"the best way to hide a wolf is to make people believe they are nothing more than a well-trained dog."
Arrelle Stark was a wolf wrapped in fine silk and those who threatened her family would risk her claws on their necks.
jacaerys velaryon x oc
HOTD...
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chapter nine, heartbeat
THESE LAST FEW weeks, Arrelle had fallen into a comfortable routine on the island of Dragonstone. Truthfully, she never would have imagined ever feeling such tranquility with people she did not truly know. People she did not grow up with. Her husband's family welcomed her into their routine with open arms, allowing her to join in on their schedules which had been set for the last six years.
In the mornings, she would rise as her husband did, before the sun rose above the white sands. Together, they would break their fast, a quiet peace settling between them as they prepared for their days. Their relationship had blossomed, into one of mutual understanding and respect. These days, Arrelle found herself staring at Jace more often than usual, always looking for him in every room.
After they had eaten, they would join Luke on the beach, supervised by a few of the knights of Dragonstone as they trained together. Arrelle had felt her strength return, piece by piece, her muscles no longer achy after every day, instead they had grown accustomed to the labor. Her fighting in the sand and heat had also improved, her stamina increasing day by day.
Together, she and Jace taught the younger boy, who often had a harder time with the sword than either of them did in their youth. Arrelle had much patience with him, Jace, however, did not.
His sword met Luke's, overpowering him instantly as the younger boy fell to the ground ungracefully. Jace was merciless in his teaching, yelling at his younger brother to get up. Some days, Arrelle did not understand where her husband's anger came from. She knew Jace loved Luke, she would be blind to not see it. It was that very love that sometimes made him act rashly, wanting his little brother to be able to protect himself, knowing that there were many times he had failed to do so.
Even from her few days in the capital as a child, Arrelle could remember as Luke and even Jace were brutally beaten by their uncles, humiliating them both even though they were younger and weaker.
Arrelle couldn't stand as Jace continued to go at Luke, giving him no rest. To her, Luke was a very gentle boy, so sweet and kind. Jace needed to understand that not every prince was meant for the sword. The poor boy continued to fail at the move his brother was so desperately trying to teach, fumbling over his own feet.
Arrelle could stand by no longer, "That is enough, Jacaerys."
Jace snapped his head towards her, fire in his eyes as he continued to hold his sword to his brother. "Luke must learn eventually."
Arrelle shook her head, pacing towards the two, unsheathing her own sword in the process. Directed towards Jace, she spoke, "Perhaps we are teaching him wrong."
Understanding his wife's look and words, reluctantly Jace backed away from his brother, his nostrils flaring in a contained anger as his knuckles went white, the grip on his sword strong with frustration. Arrelle ignored him, as she stood in front of Luke, the younger boy red with embarrassment.
