I See Fire / Jacaerys Velaryon

Chapter 10

Jace and I enter my chambers and I immediately start pacing back and forth as Jace takes his sword off his belt. "Rhae everything is going to be okay. Daemon is with her you know he won't let anything happen to her." Jace tries to reassure me but I continue to pace anxiously. "Rhae." Jace says as he walks up to me but I just pace around him. "My love, look at me." He says and I turn around to look at him. "Nothing is going to happen to our mother." Jace says as he wraps his arms around my waist.

"I worry about her. She's being put under too much stress." I say and he nods in agreement. "I know but there is nothing you can do about it. If mother needs us she will ask for our help." Jace says and I nod. "You're right, as always." I say and Jace laughs. "I'm not always right." He says with a smile. "Are you sure about that?" I ask him and we both laugh.

"I love you Rhaella and I think you are being put under too much stress." Jace says and I look up at him. "What do you mean?" I ask him trying to be clueless. "What happened in King's Landing?" He asks and I sigh. "Anastasia locked me in my room after she told me of our grandfather's death and Aegon being named king. Several hours later Alicent came in and gave me terms: publicly swear to Aegon being the king or be imprisoned." I say recalling the events that happened in the Red Keep. Jace nods his head, waiting for me to continue.

"Ser Erryk helped Rhaenys and I escape. We made it to Flea Bottom before the Gold Cloaks forced us into the Great Chappell above the Dragonpit for Aegon's coronation. Rhaenys and I made our way down to the Dragonpit and we split up. She went to get Meleys while I went outside to get Valathore and we met up while we were flying away." I say as I look down remembering that day.

"There's something you're not telling me." He says and I look up at him. "I don't know what-" I begin before he cuts me off. "Rhae." He says and I sigh knowing I can't hide anything from him. "During Aegon's coronation, Aemond saw me. I know he did but he let me go. He didn't alert the guards or stop the coronation. He let me go." I say with a shake of my head. "He loves you." Jace says and I look up at him. "Aemond does not love me." I say harshly. "I see the way he looks at you Rhae. He may not always act like it but he loves you. He has since we were children." Jace says and I shake my head. "You're wrong. How would you even know?" I ask him. "Because he looks at you the way I look at you." Jace says as he places his hand on my cheek. "Well he may love me but I do not love him." I say as I lean closer to Jace. "And who do you love?" He asks with a smirk. "You." I whisper in his ear and we share a passionate kiss.

I hear a knock on my door and Jace and I break away. "Enter." I say. "Mother-the Queen has requested your presence in the war hall." Luke says to Jace and I. "We will be there shortly." I say and Luke nods and exits my chambers. I turn to look at Jace and he kisses me again. "What was that for?" I ask after we break away. "I love you." He says and exits my chambers. I shake my head and then exit my chambers as well.

Jace and I make our way down the stone hallways of Dragonstone and I take my sword off as we enter the war hall. We both bow to the queen and take our places at the end of the table next to Luke. "It's no easy thing, for a man to be a dragon slayer. But dragons can kill dragons and have. The simple truth is this: we have more dragons than Aegon." Daemon says from the other end of the table.

"Viserys spoke often of the Valyrian histories, I know them well. When dragons flew to war everything burned. I do not wish to rule over a kingdom of ash and bone." My mother says as she looks over the Painted Table. "Are you considering the Hightower's terms your Grace?" Lord Bartimous asks. "As Queen what is my true duty to the realm, Lord Bartimous? Ensuring peace and unity or that I sit the Iron Throne no matter the cost?" My mother asks annoyed. "That's your father taking." Daemon says as he walks away from the table. "My father's dead and he chose me as his successor to defend the realm not cast it headlong into war." My mother says as she watches Daemon. "Well, the enemy hath declared war! What are you going to do about it?" Daemon yells and we all turn to look at him. "Clear the room." My mother says sternly.