king for a day ¹ ━━━━ jacaerys velaryon fanfic

14

- ̥۪͙۪˚┊❛ CHAPTER FOURTEEN ❜┊˚ ̥۪͙۪◌
WAITING ROOM
❛ know its for the better
know its for the better ❜

EUDORA AND JACAERYS.

"Though it is the great hope of this court that Lord Corlys Velaryon survive his wounds, we gather here with the grim task of dealing with the succession of Driftmark," Otto Hightower's voice boomed. Everyone woke up bright and early to settle the dispute, the Greens on one side, and the Blacks on the other.

Eudora wasn't part of the early risers, quietly she made her way to Jace's side. "Am I late?" she whispered, fixing her dress until it looked proper.

"Never too late for anything," he whispered back, earning a smile from the Stark. The hearing started with Ser Vaemond, and Jace knew nothing good would come out of his mouth.

"I have spent my entire life on Driftmark defending my brother's seat. I am Lord Corlys's closest kin, his own blood. The true, unimpeachable blood of House Velaryon runs through my veins," he began, causing Jace's shoulders to tense.

"As it does in my sons, the offspring of Laenor Velaryon," interrupted Rhaenyra. "If you cared so much about your house's blood, Ser Vaemond, you would not be so bold as to supplant its rightful heir. No, you only speak for yourself and for your own ambition–"

You will have chance to make your own petition, Princess Rhaenyra," then said Alicent. The queen only heard a huff from Eudora, which was a bit too audible for everyone to hear. She glared at Eudora, the grip on her own hands tightening as she continued to speak. "... Do Ser Vaemond the courtesy of allowing his to be heard."

Vaemond took this as a sign to continue, and Rhaenyra only nodded till it was her time to speak. "If I am to grace this farce with some answer, I will start by reminding the court that nearly twenty years ago, in this very–" the doors opened before Rhaenyra could continue to speak, causing everyone to turn their heads only to see King Viserys slowly making his way inside.

"Your grandfather," gasped Eudora, watching the scene unfold in front of her. He hobbled his way over to the Iron Throne, surprising everyone who thought he was too ill to even make it past his chamber doors. Dropped his crown Viserys did, before Daemon brought it to him once more and helped the King to his rightful seat.

The preceding went on with Viserys, mentioning his confusion over the situation, Rhaenys then certifying that Luke was indeed the true heir to Driftmark. "As a matter of fact, the Princess Rhaenyra has just informed me of her desire to marry her son Luke to Lord Corlys's granddaughter, Rhaena. A proposal to which I heartily agree."

"And what of her son, Jacaerys?" Alicent then questioned. "Was he not promised to his granddaughter, Baela?"

"We have other plans for him," said Rhaenyra. "As of right now, we're waiting on Lord Cregan Stark–"

"With his stand on the proposal of marriage between your son and Eudora Stark?" asked Otto, confusion rang through the room. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, Princess, but the Stark has made up his mind. He wishes to have Aemond Targaryen and–"

"My cousin would do no such thing," interrupted Eudora in such haste. She took this to step forward. "He knows where my loyalties lie and who I plan to wed. We've talked about it in Winterfell–"

But before she spoke, Otto continued. "Your cousin wrote us a letter," Larys then stepped forward to hand the Stark the said letter. Eudora read it all over and over again, she couldn't believe it. The man she called her cousin, her confidant, the man she didn't think would do it has done the unthinkable.

"Well... The matter is settled then, again," said Viserys, yet Eudora's focus remained on the letter. "Lucerys of House Velaryon remains the heir of Driftmark, and Eudora Stark will be wed to Aemond Targaryen–"

"No!" It was almost like a scream, it was the first time anyone had heard Eudora raise her voice. "You can't make me marry that– that monster!"

Rhaenys made her way to the girl, caressing her shoulders as she tried to guide Eudora away. "Is this what you fill your court with?" then said Vaemond, stepping into the scene again. "An untamed and wild Stark and Velaryons who could not claim that they're of true blood? You may run your house as you see fit, Viserys, but you will not decide the future of mine. My house survived the Doom and a thousand tribulations besides. And gods be damned, I will not see it ended on the account of this," he began facing Luke, his lips pursed.

"Say it," said Daemon, taunting the Velaryon in front of him.

"Her children are bastards!" Vaemond earned gasps around the room. "Eudora is a leech, and she," pointing at Rhaenyra, "is a whore."

"I will have your tongue for that—" before Viserys could say anything else, Vaemond's face was already slit in half, one half sliding down the other. Eudora could only look in shock as Rhaenys tried to shield her and her granddaughters away from the scene.

The rest of their words became a blur, Eudora's eyes quickly finding Jace's from across the room. Hurriedly he made his way over to her whilst the rest slowly made their way out of the room. "Jace—"

"It'll all be over soon, I promise," he interrupted, Eudora only shaking her head.

"I cannot marry him."

"You wouldn't," he continued, holding her by the shoulders. "Eudora, you wouldn't have to alright?"

"They're going to make me," Eudora told him. "They'll do it as soon as they could, I'm telling you Jace."

"Whatever you think might happen won't, okay?"

"It seems like she has no choice," a voice called, the pair seeing none other than Aemond himself. "The engagement has been approved, you have your dear cousin's word, unless someone were to object I see no problem."

Eudora could only hold Jace's shoulder, knowing what might become. "I'll see you two tonight for supper? Assuming you will be spending some alone time once more in her chambers?" Aemond smirked as he said so, leaving them with no other words to speak.

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