THE RED KING - JACAERYS VALERYON [MALE OC]

VULNERABLE • 14

THE RED KING◽️. #mature audiences only.

Aurora Faye stood in the grand council chamber of the Aurean citadel, her hands pressed flat against the polished wooden table. The sunlight poured through the high windows, casting long shadows across the map spread before her. Every line, every mountain, every river of Aurea was etched into the parchment, and for the moment, the weight of those lines pressed down on her shoulders. The kingdom was hers to watch over, at least while Mylo was away.

  It had been three days since Mylo had departed for Dragonstone, answering Prince Jacaerys' summons to King's Landing. They were to discuss their future together, as well as the politics and strategies that would arise from their proposed union. The concept of marriage between two men was unheard of in most courts, and Mylo's decision to pursue this alliance had stirred both curiosity and concern within Aurea.

  Mylo had taken Felix with him, trusting his Lord Commander's skills to keep him safe during the journey. As his best friend, Aurora knew he wanted Felix's counsel. As his Hand, she understood the symbolic significance of Felix's presence—an extension of Mylo's strength and loyalty.

  Aurora's own role, left behind to govern Aurea, was both an honor and a heavy burden.  She had been preparing for this kind of responsibility her entire life, but now that it was here, she could feel its weight pressing down on her.

  "Why you?" The voice broke into her thoughts, sharp and laced with disapproval.

  Aurora looked up to find Elara, Mylo's mother and the former queen, standing in the doorway. Her gaze was cool, assessing. She had always been a formidable presence, with her icy blue eyes and silver hair that mirrored Mylo's own. Today, she wore a gown of deep green, the color of the sea, and it made her seem like a specter from the past, something both beautiful and dangerous.

  "Elara," Aurora said, masking the tension she felt. "What can I do for you?"

  Elara stepped into the room, closing the door behind her with a soft click. "I have been wondering," she began, her voice deceptively calm, "why my son would leave the kingdom in the hands of someone so young and untested. Why you, Aurora?"

 
  Aurora's expression remained calm, but she felt a flicker of annoyance. "Mylo trusts me. He knows I have the kingdom's best interests at heart, just as he does."

  Elara arched an eyebrow. "Trust is one thing. Experience is another. There are others with more... seasoned hands who could have been left in charge. Advising the king is different from ruling in his absence."

  Aurora knew what Elara was implying. There had been several members of the council—older, more experienced, and perhaps more malleable to Elara's influence—who could have easily taken on the role. But Mylo had chosen Aurora, not only for her loyalty but for her insight and decisiveness. Mylo wanted someone he knew would act in his stead, not just a placeholder.

  "I understand your concerns, Elara," Aurora said carefully. "But Mylo chose me. I have served him faithfully for years, and I will not let him down now."

  Elara's eyes narrowed. "Serving is one thing, Aurora. Leading is another. Do not forget your place. You are not the ruler here. You do not have the blood of the Wyllts running through your veins."

  Aurora felt a stab of anger but kept her voice even. "I know my place. And I know my duties. My loyalty is to Mylo and to Aurea."

  "Your father has ambitions, does he not?" Elara's voice was smooth, each word deliberate. "I wonder how long before those ambitions become your own."

  Aurora's spine stiffened. She knew her father, Lord Alistair Faye, was ambitious. He had made comments before about the throne, about power. But she had always shut him down, reminding him that her loyalty lay with Mylo. She would not let herself be a pawn in her father's schemes, and she certainly wouldn't allow Elara to twist her words.

  "You would do well to remember, Elara," Aurora replied, her voice firm, "that while I may not have the blood of the Wyllts, my loyalty to Mylo is unquestionable. I would never betray him."

  Elara's smile was thin, almost pitying. "Loyalty is a fragile thing, Aurora.  Easily swayed by power, by fear. Just make sure you remember where yours lies."

  With that, Elara turned and swept out of the chamber, leaving Aurora alone with her thoughts. The former queen's words echoed in her mind, planting seeds of doubt. But Aurora pushed them aside. Mylo had trusted her with this responsibility. She would not falter.

  Days passed with a strange tension hanging over the citadel. Aurora felt the eyes of the court on her, watching, waiting for her to make a misstep. She met with advisors, signed decrees, and ensured the kingdom ran smoothly in Mylo's absence. Still, the unease lingered, like a storm brewing on the horizon.

  It was on the fifth day after Mylo's departure that the storm broke.

  Aurora stood on the battlements, looking out over the sea. The sky was dark, heavy with the promise of rain. But it wasn't the weather that held her attention. It was the sight of the ships—dozens of them, their black sails billowing in the wind. A fleet moving toward Aurea, fast and purposeful.

  Her heart pounded in her chest as she counted the ships. Far too many for a simple diplomatic mission. This was an invasion force. The crest on the sails, a stark white tree with black leaves—House Blackwood. Led by Martell Blackwood, known for his ruthlessness and ambition.

  Aurora's mind raced. No one was supposed to know Mylo was gone. His journey to Dragonstone had been kept secret. Yet here they were, on the verge of an attack. Someone had betrayed them, but she had no time to dwell on that now.

  She turned to the guards stationed beside her. "Sound the alarm. Prepare for battle. And send word to the council—tell them to meet me in the war room. Now."

  The guards nodded and hurried off to carry out her orders. As the alarm bells began to ring throughout the citadel, Aurora took a deep breath, steeling herself.

  Mylo had left her in charge, and she would not let him down.  Even if it meant facing the storm alone.

  Aurora stood in the war room, surrounded by the council. Maps were spread out across the table, and the sound of hurried discussion filled the air. The news of the approaching fleet had reached them all, and now they looked to her for guidance.

  "We need to fortify the walls," one of the advisors said. "Prepare the archers. We can't let them land."

  "We should send a raven to Mylo," another suggested. "He needs to know what's happening."

Aurora shook her head. "How would he turn his ships and come so quickly?  We could try but we're on our own right now."

  She turned to a nearby guard; whom Felix had been personally training; standing quietly in the corner. "Take command of the guards. Prepare our defenses. We need to hold them off for as long as we can."

The boy known as Jarod nodded, his expression grim. "Consider it done."

  Aurora looked out the window, toward the sea. The ships were closer now, the dark sails filling the horizon. There was no turning back.

  "Ready the troops," she ordered. "And prepare for battle. Aurea will not fall today."

  As the room burst into action, Aurora felt a cold determination settle over her. Mylo had left her in charge, trusting her to protect their home. She would do whatever it took to uphold that trust, even if it meant facing the darkness alone.

  The storm had come to Aurea, but she would be the lightning that struck back.  And she could only hope the raven reaches Mylo.