Chapter Two
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Royal Welcome
279 AC
Their trip to King's Landing was quite long. It wasn't boring, but rather a needed time that Janei spent with her father and foster brothers before she would be leaving them for at least two or three years.
She didn't know how long her stay at the castle would be, assuming when she is found a suitable husband.
Even if it excited her, she was still very happy about meeting the ladies that came from different parts of Westeros.
She choose to be in a carriage when they arrived at King's Landing, as her father found it more proper of a lady to be seen sitting in a carriage than on a horse. Janei agreed, not wanting to give King and Queen the wrong impression of herself.
As expected, the Arryns, one Stag, and one Wolf were welcome by the Dragons. The King looked older than his actual age. The Queen was hiding her beauty with her husband's shadow, holding her younger son closely and dearly by her side. And the Crown Prince, Rhaegar, the one who is to be wed.
When they made a respectable gesture to the royal family, Janei couldn't help but stare at Prince's eyes. There was something very captivating about him. His face was pale, but not sickly, it looked almost like polished silver. In the dark, she probably wouldn't spot the difference. " Does it feel like silver? " she wondered secretly.
Prince greeted both Stark and Baratheon, stepping by Lord Arryn and his daughter. When he moved towards her, their eyes met for a brief moment, it felt almost magical. The sea of her blue crashed into his dark indigo eyes, leaving them both needing each other's eye contact.
" Did that happen? What was it? It feels so unusual. " She wasn't the least bit involved in the conversation that was going around her.
" Lady Janei. " A maiden with a light smile approached her. " I will lead you to your room and then you shall meet Princess Elia sometime later. " You nodded, giving a quick look to your father, remembering you will see him at the dinner.
Sparing a glance at Rhaegar, Janei caught him looking away from her. The maid let Janei follow her around the long hall, eventually opening the doors of her new room.
" My Lady, this is where you will be staying for now. " Another maid joined the two of them soon with her things.
When she settled, one of the maids went on to tell Princess Elia of her arrival while the other one stayed with her, helping with the dress she was to wear.
The blue dress fitted her nicely, it was one of the dresses given by her deceased stepmother that she gave the girl prior to her passing. She did leave her stepdaughter quite a lot of her dresses and jewellery, for which the girl are very thankful.
" Princess Elia expects you, m'Lady " The maids hurriedly presented the Arryn girl in front of the princess. She had this natural beauty to her. All her life Janei has seen ladies with pale skin, blue eyes, and brown hair, which were considered the most beautiful features of a woman's face. But Princess Elia had darker skin, she was slender, black eyes pointed at her. And even if she wasn't anything like the women Janei knew, she was without a thought beautiful.
" Your Highness, Princess Elia, this is Lady Janei of the Eyrie. " The younger woman bowed gently, lifting the side of her dress up, before letting it go. Looking at the princess, she saw the warm smile on her face, no judgment cast on it, only blessed by pure kindness.
" Well, I am pleased to meet you, Lady Janei. " Elia nodded to her. The princess's hand invited Janei to sit beside her. The two lead a conversation and Janei couldn't help, but stare into Elia's dark eyes. She passionately talked about her home, the hot rising sun she so much enjoyed, and the long desserts, often mentioning her younger brother Oberyn with whom she seemed to be close.
" Your home seems to be very beautiful and sunny, I would love to get the chance to see it. " The princess dragged a captivating smile across her lips.
" I hope to come back to it once, if we happen to meet there in the future, I would be delighted to show you the sweetest of places in Dorne. " Janei couldn't help but actually wish to step in Dorne. It had its own freedom and darling shine to it, so different from the mountains that kept Janei away from the world.
" I would love it too. " The conversation was dropped with her question. " How do you like it here so far? " She glanced in front of her, viewing the garden before continuing. " I have been welcomed nicely by the Queen, had a brief interaction with my...um Prince Rhaegar, and had the opportunity to enjoy the gardens which are quite amusing. " She seems nervous to speak of her soon-to-be in-laws and anything to her new, which is understandable.
" Yes, the Queen appears to be very kind. " Janei remarked, getting approval from Elia. " Very. "
" The prince isn't so bad either. " At her words, she almost bit her tongue. She just said to the prince's future wife, that she admires her soon-to-be husband. Elia could take her words to such meaning. " I mean he is quiet and looks polite. " She hoped to save the situation with more explanation. But it seemed like Elia didn't give her comment a thought, she just nodded, blinking sadly.
" I don't think he is bad either. Hopefully, he would be a good husband as well. " She quietly glanced at her hands, that we put together from the moment Janei sat down. " I am sure you will find happiness in your marriage. " The brown-haired girl reassuringly spoke. It was highly unlikely that was true, many arranged marriages didn't end up in such ways. Yet you never know what could come out of it. Perhaps love, good friendship or something less pleasing to Elia's heart.
" Time will tell. " They confirmed, viewing each other. " I think I found a great friend in you, Lady Janei. "
" I believe I meet one in you as well, Princess Elia. " The mutual looks of newly found comfort meet in the eyes of Dorne's sun and Eyrie's moon, shining at the other.
The two ladies that escorted Janei came in for them both, bowing before Elia. " Your Highness. M'Lady. The dinner is soon to begin. "
The women walked down the halls until stopping at Janei's room where they parted, expecting to see each other soon enough.
A/n: Just to explain something before someone accuses me of racism, there is nothing wrong with Elia's skin, it is just Janei meeting a woman who has a different appearance than her as most of Westeros has white lords/ladies, and she is just meeting her for the first time and when characters do that they speak their mind and point out if there is something that they are not used to seeing. Janei is not racist, she is just meeting the world and new people that she had never been able to until now. I hope I made it clear that my intentions were not to insult anyone or offend, if you have any questions please ask before you argue, thank you for reading and enjoy the rest of your day/night!
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Honourable Maiden, Rhaegar Targaryen
Hayran Kurgu" As high as honour are your words. Aren't you supposed to be that? Honourable. " Rhaegar Targaryen x OC
