For a young prince like Jacaerys, training hours are the best part of the day; when he can spend time with his fathe—Ser Harwin, his brother, Lucerys, and his uncles, who sometimes are fun to be around. Moreover, swinging a sword sends relief to his always troubled time and he desires that sense of relief so very much.
Unfortunately for him, his uncle wouldn't let him have it.
Lord Larys stood exactly in the middle of the courtyard, his hands on his cane and his eyes set on Jacaerys. Even when his back was towards him, he could feel his uncle's eyes gazing at him. Knowing such fact proved fatal to his performance; when Ser Criston had him contest with Aegon, Jacaerys knew that it would not end well. He got beat up by his uncle and found himself thrown in the ground, with Aegon swinging to hit him with the sword again. Luckily for him, Ser Harwin came to save him and ended the match with dragging Aegon away.
"Is this what you teach these children, Cole?" Ser Harwin asked while he gathered the swords.
"I teach them the truth of the world, Ser Harwin," Ser Crison answered.
Jacaerys' fathe—Ser Harwin turned to look at the knight of the kingsguard with disapproving eyes, "What truth, pray tell? That the big always wins over the small?" His snap did not go unnoticed by Ser Criston, who seemed to take that as an insult to his family's 'small' standing.
"Once you know the basics of the world, you learn how to overgrow them, wrap your wings around their necks, suffocate them," Ser Criston's face was natural, no frowns or twitching eyes, but his tone was one of utmost spite and disdain. Jacaerys wondered why everyone in the keep likes to use flowers as metaphors.
Ser Harwin snorted and returned to what he was doing before, "You for sure did outgrow your nemesis, Ser Criston."
Ser Criston forced his face to smile, "Your interest in the children's training seems a bit unusual, Ser Harwin. Most would only put this much effort into the training of their cousin," Jacaerys then understood where this was going to lead and instantly, stress was poured into his heart, "Their brother… or their son."
Jacaerys could see Ser Harwin's frustrated face and he expected a fight to break out. But suddenly, he saw Lord Larys creeping towards his brother and putting a hand on his shoulder. When Ser Harwin looked up, Lord Larys smiled in assurance and his brother nodded in understanding. Then Jacaerys' uncl—Lord Larys, turned to Ser Criston, "Bold words you say, ser knight. Perhaps it is customary in your land to only pay attention to your kin but we in the Riverlands do not tolerate nepotism. My brother is the Lord Commander of the City Watch and as part of his duty, he watches over all the children in King's Landing, noble and common-born alike."
Ser Criston looked at the cripple before him and his eyes sparked in amusement, "Look who's coming to defend his brother, Larys the Clubfoot. Why, with such loyal defenders I can only admit defeat then," he laughed at his own poor jape, Aegon followed suit as well. Jacaerys wondered that had Ser Criston met Lord Larys before, or is he just empty of any decent behaviours.
The smile on Lord Larys' face only grew wider with his insults, "You flatter me, Ser Criston, what a blessing to know that my cane surpassed your sharp blade. Might want to tell the Queen of your revelation, I don't mind guarding her from time to time," his eyes darkened with despair and contempt.
"Do not speak of the queen," Ser Criston threatened him, "I do not wish to hear her name from such vulgar mouths."
Lord Larys chuckled, "Well then, I suggest you first wash her name off your mouth, Ser Criston. I've heard our good queen often flinches when she beholds the sight of you."
Ser Criston's body tensed and he clenched his fists, "You…" he took a step forward.
"You don't come near my brother, Cole," Ser Harwin put himself in front of Lord Larys, "Or do it, if you want soup and beverage for you suppers." Ser Criston lingered a bit, but finally gave up and left the courtyard. Ser Harwin and Lord Larys shared amused smiles with each other before the Clubfoot began creeping towards Jacaerys.
"Prince Jacaerys, Prince Lucerys, I gather you've had a good morning?" he asked.
Jacaerys nervously gulped before answering, "Yes…yes, a great morning, and my lord. If you forgive us, I believe our father has called us…"
"I hope the incident with Ser Criston has not left you scared, my prince," said Lord Larys directly to Jacaerys.
Jacaerys again laughed nervously, which got him a strange look from Lucerys, "Of course not, Ser Criston was only tired and thus grumpy. I'm sure he didn't mean his words."
"Oh, that's relief," said Lord Larys with a mocking tone, "What would befall me if my one and true love, Ser Criston Cole, comes to despise my presence?"
"You're in love with Ser Criston?" Lucerys innocently asked.
"Madly in love, Prince Lucerys, but our love is like farming seasons, so I won't bore you to death with it. Now," he put a hand on Jacaerys' shoulder, "Would you mind if I steal Prince Jacaerys for the rest of the day, my prince?"
"You want to steal my brother?" Lucerys asked and Lord Larys nodded, "Mother says stealing is not a good thing."
"Your mother is wrong," said Lord Larys, "Stealing is a very good thing. Like right now that I stole Prince Jacaerys from you."
Lucerys widened his eyes and opened his mouth out of shock, as if he had understood something incredible. "He's yours then," he said as he began running towards Ser Harwin. Jacaerys should have felt wounded for his brother's betrayal but he more felt jealous that he could escape Lord Larys' grip.
For a second neither of the two spoke but only walked towards the library with the only sound breaking their silence being the sound of Lord Larys' cane hitting the ground. Jacaerys had many questions to ask and many subjects to bring up with his uncle in disguise but he was too afraid of Lord Larys' devouring gaze to speak anything.
"I thought of a book for you," Lord Larys started the conversation as the two arrived at the library, "Seeing how eager you are for history." Jacaerys that he would continue but he did not.
They walked to a shelf much cleaner than the ones Jacaerys had seen. Lord Larys pointed a finger at one of the books there, "Bring me that one, my prince, the one embellished with red, white and blue."
Jacaerys raised an eyebrow at that, not many books had coloured covers and he knew why it was, grey covers last better than other colours. Nevertheless, he searched the shelf for a book like that, and found that it was at placed at the highest part of the shelf. He struggled to get the book and not fall over himself, but once he passed the test successfully, he smiled at himself for doing his duty without failure.
Proudly, Jacaerys turned around to show Lord Larys his book and then he gasped at the sight before him: there was Princess Helaena, sitting beside Lord Larys while the two of them looked at a creature in a bottle. Lord Larys looked up after he heard his gasp and smiled, "Ah, you did great, my prince. That is indeed the book I asked for. Sit please."
Princess Helaena looked up then, "Good morrow, Prince Jacaerys."
Jacaerys found himself unable to answer, so he only sat down and put the book before him. "I did not expect the princess to join us today," he looked at Lord Larys as he said that.
"I must have forgotten to tell you, my prince. Princess Helaena and I meet regularly in the library," Lord Larys explained. Jacaerys was curious to know for what reason and it seemed his uncl—Lord Larys understood that too, as he continued, "The princess and I bond over our share interest for little insects. Her mother, the queen, forbade her to pursue her interests but I promised to help her. Whenever she has a session with her septa, I would steal and bring her to the library, where we study about insects and flowers alike."
"That's…sweet of you," said Jacaerys.
Lord Larys chuckled at that. "Oh, I was beginning to forget, I have something for you, princess," he then proceeded to take out a mantis from his purse which made Jacaerys frightened. But when he looked at the princess, he saw that her eyes were widened and her mouth was slightly opened.
"This is… beautiful, my lord," she commented as she extended her hands and pleaded for Lord Larys to put the mantis in them. When Lord Larys did so, she gasped at the mantis' touch, "These are so rare, I have read about friendly mantises but never before I had encountered one."
Jacaerys felt a small smile appearing on his face at the princess' excitement and he now saw his uncle in a new light; like his brother, Lord Larys was also an honourable and kind man. "What a kind gesture, my lord. You are an example in gift-giving."
"Thank you, my prince," Lord Larys' eyes drifted to the coloured book, "Why don't you turn to the pages and start reading?" he suggested.
Jacaerys decided to heed his words and flipped the cover to the first page of the book. When his eyes saw the title he widened his eyes and lost the ability to breath, the title of the book was 'On the History of House Strong, their origins, their tales, their members'. He looked up to Lord Larys and saw that he was wearing a sly smile and so, whatever opinion he had of him shattered to dust right then. "Go on," he said, "Read the book."
And so, with butterflies forming in his heart, Jacaerys began reading on the history of his true house. Though he first began with despair, he gradually found himself enthralled to the journey that his house went through throughout history. Their struggles, their battles and their sacrifices for the Riverlands during the Ironborn invasion was commendable and poured proud into Jacaerys' heart to know that his forebearers were great men.
Alongside pride, Jacaerys also wept for his house, specifically for Ser Lucamore Strong, a Knight of the Kingsguard, and his tragic tale. His lust and desire for the pleasures of the flesh provoked him to wed three women and sire sixteen children. When word of this treachery reached King Jaehaerys' ears, he had Ser Lucamore castrated and sent to the wall, all of his children were announced bastards and his wives were exiled too. Jacaerys shed a tear for his kinsman and silently prayed for his soul.
"What are you reading, my prince?" Princess Helaena asked. Jacaerys turned his head up and saw that the two of them were alone. At some point, Lord Larys had left them. This made Jacaerys to blush.
He wondered if he could tell her the truth about the book's subject. His mother advised him not to trust her siblings so Jacaerys was left unsure. "Nothing significant, princess, only a historical chronicle," he lied about the first part, it was significant for him.
"I like histories, they make me forget that there is a future before all of us," she admitted.
Just as Jacaerys was about to speak, his eyes saw a figure hidden in the shadows far behind the princess, when he looked with more precision, he realised that Lord Larys was standing there, looking at him and wearing a wicked smile. That disturbed him so much that he said to the princess, "Would you like me to read for you, princess?"
"Yes, please." Jacaerys jumped from his seat and moved to her side at once and sat beside her. At least now his back was towards Lord Larys. Then he began reading for her while she inspected her mantis.
This went on for ten minutes at least and throughout all of this, Jacaerys only felt relief even though he knew Lord Larys was still looking at him.
"Lord Larys lied, you know," said Princess Helaena all of the sudden while still looking at the mantis.
Jacaerys raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean, princess?"
She turned to him, "We see dreams, Prince Jacaerys. Lord Larys never describes his dreams to me but I suspect they are as terrible as mine. I am grateful for his assistance to give me comfort, even though it's to little avail against my dreams."
Jacaerys spent a minute just to comprehend what his aunt had just said. He opened his mouth to ask her his questions but she interrupted him by turning towards the large window of the wall, "Oh look, it is already noon, my least favourite part of day. I shall leave then," she said as she raised from her seat.
"Wait, princess…" Jacaerys started.
"Farewell, Prince Jacaerys," said Princess Helaena as she retrieved her mantis and flew away from his reach.
Jacaerys was again left alone to watch her disappear into the many shelves of the library. He wondered if this was to become a regular event. Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder, "How are you faring, my prince," it was the voice of Lord Larys.
Jacaerys raised from his seat and took a few steps back, "Thank you for the book, my lord. It was an interesting read."
"I'm sure it was," said Lord Larys, "I hope you did not disturb Princess Helaena, my prince. She's a sensitive being."
"I wouldn't dream of it," Jacaerys admitted, too passionately for his liking.
Lord Larys smiled as he crawled towards him, "You did great today, my prince."
"I did?" Jacaerys asked.
"Yes, you did. And I believe you deserve a reward," he bent over and closed his lips to his ears and whispered, "From now on, in my private presence and far from prying eyes, you may call me uncle." Jacaerys could feel Lord Larys' grin as he said that. His uncle then petted him on the back before walking towards an unknown direction. Again the only sound between them was the hard throbs of his cane.
As soon as Jacaerys felt he was alone, he put a hand on his heart and breathed slowly for a few seconds, inhaling and exhaling air with the greed of a miser. He wondered if this was how a heart attack felt. He was trying to flee from his true heritage and there was his true uncle, giving him the permission him to call him as such. He only hoped that no one had heard their conversation.
Eventually, he calmed down, only after recreating Princess Helaena's excited face in his mind.
