickly dismisses the guard. The guard nods and goes back to where he was.

Viserys climbs up one of the steps and his crown falls off his head. I look over as Daemon rushes to his side. He picks up the crown and looks at his brother. "I said I am fine." My grandfather says not looking to see who is helping him. When he does look up and realize that it is Daemon who is by his side he lets Daemon help him to the throne. My grandfather collapses into the Iron Throne and Daemon puts the crown back on the King's head. Daemon rejoins us and my mother steps back to be beside me.

"I must admit my confusion. I do not understand why petitions are being heard over a settled succession. The only one present who might offer keener insight into Lord Corlys' wishes is the Princess Rhaenys." Viserys says and we all turn our attention to Rhaenys. "Indeed, your Grace." Rhaenys says as she steps forward.

"It was ever my husbands will that Driftmark pass through Ser Laenor to his trueborn son, Lucerys Velaryon. His mind never changed nor did my support of him. As a matter of fact, Princess Rhaenyra has just informed me of her desire to marry her son Luke to Lord Corlys' granddaughter, Rhaena. A proposal to which I heartily agree." Rhaenys says and I look over at Luke and smile. "Well, the matter is settled. Again I hear by reaffirm Prince Lucerys of House Velaryon, as heir to Driftmark, the Driftwood Throne, and the next Lord of the Tides." Viserys says and Luke smiles.

"You break law and centuries of tradition to install your daughter as heir yet you dare tell me who deserves to inherit the name Velaryon. No. I will not allow it." Vaemond says as he steps forward and glares at my grandfather. "Allow it? Do not forget yourself Vaemond." My grandfather says. "THAT is no true Velaryon and certainly no nephew of mine!" Vaemond yells as he points at Luke. "Go to your chambers." My mother says to Luke, not wanting him to be in this position. "You have said enough." My mother says to Vaemond.

"Lucerys is my true-born grandson and you are no more than the second son of Driftmark." Viserys says to Vaemond. "You may run your house as you see fit but you will not decide the future of mine." Vaemond hisses at my grandfather. "My house survived the Doom and a thousand tribulations besides, and God's be damned I will not see it ended on the account of this-" Vaemond says until he cuts himself off. "Say it." Daemon dares him. Vaemond smirks as he looks at Daemon. "Her children are BASTARDS!" Vaemond yells. Jace begins to walk forward with his hand on the hilt of his sword but I spin around and put my hand on his chest. "Don't." I whisper to him. He looks down at me and removes his hand from his sword. "And she is a whore." Vaemond says and gasps and murmurs echo through the throne room.

"I will have your tongue for that." Viserys says as he removes his dagger from its sheath and points it at Vaemond. Daemon steps forward and pulls his sword from its sheath. He lifts his sword and slices cleanly through Vaemond's head. I gasp and back away as Jace grabs my hand. "He can keep his tongue." Daemon says as he looks at Vaemond's dead body. "Disarm him!" Otto yells as several of the guards pull out their swords and point them at Daemon. Several other guards step forward ready to defend Daemon. Daemon smirks and cleans the blood off his sword as he rejoins us.

I look up as my grandfather heaves for breath and falls backward into the Iron Throne. "Call the Maesters!" Alicent yells as she rushes to the King's side. "Father." My mother says worriedly. My mother and I walk up to the foot of the steps leading up to the throne as Alicent picks Viserys up. A guard helps my grandfather down from the throne. I watch worriedly as my grandfather is carried out of the throne room.