005.
𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗆'𝗌 𝖾𝗇𝖽

Aegon had been crowned king. That was what her mother told both her and Jace while in pain. Her grandsire was dead, therefore the crown should've gone to her mother, yet it did not. Lucenys could only watch in anguish while holding her brother's hand at her mother while she tried to explain. Jace had left to stop whatever her father was doing while Luce had been with her mother to ease her pain.

The greens had usurped her mother's crown. Crowned Aegon in his stead, claiming her ever-loving and supporting grandsire whispered in his last breath that his heir should be Aegon the Elder instead of her mother.

Now, Jace, Luke, Baela, Rhaena, the Velaryons, and all her mother's allies were present around the great table, awaiting her mother's orders on what to do next.

Lucenys was careful to keep quiet and not speak, she did not wish to interrupt. But she could feel the hold Jace had on her arm as if to make sure she still was there. The tension was clear, and all the people present could feel it.

"Dragons are faster than ravens. Send us."

At Jace's words, her head turned to him. As well as everyone else in the council. Her mother looked over at them with worry. As a mother, she did not want to send her children to a task such as this, but as a Queen, she knew her son spoke true, Luce knew this yet it did not make her unevenness go away.

There was a moment in silence before her mother spoke, "Very well. Jace will go the Vale, to treat with my cousin Lady Jane. And then leave to Winterfell and treat with Lord Cregan. While Luce will go to Storm's End, to treat with Lord Borros."

Luce tensed and straightened her back. She felt the nerves in her body, her breaths began to quicken and Jace gripped her hand in comfort. She didn't want to go. She wanted to be by her mother and never leave. But she knew, she couldn't stay cowering behind her parents and siblings. Even little Joffrey was braver than her. She would obey her mother and do her duty as her daughter.

Why must you always be so weak, a voice whispered in her head. Why can't you be strong to do your family proud?

Luce stared at her mother, looking at her with sternly. She would do this task for her mother and for the rightful ruler of the seven kingdoms.

              "LUCENYS?" A VOICE CAME FROM HER CHAMBERS. Lucenys turned and found her brother standing before her, ready to leave for the Vale and Winterfell. Luce sighed before walking over and quietly grabbing his hand, her fingers rubbing against his ever so gently.

"Are you scared, Luce?" Jace asked, voice small.

Luce looked down at their entwined hands. She wanted to say no. She wanted to tell him that she was unafraid and would do this task without fault. But she couldn't.

"I'm terrified, Jace," she began, voice wobbly. "I am so afraid. Aegon is now crowned king and everyone knows war is coming. I don't know what to do,"

"I will protect you, Luce. Never doubt that," Jace stated, his hand gently cupping her cheek, as his fingers brush over one tear that Luce let out. "We will all be there to protect you,"

Luce sniffled. "But I don't want you all to do that. I want to do this task for my mother. An easy task. I don't understand why I should be scared. You have it worse Jace. You are the one traveling furthest away, not me. And here I am moping about being afraid,"

"You're not-"

"I've never really asked you how you feel," Luce interrupted a sad smile on her face. She grabbed Jace's head in her hands, and their eyes locked. "And I'm sorry for that. I'm sorry for making you feel you need to protect me,"

Jace didn't respond. He only continued staring at her while looking defeated. Jace had grown much taller than her now, she noted, while she was studying him.

A smile broke her face, a genuine now. "Remember when you barely reached my shoulders?" She joked.

Jace punched her arm amused. "That was when we were yet children. And I'm a man now, of course, I have grown taller than you. But to be fair, you were always tall for a child, though now, anyone could be taller than you. You're the shortest person I know," he said while ruffling her hair. Luce groaned as she tried to get his hand off her newly made hair.

They both settled down and before Luce knew it, Jace had indulged her in an embrace. Luce stilled for a moment before letting herself relax and take at the moment before they were to take their leave. She brought her hand to his hair, stroking him softly.

She felt tears rushing in her eyes. "I never meant to take his eye, Jace," At his frown, she continued. "Aemond. What happened at Driftmark. I didn't mean to take his eye,"

Luce sobbed, tears falling. "It has been haunting me for so long and I feel like the weight of it is tearing me down. I just— he held a rock over your head, Jace. I didn't know what to do. I just wanted to be the one protecting you for once,"

"Hey, hey, it's okay," Jace soothed while rubbing her shoulder. "What happened at Driftmark was not your fault. We were all children, Luce. In truth, it was all our fault. Us and Aemond's. Aemond should not have claimed Vhaegar while Driftmark was still mourning for her lost rider. He was disrespectful and that made Baela and Rhaena upset. Rhaena had every right to be angry, but she shouldn't have made it a fight between children,"

"-And I am scared as well, Luce. You are not alone," Jace said finally, through the fabric of her cloak. He pulled away before resting his forehead against hers. "If anything happens to you know that I will burn anyone standing in my way to get you back. I swear to you,"

"And I will do the same brother."

Jace smiled. "Let us hope it will not come to that then."

IT TOOK HOURS FOR LUCENYS TO ARRIVE AT STORM'S END. The weather had not made it any better. It was raining heavily and Luce struggled to keep her eyes up. She was shivering from head to toe, yet kept her hands on her sides as she swept off Arrax. After a quick pat to her dragon, she began studying the castle. It was big enough, certainly fit enough for a high lord such as Lord Baratheon. From what her mother told her, Lord Borros was a proud man. She was to send word from the Queen and Lord Borros would bend the knee to the true ruler of Westeros.

As she walked to the gate she saw the soldiers, staring at her with wonder. Lucenys wondered if—

A thunderous roar made her flinch and turn around to face Vhagar. Her face paled. Aemond.

He was here.

Suddenly, all breath Luce had in her chest felt like it had disappeared. Gods. She closed her eyes as she tried to keep herself steady. Her mother would understand if she were to turn around, she knew her mother would. Yet she could also see the disappointment on her and her father's faces if she didn't do what she was sent to do.

With a shudder, she followed the Baratheon guards to meet with Lord Borros.

"I bring forth a message from the queen," Luce said, her voice as steady as she could muster. She felt the stare of a certain prince yet ignored him and kept her eyes solely focused on the now irritated Lord, who called for the Maester to read the letter sent for by her mother.

Her mother. She missed her. Terribly so. She wanted her mother's comforting hugs and warmth. All she could feel was that Lord Borros would give his reply as soon as possible for her to return to Dragonstone and return the news.

"Remind me of my oath?" Lord Borros said, face turning red. "At least King Aegon sends an offer. Prince Aemond shall wed one of my daughters. Tell me, young princess, what is your offer?"

Luce took a step forward, eyes on the Lord. "My brother Jacaerys is already betrothed to Lady Baela Targaryen. My other brother Joffrey however, is unwed and is to be next Lord of Driftmark," At that, the Baratheon Lord perked up. She grinned in triumph. She didn't want to sell of her brother like that. But they needed house Baratheon's support. Joffrey would understand, and the Baratheon girls were quite comely.

"And why would Lord Borros accept a betrothal for a Strong bastard instead of that of a true-blooded Prince of the realm? A brother of a king?"

Luce looked at Aemond sharply. Her uncle was glaring at her, a grin on his lips.

She turned to look at Lord Borros as it looked like he was in deep thought by her uncle's words. She had to stop this. One way or another. She could not let her usurper uncle have a strong ally as the Baratheons.

"My Lord," Luce said, tone with all the strength she could muster. "My brother Joffrey shall be the next Lord of the Tides, a Lord in his own name and right. His future son shall be the next lord after him. What is Prince Aemond but a mere second son with nothing to inherit?"

Silence shook the hall. Luce refused to look at her uncle as she knew he was seething at what she had said. She knew the uncle better than he gave her credit for. She knew what he was feeling. He was after all a second son. He had nothing to inherit. Luce might be a bastard, but she knew she spoke true. As did everyone else in the hall. Her uncle might be a prince, but what good is a second-born prince compared to an heir to an ancient and wealthiest house in all of Westeros? A house sided with the blacks.

"Hmm...the girl does speak true," Lord Borros answered, hand on his chin as he looked Luce over and then brought his eyes over to Prince Aemond. "What do you think, my daughters? Do you wish to be a Princess of the realm or a Lady of the Tides?"

"I am glad Prince Aemond did not choose me, father. After all, I would like a husband with all his parts." One of the Baratheon daughters replied.

This time, Luce allowed herself to look at Prince Aemond. Only for her to jump as he suddenly came at her. Luce wanted to curse the Baratheon girl. She had caused Aemond's ire.

"Stop," Lord Borros warned the prince. "I will not have you spill blood in my halls,"

The prince grinned, not letting his eye off Luce and ignoring Lord Borros's warning. "You owe me a debt, bastard."

Luce's face turned cold. Her uncle continued, however. "A debt you shall pay me, sweet niece,"

He threw the dagger he had strapped in his waist beside her feet. "An eye should suffice. I plan to gift it to my mother."

Luce saw the grin he had on his face. She did not know if his words were true or not. Would he truly take her eye? It would surely cost him his alliance with the Baratheons and a possible war her mother would start by her eye being cut out.

Luce knew her answer right then. Her beauty was her only quality. She wasn't about to let him take it, no matter how much of a coward she was. "No."

Her uncle seemed disappointed. He tutted before he sprang forward, and Luce had to stop herself from tumbling on her back at his swift moments. "Give me your eye— or I will take it, bastard!"

"Cease this at once! I will not have the blood of a princess spilled in my hall. Princess Lucenys, send word to your mother. Tell her I will be considering her terms. I have not decided anything"

Luce got her breath under control, eyes not leaving Aemond's lone eye.

She bowed before she was escorted out by the Baratheon guards.

The rain poured down, soaking her already wet clothes. She hurriedly walked towards Arrax, as her dragon also felt her uneasiness. Arrax ran towards her, seeking her comfort, yet Luce had to calm him to ready herself upon him.

"Calm, Arrax! Be calm!"

Thunder stuck at Storm's End and Luce's eyes widened at the sight of Vhaegar gone. She shook away her fright and seated herself on Arrax.

The winds were harsh, yet she urged Arrax to fly faster. It was hours until she would be at Dragonstone and she wanted to return as fast as she could. She felt uneasy about the sight of Vhagar gone.

Then suddenly a shadow so big, nearly a fourth of the size of her own dragon— was under her. She looked above to see her uncle's face holding a grin and looking down at her."

"Girl. I will have my debt paid,"

Luce felt tears in her eyes and urged Arrax to continue flying, yet there was only a limited amount of speed a small dragon as Arrax could fly. Vhagar— despite her old age, was fast. Faster than Arrax.

"You owe me a debt bastard."

She ignored him and flew between a narrow path, making Vhagar fly above them. Aemond, still shouting at her to give her his debt, was making sure she would not fly away.

"Faster Arrax! Fly faster!"

Arrax let out an exhausted roar yet obeyed his rider, now sensing the danger they both were in. Dragons were smart, Luce was sure he would've figured out by now that he was facing a much larger dragon than himself.

"I will have your eye even if I have to take it by force,"

His words made her shiver more than the harsh rain ever could. Her tears had run down her face now, as her mind drifted back to the feast they shared only mere days ago.

Arrax flew above the clouds, now both she and her dragon seemed less tense as they both heard no roar of Aemond or Vhagar. Yet their relief was short-lived as Vhagar soared above the clouds and sank her claws into Arrax's neck.

"No Vhagar!"

Luce screamed in horror and felt herself and her dragon falling to the sky. She cried out as she felt herself losing all of her senses, her mind turning black.

The only thing she felt as she fell and before her mind turned black, was a hand tight around her wrist, keeping her from falling.

Then, she felt nothing.