𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 • Jacaerys Velaryon

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟔: 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥

A few days have passed since her stroll with Jace. The two have had more conversations since then and Renva was starting to think about accepting Princess Rhaenyras marriage proposal for her and Jace. Renva had been attending training with the boys and shockingly, Ser Criston was eager to witness how much the two Stark children knew about fighting. Cole had paired up Renva and Aegon a few times, all resulting in the young Stark to lay Aegon flat in the dirt. Renva was just finishing up getting ready after her training session when she heard a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" Renva asked, putting her hairbrush down on the small table next to her bed. Walking towards the door she heard a voice respond, "It is I, Lady Stark, Queen Alicent." Renva felt her blood drain. The past week that they have stayed at the RedKeep Renva could count on one hand how many times she had seen the Queen. Now here she was, at Renva's temporary chambers. Knowing it was bad to leave the Queen waiting, Renva responded, "Come in your grace." Renva opened the door stepping aside to allow the Queen to enter.

"Please sit your Grace, what do I owe the pleasure?" Renva said pointing to the sofa for Alicent to sit down on. Choosing to sit opposite her she felt an odd feeling near the Queen and she couldn't put her finger on exactly what it was.

"I wanted to have a small chat, Renva. Is that okay with you?" Alicent said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Of course your grace, what would you like to talk about?" Renva asked, digging her left thumb into her right palm, a habit she had when she was nervous. "I know that you've spent some time with Prince Jacaerys, how come you have not spent time with my son, Prince Aemond. He is who you originally came here for, was he not?" Renva gathered that Alicient was accusing her of using the proposal as a means of getting closer to the throne. She knew the former Hightower was power hungry but she didn't know she would go this far as to accuse House Stark of such things.

"My intentions were to form a relationship with Aemond, but ever since I won in our sparring match on the training ground the second day I was here. He has not spoken to me, I fear that I overstepped but I will not sit aside as a woman who has fought hard to get the opportunities I have. It took a lot of begging to get my father to allow Cregan to train me." Renva spoke sternly to the Queen. The shock on the Queen's face showed no child has ever spoken to her like that before, especially one not of her own blood. "I see, well I shall have a talk with my son. I bid you a good day Lady Stark." The Queen stood up abruptly and walked out of Renvas chambers. She released a sigh she didn't know she was holding. A moment or so after the Queen left her father had stormed into the room.

"What happened with the Queen?" Rickon spoke with ferocity. Renva explained the conversation she had with the queen moments before. "She was accusing us of using her?" Rickon stroked his beard and wrinkled his eyebrows. "I think it is time we leave. I do not like the assumptions being thrown at my family and I will not stand for it." Rickon spoke urgently, "Find your brother, and pack your things. I will ready transportation." He was gone before Renva could respond.

She ran through the halls of the castle, trying not to cry while finding her brother. Instead of finding her brother, she literally ran into the future Queen of the Seven Kingdoms.

"Renva, are you okay? Your face is beat red. Did someone hurt you?" Rhaenyra spoke as she took the girl's head into her hands to examine her face. "I am truly sorry your grace, I know you are with child and I don't know what I would've done had I hurt you." Renva let out a strangled breath. "You are fine Renva, where are you going in such a hurry though?" Renva was nervous to tell Rhaenyra, but she could see from the determination on the Princess's face that she wouldn't believe anything but the truth. "My family and I are leaving. My father sent me to retrieve my brother but I cannot find him." Renva said softly, crying to the Princess. Rhaenyra let one hand slip from Renva's face. "What happened to cause this? I thought your family was enjoying themselves? Did the Queen ask you to leave?" Rhaenyra felt fury rise inside her.

"No she would never, my father took an accusation she said to me to heart and doesn't want to stay. He is readying transport. Before we leave I believe he is going to tell the Queen we reject their offer for my marriage to Prince Aemond." Renva spoke, squeezing Rhaenyras hand that slipped from her face to reassure the Princess that it was by her fathers will and not of the Queens.

"You're leaving?" Renva whipped around, more tears falling from her eyes at seeing Jaces heartbroken face. Renva never wanted to hurt anyone and here she was breaking the heart of someone she deeply cared for. It took Renva a moment to realize that her brother was with Jace. "I don't want to leave but it is my fathers wishes. Ranvir, father, wants us to pack now. He wants to leave before nightfall." Renva said, looking at her brother, wiping the tears that had fallen onto the sleeve of her gown.

"Can we talk for a moment Renva?" Jace pleaded, Rhaenyra saw just how much her son didn't want the young Stark to leave. " Of course, you can accompany my brother and I to our chamber. We really must start packing." Renva said, latching arms with her brother for comfort and turning to walk back towards their chambers. "I will come as well. I would like to hear the full story on what has transpired." Rhaenyra said, placing a hand on her eldests shoulder for comfort. No one spoke until the doors to the chamber closed behind them.

"Why do we have to leave?" Ranvir started, which led Renva to explain the conversation had with the Queen. Rhaenyra was just as furious as Rickon. The Queen practically ambushed the young Stark and said she was using the crown. "So that's it? You're all leaving?" Jace said, picking at his nails. "I don't want to go, Jace, you must believe me, but I cannot go against my father." Renva said, going up to Jace and lifting his head with her hands. Once his head was lifted his eyes met hers and his wall finally broke. Jace let out a strangled cry, trying his best not to let his emotions get the best of him. When his eyes met Renvas he saw how much she didn't want to leave, "I'm sorry Jace." Renva said and wrapped her arms around his middle bringing him into a hug. She knew it was unladylike but before she left she needed him to know how much he meant to her. Jace hugged her back, both of them burying their heads into one another's shoulders.

In that moment, Rhaenyra saw just how much the Queen's actions hurt her son and the girl she grew to care for. Rhaenyra had formulated a plan at that exact time; once the Starks returned to Winterfell she would send a raven. Asking the Starks for permission for her and her family to visit. She would not let Alicent ruin other things she loved again.