Bound by Blood and Oaths

Chapter 30: Extending A Helping Hand

Driftmark

Jacaerys walked through the garden that was practically nature by now. It lay outside the castle and was not tended to do as any garden on the mainland. Many lords of Driftmark did not have the money for it and others actually favoured this kind of serenity. Jacaerys was one of them. Nature is more calming than well-trimmed hedges and neatly arranged flowerbeds, he thought.

With his fingers, he played with a scroll he received in the morning. One from his dear old liege lord Stannis. Whatever the man is or was or wished to be, he is an irritating headache for Jacaerys at this point. It's even at times he plagued his dreams at night. Oh, how he wished for Stannis to fight in a hopeless battle and leave him alone. What a blessed day that would be.

As Jacaerys continued he eventually came up to his destination. A small pond with a few people present. There were a few servants to keep an eye on the small dark-haired lady. And of course, the dark-haired lady was Shireen Baratheon. The current source that caused Stannis to be a headache.

"My lord," one of the servant girls says as she rose to give the lord a bow with the others following. Shireen did the same as she gave a curtsy and a small smile.

"Please leave me with Lady Shireen. Thank you for keeping her company." The girls gave him another bow and left him alone with Shireen. Jacaerys had to admit, Shireen was not pretty. Even without Grey Scale, she would not be pretty. Be that as it may, she is a good-hearted and kind girl.

"My lady, how has your stay been so far?" Jacaerys asked as she sat down with her at the edge of the pond.

"It's different than Dragonstone. I like it here and it is nice to be out of my room. My mother would not allow me to leave very often. I thank you for the freedom, my lord."

"You're no prisoner here. I do have news for you," he continues as he held the message out to her. Shireen took it hesitantly from him as she unfurls the scroll. Her eyes went over it quickly as she let out a sigh.

"Ser Davos and my mother were apparently working on their own. I do not understand. This must be more of my mothers doing than anyone else..." Shireen says with a soft voice, her hand with the message dropping on her lap in a defeated manner. In a way, she looks more devastated and hurt than anything else.

"I don't know them well, but I can imagine they're hard and cold. Especially with a woman such as the Red Priest. Look, Shireen, I am willing to host you here for the time being. I have the means and the room. If you wish you can send word to Lord Stannis and inform him you'll be staying here. To remain safe while he wages war," Jacaerys says as she gave her shoulder a squeeze in comfort.

"Why? I am not important to you... Father even cursed your name at times due to your lack of cooperation. Why help his daughter?"

"I don't know. If anything, I guess I am just hoping to prevent another young child from dying in a war. I am a father after all. Any parent would wish to keep their children safe. Perhaps that is why."

"You're a good man, Lord Jacaerys. I will take you up on your hospitality then. Father will be furious, I imagine, but Ser Davos and mother will convince him to see the betterment in this course."

"Very well. Come, you can send word after lunch. We have fish for lunch!"

"That's what I thought..." Shireen says with a sigh.

The afternoon ticked by for the lord. It was like most days. Meetings with a few advisors, seeing how things go in Spice towns, and the most boring part; sifting through the letters. Felix does it most of the time, but Jacaerys does it too when time allows it. Let it be that it is time for just that.