The North Remembers || Jacaerys Velaryon

10. The Great Blizzard

Song for this chapter: Can't Catch Me Now, by Olivia Rodrigo

We had been on the road for a week, and I hadn't spoken to Jace once. here's how things went that night that might explain why. 

I kissed him, that's obvious. he kissed back, that is also obvious. but when we had pulled apart I may have sworn out loud in regret and backed away in shame. 

jace was also shocked at what he had done, muttering profuse apologies before he himself backed out of the room stumbling on his own feet. 

we both have avoided each other at all costs with a small glance every once in a while. though let me say, trying to avoid someone that you are forced to travel in close proximities with for a week is very difficult, but not impossible.

this week of avoidance has given me time to focus on building a friendship with Lucerys, and I'll say it's been very successful. My bolder personality and his more timid one contrast in a comforting way instead of a stressful one. I felt myself begin to genuinely care for him. 

I had opened up slightly, telling him a vague description of what had happened to my eye and Nymeria had grown to love him. To anyone looking in, they would say this match was made in heaven, and I would probably agree if matches were made upon friendship. 

Lucerys felt the same way, I could feel it. he thought I was pretty, but not in the way where I would be his choice of marriage, more his choice of a best friend.

a few evenings into the journey he and I talked while we ate lunch. the royal family had gathered out on some grassy field near the tents along with most of the servants and Nymeria. 

"wait hold on," Lucerys laughed "You are telling me that Cregan Stark, King of The North, came into your room, and passed gas on you? for no reason?"

"yes!" I nodded with a smile, Cregan would murder me if he knew I was telling someone this. "he came out of nowhere and just let one while I was trying to enjoy my beauty sleep!" 

Lucerys snorted and let his head fall onto my shoulder while he laughed, I didn't mind. we sat on the outskirts of the lawn with a singular guard and Nymeria to protect us. 

I felt the eyes of many on us but I couldn't help but join in on his laughter to the point we were both red in the face and shaking to grasp our breath.

"brothers are something else, king or not." I shook my head playing my the sleeve of my dress. 

"you're telling me," he smiled "Jace is the blueprint of older brothers, he pushed me down the stairs of the red keep once! it was only five steps but still! I was a fragile five-year-old!" 

"he pushed you down the stairs!?" I lost it then, hearing such simple and normal sibling behavior in royals always got to me. 

Rhaeneyra was looking at us with an admirable look, she supported the match and even prayed for its success simply because of how happy we looked, but I knew she still had a tug in her heart hoping for the success of Jace and myself. 

deep down I longed for it as well, but my fear pulled stronger. I knew now, definitely, that I would have a happy and full life with Lucerys. that was enough, and I hoped it was enough for Lucerys as well. 

Nymeria plopped her head up in Lucerys's lap, stopping our conversation and beginning a new one. "she's really beautiful you know."

my lips turned up into a smile reaching to pet her head, "Yeah, I know."

"did you just know she was the one when you saw her?" he questioned, looking into my eyes.

I thought for a moment, I did know it was her when I saw her, but sometimes it felt like she chose me more than I chose her. so it wasn't as if I knew, it was as if she knew.