Strong | Jacaerys Velaryon

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The Red Keep stands as a fortress of secrets, its walls bearing witness to the rise and fall of kings and queens, lords and ladies. Within its labyrinthine corridors, whispers of intrigue and betrayal echo like ghosts of the past, weaving a tapestry of ambition and desire.

In the heart of this gilded prison, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, the Realm's Delight, walks with a regal grace that belies the turmoil within her heart. Married to Laenor Velaryon, a man who loves men more than he could ever love her, Rhaenyra finds herself trapped in a union devoid of passion and intimacy.

Rhaenyra's loneliness becomes a heavy burden, weighing down her spirit like chains of iron. She longs for a connection that eludes her, a love that she fears may never be hers to claim.

Amidst the shadows of the Red Keep, another figure moves with a quiet strength born of adversity. Ser Harwin Strong serves as a constant presence at court, his loyalty to Rhaenyra unwavering despite the whispers that follow in his wake.

Despite their differences in station and circumstance, Rhaenyra and Harwin find solace in each other's company, drawn together by a shared sense of isolation and longing. In the late hours of the night, when the rest of the castle slumbers, they steal moments of stolen conversation and stolen glances, seeking refuge in the warmth of each other's presence.

It is in one such moment that the boundaries between them begin to blur, giving way to a forbidden desire that neither can deny. As they stand together in the moonlit courtyard, the air thick with anticipation, Rhaenyra feels a spark ignite within her, a flame that burns with a fierce intensity she cannot ignore.

In a rush of longing and desperation, they come together in a kiss that shatters the fragile facade of propriety that surrounds them. In that fleeting moment, all the barriers that separate them fall away, leaving only the raw, unbridled passion that courses through their veins.

For Rhaenyra, it is a revelation, a glimpse of the love and desire she has so longed for but never dared to hope would be hers to claim. And for Harwin, it is a balm to soothe the wounds of a lifetime spent in service to others, a taste of freedom that he never thought possible.

In the weeks that follow, their clandestine meetings become more frequent, their connection deepening with each passing day. And then, in a twist of fate that neither could have predicted, Rhaenyra discovers that she carries within her the seed of their union, a child conceived in the shadows of the Red Keep.

Their love is kept a secret, locked and hidden away from prying eyes. They must keep the lie that the child growing in her belly is from Laenor's seed.

As dawn breaks over the Red Keep, casting long shadows across the courtyard, the air is thick with anticipation and unease. For within the walls of the fortress, a new life has come into the world, a child born of forbidden love and clandestine passion.

In the chambers of the Hand of the King, Lord Lyonel Strong, whispers of intrigue swirl like a tempest, threatening to engulf all who dare to stand in their path. For Lyonel, a man of keen intellect and unwavering determination, the birth of Rhaenyra Targaryen's son, Prince Jacaerys, is both a blessing and a curse.

On one hand, the child represents an heir, a future King of the Seven Kingdoms. On the other hand, it is a reminder of the precariousness of their situation, a vulnerability that must be addressed before it can be exploited by their enemies.

With a steely resolve born of years spent navigating the treacherous waters of court politics, Lyonel sets his plan into motion. Drawing upon his considerable influence and cunning, he arranges a marriage between his son, Ser Harwin Strong, and Lady Jane Lannister, a union designed to quell the rumors and insulate the family from scandal.