the sun and the moon

four

Daenys felt sappy. Looking at Jacaerys as he walked by her side, arm entwined with hers, she was immensely grateful they had time together. She didn't know how long he would be in King's Landing for, she assumed not for very long. No amount of time with him would be long enough for her.

Daenys and Jace stopped to grab some food from the kitchens. Some bread, cheese and an apple to share. Wrapping it all up, the pair quietly made their way outside, and settled down by the weirwood tree. The sun had begun to lower itself into the horizon, allowing for the arrival of the moon in the coming hours. Daenys and Jacaerys sat in silence as they watched the sky's show. While sitting and basking in the beauty of the moment, Jace ripped off a piece of bread and handed it to the princess.

He turned to face her, "Has it been so terribly unbearable without me here?" Daenys knew he was teasing.

"Yes." She said seriously, turning to him so he could see she meant it. She bit into her bread and turned to look back at the setting sun. Jace sat stunned but only for a moment. A large grin slid its way onto his face.

"Princess, you flatter me." He responded, his tone once again teasing.

"Don't let it get to your head. Wouldn't want it to get any bigger would we?" Jace let out a loud bark of laughter at that.

"I've missed you so terribly. No one bullies me quite like you do." He said in response.

"That's surprising. I thought for sure Luke would have picked up some good insults to use with all the time we three spent together." She smirked at him and bumped their shoulders together.

"How has it been here since we left? So much has changed I can only imagine." Jacaerys thought out loud before biting into the bread.

"It has been..." the girl paused for a moment, trying to find the right word, "hectic." Daenys nodded, more so to herself in agreement. "I haven't seen Daeron since he was very young, he was sent off to Oldtown many years ago for his studies or so I am told. Aegon's changed into this beast. I can barely stand to look at him for very long anymore. And Aemond. You saw him yourself. He hasn't been the same since..." She trailed off, looking at her hands. The young princess took in a big breath and then let it out. "Many things have changed and I feel as though I have no power to stop any of it."

Jacaerys grabbed Daenys' hand to hold with his own, and rubbed his thumb across it, hoping to bring her comfort. She leaned against him.

"I wish life could be simple again." He finally responded in a whisper.

"Me too." She answered back.

"My mother told me Luke and Rhaena are to be betrothed. She said it would convince Princess Rhaenys to support Luke's claim." The boy stated.

With this news, Daenys sat upright, eyes wide as she turned to look into Jace's eyes. "She said nothing of you? Or of Baela?" Her eyebrows were furrowed. Jace almost laughed at her worry filled expression.

"She said nothing of me or of Baela. As far as I know, I am not betrothed." He gave the girl a cheeky smile before adding "Yet." Daenys gave him a shove and turned her back to him, mostly to hide her red face.

"Wow Princess! Since when were your ears such a bright red?" Jacaerys laughed. Daenys' hands flew at a remarkable speed to cover her warm ears, her back still facing him.

"I should have your tongue for all this teasing" The reddened princess murmured. Jace let out another huff of laughter.

"Forgive me my dear Princess." He jokingly pleaded, leaning forward to grab both of her hands off her ears to turn the girl back around to face him. "I think your red ears are lovely." Daenys couldn't help the tratorious smile that crawled its way onto her face. She still shoved him away and crossed her arms defiantly.

"In all honesty, I am not quite sure why my mother spoke nothing of betrothing me and Baela. It would strengthen Princess Rhaenys' loyalties to her. Perhaps she has other plans for me." Jace spoke more seriously, his eyes flitted up her look at the girl for a quick moment before bringing them back to focus on the sky.

Daenys studied the way Jacaerys' face looked to be almost relieved. "Has your mother announced their betrothal yet?" She asked. The boy shook his head in response. "I assume it will be announced on the morrow. Perhaps after the matter of Driftmark is resolved." Daenys thought of what the next day might bring.

"I have a good feeling about the petitions. Luke will be reaffirmed as the legitimate heir because he is such. It should never have been under such question. That small counsel has been acting very questionably in recent days. I can only imagine the things going through their small minded heads."

Jacaerys and Daenys sat there, softly smiling at each other. The sun had long since set when they had both finished their food. The Princess and the Prince didn't want to part with each other just yet and so they continued to lean against one another, pointing out whatever stars they knew as the sky grew dark and the moon made her entrance. Servants who caught sight of the pair would surely talk of the way Prince Jacaerys' eyes looked toward their Princess. Those eyes held no secrets of the immense love he held for Princess Daenys. Not a single person in all of Westeros was blind to that fact.

It wasn't until Daenys' eyes grew heavy that Jace stood, holding his hand out to aid the Princess in standing so they could retire for the night. Arm in arm, the pair made their way into the Keep, walking slowly.

"I know that I have said this a considerable amount already, but I am really glad you are here Jace." Her eyes were half closed as she said this. With each step she took, she leaned a bit more into the boy, ready to fall asleep at any given moment.

"I am glad I am here too. Any amount of time away from you feels like a lifetime has passed." He whispered into her ear. Daenys shut her eyes as they stopped in the corridor, drinking in the way the Princes' breath fanned across her ear, the way he smelled, the way he pressed his shoulder against her own. Her heart skipped a beat as she opened her eyes. Their faces were no more than a few inches away. If anyone were to ask Daenys how long they stayed that way for, just gazing into one another's eyes, she wouldn't be able to tell them. It could have been only a few short moments or it could have been hours. It wasn't until a door closed particularly loudly a hallway away that they both came to their senses. The Prince and Princess straightened up and finished their walk.

"Goodnight my Princess, I wish you the sweetest dreams." Jacaerys bid her once they reached her quarters. He gently grabbed her hand and raised it to his lips. His kiss lingered for a second or two longer than it probably should have but Daenys would never complain about such ministrations. She could tell he was reluctant to drop her hand.

"Goodnight my Prince." She responded, face burning red but grinning nonetheless.

As soon as Daenys shut her door, her legs gave out, causing her to slide down to the floor. In something almost akin to desperation, the Princess brought one hand to her flushed cheeks in hopes of cooling her warm face off and the other hand went to her heart, willing it to slow. Jacaerys Velaryon would be the death of her and Daenys didn't see that as a problem in the slightest.