The Death of War

Chapter 37

4 year time jump. We see a bit of what Joffrey has been up to. Jace and Baela talk, she fucks up. Rhaenyra finds out what happened between Jace and Baela. I hope you guys like it 🥰

4 years later.

"I'm so happy to see you." Jace hugged Joffrey and clapped his back. He had missed his brother. "You finally returned."

"I missed you too." Joffrey pulled back. "I brought gifts for you, Helaena, and the children."

"Thank you," His brother had spent the past five years flying all over the free cities. He had returned briefly for his wedding, before leaving once more. This was the first time he had returned in years. Jace had also been away from Kings Landings for a few years, but his mother and stepfather had gone to see him at Harrenhal. "Does mother know you are back?"

"No, I was told she went flying with Visenya." Joffrey gave him an amused look. "Apparently our little sister has been begging to go flying for days since mother and Daemon have been so busy."

Jace knew that the reason Visenya was so restless was because Aemond had been gone for almost a year. Their uncle had been sent to the North to meet with the Starks and to visit Castle Black. Visenya did not do well any time their uncle left and it scared Jace. Even after all these years he still was not used to the connection between Aemond and Visenya, but there was nothing he could do about it.

They were walking back to their chambers when Jace saw Baela. She was sitting on a bench hidden in one of the halls which was not used very often. He could tell how upset she was even from a distance. He nodded to Joffrey who understood after seeing Baela and walked away. Jace took a deep breath before approaching his stepsister, he had not seen her since his wedding day. Rhaena had visited him a few times and even stayed with him and Helaena in Harrenhal. Rhaena had wed Ser Corwyn Corbray and was very happy with the man, she already had two daughters. Baela was a whole different story, while Jace had not heard a lot from her, from what he could see now she was miserable.

He approached her carefully, not wanting to startled her. "Baela, are you well?"

"Yes," He could see her drying her tears quickly before she looked at him. "I just needed some air."

"Aha," He did not believe her and she knew it. Jace sat beside her and gave her a small smile. "You are a terrible liar."

"It has never been easy to lie to you. You have always been able to see more than I am comfortable with." Her smile was sad. "I wanted to congratulate you on your son. I should have written when he was born."

"Thank you," Helaena had given him a son a year before. Jace had named the boy Harwin, even though his son looked more Valyrian than Strong, The only thing that proclaimed him Jace's son were his brown eyes. "I have not seen your husband."

"He did not come." Jace did not say anything as he tried to mask his surprise. "He had more important things to do."

"More important than accompanying his wife to celebrate the queen's eight years on the throne?" He asked in disbelief.

"I have made so many mistakes, I was so stupid." She let out a sarcastic laugh. "I listened to my grandsire and married a man who had no love for me. All he wanted was my position and my name. My grandsire has barely looked at me since the wedding, he has not taken time to teach me about how to run Driftmark. Instead, he is training Addam to take after him."

"But you will be the lady of Driftmark, no matter how much Lord Corlys wishes otherwise."

"Yes, well, he does not care." Baela shook her head. "And my husband prefers the company of other women. He does not care about me."