THE BASTARD QUEEN (Jacaerys Velaryon)

𝕻𝖔𝖔𝖑

"Lillith, I cannot bear this much longer," you groaned dramatically.

She laughed at your despair, "Princess, it has only been about two weeks."

"Two weeks trapped in one room, it's torture," you whined.

"I don't think that this quite what torture is like," she smiled, "But I could ask the Lord Confessor for you?"

You groaned, "You pain me Lillith," she just snorted at your dramatics, "I cannot believe Jacaerys left," you continued.

You sat in your bed, pregnant belly having swollen even more in the last two weeks. Your breasts were sore and your heart was constantly burning after you ate or drank anything. You wanted to walk around, go outside and walk in the gardens. You wanted to get your husband and have him suffer beside you. You couldn't though, not when you were acutely aware of the danger that lay outside the door, the danger to you and your baby.

"The Prince was here just days ago," Lilith laughed, continuing to read her book, ignoring your whines.

She was right, Jace had been to your room four days ago, just before the trio left the Keep. They had found a servant that knew something, finally finding a break through . The boy had sent them towards the Stepstones, which shouldn't have shocked you. They left on a mission, trying to find the man, woman, or group, that was planning your execution, or a better word would be, your assassination. Unfortunately, this information only provided the confirmation that people inside the Keep know something that could harm you, and that the threat on your life was very real. They left on dragon-back yesterday, leaving you bored and alone in your room. Well, all alone besides Lillith.

Lillith had been by your side the entire time, unless she left to gather food or something else you begged her for. Despite two weeks of you annoying her, she didn't seem to mind your company as you feared she would. She laid by your side at night, allowing you to find comfort despite the lack of your husband. She was always there and helped ease your want to rip your stretching skin off. She provided a sense of entertainment and friendship when you felt desperately alone. She had been a life saver in all of this. She tended to your every need, yes, but she'd been a good friend, much more importantly.

You'd seen more of her this week. The real her, and not just your maid-hand. You'd been getting stories of her family, of the sister she missed so dearly, and the ups and downs of their childhood. You heard about the books she enjoyed, even having her read them aloud to you. You learned the way she did her hair, and that her mother taught her how to do it. More important than anything else, you heard her laugh, a sound you could have played constantly if the Gods allowed it. She truly was keeping you sane in these weeks of isolation.

You were going to complain again, perhaps coax her into reading to you out loud when you felt a flutter in your stomach. You sat up, bringing your hand to the bump. You waited another moment before you felt movement again. You laughed breathlessly, feeling the child kicking against your stomach.

Lillith looked up from her book, and her eyes moved to you, now confused, and you replied to her questioning look, "Come here! The baby is kicking."

She dropped her book, running to your side, placing her hands on your stomach in an instant, as the baby kicked again, she giggled, "That's wonderful," she breathed, hands warm against you, even through your clothes.

"It is, isn't it? The maester said I could start feeling them kick soon, but that it may be longer," you grinned, "I did not expect it to feel like that."

"Does it feel good or bad?" she asked, eyes still concentrated on your stomach, as if she'd see the movement through the layers of fat, muscle, skin, and clothes.