𝐀 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐒, jacaerys velaryon

ii. family feuds and forgetfulness

"You're later than usual." Helaena Targaryen sat in the children's chambers of the Red Keep, her finger dancing above her daughter's bed where the child lay.

"I was in the kitchens," Laea excused hastily. She walked over to her sister who paid little mind to the younger girl's whereabouts.

"Take her, will you?" Helaena's soft, airy voice requested as she walked over to the cradle opposite to the one she was standing at previously. "Jaehaerys is a little fussy tonight. I assume it's all the commotion of the guests."

As Helaena's voice trailed off, Laea bent over Jaehaera's bed, scooping the toddler into her arms. The little girl's voice was drunken with sleep, minuscule giggles and babbles falling from her mouth. Laea perched her onto her hip, brushing a few hairs from her face and smiling down at her while her own sister took care of the other twin.

With the two children wrapped up in their arms, Laea and Helaena left the room and entered the darkened corridors, using the light of the moon to guide them throughout the fortress to walk through their nightly routine of visiting their mother, the Queen, before sleep stole them until the morning.

"I was told only you met with our guests today." Helaena mused as she readjusted a finicky Jaehaerys in her grasp.

Laea knew upon instant that it was Ser Criston Cole relaying such knowledge, most likely trying to engage in some sort of easy conversation with the isolated girl as she sat in the Queen's chambers. Helaena finished, "apart from mother and Aemond."

"Barely Aemond. He's a... disagreeable host." Laea countered. "You haven't yet, I heard?" She failed to mention who it was that reported the information to her.

Helaena shook her head hesitantly, and her younger sister nodded. Laea knew of the answer to her next question before she asked it, but offered it anyway. "And Aegon?"

The older girl began her climb up a flight of stairs, shoulders tensing in a mild shrug. "How should I know?" Her voice was quiet, as if being carried on a wind.

Laea said nothing, scaling the steps beside her sister. They walked in mostly silence, apart from the yawns of the twins and occasional grunt of displeasure from Jaehaerys. A rat scurried across the halls a little ways in front of them as they went, and Helaena's glassy eyes regarded it. She shifted Jaehaerys closer to her chest.

"Helaena," Ser Criston addressed as they came upon their mother's chambers. "Laea."

The princesses smiled their welcome.

"Any news to report?" Laea asked in a spineless jest. The boringness of the night weighed like unswept dust in the halls.

"Only for the Queen," Ser Criston smiled. He turned behind him and opened the chamber doors, the familiar scent of rosemary and mint leaves mingling with the air in the hallways as it escaped the Queen's apartments. "The Princesses Helaena and Laea."

The Targaryen sisters passed through the doorway, the sight of their mother, Alicent Hightower, greeting them as she sat amongst the diorama of cushions on her bed. Her head turned at the sound of the opening doors and entering guests. A small smile cast upon her lips.

"Mother," the younger of her daughters smiled as she approached. Helaena followed in suit, quiet in her usual nature but with the same twinkle in her eye glimmering as it did in the presence of her mother.

"My dearests," Alicent said. Her voice seemed heavy.

Her daughters sat on the bed before her, each with a child in their lap. Helaena's fingers were smoothening the long white hairs on her son's head as he grumbled, his little body twitching in agitation.