Rhaella Targaryen always knew that there was more behind her mother's death than what she was told. Alysanne was a healthy, strong woman, and yet she was gone in a couple of days because of a mysterious illness. Rhaella was only a child when the tra...
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DRAGONSTONE
134 AC
“THE CONQUEROR AND HIS SISTERS SAILED WITH A GREAT ARMY” Jace quickly translated the words of the Maester. Rhaella smiled proudly, he had gotten a lot better at High Valyrian in the last couple of years, but he still struggled with some words. “And landed at the Blackwater Rush” he added, after the Maester pronunce another sentence.
The Room of the Painted Table was the main host of Jace's lessons ― as well as the ones of the other children. However, that morning it was only Jace and Rhaella. Joffrey was also there, not because he was part of the lesson ― he was still learning about the origins of High Valyrian, and about a few fundamental words ― but because he refused to play in every place in which Rhaella wasn't.
Truth to be told, not even Rhaella was truly a part of the lesson. She had learned High Valyrian at the Red Keep and had had a lot of time to study it very well ― all the days she spent closed up in the chambers were worth of something, at least. But she enjoyed spending time with Jace, and she knew he liked to have her there as well.
Rhaenyra usually came to visit during the lessons, to understand the progress of her children, and that day was no exception. She walked down the stairs, her hands on her swollen belly ― the baby wasn't going to be born anytime soon, but Rhaella already felt excited at the idea of a new pair of little feet wandering around the Castle.
Rhaenyra greeted her with a gentle smile, then proceeded to ask Jace about a word. Unfortunately, he didn't got it right. Rhaella felt bad, because he truly put a lot of effort in it ― he just had some issue with languages, they seemed not to be his thing. He was much more great in history and war strategy.
“Perhaps that's enough for this morning” Rhaenyra suggested, as Jace struggled to translate a new sentence pronounced by the Maester.
“No, no, I want to keep going” he insisted. “Maester?”
The men did as Jace asked, delivering another sentence. Rhaella got up from her spot on the floor next to Joffrey and Barra, the nurse, and took a few steps towards the table.
“Aegon... ordered that the trees should be... killed” Jace proudly said, opening his arms in satisfaction.
Rhaenyra looked over at Rhaella, who came up next to Jace and placed an hand around his arm. “Ella?”
“Felled” she said. “It is a related word” she explained, placing a kiss on Jace's cheek. His gaze fell down, obviously disappointed by the fact he wasn't able to get it correctly.
“I don't expect you to learn High Valryian in a day, Jace” Rhaenyra said reassuringly, as Rhaella squeezed his arm softly.
“A King should honor the tradition of his forebears” he declared firmly. Rhaella loved how devoted his was to this matter ― which was the reason why it seemes even more absurd to her that he had been willing to give up on it all, just for her.
