Perzys Ānogār || Jacaerys Velaryon & Baela Targaryen

Chapter Twelve

Late 10th moon of 133 AC

Baela and Laenys lie together on the latter's bed, panting softly. The two stare at the ceiling as they try to catch their breath fully.

"You know grandmother likely expects us to be in the courtyard with our family to greet grandsire upon his arrival," Baela murmurs, rolling over to look at her cousin.

"I know. They've yet to retrieve us so I'm assuming he hasn't arrived at the docks," the elder of the two says, rolling over as well, "However, I'd rather not talk of our grandparents after having just fucked."

Baela laughs lightly, running her fingers along Laenys' side, "Apologies. I could make it up to you."

"That sounds like a lovely id-," The two are cut off by a knock at the door. Laenys stands and quickly grabs a night coat from a nearby chair while her cousin grabs her dress.

"One moment," Laenys yells out as she quickly moves to tie the back of Baela's dress.

The princess takes a deep breath after finishing the last knot and whispers, "Sit on the settee."

She walks to the door and opens it just enough to see her elder brother, "Jace. What's wrong?"

"I was looking for you and Baela. Is she with you? Mother wishes for us to be in the courtyard soon, grandsire's banner was just spotted off the coast," He says trying to look into the room.

"She's with me, yes. We'll be down there shortly," Laenys tells him quickly, hoping he'll leave.

Jace squints his eyes at her, "Why are you wearing your night coat?"

"I spilled wine on my dress, I was in the middle of choosing a new one," She retorts, looking at the ground.

He tilts her head up with the tips of his fingers, "You've always been a good liar but we both know I can always tell when you're being dishonest."

Laenys faulters, trying to come up with an excuse before Baela cuts in from behind her, "I think I found a good dress for you," she pauses, eyeing Jace's fingers under the older girl's chin, "Oh, hello cousin."

"Baela," The young man nods at her with a smile, moving his hand away from his sister.

"Well, I'll wait for you to finish dressing so I can escort you both to the courtyard," Jace says after a brief awkward silence.

The two young women nod and close the door. Laenys leans her head against the door and takes a deep breath.

"That was... something," Baela chuckles, dragging her cousin away from the door.

Laenys playfully glares at her, "Shut up."

"I'm serious. I felt like I was interrupting something intimate," the younger girl giggles, watching as the elder girl shrugs off her night coat.

"You're delusional," the princess murmurs, "Have you been reading those fairytale romance novels Rhaena so deeply loves?"

Baela gasps in faux offense as she begins tying up her cousin's corset, "I would never. I prefer the more realistic romance novels."

"Of course you do, I'm the one that made you read them," Laenys rolls her eyes.

"Stop trying to change the subject. You can't tell me that the way he was holding your face didn't make you feel something," Baela whispers before moving away to grab the dark maroon dress she had picked out.

Pulling the dress on, Laenys shakes her head, "Why would it make me feel anything? It's Jace."

"Now you're being delusional. Whether you wish to admit it or not, you've always had a different bond with him compared to Luce or our other brothers," She tells her, beginning to tie up the back of the dress, "You hadn't seen Jace and Luce in years, yet your bonds are still completely different."

Laenys turns around and looks at Baela, "That doesn't mean anything. My bond with you is different from the one I have with Rhaena."

"I'm sharing your bed, I would hope it would be different," Baela deadpans, but eventually sighs, "All I'm saying is that he is a handsome man. Very handsome at that. I wouldn't mind -."

The princess quickly cuts the girl off, "I would rather not have whatever nonsense you were planning to spew stuck in my mind."

The three Velaryon-Targaryens walk into the courtyard where their immediate family stands awaiting the Lord of the Tides. The two young women unlace their arms from Jace to stand on opposite sides of their grandmother while he stands on the left of their mother.

"I almost thought you two weren't coming," Their grandmother, Rhaenys, whispers.

I would have rather not come, Laenys thinks to herself, "Sorry grandmother, I just had a mishap with my dress and needed to change."

"Well, I'm glad you joined us," Rhaenys hums knowing her eldest granddaughter wasn't the most excited to be here to greet her grandsire.

It is silent for several moments before the large gates open. Multiple Velaryon bannermen enter followed by a carriage and more bannermen. One of the men stands in front of the carriage when it stops and announces, "Lord Corlys of House Velaryon!"

Everyone watches as Lord Corlys struggles to get out of the carriage. When he finally manages to get his bearings, Rhaenyra steps forward, "It's great to see you, Lord Corlys. I was happy to hear of your victory in the Stepstones."

Just before he can speak, a dark-haired man emerges from the carriage followed by another similar-looking man. One of the men seems about the same age as Jacaerys while the other appears to be a few years older. Both of the men have an unseemly resemblance to Lord Corlys.

Laenys' jaw drops slightly as she looks toward her grandmother and cousin. Baela shares a similar expression while their grandmother, Rhaenys, has a look of pure anger and slight hurt.

Lord Corlys looks back toward Rhaenyra after the two men stand beside him, "These are the natural born sons of Laenor, Alyn and Addam of Hull."

Rhaenys grips her skirts tightly and turns around to walk back into the Keep. Laenys and Baela look at each other debating on following her but ultimately decide to stay and see how this will turn out.

"Oh. Uh- It is nice to meet you both," Rhaenyra says caught off guard and not believing that Laenor managed to get a woman with child, let alone twice. She looks at her eldest sons as they avoid all forms of eye contact.

"Your Grace," The two respond with a kind smile.

Everyone resolves to uncomfortable silence. Daemon looks around with a small smirk on his face, "Perhaps we should allow Lord Corlys to rest."

"Yes, I am still in a great deal of pain," Corlys agrees. Everyone begins walking back into the keep while the two Hull brothers and Lucerys assist him.

As Laenys and Baela stand against the wall, watching their apparent cousins and brothers help their grandsire inside, Daemon approaches the two.

"Your mother wishes for the two of you to meet us in the small council chambers," He says.

"Will grandmother be joining us?" Baela questions, raising her eyebrows.

Daemon shakes his head slowly, "No, I think it's best to give her some space for right now."

Laenys sighs loudly, "And I thought I would be the one to make everyone uncomfortable today."