BY YOUR SIDE || HOUSE OF THE DRAGON

7.

"WHEN DRAGON DREAMS COME TO LIGHT..." 

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Bowing her head in respect, Alicent watches the young Verlaryon with slightly narrowed eyes, the tiniest of frowns tugging at her lips. She had heard many whispers of the young girl. From Ladies and from her handmaidens. All of them positive, but still, more whispers than any other Lady in Court. She had thought it was because she was still 'fresh', but from the way the girl carried herself she knew that was not the case. Looking the young girl up and down, she narrows her eyes at her.

Long curly white hair decorated with tiny pearl jewels, subtle but still glamorous. Dark violet eyes that could be mistaken for blue ones, filled with so much wonder and mischief. Her rose tainted lips quirked into an all-knowing smirk. Her hands clasped onto the grayish purple skirt of her dress. Clenching her jaw tightly, she was a mini version of her Mother, Rhaenys Verlaryon, and it frightened Alicent. Rhaenys was already intimidating, now her mini version? Even more so.

"I have heard many things about you, Jocelyn Velaryon." Alicnet states coolly.

"Is it wrong for me to hope that it is all good things, your majesty?" Jocelyn questions,

"No, it's not. All of these things are of your kindness and your skills in navigating charts. Do not worry too much." Alicent smiles softly, "Tell me, what do you know of the charts?"

"Everything that there is to know. Uncle Vaemond has taught me how to chart across the seas, even in the worst of conditions. How to find ruins based on old charts." She rambles on, "Father had allowed me to chart an entire excavation one time⎯"

Watching the young girl with a gentle smile, a sense of déjà vu fills her at the passionate rambling of Jocelyn. Although she looked so much like her Mother, there was a spark of Rhaenyra in her violet eyes. A passion. A fire. There's fluttering in her chest at the feeling of déjà vu, one that she will keep close to her heart for as long as she can. 

Moments of affection and child-like playfulness regarding Rhaenyra had faded over the years. Both of them turned in separate directions as tension rose and time flew by. Blinking away the thoughts, she clears her throat loudly, wetting her lips.

"Lady Jocelyn, have you met my daughter, Helaena?" Alicent questions, "She is a few years older than you."

"No, I haven't yet. She is a few years older than me, you say?" She questions, raising a brow.

"Yes, she is." Alicent nods, "I figured that with you being the youngest of your siblings, it would be refreshing to be around a girl your age. There are not many young girls in Driftmark."

That was true to a point. But, she didn't mind the youngest of her siblings. It had its luxuries. She didn't mind being left to her own devices. The quiet was nice. Being the only young girl in Driftmark. It meant all the more attention on her. Being the only one with her parents. Extra love and gifts being handed to her. But, she couldn't deny that there was a longingness for being around her siblings. To be around someone like her. Nodding her head with a forced smile, she looks over at Helaena, the young girl sitting on the floor by the window.

Seeing no open seats for her, she finds an empty spot on the ground near Helaena, the 'strange' one of her siblings. So, she was going to be sitting on the floor. Okay. Guess, she was sitting on the floor. That's fine. Silently sitting down on the floor next to Helaena, the girl is too busy stitching something together to notice her. Raising a brow at the princess' lack of acknowledgement, there's a dazed look on her face, one that showed that she wasn't really there. Licking her bottom lip, Alicent sighs, approaching a still dazed Helaena.

"Helaena?" Alicent whispers, "Have you met Lady Jocelyn?"

"Hmm?"

"Helaena, my sweet girl." Alicent calls, "This is Lady Jocelyn. She is your sister-in-law. Come say hello."

Humming a gentle tune under her breath, she continues to stitch together her piece, obvious to the world around her. Helaena was..strange? To say the least. A lot of the Ladies in Court gossiped about the girl behind her back. The most common whispers were, 'All the years of mixing blood has messed the poor girl' and 'A sheltered baby who will crack at any moment of conflict'. So far, as cruel as it sounded, there was a hint of truth to their words.

Tilting her head to the side, she furrows her brows together, staring at the threaded mess of ribbons and silks. It was eligible until you turned your head to the side completely. Biting down on her tongue hard, she tried to be as respectful as possible, but it was a little hard to do so. She could feel Alicent's eyes drilling into her, an almost desperate look on her face. Licking her lips, she tilts her head to the side, staring at Helaena's little 'masterpiece'.

"Is that a dragonfly?" Jocelyn questions, trying not to spook the girl.

"Yes.." Helaena mummers, her voice light and dream-like.

"It's beautiful, your highness. You're really good at embroidery, I am envious of your skills. I cannot even make a single line." Jocelyn compliments, earning a bright smile from Helaena.

"Thank you." Helaena nods, "Beautiful boy he is. Your son, though he'll be gone too soon.."

Tensing up at the rather odd comment from Helaena, she tries to force a smile on her face, but it's hard. Who in the seven bloody hells says something like that? Better yet, what does that even mean? Looking over to Alicent for an answer, the older woman has a slightly distraught look on her face at Helena's odd comment. Okay, so she wasn't the only one who heard Helaena. That was a little comforting. Turning back to Helaena, she nods her head with a tense smile, struggling to find what to say next.

"Oh..um, alright." Jocelyn nods, "Do you like insects?"

"Yes, they have no worries. No fears. No duties. They are just free. Free to go wherever they wish. To do as they please." Helaena rambles, still not looking up from her embroidery.

"What kind do you like?" Jocelyn asks, trying to keep the conversation going.

"Spiders. Beetles. Butterflies. So many colors." Helaena mumbles, "So many different kinds."

Well, that's...that's an interesting answer. Sucking through her teeth, she nods her head slowly at Helaena's words, a pained smile on her face. Helaena seemed kind enough. But, she really was odd. Not to mention, it felt like pulling teeth to keep the conversation going. Clenching her jaw, she looks over at Alicent, the older woman clutching her necklace uncomfortably tight.

Offering Jocelyn a tight smile, she walks over to Helaena, crouching down the girl's level. Helaena looks up from her embroidery for the first time. There's a noticeably tense look on her face as her Mother brushes hair out of her face. Pretending to not notice the way Helaena tenses up, she shifts in her seat, playing with her skirt.

"Helaena, why don't you say good luck to Lady Jocelyn? She's going to the Dragon Pits with your brother, Aemond. Let us hope that she may claim a dragon." Alicent gentle smiles, brushing another strand of hair out of Helaena's face.

"She does not need luck." Helaena mutters, "Blue beast claims her."

"Lady Jocelyn, we wish you the best of luck. Do not mind Helaena's words, she has been known to ramble on since she was a child." Alicent cuts in, a tight smile on her face.

"It is alright, your majesty" She nods, "I've heard my fair share of odd ramblings." 

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And I am done with the chapter! Stay safe out there guys!

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