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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WINTERFELL
134 AC
A SNOWFLAKE GLISTENED AS IT FELL ON JACAERYS' PALM, while the boy stared at it in awe, his mouth opened to form a small circle. Being born in the South of the Seven Kingdoms, Jacaerys had always experienced light winters, and had never witnessed the fall of snow ― and what a great spectacle he had missed! Snowflakes shone when they crossed the path of the sunlight and a white winter coat covered the ground. Even if only a couple of days had passed since his arrival in Winterfell, and it had snowed for pretty much all the time he had been there, Jace still hadn't got used to it. He was caught admiring snowflakes falling more than once during the hunt Lord Stark had organised to welcome him, while he was supposed to search for deers, boars, or some other animal, but he was forgiven due to the fact that he was a boy of the South. Everytime a snowflake fell on his hands, Jacaerys couldn't help but think of Rhaella ― she would have loved snow, and he could picture her amazed gaze so clearly in his mind, her eyes shining, her pink lips curving into a smile that her absence was becoming more and more unbearable.
He had left Dragonstone only a week before, but it seemed like ages had passed since had been able to hold his wife in his arms. His journey had been quite long and Jace had learnt that political matters were tougher that he believed, but he had managed to accomplish his mission up until now, and he had every intention of keeping doing it.
Lady Jeyne Arryn was a particular woman, who had become Lady of the Eyrie, the head of House Arryn, at the mere age of three years old after the death of her father and all of her brothers. She had pale skin, a pair of bright blue eyes and long, black locks that framed her radiant face. She was a beautiful woman indeed, but had taken no husband and was well-known for surrounding herself with many lovers, both men and women. Jacaerys' grandmother, Queen Aemma Arryn, was her aunt, which was the reason why Rhaenyra believed House Arryn would take her side if a war were to rise, besides the fact that Jeyne was a ruling woman as well, and knew the struggles of such a position. His mother wasn't mistaken, as Lady Jeyne had accepted to support Rhaenyra's claim on the Throne on the condition that she would send dragons to protect the Vale.
Jace had found it more than fair and had immediately agreed. Lady Jeyne could have asked for more, if she wanted, as he had no doubt she was a woman of great intelligence and ambition, as well as a strong one. Her cousin, Arnold Arryn, had tried to contest her inheritance at least three times and, as a result of his action, he was imprisoned in one of her sky cells, while his descendants were disinherited. Jacaerys had appreciated the fact that she had decided to swore toward his mother simply because she believed it was the right choice and had not taken advantage of it.
The only thing Jace hadn't appreciated was the fact that Lady Jeyne had made him an... informal offer. He had heard the rumours spread concerning her promiscuity, but he didn't care about it ― for him, everyone could live their own life as they saw fit. However, he would have preferred Lady Jeyne had kept to herself her desire for him to use his tongue for a different matter than talking. Jace had almost choked on his drink when she had whispered such words in his ears, looking at her in disbelief. As if he would ever agree ― he was a married man, wasn't she aware of that? Lady Jeyne had in fact received notice of his wedding with Rhaella, but had claimed she didn't care and neither would his wife if she never learnt of such an event. With his cheeks bright red due to the embarrassment, Jacaerys had made it clear that dragons were the only thing she was ever going to get from him, and that he loved his wife and would never betray her trust. Fortunately, Lady Jeyne had seemed to be impressed by his loyalty towards Rhaella, and had simply dropped the matter, allowing him to leave for his next destination and renewing the promise of supporting Rhaenyra's claim.
