Perzys Ānogār || Jacaerys Velaryon & Baela Targaryen

Chapter Ten

Late 10th moon of 133 AC

Laenys is sitting on the floor with her head resting on her mother's knee when Jacaerys and Daemon return. They've been gone for nearly two hours and the sun has already risen high in the sky.

"We've apprehended the members of the small council and placed them in the black cells," Daemon announces upon entering the room.

Rhaenyra sits up straighter and taps her daughter lightly on her shoulder, "And what of Alicent?"

"Confined to her chambers with two knights standing guard at her door," Jacaerys replies, "But there is another issue, Aegon isn't in the keep."

"I've sent word to members of the City Watch to locate Aegon and bring him back here unharmed," Daemon says before Rhaenyra can question him.

Laenys stands from her place on the floor and straightens out her skirt, "Where are Aemond and Helaena?"

Jace looks toward his sister noticing the sleepy look in her eyes, "They're in Helaena's chambers with her children. Daemon ordered a few knights to stay there until he returns."

"Speaking of them, we should probably go speak with them before they find out what's happening from someone else," Daemon says to Rhaenyra.

The older Princess, now Queen, nods before addressing her two children, "Let your siblings know that they can return to their rooms but to have a knight stationed outside. Get some rest, at midday we will discuss everything moving forward."

"I will let them know," Jace tells his mother as she leaves with Daemon following behind her.

The young prince approaches his sister and holds out his arm for her to take, "Come. I'll make sure we're quick. You look as if you may collapse from drowsiness."

Laenys hums, wrapping her arm around his, "I don't see how you aren't tired, you got here at midday on Vermax and have yet to sleep."

"Trust me, I'm exhausted, but all of this has seemed to override the feeling," Jacaerys says as they walk toward the twin's room.

As they approach the room, two knights stand outside in red and black armor. When the two men noticed them, they nodded and stepped aside to allow them entry.

Upon entering the room, they see that everyone is spread out sleeping. Joff and Viserys are lying on the former's bed, sprawled out. It honestly looks uncomfortable since Viserys' foot is touching Joff's ear. Laenys notices the older of the two is gripping a dagger on his hip which makes her shake her head.

Rhaena is lying down on Aegon's bed with the younger boy holding onto her arm. Baela happens to be spread out on a sofa while Luce sits on a pillow on the floor with his head tilted back against the sofa, sword lying on his lap.

"Well, I guess they were tired as well," Jace whispers, voice filled with amusement.

Laenys giggles quietly, knowing that Baela likely made Luce sit on the floor, "Let them rest, we can stay in here until they come to fetch us."

The princess slips off her shoes and walks toward the small settee before sitting down. She looks around trying to find a spot for Jace to lie down, not wishing for him to sleep on the floor.

"I can join Baela and you can sleep here," she offers after realizing there was nowhere for him to lie down.

Jace shakes his head, "I'm not small enough for it. I'll get a pillow and sit on the ground like Luce."

Laenys hesitantly hums in agreement. She watches as he carefully takes a pillow off of Aegon's bed and places it on the floor near the settee. He quietly takes off his boots and removes his sword from his side and places them near the pillow.

"Lie down so I can lean back against the couch," he instructs softly. Laenys lies down with her legs slightly curled. He slowly leans back with his head lying against her legs.

It doesn't take long for the two to drift into a dreamless sleep.

After everyone wakes up, they all part ways to bathe before the meeting with their parents. Laenys and Baela had agreed to do one another's hair before the meeting began which leaves her currently sitting at her vanity, rubbing oil through her hair as she waits for her arrival.

Just as she's finishing, she hears a light tap at the door.

"Enter," she announces.

The door creaks as it slightly opens, "Are you dressed," Baela asks.

The princess smiles mischievously, "Why? Would you rather I not be?"

"No, because your brother is with me," Her cousin says amused.

"Oh," Laenys says awkwardly, "Come in."

Baela opens the door wider and steps in with Jace following closely behind her. The former has a simple black gown with blood-red trimmings and the latter in all black with the Targaryen sigil in the center of his chest.

"I see grandmother had you pack the dress as well," Laenys mutters looking down at her matching dress.

Since the two girls first moved to Driftmark, their grandmother always had similar or matching dresses made for the two, much to their slight annoyance.

Jace looks between the two young women and connects that the dresses are in fact the same causing him to shake his head with a slight smile.

His cousin looks up toward him with a playful glare, "Is something funny, my prince?"

The prince clears his throat, trying not to laugh, "No, nothing at all, cousin."

Before Baela can make a snide remark, Laenys cuts in, "If you plan to argue with him at least sit so I can braid your hair as you do so," she says as she stands.

Baela shoots her a knowing smile before making her way to the chair. Laenys begins separating different sections of her cousin's hair while Jace leans against the window seal.

"So, Jace," Baela draws his name for emphasis, "I see you decided to grow out your hair and get rid of that horrendous haircut."

"Already back to the bullying I see," the man says, rolling his eyes and nodding at the necklace around her neck, "I was beginning to think my gifts had won over that foul attitude of yours."

"You didn't actually think it would be that easy, did you?" Laenys laughs, looking at the necklace around the girl's neck.

The princess leans down and whispers into Baela's ear, "Did he gift you a dagger as well?"

Baela turns her head slightly and whispers lowly, "Not just any dagger, one of Valyrian, as well as many expensive pieces of jewelry."

Jace looks at the two questioningly, having not been able to hear the two's conversation.

The younger of the two girls looks at the young man with a mischievous glint in her eyes, "How did you manage to find so much jewelry?"

"As I told you, Braavos. Anything one desires can be found there," he answers matter of factly.

"By chance, did Vermax happen to help you in acquiring these things?" Laenys asks, already knowing the answer.

The dark-haired prince smirks and shrugs, "The coin helped as well."

The two girls shake their heads laughing. Just as their laughter tapers off, Laenys taps the sitting girl's shoulders, "Done."

Baela looks into the mirror on the vanity and smiles happily. Two braids consume the top half of her hair and feed down into one single braid that is wrapped into a tight bun, simple, just as they'd agreed.

The two switch spots as Baela begins to work on her cousin's braids. Laenys, unlike her, has wavy hair that takes nearly half the time to do. She braids her hair in a similar style to what they had seen her mother wear over the years, four braids in the front that connect and help keep her hair tucked behind her ears.

"I'm done," Baela says as she times off the four braids, "We should probably go before we get lectured for being late."

Jace moves toward the door and holds it open as his sister and cousin exit the room. He falls into step in between them as a guard follows shortly behind them.