ᵈʳᵃᵍᵒⁿ ʰᵉᵃʳᵗ

˖⁺‧₊˚🪽.° ༘

[ dragonback ]

𝐀 𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞. You stood beside your husband as you watched Rhaenyra.

When you had arrived upon the call of the princess, Vermax had greeted you with a rumble of his throat, closing his eyes and letting out a deep purr at the feeling of your hand stroking the sensitive skin between his dark golden eyes. 

The dragon seemed to know the matrimonial ceremony that bonded you to his rider for life, his affection much more forward then. before.

Rhaenyra gazed out across the cobblestone wall, the sea dark with soft waves and the dark clouds of the incoming storm outlined by the amber rays of the setting sun.

She turned around, eyes raking over her sons and you, before she spoke, "It's been said that as Targaryens, we are closer to Gods then to men. And the Iron Throne puts us a touch closer, perhaps. But, if we are to serve the Seven Kingdoms, we must answer to their Gods. If you take this errand, you go as messengers... Not as warriors. You must take no part in any fighting." Luke glanced at you and Jace, but you shook your head gently. "Swear it to me now under the eyes of the Seven," Rhaenyra demanded.

A guard stepped forward, holding out the sacred text of the Seven, and Luke placed his small hand on the hard cover, staring at his mother in determination. 

"I swear it," he promised.

Rhaenyra nodded, before glancing at you and Jace. The prince was staring at his brother softly, whilst you held a look of tenacity painting your features.

"I swear it," you stated, your hand next to Luke's.

"I swear it," Jace repeated with a pointed look at his mother, putting his hand beside yours. 

You held back a grin when he wrapped his pinky with your own.

"Thank you," Rhaenyra said to the guard, who stood near her side. "Cregan Stark is... closer to your age then is mine," she informed both you and Jacaerys. "I would hope, that as men, you can find some common interest. And with the added certification that you've known him since he was a boy." You nodded in confirmation as she glanced at you.

"Yes, Your Grace." Jacaerys' voice was low as he took the scroll from his mother. 

She smiled shortly at her eldest, before turning her gaze to Luke. He stepped forward with a boyish frown, but Rhaenyra could feel the slight fear cascading down on his tense shoulders. 

"Storm's End is a short flight from here," she advised with a gesture of her head towards the thundering clouds shrouding in the distance. "You have Baratheon blood from your grandmother, Rhaenys. And Lord Borros is an eternally proud man. He will be honored to host a prince of the realm... and his dragon."

Luke's lips lifted for a moment, before he looked down at his hands, where his mother placed the scroll in his palm, securing his gloved fingers over the sealed paper.

"I expect you will receive a very warm welcome," she continued.

"Yes, mother- Y-Your Grace," he quickly corrected over his stammer.

Luke stepped towards you, before turning around to his mother. Rhaenyra watched the boy's and you in front of her, before she quipped, "Get to it then."

Jace took your hand in his larger one, and you placed your free one atop Lucerys' shoulder as your husband led you towards the dragons. 

Before the younger could leave, you pulled him into a hug, your arms tight around his shoulders as he circled his own around your waist. You could feel his grip slowly clasp on your body, and you sighed at the sounds of his incredibly quiet and hushed sobs. 

"You're going to be fine, Luke," you whispered in his curly brown tendrils.

"I don't know why, but I'm scared," he cried into your chest. 

Leaning back, you lowered onto your knees, taking his hands in yours as you stared up at him. He tried to wipe his tears with his arms, not wanting to cry in front of you. Luke always wanted to look strong and bold when it came to you.

"Sweet boy, you'll be fine," you consoled, hands raising to his cheeks where you gathered the tears and flicked them away. His skin was blotchy and red, but he was adorable all the same. "You are, quite possibly, the bravest dragon rider I have ever met." Your voice lowered into a whisper, "Don't tell Jace that I said that."

"I can hear you," you heard him say in a chuckle, causing Luke to let out a tiny laugh. 

"There's that smile," you sighed with a soft smile, watching as Luke returned it. "I will see you in a few weeks' time. Do you promise me?"

"I promise you," he nodded. 

"Good," you grinned, standing up and leaning down to press a kiss to his forehead. Turning, you followed Jace to Vermax, allowing him to help you onto the saddling after stepping on the dragon's wing that he laid down to the ground for you. 

Jacaerys, with ease, hiked onto the saddle, smiling at the feeling of your arms wrapping around his waist. 

You looked over to Luke, waving at him and he was quick to reciprocate, before Vermax and Arrax took to the skies.

.・。.・゜•・.

It had been a few hours since you had left Dragonstone, and it was late into the night. Jace had insisted on continuing to ride through the dark hours and would only stop in the morning for a small sleep. 

However, you had noticed the deep frown on Jacaerys' face now for a while. He looked to be in deep thought, though it didn't seem to be a happy one.

"Why do you look so bitter, my love?" you spoke suddenly and right to the point, watching as his jaw clenched. "We have been married for half a day and you are already giving me the frosty shoulder."

"It is nothing of your fault," he assured, before the same displeased frown came across his face again. 

"Then what is it?" you probed.

Jacaerys sighed, knowing that you weren't going to stop. You cared too much. "I'm just angry at the fact that I cannot spend the hours of our wedding together."

"Jace..."

"There is no celebration or feast. I can't dance with you. I so desperately wish to dance with you," he said with a shake of his head. "I cannot treat you to a normal wedding."

"Jace, I am fine," you said, fingers tightening around his shoulders where your arms sat beneath the pits of his arms. "I do not need no fancy feast or elaborate wedding festivities. It would be nice if we could dance, but this message is of upmost importance." Jace sighed, and you leaned your head against the cloak of his back. "When we get back to Dragonstone, we will have our celebration."

"Really?" he asked, not trying to show his excitement. 

"Yes," you giggled before a soft smirk flitted at your lips. "And perhaps we can have our own jubilation."

"What do you mean?" he questioned with a slight grunt. 

"I think you know, my love," you said into his ear, watching his Adam's apple bob in his throat as he gulped. "I'm sure we could celebrate through our journey. We have to make some stops along our travels."

You chuckled at the sight of the blush painting his flushed skin, and Jace couldn't help but join in. You hugged him even tighter, pressing your cheek to his back as you closed your eyes, breathing in the fresh air of the sky. 

You didn't know that it would be one of the last times you smiled and laughed with Jacaerys for a long time.