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[ To Lord Cregan Stark of Winterfell,
You are hereby summoned to the Red Keep by Queen Rhaenyra of House Targaryen, First of Her Name, Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Alpha of the Territory of the Seven Kingdoms, Protector of the Realm, and Queen Consort Alicent Hightower, to attend to the celebration of the nineteenth nameday of Prince Jacaerys Targaryen, Prince of Dragonstone, the Realm’s Delight.
The celebrations will begin at this next full moon, lasting till the very end of the following week. Noble guests are expected to remain through said period, and knowing that the travel from Winterfell through King’s Road until King’s Landing is an arduous path, your lordship and your companions will be welcomed to stay the beginning of the next week to prepare for your trip back home.
Knowing that your health is strong and you are of sane and reasonable character, the Royal Family gladly awaits the rare sight of Starks arriving at the South.
Rhaenyra Targaryen, Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men ]
Such a short letter reached the hands of the Lord of Winterfell in an envelope sealed with the sigil of house Targaryen.
*
Jacaerys blew softly on the ink, letting it dry before folding the last letter to be sent to the lords and ladies of the Seven Kingdoms in invitation to his nameday. He was quite proud of how accurately he portrayed his mother’s commanding yet playful tone, a feat only possible after five years of experience being her scribe.
Even if the words were not supposed to be his own, they still portrayed his feelings. He was excited to see lords and ladies from all around the Realm, the Tullys from the Riverlands, the Tyrells from Highgarden, and most of all, the Starks from Winterfell.
Typically, southerners were rather extremists regarding their opinion of Winterfell, being either repulsed by the mere idea of a land of constant cold or fascinated by it. Jace fell in with the later, his curiosity piqued at the tales about the northern wolves of house Stark, even more so at the rumours about Lord Cregan Stark, only seven years older than himself, but already a known and respectable warrior, having and won disputed his position as ruler of the north against his own uncle at only sixteen years of age. It is impossible to know many details about Lord Cregan with certainty, though Jace knows the people of the North largely agree on his ruling being fair, his swordsmanship being more than formidable, and his character being reasonable and logical, but that’s all expected of a lord of house Stark. Few rumors about his looks travelled far enough from Winterfell to the Red Keep, and those who reached his ears were very confusing. Some say lord Cregan was too young, some talk about a crooked nose and square jaw, others reassured that the lord of Winterfell was as large as its front gates, and more than a few spoke of him being a large, grey direwolf wearing clothes and walking on its hind legs.
Jace could only hope there would be enough time to know every lord and lady that piqued his curiosity, for there were too many to count, and he prayed to The Seven and the gods of Old Valyria that the ones he was already acquainted with would not take offense if his eyes wandered during conversation in search of the colors of house Stark and the sigil of the direwolf.
*
The gods favored Jace, and the morning of his nameday turned out to be a sunny one, the sweet smell of the season’s flowers breaching through his bedroom window. He rose from his bed, stretching his arms high above his head. Scrubbing the sleepiness from his eyes, he reached for the dress the servant had selected for him, pulling it on as his brain started working again.
The Crown wouldn’t usually host such a big event in celebration of a nameday that wasn’t of the direct heir to the Iron Throne, even for a member of the Royal Family. Even Aegon’s nineteenth nameday had been a party of only three days, and the lords and ladies present had majorly come from nearby lands, the lords Frey, Stark and Greyjoy being pardoned for their absence.
But Aegon wasn’t the Realm’s Delight, Jacaerys thought, admiring himself in his golden dress.
Jacaerys had earned the title simply by coming to the world as the only omega child of his mothers. Aegon and Aemond were alphas, Helaena a beta, both Rhaenyra and Alicent being close to giving up on any hopes of having an omega when Jace came out, dark eyed and dark haired like the Queen Consort. Though he grew to know how his value would be questioned because of his gender, he was also always reassured by his mothers that he was a gift, that the both of them had wanted him desperately. His birth had sparked a month of festivities in King’s Landing, and as he grew into a beautiful vision, and his younger brothers came as alphas and beta, rumours of the omega prince who was a gift from the gods of old Valyria to Queen Rhaenyra had spread as wildfire, and the people of the Seven Kingdoms knew him as the Realm’s Delight.
And the Realm’s Delight had to remember his lessons on house customs and politics if he wanted to keep his reputation as pristine as it was, Jace thought to himself as he sat by his dressing table, carefully placing hairpins into his curls.
Half an hour later he walked out of his bedroom, greeted by passing servants. Nobles, men of the King’s Guard and servants alike, all stopped to greet him and wish him a happy nameday as he walked by, acknowledging and giving his thanks with mere nods and smiles.
His mothers were waiting for him at the Great Hall, as well as his brothers Aegon and Lucerys.
“Finally! Jacaerys, please be a dear and knock some sense into your brother” Queen Alicent pleaded.
“Good morrow to you as well, mother”
“Yes, good morrow, happy nameday, darling. Now,” she tugged him closer to where Aegon stood with Queen Rhaenyra and Lucerys. “Tell Aegon he cannot join the tournament tomorrow.”
“Aegon, you cannot join the tournament tomorrow.” Jace proclaimed, smiling at his brother’s eyeroll.
“Why are you telling him to give me orders, mother? I’m still the heir to the Iron Throne!”
“If you compete at the tournament, you’ll be lucky to be heir to your own chair at the dinner table, that is, if you survive.” Alicent stressed.
Jacaerys tuned out their bickering, catching sight of guests who arrived early drifting just outside the Hall. He craned his neck, trying to be subtle as he looked for hints as to what house the visitors represented.
“Jacaerys.” his mother Queen Rhaenyra called, an amused tone to her voice.
He whipped his head back around to face her, feeling dizzy at the abrupt movement, his cheeks stinging in a flush as being caught red handed.
“You wish to mingle, go do that, Lucerys will chaperone you.”
Lucerys readily took the opportunity to get away from Aegon and Alicent’s bickering, rushing to stand at Jace’s side. They each made a quick curtsy before leaving the Hall almost in a hurry.
“Thank the gods, watching the lords and ladies posturing for your attention will be a thousand times more entertaining than whatever fight mother and Aegon start next” he huffed “Don’t know how mom can stand those two.”
“It’s ‘cause it turns her on, to see her wife being an overbearing mother.” Jace explained, laughing at the disgusted face his brother made. “Our mothers had sex, Luke, get over it.”
“Never, I’ll forever insist that I was dropped into the crib by a cat.”
Jace laughed again. Maybe it was a matter of dynamics, the different perceptions of love and sex he and his siblings had, but he always prayed that a love like the one shared by his parents would find him someday.
He knew that now that he was of age, an arrangement of marriage was expected sooner than later, but he also knew the only one who could force him into a marriage was his Queen mother, and she would never risk his happiness by doing so.
But he also knew that when he married, the party would last for a whole month, and the whole Realm would gather once again, whether he desired it or not.
Maybe he would marry just to get the Starks out from the North one more time.
*
Socializing with nobility was as exhausting as it was entertaining, and though Jace was an social and extroverted creature, who enjoyed meeting so many new people and hearing all kinds of pleasantries, he started to feel drained after lunch.
Not to mention, he still had no sightings of the colors or banner of house Stark, feeling disheartened at the thought of the northerners not being able to make it.
Lord Forrest Frey sat by his right side at the lunch table, and his grand-uncle Daemon sat by his left. He was growing tired of smiling politely at lord Forrest’s clumsy attempts at conversation, and before another one could start, he turned to Daemon.
“Uncle, will the Starks from Winterfell not show up for the celebrations of the day?”
Daemon arched a pale eyebrow, turning to face Jace.
“Why, did they send a raven saying so?” At the prince’s lack of answer, he continued. “If they did not, they must be on their way, worry not, nephew. Starks are way too honourable to simply ignore an invite from the Queen, no matter how much they dread leaving their territory.”
Daemon’s words eased Jace’s mind. The prince knew his uncle wouldn’t lie just to comfort him.
Sometimes he wished that was the case.
“By the way, you should carefully distribute your attentions, nephew, lord Frey will have the wrong idea if you keep smiling at him.”
Jace frowned.
“I’m only being polite.”
“Your politeness is going to be understood as an invite to courtship.”
“I’m not initiating a courtship anytime soon, and mother wouldn’t force me into one, you know that, uncle.”
Daemon sighed, sipping at his mug of ale.
“What is plainly stated isn’t all that matters, Jacaerys. If enough of those half-brained alpha lordlings get the idea that you’re teasing them or being purposefully enticing with no intention of courting, rumours are going to spread, you don’t want to be seen as easy, do you?”
Jacaerys felt himself paling, his mouth gaping in shock as the implications of what his uncle was saying fell into place.
“Those rumours would be treacherous, they could end in arrests.”
“There’s not enough cells in our dungeons to all mouths and ears that a rumour touches, and oftentimes, arresting people for such reasons only makes the words spread even further and faster.”
Cold dread began to eat at Jacaerys’ stomach as he contemplated this information. Had he already gone too far? How many of the lords he spoke to that morning had been single alphas in search of a mate? What if any of them had already gotten the wrong idea? Should he make a statement clarifying that he wasn’t in the market for a courtship?
No, he had to remain calm. Making any abrupt moves right now would only gather unnecessary attention to the issue. He had to keep up the mingling with the guests, maybe make a small faux pas or two, to diminish the interests in his hand. The prince being a bit of a clutz was a more manageable offense, a more forgivable one, than him being a seductress or a tease.
All of sudden he cursed his choice of dress, the golden color making it look too much like a dress to be worn at a summer wedding in King’s Landing.
So absorbed into his own spiraling, Jacaerys’ almost didn’t notice when the guests went quiet as his mother stood at her end of the table, holding up a goblet with wine.
“Honourable lords and ladies of the Seven Kingdoms, I would like to thank you all for showing up for this gathering, and I propose a toast to the reason we are all together on this marvelous day.” She held her goblet out in Jace’s direction, and all guests followed suit. “Jacaerys, my darling son, today we celebrate nineteen years since the Old Gods and the New blessed us with your birth, and as you grow, so does my pride in being your mother. You have your mother’s beauty and kind heart, and a love for your people as intense as I would expect from any son of mine.” She ended with a loving smile, before bringing the goblet to her lips.
Her toast was met with joyful applause, and though Jace was touched by his mother’s declaration, he felt in the corner of his mind that she couldn’t have worse timing, said thought being cemented by the feeling of eyes on him.
*
For the first time in his life, Jacaerys could not fully thrive under the attention. He kept policing himself by constantly worrying if he was unintentionally conveying any willingness, if he was smiling too much. Too aware of himself, he couldn’t relax into conversation, and exhaustion began to eat at him even faster. He started to wish that the afternoon would go faster, so he could use his tiredness as an excuse and retire to his quarters early in the evening.
He contemplated drinking more wine to make the time pass faster, but refrained from doing so, thinking that it could loosen up his inhibitions and trip him into a regrettable mistake.
Thankfully, after lunch the entertainers for the day had begun their presentations, providing a merciful distraction from the prince. But said distraction wasn’t enough to detain lord Frey, who seemed to always remain just at the corner of Jace’s sights in a rather unnerving way, no matter how hard the prince tried to lose him in the crowd. Jace knew that sooner or later the Lord of the Crossing would approach to attempt conversation once more, and as he headed for the spot the Velaryons were gathered by the weirwood tree, he dreaded to discover the time had come.
“Your Grace, a moment of your time, if I may?” Lord Forrest pleaded, standing in Jace’s way.
Which meant there was no way Jacaerys could refuse him without being rude.
“Lord Frey, I was about to go greet my relatives from Driftmark- ”
“Such a lovely gathering, the whole of Westeros, casting aside their differences and coming together at the call of Queen Rhaenyra.” Lord Frey marveled. “Yes, a true testament to the fairness of her reign.”
Jacaerys remained silent.
“Queen Rhaenyra is truly blessed by the gods, a vast and flourishing realm, a dutiful wife, her line secured early in her marriage,” he stared at Jace, “a beautiful omega son to provide many grandchildren.”
Jace opened his mouth, but no words came. This too did not detain lord Frey.
“After my wife’s passing, I must say I felt rather forgotten by the gods, but by being here today, I feel the Realm’s Delight might be kind enough to turn their eyes back on me.” He reached for Jace’s hand, running his thumb across his knuckles. “Can I ask you to do so by saving a dance for me at tonight’s ball, Your Grace?”
“Lord Frey, I really must- ”
“There you are, dear cousin!”
Jace felt a weight leaving his shoulders as he recognized the voice of his cousin Baela. She approached, hooking her hand on Jace’s elbow.
“Lord Frey, I’m truly sorry, but I must steal my cousin away, you’ll understand we came all the way from Driftmark for him.”
Before lord Frey could object, Baela tugged Jacaerys away, towards where her sister, mother and grandparents stood waiting for them.
“Baela, I could kiss you”
“I can imagine, you looked like you were about to puke, dear cousin”
“I might have, if only to escape that conversation.”
“What was that he was saying? He wants to dance with you tonight?”
“Yes, and I don’t know how to deny him!”
Baela shrugged.
“Just tell him no.”
“What if he makes a scene? I don’t want to be alone with him, I’d have to tell him in front of everyone.”
“Well, the way I see it, cousin, either you tell him no, or you’re going to spend the night avoiding him.”
*
Though Baela was most likely joking when suggesting he spend the night avoiding Lord Frey, that was exactly what Jacaerys settled on doing. After supper he danced only with his family, taking care to stay close to his selected dance partners after each song. Moving only after making sure he could see lord Frey looking the opposite direction, he stayed close to the walls. But by having the older alpha in his sights at all times it also meant he could see him growing impatient as the late hours of the night arrived, and shortly after midnight, Jacaerys made a hurried escape from the Queen’s Ballroom.
With the guests reunited mainly at one place for the ball, Jacaerys could peacefully walk the halls for the first time that evening, finally alone again.
He wondered if his mothers would question his disappearance the following day, and decided to keep his reason to himself even if they expressed any disappointment. It was better to avoid worrying the both of them.
Dancing after supper had made him hungry again, and he opted to go ask for something to eat at the kitchen before going back to his bedroom. Making his way through the servants passageways, he quickly arrived.
He looked around for any kitchen staff, but found none. Venturing further into the dimly lit mess room, he found a man sitting alone by one of the wooden tables, an almost empty plate and cup in front of him.
The man was large, clearly an alpha, with dark shoulder length hair, his strong square jaw worked as he chewed on a large piece of bread. He had furrowed, dark brows, and a slightly crooked nose. Dressed in dark grey clothes that seemed fit for much colder weather, with black boots and long cape of dark fur across his shoulders and back, latched at his chest by the silver sigil of a howling direwolf.
“Lord Stark…” Jacaerys breathed, louder than he expected.
Though Lord Stark gave no indication of noticing Jace as he walked in, he also did not startle as the prince broke the silence. His only sign of acknowledgement being his eyes raising from his plate to the omega.
Jacaerys felt himself freezing at the weight of his gaze. He felt betrayed by all the rumours he heard about the Wolf of the North, for none of them had cared to warn him about the color of his eyes. Grey eyes, like stormclouds, that seemed to undress Jace until his very soul, dissecting his essence.
“Yes, that would be me.” He reached for his cup. “Though I must apologize, I don’t believe we’ve met, my lord”
Jace raised his eyebrows.
“You don’t know who I am.” He stated, finding the situation very funny, all of sudden.
Lord Stark made an unimpressed face.
“As I said, I believe we haven’t been introduced” he took a sip. “You're not wearing any banners or sigils, either. Am I expected to recognize someone I haven’t been introduced to simply by his appearance?”
The prince smiled wide.
“Typically, you’re not, my lord.”
“Oh? And are you such an extraordinary person that makes this an atypical situation?”
Jace ducked his chin, trying to conceal his laughter.
“Yes, you could say that, my lord”
“Are you laughing at- ”
Lord Stark was cut off by the cook, a middle aged beta that Jace knew by the name of Serena, walking into the mess room. She looked at Jace, giving him a smile before bowing in greeting.
“Oh, my prince! Are you not supposed to be at your dancing party? Would you like something to eat? We still have honey bread”
Jacaerys heard Lord Stark’s chair creaking as he stiffened in it, and smiled at the older woman.
“Yes, the bread was delicious earlier today, Serena, I would like to have a bit more, if I may.”
“Of course, dear, just wait a moment, please, do not move from there.” She made a quick curtsy to Jace and Lord Stark before leaving again.
The Lord and the prince sat in silence for a few moments, Jace finding it very amusing how pale the northerner looked.
Lord Stark suddenly rose from his chair, bowing to Jacaerys.
“Prince Jacaerys, I must apologize, I wasn’t- ”
“You really needn’t to, lord Stark” Jace interrupted. “In fact, I should thank you for that. After today, it was really refreshing to not be instantly recognized, for once.”
Lord Stark straightened up.
“Then I must apologize for my late arrival. We planned to be here by midday, but the late summer snow covered the roads from Winterfell more than we expected.”
“Snow? In the summer?”
“Yes, my prince, there’s few days in the year where snow does not fall or cover the soil in Winterfell.”
“Please, call me Jacaerys, or, well, call me Jace, it’s what my friends call me”
Lord Stark stared at Jace, his face impassive, no thought or feeling betrayed by his expressions.
“Are we to be that, friends?”
Jace nodded, sitting down at the table, across from Cregan.
“If you wish for that, then so do I, my lord.”
Looking up at the Lord of Winterfell, Jacaerys thought he saw a shadow of a smile on his lips.
“Then I suppose you may call me Cregan, my prince.” He said, sitting down as well.
“Ah, so you’re the type to tease your friends”
“And you’re the type to accept teasing.”
Jace raised a finger.
“Only if the teasing is done in a tasteful manner”
“Of course.”
Serena walked back in with a cup of water and a plate with a few slices of honey bread. Jace thanked her, and she bid both of them goodnight before exiting the room one last time.
“If I may ask, my prince, are the celebrations not still going on? Why are you wandering the castle by yourself when there’s a ball being thrown for you?”
Jace glanced at the door.
“Well, you see, being the center of attention stops being fun when some of that attention is ill intentioned.” Turning back to the northerner, he caught his understanding gaze. “I do not wish to speak of it, please. Tell me, what is Winterfell like?”
Cregan smiled, seeming to appreciate the prince’s curiosity.
“Cold. Wild. Nothing like the South.”
Jace leaned forward.
“And what of the northerners? Do they all dress like you? Bundled up in furs and coats, even in the summer?”
“Aye, depending on the summer. Our hottest summer would probably resemble the harshest day of winter in King’s Landing.” Scratching his chin, the alpha gave a pointed look at Jace’s dress. “We rarely show as much skin as you southerners so often do, as well, and in my years I’ve seen few freckled faces like yours.”
The prince felt his face stinging, but pressed on, ignoring his own bashfulness.
“Is it true that whole lakes freeze in the winter?”
Cregan nodded once more.
“And the folk even take this as an opportunity to go ice skating.”
“Skating?”
“Aye,” gesturing to his feet, he continued “they wear boots with blades on the soles and use them to glide through the ice. It 's quite fun.”
The prince and the lord spent a good amount of time discussing the differences between South and North, and Jacaerys was pleased to find that Cregan Stark was a good conversationalist, answering his inquiries about the most diverse aspects of Winterfell, and firing back his own questions as well.
“Did they really place a dragon egg in your crib when you were a baby?” Cregan asked.
Their now empty plates had been moved aside, both of them now leaning on the table with crossed arms. By being this close to the Lord of Winterfell, Jacaerys could see a stubble growing around his jawline and chin.
“Yes, Vermax hatched when I completed one year of age, I took flight with her the first time when I was only six years old.”
“It must be an amazing feeling, to soar the skies and leave behind the rest of the world.”
“It is,” Jace nodded.
But even dragon riders had to turn back around and return to their responsibilities.
The prince yawned, the exhaustion that had been forgotten at the excitement of discovering his most expected guess returning to him all at once, leaving him to wonder what time it was.
Noticing the weary state the omega was in, Cregan stood holding out his hand.
“It’s late, please let me walk you back to your quarters, my prince.”
Jacaerys smiled, taking the lord’s hand, internally marveling at how it almost completely enveloped his own.
“I told you, call me Jace.”
On the way from the main kitchen to the prince’s quarters they were silent, only the sound of their footsteps following them through the stone halls. Jace listened carefully, his hand in Cregan’s elbow, as he tried to pick up sounds of the ballroom, but got only the soft night breeze and a distant owl, which meant the ball had probably ceased and the guests were back at the guestrooms.
Were he any less worn out by the day, he might have attempted to keep the conversation going to avoid awkward silence, but as it was, he couldn’t bring himself to care, and he had the impression that neither did lord Stark.
Once they reached his door, Jace turned to bid the northerner a good night.
“Will I see you at the celebrations tomorrow, my lord?”
“If it pleases you, my prince.”
“It will. If I’m being honest, I was the most excited to see you and your men arriving in the South. It’s a rare sight, Starks coming all the way from Winterfell to King’s Landing.”
“I’m sorry our lateness made you miss out on such a rare sight.”
“You should be, I was looking forward to it.” Jacaerys teased. “I command you to make it right by me, by keeping me company at tomorrow’s gathering.”
Cregan smiled down at the prince, arching an eyebrow.
“Is that so?”
“That is so.”
The Wolf pressed his lips together.
“If this duty is calling to me, then I shall answer.”
Jace smiled, contemplating the alpha in front of him. The prince always prided himself in being quite good at reading people, but the Lord of Winterfell seemed to be quite adept at hiding his reactions and thoughts behind an impassive expression.
“Thank you for accompanying me, lord Cregan.” Offering the alpha one last smile, Jace opened his door. “Goodnight.”
Cregan made a short bow.
“Goodnight, Jacaerys.”
As the prince closed the door behind him, changed into his night clothes and took down his hair, he couldn’t bring himself to stop smiling. What a day, full of highs and lows, wonderfully ending on the highest of notes. Not only did he get to meet the mysterious lord Stark of Winterfell, he got to make conversation with him, securing the start of a friendship on a first name basis already, as well as the promise of the lord’s company the next day. Such accomplishments left Jacaerys in such a good mood that he laid down on his bed and went to sleep with a smile on his face, any bothers concerning his reputation or lord Forrest Frey completely cast aside in light of this wonderful news.
*
Come the light of the next day, Jacaerys practically jumped from his bed in a rush to get his day started. The servants came to fill him a bath where he took his time scrubbing himself clean, washing his hair, rubbing the bath salts into his skin until it was soft and pink.
Getting out of his bath and drying himself, Jacaerys selected a soft pink dress for the day with small golden earrings. He rubbed perfume into his hair and neck, and styled his curls into a braided crown. He walked to the patio at a fast pace, hoping to get to the place where his nameday tournament would happen as soon as possible, deciding that breakfast could wait until his arrival.
His encounter with Lord Stark the night before had energized him, he looked forward to meeting with the Warden of the North and discussing the differences between north and south. As he walked, he wondered how long he would have to wait after arriving to start asking for Cregan’s whereabouts without raising any suspicions or provoking questions.
Especially from Aemond. His older brother was way too insightful, and knew of Jace’s fascination with the people of Winterfell already, he was the most likely to figure out his partiality towards Cregan and tease him for it.
His mothers, of course, also knew him too well, and could figure it out before Aemond, even though they probably wouldn’t tease him for it.
Probably.
As he entertained himself, picking his best course of action, he ended up being unaware of the pair of eyes already set on him, taking in the way his pink dress softened the golden tone of his skin.
“Prince Jacaerys” lord Stark called, approaching the prince in wide strides. “Good morrow, you look well rested.”
Jace turned to Lord Stark almost immediately at the sound of his voice, a smile already set on his face.
“Lord Stark! Good morrow, yes, you as well.” He spoke excitedly, almost making a fool of himself with how fast the words left him. “To be quite honest with you, sir, despite all the talking we did yesternight, I already have many more questions to replace the ones you clarified.”
After changing from his travel attire, Cregan still wore something more suited for autumn or even a warmer winter. The prince supposed a Lord of Winterfell would not have many summerly clothes. The alpha looked handsome, if a little out of place, dressed in dark grey robes with silver detailings.
“Once I arrive at the arena I must reunite with my men and my captain, but I must insist on answering your questions on the way there, my prince.” He said, offering his arm to Jace.
Jace took his arm, feeling grateful that Cregan was so willing to continue their conversation, and at the same time smothering the small disappointment that the lord would not, in fact, keep him company during the whole event, as stated the night before. He told himself to not be a child about it, as regent of such a great house, Cregan certainly had bigger concerns than keeping a prince entertained.
But thankfully, as they walked, Cregan never gave the impression of seeing their chatting as a task. If anything, he seemed almost amused at the new inquiries Jace presented. He expressed his own, though Jace noticed they seemed more aimed at the prince and his customs than the customs and culture of southerners as a whole.
“Where do you fly to most days?”
“Nowhere in particular, I usually take off and land right back at the Dragon Pit. If I don’t have to go anywhere, I’ll fly around the fortress for an hour or two, though some days I’ll fly further onto the Blackwater Bay, until I can see the walls of Dragonstone, then I turn back to the Red Keep. I find that it helps me think.” He willed his gaze to stay forward, on their path, but he could feel Cregan’s eyes on him. “You have a son, I heard.”
“Yes, Rickon,” the alpha nodded. “He’s little more than a year old, though he’s quite big for his age, I think.” Cregan shrugged, almost sheepishly. “Haven’t seen that many babies to say for sure.”
“Did he come with you? I would love to meet him, I quite like babies, spent a lot of time in my younger brother's nurseries when they were younger.”
“I’m sure he would enjoy meeting you as well, he’s an easy child. But no, he stayed in Winterfell.”
“There must always be a Stark in Winterfell.” Jace recited, and the alpha nodded. “What about his mother? Did she stay in Winterfell as well?”
Jacaerys instantly regretted his prying when Cregan diverted his eyes to the ground for a second.
“Rickon’s mother unfortunately passed after giving birth to him.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know…”
“You wouldn’t, our marriage was rather secretive, as was her passing. I wanted to avoid commotion by disclosing it to people outside the family at the time.”
“Even so, I brought back a most unpleasant moment, to lose your mate like that…”
“Arra and I were not mated, my prince, we married out of convenience. She was a childhood friend of mine, and after forcefully taking the seat of Lord Stark from my uncle, I wanted someone trustworthy by my side, and Arra had no interest in ever getting married and being Lady of no one’s household, so we made a deal that we would marry, produce an heir, and she could live in Winterfell without being expected to fulfill the duties of neither lady nor mother.”
“A rather ingenious plan, my lord.” Jace contemplated the words and information for a moment. Shortly after, they arrived at the arena holding the tournament. It looked something like a big fair, with tents and vendors placed in a path leading to the arena, the sigil and colors of house Targaryen displayed with big flags, ribbons and banners. Nobility and their guards seemed to mostly make their way into the arena without delay, though Jace easily recognized the typical northern attires in a group of men and women that seemed to find Cregan in the arriving crowd almost instantly.
“My men are over there, would you like me to accompany you to your people, my prince?” Cregan asked.
Looking around, Jace caught sight of his cousin Rhaena arriving with his little brothers, Viserys and Joffrey.
“Oh, there’s no need, see, there’s my cousin Rhaena, I’ll leave you and go to her.”
Cregan nodded, and bowed shortly.
“Then I suppose I’ll be seeing you at the tournament, my prince.”
Jace smiled and curtsied, turning around to hurry in Rhaena’s direction. Though he felt a little sad that his time with Cregan had been so short, he was also hungry, and he wanted to head inside to find something to eat.
“Was that Lord Stark?” Rhaena, sweet girl that she was, asked as soon as Jace got to her.
“Indeed, it was. And with him now, right there, are his northern companions.”
“By the Seven, Jace, why do they even need the Wall when their lord is the size of a whole house?”
Jacaerys laughed.
*
Jace arrived at the King’s Box about thirty minutes before the start of the tournament, with a plate and a piece of chocolate cake in hand. As he arrived, he was almost startled by being approached by his older brother, Aemond.
By the mischievous look in his eye, Jace already feared the words that would come out of his mouth.
“Do you fancy your seat, brother?” Aemond started, vague, baiting.
“It’s… Fine? It has a good view, as it’s supposed to.”
Aemond smiled, predatory.
“Yes, I’ll bet. I was supposed to sit by your side today, you know. Front seat, you know I quite enjoy a good jousting tournament.”
“Can you get to the fucking poin- ”
“I was going to sit by your side.” Aemond interrupted. “Until someone asked me to trade seats. Someone I had long forgotten, might I add.”
Confused beyond reasoning, Jacaerys remained silent. He wouldn’t fall into Aemond’s trickstery and provide him with the helpless confused reaction he was aiming for.
“Imagine my surprise when Lord Cregan Stark, the Wolf of Winterfell himself, came to talk to me for the first time in, what, ten years?” He made a contemplating face, hand to his chin and all. “Pleading that I trade seats with him.”
Jace scoffed.
“I doubt that Lord Stark ‘pleaded’ to you, brother.”
“Oh, but he did.” Aemond smiled. “He was quite determined to get this seat, he now owes me a favor for it.”
Jacaerys blushed under his brother’s intense stare. Even after losing his eye on the War for the Stepstones, which he fought alongside with their great-uncle, Aemond still probably saw more than most people with two good eyes.
He also worried that Cregan underestimated the risk of owing a favor to him. A seat with a better view of the tournament certainly wasn’t worth it.
“He is quite lucky that his request left me more curious than outraged, a lowly lord of Winterfell, asking that the crown prince sit somewhere else…”
“Lord Stark is certainly anything but ‘lowly’, brother, tonight I shall take some time at the Sept to pray the gods give you common sense to not underestimate others so easily, as well as patience for myself to deal with your speaking in riddles.”
Instead of being caught off, or offended by Jacaerys’ response, like the omega had expected, Aemond’s smile widened.
“Hm, maybe you’re right, maybe Lord Stark is truly mighty.” He said, looking Jace up and down one last time before turning to go sit down. “Enjoy your tournament, little brother.”
Jacaerys watched his back retreating, glaring daggers at him, hoping he somehow could breathe fire like Vermax to burn his brother to a crisp, when the trumpets declaring the start of the games echoed, startling him out of his stupor.
He hurried to compose himself and take his seat, still mulling over what his brother had said. By his right, the seat Aemond was supposed to take was vacant, and to his left, his mother Rhaenyra sat, proudly wearing the colors of their house and her mighty crown. She turned to him with a smile, placing her hand on top of his.
“My love, are you enjoying everything? Are you having fun? You look quite beautiful today.”
Jacaerys smiled, feeling warmth in his chest.
“Yes, mother, thank you, for all of this, there was no need for a celebration this big, though.”
Rhaenyra tsked.
“Nonsense, the people of King’s Landing love you, your mother and I love you, let the whole Realm come and meet you, they will go back to their Kingdoms loving you as well.” She declared, leaving no place for argument.
Jacaerys laughed, and leaning forward he could see his mother Alicent, sat at Rhaenyra’s left, nodding along with the Queen’s words. By Alicent’s left, sat Aegon, Helaena and Lucerys. Looking behind himself, Jacaerys saw the Velaryons seated, and his brothers Viserys and Joffrey playing together with toys. Aemond sat by Baela’s side. The other seats in the box were taken by lords and ladies from varied places of the Realm. Lord Tyrell, Lady Arryn, Lord Lannister, Lord Tully…
“My prince.”
Jace turned to the sight of Lord Stark standing before him, his wide frame shadowing the prince from the sun.
“Lord Stark!” Jacaerys smiled. He turned to his mother, who had turned silent at the sight of the northerner, and taken to staring him down. “Mother, this is Lord Cregan Stark, from Winterfell. Lord Stark, my mother, Rhaenyra Targaryen, Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Though I would imagine she’s exempt from introductions.”
Cregan turned to the Queen, going down on one knee.
“My Queen, I am at your service.”
“You can spare such formalities with me for now, Lord Stark, I have a feeling we will get along quite well.” Whatever she was looking for, she clearly had found it, as she gave Cregan a satisfied smile. “I must thank you for coming, I know how hard it is to travel from Winterfell to King’s Landing, especially without the privilege of doing so on dragonback.”
Cregan stood, before taking his seat beside Jace. The prince heard the chair creaking softly as the northerner sat down.
“I must say I was surprised when my brother Aemond told me you asked him for his seat, I wasn’t aware that you were such a jousting enthusiast.”
Lord Stark arched an eyebrow.
“Yes. Jousting.” He adjusted himself on the chair. “Actually, there’s no jousting in Winterfell, this would be my first time ever seeing a tournament of this kind.”
“Truly?”
“Yes, we northerners are more for log tossing, tug of war, duels.”
“Well, I hope you do enjoy the tournament, even so.”
“Do you enjoy it?”
“Jousting?” At the alpha’s assent, he answered. “Not as much as my brothers do, I must say. I find it quite an unnecessary hassle, and seeing the knights getting badly hurt doesn’t bring me as much enjoyment as it is probably intended to.”
Cregan hummed.
“I imagine an omega is much more sensitive to this sort of violence.”
Jace arched an eyebrow, turning a smirk at the alpha.
“Oh? I did not expect you to be so antiquated, Lord Stark. I’ll have you know, I would sooner attribute my own intolerance to violence to an empathy for the wounded than I would pin it on my gender. That’s a matter that rarely plays a big part in my thoughts, I’ll have you know.”
For any other alpha, being answered to by an omega in such a manner would have been seen as a great disrespect, even a prince could not have answered this way without being scolded, silenced, rebuked in some way or another. But once again, Cregan Stark was a pleasant surprise to the prince.
The northern alpha smiled, seeming pleased, almost charmed, by Jacaerys’ answer. Maybe it was the prince’s unmasked preference towards the lord fogging up his judgment, but he saw no mockery or condescending in that smile.
“I must apologize for my out-dated views, my prince. Thanks to you, they’re most corrected.”
“You’re forgiven, of course.” Jace appeased. “If you’re not that big on jousting, why did you ask my brother to trade seats?”
“Why, to fulfill my duty, my prince.” At the omega’s confused face, he kept on. “You commanded me to keep you company today, and I must abide by this order.”
The prince felt his face warming up. Even his ears stinged with the blood rush.
“Lord Stark, I-I would have understood if you hadn’t, of course! You must have more important matters to attend to than to keep me company, if you must be somewhere else…”
“Nonsense.” Cregan cut him off. “I wanted to, actually looked forward to it, coming out of my quarters this morning.”
To that, the prince had no answer. He could only face forward at the tournament and hope that the red state his face was in looked like a mere sunburn. His heart was beating fast, and he felt something like laughter bubbling at his stomach. He ended up not even wincing when one of the competing knights fell harshly out of his horse. He was so distraught by the implications of what the Lord of Winterfell had said that he ended up being silent for a good quarter of an hour, not paying any attention to people around him.
His thoughts finally landed back on his brother Aemond, and he cursed internally, not needing to look back at the One-Eyed Dragon to know he had that damned smile on his face.
Like a cat that got the cream.
*
“I have a sister, Sara, and a brother who passed, Eddard.” Lord Stark explained as they made their way out of the arena, late in the afternoon, shortly after the end of the tournament. “Sara is a Snow, it’s how we call the bastards in the North.”
Jacaerys listened attentively.
“I’m thankful that I have her, Winterfell felt sort of lonely after my uncle and cousins’ arrest and Arra’s death. I hope to give Rickon siblings in the future, so he, too, won't be alone.”
“Have you thought about marrying your sister, to give him those siblings?” Jacaerys suggested.
He found the way Cregan startled and turned to him instantly very amusing.
“What? Why on earth would I think of marrying my sister?”
“Well, my lord, that’s rather common, at least here in the South.” Jace explained. “In my family, of all families, it’s the most common. My ancestor Aegon, for that matter, married both his sisters, Visenya and Rhaenys. I, myself, would be expected to marry my brother Aegon, if he finds no suitable partner by the time of his coronation.” Jace winced at the thought. “Though I perish the thought.”
“I’m afraid in the North we don’t have such customs, my prince. The most we have in regards to marriage between relatives is the occasional wedding between distant cousins, and even that is rare. Regardless, Sara is an alpha, even if we took this measure, neither of us would be having children that way.”
“If Aegon encounters a suitable partner, I might still be expected to marry my cousin Baela Velaryon. After her, I might still be in the line of sight of my brother Aemond or my younger brother Lucerys.”
Cregan frowned, his gaze searching for something in Jacaerys’ face.
“What of your wishes? What if you find a suitable partner before any of them?”
Jace shrugged.
“I suppose neither of my parents would fault me for it, they both want me to be happy, after all.” He dusted off his skirt. “I’m not sure I would find a mate that easily, though. It might seem simple enough, anyone would marry me for political power and connections, but I must say I’m rather picky. I would only accept a mate that would be my friend, as well as my husband, someone kind, someone who would respect my wishes and me as a person, not only a womb. To me it would not matter the size of their territory or household, as long as they ran it in a sensible and responsible way.”
Lord Stark remained silent, so Jace took it as his cue to continue.
“I quite like people, my lord, but having all eyes on me all the time makes King’s Landing feel like more of a prison than a home. So I think I would quite appreciate it at someplace where not everyone knows my face. Maybe that way I could actually know the people and their needs, and truly do something to help them. I would like a partner who can provide that.” The prince confessed.
At the alpha’s ongoing silence, Jace started to wonder if he said something silly. Gathering his courage, he raised his eyes to look the Lord of Winterfell in the eyes. As expected, Lord Cregan was already looking at him, though his expression was a strange one. His grey eyes, usually piercing and analyzing, seemed softened by the enlarged size of his pupils and the drop of his eyelids. His lips were pressed together. They were close enough that Jace only needed to breathe in to catch the scent of pine the alpha was putting out.
“You are way too humble, my prince. You deserve much more than that in a partner.”
They had arrived back at the Red Keep, and started making their way up the stairs, towards Jace’s bedroom.
Jacaerys noticed, as they walked together amongst the ongoing flow of people in the castle, that when he was being guided by the alpha, hand in his arms,it never even occurred to him that someone could approach them. He did not worry about any undesired alphas that might strike conversation, making him have to step on eggs to be polite without seeming too inviting. People saw him by Cregan’s arm and instantly averted their gazes, few making a quick curtsy before hurrying away. It was a nice change, knowing that he only had to talk to someone if he wanted to, by approaching them first.
He supposed they must make quite the striking duo, himself all golden skin, freckles, a high quality dress, and the Lord of Winterfell an imposing figure, tall and wide, dressed in too atypical clothes for the warm weather.
As they reached Jace’s bedroom door, the prince turned to Lord Stark.
“Will I see you at dinner?” Everyone had sort of skipped lunch, instead of all sitting down to feast together, they ate small but many appetizers at the tournament.
“You will. Don’t look for me, I’ll come find you.”
*
Jacaerys changed into a wine red dress with golden detailings that had been selected for the evening. The dress wasn’t as long as his other ones, and it had no sleeves, leaving him bare from his hands to his shoulders. The collar dipped a little lower than usual at the back, leaving his shoulder blades exposed. His ankles were also showing, though not bare, he wore white socks and brown leather ankle boots with the slightest heel. He had opted for this clothing at the time knowing that this evening would be a rather comfortable and simple one, but now he feared looking too underwhelming.
Looking at himself in the mirror, he wondered if he should apply some makeup, maybe only on his eyelashes. He wasn’t very skilled with makeup, usually unintentionally applying too much, or too little, and never in the places that would make it look most flattering. Knowing that, he disregarded the idea, and instead dabbed on some more perfume.
Leaving his room, he startled at the sight of someone by his door, already waiting for him.
“Prince Jacaerys,” Forrest Frey bowed, “You look ravishing, my prince, a threat to the hearts of many young alphas, I’m sure.” This choice of words was too specific. Jace narrowed his eyes at the lord, who surely knew exactly where he was poking to get what he wanted. “You must allow me to accompany you to the Queen’s Ballroom, my prince.”
“Lord Frey, I’m grateful for your chivalry, but there is no need to accompany me.”
“I must insist, my prince.”
“And I must tell you to refrain from doing so, my lord.”
“Prince Jacaerys-”
“That would be all, Lord Frey, good evening.” Jacaerys said before turning to leave, his tone leaving no place to argue.
He heard Lord Frey’s frustrated growl behind him, but paid him no mind. He was still a prince, and those lords and ladies did well to remember that, even as an omega, he still held authority over them.
As mindful of his reputation as he was, he still could not allow himself to be shoved around like a mindless creature with no will of his own. That would make him look almost as bad as if he was a two-faced seductress.
Arriving at the Queen’s Ballroom, Jacaerys allowed himself to do a quick look through the crowd, even if Lord Stark had told him not to look for him.
Unfortunately, he caught no sight of the northerner.
He felt two little rascals colliding against his legs and hugging them, and looked down, already smiling to see Joffrey and Viserys.
“I told you two to stop doing that, already.”
“But we missed you, Jace!” Joffrey cried, and Viserys nodded in agreement.
That was usually how they worked, Joffrey speaking for the both of them, and Viserys not speaking at all. It surprised most people when they found out that Joffrey was the beta of the duo, and Viserys, the quiet alpha child.
“I saw both of you just earlier today.” He chided, bending to pick Viserys up on his lap, combing a hand through Joffrey’s chocolate curls as he straightened.
With Viserys on his lap, he headed for where his mother Alicent was already sitting. As she saw him approaching, his mother smiled at him, raising her hand to beckon him closer. He grasped her hand, running his thumb through her knuckles.
“My love, how are you?” She asked.
“I’m alright, mother. Is Helaena here yet?”
His sister was quite the reclusive creature, but she also stuck close to their mother during big social gatherings where her presence wasn’t optional.
“Your sister said she was indisposed, which probably means she saw a rather big frog or squirrel earlier and is going to spend the evening looking outside for it.”
Jacaerys had to suppress a laugh. He didn’t mind his sister’s free spirited ways, and neither did his alpha mother, but Alicent was often rather impatient with his siblings, though he suspected that Helaena was still her favorite child.
“At least she’s not chasing cats anymore?” He offered.
“I rather liked her cat chasing phase, she brought the cats for me to pet afterwards.” Making a disgusted face, she added. “I don’t want to pet a frog.”
“A squirrel?”
“I suppose I could be tempted to, if it was a charming squirrel.” She sighed. “Don’t let me keep you from your feast, dear, I’m sure you’re wanting to go find your brothers, your cousin Baela…” She smiled. “Or even Lord Stark.”
Her tone was innocent enough, but Jacaerys knew his mother well enough to recognize her subtle teasing.
“I’m actually not looking for Lord Stark at the moment, mother.” Not by choice, he didn’t say.
“Oh? That’s a shame, I would have loved to talk to him, he seems like an interesting man.”
“Who seems like an interesting man, my lady?” Rhaenyra approached them, instinctively taking her place by Alicent’s side.
She must have already been around, as Jace did not hear the vassals announcing her arrival.
“Lord Cregan Stark, my Queen. You might remember him as the massive alpha that traded a favor with our other son, Aemond the One-Eyed, in exchange for a seat by Jacaerys’ side.”
Rhaenyra turned to her son, a playful glint in her eye.
“Ah, that’s right, tell me, Jace, what are we supposed to make of that? Shall I tell the guests to stay one more week for a wedding?”
Jacaerys felt his face growing warmer by the seconds.
“Because let me tell you, my son, If I were your age, and not desperately in love with your mother as I am” she placated her wife, who was sending her a piercing gaze “I would have climbed that alpha like a tree, especially if he was as attentive to me as he was to you.”
Alicent pinched the back of her hand.
“Ouch, Alicent! It’s true! You thought the same.”
“I did not.” Alicent turned to their son. “Your mother is right in one regard, Jacaerys, and that is Lord Stark’s focus on you. If that attention is undesired you should let him know as soon as possible, I don’t think a Stark would be the type to be offended if you were not open to a courtship with them.”
“You two are getting ahead of yourselves, Lord Cregan and I became fast friends after meeting late at night in the main kitchen, that's all.”
“If I gave him permission to court you, would you reject it?” Rhaenyra asked.
“I will not answer that.”
“You better think about it, because he’s going to ask for permission, and I’m going to give it to him.”
“Mother!”
“Rhaenyra.”
*
Though Cregan had said to not look for him, Jacaerys’ eyes would not stop wandering. He tried to keep an eye out for both lords, Frey and Stark. As the dinner table started to be set by the servants, he accepted that Lord Stark must not have been at the Queen’s Ballroom yet, and Lord Frey seemed to have disappeared as well.
He was with Joffrey, waiting for Viserys to come back from the restroom, when he felt a warm hand touching his back, reminding him of the cut of the dress he chose.
“I told you to not look for me.”
Jace turned to Cregan.
“I couldn’t help it, I’m stubborn by nature, it’s the dragonblood, I’m sure.”
Cregan smiled to him. His eyes dropped below Jace’s chin for a quick moment.
“By the Seven, you’re huge!” Joffrey yelped. “Jace! Jace tell your friend that he’s huge, ask him what does he eat!”
Jace scolded Joffrey, telling him it was impolite to talk about people’s sizes.
“I eat only mooses and bears I hunt and kill myself, my prince.” Cregan answered, and bowed to Joffrey, much to the tiny prince’s delight, and Jace’s horror.
Joffrey began disparaging question after question to the northerner, and though he tried his best, Cregan couldn’t keep up.
“Joffrey, go find Viserys and take him to mother.”
“But-”
“Now. Joffrey.”
The youngest prince huffed and puffed, but went anyway.
“I’m sorry about him, he’s a nice boy, I promise.”
“It’s fine, I don’t mind it at all.” He looked like he wanted to say something more, but held back. “May I steal you for a moment?”
Jacaerys only nodded, letting himself be guided through the Hall towards where the people of Winterfell gathered together, waiting to take their seats at one of the tables.
“Prince Jacaerys, these are my guardsmen from Winterfell, sir Robb Cerwyn, sir Lyon Karstark, and my sister, Sara Snow.”
Jacaerys smiled at them, giving a curtsy after they each bowed to him.
“It’s an honour to meet all of you, I hope you’re being well received as guests.”
Sir Robb and sir Lyon agreed that they were comfortable, but Sara Snow, a woman almost as tall and wide as Cregan, with brown eyes and hair and dark skin, only gaped at Jace, her eyes wide.
“By the gods, you’re a vision.” She breathed.
Cregan covered his face with his hand, groaning.
“Sara…”
“What, you know he is! You told me he was pretty, not a damned artpiece.” She reached for Jace’s hand. “Your parents were certainly inspired when they made you, my prince, and for that, I wish Queen Rhaenyra a long and bountiful reign.” She declared, before kissing the back of Jace’s hand soundly.
“That’s enough, Sara.” Cregan cut in, a deep frown in his face. “I brought him so you could meet, not embarrass him to an early grave.”
“I’m constantly shamed for speaking the truth, prince Jacaerys.”
“Must you be so cruel towards your sister, Lord Stark?”
“She deserves it.”
Jacaerys laughed.
*
Sitting down for dinner sometime after leaving the northerners to their own, Jacaerys found himself in a pensive state.
Would he go for a courtship with Cregan, if the alpha proposed it?
Lord Stark was certainly a fine alpha. Anyone subjected to his attention would be the happiest about it, no doubt. He was handsome, strong, but also polite, responsible, and kind. He was the head of a mighty house, and leading Winterfell was no small feat. Even to those who know so little about the North and its Lord, Stark is a name easily recognized, and Cregan Stark is widely heard to be the exemplary alpha, an respectable leader, skilled swordsman.
Not to mention the way he acted with Jacaerys. The prince knew people treated him well for their own benefit sometimes, but Lord Stark did not have those ambitions. He was kind to the prince, but would not refrain from correcting him or expressing disagreement just to appease Jacaerys. He was patient, a little oblivious to the jokes Jacaerys made sometimes, but always gave the prince all of his attention when they were together. He smelled like pine trees and coffee. His touch left Jacaerys’ skin tingling.
Jace reached for his goblet with wine, his eyes raising from his dinner plate. Looking around the ballroom, he found Cregan Stark, jaw working as he chewed on a piece of meat, his eyes already set on the prince.
*
Jacaerys danced with his family at the ball until midnight, before retiring to his quarters, chaperoned by Lucerys. The five eldest children all retired early, the next day would be more physically challenging for them, and they had to rest properly.
As he laid down to sleep, Jacaerys mentally went through the steps and moves of his routine for tomorrow. He wanted to put on a good show.
*
Waking up the next day, Jacaerys ate the breakfast the servants brought to him, before putting on the dress selected for the day and sitting at his dressing table so the servants could do his hair and makeup. Today it was non optional, as the hairstyle had to be firm in place, something he couldn’t do properly by himself, and the makeup would also protect his eyes. He had a red riding dress, the skirt at his calves, with tight black pants underneath. The sleeves of his dress were black.
He didn’t mind the slight push and pull at his hair as they groomed him, and soon there was only jewelry left. They put on him a necklace of valyrian steel, gifted to him by his mother, and to her by her uncle, and silver earrings to match.
Looking at his reflection in the mirror, Jace saw his eyes surrounded by black eyeshadow, his lips painted red. The eyeshadow went up to his eyebrows, and out to his temples, almost touching his hairline. It passed the inner corners of his eyes, connecting at his nosebridge. Under his eyes it smudged a bit, and it probably looked like too much applied to his waterline, but Jace knew it was enough for the purpose it had for being there.
Jacaerys thanked his servants when they finished up, and put on his riding boots as a finishing touch. He didn’t put on perfume, he knew Vermax enjoyed his natural scent better.
He headed straight for the Dragon Pit, rehearsing in his head the entire way there.
Vermax was already saddled, as were Arrax and Dreamfyre. Seasmoke always waited for Aemond before coming out, and Aegon liked to saddle Sunfyre himself.
Jace smiled as Vermax turned to him, nibbling at the prince’s hand, as she did since they were both small.
Aemond and Aegon arrived together, the eldest rushing to Sunfyre, who always received him with the enthusiasm of a big dog. Unfortunately, Sunfyre wasn’t the size of a big dog, not even close to even the biggest dog, and her enthusiasm meant she poked Aegon on the chest with her snout, making him fall on his ass.
Lucerys laughed loudly, pointing at Aegon and mocking him. Their brother shushed him ineffectively. Aemond simply rolled his eyes, before calling for Seasmoke. The large dragon came closer to let the keepers saddle him.
Jacaerys waited until his older brothers were both saddled as well, before climbing into his dragon, giving her a soft pat on the neck, before commanding her to go forward.
Shortly after taking flight, Aegon and Aemond passed him, Helaena and Dreamfyre flowing by his side. His sister looked beautiful in their house colors, with Dreamfyre’s scales glowing in the sun.
They flew over the Blackwater Bay, following each other in circles. Jacaerys heard the applause coming from the Red Keep as their audience watched on top of the walls.
The routine was supposed to be quick, but impressive. The dragons would grow impatient of flying in circles after some time, so they had to compensate by flying high and doing dangerous looking drops and turns. After Helaena did a dive into the air, Jace took his chance to command Vermax to go as high as she could. Vermax passed the clouds, going high enough that Jace felt his ears ringing under pressure. He felt water droplets on his face as they went through a small cloud, and once they were high enough, Jace commanded her to go down.
His stomach dropped as they lost height, the wind rushing through him, hitting his face almost painfully, no matter that the dragon tried to provide him some protection with her wings. Seeing the water of the Blackwater Bay getting closer and closer, Jacaerys counted down the seconds, waiting for the perfect time.
“Dracarys!” He shouted at Vermax.
But maybe the perfect time was a bit too late, Jace realized, holding his breath, bracing for impact. Vermax let out a mighty breath of scorching orange flames, the fire spreading out and up against the surface of the water, moments before the dragon dived into the water right in the middle of the flames.
Jace heard Helaena’s muffled voice calling for him, and tried to remain calm as he pulled Vermax up by her reins. The cold water bit at his skin, contrasting with the warmth of Vermax’s scales beneath him. He felt incredibly grateful for his dragon trying to protect him from the wind, realizing that was probably the only thing that kept him from breaking any bones.
As they emerged, he recovered his breath, laughing as Vermax beat her wings, clumsily flying out of the water. So much care for his appearance, thrown into the water, literally. He couldn’t stop laughing. Lucerys came up to him on Arrax, trying to ask if he was alright.
Jace dismissed him, still laughing, and slowly Vermax made her way back into the Dragon Pit.
The keepers did not care to ask Jacaerys if he was alright when he dismounted, and he appreciated them for that, they did not bother to feign any concern they did not have.
His mother soon came to find him, though, but she did not look concerned in the slightest, in fact, she looked amused.
“That was something.”
“It was refreshing.” He shivered as a cold breeze hit him. “I need a warm bath, and a change of clothes.”
“I already asked the servants to warm up the water for you.”
Jacaerys tried to make his way back to his quarters as fast as possible, but he kept being stopped by the guests, lords, ladies and the like, all stopping him to ask if he was ok, if he’d like to be chaperoned, if he wanted a warm cloak. He was swarmed to the point where it was overwhelming.
Eventually, Jacaerys made his way back to his bedroom, and he found the bath, still steaming, just waiting for him. He took his clothes off, deciding to leave on his jewelry to wash the salty water out of them.
Jacaerys lowered himself into the bath, sighing as the hot water warmed his chilled skin. He felt himself melting into the nice feeling of it, and basked in it for a bit, before reaching for the soap bar.
As he was wiping the makeup of his face with some soap and a washcloth, his door burst open. He startled, some of the water sloshing over the rim. Recognizing the trespasser, he pulled his knees up to his chest.
“Cregan?!”
The alpha turned to him, his mouth opening, as if to speak. He froze when his eyes found the prince, and Jacaerys could almost feel his gaze like a touch, warm as it traveled down from his wet hair, to his smudged makeup, his chin, his neck, his collarbones…
Cregan’s eyes widened, he coughed, a furious blush on his cheeks, and turned his back to the prince.
“My apologies.” He started. “Your mother- I mean, Queen Rhaenyra, she said you were ill, terribly so, and that you had called for me, so I thought…” He wondered off. “Well, it doesn’t matter what I thought. You- You seem well, are you well?”
“I just had an accident, riding on Vermax earlier.” Jace explained, marveling at how thrown off Cregan seemed.
“An accident? What happened? Are you hurt?”
“No! Nothing like that, I just miscalculated, and we ended up falling on the water, at the dance on the Blackwater Bay. You weren’t watching?”
“I had to send a raven home. Spent the morning writing letters. I’m a rather slow writer.”
They sat in silence for a bit, Jacaerys staring at Cregan’s back, and Cregan probably staring at his dressing table.
“Cregan.”
“Yes.”
“Could you fetch me my robe, please?”
Jacaerys watched as his shoulders raised while the lord took a deep breath.
“Of course, yes.”
Cregan searched around for the robe, finding it by the closet. He came closer, holding it out for the prince.
“Thank you. Turn back around, please, I’ll be dressed in just a moment.”
The northerner turned, this time facing the wall, his hands crossed together at his back. Jacaerys got up from the bath, carefully slipping on his robe. He made his way to the closet, picking the first clothes he saw before quickly going behind a screen to dress.
“Alright, you can turn back around.”
Cregan turned to him.
“My prince, you still have some…”
“Ah, right.” Jace reached for the wash cloth he was using to clean his face in the bath.
Cregan watched as he rubbed his face with it, taking away the red and black. Clearing his throat, the lord spoke up.
“I’m sorry about your presentation, my prince.”
“Oh no, it’s fine, it happens almost every year, I’m even glad that you missed me embarrassing myself. I suppose Vermax is too big to make turns that fast now…”
“Still, I would have liked to see you flying.”
Jacaerys smiled at him.
“You can see me flying whenever you’d like, my lord.”
They stood, looking into each other’s eyes for a moment. Cregan’s eyes seemed to take in Jace’s face bit by bit.
“You missed a spot, here, let me…” The lord reached for the washcloth, taking it from the prince’s hand.
Jacaerys stood still, his breath caught in his chest as Cregan gently wiped at the corners of his eyes. The prince watched, almost in a trance, the Wolf of the North cleaning his face with dedication, his grey eyes following the fabric as it touched the skin. Cregan cleaned his chin, before going back up to his mouth. Jace could feel his thumb through the cloth, as it lingered on his lower lip, pulling down slightly, and to the side. He felt dizzy, and maybe it was due to the shortness of his breath, as he waited for. Something. Cregan’s eyes locked on his mouth, his lips, but Jacaerys couldn’t look away from the lord’s eyes.
The washcloth fell from Lord Stark’s hands, to the ground, and for a moment, Jace felt the warm touch of his hand on his chin, before Cregan seemed to come back to himself, taking a step away from the prince. He crossed his hands behind his back again.
“I’m glad you’re well. Will I see you at lunch?”
Jacaerys could only nod, he feared that if he spoke up his voice would fail him.
“Good, good.” Lingering for a moment, Cregan seemed reluctant as he made a quick bow before leaving the room.
Jacaerys took a deep breath at the sound of the door closing. Slowly, still in a daze, he made his way to the dressing table, sitting down to try and gather his wits. He looked himself in the mirror, but deciding that he couldn’t face the redness of his cheeks without thinking about the cause, he resolved to stare at the reflection of the bathtub behind him.
*
Walking the halls on his way to the Godswood, Jace got approached by his grand-uncle.
“Jacaerys, your mothers are calling for you.” Daemon said, taking the prince’s arm to guide him to the Small Council’s chamber.
“Now? What’s wrong? Is someone hurt?”
Daemon only shushed him, and Jacaerys had no choice but let himself be taken to his parents.
At the chamber, his mothers waited for him. Alicent paced slowly, occasionally raising her finger to her lips, biting at her cuticles. Rhaenyra sat, an impatient expression on her face. As he walked in, Alicent went to meet him, while Daemon closed the door behind them.
“Mother, what is going on?”
“Jacaerys, you need to be truthful with us, alright? We only have your best interest in mind.”
“Of course, but I don’t understand, did I do something wrong?”
Was this about Lord Stark? Did he spread word of having walked in on the prince taking a bath? Did he somehow twist what happened into the prince throwing himself on him, trying to seduce him?
No. Jacaerys couldn’t believe that. Lord Stark wouldn’t. He didn’t want to believe that he was fooled, played so easily.
“Of course you didn’t.” Rhaenyra growled. “I know my son, Lord Frey speaks only lies, I’m sure of it.”
“Lord Frey?”
Alicent held his hand.
“Jacaerys, this morning your brother Aemond caught Lord Frey as he was speaking to Lord Mallister and Lady Arryn, he accused you of being intentionally provocative and dishonourable. Your brother said he looked about to go into more explicit detail, had he not been stopped.”
Jacaerys felt his stomach dropping. Lord Frey had attempted to spread a rumour. He would have, if Aemond wasn’t at the right place, at the right time to catch him. Despite all of his attention and meticulous care to avoid alphas that could spread gossip, it was still mere luck that had saved him. It did not truly matter how he behaved, if an alpha wanted to harm him and his reputation, they only needed to want to do so.
“Jacaerys, did Lord Frey force himself on you?” Alicent asked, taking Jace back to the present.
His eyes widened as he realized what his mother was thinking, her eyes wet with furious unshed tears.
“No! Mother, I promise, I am still pure, Lord Frey never touched me in that way. He attempted to get closer to me, but I thwarted his attempts. I see now that this must be the reason for his anger towards me.”
Alicent heaved in a deep breath. Jace caressed her hand. She was shaking.
Rhaenyra came to stand beside her wife, hand brushing long auburn curls behind her shoulder.
“I told you. He is our son, he knows we would defend him if something had truly happened.”
Alicent nodded, leaning on Rhaenyra’s side, taking comfort from her touch.
“Where is Lord Frey right now?” Jacaerys asked.
“Aemond has him confined to his guest quarters as we prepare his and his companions return to the Crossing.” Daemon answered.
“I told the servants to report to me immediately if they heard any whispers about you and Lord Frey, no matter how simple.”
“I warned you to be careful.” Daemon quipped.
“I was!” Jace turned to face him. “I never gave him any sign of affection, I barely even talked to him or any other alpha outside our family, save Baela and- ”
“And Lord Stark.” Daemon completed, a cruel smile on his face. “And why, pray tell, is Lord Stark the chosen one to be deserving of your attention? What makes him so special that you stuck to him for almost a whole day, barely talking to any other guests? Who’s to say he won’t be the next in line to start a rumour about your virtue?”
“Uncle, that’s enough.”
“I have no reason to believe Lord Stark would do that.”
“He spent this morning writing letters in his room, his sister said. Who's to say he’s not bragging about your infatuation with him to the whole North? To the whole Realm?”
“He has no reason to do that!”
“Didn’t you think the same about Lord Frey? How can you be so sure that Cregan Stark isn’t playing a game with you? What guarantee do you have that he didn’t lure you into a false sense of security, only to spread a more believable rumour about how he took the Prince of Dragonstone’s virg- ”
“Enough, Daemon.” Rhaenyra barked. She did not need to raise her voice, her tone immediately sending the room into a still silence. “I will not sit and watch as you torture my son with your paranoic delusions. If Lord Stark managed to conquer Jacaerys’ trust in just three days, then he must be the kind of man my son believes him to be.” She stepped between Jacaerys and Daemon. “Send Lord Frey back to his domain with this warning: if he attempts to harm my son or his reputation again, he will fail, I will have his head and Syrax will have his body.”
Daemon pressed his lips together, looking like he wanted to argue.
“My son is no fool, uncle, if he believes in Lord Stark, it’s because he has his reasons, and I trust his judgment. Now, let. This matter. Rest.” Rhaenyra stated, leaning in as she enunciated her words.
Looking to his mother Alicent, Jacaerys watched with humour as her cheeks flushed, probably having all sorts of feelings for the sight of Rhaenyra scolding her uncle in defense of their son.
“That will be all, uncle, you are dismissed.” She straightened, turning to Jacaerys and Alicent. “My love, would you give me a moment with our son? I’ll be brief.”
Alicent accepted, kissing Jacaerys’ cheek before hurrying out after Daemon. The Queen closed the door behind her, leaving Jacaerys and Rhaenyra alone.
Rhaenyra sighed.
“Well, thankfully that got solved rather quickly.” She turned to her son. “How are you, my dear?”
Jace opened his mouth, but no words came. Rhaenyra came closer, caressing his face tenderly,
“I know, but it’s alright now, it’s taken care of.”
“Mother, I… What if- What if Daemon is right? What if Cregan- I mean, Lord Stark, what if he has wrong intentions?”
“Nonsense. You must pay your uncle no mind, Jacaerys, he takes joy in terrorizing those still younger than him, you see.” She pulled him until they sat side by side, on a small cushioned bench by the window. “When I was even younger than you, people said all sorts of things about me, hells, they still say all sorts of things ‘til this day, but you don’t see me losing my mind over it as your uncle would probably want me to. He does not truly care what others say about us, you see. If that was the case, he would never leave his room, people say enough about him to make him worry for a lifetime, maybe more!” She laughed. “He only wishes to see you suffer, my love, don’t give him the pleasure.”
Jace sighed, his mother’s words speaking truth to his heart. And he knew that his grand-uncle wasn’t an evil person, he knew of the love and care he had for his daughters and nephews, Rhaenyra probably being his favorite relative of all. He was just twisted in some way Jacaerys did not yet understand. He found it funny to see Jacaerys squirming in distress, the prince just hadn’t realized yet how far he would go for his own amusement.
“Besides,” Rhaenyra continued. “I wouldn’t worry at all about Lord Stark being insincere in his intentions, if Daemon can’t see that, he’s more of a fool than I thought.”
Jace groaned. “Mother…”
“I’m telling you, that alpha is infatuated with you! A bit fast, for my tastes, seeing that you only know each other for three days now, but I can respect a man that sees what he likes and goes for it. You know it too, you’re only denying yourself a good thing.” She declared, her nose high with pride. “I sent him to your room earlier after we met and talked for a bit, and I wholeheartedly approve of him, I think you’ll find a wonderful mate in him.”
“Mother, you’re getting ahead of yourself again, you do not know for certain that Lord Stark will ask for my courtship, and you do not know that I would accept!”
“Of course you will.” She raised her eyebrows. “You must be forgetting that you’re my son, before anything else,” she looked at his brown curls, his round brown eyes, his pouting lips “Well, alright, you’re mother’s, then mine, but my point is, I know you, better than you know yourself. I know how you act when you like or dislike or only tolerate someone, and you definitely like Lord Stark.”
Jacaerys could only stare at his mother, speechless.
She patted his hand.
“You should tell him about what Lord Frey attempted, if you don’t believe me. If he’s any amount the alpha I think he is, his reaction should be very entertaining.”
*
Jacaerys was still red in the face at his mother’s provocations while he made his way to the Godswood once again. He had to catch himself hurrying his step more than once, thinking only about how he should act when meeting Cregan again.
He saw the alpha standing by the exit to the garden. Waiting for him. The alpha came up to meet him.
“Are you alright? You look disturbed.”
Jace felt his eyebrow raising.
“Do I? I’m sorry, it’s nothing important, really.”
“But it is something.”
“Yes, well…” They both headed into the garden, side by side. “I got some upsetting news after you left me this morning, my mothers were rather furious, though not at me.” At the alpha’s silence, Jacaerys willed himself to continue, thinking of his mother’s words. “It had something to do with Lord Forrest Frey. He, well, he was caught by my brother Aemond, saying some unkind words about me, attempting to start a rumour about me enticing him and being… Intimate, with him.”
Lord Stark stayed silent for some time, seeming to process the prince’s words.
“Is that so.” He finally responded. “And what has the Queen decided to do?”
“Since he didn’t actually succeed in spreading the rumour, he will only be sent back home, but with a warning that he will be executed if he tries this again.”
“Is he detained in his quarters?”
“Yes, I believe so. My brother is guarding him.”
“I see.” The northerner sighed, looking at the weirwood tree. “Don’t pay him any mind, my prince, Lord Frey is an imbecile, he does not deserve to leave you so shaken.”
“You’re right, of course.” Jace nodded. “But, to be honest, what upset me the most were my grand-uncle’s less than kind words to me, he…” The prince trailed off, feeling himself deflating at the memory. “I’m sorry, my lord, I do not wish to speak of it.”
“That is more than fine, my prince. Come, eat, you must be famished.”
Jace let himself be pulled closer to the food table, watching as Cregan filled a plate with bits of each dish for him, feeling endeared that the lord would serve him without even being asked.
They sat by a rose bush, Jacaerys eating slowly and marveling at the hearty flavors, before saying.
“But I will say, Daemon was right in one regard, I barely spoke to anyone else after meeting you. I feel bad, all those lords and ladies were invited here to meet me, and I was, at some point, very excited to meet them, but I haven’t done much of that at all.” He poked a bit of mashed potatoes with his fork. “Maybe I should leave you for a bit, and go commingle with the other guests.”
“Is that what you think?” Jacaerys nodded. “I disagree.”
Lord Stark did not elaborate, simply putting more food in his mouth. Jace left out a shocked laugh, smiling at the lord.
“Why, Lord Stark, to think you would be so clingy!”
Cregan hummed.
“I am. I came here from the North out of duty, a duty to answer the call of your mother Queen, and on the road ‘til here I prepared for the most boring week of my life, and readied myself to have no one except my own companions worth talking to.” He looked back at the prince. “But now I’ve met you, and I’ve met most of the lords and ladies here, they’re not half your worth, believe me. You’re the only one worth talking to in here.”
Jacaerys felt encouraged by those words, leaning on the northerner’s shoulder.
“Certainly not the only one, my lord.”
Cregan turned to face him, his eyes seeming in disbelief as they darted around the prince’s face. He seemed to find what he was looking for, as he sighed, leaning back into Jacaerys’ shoulder.
*
Jacaerys walked into the Queen’s Ballroom that night, wearing a dark blue gown, with silver accents and detailings that seemed to portray the southern night sky.
People were already dancing and dining when he arrived, and before he could venture further into the mass of people, a tall figure came up to him
“Prince Jacaerys, dance with me.” Sara Snow said, offering her hand up to Jace.
She hadn’t asked, really, which usually would annoy Jace, but she was so earnest that he only laughed, placing his hand on hers.
Sara led him through a dance, not too slow to be overly intimate, and not too fast that they couldn’t talk.
“I must say, prince Jacaerys, when my brother said we had to come to the South, I expected to see only stuffy nobles, naked whores and bastards everywhere, but you southerners know how to throw a party!”
“I’m glad you’re having fun, my lady.”
“I’m not a lady, my prince, just a bastard Snow, myself.”
“Yes, your brother told me so. But I don’t know many bastards who travel with their sire’s family.”
“Aye, I’m lucky enough to have my brother. He’s the one who insisted on looking after me after our father’s death. I was eight when they took me to Winterfell.”
Jace felt his heart warming, both for Sara, and at the thought of Cregan being so dedicated to his family.
“Lord Stark is surely kind, taking care of his youngest sister.”
Sara barked out a laugh.
“Kind! I’m sorry, my prince, I just- ” she laughed some more. “Cregan Stark, the ‘Kind’, that’s a new one, for sure!” Shaking her head, Sara let her laughter die down. “I don’t know what kind of lies that rabid wolf has told you, my prince, but my brother is anything but ‘kind’. Honourable, yes, I would say so. He did take me in, but as kids his fat ass beat me around the training yard so often I almost flattened into a sheet.” Jace’s confusion must have shown on his face, as Sara smiled. “Oh, you precious thing, he has you fooled into thinking him some soft spoken lord, some chivalrous knight?”
“He has fooled me into nothing, I assure you.”
Sara laughed again.
“Aye, I’m sure he hasn’t, not on purpose, at least. He did say you’re smarter than most maesters.”
Jacaerys felt his face warming up.
“I wouldn’t say that…”
“Yes, he said you’re humble, too.” Sara seemed satisfied with that. “Worry not, prince Jacaerys, my brother may be a brute, but he’s an honest one. If he’s shown you kindness, it’s because he must think you’re someone to be treated that way, like a treasure.”
The prince looked into her dark eyes, contemplating the alpha.
“Sara… Will Cregan ask for my courtship?”
Her smile grew, a glint in her eye.
“Why, my prince, are you going to reject him?”
“I… I don’t know.”
Sara leaned closer, almost like she was trying to scent him. She hummed.
“I think you already know the answer to your question. Should I tell him not to?”
“What?”
“You heard me well, prince Jacaerys, should I tell Cregan not to ask for your courtship? He wouldn’t, if I told him not to.”
Jacaerys looked over her shoulder, around the Ballroom. He thought about those last three days, about writing the letters, waiting for the sight that never came, of northerners from Winterfell arriving at King’s Landing. He thought about the night he met Cregan in the kitchen, about how the Lord had treated him as if they were equals. He thought about Cregan’s strong arm beneath his hand as he was guided to and from gatherings. About his hand carefully cleaning Jacaerys’ face earlier that day. The thrill that ran through his body at the mere feeling of Cregan’s hand on his chin.
“You shouldn’t, no.” He whispered to Sara, unable to look her in the eyes, his face burning furiously.
Sara seemed more than satisfied by his answer, taking him in her arms and raising him from the floor in a spin.
*
Sara did not let go of Jacaerys after they ended their dance, pulling him along to where the northerners stood in a circle of animated conversation, each of them nursing their own mug of ale, Cregan as well. Their Lord seemed grumpy, glaring at Sara as she arrived with the prince in her arm. She rolled her eyes.
“Quit making that face, you mutt! We just chatted, here, he’s all yours.” She said, maybe a little drunk in the way she pushed Jace a little too strongly in Cregan’s direction.
The alpha’s mug sloshed a bit in his hurry to support the prince. He sent another glare in Sara’s direction.
“Are you alright, Your Grace? We saw the dive you took earlier, it was from quite up high.” Sir Lyon asked.
“I am alright, thank you for your concern, sir. I only failed to adapt to my dragon’s most recent growth spurt, is all.”
Sir Robb nodded into his mug, taking a sip.
“A formidable beast, indeed, my prince, even if not as big or golden as those of your brothers and sisters, she is quite the spectacle to look at.”
“A fine match for her rider.” Sir Lyon offered.
Sara Snow laughed loudly, poking at Cregan’s face before he batted her hand away.
“You’re too kind, sir.”
“That is something no one ever said about a northerner.” Sir Robb laughed. “We’re truthful, honest, maybe too sincere sometimes, aye, but kind? No, I do not think so.”
“I’m lucky to be among you, then. I do believe that kindness is empty without sincerity.”
The northerners contemplated him, pleased expressions in their square faces.
“A fine match indeed.” Sir Lyonel muttered.
The music in the ballroom stopped, and as the musicians prepared for the next song, Sara nudged Cregan.
“Brother, invite prince Jacaerys to a dance.”
“Sara, could you be any less of a- ”
“Maybe you’re waiting for my invite, Lord Stark?” Jace teased, smiling playfully at the alpha.
The northerners raised their eyebrows, turning to Cregan to wait for his response. The alpha looked around, visibly uncomfortable at being put at the center of the scene. He sighed, offering his hand to the prince.
“Would you like to dance, my prince?”
Jace laughed, placing his hand on top of Cregan’s.
“I thought you would never ask.”
The pair walked to the dancefloor. Cregan placed his arm around Jacaerys’ waist, pulling the prince close as he rested his hand on the alpha’s shoulder.
The song started, and the prince let himself be guided through the steps, both of them flowing between the other pairs.
“Hadn’t I forced your hand, would you still have asked me to dance?”
Cregan laughed.
“I would. I promise that no one could pressure me into a dance if I truly didn’t wish to do so. Not even you.”
“Not even me, huh…” The prince mused. “I’m glad to know that.”
Cregan guided him into a spin, before pulling him close again.
“Whatever it is that my sister told you, you should know she’s a crazy person. She has hallucinations, her word is not to be trusted.”
“Oh, that’s unfortunate, she said some things that made me so happy.”
“What did she say?”
“Does it matter? Now I know those were all delusions of a crazy woman.”
“Please.” Cregan stressed, his eyes piercing into the prince’s. “What did she say?”
Jace admired the alpha’s handsome face, contorted into a somewhat desperate expression as he pleaded for his sister’s words, pleaded to know what made Jacaerys happy.
“She said you’re going to ask for my courtship.” He said, his voice barely higher than a whisper, as if he was telling a secret.
He felt the alpha’s hand tightening on his waist. His heart beating faster as Cregan leaned in closer to him.
“Yeah? That’s what made you happy?”
In the back of Jacaerys’ mind, he wanted to worry and fret over speaking in such an intimate manner where everyone could see. He wanted to tell himself to stop, to take Cregan to some place more private where they could discuss this without all of the eyes he could feel on them. There were a thousand reasons to worry about how they would look, his family, Cregan’s family, both of their reputations, Jace could spend the rest of his life counting the reasons. But he only needed one reason to not care about any of them, and it was right in front of him.
Leaning forward, he rested his forehead on Cregan’s, watching as the alpha blinked slowly, his jaw clenching as he swallowed. The tips of their noses brushing together.
“Yes, that made me very happy.”
*
Needless to say, Jacaerys and Cregan stayed close to each other through the rest of the ball. Much to Jace’s joy and embarrassment, the Velaryons came to them, speaking of congratulations and plans to travel from Driftmark to Winterfell in the future. As Baela started speaking of children, demanding to have one named after her, Jacaerys cut her off, telling her to go stuff her face with dessert. She went, laughing at him all the way.
Together, Jacaerys and Cregan probably spoke to more guests that night than both of them individually had that week. Lannisters, Tullys, Arryns, even the Baratheons came to speak with them. Jace supposed they were curious to meet both of them, but also to see what they were like together.
Not one other person tried asking any of them to dance, and as expected, they danced together again, two more songs. When there came a time where Jacaerys’ stomach was demanding for food, Cregan reluctantly guided him to the royal family’s table, leading him up the steps by hand.
“When you’re ready to go to bed, come find me, I wish to accompany you.” The Wolf of the North told him.
Jacaerys agreed, whispering a goodbye before turning to sit beside his mother Alicent. He regretted turning to look at her and Aegon, who were sitting together, smug smiles on their faces as they looked at Jace.
“Your mother will never shut up about this.” Alicent said.
Jacaerys sighed. “She does love being right.”
“Boohoo! What’s it to you? You’re moving all the way up North where you can’t hear her bragging about how she smelled Lord Stark’s hornyness for the next twenty years!” Aegon whined, earning a slap on the arm from their mother. “Ouch! What? It’s true! By the end of this week he and Vermax will be well on their way to Winterfell.”
Jace wrinkled his nose. “Would that be so bad? I can still come visit.”
“Oh, by the Sevens, he really wants to go, he’s not even denying the ‘by the end of the week’ bit.”
“I suppose congratulations are in order, dear brother.” Aemond’s voice came from behind Jacaerys, and he turned to see his brother taking the seat beside him. “Never thought it would be true that Starks melt when they come down to the South.”
“I am actually ready to go North. Tonight, maybe.”
“Wow, Jace, calm down, there’s no need to hurry, you’ll have plenty of time to get rowdy and knotted after tying yourself down to the Wolf.” Aegon teased, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
Jacaerys groaned, hiding his burning cheeks in his hands while his brothers laughed at him and his mother scolded them.
“I think it’s sweet, Jace. You will be happy with him, the North will love you as their own. The Wolf’s Delight.” Helaena stated.
Her words warmed Jacaerys’ heart, and gave him a sense of security only his sister’s predictions could provide. The whole family knew Helaena’s dreamed in ways that were a rare heirloom of the Targaryen bloodline. What she saw in the peace of her slumber often came out to provoke her when she was awake.
“Thank you, sister. I shall allow only you and Dreamfyre to come visit me in the North.”
“What about Lucerys?”
“No, he will tease me too, I’m sure of it.”
Thankfully, Jacaerys did not see his mother Rhaenyra, whose teasing he dreaded the most, nor did he see his grand-uncle, which made him a bit disappointed. He was his mother’s son, after all, and like her, he loved to be right.
*
Some hours after midnight, a little wine drunk and giggling along a tale Aegon told most enthusiastically, Jacaerys felt the weariness of the day weighing on his bones. He got up from his seat, bidding his family goodnight, and quickly found Cregan, already getting up to meet him. He went to the alpha, taking the arm that was offered to him.
They walked all the way to Jacaerys’ room in a comfortable silence, the prince smiling to himself, a giddy feeling in his chest, like laughter wanting to bubble out.
He could tell Cregan was happy too, a strong, but comforting scent of pines coming from him, making Jacaerys feel as if he was taking a walk through the woods.
Stopping in front of his door, Jacaerys turned to his alpha, not wanting to leave him yet. Cregan still had his hand in his hold.
“I will speak to the Queen tomorrow, to get her approval.” He said.
Jace giggled.
“I feel like I already know her answer, she teased me enough about it earlier.”
The Wolf of the North smiled at that.
“I’m glad. I’m lucky enough that you accepted me, as it is, if she approves already I shall spend the rest of my life believing in the gods and praying to them.”
“The Old Gods, or the Seven?”
“Does it matter?”
Jacaerys shook his head. “It doesn’t.”
Cregan laughed, a husky sound that wrapped around the prince’s heart, squeezing it tight.
“Would you- ” Jace blurted, his cheeks reddening as he realized what he was about to ask.
Lord Stark hummed, waiting for him to continue. Jacaerys cleared his throat, mustering up his courage.
“Would you like to come in?” He finally asked, voice no higher than a whisper, legs becoming weak as he saw the lord’s pupils dilating, his nostrils flaring.
The alpha nodded slowly, his eyes set on the prince as he turned to open the door. Hand on Jace’s lower back, Cregan guided the omega into the bedroom, closing and locking the door behind himself, before pushing Jacaerys up against it.
Jacaerys threw his arms around the alpha’s shoulders, feeling his strong arms closing around his waist as their lips finally came together. Cregan growled into the kiss, sucking and nibbling on the prince’s lower lip, before distributing quick short kisses on his lips, chin and tip of the nose.
Jace smiled into the kisses, feeling warm, even on a rather chilly summer night. Said warmth pooled in his lower stomach, growing hotter as Cregan’s kisses moved to his neck, burning him inside out like lava at the feeling of teeth and tongue tasting his skin.
Before he could stop himself, he made a sound. A moan. He tried pressing his legs together, almost startling at the wet feeling between his thighs. The pressure of his legs closing rubbed up at his cunt, teasing its lips. The prince helplessly whimpered at the feeling, pressing his forehead on the alpha’s shoulder.
Immediately understanding his needs, Cregan’s mouth found his once again, and this time their tongues met, the wet, hot feeling of the alpha’s mouth almost distracting Jacaerys from Cregan’s hands hurriedly bunching up his skirts, cold fingers making him shiver as they hastily pushed aside his underclothes, touching his skin. Touching his cunt.
Jace moaned into the kiss, leaning on the alpha, his grip tightening on his shoulders, as Cregan’s fingers played with his lips, teasing at his clit, letting themselves get wet on his slick until they were almost slipping against Jacaerys’ skin. Once the fingers were warm and wet enough, Cregan teased at his entrance.
Jacaerys tore himself away from the kiss, gasping for air. Cregan’s lips went to his cheek, kissing it soundly before he adjusted his grip on the prince, raising one of his legs and hooking his arm under the knee to keep it up.
“Wait.” Jace whimpered. Cregan did not wait, his fingers searching for his cunt again. “Cregan, wait, please!”
That made the alpha pause, furrowing his brow at the prince, who hurriedly kissed at the crease to appease him.
“Not against the door, someone might hear us.”
“Let them.” The alpha whispered. “You’re mine, anyone snooping around should know that. You chose me.”
Jace giggled at the alpha’s petulant tone, kissing him shortly on the lips.
“Oh, then I suppose it’s fine if anyone snooping around learns how I sound in this state?”
The crease between Cregan’s eyebrows came back. Jacaerys considered himself the victor of this argument as the alpha took him in his arms, carrying him to the bed.
Carefully laying the prince down on his soft mattress, the Warden of the North crawled over him, grinding his hips down against the omega’s cunt.
“You make me a fool, my prince. Can you feel what I had to endure these last few days?” He said, making his point by grinding his hips down again, letting Jacaerys feel the thick length he kept in his pants.
“I-I have an idea, yes.”
Reaching under Jacaerys’ skirts again, Cregan wasted no time before finding his cunt again, slowly inserting a warm slicked up finger while he mouthed at the prince’s collarbones.
Grabbing at the back of Lord Stark’s clothes, Jacaerys found himself thinking how he could ever possibly take the alpha’s knot, if he was already this breathless at a mere finger. His body burned at the feeling of Cregan’s hand against his pussy, his thumb circling at the clit while his middle finger made an in and out motion inside the prince.
As he started to feel used to the feeling of one finger, the alpha pushed in another one, taking a louder moan from the prince, who arched off the bedding, blinking rapidly, trying to clear his vision.
He called the alpha’s name, encouraging him to keep going. Cregan growled lowly, his movements growing faster by the minute. He balanced himself on his elbow, placed by the prince’s head on the bed, lowering himself until their noses touched. He watched, almost unblinking, as Jacaerys squirmed and whined on his fingers.
Jacaerys grabbed at the alpha, not knowing whether he did so to ground himself, or to appeal to Cregan’s mercy. He twisted and arched on the bed, his feet dangling off the edge of the mattress. He felt himself getting closer to his orgasm, recognizing the feeling from his own nights where he would pleasure himself, but what he didn’t recognize was the intensity of this feeling, overwhelming to the point where it frightened him. He felt his chest tingling, his nipples no doubt hardened beneath his gown, a pressure in his cunt and lower belly, making him aware of the wet sounds echoing from the walls along with his moans, higher and more breathless, desperate every time Cregan twisted his wrist or circled his thumb just the right way.
He was kissed once again, their tongues meeting in a wet, breathless battle. Cregan ground down into him one more time, and the feeling of his cock, hard just by touching the prince, was enough to tip Jacaerys over into an orgasm. The prince moaned, shocked as the feeling prolonged itself, his body shaking and pulsing through it. His shaking hands grasped at the alpha’s arms, his eyes closed as the room seemed to spin around them.
Cregan shushed him softly, hand gradually slowing down against his cunt, easing the prince through the aftershocks as he kissed his chin and jaw, treasuring every sigh and whimper the boy let out.
As Jacaerys soul seemed to slowly make its way back to his body, he gathered his breath, feeling his pussy tingling as Cregan pulled his fingers out, sticking into his mouth immediately after, sucking on them, tasting Jacaerys’ cum.
The prince smiled, before looking down at the lord’s trousers, pondering if he should risk embarrassing himself to pay back for Lord Stark’s ministrations. Following his line of sight, the northerner likely realized what the prince was thinking.
“Ah, it’s alright, my prince, I already- ” he coughed, “I already finished.”
Jacaerys raised his eyebrows.
“What? How? When did you…” He blushed, trailing off as he finally realized what the alpha’s words meant.
“I was rather pent up, you see.” Lord Stark was also quite red in the face.
Jace smiled up at him, taking his handsome face in his hands, pulling him down for a quick kiss.
“Oh, you poor, tortured soul.” He teased, kissing his alpha once more.
Cregan laughed into the kiss, giving back a few of his own. They stayed like that for a moment, maybe many moments, laying together in each other’s arms, trading kisses and caresses.
When it became late enough that the prince could not keep his eyes open for long, Cregan got up from the bed, much to the omega’s displeasure.
“I must go.” He said, bending to kiss him once more. “It would not do if someone saw me leaving in the morning, I must leave while the castle still sleeps.”
“Let them, you’re mine.” Jacaerys whispered into his lips.
Cregan growled softly at the provocation, taking the prince’s lips once more, pressing him into the bed.
“You’re a vixen, sent to test me. I really must go.” He kissed him once again. “I will see you tomorrow, after I speak to your mother.”
Jace sighed, but accepted this. He turned in his bed, the exhaustion of the night taking him to a dreamless sleep before he could even hear the door closing behind the alpha as he left.
*
When the prince woke the next morning, he knew he had slept in a bit, the sun already a bit high in the sky, coming in through his window and shining on his face. It was a bit uncomfortable to sleep in a party gown, but as he turned and stretched, he realized Cregan must have taken his boots off for him and put him under the covers before leaving, and he smothered a smile into his pillow at the thought.
He called for a servant, asking to have a bath prepared for him. While he waited for the bathtub and hot water to be set into place, he selected his clothes. Looking through his autumn and winter cloaks and furs, he realised that he would probably need something warmer if he was to move up north.
Jacaerys bathed, shivering at the memories of the night before as he washed himself between the legs. An irrational part of him said not to wash too diligently, as if he could erase the feeling of Cregan’s touch with some warm water and soap. He stayed in the bath until the water started to cool down, no longer steaming. His fingers were already pruny when he rose up from the water, tying his robe around himself and drying off before putting on a light green dress.
Jacaerys decided to linger in his room for a bit, not in a hurry to go to the day’s guest event, a theater presentation, a retelling of the story of Aegon the Conqueror, Visenya and Rhaenys Targaryen. Instead, Jace stayed by a window in his room, reading a book that once was his favorite, a compilation of stories about different lords and ladies of the Seven Kingdoms, it told histories of battles, feats and myths they were known for.
A knock sounded on his door, and he called for whoever it was to enter. It was his mother, Rhaenyra.
“Good morrow, mother, how are you?” He greeted her, already guessing why she came to him by the wide smile on her face.
“Why, I am ecstatic, Jacaerys, thank you for asking!” She sat by his side. “I have seven beautiful children, a gorgeous loyal wife, a flourishing realm, and now my treasured favorite son is getting courted by the only alpha I could even deem worthy of him, so I really have no complaints.”
Jacaerys’ cheeks hurt from smiling so wide.
“Don’t let Aegon know he’s not your favorite.”
“Eh, he’s already first in line to the throne, he can handle being third in line for the title of favorite child.”
“Lucerys is the second.”
“Lucerys is the second.” She confirmed.
Rhaenyra hugged her son, holding him tight and close to her chest.
“Why did you have to grow so fast? How could I ever give my baby away to another alpha?”
Jacaerys placed his arms around her waist, laying his head on her shoulder.
“You’re not giving me away. I’ll forever be your’s and mother’s, every time people look at me, they will see the two of you as well.” He smiled, at her, and to himself. “Well, except Cregan, when he looks at me, I think he only sees me.”
The Queen laughed, the soft shaking of her body comforting her son.
“Oh yes, and I imagine he quite likes the sight.” She teased. “You should have seen him as he came to speak to me just now, he did well enough trying to remain firm and composed, but I know an alpha that is readying himself to fight if needed when I see one. That alpha would not have given up so easily if I refused him, Jace, and I admire him even more for that.”
The prince smiled, sighing into his mother’s arms.
“I am really happy, mother, I hope to be doing what’s right. I can’t help but feeling that this all happened so fast, I could be doing something that will cost us in the future. I’m your only omega child, and I can no longer be of use in a political marriage, I can’t bring you new lands, strengthen political alliances by giving children to some lord, lady or prince from far away. Instead I can only be grateful to you, you’re letting me have a courtship born out of true affection, and I can’t thank you enough for that.”
“Your mother and I never wanted anything from you except your happiness, Jacaerys. You don’t need to earn our gratitude or our love, it’s already yours, by being our son you have it.” The Queen kissed the top of his head tenderly, scratching at his scalp. “Now, I must go find your mother and leave you to your betrothed. He’s right outside.”
She kissed him one last time, on the forehead, before turning to the door. He heard her softly greeting Cregan before disappearing in the hall, and shortly after, the alpha walked in.
The Wolf of the North came up to him, leaning down to kiss his lips, then his cheek. He kneeled down in front of the prince, reaching into his pocket for a small wooden box.
“I brought you a gift.” He offered the box to Jacaerys.
The prince opened it, revealing a small golden brooch in the shape of house Stark’s sigil, its eyes engraved with rubies.
“It’s beautiful, thank you.”
“You’ll receive more, of course, some like this one, some different, I have them ready for you, back in the North. Which is why I wanted to ask you,” he took Jacaerys’ hands into his, gazing into his brown eyes. “Come to Winterfell, at the end of this week, or the start of the next one, whichever you prefer. Saddle up your dragon, Vermax, and fly up North to me. Let me introduce you to my home land, my people. Let me show you how they’re worthy of you, ruling them by my side.”
The prince stared into the grey, stormy eyes he came to love so much, wondering at how the alpha could know the exact words Jacaerys had earned for all his life, even when the prince couldn’t have expressed them himself. Maybe this was love, to have someone desperate to give you what you desire the most, to be just as desperate to give them the same in return.
“My Lord Stark,” he said, breathless, leaning in to kiss his lips soundly “Nothing in this world would make me happier.”
*
At the end of the week for Prince Jacaerys Targaryen’s nameday celebration, Lord Cregan Stark and his companions parted on their way back home to Winterfell. The next week, through tearful farewells and promises of visiting soon, Prince Jacaerys mounted his dragon and took flight, headed for the North. When he arrived, it is said that Lord Stark surprised him with a celebration to his coming that lasted all of three days, an atypically long time celebrating, by northern standards. Prince Jacaerys was easily accepted by the people of Winterfell, and took to Lord Stark’s firstborn, Rickon, as if he was his own. After four months of courtship, they decided on holding two wedding ceremonies, riding back to King’s Landing to marry before the Seven, then coming back to Winterfell to marry before the Old Gods.
It was said that lords and ladies sworn to house Stark would try to appease or win Lord Stark’s favor by bringing gifts for Prince Jacaerys, but the Wolf’s Delight was the only who could truly sway the Lord’s opinions, and thankfully for all of house Stark, he was very politically savvy and not easily fooled.
Prince Jacaerys Stark and Lord Cregan Stark remained loyal and by each other's side until the very end of their lives and after. Together they made little Rickon Stark an older brother to nine children.