Because I Know You | Jacaerys Velaryon x reader
I am obsessed with the way Emma D'Arcy plays Rhaenyra. They literally had me in tears while I watched the second episode.
You have no idea how much I love writing about Jace. Please send me requests/ideas!!
Warning: English is not my first language, angst to fluff, reader is a dragon rider but her appearance is not mentioned, Jace is alive and well!!
She sat outside the castle, the Queen's words echoing in her mind.
"Why would the Gods take him and leave you instead?"
She stared at the horizon as the sun slowly sank beneath it. Tears streamed silently down her cheeks.
She knew it was her fault.
She could have stopped him. She could have found another way. But she hadn't. She had gone with him, and now he was gone.
At least, that was what everyone believed.
"May his soul rest in peace"
She desperately wanted to believe that they were wrong, that he was alive, that he had managed to swim ashore. But she had searched every stretch of coastline near the battle, every piece of wreckage she could find.
High above, Vermax circled the skies, his wounded body visible even from a distance. His anguished cries carried through the air, each one twisting the knife deeper into her heart.
Her own dragon hovered nearby, watching him carefully, every movement betraying her protective instincts.
She thought about their midnight flights, when just two of them would fly without any worries or responsibilities.
Just two of them, up in the sky beside stars, cherishing the quiet moments when they weren't heirs or warriors - just a boy and a girl forced to grow up too fast.
In these moments, they were free. Free from expectations, from rumors and prying eyes waiting for their fall.
Something broke inside her.
She couldn't just sit still when he was out there somewhere.
She called for her dragon. She was still in her riding leathers, she couldn't find the strength in herself to take it off.
She knew she was disobeying the Queen's orders again, that she would face consequences of her actions.
Her father would be worried sick when he learned that she had disappeared. But she needed to do that.
She couldn't go back to the castle without him, where every corner was full of his presence.
She mounted her dragon and didn't look back. If she did, maybe she would have noticed Rhaenyra watching her from the window of her chambers.
Moon shone brighter than ever that night. The stars seemed to be closer than usual. She felt like the Gods tried to help her find him.
Exhaustion was clinging to her from every side. She fought her own limits, pushed herself harder, hoping that she would see him.
She didn't want to admit that. She hated herself for even thinking that way, but the hours passed by and she still hadn't seen any sign that he was alive.
The sky was clear, the sun was rising, the sea was calm. If she gave up now, she would never forgive herself.
She flew low. She could clearly see her reflection in the water. She barely recognized herself.
Her hair was tangled by the wind, her face streaked with dried tears, her eyes hollow from sleeplessness.
She was far away from home, she knew that. Maybe too far away. Maybe she was just wasting time. Maybe everyone had been right. Maybe he really was gone.
"The sea gives and the sea takes"
His words echoed in her mind.
Why would Gods be so cruel and take him away from her?
He would have made a wonderful king. Maybe the greatest in history.
The sea had taken him from her, and all the sea had given her was pain and suffering.
Suddenly her dragon let out a low rumble and turned sharply to the left.
She leaned forward, scanning the endless expanse of the sea.
At first, she saw nothing but broken pieces of ships rising and falling with the waves.
Her dragon, as if sensing her rider's thoughts, flew there immediately.
He was clinging to a piece of driftwood.
Bedraggled, exhausted, but alive.
For one heartbeat, she simply stared at him, unable to believe her own eyes.
His name slipped from her lips in a trembling whisper as she reached for him.
He was pale, his skin was cold, but his eyes...
His eyes said everything. They held fear, relief, and absolute adoration.
She helped him get onto the dragon. He was weak, he had lost a lot of blood. The arrows were still stuck in him.
Even in this state, he smiled at her and said four simple words.
As though he had never doubted it.
As though the endless sea had never frightened him.
As though finding him had always been inevitable.
A broken, tearful laugh she left her throat.
"You're impossible, You should have doubted me just this once"
"I couldn't. Because I know you "
Those words shattered what little composure she had left. His unwavering faith in her melted away every fear she had carried since the battle.
She wrapped her arms around him, holding him as tightly as she dared. Tears spilled freely down her cheeks as she buried her face against him.
Meanwhile, on Dragonstone, Rhaenyra paced relentlessly around her chambers.
She had lost her firstborn.
Her son who had stood beside her through everything.
The child that had made her a mother.
Her other sons were sent away. Lucerys was dead, lost in the sea. And now, her trusted dragonrider flew away.
She wanted to give up, she had paid too high price for the throne.
She hadn't even noticed Daemon entering the room. She didn't hear the noise rising outside the chambers. It was as though she she stood behind an invisible wall that separated her from the rest of the world.
One sentence broke through.
"They came back. Jacaerys is alive"
Rhaenyra had never in her life run this fast. When she entered the Dragonpit, she could barely breathe.
She saw dragonrider kneeling and gently supporting Jacaerys's head, as maesters were putting him onto a stretcher.
The weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
The crushing weight pressing against her chest vanished in an instant.
The Queen watched as the maesters hurried him toward the castle. Then she turned to the girl. In three quick steps she was in front of her. The girl lowered her head, expecting the Queen's fury.
Arms wrapped tightly around her.
Rhaenyra embraced her, as though she feared letting go would make this another dream.
Then, against her shoulder, she heard two words she never thought the Queen would say.
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