LABYRINTH | JACAERYS VELARYON

iii.

Aelyra did not want to listen to her septa.

The woman was old and strict and always made it a habit to compare Aelyra to her aunts, especially Shaera. Sometimes, if Aelyra's stitches were too crooked, or she gave the wrong answer to a question, Septa Therese would pull on her hair and scold her.

Aelyra was particularly distracted today, always shifting in her seat and trying to get a good look out the window, waiting for a carriage to arrive. Jodan was meant to be coming back, and she could not wait to see him.

Jodan Lannister was possibly her best friend in the entire world. It wasn't hard to earn that title, of course, considering how most of the children Aelyra interacted with were her brothers, aunts and uncles. They were obligated to be nice to her, or at least not so mean that she was utterly miserable around them. Jodan was meant to be Aegon's childhood companion and one day, maybe even his own sworn sword, but Aegon had shown considerably less interest in the Lannister boy since he became such good friends with Aelyra.

They hadn't been friends, at first. When they were younger, Aelyra thought he was rather mean. He always teased her and poked her, but never treated anyone else that way. Aegon made sure not to let him upset her too much, but Jodan never listened to him very well anyway. 

One day, when Aelyra was six, Jodan joked about how she cried when she hit her head off a table when trying to pick up one of Luke's toys, calling her silly and emotional. In her infinite six-year-old wisdom, she decided that the best response was to punch him in the nose hard enough to make it bleed.

It hurts enough to cry, does it not? She had asked when he sniffled in pain, ignoring Aegon's raucous laughter and Jace's cry of alarm. She had been scolded terribly by her mother for it, and had to apologize but Jodan never made fun of her again. In fact, he became a sort of protector of hers. His mother was not impressed when he told the king he would rather stay by Aelyra's side as a protector than Aegon's. She had been even angrier when his request was granted.

"Princess Aelyra!"  Septa Therese's voice was sharp and high with frustration, making Aelyra jump in her seat and look away from the window with wide eyes. "Is there something more interesting out there than what I am discussing?"

Her mother had taught her to never lie, so Aelyra told the truth. "Yes. I am waiting for Jodan to return."

The septa's face went an alarming shade of red as she marched over to where Aelyra was seated, pulling harshly on her hair to make her look to where Shaera and Helaena sat across the room. Shaera looked up in alarm at Aelyra's cry of pain, but Helaena seemed relatively unbothered, murmuring to herself.

 Pointing to her aunts, Septa Therese's voice was angry. "This is how princesses are meant to be. Refined, polite, well-bred. You, child, are displaying none of these traits. Who will want you if you cannot behave as a woman should?"

Aelyra felt tears well up as a lump formed in her throat. "I do try," she whispered hoarsely. "I swear."

"Well-bred?" 

Septa Therese seemed to freeze at the question, turning to face Shaera stiffly. "Princess—"

"Do you wish to explain to me exactly what you mean by that, Septa?" Shaera asked, setting her needlework aside as she stood.

"Nothing, Your Highness," the old woman was stuttering now in the face of the princess's question.

Aelyra rarely saw Shaera angry. There was the day in the dragonpit when she slapped Aegon, but something about how she was now seemed different. Her cheeks had a slightly pink tint to them and she stood with authoritative rigidity. Still, her voice stayed low and calm.