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

31. I Didn't

"Bye... Raven soon." Ara requested hugging Luke and Jace goodbye. "I will miss you." 

"Come visit." Luke begged. "We talk about you all the time, Daemon is annoyed he wanted to meet you formally apparently." Jace rolled his eyes. Jace didnt know what Daemons infatuation with Ara was but it wasnt because she was Daemon's niece. It wasnt because of his love for Viserys. Looking at ara now jace had half the mind to think that Daemon wanted to steal his precious Ara from Jace. She was certainly beautiful. But Jace also thought it might be Daemon's obsession with power. Wanting Ara's power. 

 "And Joffrey doesnt remember you since he was just a baby when you left." Luke finished. 

"I didnt leave." Ara reminded him. 

"She stayed." Jace agreed stiffly. 

"You left." Ara agreed staring back at him and she felt this distance even though he stood right in front of her. This wall, as though he was a different person, or maybe she was a different person. She was a different person. 

"All I had to do was stay right?" Jace recalled. She stepped forward kissing his cheek. 

"Have a safe flight. I will see if I can visit soon." Ara remarked. 

"I love you." Jace whispered kissing her. She relaxed into him, while she did so, Aemond tensed. 

"Love ya." Ara whispered. "Have a safe flight," She repeated hugging Luke again. 

"Come and visit I miss you." Luke declared. 

"I miss you too." Ara assured. 

"Raven more." Luke added. 

"Yeah, I think your ravens were getting lost." Jace agreed wanting to believe the words. 

"I will write more." Ara agreed. "I'm getting better at it too. I didnt want to have to keep asking Aemond and mama to write it for me... I'm sorry."

"The words dont jump around anymore?" Jace pondered. 

"No, they do... they do jump around." Ara corrected. "By my script is legible now. Aemond helps me. We study every day... and even on days I dont want to. He is very mean." Ara teased smiling back at Aemond. 

"Dont let him bully you." Jace offered not wanting to let go. He wanted to have these moments with Ara. Helping her, guiding her... one day even loving her. He supposed he would have to wait a while for that. 

+

Jace was a mess the whole flight, he should not have looked back. He should not have looked down because Ara was hugging Aemond, her laugh echoed as Aemond pulled her to him. 

Had he lost her? How was he supposed to keep his girl if she was another kingdom, falling for another man, that was all over her. 

So when he landed Luke was blabbering happily about their trip while Jace stomped off to his room.

"Good visit?" Rhaenyra questioned but Jace shoved past her. 

"It was great. Oh we met our cousin Davina and her husband, he's a prince too." Luke informed her. 

"What's wrong with Jace?" Rhaenyra questioned. 

"I dont know, misses Ara already?" Luke pondered. 

+

 "Hey about the other night..." ara questioned as Jace and LUke flew off.  "I wanted to... I meant to... see you but... are you okay?" 

"Yeah, I'm great." Aemond agreed. "it was a long time ago. I have moved on." At least he was trying to. 

"I wanted to check on you but..."

"I get it Ara." Aemond assured. "It's fine." 

"It's not though. I dont want you to think... I dont... I just..." She couldnt find the words. "I'm such an idiot..." 

"You are not." Aemond corrected. "It was just a blip."

"Was it though-"

"Then what was it?" Aemond questioned. 

"I dont know." Ara whimpered. Aemond shrugged smiling back at her. "Would you stop being so understanding and just yell at me and tell me what you want!" Ara begged. 

"Stop being so mean or I swear to god im going to fall in love with you." Aemond declared pulling Ara to him.

"I'm not being mean. I'm being honest." Ara corrected laughing into his chest. "Fall in love?" Ara questioned, Aemond chuckled holding to her. 

+

"Ara said she would love me forever." Jace whispered.

"Oh Jace, women love saying that." Daemon remarked with a laugh. "They think its fun. "

"Ara meant it. "

"Sorry." Daemon offered awkwardly. "Ah, Rhaenyra your children are..." He waved a hand at Jace as he got up. "Moody, hormonal. I don't deal with teenage emotions." Daemon pat her back as he passed. 

"Thanks Daemon, really helpful." Rhaenyra agreed glaring back at him. 

Her idea of Daemon, this perfect man she thought he was, well the reality was worse than the fantasy she had built up in her mind about him. He always seemed so perfect and mysterious. He was worldly and she wanted him. He was timeless but just like he never stayed in the capital for long he grew bored of dragonstone and Rhaenyra's children. Rhaenyra hoped they would have a child soon. That his own heir would make him stay longer but it had not stuck yet. So she needed to focus on her children.

Right now that meant a wounded Jace, heartbroken thinking he lost his girl.