Dear Aemond,
Dragonstone is awfully dismal this time of year. The beaches are beautiful but have been too cold for a swim. Father took us to explore some tide pools at the foot of the Dragonmont. It was quite serene, and I think he enjoys being near the sea again. Seasmoke has joined us from Driftmark since we arrived. I don't know how he knew that we were here, but Father was very happy to see him. It really is quite a sight to behold—all of the dragons, claimed and unclaimed, circling the island. I can't wait to show you.
The castle itself is quite cold and cavernous. I miss the warmth and life of the Red Keep. There is one silver lining that Dragonstone possesses: the private library of House Targaryen. There are thousands of books, maps, and scrolls that it will surely take us years to learn it all. I have taken to reading about the claiming of dragons. Did you know that King Jahaerys sang to Vermithor? I think that's quite sweet. All this knowledge will certainly serve us well when you join me here and we can claim our dragons together.
Father and Ser Qarl have continued our training here. I can finally join in at sword play with my brothers and they have begun to instruct me with the blade Ser Harwin gave me. We run on the beach together and climb the rocky cliffs. It's quite fun and I can't wait for you to one day join us.
Mother has not said whether the King and Queen approved of our betrothal, but I am confident they will see it is for the good of House Targaryen. I miss you very much and wish I could see you soon.
All My Love,
Jade
Dearest Jade,
The Red Keep is not the same without you.
I find that Mother is making me spend more time with Aegon. I think she imagines that this will in some way have a positive effect on him, but I know better. He has little interest in getting on as well, though he has hinted he is planning something for my name day. This is very out of character for him, as you well know. I hope it is not another Pink Dread.
I don't have much more to say. Aside from your family's absence, things are pretty much the same here. My parents are still discussing our possible betrothal. I have yet to speak with the King about it. He is quite busy and when I seek him out, Mother makes excuses about his health. He will, I'm sure, make the right decision, especially if he knows it is what your mother wishes. Surely, he can deny her nothing.
Thank you for the sapphire. It has lived in my pocket since you left. I find that when something funny happens or when I am angry and want to talk to you, I hold it in my hand and feel almost as if you can hear me.
I miss you greatly and hope to visit you soon so that we may claim dragons and fly along the beach together. While I wish Dragonstone is not turning out to be a misery, I hope you do not like it more than your real home here with me.
Jaelagon īlē kesīr (Wish you were here),
Aemond
Dear Aemond,
It has been two weeks and still I have not heard from you. Did you receive my previous letter? By now you must have heard the horrible news from Harrenhal. Father was the one who told me. When I first heard I ran to the Godswood and wept, praying for Ser Harwin and missing home. Mother has not come out of her rooms for four days. At night her cries fill the whole castle and make it impossible to find rest. I have taken to caring for Luke and Joffrey during the day. At first Joff cried a lot, but now he merely sleeps all day in my arms. Luke has taken to drawing more and is quite good. While he was sad to hear the news of Ser Harwin, he is quite ignorant of it all. Jace says nothing, just spends his days outside with Vermax and ignores the rest of us. I wish more than ever that I had a dragon with which to share my soul and my grief. I wish also that you were here.
I am devastated to think that I will never again see Ser Harwin. The loss is even worse when I think of how he must have suffered as he died consumed by flames. As dragons we are taught to relish in fire, but how can I continue to love it when it has destroyed somebody for whom I bore so much love? I find I cannot think of him without immediately starting to cry, the sorrow swallowing me whole for days on end. I cannot even bring myself to look at the dagger her gave me, though I also cannot bear to be parted from it. Father has taken to walking with me along the beach, just us two, to try to talk with me about it, but I find I have no words. I know I will miss him for as long as I live.
Please write back to me, Aemond. I miss you terribly and need my best friend.
All My Love,
Jade
Dearest Jade,
I was expecting to receive a letter from you by now, especially after the news from Harrenhal.
I was very sorry to hear about Ser Harwin and his father. The King was quite bereft at the loss of his Hand, but I know it is nothing compared to the grief you must be feeling. Please know that I prayed for you in the Godswood where we've often sat together. While my mother may not have approved, I know Ser Harwin followed in the tradition of the First Men.
I asked Mother this morning when I might visit you at Dragonstone, but she said that Father's health will not allow for travel just now, as if it is likely to improve. My grandfather Otto has arrived from Oldtown to serve as Hand to the King. I do not know him well nor have I seen him since Daeron was born, but he seems not to be wasting any time. He has already convinced Father to betroth Aegon to Helaena. Neither is happy about the match, as you can imagine. When I asked him about our own betrothal, he said it would have been inappropriate to betroth a second son before the elder. I didn't much care for this response.
Please know that I am thinking of you and that I await your response.
Aōhon (Yours),
Aemond
Aemond,
Our ravens have returned emptyhanded and still I wait for your replies. Have you forgotten me? We caught word of Helaena and Aegon's betrothal, but Mother cannot tell me anything of ours. Have you spoken with your grandsire? I heard that he is now Hand of the King. Mother and Father were loath to discuss his appointment and I fear he will not be an ally to our cause.
Further tragedy has befallen our House. I'm sure by now you know of the death of our aunt, Lady Laena. I had not seen her since I was a baby, but she always sent a kind letter and gift on my nameday. Father is devastated. Just as Mother emerged from her chambers, now he is full of solace in his with only Ser Qarl for his company. When I went to ask him if there was anything I could do for him, he asked only for wine. That was five days ago. Mother has been making preparations for us to go to Driftmark for the funeral. Jace and I begged instead to go to Harrenhal for Ser Harwin's funeral, but she would not hear it. My one consolation, dear Aemond, is that you will likely be on Driftmark as well and we will finally be reunited. Though I wish it would be under better circumstances, I will take what I can get.
They say that Aunt Laena chose to die at the hands of Vhagar, her loyal mount, rather than perish in childbirth. They say that she did so in defiance of her husband, the Rogue Prince Daemon. Can you imagine such a woman? I cannot imagine anyone being so fierce. Yet it makes me incredible fearful to one day have children. When we are married, must we have them?
Please write to me, Aemond. I feel as though you have forgotten me these last weeks. If I do not receive a reply, I will assume I have missed it as we have left for Driftmark. I cannot wait to see you—I think I might surely weep for joy when we see each other.
All My Love,
Jaedys
Jade,
What is keeping you from writing me? If it were not for the troubling news of Ser Harwin and Lady Laena, I would assume that you were spending your days with your brothers happily without me.
Against Mother's wishes, the King is insisting the whole court travel to Driftmark for the funeral of Lady Laena. Even Lord Larys Strong is going instead of attending those of his brother and father at Harrenhal. He's always struck me as unfeeling, but I find it an odd thing. Much as I loathe Aegon, I should think I would still go to his funeral. How is your father? I remember you saying how close he was to his sister. Truth be told, I think Father is insisting we go so that he may reconcile with his brother Daemon. I have never met our uncle, but if half the stories about him are to be believed it will surely be an eventful occasion.
I miss you greatly. I still sit at our spot in the library reading, though I suppose many places around the Keep feel solely ours. But I go to the place where I kissed you and though it looks exactly the same, it feels so different without you. I haven't forgotten you nor our plans, which seem even more important now that we've been away from each other longer than ever before in our lives. Longer even than that week you were stricken with fever. When we are husband and wife we will do as we please and go everywhere together. While the survival of our House is important, I don't know that I would ever want to risk losing you the way Prince Daemon has surely lost his wife. Such a loss, even an epic dragonrider's death such as that, would be terrible.
At least, amid all this death, I will be able to see you at Driftmark.
Nyke jikagon ñuha jorrāelagon (I send my love),
Aemond
Queen Alicent looked at the half dozen letters clasped in her hand. They were fairly thick and alternated between the black seal of House Targaryen and the blue seal of House Velaryon. Small childlike scrawl confirmed that in the short time they had been parted, her son and Princess Jaedys had written desperately to one another. While the seals remained intact, she had a sneaking suspicion that the man before her had managed to read their contents nonetheless. After what he had done to his own brother and father, she would never underestimate him again.
"I thank you for your discretion in this matter, Lord Larys," she said stiffly.
He nodded from the seat across from her, "Of course, Your Grace. It is my pleasure to see my Queen's desires carried out as you well know. This friendship your son has with my niece…the love they hold, though a bud still, is like wildfire waiting to ignite. It poses too great a danger to let bloom."
"I couldn't agree more," she said taking another sip of her wine.
"Will you destroy them?" he asked curiously. She looked down at her lap. Already feeling tainted at betraying her son's trust by intercepting his most tender thoughts, she was not sure she could bring herself to see them burned.
"I will keep them," she said simply, "I'm sure when they see each other at Driftmark they will assume it was a mistake on the part of the ravens."
He smiled simply, "I would advise you against letting such pretty words continue to exist, but it is of course Your Grace's decision."
"As always, your counsel is most appreciated," she said setting down her cup of wine, "But I fear the hour is growing late and we must leave early for Driftmark on the morrow as the King commands." She looked at him expectantly, but he did not move. With a knowing look in his eye, he set aside his cane.
"Surely our business is not concluded just yet, Your Grace," he said softly. She felt her blood grow cold, her mind blank in panic. She could insist that she was too tired, had drunk too much wine. If she were truly desperate, she could call on Ser Criston just outside the door. Were she still the girl she had been, empowered by her friendship to the headstrong young Princess, she might have had the courage to say no. Yet she had yielded so many other things to get to this point, what was one more? She slowly leaned forward and began to roll down her stockings.