Heir of the Dragon

Choices

Jessica stood at Jaehaera's bed watching Helaena carefully. Jessica kept even breathing. Alient and Otto had set the task upon her to inform Helaena about the funeral.

Helaena clung to the blankets as she leaned against Jaehaerys' bed.

Jessica whispered softly. "There's to be a funeral for Jaehaerys. We've been asked to ride on a wagon behind his body."

Helaena gave her the most pitiful look. "I don't want to."

Jessica shook her head. "Neither do I."

Jessica took a breath. "But when a thing like this happens...a blow to the king is a blow to the realm. When the people share our grief, they draw closer to us."

Helaena looked to Jessica desperately. "I don't want them closer. I don't know them. Sister, please. You are always the one to fix these things."

Jessica closed her eyes. "Sometimes we have to pretend."

Helaena looked at her confused. "Why?"

Jessica looked between the empty beds. "We are representatives of the throne. We have a duty."

Jessica crossed over to Helaena and gently took the blankets from her. Helaena looked at Jessica as tears ran down her cheeks. "This is for my boy."

From left to right on that blasted cart sat Alicent, Helaena, and Jessica. All three of the girls were dressed in similar green and gold dresses. A black veil rested on top of their heads and fell past their waists.

Jessica tried to focus on what was straight out in front of her. The gates opened and Jaehaerys' cart was the first out, followed by the trio.

Jessica was just now realizing how many people actually lived in King's Landing. Every nook and cranny was filled with people all shouting about the same thing.

The herald in front of them shouted. "Behold the works of Rhaenyra Targaryen! Pretender to the throne! Kinslayer!"

The crowd was shouting and reaching out towards Helaena and Alicent and Jessica.

"Deepest sympathies, My Queen."

"Gods be with you, My Queen."

"We support you Queen Helaena."

The herald shouted again. "Defiler of the innocent! Slayer of infants! Behold the works of Rhaenyra, the cruel!"

"Queen Helaena!"

"Kinslayer!"

"Queen Helaena!"

Jessica closed her eyes. She was not entirely sure how much more of this she could take. She reached over and took Helaena's hand, squeezing it tightly.

Jessica opened her eyed when the cart suddenly came to a stop.

"What's going on? Move it, then!"

Jessica peered around to see Jaehaerys' cart stuck in the mud.

Screams grew more fervent. "Queen Helaena! Queen Helaena!"

Jessica felt Helaena begin to squirm between her and Alicent. Both of them had a ahold of one of her hands.

"Helaena!" The crowd cried.

Jessica glanced over once Helaena began to whimper. And Jessica couldn't blame her. She wanted this spectacle over as much as her sister.

The last thing Jessica paid any real attention to were the words. "A curse, a curse on Rhaenyra, the monstrous!"