ᵈʳᵃᵍᵒⁿ ʰᵉᵃʳᵗ

˖⁺‧₊˚🪽.° ༘

[ lady of house vanya ]

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

He knew you, his sweet and doting daughter, like the back of his hand, and by the way your eyes fluttered before moving your gaze to meet his, he knew that your mind had been a million miles away just a moment ago. 

"Yes, father?"

"Are you alright?" he asked, causing you to shuffle on your feet.

"I am to meet my future husband today," you shrugged your shoulder. "Why wouldn't I be alright?"

Your father sighed, before fully facing you as you reciprocated the action, your dress flowing around you. He looked down at you, his beard coarsely shaven to show enough of his sharp jawline. "I made one promise to you, little dove," he started. "That in this cruel world we live in, I would try to make it as easy and perfect for you as I could. Prince Jacaerys is a kind and respectful young man."

"Then I am grateful," you smiled, reaching down and squeezing your father's hand. A small grin pulled at his lips as he lifted your hand to his mouth, pressing a kiss to it. 

"May I present," a loud voice called. Your father offered you a reassuring nod, as if that would help to quell your nerves. "Lord Rhydian and his daughter, Lady Y/N of House Vanya."

Immediately, the double doors opened, revealing the assembly hall of Dragonstone. It was filled with no one but the royal family that inhabited the great oceanside castle. The Targaryen's were nothing short of gorgeous, and although the children of Princess Rhaenyra inherited no pristine white hair or alluring purple eyes, you found yourself glancing away from the stare of the pretty brunette prince. 

"Lord Rhydian," Rhaenyra nodded.

"My princess," your father bowed, causing you to repeat the action. 

"Why, your daughter is beautiful." You looked up at the princess, watching as she stood from the throne, walking towards you with light steps. She leant her head forward a little, a small smile ghosting her lips. "Hello, young one."

"Your Grace," you gulped slightly. 

"It is nice to finally meet the girl intended for my son," she grinned, before turning around and beckoning the prince. "Jacaerys."

The boy was quick to follow his mother's call, stationing himself beside her, arms stiff behind his back as he looked at the ground. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Y/N."

"And I you, Prince Jacaerys," you mumbled.

"I thought it would be nice for the two of you to acquaintance yourselves with one another," the princess stated. 

"A most splendid idea," your father agreed, offering you a tiny smile when you glanced his way. 

Jacaerys finally met your eyes, and you watched as he blinked rapidly, allowing himself to look at each and every one of your stunning features. The prince found himself entranced by you. Your eyes were the most marvelous shade of E/C he had ever seen, and even though your lips were drawn in a pursed line, he knew that they would curve into a most wondrous smile. 

"There's a walk I l-like to go on," he stammered, regaining himself as he let out a breath. "By the beach. It's quite beautiful at this time of day. Would you care to join me?"

You couldn't form a sentence to tell him of your agreement of the idea, and as you so desperately tried to utter a single word, you could only nod your head. Jacaerys glanced at his mother, who gave him a gentle smirk and a wink, before inducing your father to join her for a late morning brunch with her younger son, Lucerys. 

Soon, you found yourself lifting your skirts slightly as not to get the ends of the fabric damp from the watery sand, squinting your eyes as your gaze washed over the glistening ocean just a few steps away from you. 

"Are you alright?"

You turned your head to Jacaerys, his voice a bit louder then beforehand due to the fast winds of the morning. You nodded slightly as you responded, "I have been asked that question already today. Prompt me with another."

A light chuckle escaped him as he furrowed his brows in thought. "What is your favorite colour?"

You couldn't help but frown in confusion at the prince. "That's an interesting question."

"Well, you asked me for another question, so there it is!" Jacaerys exclaimed with a laugh as he tilted his head at you. 

You glanced away, nibbling at the inside of your cheek. "Green," you answered shortly.

"What type of green?" he further wondered. 

You shook your head, pursing your lips as your brain wracked through the different kind of greens you had seen all through your life. "Sage," you replied after a moment.

"Sage?" he repeated.

"Sage," you confirmed. "Like the leaves on a weeping willow. Or the slightly murky water of a lake."

"Hmm," Jacaerys hummed, before nodding. "It sounds nice."

"It is nice," you chuckled softly. "What about you? What is your favorite color?"

The prince beside you closed his eyes for a moment, letting out a breath through his nose before his lids snapped open as he turned to you. "Red."

"Red?" you echoed, repeating his earlier pondering. 

"Red," he smirked, before gesturing to the crimson side of his robes. "Like the color of my family's sigil."

"Hmm."

Jacaerys chuckled at the replay of his previous questioning, enjoying the easy banter that came to you both. You found yourself snickering alongside him, letting out a breath of relief. "I thought... I thought I wouldn't like this arrangement. But you're not so bad."

"The feeling is mutual," he hummed.

"But I must warn you. I tend to drift away," you said as you came to a stop at the edge of the beach, causing Jacaerys to halt. He watched as you kept your gaze at the foot of your dress, before he plucked up the courage to capture your fingers in his own, raising your entwined hands together in front of you both. He stared at your joined hands, blinking rapidly as a soft smile lifted at the corners of his mouth. 

"I do not mind," the prince whispered, making your eyes snap up to meet his. "As long as I am allowed to join you. Wherever you may drift off to."

The news of your engagement to the young Targaryen prince had spread across the kingdoms. Lord Rhydian was known to hold his only child in the highest of regards, and even though he came from a very wealthy and superior house, the word of his daughter being the age of sixteen and marrying the seventeen-year-old Jacaerys Velaryon was quite the topic. 

You and Jacaerys had grown close during this month, and you found yourself falling for him, not at all doubting his undying affection for you that he showered you in every single day. He was sweet with his words and gentle with his touch. 

As of this moment, you found yourself nodding your head as you listened to your betrothed go over his studies with you. After Maester Gerardys had spoken a sentence in High Valyrian, Jacaerys answered, "The Conqueror and his sisters sailed with a great army."

"Se Blakuata Rasho dranot vilinio viartis."

The brunette let out an exhale as he pinched his eyes shut in concentration as he spoke, "And landed at the Blackwater Rush."

"Dranot." You looked up, smiling warmly at the sight of the princess walking towards you, correcting her son. 

"Dranot. Dranot," Jacaerys repeated with a nod. "Dranot. At the end?"

"The mouth," she supplied. 

"Mouth! Ah, come on, Jace, you knew," he scorned himself in a whisper. "Dranot. Dranot."

"Dranot vilinio viartis," the Maester said. 

"Dranot. Dranot. Come on, Jace."

"You tire yourself, my love," you spoke up, standing from your seat as Jacaerys looked at you over his shoulder.

"Yes, perhaps that's enough for this morning," Rhaenyra agreed, sending you a soft smile. 

"No, no. I-I want to keep going," her son refused, holding his hand up, before glancing at his teacher. "Maester?"

"Guesi misenakson Aegon undas."

"Aegon... ordered that the trees should be..." Jacaerys suddenly smiled in victory, "Killed."

"Felled," you reformed with a grimace. 

"It is a related word. I don't expect you to learn High Valyrian in a day, Jace," Rhaenyra stated.

Jacaerys sighed, before explaining in a slight huff, "A king should honor the traditions of his forbears. My future queen knows more than I do."

You rolled your eyes, shaking your head as his mother spoke, "Well, unless you're planning to depose your own wife, you have plenty of time to study."

"I will teach you," you stated, walking over to Jacaerys as you rested your cheek against his neck, wrapping your arms underneath his arms to rest atop his shoulders. "You will just have to watch my lips." You pressed a kiss to his back as he chuckled softly. 

Rhaenyra watched the exchange with a sweet grin. The princess was ecstatic when her son raced towards her after your walk with him, filling her ears with the sweetest compliments about you. He regaled the soft encounters between you both on the beach and stated that he would try to make you feel as comfortable and happy in this forced marriage as he could. She was simply delighted at the fact that you returned his affection and love. 

The white-haired woman was drawn away from her thoughts at the sound of the doors opening. Looking up, she found her uncle-husband walking up the stairs and towards her. 

"Leave us," she ordered the Maester, the man turning away to leave. 

"Joffrey, my sweet," you called, the little boy glancing up from his game to look at you with a tilt of his head in question. "Come along now."

The youngest son stood up from the ground, walking over to you and raising his hand into yours as Jacaerys smiled at both you and Joffrey. He was fond of the tender relationships you had formed with his brothers. Lucerys looked up to you as if you were his older sister, and Joffrey merely adored your company above anyone else's. 

You were sitting in your chambers, humming to yourself as you brushed through the stands of your H/C hair. You glanced up at the sound of soft knocking, causing you to stand from your seat and venture towards the door. When you opened it, you grinned at the sight of Rhaenyra, the woman returning it with her own. 

"Hello, dear," she greeted. "May I come in?"

"Of course," you nodded, moving to the side and allowing her to enter the room. Rhaenyra stepped towards the bed, taking a seat at the foot of it as you followed after her. "Is there anything you wish to speak of?"

The princess didn't respond for a moment, instead opting to grasp your fingers in hers as she placed your joint hands atop her laps. "I have received word that Ser Vaemond Velaryon wishes to seize the claim of Driftmark from Lucerys. I, along with my husband and children will return to King's Landing."

You nodded, squeezing her arm with your free hand. "I hope for your safe travels."

Rhaenyra let out a breathy chuckle from her nose, smiling at you. "I wish... I wish for you to join us."

Your eyes widened as your mouth opened and closed before uttering, "Why, may I ask?"

"You are the future wife of Jacaerys. You both will rule King's Landing one day," she answered. "I thought perhaps you would like to see your eventual kingdom." You couldn't help but grin when she added, "Although, the idea was already on my mind, the boys had mercilessly begged me to ask you."

You let out a laugh, before nodding your head in confirmation. "If you wish it, I will come."