THE LADY - Jacaerys Velaryon

xix. Ethereal

CHAPTER NINETEEN
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E T H E R E A L

            JACAERYS VELARYON HAD not stopped thinking about Daella Tyrell once. Not once. She was always on his mind, for the past nearly five years, Daella's name had become a constant mantra in his mind.

           Her name would be mimicked over and over again, every time he did something he wondered whether Daella would like it, every time he said something funny at dinner he wondered whether she would laugh.

           Daella Tyrell was like a curse to Jacaerys, he couldn't get rid of her. No matter how hard he tried, how many maidens he tried to flirt with or how many brothels Daemon encouraged him to travel too, he couldn't stop thinking about her. Even when kissing the maidens, the only way he got through it was if she was the one who had her soft lips on his.

           Of course, Jacaerys had no clue what she looked like now, but what he thought of, with her ethereal glow and her golden-green eyes.

           She would be beautiful in his head.

           "What is wrong with him?" A voice whispered from behind him, he could hear the feigned worry in her voice.

           "I have never seen him so still." Another said this time much more giggly as she questioned the boy in front of her.

           "I have never seen him so quiet before." Said the third, a voice much deeper than the other two but just as teasing. Jacaerys turned quickly, facing the trio that giggled at his worry.

           "Would you three be quiet." He hissed, his eyes narrowing sharply, hopping the cease the teasing stares from his sibling, but the giggles increased at his dishevelled look.

           "Leave your brother alone." Came the stern voice of his mother. He thanks the gods as he watched her emerged from behind them, arm in arm with Daemon Targaryen with little Joffrey beside them as young Viserys and Aegon trailed behind in the arms of handmaidens.

           "Thank you mother." He sighed, grateful for his mother's assistance.

           "He is just scared." That comment made Jacaerys' eyes grow wider as he noticed the confused look on Daemon' Rhaena and Baela's face. No one knew of his feelings towards he Lady of Highgarden bar Luke and his mother. He told Luke, after all he was probably closer to her than he was, and his mother...well his mother knew everything.

           "Scared for what?" Daemon asked, he was itching to tease his step-son but withheld when he felt his wife pinch his arm sharply.

           "To see the Daella Tyrell." Luke teased, flinging him arms around wildly in the Red Keep courtyard. Jacaerys' face deepened a bright pink upon his brother's words.

           Daella, dear gods he missed her. Everything about her. He wished he could speak about her as freely as Luke could, she was his closest friend in their youth. Luke was able to sit and tell Joffrey stories of the nicest girl the boys had ever come across.

           Jace couldn't. It pained him. Because Luke wanted Daella as a friend, and he had her as a friend. Jace wanted her as something more, and he couldn't have her as that.

           "You mean, Jacaerys. Our brother, Jacaerys. The little maiden-kissing boy," Baela said, grinning when he shrunk back into himself at his mother's surprises, yet harsh glare. "Has been obsessed with one girl, since he was a child?" She asked, whipping her head to Luke in hopes of it being true.