Title: A Rose Blooms in The Storm
Summary: A ghost with a knife and a dream visited Jace two nights ago. Except, the dream was a prophecy, the knife was a mirror, and the ghost was a silver-haired princess. Jacaerys x Helaena my new obsession.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything
A.N: English is not my first language.
Jacaerys Velaryon, the heir of Dragonstone, tossed and turned in his bed in the dark night. It was a long time since he blew out the last of his candles, but sleep did not seek him out so far. It wasn't surprising. After six years in Dragonstone, he grew to adore the place, his new home, that shielded him and his family away from the politics of the King's landing. Everything was simpler and calmer there. There was no bad blood among his family which consisted of his mother, his stepfather, his brothers, and his stepsisters. It was as if even the air around the Dragonstone was better.
Free
Like a dragon should be in the sky. Not captured and caged as it felt here, inside the castle, surrounded by the court, watched by the realm. Everything changed. Despite his acceptance of Dragonstone as their new home, he still carried a fondness for the place of his birth and the kingdom that would once be inherited by him. He and his brother Luce spend many days running through the corridors, training in the yard or dragon pit with their uncles Aegon and Aemond and it was the only place he always associated with Sir Strong.
Sighing he turned to his back and closed his eyes. It had been years but being in this place again memories of the good and brave Captain of the King's Guard came rushing back in joyful yellow light. His memories were those of a happy little boy.
However, reality and the present were different.
The castle despite the decorations of the Faith of the Seven and Hightower Green everywhere was grey. It caused Jace to feel cold even if he knew it was not the kind of cold, he could protect himself with more fur and wood in the fireplace. No, this cold was of a different kind, somehow even worse than the one caused by elements.
His eyes opened, and for a moment, he froze, his thoughts about yellow, grey, and green forgot.
His heart sank into his stomach and the air rushed out of his lung as he watched a figure in white approach his bed through the door.
A ghost
It walked slowly and silently almost as if it was flowing and passing through things in the room he was given.
His entire being shook, but as it got closer, he saw a flash of light spark from its hand and his thoughts shifted just as his heart speeded up and blood flew faster through his veins.
A knife
Instinct and years of training kicked into the young prince, and before the ghost could reach for him, he snatched it first tossing himself on top up of it until they both ended up tangled in the sheets on his bed and his hand snatched the weapon.
Immediately, he realized no ghost could be touched and righteous furry settled in as he reached for the intruder's neck hearing a loud startled gasp, 'Jacaerys, stop!'
His eyes adjusted through the fog of anger and blood rushing through his ears as he realized who was under him with his hand on their throat.
'P-princess?' he questioned and looked down at the object, he snatched from his unannounced guest. It wasn't a knife at all, but a tiny mirror, the kind Jace saw his mother or stepsisters carry around that could fit into their small palms.
He swallowed and looked at the young woman under him again.
In the dark, it was easy to mistake, the tall young princess with silver hair spread over her shoulders dressed in her white nightgown for a ghost, but not this close, touching her, caging her with his legs, hearing her soft yet loud breaths. He couldn't see the color of her eyes, but it was obvious who she was, even if he didn't see her in six years.
'Please,' she whispered, and Jace immediately let go quickly getting off her as well. He felt ashamed he hurt her and confused about what she was doing inside his room. She had no place to be here at this hour.
She sat up and touched her neck, but apart from that, she didn't seem injured or even scared of what just happened.
What could she possibly want?
It was inappropriate for her to seek him on her own for any reason during the day. It was absolutely scandalous for her to do so at night alone and dress-well lacking the proper clothing.
His eyes momentarily looked over her night clothes before he quickly looked away and then at the small mirror again, 'Princess, why-what are you doing here at this ungodly hour? Did something happen? Is it grandfather?'
The health of their king was poor ever since Jace could remember, but it was true that even if his mother and his stepfather did not say, it seemed to have worsened over the years they did not see one another.
Still, it couldn't be the reason, why Princess Helaena would come to his chamber like this, at night of all times.
He glanced at her again more discretely as he wished to stay a gentleman and a proper prince even if his thoughts became less than pure.
Did she want to seduce me?
He didn't really speak to her much after their initial greetings earlier that day, but it wasn't anything strange as even growing up he was never close with his aunt. She was young as the rest of his mother's siblings, but a girl and therefore couldn't join him and Luce on training. He couldn't recall if he ever said anything to her apart from the expected few compliments and wishes during her namedays.
'No, father's health remains the same as it has the last couple of months,' she assured him touching the skirt of her night clothes. At first, he thought she was straightening it, but now it seemed she simply busied her hands with the fabric.
Her eyes stayed away from his on her hands.
'What then?' he asked growing impatient and worried. What if someone were to find them? No matter the innocence of their meeting, he hoped Helaena's reasoning for coming here was innocent, it would be scandalous and would surely cause both of them and their families nothing but problems. They were already dealing with a lot of bad blood and coldness, he would hate to be the reason for more of it.
The silver-haired woman remained silent for a while before she spoke, 'My brother, Aemond, he still feels great anger toward you and Lucaerys for what happened.'
Jace blinked at her raising a single eyebrow at her word and giving her a look before he dryly said, 'That is hardly news, princess.'
He couldn't see her well, but he was sure she frowned somewhat before she continued, 'He might try to seduce you with kind praise and words, but he…his heart isn't in it. Do not trust him, prince Jacaerys.'
He opened his mouth to tell her to call him Jace, but he stopped at the last moment as perhaps that wouldn't be proper. Although, what was proper about having a princess in his room like this, on his bed, no less?
Suddenly her eyes rose and met his and despite the dark, Jace felt strangely hypnotized by them as if they turned him to stone, 'A mare will not bring success. A danger can be hidden in a tail. Watch your left side.'
If her eyes weren't on his capturing his entire soul, he might have laughed at the nonsense, but he couldn't because her eyes, haunting in the dark, were on his, and they seemed to speak to something inside him urging him to listen and to take her words, her prophecy, seriously.
Finally, Helaena looked down at her skirt again seemingly not one to be comfortable with direct looks even rather than actually shy as his stepsisters suggested once, 'I do not know what it means. It came to me tonight.'
'It was a dream?' asked Jace, but the silver-haired woman shook her head, 'No, I'm never asleep when the fog comes and takes me away.'
Her words were enigmatic and confused him. As a child, his mother told him to be kind to Princess Helaena despite her antics. Although Aegon didn't mind mocking or insulting his sister, Jace never contributed. He never protected her either, but he never made it worse.
Perhaps, by being silent, he did make it worse.
It couldn't have been pleased growing up with her brothers, her oddities, and her daydreams on top of it all. A strange urge arose to say something, and express his sympathy for her pain, but his mind couldn't come up with the right words. It reminded him of the time, he was supposed to pay his respect to his stepsister Rhaena and Baela after their mother's death, but all he managed was to hold their hands.
Unfit to be a king, a mocking voice of doubt whispered into Jace's ear even if no one was there to speak such awful things.
His dark eyes glanced at the mirror again, 'What about this then?'
Helaena rose her head and glanced at the mirror in his palm, 'I use it to divert the guards or see if they are close.'
Jace played with it a bit and watched as the moon created a small ray of light that could lead someone to follow it if they were a guard and thought it to be suspicious.
It made him smile at the young woman, 'It's clever, princess.'
She looked at him, but not into his eyes again as he didn't feel the intensity, he had a moment ago. He was grateful for that as he was uncertain if he would last another moment under her haunting gaze.
She may be a ghost after all.
The silver-haired princess got out of his bed tripping over his sheet in her attempt.
'Helaena!' he called into the dark and grabbed her elbow and waist making sure to steady her. It felt as if lightning struck between them at the contact, and he heard the woman gasp just as he felt his already somewhat calm heart speed up again. He couldn't decide if it was due to the touch or the sound she let out, only that just as everything about tonight so far wasn't proper at all.
It was only an instance, that Jace realized he was still touching her and was too close for comfort to either of them.
'Careful,' swallowing, he whispered unsure why as it was obvious, they spoke at a common level of sound before and no one heard them and came to look, yet he had done so now feeling strangely compelled by the fact that it was dark, they were touching and above all were so close to one another. Physically speaking.
Her eyes lifted to his for a moment all too long and short before they fell away, and she broke free at the same time he let her go as if they burned.
They both looked away seemingly realizing their situation before the princess spoke again, 'Please keep my visit between us, Prince Jacaerys.'
Jace nodded, 'Of course.' He wasn't planning on ever telling a living soul what happened tonight. If he was fortunate, he could still pretend this to be a dream. He might have finally been stolen by sleep and simply did not notice. He had stranger dreams than that of a visit from his aunt in the night.
He returned the mirror to her palm making sure their skin wouldn't connect and risk whatever happened between them a moment ago.
Helaena nodded and whispered without looking at him at all, 'Thank you.'
Her footsteps, even though there was no blood rushing into his ears in fear, barely made any sound at all over the ground as she walked away.
With more distance between the strange princess and him, Jacaerys let out a deep breath, he did not notice he was holding inside as he felt he could breathe again.
Close to his door, Helaena stopped and turned around again, 'Remember. Watch your left, prince Jacaerys.'
He had no obligation to tell her anything else or acknowledge her words, but just before she disappeared and his doors closed after her, he spoke, 'I will keep it in my mind, princess Helaena.'
Then she was gone and left no trace that she had been there in the first place. Almost like a dream.
Almost like a ghost.
Jacaerys shivered for a completely different reason now before he returned to his bed wondering what had just happened and what to make of it. He remembered people talking about Helaena's odd prophecies, but he never recalled any of them coming true. People rarely listened to her and simply stated that she was odd and different. Maybe, they were not wrong, and her words were simply a part of her strangeness. It was unlikely, they could mean anything now when they had been ignored for so long and surely someone would notice if there was any truth to them.
Jace closed his eyes, but once again sleep did not come easy to the young man.
But what if they were real?
Since that night, there were quite a few things that haunted prince Jacaerys Velaryon about princess Helaena Targaryen. Quite a few indeed.
The next day, the Hand of the king announced a small tourney to celebrate Aegon's nameday. His mother allowed Jacaerys to compete as well, but she warned him not to take foolish chances. Luce was upset with her decision not to allow him to join his brother, but in the end, he patted Jace's shoulder and ordered him to win for the house of Velaryon and to make their father proud.
They shared a smirk and nodded. They did not have to clarify which father did Luce mean, both of them were good fighters.
Jace went to get ready and with the help of a servant put on his gear occasionally looking at the balcony. He saw his mother and brothers sit along with their stepfather. A moment later the Queen and the Hand showed up with Helaena following closely but looking to the side and ending up knocking into one of the chairs as she seemed to have been too focused on other things.
'Dear gods,' he heard Aegon and turned only to find him looking away from the balcony in complete distaste, 'I wished mother would have accepted your mother's proposal,' whined the older prince, and looked somewhere beyond Jace's head annoyed and with even more displeasure spoke again, 'If not for father, I would already be married to that idiot.'
Jace paused in putting on his gloves, 'My mother's proposal?'
Aegon's eyes fell on his, and the realization caused a cruel smirk to play across his face, 'I see, you were too much of a babe to be included. Rhaenyra suggested you and my stupid sister to wed. Unite the house of Dragon. Father left it in my mother's hands and well, you know she was never a fan of your family,' Aegon's voice was sweet like honey, but his words were anything but, clearly sending the message.
When they were younger, their uncle left a teasing comment here and there, but it seemed time only made him crueler given how often he subtly insulted them toward their faces nowadays. Jace had little tolerance for it, but his mother raised him to hide his anger better, especially because of what happened to Aemond during their fight in Driftmark.
However, his thoughts were occupied elsewhere now. His mother for all her honesty never mentioned that there was ever a chance he and Helaena could have been married. He knew when he was merely a little boy, she probably had no intention of discussing such matters with him. Perhaps when the Queen decline the proposal there was no point to it at all. But still…
He looked back at the princess on the balcony near the queen focused on something in her lap oblivious toward the world around her.
Watch your left side, Prince Jacaerys.
Cold sweat ran down his spine under his armor.
Why?
Why did she have to say something so haunting and frightening? He did not wish to feel dread over something that could very well be just words of an un-well young woman, but-
-his heartfelt restless by them still and it was affecting his mind.
Helaena, do your words hold power beyond that of a Targaryen? Of a dragon rider?
His mother told him stories about how some of their ancestors were dreamers. Could Helaena be one of them?
Just like that, her head lifted and for the briefest of moments, her eyes landed directly on Jace. Even from this far it caused his heart to speed up and for that feeling of intensity to return to his body.
What does it all mean?
His eyes moved, and he noticed the Queen slightly frown at him before she turned toward Helaena.
The princess wasn't quick enough and her mother noticed she was looking toward him rather obviously.
The Queen asked her something, but Jace rather looked away than to see what would happen next.
As much as Helaena's words threw him off, there was another issue that arose due to Aegon's words.
He wasn't sure why, but the knowledge of something that concerned him was kept a secret, like the possibility of marriage, angered Jace and started a fire inside him. Had he no right to speak about his future? Show concern and give opinions.
His grandfather allowed his mother to the wedding who she wanted twice, and yet she would deny him the same. He didn't really consider marriage even if he was seven and ten now, but he would have liked to be present and have a valid vote on the matter.
His blood boiled with fire.
Good, use it, spoke a voice inside his head. A strong, male voice he sometimes hoped belonged to a man he once knew and admired so greatly.
A good and strong man
He fixed his gloves and went to follow Aegon only to be cut off by Aemond. He was also allowed to fight, and although Jace felt some pity and regret over the eyepatch his uncle had to wear, he knew just as well, it couldn't be undone, and Aemond wasn't blameless either.
'Good luck on the field, nephew. I hope we shall duel as well,' said Aemond with a small smile across his face. His words were kind and even his voice sounded sincere, but his mind once again returned to Princess Helaena's words from two nights ago.
He couldn't trust his former childhood friend. As any fond memories turned sour over Aegon's cruelty and mockery, so did those with Aemond the night he tried to kill Luce. There was bad blood between them now, and it was impossible to wipe it out.
He should have been polite, but his anger and his own honor forbade him from playing mind games. He never enjoyed those, to begin with.
He nodded curtly at the other young man, 'I will do my best, uncle, to meet you there.'
Aemond looked pleased, and Jace took his leave trying to ignore the tension inside his body. Unlike with Helaena, where he felt as if he was anticipating something unknown, and dare he say, interesting. With Aemond he was only expecting one thing.
Danger
It could have been fueled by Helaena's words, but Jace didn't believe that. He would be careful of Aemond regardless of receiving a warning or not. He could sense something unnerving about the young man now. Something that could very well turn into something bad.
Jace carried on his steps in the heavy armor. Over the years of training, he grew to accept its weight on his body and move inside it rather skillfully according to his stepfather.
He went toward the balcony and rose his lance to the sky before he called out, his mind was made the moment he heard Aegon's words moments ago, 'Princess Helaena, would you be willing to grant me your favor?'
He saw the look on his mother's face and the slight smirk on his stepfather's as he waited to see the silver-haired princess walk closer to the edge of the balcony.
She looked at him and even from this far, he could see her worries. Maybe he made a mistake to ask her for a favor at all, but it was too late to take it back, and for some reason, he could not find it in him to care. Once upon a time, she could have been his wife, and she did cause him distress when she came to his room two nights ago. She had been causing him discomfort ever since as his mind wasn't well, and he couldn't share why with anyone without admitting their less-than-proper meeting. It wasn't entirely petty to wish for her favor though. He couldn't explain it, but he really wanted to have her favor. He wanted to have some interaction with her. Perhaps, to ask more about her dreams? Perhaps to stick it to Aegon and Aemond or maybe just because of her.
It caused him trouble to try an explanation, but it might just as well not have been important what was the reasoning only the outcome?
After apparently, she made up her mind, she turned back and returned with her flower crown. He expected red or perhaps a green color, one to represent the king or the queen's house, but it was neither. Instead, the flower crown was a mixture of red and blue flowers and green and black ribbons. Helaena possibly wished to please all the houses. She certainly looked like she could be that kindhearted. Her face even if not often decorated with a smile seemed more sincere than that of her mother, whose smiles were always bitter. At least toward Jace and his family.
As the crown slipped through his lance, he looked back up and offered the young woman his most sincere smile. It was surprisingly easy to make it as immediately, Jace felt the difference between his behavior and feelings toward her brothers even her mother, and Helaena herself, 'Thank you, princess. Your kindness and support are both very much appreciated.'
'Good luck, nephew,' she said with a nod and for the briefest of moments, she lifted her hand to reveal her palm and then pointed it at her side.
Her left side
Helaena returned to her seat and although she didn't grant him a smile, he felt her support.
Jace went to take his position and for a moment his eyes once again fell onto the flower crown he received from his slightly odd aunt.
Just then it hit him. Her strange gesture wasn't just a reminder about watching his left side. This crown, the one she gave him in her favor. The one she had to prepare upfront was in the colors of House Strong. Red, blue, and green lines come from a black palm.
Jace swallowed and his heart sped up as he felt cold sweat running down his body again.
How could she know?
Until a moment ago, and only due to Aegon's words he made the rash decision to ask for her favor so it was illogical to think she would know. She couldn't have. Did she hope he would? Was she hoping he would after she came to his room that night? Was it perhaps really an attempt at his seduction?
No
A soft yet firm voice spoke inside his mind. He saw the dark side of her family inside her brothers and mother. She wasn't like that. He could feel it in his heart. She came to his room out of desperation and worry about his well-being risking so much if she was caught. Far more than him. He was always whispered and talked about, but he kept his head high. If anyone was to question her virtue, her honor, it would ruin her, and no doubt make her life a living hell. The flower crown was a favor that he asked of her. Her mother and grandfather might be upset with her about it, but he asked, and Helaena was too kind not to agree, not to do as he asked. The silver-haired young woman wasn't calculative and cruel. She wasn't scheming. Despite what little did he knew about her of that Jace was certain.
Regardless of the discomfort in his body, his heart was sure of her kindness and good intentions even if he wasn't sure how it could know so freely and after such a short time.
Also, why did she make this one for him?
Yes, the crowd most likely simply assumed Helaena remained to be odd, in the choice of her vivid colors for the crown but did she really? It seemed too much of a coincidence, and the gesture her hand made.
He didn't have more time to think as the match began, and he went against Aegon.
He managed to defeat him, and the other young man quickly announced his surrender to avoid further injuries on the ground, but Jace's horse got badly injured in the process too.
'We can offer the black one. It's a good horse, my prince,' told him the servant tasked to help him and pointed at one of two horses remaining.
'Is it a mare?' Jace asked feeling hesitated and like a fool that he did, but the servant paid his behavior no mind and nodded, 'Yes, the grey one is male, but he might not be strong enough.'
Jace glanced at the black one again.
A mare will not bring success.
Helaena told him in the dark. He didn't know if he could trust her words, but he supposed there was only one way to find out.
'Get the grey one ready for me,' he told the servant and went to rest before his next match.
His choice of horse didn't fail him, and he managed to take down both Baratheon and Lannister in record time earning cheers and paise from the crowd.
He tried to catch, Helaena on the balcony, but she wasn't looking at him.
Even if he didn't have much time or reason to dwell on it, it did disappoint the young prince for a reason he couldn't phantom.
'Looks, like we were granted our wish, nephew,' he heard Aemond call from his place opposite from him. He wasn't wrong. They both made it into the final round.
Watch your left side.
A danger can be hidden in a tail.
His eyes narrowed as he recognized that Aemond's horse was the black mare he refused before. It made him uneasy again, but he didn't allow it to fully embrace his heart and take over his body.
He closed his helmet and was sure he caught Helaena's head up now but instantly charged at his opponent without a second glance.
Jace and Aemond's lances crashed against each other without injury or damage the first time.
A mare will not bring success
During their second run-in, the dark horse, which he refused before, stumbled, and Jace got a hit throwing his uncle into the ground.
The prince angrily tried to get on the animal again, but it cowardly ran away from the fight.
Jace's servant rushed toward him and took the lance from him as Jace came down from the horse.
Aemond was ready for him, and immediately charged at him with force and speed, Jace didn't expect it but quickly adjusted to fighting back and pushing his uncle with as much as he got.
The odds were in his favor it seemed because, at a weak moment, he struck Aemond hard and got him into the ground again. He heard his head hit against his helmet loudly before the crowd started to cheer and clap.
'Well, done, nephew,' said Aemond and tossed his helmet aside revealing his bloodied face. He looked properly mad and wild like he had lost all limitations and morals.
Jace gripped his sword tighter holding onto it just as he had unto his courage.
'You certainly inherited your father's swordsmanship and strength,' said Aemond and went at him again, Jace quickly blocked his sword with his own, 'I recall Sir Strong was a fine fighter especially when it was his sons' honor he wanted to protect.'
A danger can be hidden in a tail
He wanted to snap at Aemond to shut up, but for a brief moment, he saw the other man's hand leave from his sword and move behind him.
Watch your left side
In a moment so fast, it was gone before someone could blink, Jace covered his left side properly protecting it from a danger that threatened to go through the opening by his shoulder under his armor.
Aemond looked horrified that Jace blocked the attack, and it was that instance that the brown-haired young man took advantage and properly kicked the other young prince into the ground.
Jace immediately got on top of him standing on the hand that was holding the dagger to forbid it from trying to stab him again.
He pressed his sword against Aemond's neck furious over what his uncle had just attempted and over what he said before, 'I dare you to speak of him again, you rotten bastard!'
'Aemond!' they heard female screams through the crowd. No doubt from his opponent's queen mother who wished for him to surrender.
'You're the only bastard here. You and your dark-haired brothers,' spitted at him Aemond, and Jace stepped harder against his hand earning a pained grunt from him, 'I'm giving you, your final chance to surrender, you fool, take it!' snapped Jace.
As much as he wished to cut out his tongue from his cruel words, Jace wasn't a murderer, but a young man with honor, and he knew in the long run it would cause nothing but more problems. His anger was grand, but he had to keep himself following his honor and heart no matter the cheap tricks of his opponents.
Honor makes a man, young lad, a male accented voice spoke to him.
'You will never be king,' said Aemond and smirked revealing the blood inside his teeth, 'No one will ever listen to a bastard. You're not a real Targaryen, Strong little Jacaerys. You're half at best. Everyone knows my brother will inherit the throne, not you're-'
'AEMOND!' the female voice shouted cutting off his poor attempt at a speech to get even more under Jace's skin.
The dark-haired young man didn't allow his eyes to leave Aemond's face and waited. No matter how brave or asshole Aemond was, he certainly couldn't go against his mother's wishes.
Jace watched as he fisted his hand away from the knife before he called out, 'I surrender.'
A brief thought about cutting his throat anyway came to his struggling mind from his heart, but he didn't allow it to find fertile ground, and he stepped away not showing his back to the other prince or allowing him to help to get up.
He was declared the victor of the tourney, but it was bittersweet due to Aemond's words. He shouldn't have let them get to him, but they had because as much as he wished for his uncle's words to be nothing but lies, they were not. His mother's assurance couldn't change the fact that everyone knew, they were not Velaryon. They were not properly Targaryen. They were…bastards. And bastards didn't inherit thrones no matter how many hours and days they spent studying the old Valyrian language, learning politics, names, and small details about every single house and their members, riding their dragons, or even training in the yard. They would never be accepted as kings.
His eyes moved away from Aemond's back as he walked away toward the balcony hoping to look at his family, but someone else caught his eye.
She wasn't looking at him, but her hands just as everyone else's were clapping in quick enthusiastic moves while her face as far as he could see had a smile across it.
He swallowed as his mind drifted to what she said and how it truly saved his life today.
She spoke the truth.
Her dreams, and visions, were correct. She had a gift, and today it saved his life to live another day. If he was injured today, he could have been dead tomorrow, and he wouldn't even have a fighting shot anymore. Perhaps a bastard could become a king one day, but only if he was still breathing.
'Princess Helaena,' he called out and pressed his hand against his chest, 'I declare my victory to you and crown you the new queen of love and beauty.'
The crowd cheered, and he noticed his mother looking at Helaena now and then back at him.
Queen Alicent had that bitter smile on her face while the Hand whispered something to the silver-haired princess.
She nodded and stood up.
Her smile was gone, but her eyes were on him now even if they were far away from one another, 'Thank you kindly, prince Jacaerys. I humbly accept.'
They couldn't say more. Not with the others watching them more than ever at that moment.
But if nothing else, Jace lifted his hand and pressed it against his left side with a small nod hoping he would get a chance to thank the young princess in person soon.
It seemed they had quite a few things to discuss.
'I don't think I ever saw you speaking with the princess before,' said his mother as he finished his bath and started to get ready for the celebratory dinner in the grand hall.
Jace tried to busy himself with his clothing. He was sure his mother would tell him what she wanted, but he hoped she wouldn't because of she asked, the young man wasn't sure he would be able to answer.
'It was a very good fight, Jace,' she said and went to sit on his bed almost at the same spot Helaena had two nights ago, 'Father would have been proud.'
'Which one?' he asked before he could stop himself.
Of course, only silence came from his mother's side, and so he sighed remorsefully of his words already, 'I'm sorry.'
His mother gave him a pained smile and nodded, 'I understand it's difficult, but you must know, you are every bit of Targaryen-'
'Mother, please,' he tried, but the woman continued eagerly, 'It's true. By my blood-'
'By blood, I'm a bastard,' he said and turned around to properly look at her, 'Half doesn't make things whole, mother. It just makes things incomplete.'
Rhaenyra stood up and walked to him putting her hands on his cheek. She looked worried but caring as she always had when they ever stumbled upon this topic, 'Jace, I know it is hard, but we're family. One day I will inherit the Iron Throne, and you-'
'Aegon will inherit the throne,' her son cut her off and took a step away, 'Like it or not the moment I was born with the color of my hair anything other than silver sealed the fate of the realm. No lord will stand behind a queen and her…less than pure sons,' he said and shook his head. He didn't even feel angry about it, too tired from the fighting and defending, just dejected about the whole affair.
His mother shook her head looking every bit like the proud and strong woman that she was, 'I will not allow that, Jace. My father made me his heir. The lords swore their loyalty to me. I will inherit the throne when the time comes. When my time comes to pass, the throne, the realm will be yours to rule.'
Jace didn't say anything too tired to argue wondering if he could get away with laying down for the night early but thought of his late-night visitor who was in his bed before reminded him he couldn't.
'Let us not discuss it tonight, mother,' he said hoping she would understand he didn't have the energy for such things, 'It's my first victory in a tourney. Let's celebrate with the realm.'
His mother's purple eyes were on his for a while before her lips curled into a small smile, and she reached out her hand.
He took it and offered her a smile although a tired one at that.
Jace was the center of attention all evening and found himself feeling at odds with the state. Everyone was watching and whispering from far away, but up close they were talking and laughing with him as if they were old friends.
It made Jace's skin itch to be left alone. It felt like everyone could see him expose for the imposter he was and not someone who could potentially one day be their king. It felt as if they knew. They knew, no matter how much he tried he could never be a true Targaryen, a true heir.
He found some comfort in being surrounded by his family, and therefore far away from his uncles, but even that wasn't enough.
At times, he caught Helaena seated or standing near her mother or brothers. She appeared just as sad or rather distant as if her spirit was not present with her body as she always had, and it made the prince wonder if he always didn't notice her at least in the back of his mind as such.
A lonely and misunderstood princess
Licking his lips and pulled Luce closer, 'I need a favor.'
'No,' said his brother with a smirk immediately as he usually did before he chuckled, 'One victory doesn't make you the best swordsman, big brother, you know. Just wait until mother finally allows me to fight.'
Jace smirked as well before he gained a more serious face, 'I need your help to cause a commotion.'
'Why?' asked Luce suspiciously and then looked behind Jace right at where he knew he could see their Targaryen kin.
His brother's smirk faded completely, and his dark eyes widened before he looked back at Jace, 'Did you get hit into the head too hard at the tourney?'
'Luce,' said Jace and gave him a very pressing look.
His brother continued to watch him for a very long time before he reached for Jace's cup and finished his vine wincing at the sour taste. They weren't much of drinkers, 'If the queen has you beheaded, I will take your sword.'
Jace rolled his eyes, 'Just don't embarrass mother too hard.'
'It can hardly be done any other way,' mumbled Luce and went away.
Jace glanced back and for a brief moment, his gaze met a pair of purple eyes before they quickly looked away.
Too late to stop now.
What was one more improper decision?
The wait outside in the corridor was the longest in his seven and ten years of life. He couldn't be sure, what Luce did or even Helaena would understand it was his way to get her to meet him, but a moment later felt rather than heard a presence by his side and found the silver-haired princess there as if she manifested out of nowhere.
'Princess-'
Jace felt her small hand grip his and pull at it.
He didn't hesitate for a moment, and with a quick step followed her into the shadows of the corridor they were currently in away from any lights either the moon or candles could provide which was much preferred.
This was a bad idea.
How fortunate for him though he did a few and then some lately.
Her purple eyes never met his even in the dark she preferred to look at his chin instead. She was about two inches taller than him so she had to keep her head very look for her to look there instead of his eyes. However, there was something to gain from her habit and that was that the brown-haired young man was open to looking at her face all he wanted without hesitation.
Apart from her silver hair and purple eyes, Jace couldn't find a single resemblance to his mother, Helaena's sister. Even after five children, his mother stayed thin and fit while Helaena was plumper.
It wasn't a bad thing.
Despite Aegon's rude comments about her physique, Jace thought it made the younger princess look softer in a way, his mother or even cousins weren't. He didn't voice such thoughts, however, even if he occasionally felt an urge to defend his aunt from her harsh brother, it wouldn't be proper to speak such things even if he meant them as the highest of compliments.
His throat went dry suddenly.
Her face was pale, but with her silver hair, it seemed less so than his own in contrast to his dark ones. Luce sometimes spoke out loud about how much easier it would have been if they were born with silver hair or at least purple eyes something that would distinguishably scream Targaryen. He said it would make them happier in the court.
Helaena looked every bit Targaryen, but Jace had a feeling it didn't make her any happier than them. Not one bit.
'Prince Jacaerys,' whispered the woman suddenly ending the thoughts that seemed to drive him away from his initial goal.
'What is it, princess?' he asked her quietly, even though it felt too loud in the dark hallway where anyone could hear and find them. It wouldn't be good if they had. It would be inappropriate and could potentially cause harm to her reputation.
His father would despise that.
Jace rarely cleared his thoughts as to which one he meant, 'Helaena.'
Her purple eyes lifted from his chin toward his, and his breath caught inside his throat. He couldn't recall if they ever shared a glance in that very moment even if they had, certainly, it could never be as intense as this one. It felt as if lightning struck between them changing the air around them once again as it had that night in his room.
His mouth filled with saliva now.
'I see you, Jacaerys,' she said into the dark in a hushed voice effectively stopping his heart in a way none of his opponents today managed, 'I see you, in my daydreams, those that happen when I'm awake, they spoke to me about you.'
'O-oh,' he said weakly unsure how to react. Helaena's dreams were a strange topic around the court. Many brushed them off as another trait that made her different from the rest.
Such an odd girl.
That's what they said when they didn't bother to hush their voices. When they spoke of him and his dark-haired brothers' they used worse language.
She licked her lips looking just as shaken as he felt in that instant, 'I see flags with sigils dancing in the wind. Targaryen, Hightower, Targaryen, Velaryon, Strong.'
He frowned feeling the familiar anger and anxiety settle in as it always had whenever someone made a relation between Sir Strong and his family, but Helaena's voice spoke nothing of the cruelty that was usually used.
'They dance, but the wind is too strong, and they fall down with only Targaryen remaining,' she said and then glanced into the hallway.
He tensed fearing she heard something, but when no footsteps came, he assumed it was one of her oddities.
'You mean your brother?' Jace asked or spat out as he felt a sense of frustration that even she believed what many not so secretly implied that Aegon and not his mother should be the next ruler of the Seven Kingdom now. It was different when he admitted that perhaps that was the course of action that would be taken, but for anyone else to admit it, he couldn't allow it to remain.
Helaena didn't answer, but someone else had.
A child's cry suddenly echoed through the night, and Jace's anger melted away quickly as he took it in. The direction and the fact, that there were only two small children in the castle at the moment to cry like that made it clear it was either Aeron or Viserys unless his mother went into very early labor.
'Targaryen,' he said out loud and felt cold sweat run down his back as he wondered if Helaena just implied to him that there was death awaiting him before he would ever rule after his mother.
His free hand went to his throat and with a start, he realized the princess remained holding onto his hand. He didn't even notice it, and honestly, at this very moment, he was grateful for it as it felt somewhat grounding to squeeze her fingers and feel another warm touch of someone breathing and alive. He was still alive.
Helaena looked at their shared hands for a moment and then back at his chin, 'It's not yet set in stones. I-my dreams rarely…explain what they mean. Before it's too late to change it.'
Jace nodded although he wasn't sure why. It was surreal that after not seeing her for six years he was now hiding in the shadows with her believing in some prophecies, but then again, his mother told him stories about old Valyria. He knew of the prophecies that got their house here. That got them to survive the Doom in the first place. Not to mention everything she told him two nights ago came true. Her daydreams, visions, and prophecies, they protected him, earned him his victory, and saved his life.
'D-do you know what is to be done? So that the houses won't fall?' Jace asked trying not to count how many victims would it mean if so many houses were to be destroyed in a war if that was what Helaena's dreams suggested.
Her eyes lifted again toward his, 'I do not. The daydreams were present since I was a babe. Only with time, they began to shape enough for me to understand than at least a bit. Some things are still confusing. 'A rose blooms in the storm with fire in the heart and blood in the veins. The longest and coldest night with icy-blue eyes. A direwolf eating a lion alive.'
She shook her head again looking frustrated by her own lack of understanding, 'It's like reading a book in a language you were only told about but never learned.'
'It sounds properly exhausting,' he commented and watched the corner of her lips lift into a small smile, 'It is,' she admitted, and Jace felt like he was in a dream for a moment himself. Up until now he only saw her smile from afar.
A lovely smile indeed.
'I wish for them to stop!' she sighed desperately, 'I wish for them to be clearer. I wish… for them not to come true at all.'
She sounded so sad and tired when she said it. Frustrated over it all, and Jace couldn't help but squeeze her hand tighter wishing he could somehow release her of it all just for a moment. Astonishing, how easily and quickly, she found space in his heart to occupy. How quickly he grew to worry for her and wish for some happiness for her.
'If there is a way for me to aid you and your daydreams. I shall, Helaena,' he spoke and waited until her eyes lifted back to his.
They were nice to look at too, and it was easy to say his next words, 'I swear it.'
Helaena's chest rose and fell as she sighed with her face still tragic and troubled, but her lips almost smiling again in that lovely way, 'Thank you for listening, Jacaerys,' she had an interesting way to say his name even if he preferred if she used the shorter version, 'Thank you for believing even if a bit.'
'I'll always believe you, Helaena,' he assured her knowing it was true, 'You saved me from being injured. I probably owe you my life,' he said and grinned at her honestly feeling grateful for her interference. She risked so much, and in the end, she truly saved him. Perhaps, he would have noticed the knife and avoided it, but if not, he dreaded to think of that. His chest burnt with anger for a moment as he recalled Aemond and his dirty tactic again.
Life is a battle, young lad. Always be quick on your feet, he could almost hear Sir Strong say, even if he could only barely recall the sound of his voice. He still missed him at times so dearly.
Helaena smiled again a bit wider now. It was a kind smile such as he would expect from someone as sweet and good as her, 'I'm glad.'
For a moment, it was like that, with the two of them just standing still facing one another smiling as young people should almost happy or at least at peace.
Helaena's eyes suddenly clouded, and she took a step away from him pressing her back entirely against the wall behind her with his palm slipping from hers.
Jace stepped closer worry grabbing a hold of his heart at the sight of her distress even if he did not know what caused it, 'Helaena-'
The lack of contact stirred a strange kind of longing unknown to Jace until now.
Her face lacked any emotion for a moment as she softly spoke, 'A rose blooms in the storm with fire in the heart and blood in the veins.'
Jace saw the moment she flinched as if someone hurt her, and he reached for her shoulders. He didn't care anymore how inappropriate it was, he pulled her closer and had her forehead rest against his shoulder.
His own voice shook even if just a bit as he whispered quickly with worry slipping through the cracks, 'Helaena, breath, I'm with you.'
She shook, but she did not push him away. Instead, her hands reached for his back digging her fingers into his skin over his clothing rather sharply, but he did not mind. It was an assurance that she was truly there, in his arms.
'Hold me tighter, please,' she whispered or breathed as it was so quiet, he almost believed it to not have been spoken at all, 'I cannot bear a soft touch now.'
Jace didn't understand, but he gladly obeyed holding her closer keeping her slightly taller frame against his, and pulling her toward his chest as close as possible. She was soft as he predicted due to her physique, but also warm. So warm. There was a small height difference between them, but he didn't mind being the one to hold her like this feeling it comforted him possibly as much as it had hers.
He wished to aid her, bring her and himself release from the pain and sadness, but now…
I wish not to let her go…ever.
The thought came out of nowhere, but once it was born into existence, Jace couldn't shake it away. Could he have grown to care for the princess so much in such a short time? Barely days? Barely any interactions or exchanged words?
With how much it pleased him to keep her this close, he would be a liar if he denied it to be anything but the truth.
'I informed my mother, I wasn't feeling very well,' said Helaena after what felt like ages and barely a moment, and in a quick move stepped away from him completely untangling herself from his body. It might have been easy to think they never touched one another, but Jace felt Helaena's existence imprinted against his body everywhere they touched now.
Helaena looked at his chin again instead of his eyes. It was odd, but he was growing used to it and her other habits, 'She will have someone check up on me so I must go.'
Jace nodded immediately his heart beating fast and traitorously no doubt leading the rebellion inside his mind that wished to stop the princess and force her to stay with him a bit longer, 'I understand. Do you wish for me to-'
'It wouldn't look good if we were caught,' she said, and he didn't blame her for it since he knew it was true, but he couldn't be blamed for wishing it wasn't.
He allowed her to pass him and watched her go before she paused and whispered, 'Jacaerys, I'm glad you're alright. It felt good for once to use my daydreams to help someone. Even more so if that someone could have ended up very much hurt.'
He nodded, but she carried on clearly not done, 'But it made me very pleased when you crowned me the queen of love of beauty. You didn't have to ask for my favor even do so, but it brought me great joy unlike any I knew before that you had,' her palm reached out, and he stepped closer, so it ended across his chest over his still fast-beating heart, 'You're a good and kind man, Jacaerys. Thank you for bringing me a bit of happiness.'
She went to leave, but his own hand stopped her by covering hers over his chest.
She turned back and watched his chest while he watched her face.
Beautiful
'I think you have a lovely smile that makes you look every bit of the queen of love and beauty, Helaena,' he confessed squeezing her hand over his chest, but not too tightly. It surprised him he meant every word of it. He didn't think much of her beauty until today or he couldn't recall that he had. A shame, an error on his part, as she truly was a stunning young woman, 'If even one of those smiles was due to my actions, you've made me a very happy man.'
He saw her part her lips a bit before her eyes lifted to his.
He wondered if her hand could feel just how fast his heart was beating at that very moment. So loud perhaps the wetnurse by his brothers' cradles could hear it. It felt all too loud revealing a secret, his mouth couldn't voice, and his thoughts tried not to put together. Yet his heart, a traitor to his body gladly shouted it with its loud and fast beats against Helaena's hand.
The silver-haired princess let out a soft sigh and stepped closer keeping her hand against his chest, 'You have a nice smile as well. It makes your face even more handsome, Jacaerys.'
Her eyes fell to his mouth now, and he felt everything in the whole realm, the whole world even but them stop and fade away.
'Helaena,' he whispered into the dark feeling a warmth spread through his chest, that hold his fast-beating heart toward every corner of his body filling it in a way he didn't know before.
He wanted…He needed…He wished for…
He couldn't say what, but then she did something that caused that warmth inside him to lighten up with a match and burn as her free hand that wasn't pressed against his heart reached out and touched the corner of his smile, his lips.
His mind drifted away, and everything inside what was left of him demanded more, but he remained frozen in place watching her and absorbing the featherlike touch of her fingers against his mouth.
'Smiles are confusing,' admitted Helaena softly, 'They should mean happiness, contentment, and joy but not all of them are sincere. Not all of them are so easy to read,' she explained and paused her own smile falling a bit, her purple eyes watching her fingers on his mouth.
The touch was barely there, so soft he could almost miss it if she wasn't right there in front of him for him to see yet it immediately burnt his body in desire unlike any he ever had. A desire for more. A desire for her touch, her lips, her.
It was astonishingly strong. Stronger than any need or wish Jace ever had.
It was like his body was on fire and his blood demanded it.
Demanded her.
Helaena's purple eyes lifted to his. They seemed wider now. Was it only now that she noticed what she had done? Did she wish to stop or did the fire and blood inside her demand more as well? Would her pretty eyes widen if he was to put his fingers against her own lips? Would she keep them open or closed if he was to kiss her right here and now in the dark corridor so close to their estranged mothers, to the court that fed on such scandals? Would her purple irises darken with pleasure if his fingers would move lower into forbidden places of her body?
His body shook with lust, and he gave in just a bit by parting his lips ever so slightly and allowing his tongue to brush against her fingers.
'Jacaerys-Jace,' she gasped so beautifully, so full of life and potential for a passion unlike any of them ever known as he felt his manhood awoken inside his trousers and smallclothes by the sound of her using his preferred name.
In an instant, a candle was blown out, and Helaena broke free from his hold and stole her wonderful touch on his lips away. With soundless steps, the silver-haired princess like the ghost that she was ran through the dark, away from him.
Too stunned and shocked even, by her sudden departure, Jace could only stand still and watch her leave before he heard approaching footsteps and then, 'Jace, are you here?'
'Yes, here,' he said weakly and pressed his palm against the nearby stone wall trying to find a balance before his brother would get too close.
'Where were you?' asked Joff standing near him, 'Mother has been looking for you. More boring old farts want to speak to the victor of the tourney.'
Jace didn't have it in him to tell him, he couldn't speak in such a way as he still needed to calm his breathing and heartbeat. It was almost like a dream, yet he knew it happened.
Helaena's touch was imprinted onto his lips, his back, his chest, just as the sound of her gasping Jace echoed in his mind to haunt him for eternity.
'Are you well, brother?' asked Joff trying to sneak a look at him in the dark, but Jace already turned toward him offering him a nod sounding calmer than he felt by far, 'I am alright. Let's head back before mother starts to worry.'
He put his hand on Joff's back and guided him back toward the hall avoiding his mother's look and rather too enthusiastically speaking with the Lords and Knights who wished to have his attention. They didn't. Even if he was present and spoke and listened to them in the most believable way, his heart was elsewhere constantly pulling at his mind to follow it into the dark corridors and bedroom with a forbidden silver-haired princess with beautifully haunting purple eyes and even more so smiles.
He couldn't help himself. Jace was taken by what happened and could not force himself to stop. He wished to know. More than anything he wished to know, what would have happened if Joff didn't come looking for them. Where would they stop? What would have they done next?
All his ideas never landed on fertile grounds and all he constantly ended up with until the feast was finally over, and he laid into his empty and cold bed was-
-more.
'Jace,' asked his mother during supper, 'Are you well? You have been awfully quiet.'
He looked up from his empty plate. He didn't have the appetite, and it had been so since the day of the tourney or rather what happened after it.
He suspected his family noticed. He wasn't very subtle, and he couldn't bring himself to try, it was simply all no use.
'Forgive me, just some strange thoughts. Nothing to concern yourself with,' he tried to assure his mother, but it was a rather weak attempt.
The woman looked at her second husband, who instinctively reached out for her hand, but had not remarked on his stepson's odd behavior. Jace knew that he was a rather silent type or preferred his words spoken only to his wife. Despite this, he instructed him well enough in training and directed him in his studies if he needed or thought he did, but apart from that, they weren't as close as he was with his other fathers.
However, he did seek him out later when Jace was training solely in the yard, 'A quick match, Jacaerys?'
Jace nodded, and they began to circle each other before Daemon spoke, 'You're not yourself lately. It seemed to have been going around the castle. I heard the younger princess is unwell as well-'
Jace attacked cutting whatever he had to say next with his sword hitting him, 'It's nothing.'
'Are you speaking of yourself or perhaps the princess?' asked Daemon and blocked his next attempt easily before he switched to Valyrian, 'You're not very good at secrets. You're too honest for your own good.'
'I don't need to be deceitful,' he said and almost cut Daemon in his weak moment, 'I want to make a good king one day.'
'There is a difference between a good king and a good man,' he blocked another one of Jace's attempts and started a strong series of attacks of his own, 'When she was younger, at her first wedding no less, your mother asked me to steal her, take her to Dragonstone and make her my wife.'
The information shocked Jace enough that his stepfather managed to kick his leg, and he ended up on the ground with Daemon's sword quickly at his neck, 'You know the rest of the story.'
Jace pushed the sword off his skin and stood up immediately fighting back. His mother married his father and didn't see her uncle for almost ten years. Jace gathered as much.
With a very fortunate hit, Jace pushed back at his opponent and glared at him to fully show his annoyance with the older man, 'I do not enjoy mind games, stepfather.'
Daemon smirked and lowered his sword, 'I told you a story from your mother's past, Jace. That's all there is to it.'
Jace doubted it, but he did not speak those words out loud.
It took him another week, to be able to find the Princess alone or at all for that matter. Lurking at the edge of gatherings allowed him to hear the servants gossip about how the odd princess was once again occupying the library. No one went to bother her there as often people avoided her due to her strange behavior.
He went into the library during a time, he made certain that it was known, he would be studying in his chambers and wished to focus. Joff and Luce were occupied with their mother for their language studies and his stepfather was off to his own affairs. Jace tried to not to think about the man and even avoid him if he was honest with himself. His words, the story, it painted his mother in a light, Jace was aware she often shone in, but as her son, he would have preferred not to know of. It also didn't help, that the last time he went to the Dragon Pit to see Vermax and take him for a ride, somewhere in the back of his mind, he did list some ideas if he ever needed to leave the King's Landing in a hurry. The idea left a bad taste in his mouth since he couldn't ever imagine he would be cruel enough to kidnap anyone let alone someone as good and kindhearted as Helaena.
He didn't see her at first walking through the shelves until he found her with her back pressed against the wall sitting on the ground with a book in her lap and a spider walking over her palm as she rotated it so he wouldn't fall down, 'Jacaerys, did you ever connect with Vermax in your dreams?'
The young man couldn't help but smile at Helaena's question and sat down beside her, 'A few times. It didn't feel much like a connection, but more of a light brush.'
Helaena smiled at the page in the book, 'Dreamfyre felt the same. It was as if she covered me in her warmth and wished me a good night.'
Jace chuckled, and Helaena's eyes reached his, her own smile growing a bit.
As a young boy, he would never assume it to be easy to speak to princess Helaena, and he deeply regretted that he never tried. They discussed many topics that evening from their dragons to Old Valyria, life in Dragonstone, the insects she found interesting, the house of Strong, and at last her daydreams. Everything she said sounded interesting to Jace's ears, and the young princess spoke with such knowledge yet idealism, it took his breath away. He enjoyed her voice and what she had to say as much as he enjoyed watching her as he listened to her.
'The one stands out lately,' she said suddenly and started to get up sliding the spider into Jace's hand, and he observed it while she carried on, 'A rose blooms in the storm with fire in the heart and blood in the veins.'
Jace looked at her and set the spider free to the window frame, 'Is it different than the others?'
Helaena didn't nod, but she shrugged her shoulders in a strange way, 'It's not different, but it's repeated more often than the others.'
'What do you mean?'
'My daydreams come and go. Sometimes they come again twice, but this one had been coming to me every day since…,' she looked at him and seemed almost hesitant before she admitted the apples of her cheeks red now, 'It first came the day you returned. The moment, you stepped foot on in Red Keep.'
'What does it mean?'
Helaena shook her head and looked away clearly frustrated over not knowing. It was a different side of her. She often looked distant from the world almost like she did not feel anything, but the opposite was the truth, she felt the same amount as others, perhaps more, but she wasn't good at expressing it the way others could.
'It could be spiritual,' she said now standing in front of a shelf, her fingers dancing across the backsides of the books, and then switched to old Valyrian causing Jace to smile a bit. She had a lovely way to run her tongue over the words, 'A rose, a feeling, blooms inside a heart while there is trouble. The storm could be physical.'
Jace swallowed and stepped even closer to her the sound so intriguing, 'Physical?'
Helaena's eyes lifted to his for a moment. She didn't repeat her words or confirm them, but her purple eyes looked at him so desperately, and with longing, Jace couldn't bear it.
The air around them switched again. It was still there, the tension from last time, but it seemed until now, it held back in order for their minds and spirits to get to know one another slightly better, now that they had it seemed it was their hearts and bodies turn again.
He reached out and went to brush her hair a bit, but before he could Helaena jumped away hitting one of the shelves behind her, 'Don't!'
'Forgive me,' said Jace fearing he scared her with his forwardness and feeling sick about his actions, 'I took so many liberties that weren't mine to take-'
'You?' gasped Helaena almost amused yet hopeless at the same time, 'Never!'
She looked back at his chin now as if it was far more comforting for her to do so, and Jace didn't mind as he was growing to accept her habits, like them even, 'It's my ears…I don't allow anyone besides me to touch them. My mother cannot even brush my hair anymore because I'm too afraid she will by accident,' she shook her head so dismissive, 'I cannot explain it, but if people try, I get defensive and if they actually touch them, I get violent. I bit them all. I know it's wrong. So wicked, but…,' she sighed and covered her ears with her palms for a moment, 'My blameless servants, my poor mother. I think she misses brushing my hair, but it can't be helped.'
Jace listened to her explanation and the sorrow behind her words even if she spoke so evenly as always. He could tell it was a sour spot, and he smiled at her kindly before he nodded.
Helaena uncovered her ears, 'I understand, Helaena. Do not worry, I won't touch them. I swear this,' he hesitated for a moment before he dared to ask, 'Are there any other places that you're protective of?'
Fortunately, she didn't seem alarmed by his poor choice of words, and rather factually said, 'My feet. I kicked my brother when he tried. I keep my footwear on at all times, and I made gloves for my feet on the bed.'
'Gloves for your feet?' he asked rather gleefully than mockingly, 'That sounds like quite the invention. Do they keep you warm?'
'Yes!' she said and beamed at him obviously overjoyed that he took interest in her creation. She looked beautiful when she smiled. She looked like the sun.
'You're very clever, princess.'
Her smile remained, and Jace could almost see a shadow of blush across her pale cheeks again. He wondered if he could ever get her to flush all over.
He felt a shiver run through his body at the idea.
'It's odd, strange, bizarre even,' she spoke annoyed now bringing them back to their previous topic, but Jace only shook his head daring himself to admit, 'Even if so, I am hopelessly fond of you, Helaena,' his traitor of a mouth let out, and he couldn't and wouldn't force himself to take them back or misdirect, 'Just the way you are.'
The young woman looked into his eyes again, and whatever she saw in them must have confirmed his truth because she sank into his chest so rapidly, and with such force, he almost stumbled.
'Jace,' she breathed out, and he circled his arms around her to hold her close while she allowed him to. His heart leaped with joy over having her so close again.
It lasted and barely a fraction of the moment, it had last time, and she quickly let go looking away embarrassed it seemed, 'You say such kind and sweet things,' she then confessed, 'I do not know what to do with myself sometimes.'
Jace's smile grew and then softened, 'Sometimes I do not know either, but it also grounds me in a strange way, I did not know before.'
Her eyes looked at his chin again, 'I think it grounds me at times as well,' she then switched to Valyrian again, 'I keep on wishing to be with you…more. It's so…,' she went to reach out and touched him, but at the last moment shy away, 'Frightening yet thrilling.'
Jace sighed with a longing that seemed to consume him and her alike, 'I understand. I feel it too.'
Helaena nodded, 'What shall we do?'
He remained quiet wishing to hold her again but knowing he shouldn't unless he would know the answer to her question. In the end, he settled for reaching for her hand and when she took it, he held it in silence marked by sadness until it was time for them to part.
They started to meet in secret in various parts of the castle. It was easier than Jace would expect. Helaena was rarely missed, and her footsteps were so quiet he never even heard her only sensed she was by him before she guided him into the shadows sometimes by grabbing his hand and other times by a simple look.
She had days where she would reach out and touch him so firmly, he felt his heart might explode from it all, and then came the days she shied away from him if he so much as tried to reach for her hand. It hurt him at first more than just a bit, he would admit, but he wasn't selfish or proud enough to assume it was his fault or he should pursue her if she did not wish for his touch.
Helaena was different.
She required a different approach at times, but he didn't view it as a bad thing. He was very fond of who she was, and he respected her habits. Besides, with how fast and deep his adoration had reached over the course of little less than a single moon, he was grateful for any single eyelash of affection she was willing to return to him always hungry for more, but also respectful of her limitations.
'I doubt anyone will ever find that one,' the princess of his heart commented at the lost arrow that missed the target by such a long shot they didn't even hear it hit anything in the distance, and Jace couldn't help himself but laugh.
Their families were occupied, and in the rarest, perhaps, once-in-a-lifetime moment, the prince managed to sneak Helaena into the yard, lent her his shooting armor, and convinced her to try and shot some arrows.
Helaena was anxious at first about the leather touching her skin, but it seemed it wouldn't bother her as much as she worried it would. He found it amusing that it worried her more than the possibility of them being caught by her mother.
When she turned his way, he forced himself to calm down and ask, 'May I touch you?'
Her eyes lifted to his brief, and he quickly clarified, 'To help with your posture and such.'
She lowered her eyes but nodded a small smile playing across her face that he took great pleasure in before he walked toward her and put his hands on her hips.
Soft
By now, with the handful of times, she allowed him to hold her, he was quite familiar with her soft curves. He tried not to linger and make her uncomfortable or cause himself to feel too aroused by something so simple as this even if it was a battle, 'Ease yourself a bit.'
He could see out of the corner of his eyes that she bit her lip, and for a moment Jace feared he wouldn't control himself and try to touch her lips out of the blue or worse have his teeth sink into that pink lip of hers.
He took her shoulders instead busying himself with helping her as a good man would without thinking of pulling her closer or sliding his hands lower.
With his hands on her shoulders, he twisted her sideways and then moved to her hands to adjust her grip before he shoved a foot between her legs to widen her stance causing her to gasp a bit, 'Jace!'
'I'm sorry, I should have warned you,' he said only partly apologetic as that sound was one of his favorites, and it was a great pity he didn't have many opportunities to hear it.
Once her posture looked satisfying enough, he asked, 'May I touch your waists?'
'Yes!' she said all too quickly and loud, and he grinned hiding it by looking away as his palms landed on her clothes waists, 'Fire!'
Helaena's next shot was a success, and her giggle was refreshing and brilliant causing him to grin wide and happily at her feeling nothing but content in his heart, 'Well done, princess. Perhaps, you, too, could benefit from combat lessons.'
Her purple eyes rolled in a playful way that breathed life into his heart as he so rarely saw her act this careless and joyful. She almost looked like any other young woman still kissed by her youth and hopeful of the future ahead.
I always wish for you to look this way, his thoughts called out like a prayer to the gods old and new alike for this simple wish.
She sobered a bit, but her smile was still present as she turned toward him, her eyes on his chin again, 'You asked before touching me.'
He waited if she would elaborate, but when no more word from her followed, Jace nodded and led himself, 'I gathered abrupt touches frighten you. I do not wish to cause you any distress.'
Her smile grew and then just as quickly faded, 'Only when I feel too much. I cannot explain it, but at times it feels too much as if people are constantly touching me just with their eyes and words. It feels as if my clothes are scratching my skin. I do not wear jewelry despite how much it causes my mother sorrow. I cannot stand the cold metal against my skin,' her free hand reached her neck and brushed it as if she could recall a necklace present against the bare skin, 'I used to avoid all touches, but perhaps my mother's since she learned how to be so gentle at times. Then once I rode Dreamfyre, I always thought of his hard scales and felt other's hands more bearable,' her hand stopped moving over her neck, and her eyes lifted to his chin again, 'Your touches never bothered me the same way others do. Even if surprising, firm, or soft, your touches are always welcome against my body, Jace. Sometimes it's just too much though.'
His heart threatened to burst out of his chest over how beautiful words Helaena spoke just now.
His foot moved on its own closer, but caution forbade him from going further. They were too much in the open like this. Anyone could be watching, listening even, assuming things and threatening their moments.
'I never wish to cause you to harm or upset you, Helaena,' he whispered in their old tongue knowing the wind would carry his words.
The princess continued to smile as she just as softly replied, 'I know, Jace. I can feel it.'
He assisted her in putting the armor off her body and then let her lead him into a spot where they wouldn't be seen. She was very skillful in finding those.
Her palms pressed against his chest, and he sighed carefully brushing the tips of her hair, 'You're like the sun. So bright. Your presence keeps me warm.'
Her smile grew wider as if to brighten up the whole realm, 'I shine only for you.'
His hand carefully moved to the back of her head safe away from her ears, and her smile shifted into a mischievous grin before he leaned toward her and kissed her to properly taste it.
Even the softest of touches of their lips threw Jace into chaos. His heart sang for Helaena as the warmth and sensation of the kiss reached every corner of his body leaving it overjoyed like it had been bathed in the glow of the sun.
'Helaena,' Jace whispered breaking the softest of the kisses before he leaned closer to kiss her again deliberate and gentle. It seemed the burning fire inside his body agreed with his heart and mind that he needed to kiss her in such a way, and she all too delicately returned those kisses moving her lips against his, 'Jacaerys.'
Her hands moved higher to the back of his head and waist pulling him closer to her.
Their kisses deepened after that and Jace could feel his heart start to beat faster and his breaths become heavy and short. She tasted like honey, soft and deep, and he wished to stay glued to her sweet lips forever.
Slowly his tongue darted out, and he stroked her lips ever so slightly, but she broke the kiss and looked at his chin, 'Forgive me.'
'The princess never has to ask me for forgiveness,' he assured her and waited until she nodded and kissed him again. Again, at first, they kissed carefully with so much adoration it was almost unbearable before they moved to deeper and heavier kisses only to return back to slow and loving ones. When they finally broke the kiss and breathed hard with their foreheads pressed, Jace felt torn between how everything in the world changed, and yet how nothing had. Nothing at all.
'This is more than I could ever wish for, Helaena,' he spoke truthfully and knew she would believe him.
Her lips pressed chastely against his cheek, 'Thank you, Jace.'
They become reckless since their first kiss near the yard. Helaena was still quiet in her steps and knew of secret spots to hide in, but Jace couldn't seem to control himself. He went to seek her out every day, every spare moment, and sometimes even those when he should be elsewhere, and he would surely be noticed if absent.
'You need to be more careful,' warned him Helaena, but gladly accepted his embrace and lips as they tried to mark the skin under her neck, 'You should be studying now your Westeros politics.'
'Later,' he groaned and sucked onto the spot he took a liking to hold her tight when her knees almost gave out. Despite her words, she held onto his shirt tight making it impossible to step away even if he would wish to do so, which he hadn't.
There was an inferno under his skin and her slight tug on his hair just now only added fuel to the fire. He wouldn't be surprised to become ashes if this would continue longer.
He enjoyed himself too much, they enjoyed themselves too much. Laughing and smiling at each other in secret for a moment only to desperately and eagerly reach out to touch and kiss one another in the next. Both were going mad with these feelings. He couldn't help but wonder if they were new, something Helaena and him discovered, or if all lovers thought their love to be special, unique, and new.
But it didn't last, and if Jace's mind wasn't beyond clouded by what his heart and body wished for, he would have realized it sooner.
On the rare occasion, there was a dinner with both the families and Baratheons present.
From the beginning, Jace noticed how one of the younger sons was eyeing Helaena as if he hoped to catch her gaze. Unfortunately for the young boy, the princess kept hers on her plate even if Jace knew she was carefully aware of his presence and only his presence alone.
He hid his proud smirk behind his hand hoping to catch a moment with her before they would go to their respectful chambers.
However, any victory or satisfaction, he might have felt, faded the moment he heard Aegon groan near him, 'If only,' he said clearly regardless of something he was speaking of earlier when Jace was busy carefully stealing glances at his sister in her green dress, 'poor little lordship doesn't know my sister is most likely my betrothed as of tomorrow.'
Jace felt frozen in place with his heart in his throat and his stomach sinking, 'What's that supposed to mean? I assumed the king denied the queen's request.'
Aegon gave him a bitter smile the wine already taking him over, 'He did, but he's not well. Mother practically rules on her own now. She told me today to prepare for the announcement tomorrow.'
His silver-haired uncle then snatched another cup and tossed its entire content into his mouth swallowing it whole.
He coughed and spit some of the liquid out, 'If you will be so kind as to excuse me. If this is my last happy night, I would rather spend it with someone more appealing than you, nephew.'
Jace didn't even comprehend his words as his heart sped up and his mind raced over what Aegon said before. The queen planned to betroth Aegon with Helaena. Dread reached effectively every part of his body and soul like a deadly illness.
Tomorrow
Tomorrow, a night away, Helaena will forever be lost to Jace.
He felt like he couldn't breathe, but he avoided his family's glances so they wouldn't be able to recognize his distress. He needed to think. He needed to act.
His eyes found Helaena, and his feet moved before he could stop them.
The King was weak and ill, and even if he had stopped his wife from arranging a marriage between his children once, it wasn't certain at all, that he would do so now if Aegon spoke the truth and given how desperate and gloom he looked, Jace had no reason not to believe him this time. The queen and her father had been leading the king's hand more and more every day after all.
He couldn't accept that though. He couldn't accept defeat. Not when it was Helaena, his beautiful, soft and warm like the sun Helaena who he would ultimately lose. Not when he knew his heart and her sang the same song for each other. It wouldn't do. He couldn't accept such a fate. He couldn't choose duty over love silently praying for forgiveness from his mother, father, and everyone else who might receive pain by what he was about to do.
His feet guided him to the table with the cups and just as the Princess passed him, he whispered softer than anyone else could hear in High Valyrian, 'Tonight.'
His mind remained chaotic but still set on his goal as he packed his bag. He wished to talk to Helaena first. Perhaps, they could form a plan, but every single one he came across seemed to end in war and death. He couldn't allow anyone to get harmed because of his selfishness, but he couldn't deny himself Helaena.
Just once he wished to be selfish and free of his honor and guilt. Just once. Just for her.
It started to pour as he wrote a letter to his mother, and Jace felt anxious. It was never a good idea to ride in the storm, but Vermax and Dreamfyre would have to manage.
Just as the prince was about to try and sneak into Helaena's chambers, she appeared in his as silent as his silver-haired ghost wearing her riding clothes.
He reached for her and just as quickly she met him halfway for a deep and passionate kiss while their arms crushed each other in an even more passionate and desperate embrace. There was nothing elegant or fancy about the kiss, not even soft, but Jace welcomed the urgency and force giving just as much as he received feeling Helaena's body respond to his. They might have lacked a certain grace, but their enthusiasm more than made up for it.
Jace felt a jolt shoot down his spine when Helaena's pretty mouth parted and gave the kiss a whole new dimension. He almost broke the kiss out of pure surprise, but instinct overruled his thoughts, and he did what felt natural, he opened his own lips in response. His tongue moved against hers and slowly searched the depths of her mouth. With each brush of their lips and with now even their tongues in a heated dalliance, Jace almost started to think that perhaps they should stay right there in his chambers, in his bed.
For eternity.
When he broke the kiss in favor of breathing, Helaena looked flushed and beautiful, and it made it even harder for him not to crush his lips against her own again.
He tried to set his mind on something else and chuckled.
'What is it?' she asked curiously, but just as breathless as he felt.
He stroked her cheek with his gloved hand, 'You're wearing your riding clothes. How did you know? Did you daydream it?'
'No, common sense,' she said factually, 'There is no other way without mother breaking us apart but to run to Dragonstone and get married before she comes to get me.'
He nodded and laughed a bit into the darkness at how horribly simple it sounded yet; it was anything but. Helaena chuckled as well, and they embraced one another one more time before they snuck out of the castle into the Dragon Pit.
They carried too much fondness and hope in their hearts at the moment to believe anything else than their success. No matter the odds.
The storm got worse, and even if they managed to fly far, they wouldn't be able to reach Dragonstone in one go. Perhaps, they would manage, but the loud violent sounds of the thunder caused the prince to worry for Helaena and her sensitive ears.
Jace was fortunate to remember all the stops his mother showed him and Luce along the way in case they needed them, and he brought Helaena and their dragons into one of the caves away from the rain that bothered the creatures, and thunder that upset Helaena.
Vermax pushed its head against him letting him know through a weak link between them that he was grateful, and Helaena spoke to Dreamfyre for a bit on the other side. The cave wasn't big, but it would do for them to rest for the night and continue after the storm.
They started a fire, and almost immediately Helaena started to undress leaving Jace speechless. His eyes stayed frozen on her and watched her every movement as she maneuvered herself out of her wet riding clothing remaining only in the smallclothes.
Jace knew blood rushed into his cheek as with a slightly opened mouth he watched the young woman, the woman he loved and lusted for, for weeks now, slowly stripped out of her riding clothes, and remain in her smallclothes in front of him. She was a sight for sore eyes, and this almost naked looked just as soft and pretty as it felt to hold her over her clothes.
He felt his body come alive at the sight. Back in Dragonstone if he, his siblings, and stepsisters were fortunate, they snuck out to swim a bit, so it wasn't the first time he saw a woman in such a state of undress. But Jace knew he never felt his manhood so urgent when he saw others. He didn't even care to look when it was anyone else but Helaena it seemed.
She wore a pair of linen short breeches and binding over her breast because she knew she would be riding today. Her feet were covered in something similar to stockings, but they only reached her ankles.
His mouth went dry, and Jace felt all too aware he was staring at her and hadn't said a single word in a very long time.
'Jace,' Helaena spoke now, 'You'll be sick. You should undress as well. I won't mind.'
He nodded and got to his feet before she even finished what she had to say.
It was her turn to watch him now, and even if he shouldn't he felt a bit self-aware before, the princess stood up and walked toward him, 'Can I touch you, Jace?'
'Always, Princess,' he assured her knowing he could never deny her anything least of all this.
She bit her lip and settled her palm against his chest her fingers curling in his dark chest hair as she went lower toward his stomach spreading more heat everywhere she touched him, 'You feel so firm, Jace. Solid. I'm so angry whenever I can't bear your touch because touching you always makes me feel so good like everything fades away, and it's just us and you hold me tight and protect me from everything that might come for us.'
He swallowed looking at her torn between happiness over her words and the intensity of their bare bodies, 'I will never allow anything to happen to you. I promise, Princess.'
She looked at his mouth and then leaned forward to meet his lips.
He returned her kiss immediately with his fingers inside her hair and the other on her lower back holding her tight as she spoke of, like he always wished to hold her.
Their chest touched and something inside Jace caught on fire. He kissed her with all the passion and devotion he could muster. He could feel her eyelashes fluttering against his cheeks, and he relished in that intimacy that gave him that sensation. He felt incredibly selfish, but he couldn't bring himself to care.
He wanted her.
He loved her.
Their kisses grew more heated, and Jace carefully lifted her as if she weight nothing, only to slowly settle her against the ground, where he previously put a coat he packed, making sure to be gentle as he wished nothing but good things to come her way before he broke their kisses.
They were both panting and running their hands over each other still in a feverish haze. Both of them had been delightfully taken by the new possibilities of exploring each other's naked skin. It was different to touch one another like this. Everything was more intense and intimate.
With how pleasant and soft her touch was, Jace needed a moment, but ultimately, he found his ground and shook his head breaking the kiss and stopping her hands by grabbing her wrists tenderly, 'We should stop. I…it's hard to think straight when you're this close, Helaena. Undressed no less,' he licked his lips and chuckled a bit to fight against his arousal with amusement, 'I do not wish to offend you in any way by acting like a wildman rather than a prince toward you.'
Helaena also licked her lips while looking into his dark eyes deliberately moving closer and pressing firmer against him in that silent way she always did, 'I do not mind.'
'Helaena,' Jace chuckled to push at the arousal running through his body that overjoyed at her careless words, 'You're a princess, a-a maiden,' he swallowed hypnotized by her touches and the movement of her body against his even if still covered by some clothing.
With the only light burning bright from the fire, her laying so willing underneath him, she looked like a dream, his goddess, the queen of his heart.
He shook his head and tried to move further away, 'I won't…I can't treat you in such a way. I can't dishonor you like that. I cannot bed you until we are wed. You're my sun, beloved. I already sometimes fear I stain you with my hands…with my blood,' he admitted tapping into his doubts about himself and his parentage.
Helaena's purple eyes blinked, and her movement stopped making him think, she understood, but instead her hands broke free of his grip and touched his face.
Her fingers were running through his cheek, and her eyes set into his in a serious manner, 'Jace. I ran away with you. I wish to be with you. I'm your Helaena and you're my Jacaerys. There is nothing more to it. You cannot stain me because you're not dirty. Your blood is beautiful. It will fit me perfectly, Jace. Believe me.'
She spoke so kindly, so hopefully, and beautifully, it was hard not to believe her.
He grabbed one of her hands and kissed it.
She was beautiful in ways only he could understand.
He still thought she deserved better, 'A proper bed, warm fur, and lovely and joyful wedding feast. You deserve such things.'
She shook her head, 'We must not wait, Jace. Mother will check. She will have the maesters check my virtue once she comes for me. She's loyal to the Seven. If I'm bedded, she will do anything to fix it. She won't risk my reputation.'
Jace swallowed again and asked breathless feeling his lungs were closed and would not allow any air to come inside them, 'What are you saying?'
He felt he might be torn apart awaiting her next words.
Helaena's eyes were on his now almost calling to him, haunting him as her next words had, 'A rose blooms in the storm with fire in the heart and blood in the veins.'
Her prophecy, the one her daydreams gave her so often now ever since he and his family returned to the court.
Even so, he still didn't dare to breathe although he was certain of what she meant now. It was too much to hope, too much to expect her, despite her words and touches to actually want him to take her and make her his.
Only his.
Forever.
Helaena reached for him, and Jace could only groan wrecked by his own need for her, by the love inside him burning brighter than the fire inside the cave, 'Helaena…sweetling…my beloved, are you certain? This…this cannot be undone or taken back. It will mark you forever.'
She kissed him with each brush of her lips like adding wood to that fire she started inside him. The tip of her tongue stroked his lower lips every so often properly guiding him toward madness and pleasure.
When she broke the kiss, her eyes were on his again filled with the desire that matched the one wrecking his body from the inside, 'Jace, you let me touch you…You listen and believe my daydreams. You touch me so sweetly, so delicately. I wished…I prayed to gods that my daydream would mean this since-since…I love you,' she said the most amazing words he ever heard and her tongue slipped to old Valyrian, 'You filled my heart with hope for a better future for everyone I hold dear. You make me happy, and I love you. I yearn for you. Even now while you hold me, I pray for more.'
He put his hands against her neck as tenderly as possible and looked into her purple eyes, 'I love you too, beloved. You have bewitched me since the night you came into my chambers. You started a fire inside my heart that I never wished to extinguish. I burn for you, Helaena every waking moment. I only wish to always feel this way. I promise I will always love you.'
She nodded and without another word they kissed again.
Their hands moved over each other again, and Jace found himself tugging at the bindings over her chest, 'Only if you want to,' he whispered, but she grinned and carefully undid them and arched her back to pull them away.
His breath shuttered over the sight of her bare chest, and his eyes lifted to her face again to ask for silent permission before he kissed her between her beautiful breasts.
Soon, Helaena's moans filled the cave, and he started to tease her slightly darker nipples with his mouth and fingers. He took her sounds in and quickly learned what they meant giving her all, she wished for and more without sharing a single word except for her occasional usage of his name, 'Jace!'
He was right to think it sounded interesting, but even more so beautiful now when she called it out in the state of her passion.
The prince then settled for moving lower toward her belly when she flinched and covered her belly button.
Her cheeks were red, flushed from the pleasure he gave her before, and Jace was sure he looked the same.
He brushed his hair and leaned away from her body, 'Do you not want me to touch you there?'
She nodded still breathing hard, and he offered her a kind smile before he kissed her under her belly, 'What of here?'
'Better,' she said breathlessly, and his smile widened before he looked back up at her. He reached the end of his road.
'We haven't crossed any line yet,' he told her and took her hand to kiss it as a man with respect and honor would, 'You can still ask me to stop. Always. Helaena.'
Her purple eyes were on his now before she smiled and sat up kissing him deeply pushing her tongue against his own before she whispered, 'Don't stop, Jacaerys.'
He nodded and kissed her chastely on the lips one more time before he gave her space to undress the final piece of clothing that served as some shield protecting her from being completely bare to him if he didn't count her feet.
Shaking a little bit either because of the cold or something else, Helaena parted her legs and bent her knees enough for him to see everything.
'Gods have mercy,' he whispered as his eyes landed on the soft-looking silver hair between her legs and then on the little cave that hid under it.
He swallowed and looked at her face again, 'Helaena, my sun, you're exquisite.'
She giggled nervously as her voice shook, but as he leaned toward her to kiss her again, she accepted it just as enthusiastically as before.
'Jace, let me see you too, please,' she told him between the kisses, and he nodded against her shoulder before he stripped as well.
He watched her eyes search his cock with interest, he saw in her eyes every time she spoke of her insects or other interest. She wanted to explore him and that thought along with the way he saw her throat move as she swallowed was enough to send him leaking.
'Helaena,' he took hold of her face to make her look at him, 'Sweetling, I beg of you let me touch you with my lips,' he said and moved his hands over her bare shoulders.
She giggled like the young woman that she was, full of sun and youth, and his heart sang to her.
'Yes, Jace, touch me as you desire,' she whispered and groaned closing his eyes her words enough to bring him over the edge. She was like a spark to his forest ready to burn it, him, to ash. He would gladly turn to nothing dust for her.
'W-where?' he asked desperately almost lost in his passion, his lust for her.
She sighed and stroked his head, 'Where would you like the most?'
'Helaena,' he growled more animal than man. A dragon unbound to any man.
She didn't deny him or stop him only watched as he settled between her legs taking a hold of her soft thighs before he settled his face above her womanhood looking so inviting and pretty. The soft silver hair as well as the cave it hid behind it was covered in white moisture. The smell invaded his nostrils and only added to the fire burning inside him. His cock demanded attention even more than before.
Blood rushed to his manhood and cheeks as he felt for a moment consumed by the sight and smell alone.
'Beautiful, beloved.'
He saw her bit her lip, but it seemed it was due to expecting more than anything else, and so the young prince leaned lifted her a bit toward him, and took a long lick across her pretty pink cunt.
'Jace,' moaned and arched her back reacting to his touch immediately and so well.
He made a meal out of her. The most delicious one that existed. He lapped at her, sucked at her, drank her and Helaena writhed and panted just like he'd always thought she would, whenever, the solitude of his room and dark allowed him to have such impure thoughts about her.
One of Helaena's hands appeared in his hair, and Jace moaned against her at the feeling of her fingers gripping it less than gently.
Her breaths and moans filled the cave once more only louder, reckless, and free bringing him as much joy as to feed on her wetness and map her inside walls with his tongue.
'Jace! Jace-it feels so good…so…so strange, but good…'
He hummed against her and closed his eyes before he tossed one of her legs against his shoulders and started to stroke at the soft silver hair above her womanhood. He caught onto something and felt Helaena's entire body jump and still in a very tense way.
Jace leaned away from her to check her expression. She was biting her lip hard now and seemed to have pushed her fingers into her palms her knuckles almost white.
'Do you wish to stop? Because say the word, Helaena, and we shall,' he assured her licking his lips and pulling at her hand to unburden it from the pain she was causing herself, 'I never want to cause you sorrow or pain.'
She shook her head looking at his chin again. She had to see her wetness dripping down it, 'I do not wish to stop. It feels so good, Jace, but I'm…I'm afraid.'
He looked at her softer now and pressed a kiss to her knee, 'I understand,' he switched into their old tongue, 'It sometimes feels too much. I feel like I will burst from all this love, this feeling,' he admitted, but despite it, he couldn't do anything else but smile, 'But it's not a bad thing. It can't be. My heart sings. It'd never done so before.'
She sighed in a longing way and lifted to a sitting position to press a kiss to his forehead, 'My heart as well, my love. Make my body sing too, Jace,' she commanded, and Jace was beyond eager to obey his queen.
His dark eyes stayed on her for a while before he was sure she meant it and didn't wish to take her words back. He lowered himself between her womanhood and started to eagerly lick and suck at her juice while seeking the place that previously got a reaction out of her. He was gentle with it now when he found it again listening to her breathing hard and quick and chanting his name before he felt the pressure inside her snap along with her body that arched above their makeshift bed.
'Oh, Jace!' she cried freely, her beautiful sounds echoing in the cave as her body shuddered and twitched against his mouth as he carried on, 'Jace…you…Ah!' she screamed now loud and desperate as he didn't let her rest and forced another grand sensation of pleasure out of her enjoying how he could easily control her body with a few simple touches of his fingers and tongue.
He eagerly licked and swallowed her wetness than came out of her cave ready to touch the delicate spot that seemed to bring her so much pleasure again, but her voice stopped him.
'Jace-Jace!' she begged with his name, loud moans, and whined for him, so he licked her slit one more time before he returned to her face, 'Beloved.'
Helaena reached for him and put her arms around his neck so he could kiss her pretty mouth, red from all her biting, and his wet from her sweet nectar.
He watched her as he kissed her enjoying the ruined and free look on her face.
Jace leaned away and whispered, 'Can you feel it, Helaena? Can you taste yourself on my lips? Delicious. My new favorite dish, that I wish to feast on every night.'
She moaned so deeply and desperately that he couldn't do anything else but kiss her again getting properly lost in her lips.
They broke the kiss panting like dogs for their masters, for each other.
She snatched his hair and yanked his head back, 'Please.'
He smirked and moved to her neck sucking on the sweaty skin there, 'What is it, beloved? What do you need?'
'Jace,' she moaned when he sucked the spot on her throat, 'Speak up, Helaena.'
He nibbled her skin with his teeth there, 'Say the words, and I will do whatever you desire.'
'More,' she whispered.
'More, what?'
She whined in frustration and pleasure, and he couldn't help but chuckle only to groan when he felt her hand reach for his, all too eager for more as well, cock.
Their eyes met and Helaena begged him, 'Please, let us be one. Jace, I cannot bear us to be apart any longer. Dive into me and let us become one.'
Everything inside Jace shook over her request, but who was he to deny his princess, his beloved, his future wife?
He took in a deep breath and got on his knees taking a hold of her thighs to spread them further apart and then below her beautiful and soft bottom to lift her closer to him, 'Tell me if you wish to stop.'
Helaena smiled at him and with her face flushed and eyes begging, she looked rather brilliant, 'No, Jacaerys, this is how the gods like it.'
'I like it as well,' he assured her grabbing his cock slowly and guiding it inside her. There was resistance, but only barely as the wetness helped, and then before he knew it, he was immediately captured by the hotness, unlike anything he ever felt. It was…glorious.
Jace choked at the feeling of being inside her. His pathetic attempts, alone in his bedroom, were nothing compared to this.
This was everything.
Instinct took over, and Jace pushed his hips only to freeze when he felt a pained hiss fall from Helaena's pretty mouth.
Dark eyes, Jace didn't realize he had closed, opened and he pressed his elbows to the ground on either side of her head to touch her face with his fingers.
'Helaena, speak,' he urged running his eyes over her slightly displeased face holding the passion back.
He heard Dreamfyre shift, but Vermax breathed hot air its way and stopped the other dragon from approaching.
'Helaena.'
Swallowing hard, she opened her gorgeous purple eyes breathing hard, 'It's strange. Different. I feel full…it's a bit uncomfortable.'
'Do you want me to-'
'NO!' she stressed and sighed, 'I want us to be one, I like…I like you inside…it's just odd,' she said and reached for him. Their fingers lanced together beside Helaena's head as he kissed her mouth chastely, 'I'll try something. Trust me, please.'
Carefully he leaned away to sneak his other hand between them and found the spot that brought her so much pleasure before.
'Jace,' she moaned immediately, and he kissed her again stealing all her other sounds while his fingers circled around the spot.
Soon enough, the princess started to squirm and shake, and with all the restriction he could muster repeating the words of his father about how he needed to protect women and mean them no harm, he started to move.
He pulled back leaving her empty and heard a tiny whimper come from her lips over his absence that made him smirk a bit. Just as quickly as he left, Jace then returned to her just as deeply groaning desperately at how hard it was to stay focused and calm and not rut into her like an animal despite his instincts and desires.
'Jace,' Helaena whimpered, 'More…I want to feel more. Please.'
'At once, princess,' he said and speeded his movement diving deeper and harder into her feeling her body start to move along his thrusts.
He kissed her mouth again, their fingers still linked, but it didn't feel like he was kissing her. It felt almost like breathing, natural, something that was required, needed to remain alive.
'Helaena, my Helaena,so tight…so fucking perfect for me,' he said even if it was a struggle with his breathing so hard and rational thoughts pushed back by the pleasure that threatened to burn him alive.
Jace's free hand left Helaena's spot rather than breaking apart their linked hands and hiked her leg higher against his waist causing the princess to let out the most desperate and beautiful cry, 'Jace!'
He fucked her harder after that, the new position opening her so much more to him making it impossible to stop. She was beautiful like this. Her eyes partly closed only bits of the purple color of her eyes now shades darker shining through, and her tempting mouth parted calling out to him with every word but also with sound, every cry, whimper, and moan driving him almost as mad as the feeling of his cock invading her hot cunt.
'Yes, beloved…let me hear you. Show me how this good this makes you feel,' he urged her not giving her a chance to answer as he continued his assault on her sex making her toss her head and shake. Despite the roughness, it didn't feel violent or aggressive, firm perhaps, but not in a bad way. He wished to be softer with her, but it seemed it wasn't what either of them needed. However, even if there was a lack of the softer parts, it didn't feel like they were being rude like animals in the heat.
It felt right, good, and like it should have been.
Together like this making love in front of their dragons, becoming one, Jacaerys never felt more connected to his heritage. He never felt more Targaryen or a full, a complete one at least. Just as Aemond mocked him. But being inside Helaena, moving against her in their shared rhythm further drifting into their pleasure, their fire, it felt right more than anything in the world. He felt it now, the fire, their dragons, their heritage. He could feel it. More than ever in his entire life, he could feel it, believe it.
He was a Targaryen.
He was to inherit the Iron Throne.
He was to wed Helaena.
He was one with her.
Here in this cave, with their dragons as the witness to their first bedding, in this horrible storm on the run from their families. They were one, and they were infinite.
'He-helaena-'
'I know!'she cried out, 'Jace, I can feel it!'
He leaned down and kissed her pushing his tongue against hers, and she kissed him back just as fiercely moving her hips faster. He followed her pace pulling her firmer against him slowly taking them both apart, stripping everything away until there was nothing left but their pleasure and passion for one another.
'Jace! JACE! I cannot…I cannot,' she whispered in Valyrian digging her nails into his back desperately clinging to him while he just as desperately tried to last longer, just a little bit, just for her. He gave her so much pleasure, he made her come at least three times, but he wished to give her more, at least once more he wished to raise her spirit to the gods with his love, 'Helaena, come for me. I can hold you. I will protect you, beloved. Come for me.'
She cried out louder than she had the other times and pushed his face against her chest as she grabbed onto his head almost hurting him with her force and grip, yet Jace didn't care, he closed his eyes and urged his trust deeper and faster into her warm cunt chasing his own release, 'Helaena, beloved, my sun-'
'Jace, come inside me, please, let me feel all of you tonight. Jace!'her sweetest horsed from her screams begging in the tongue of their ancestors was his undoing as he came inside her with her name echoing in the cave and his seed carelessly spilling into her.
He panted hard and fast shaking but before he collapsed, he felt Helaena tug his head between her shoulder and neck whispering in Valyrian delicately that not even their dragons could hear, 'You did so well, my love. I feel so warm now, filled with you.'
'Helaena,' he breathed and closed his eyes, he was exhausted, but happier than he ever was here in her arms spend from all the love he showed her.
His lips marked a spot near her collarbone, 'You are mine, beloved, and I am yours now. Forever. No one can change it. No one can split us apart.'
'Good,' she whispered back, and then settled for the common tongue, 'Jace, you made me so happy. Thank you.'
He shook his head and looked up at her the echoes of the release leaving him exhausted, but still in a good mood, 'So have you, my love. Helaena, I meant every word.'
She looked into his eyes and stroked his cheek, 'I know.'
Sighing, she kissed his lips one more time before she looked away.
'What is it?' he asked calmly as he sensed something brought her mood down, 'My skin will itch soon. I don't like the sweat covering it.'
He nodded and carefully got off her only to offer her his hand, 'Come, we'll wash it off in the rain.'
Helaena's face lightened up, and she accepted his hand, but barely made it a step before her knees gave out.
Jace easily caught her and lifted her into his arms, 'My apologies. Was I too rough?'
'No, Jace, I'm just sour and tired from all the pleasure,' she admitted shamelessly, but he could still catch the slight red color across her cheeks.
He nuzzled her cheek as she put her arms around his neck, 'Next time, I wish to do it in the daylight.'
'Why?' she chuckled as he carried her into the rain, 'So I can see every inch of you properly. I want to imprint every part of you into my mind, body, and soul.'
The cold rain washed over their heated skins rather nicely for a moment before Jace carried the young woman back into the cave, 'That might take a while.'
'Even better,' he assured her and helped her on their makeshift bed offering her his shirt to wipe a bit, 'We should sleep clothed. Our temperature will drop soon.'
Slowly they dressed again, and Jace rested against the wall of the cave pulling Helaena into his arms, 'Is this alright?'
She looked lost in thoughts for a moment before she looked at the fire, 'For now yes, but in the morning, I might…act recklessly if we're touching, it would be better if you let me go before you fall asleep.'
He kissed the top of her head not feeling the slightest of annoyance only adoration for the young woman despite her limits, 'Then I shall.'
She continued to watch the fire for a moment before she spoke again, 'Does it not bother you?'
'What?'
'That I'm different…like this. You have to check before…doing something you wouldn't even have to think about with others,' she explained and even if her face remained the same, Jace could tell it affected her deeply.
He circled his arms around her in a light matter so she could break free any time she wished, 'I love you just the way you are. This is who you are and because of that, you stole my heart. I do not know how you would be if you were different, but it means little to me to wonder. To me, you're perfect, just as you are, my sun.'
The silver-haired woman remained quiet for a moment before she snatched his palm and kissed it settling against his chest more comfortably.
After a while, he noticed her closing her eyes, 'Good night, my love.'
'Good night, Helaena.'
He held her long after she fell asleep. Even long after Dreamfyre and Vermax had fallen asleep as well, Jace was unable to let go. He only did so when the sun started to rise. The sky was clear and both of them needed to carry on.
Before they would ride their dragons again, they held each other hands, and Jace offered her a smile filled with courage, 'Together.'
They barely managed to spend any time alone in Dragonstone before mother arrived, and it wasn't even longer before the queen had luckily without an army.
His mother looked worried and saddened, 'Oh Jace, what have you-'
'Would you let me throw it away?' he asked over her pleads looking into her eyes.
'What?'
'The kingdom,' he clarified, 'the throne? Would you let me throw it away for Helaena-'
She shook her head looking confused and frightened by his words, 'Jace, you must not think rash-'
'I'm not being rash, mother,' said Jace without having to raise his voice effectively silencing the older woman, 'You had to pick too. You had to choose between the throne and being with someone you loved-'
'But in the end, I was-I am!' argued his mother, but Jace shook his head already knowing what he wanted since he learned of Helaena being married to Aegon. Since he first kissed her, since he felt her, perhaps ever since held her.
'I will not wait,' he told her and looked into her eyes so she could see he spoke the truth, 'I won't wait a day longer for her. I want her, mother. More than the throne. More than anything. If the queen demands it, I will give up my right to the throne for her to allow Helaena to marry me.'
'Jace,' said his mother quietly as if she wished to argue more, but then sighed and brushed his cheek seemingly coming to accept his choice, 'Alright, I…I won't have you fight my battles or suffer. If…if this is what will make you happy, then I will accept it. I love you.'
He nodded and smiled at his mother knowing in his heart she spoke the truth and wouldn't scheme against him.
He hugged her feeling a lot of his anxiety fall off his shoulders knowing he would have his mother support, 'Thank you, mother.'
She kissed his head and nodded, 'I, am, a mother above all, Jace. So is Alicent. Do keep that in mind.'
He nodded and waited for the worse with still too much hope in his heart.
They were all waiting anxiously in the main hall in Dragonstone. There was an uncomfortable silence, and everyone seemed to be all too aware of everyone. His brothers and stepsisters offered him supportive looks even if they were probably still confused by his choices or perhaps not at all as he was sure he heard Luce demand some payment from Joff in a hushed voice.
The maester, the queen sent to check Helaena, had finally returned with the young princess stiffly following him and looking rather upset.
Jace took notice that the maester's hand was bleeding, and he immediately rushed toward Helaena's side, 'Are you alright?'
The young woman looked a bit ashamed as she admitted, 'He tried to pet my head, but mistakenly went lower and caught my ear, so I bit him.'
The young man grinned at his beloved upon hearing that and pulled her closer to his side kissing her forehead where he could reach feeling pride and joy over her actions, 'Good girl.'
He felt her shiver and look into his eyes an unspoken secret passed between them as they both recalled their night in the storm.
The maester looked annoyed by them, but he still cleared his throat and went to speak with the queen, who continued to watch them with a troubled look before she suddenly nodded and thanked the man.
She was silent for a while, and Jace felt the entire room was as well waiting for her next actions or words.
The young man noticed she had been picking at her fingers rather harshly based on the blood he could see between her nails.
Then she surprised them all by speaking, 'I would like to speak with prince Jacaerys now,' she then added, 'Alone.'
His mother, bless her heart, started to protest, but Jace cut her off, 'It's alright. I do not mind speaking with the queen and my future good mother.'
Helaena looked at him only for a moment and then kissed his cheek before she went to leave soon followed by his brothers who offered him nods of encouragement and lastly by his mother who seemed anxious but still held herself with pride and dignity as always.
Then he and the queen were alone. It was an occurrence that did not happen until now and given how little if ever he had spoken with the woman, he did not know what to expect only that he wouldn't go down without a fight. He wouldn't allow her or anyone to take Helaena from him, not if she wasn't the one who wished to leave.
'I must admit that was quite the gamble that you made,' said the queen not sounding impressed or anything other than nervous and perhaps bitter, 'I would not have thought your mother would have used you in such a way.'
Jace frowned at her immediately, 'She didn't use me. I took Helaena with me all by myself. My family did not know. No one knew.'
The queen grimaced and ran her hands through her skirt reminding him of Helaena for a moment, so Jace pressed on, 'I speak the truth. I told Helaena to be ready, and she came to me dressed in her riding clothes. No one else was involved, my queen.'
No one but the servants, who Jace paid, but that wasn't who the queen was interested in now.
The woman watched his face for the longest of time in a way Helaena sometimes did, but his beloved never needed this long to read his heart and words and deem them to be honest, 'Then why would you do such a thing? Why would you ask her to come with you? Why would you take her, Jacaerys?'
Jace's frown and distress faded away as a simple smile pressed against his face because there was no other way to say it but with a smile, 'Because I love Helaena, Your Grace.'
The woman grimaced again and shook her head and called out clearly annoyed he would say such a thing, 'You barely know her.'
She continued to shake her head and look around the room, 'If-If I'm not mistaken you weren't even close as children and spend less than a single month in the castle. How could possibly say-'
'My Queen,' spoke Jace firmly cutting the older woman off, 'I cannot speak of how it works or why is it so. But I know in my heart its true,' he said and put his palm against his chest, 'Helaena is the kindest and sweetest person I have ever known. Every time I see her, she shines like a beacon calling out just to me. She's beautiful inside and out in a way, I never took notice of or even thought was possible. She's soft yet strong in ways no one else will ever understand, but I see it, I feel it. I know it's the truth,' he sighed and looked at the floor as simply speaking about Helaena and letting his heart out like this to anyone else, but his beloved let alone a woman who obviously did not believe him was a hard task, 'I cannot explain why in such a short time she became so important-so much-everything to me, but she had. Ever since I realized it, the idea of losing her was too much, I struggled beyond words trying to figure out what to do. How to solve this without having to let her go, but nothing was to be done but-'
'-Runaway,' said the Queen not even in mockery but rather in desperation, 'Ruin her virtue and force her to have to marry you?'
Jace straightened his back to his full height and looked directly at the woman as he spoke in a firm voice, 'Nothing that we ever did was by force, You Grace. I can assure you of that. You can ask Helaena. She is not a child anymore. She might be different, but she is her own person with her own wisdom and feelings. I swear to you. All that we did was out of mutual love and agreement. I swear on my life, and I know Helaena can swear the same.'
The queen watched him again for several moments and slowly her nervous and upset façade faded into simply an unhappy one, 'Do you…do you believe me to be a bad mother, prince Jacaerys? Do you believe that I do not love my daughter and wish the best for her?'
He thought about it for a moment before he spoke knowing anything else would seem insincere, 'Your Grace, I believe just as my dear mother, you do want wish that only good things would come your child's way. Is that not the wish of all mothers? But just like your stepdaughter, you don't always see your children as anything else, but just that. Children. I know we're young and still have so much to learn from all of you, but we're also not anymore. We're people now closer to adulthood, closer to our own futures and destinies. Some of us know what we want. What will make us happy? What is good for us? You, just like many others, guide yourself by what would make you the happiest forgetting your children. Not completely. You are a good mother, your Grace. Helaena never spoke anything ill about you. She only ever wished she was a better daughter. Someone you could put your jewelry on, brush her hair and take pride in. She only said she knew you wouldn't understand and wished to save you from the pain of having to deny her and play the key role in her sorrow.'
The woman listened while he spoke and for the first time in as long as Jace knew the queen, she offered him a smile he could only deem as an honest one. He had to admit, if only she smiled like this more often, she could have looked far lovelier.
She looked very much like Helaena when she smiled like this.
She nodded to herself several times before she linked her fingers above her skirt, 'I shall work out the arrangement with your mother. Given the special circumstances, we should hold the wedding no more than two moons from now,' she then quietly added with a knowing look, 'Just in case.'
Jace had to fight hard not to blush although he did feel blood rush into his cheek, 'That would be very much appreciated, Your Grace. Thank you. I want you to know that I promise that I will love and cherish Helaena until the rest of my days.'
The queen smiled somewhat satisfied if not happy before she turned around and started to walk toward the corridor.
Once alone, before Jace went to speak to Helaena and the rest of his family, he took a moment to compose himself and calm down feeling he had just passed his hardest challenge successfully.
Thank the gods.
Helaena wasn't allowed to stay in the Dragonstone and so Jace returned with her to the castle despite his mother's reservations. He couldn't stand not being with her.
The Queen made sure they were closely watched now and chaperoned everywhere they went, but Helaena, ever the little ghost always somehow appeared inside his room greeting him with a kiss and immediately reaching under his covers.
'How do you do that, my ghost?' he asked one night astonished, but his beloved only laughed, 'I might look like I don't see what is happening around me, but I assure you, I see everything.'
He brushed her hair mindful of her ears and grinned at her, 'Oh, I know this, betrothed. Very much so as a matter of fact.'
He chuckled and kissed her deeper while his hands lifted her night dress. He slipped into her wetness with ease as she grew accustomed to his length like she was truly made for him.
'How-how do you this, Helaena?' he rasped once he was firmly there, rubbing him above her slick pink fold and watching her consumed by the same hunger that seemed to be tormenting her as well, 'I want you…all the time. I want you when I'm with you. When I have you! I'm inside you, for fuck's sake, my beloved sweetling,' he settled his lips over her shoulder, the warmth of her walls making it hard to think let alone to talk, 'and I still want you…want so much more. How?' His teeth bite her skin making her cry out into the dark, but there was no distress or pain in the sound, 'What curse had your pretty eyes settled upon me, Helaena?'
'Gods cursed us both, Jace. I want more too,' she said and buckled her hips urging him to move. He nodded and followed her rhythm.
She settled against his thighs some more, and they rocked together into the night silently moaning each other's names in common tongue and Valyrian until their release caught up to them, and Helaena informed him she had to return to her chambers.
Jace would always try to keep her inside his arms for as long as possible.
Helaena always allowed him to make peace with their partings and only ever asked him once not to touch her when she was being measured and checked before her wedding.
'It's alright, I will just lie down next to you. If you wish, you can touch me on your own,' he said and simply spoke to her all night about their wedding and other things. It was the first time, she had fallen asleep inside his bed, and it broke his heart to have to wake her up, 'Just two more nights, my love. Then we will never sleep without each other again.'
She kissed his cheek and quietly left the room with the small mirror in her palm.
Jace signed the agreement a day before the wedding but right before it was done, he paused before the ink touched the paper.
When his dark eyes met the queen's, she smiled. It was a better smile than those bitter ones before, but less pretty than the one she gave him when she accepted his proposal for Helaena's hand, 'I might have a lot of reservations toward you as the successor, but my daughter deserves nothing less than to be a queen one day, wouldn't you agree?'
'More and then some, your Grace,' he assured her and even if he wasn't certain before, now knew without any doubt that Alicent Hightower loved her daughter.
He and Helaena danced all throughout the wedding feast, and Jace could certainly believe that the house of Dragon was united and strong like never before. Everyone seemed to be in a good mood, but even if they weren't, Jace was too occupied by Helaena's laughter as they danced.
When her eyes clouded again, he excused them toward the dark corridor as she whispered, 'The golden age of the Dragon has just begun.'
Just as she took in a deep breath and smiled at him, he kissed her as if to seal her words into a promise.
'Yes, it certainly has, beloved.'
Koniec
A.N: Thank you for reading :) Hopefully, you enjoyed the story. The ages and some other things were changed to better fit here.
I'm thinking about writing at least 2 other one-shots fic for the pair, but it might take a while. One should be about Helaena being sent as a child to Dragonstone as Jace's betrothed, so she grows up with the Velaryons more (it's a more hopeful one), and another where she still marries Jace, but he's her second husband after Aegon's death. (this one will be more angsty)
In case, someone wants to message me privately about something tumblr mynewblackdress
I hope you and your loved ones are safe whenever you are. Have a nice day :)
