Long Live / HOTD

9 // Apologies

"I cannot believe he did this to you." Valyria had found her way to Jace and Luke who had been in their chambers with the maidens watching over them.

Jace and Valyria had been sitting on the bench together discussing how vicious Aegon had been. "Tis alright." Jace spoke. He felt highly disappointed in himself for not being more trained in sword combat. Jace liked Valyria though, she was always kind to him and his brother despite them not being liked by the rest of her family.

"No it is not." Valyria argued. She knew her brother wasn't as cruel as everyone believed but the brother she saw earlier was not the one she knew in her heart. That Aegon had held nothing but anger in his eyes. Valyria was not happy with him at the moment and she would make sure he knew of her feelings.

"I am perfectly fine Valyria." Jace smiled at the girl next to him. Even with her hair disheveled from running her hands through it from worry, and her cheeks stained with tears, she was still beautiful. Jace knew she was to be wed to Aemond but he also had mentioned a proposal to Valyria to his mother once. A proposal the Future Queen had just suggested to the King and the Queen in front of the small council.

Valyria grasped his hand in hers and sighed. She knew in her heart that he was feeling guilty for not being able to defend himself from Aegon. That maybe if he trained harder that he could have stood his ground from the number one person who would treat him unfairly. Then maybe he could impress Valyria and she would care for him as he did her.

"I'm sorry." She wasn't apologizing for something she did but for what her brother had done. Jace just nodded. He had nothing to forgive her for. He would pretend that everything was okay but from this day forward he would work and train harder. To prove himself worthy.

"I must go." Valyria took a deep breath. "I shall see you soon." She hugged Jace tightly and left to go speak to her family.

She first found her mother who had been walking the halls with Cole by her side. "My precious daughter. How are you my darling?" Alicent squatted down to be closer in height to her daughter.

"Aegon upset me today mother." Alicent by now had heard of what had occurred during the princes' training but the main point she focused on was Cole and Harwin.

"What did he do?" Immediately Alicent looked her daughter from head to toe to inspect her for any damage that Aegon could have done.

"He was being cruel to Jace during training." The young girl's eyes flicked over to Ser Criston who looked to his feet. He knew Valyria was disappointed in him and he needed to apologize.

"Was he?" Alicent saw Valyria's eyes and how they had looked at the knight behind her. "How so?" Alicent knew of Aegon's actions but she also knew Valyria wanted everyone to be at peace and to love each other. If the people had been okay with a woman ruler, Alicent knew that Valyria would be perfect for the job.

"I do apologize for my actions my princess. Aegon was only following my commands. I should have known better than to channel my anger for Ser Harwin into your brother. I am sincerely sorry." Alicent gave a firm stare to Cole. He was just making excuses for Aegon in her eyes. She needed Valyria to see that Aegon wasn't who she thought he was. But Alicent would also never purposely try to disgrace her daughter's views of her brother.

"I know Ser Criston. I do forgive you and I forgive Aegon. I just wish it hadn't been so crude, you know?" Valyria sighed. "Mother could we venture to the garden later?"

Alicent nodded, she'd do anything to spend every minute of every day with her daughter but her duties as queen stopped her from doing so. "As you wish my love. I must deal with some things first but I will find you when I am finished." Valyria smiled and hugged her mother. The two held each other tightly before letting go. "Off you go love." Alicent shoo'd her daughter away with a smile.