All You Had To Do Was Stay // Aemond Targaryen// Jacaerys Velaryon

21. What's the Magic Word?

Ara had started a letter to Jace, she had quite a few scrolls waiting for her when she got home but she couldnt open them. She had too much on her mind. Too many distractions. 

Daeron coming home within the fortnight was one of them. He came back for the wedding and was gone again but this time he was staying. 

"Hey," Aemond was another distraction. But a welcomed distraction. Ara spun around beaming back at him. 

"Hi." Ara said as she stood up moving to him. "What's that smile for?"

"We are making a tree house." Aemond decided. Ara nodded eagerly as he grabbed her hand pulling her down the halls. Alicent heard their laughter and peered out seeing Ara and Aemond, all smiles. 

"A better match for our Aranyani." Otto remarked. 

"I agree." Alicent answered watching them until they disappeared and listened until their laughter faded as they got outside. "Ara was always to in love with Jace but maybe it wasnt love. He was her best friend. She needed the distance to see a better option, a real suitor, a contender for her heart." 

+

"Maybe she didnt get it." Luke offered, Jace gave him a pointed look. "Maybe her ravens got lost." Luke countered. 

"Maybe leaving her there has made her forget about me!" Jace corrected. "She's the love of my life and I just left. I should have stayed." 

"And left me alone with Daemon?" Luke countered shaking his head. 

"I would be with ara." Jace murmured. 

"And what am I? Chopped liver?" Luke pondered glaring back at him. 

"No. I'm sorry. I just miss her. I wish she would write me back." Jace murmured. 

"Try and be more romantic." Luke offered. 

"How?" Jace countered. He didnt know why he was considering taking advice from his younger brother. 

"Well... Lets ask Baela." 

"Forget her." Was Baela's answer and Jace couldnt believe her. "She has probably moved on and forgotten all about you." Baela agreed with herself. "Move on... I'm right here." She offered taking a step closer. 

"No. No. I love Ara." Jace corrected. 

+

Aemond held to her hand as they went outside, he couldnt stop smiling back at her. She really was beautiful. 

"Forests are considered to be the home of your energy, of your forest goddess." Aemond recalled. "So what better place for a tree house then among where you are most powerful." 

"You are so smart. I say it all the time." Ara declared. 

"Now we can do this the hard way or the Ara way." Aemond offered. 

"Ara way." She agreed. 

"I was thinking this tree would be a good spot." Aemond remarked and Ara put her hand on the tree. 

"Are you okay with being a sanctuary?" Ara questioned running a hand over the roots. Aemond watched her patiently. "Know that if you agree you will be the coolest tree ever and everyone will- every other tree," Ara corrected. "And well everyone that sees you will be so jealous because you are going to be even more beautiful." Aemond cocked his head as he stared back at her. Ara turned to Aemond a big smile on her face. 

"It agreed. Go time." Ara declared. Aemond didnt understand he didnt think he ever would but he nodded eagerly. Ara turned back to the tree pulling the bark, splitting the wood, forming and molding it. She took a step back panting out. 

"This is a lot of work." Ara remarked. 

"Let me help." Aemond remarked moving to the partially molded out tree house. "Would it be alright if I make some cuts?" He felt strange asking but he knew the connection Ara had with the earth he didnt want to offend her or hurt her. 

"Yes, mark away." Ara agreed sitting back on the ground, her arms stretched out to her sides feeling the grass and soil beneath her as Aemond started carving out windows. Lightning bugs filled the sky and they still were not done yet. 

"You dont think anyone would take it do you?" Ara questioned. 

"Take our partially done tree house which looks like a tree ball? No I think we are safe until tomorrow." Aemond agreed holding onto her hand as they headed back to the castle. 

"I have to do something." Ara remarked pulling away from Aemond. 

"Arent you hungry? I'm starving." Aemond offered not wanting to let go. 

"I need to write a letter a Jace. I havent in a while." Ara corrected. "Before I forget again." 

"I can write it for you." Aemond offered still holding onto her hand. 

"Thank you Aemond. You are the best brother ever." Ara declared "And I swear one of these days my script will look better and you wont have to." 

"It's okay. I dont mind." Aemond offered but he did. He didnt want her still pining over Jace. Jace was far away. Aemond wanted her to love him too. But as he started writing the letter it was all about him. Aemond smiled back at him as he sealed it and Ara stamped it down. Smiling as the wax hardened. 

"Thanks Aemond."

"Of course." Aemond agreed feeling a lot better now that he knew Ara's letter was her telling Jace all about the tree house they were making. 

+

"Raven!" Luke declared and Jace leapt up, tripping over the couch before sprinting to him.

"GIVE ME!" Jace demanded. 

"Whats the magic word?" Luke countered. 

"Give it to me squirt." jace demanded snatching it from him. 

"Please would have sufficed." Luke corrected as Jace broke the seal. 

~Jace, I miss you. I have so much so show you once we see each other again. But Aemond is keeping me company, we are even making a tree house in the woods. Is that not so cool! You can see it next time you come. We spent all day in the woods working on it. ~

"What's that face for?" Luke questioned. 

"Nothing." Jace murmured. 

"What's it say?" 

~Aemond is even making all these pretty designs in the wood, he's really talented, he even put our initials in the base as well, which is still AT and AT but its cute. As though to mark that it is ours. We can add JV when you came back! Ara~

"Ours." Jace whispered. "She's still mine."