𝐄𝐘𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐀𝐍 𝐄𝐘𝐄
___________

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𝐈t was rather odd, Jaehaerys thought, that everybody who attended the funeral, held for his aunt Laena Velaryon, were acting as if they were truly devastated by the loss and grieving a woman they barely knew.His father had told him story's of him and his twin sister when they were young, before she married Daemon Targaryen and fled to Essos, but besides that Laena Velaryon was nothing but a name to Jaehaerys and most others there.A memory soon to be swept away with the tide.

He'd avoided the greens and their judgmental stares as best he could, but no matter what, Jaehaerys was still able to feel the Queen Alicents glare burning into his back as he admired the crashing waves—or at least tried too.His gaze kept fleeting over to where Aelora crouched down besides her elder sister, Heleana, watching the spider crawl across her hand as she mumbled incoherently.Aegon stud near, trying to get under Aemonds skin about his recent betrothal to Heleana, but the boy was unbothered.Aegon soon gave up and walked away with a huff, likely to retrieve another drink.Jaehaerys expression was covered in sympathy as his gaze returned to the darker, red-haired sibling, having heard of her recent betrothal to the Baratheon boy, unable to imagine that was her choice.

"You look to be in awfully deep thought" Corlys deep voice snapped Jaehaerys gaze away from the siblings, to his grandfather who stud tall besides him.

"I was-...it is easy to become lost admiring the sea" Jaehaerys awkwardly cleared his throat as his voice cracked, turning to look straight ahead at the waves.

Corlys simply hummed and slowly nodded, though not without following his grandsons eye-line in suspicion, noticing what—or who—he was truly "admiring".He knew how easily the boy got flustered, so decided against saying anything.

"You know, boy, one day-..."

Jaehaerys didn't particularly listen to his grandsire as he begun to speak, tuning him out the moment he heard words such as "one day" and "all yours" slip from his mouth.He grew red in the face and sweat profusely just at the thought of being Lord of Tides one day, never mind speaking of it, which resulted in only blubbering and stuttering nonsense leaving his lips.He didn't wish to be reminded of his future responsibilities, anymore than he already was, especially when he knew of those who would rather see somebody like Vaemond Velaryon succeed Corlys, for obvious reasons.

"...-She'll sit on endless councils and ceremonies" Jaehaerys turned his gaze and attention back to his grandsire, ears perking at the mention of his sister and her future of being Queen, something he knew she didn't want either. "But Lord of the Tides rules the sea"

"Sorry" Jaehaerys muttered as he shook his head, eyes nervously avoiding his grandsires as they turned to the floor. "I don't want it"

Unfortunately, he was soon forced to meet Corlys gaze as he kneeled in-front of him, tightly holding both his arms so there was no escape or little chance of slipping away.

"It's your birthright, Lad" Corlys, much to Jaehaerys relief, looked more worried by his statement than upset, clearly able to see right through his grandson and all his insecurities.

"If I'm the Lord of Driftmark..." Jaehaerys voice cracked, sounding on the verge of tears as he turned away from Corlys, still staring at the ground in shame. "It means everyone's dead"

Jaehaerys left swiftly once he felt tears stinging his eyes, leaving the funeral all together and stepping onto the beach, before anybody could see him cry and call him out for what he truly was.Pathetic.Boys didn't cry, he would tell himself, future Lords didn't cry.He certainly was not meant to be one.

He stud silently, drowning in his thoughts as he stared out at the ocean, until its cold breeze dried any tears that threatened to escape his eyes, only returning to the funeral once he was certain any evidence of his near-meltdown was gone, to find his siblings.He found Jacaerys and Luce huddled together in a corner, Luce looking around nervous and Jace with a face of thunder, making it clear he'd rather be anywhere else.Jaehaerys joined them in their awkwardness and misery, fiddling with the hem of his cloak as he desperately hoped he could retreat and hide in his chambers soon enough.

He wasn't naive enough to be unaware of the rumours, of why nearly everybody attending the funeral whispered and watched them, no matter how hard their mother attempted to shield their ears.Not one of their dragons hadn't hatched in the cradle, but it seemed the colour of their hair counted for more.Jaehaerys always got the worst of it, despite being claimed and loved by both his "father" and grandsire, with people claiming he shouldn't have any right to Driftmark, that him and his siblings mere existence brought nothing but shame upon the families name.He'd long accepted that though, that they would never be seen as anything more than a symbol of infidelity, no matter what he achieved or how powerful he became.He would forever be labelled as a weak, bastard born boy, who still cried for his mother in the night and could never find sleep in a bed that wasn't his own.

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𝐀s expected, Jaehaerys struggled to catch much sleep that night, being awoken by a scream just as he begun to drift off, except this scream was not inside his head or the result of a bad dream.He shot up at the noise, looking around his dark and eerily silent room with a wide eyed gaze, which faded into confusion as the halls remained silent of any other noise.He was certain he had heard a scream, something along the lines of "stop it!" but now all that could be heard was the clicking of a clock, set atop the mantel.

He waited, unable to settle now with the itching feeling that something was terribly wrong, the hairs on the back of his neck stud up and skin covered in goosebumps from the cold, crisp night air.Then the scream finally came again.Jahaerys didn't hesitate to jump from his bed and race down the halls, following the sound of the blood curling scream he could only recognise as Lucerys.

It didn't take long for him to find the violent scene, unfolding in the cave that led out to the beach, of his younger brothers and cousins all surrounding and, shockingly, beating the same person.A yell of pain and flash of silver hair revealed to Jaehaerys who had fallen victim to the many fists colliding with their face and body.Aemond.

He was about to run toward, to force them all of him and insure the fighting seised at once, but his reaction was to delayed and before he knew it, Aemond had his hand gripped around Lucerys throat.The boy kicked and punched but Aemonds grip never faltered as he rose to his feet, and the others did nothing but watch in horror.Jaehaerys did nothing but stand like a deer in headlights, watching as Aemond raised a rock above his little brothers head.

"You will die screaming in flames as your father did!" Aemond sneered as he turned his gaze to Jacaerys

"...Bastards"

Lucerys continued to struggle and bang his fists against Aemonds hardening grip."My father's still alive!" He cried.

A smirk tugged at Aemonds lips as he lowered the rock, cocky glare flittering between the other two Velaryon boys. "He doesn't know does he?Lord Strong"

Then, as if snapped something in him, Jaehaerys lunged forward and tackled Aemond back to the ground.He'd never hit a person before, never thought of retaliating with violence, but Aemonds nose was bruised and spilling with blood before he could even realise and control what his fists were doing.It was as if a red mist fogged out all of Jaehaerys surroundings and thoughts, deafening him from Lucerys pleas for him to stop and the footsteps entering the cave, approaching him specifically at a rapid pace.

"...-bastard!" Was all Jaehaerys heard before he turned his head and a heavy rock collide with his face, sending him flying off Aemond and onto the sandy ground with a thud.

His thoughts were ringing as he clutched his surely broken nose in pain, the blood seeping between his fingers and staining his pale hands crimson.It wasn't until a scream, that he immediately recognised as Lucerys, filled the air did Jaehaerys look back up and see who had stricken him.

"Aemond stop it!" Aelora screamed, horror and panic written all over her face as she watched Aemond hit Jacaerys to the ground, hovering the rock above him as if about to deliver the final blow. "Please!"

Jaehaerys would've stud up and defended his brother, witbout hesitation, had his blow to the head not left him so him dizzy.Lucerys beat him to it, either way, scrambling around in the sand before bringing a blade to Aemonds eye within a flash.

The ear splitting screams of pain that filled the air, brought the Kingsgaurd running into the room, to cease the fight at last.Jaehaerys didn't get much time to see the full length of damage Lucerys had done to Aemond, as members of the Kingsgaurd forced them all up and out in a rush, but Aemond screaming bloody murder as he held a hand over his eye told enough.

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Jaehaerys ears were still ringing, halls still echoing with Aemonds screams, as the bloodied and beaten children were all "escorted" (more like dragged) to the largest chamber of Driftmark, aside from the Lords himself, that King Viserys was currently staying a guest in.

He didn't particularly make an effort to listen to whatever Alicent was sobbing to the maester about, as he tended to Aemonds eye.Though, it was disturbingly difficult not to listen to the gruesome noises and cries of pain as Aemonds eye was pulled from its socket.Aelora tightly held his hand the entire time, her eyes filled with tears and bottom lip quivering at the sight of her brother in such pain.

It baffled Jaehaerys, honestly, that somebody like Lucerys, who would cry when a spider was squashed, could act on such violence and cause such a terrible injury—no, deformity.A horrible pool of guilt was conjuring in Jaehaerys stomach as he stared at the floor, refusing to look up and see the sight for himself, to be met with the glare of the Hightowers.If they already didn't think he and his siblings were monsters, bastards, they certainly did now.Lucerys actions may have just single handedly proved all their poisonous lies to be right, even if they clearly were not.

"Let me see"

Jaehaerys was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard the comforting voice of his sister, who he hadn't even noticed had entered the room and now knelt in front of Luce, begging to see where the blood staining his face came from.

"No" Lucerys whined in protest as Visenya forced his hands away from his bleeding, likely bruised if not broken, nose.

"Let me-..." She paused, facial expression unreadable, but surely horrified as she saw the blood that splattered across not one, but all three of her brother's faces.

She gulped back, trying to hide her emotions as she usually did, Jaehaerys could always tell when Visenya did so.When she turned and her eyes landed on Aemond, it was clear she was putting the pieces together, thinking about finishing the fight herself, but quickly recoiled from the idea when she saw the extent of Aemonds injuries.His eyes—or eye—thinned as Aemond glared back at them.

"How did this happen?" Visenya whispered, leaning close, so only her brothers heard her words in the deadly silent room.

"He attacked Baela" Jace mumbled, the guilt and shame clear in not only his face but his voice too.

Visenya titled her head and shot him an unimpressed glare, knowing fully well her brother was not telling the full story.As distant as Jaehaerys was with Aemond, even he knew it seemed odd for the boy to start a fight, unprovoked, that is.But as was it for any of the other children in the room...well, perhaps aside from Jace as he clearly had his "mothers" temper, just like Visenya did.

Visenya turned to Jaehaerys in search of the truth, trusting and hoping he would be honest. "He called us bastards"

"Where were you?"

"Me?"

A slap echoed in the room as Aegon could be heard cursing in pain, Alicent muttering frustratedly under her breath as she, somehow, blamed her eldest son for the incident.

Much to the both Jaehaerys and Visenya's relief, Corlys and Rhaenys, their grandparents, arrived and they now longer felt like they needed to cower under the gaze of the Hightowers.Thankful, they finally had somebody willing to fight in their corner, whilst their mother wasn't here, that is.

When Rhaenyra did arrive, hurrying into the room with Daemon loitering in her shadow, Alicent didn't waste any time in spitting every accusation and vile insult she could conjure at them.

Jaehaerys still didn't look up from the floor, unable to not emphasise with Alicent, as he too would have been furious if it was Lucerys who was harmed like Aemond had, unfortunately, been.But, he was never the type to understand and agree with something violent like revenge, never mind the punishment she insisted Lucerys be given.

An eye for an eye.A debt to be owed.A fair exchange.

It was an accident, at least, that's what Jaehaerys liked and wanted to believe, taking an eye of Lucerys "in return" was far too brutal, too harsh.He held Lucerys close as the younger boy shook in fear, cowering behind his mothers protective and stubborn stance as Jaehaerys quietly assured him: "Mother and grandsire wont allow that to happen, it will be fine"

Expect, it was far from fine.Aemond certainly didn't suffer a minor injury or simple scratch, and it certainly wouldn't do any good to the already strenuous and tense relationship, splitting the great house Targaryen in two.But, many could already sense, this was only the beginning, the calm before the much bigger storm.Alicent plunging at Rhaenyra with a dagger, demanding for Lucerys eye, deeply cutting the heirs arm in the process, only split the house deeper.

While that night spread rumours of the Queen Alicent "going mad", the history books would record that it only served in Rhaenyra usurpation, when the war and Aemonds (soon to be known Kinslayer) decent into madness and appetite for revenge really began.When the first blood was spilt, even if only a trickle on a tipping knives edge, it was only waiting to be pushed over the edge from that night onwards.

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Hands still stained with the leftover blood, still lingering with its smell, Jaehaerys fidgeted anxiously with the leather chain between his fingers.

Perhaps it was Aemond he owed an apology too, not Aelora whom had been the only one to defend him in the fight, but Jaehaerys figured that wouldn't count much, coming from him and not Lucerys.At least, this way, he could try and extend an olive branch, express his guilt and say his peace, in hopes it would be forgiven.Even if she was the cause of the recently fresh scar reaching across his nose and cheek, Aelora seemed the one most likely to hear him out, most likely to still hold even the littlest of sympathy for him.Maybe even his brothers, but he imagined that was a bit of a stretch, at this moment in time at least.

Jaehaerys muttered under his breath, to himself, as he tried to build up the courage simply just to knock on the chamber door.He rehearsed what he was going to say over and over in his head, yet now that he was finally here, stud with only a wall between them, Jaehaerys breath grew shallow and his hands begun to sweat profusely.He was panicking, spiralling, and without anyone close to ground him.

They were right, he thought, he was a monster, violent, evil by nature as they said all bastard were.He wasn't worthy or ready to be Lord of the tides, to be heir to anything for that matter, bastard or not.

Jaehaerys shook himself out of his thoughts, so focused on getting out of there as fast as possible, on controlling his breath that was slowly slipping from his hands, that he didn't notice the leather necklace actually slip through his fingers.Abounded, in an unspecific hall of Driftmark, presumably never to be found by its intended.At least, that's what Jaehaerys assumed happened when he noticed its disappearance, unaware that the shadow of his feet had been spotted under the door that evening by a certain redhead, whom intended to keep the gift close forever, even if she couldn't keep him.

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(A/N)
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Terribly short this one but I cba writing the whole dialogue in that "eye for an eye" scene.I do have very mixed feelings about this but I'm just glad I finally got the motivation to write and update this fic😭very sorry to all the starving Jaelora stans out there, I'm trying to be better, I swear 🤞

Feel like I should warn u all, Aeloras relationship with literally everybody just goes to shit from here (specifically Aemond and Alicent) expect Jaehaerys ofc cause she could quite literally do no wrong in his eyes.

Going back to this chapter in Skyfall (which was literally this time last year) to make sure Visenya's dialogue matched made me realise how much my writing has changed/improve, I rlly need to rewrite Skyfall asap.

ANYWAYS, Jaehaerys glow up era incoming (I guess?) while Aelora rlly embraces depressed-religious girl (aka Alicent) core ✨ ENJOY 🥳

💌