the sun and the moon

one

Sometimes Daenys really hated her family. They had a tendency to be loud and quite messy. Maybe it was because she was just more quiet and calculative than them that she thought that way. Born third, after her eldest brother Aegon and her older sister Helaena and just before her younger brothers Aemond and Daeron, it seems as though she was destined to be overlooked. When people gaze at the young Targaryens, their eyes tend to skip over her as if she is not there. It has never truly bothered Daenys; if anything it is preferred. Less expectations and duties are pushed on her this way.

Though most people don't see her, there have always been those eyes. Those beautiful eyes that never strayed too far from her. If there was one thing Daenys Targaryen knew to be completely the truth, it was that Jacaerys Velaryon had the most beautiful eyes in all of Westeros. Even in her youth, growing up alongside him she always held so much appreciation for his eyes. When gazing upon her, those eyes held only kindness and maybe a bit of something else Daenys could never place.

Daenys and Jacaerys shared much of their youth. They had grown up together until that one fated night. The night when she was shaken awake by her sister and told there was an accident. That night, Aemond lost his eye to Lucerys Velaryon. Tension had always run high, but that night everything exploded and it seemed like Daenys was on clean up duty.

Not long after the "eye incident" Jacaerys' mother, Princess Rhaenyra, Daenys' half sister, had packed up and taken her children to live at Dragonstone. Far away from the injured Aemond, far away from Queen Alicent, and far away from Daenys. People say absence only makes the heart grow fonder. The young girl could only hope those people knew what they were talking about. 6 or so years have since passed, yet there he stood. Those eyes were finally back, gazing at her once again.

She had overheard her grandfather, the hand, discuss how Princess Rhaenyra and her family were to be received upon their arrival and decided to go and greet them herself. All she could do as she waited in front of the massive front doors was pick at her nails and fiddle with her rings. Once their carriages drew close and came to a stop, Daenys brushed off her dress and forced down her nerves. As Princess Rhaenyra and her Prince Consort Daemon were announced, the young girl stepped forward to greet them.

"Sister, Uncle, how great it is to see you again!" Daenys exclaimed, stepping forward to take Rhaenyra's hands into her own. "I hope the trip was not too tiring for you both." She added, glancing down at her sister's swollen stomach.
"I'm happy to see you are well, dear sister." Rhaenyra's hands held her sisters in return as her eyes drifted to her old home behind the younger girl. With no one else there to receive them, the eldest sister turned her eyes back to Daenys, only to find her distracted with something behind her. A quick look confirmed Rhaenyra's suspicions, finding her eldest's eyes locked onto the young girl. The doors then opened and Lord Caswell rushed up, grabbing the newly returned Princess' hands as her sister did not long before.

As Princess Rhaenyra and Lord Caswell exchanged greetings and walked inside with Daemon following, Daenys let out a breath she'd been holding as she walked towards the remaining members of the family.

"Welcome back" she eventually forced out. Her hands flew back together and she began fiddling with her rings once more. The awkwardness of the situation was forgotten once Rhaena stepped forward and embraced Daenys. She reveled in the familiarity of it. The young princess, after wrapping her arms around her cousin, allowed herself to look back into his eyes. Jacaerys Velaryon's beautiful eyes. She smiled at him, almost out of relief. He was finally back. Her eyes then turned to his brothers. Stood at his side was Lucerys who wouldn't meet her gaze. Next to Luke was who Daenys could only guess was little Joffery. Quickly sending a small wave to the youngest Velaryon, she broke away from her cousin to look up at her.

"I've missed you terribly, cousin." Rhaena said, smiling at her.

"And I you." After returning the smile, Daenys looked back at the boys. Stepping up in front of Luke, he still refused to meet her eyes. With a huff of feigned annoyance, the girl mirrored her cousin's previous actions, pulling Lucerys into a hug.

"Too old to give your aunt a hug Luke?" She teased. The boy could have cried of relief. All the worry he's held onto for years left his body in that moment with only a few words.

"I thought you would have hated me after what happened" he said shakily.

Daenys pulled back from the hug to look him in the eye. "I could never hate you Luke." Giving him one last squeeze before pulling away, she looked him up and down.

"It's so good to see you again. You've grown so much since I last saw you." Daenys said.

"Time will do that to you I suppose." Lucerys responded, smirking up at her.

"Glad to know you haven't changed." She shot back, ruffling his hair before finally stepping in front of Jace.

All Daenys could think about was how beautiful Jacaerys was and how much she had missed him. When he smiled at her, she thought she'd die. How could anyone have such an amazing smile?

"You're taller." She stated, breathlessly. Jacaerys only chuckled in response. He reached out, grabbed Daenys by the waist and pulled her to him. Her hands went up to his chest to brace herself while his own were placed around her back and at the nape of her neck. Pulling her into his embrace, Jace only felt bliss in that moment. Here she was, finally in his arms. Those six long years seemed to melt away. It was almost as if they were never apart. Laying her forehead onto Jacaerys' shoulder, Daenys could only melt further into the long overdue embrace.

"I'd rather die than have to spend another minute away from you." Jace whispered to her.

"I have to agree. I missed you so much Jace." She whispered back. He tightened his hold on her before slowly letting go. Daenys was sure both she and Jace's faces would be sore from the massive grins they both held. Holding his arm out for her to take, Daenys and Jace both began making their way inside with Lucerys and Rhaena in tow. Behind the two, Luke gave his cousin a knowing look.

Leaning into Jacaerys, Daenys spoke in a low tone. "I'm absolutely elated you're all here, I only wish it was under better circumstances. I hope Luke hasn't been too worried about it all."

"He worries too much of what others think. Once we reaffirm his claim to the driftmark throne, that'll sure quiet those who question our legitimacy." He responded as they walked through the massive doors.

"Redecorated I see, '' Luke said sarcastically, looking around the dark room.

"Unfortunately so. My mother has become quite a faithful follower of The Seven in recent years" The girl responded, looking around as though it was her first time seeing the new decor. "A lot has changed since you've last been here." She added in a regretful tone. Before Daenys could get too lost in her head, Jacaerys pressed his side to hers, pulling her out of her thoughts. In truth, this moment between Daenys, Jace, Luke and Rhaena is the happiest thing these cold walls have seen in years. The princess could only smile and hope this happiness would last.