The North Remembers || Jacaerys Velaryon

6. A Dance Of Dragons

Song for this chapter: Enchanted - Taylor Swift
The song they danced to: Wrecking Ball - Midnite String Quartet

There I was again tonight, back on the dance floor.

As Jacacerys led me into the Banquet hall all eyes fell upon the two heirs. Nobody would have thought we would be dancing tonight, as my brother said, anyone who asked for my hand in a dance would be putting it on display they would be content with a Betrothal.

And Jacaerys wasn't shy at all when it came to walking in crowded spaces, I allowed him to guide me to the middle of the floor and unlike when I danced with Aemond, everyone was watching.

I felt my heartbeat increase and my eyes darted everywhere but the face of Jacaerys Velaryon

"Keep your eyes on me, just me" he whispered right before the song began. It's as if he could sense my fear of so many eyes, and of his.

Despite what he said I looked around once more, Rhaeneyra looked happy, my brother looked as if something had clicked in his mind, not a bad click.

The queen looked livid.

Overlooking the looks, I heard things, I heard the things they said.

I could hear the whispers of the lords, the murderer and the bastard, a true fit in some eyes but one of horror in others.

What would they believe me to be now? An in-love murderer? No, a stupid murderer? Maybe. I had never enjoyed crowds and feeling the weight of everyone here seeing every imperfection I had, the rumors they all whispered of as if I wasn't there at all.

My name was like a curse, once muttered each person had at least three rumors to tie to it, those of truth and those of falsehood.

Rumors.
They could kill a woman.

Maybe this woman wanted to be dead.

I gulped averting my gaze back to the brown ones that haunted me, but something about right now changed something in me.

I still feared them, but now I could see his eyes for what they were, beautiful.

Sad, Beautiful, and Tragic.

The song began and Jacaerys took my hands in his as we danced along to the rhythm, the song wasn't fast, nor was it slow. It had a peaceful in between but the tension in the room made this dance feel much faster.

I thought about leaving right now, running off and abandoning him as I abandon aemond but I couldn't, not with everyone watching, not with all of the hopeful eyes of the ones who loved us. I couldn't.

I looked back into his eyes and this time I didn't look away, I stared into his eyes and I saw him, a historian who only wanted a true friendship, maybe even courtship, I wouldn't know.

My heartbeat slowed and my eyes wide, my hair tickled my cheeks and his hands felt so perfect in mine. Everything felt... right.

I didn't know much, but I knew all I wanted was to be on this dance floor with him, and I wanted to do it many times again.

His eyes saw back through mine and his smile appeared now accompanied by a blush dusting his cheeks, his arm that was holding my waist snaked around to hold my back giving me no choice but to be closer.

Now I blushed but I wasn't embarrassed, and for the first time in what felt like centuries, I was at peace. I could feel his breath on my jawline when he turned me, I could feel his eyes staring down at me from behind and I knew He felt it too, he was at peace as well.

I staggered in a breath once our eyes met again, I felt like a spell was put on me, I felt enchanted by him. And maybe I was.

Maybe that wasn't such a bad thing.