Julianna Velaryon @dragxnsnfire - Tumblr Blog

#while I play crusader kings...

| Starter Call | Like this for a small thing, length will vary from one-liners to multi-paragraph. Please, don't hesitate to reach out to plot. I don't bite.

Her lips parted, but no words came at first. The feel of his hand around hers, the way he pressed it to his chest like she was the only thing keeping him upright—it shattered something in her. "I do believe you," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "That is the problem."

She stepped closer, close enough to feel the heat of him, the ache of everything they were not allowed to be. "If I didn’t believe you, it would be easier to walk away." Her gaze flickered down to where their hands were joined, held tight between them. "But I do. And gods help me, I always have."

There was suddenly a relief flooding through him when she stepped closer to him. It was as though she were surrendering the life of happiness that was awaiting her for this, for him, for them. It was something that he wanted to wrap them both in without fear of letting anyone take it away from them.

"Then walk away." he softly urged, hopeful with each word he spoke. "Walk away. I'll help you and we can leave together. It'll just be you and I."

Her breath hitched, and for a moment she looked ready to say yes. "Don’t say it like that," she whispered, fingers tightening around his. "Don’t make it sound like I haven’t imagined it."

She pulled back just enough to meet his eyes. "If I walked away, I wouldn’t just be leaving a life. I’d be burning everything behind me, and I don’t know if I’m strong enough to live with what it would cost you… What it would make of you." Her thumb brushed his knuckles tenderly. "Loving you was never the hard part. It’s surviving the consequences that frightens me."

Julianna's eyes stayed on the fire for a moment longer before she spoke, her voice quiet but steady. "Your words do ease me. I know she loves us—I’ve never doubted that. Only… with all that’s happened, I fear there’s little room left for what I want."

She looked back to Rhaenys, the flicker of candlelight dancing in her gaze. "I will speak with her. Not tonight, but when I can say the words without wavering. When they are truly mine." A pause, then softer, more certain, "I do still believe there can be happiness. For all of us. Even now."

"I am glad to put you at ease." Rhaenys said. "You'll need to make sure that it doesn't happen. And you know your mother wouldn't want that to happen either."

A nod from her. "You can't rush something like that so once you have the words you know I will be here for you." Rhaenys said. A small hum from her. She wasn't quite so certain of that not with all of the blood that had been spilt on both sides. "Maybe, but we'll have to see."

Julianna gave a small, determined nod, her fingers brushing lightly against the cool stone of the window frame. "I know," she said softly. "I will not let it happen, not if I can help it. And I know she would want the same."

She paused, her gaze drifting toward the dark sea beyond the walls, voice barely above a whisper. "I will find the words…when the time is right. And I am grateful you will be here when I do. Even if the world feels so…fractured."

Julianna’s eyes searched his, her heart thudding painfully in her chest. "We leave and go where?" She asked quietly. "To Essos?" The idea clung to her, tempting, dangerous. A life with him. Just them.

Her fingers trembled against his wrist. "You make it sound so easy," she whispered. "But nothing about us ever was." A beat passed. Then softer still, "if I ran... would you still love me once the storm passed?"

He could imagine a life with her across The Narrow Sea, could imagine the burden of responsibility being lifted off of her shoulders once they were aboard a ship together. That was something that Rand could allow himself to dream of when the anxiousness of losing her became overwhelming.

"Why wouldn't I still love you?" he questioned as he gently took hold of her hand and clutched it to his chest in an effort to get closer to her. "I can't imagine a time where I wouldn't love you. I need you to believe that."

Her lips parted, but no words came at first. The feel of his hand around hers, the way he pressed it to his chest like she was the only thing keeping him upright—it shattered something in her. "I do believe you," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "That is the problem."

She stepped closer, close enough to feel the heat of him, the ache of everything they were not allowed to be. "If I didn’t believe you, it would be easier to walk away." Her gaze flickered down to where their hands were joined, held tight between them. "But I do. And gods help me, I always have."

| Starter Call | Like this for a small thing, length will vary from one-liners to multi-paragraph. Please, don't hesitate to reach out to plot. I don't bite.

Her breath caught at his touch, eyes fluttering shut for just a moment. The warmth of his hand, the softness of his voice—it all made her ache in ways she tried so hard to hide. "Don’t..." She whispered, though she didn’t pull away. Her fingers found his wrist, not to stop him—but to feel him. Just for a little longer.

"I know you would’ve come," she said, voice low. "And that’s what makes this harder." Her eyes met his again, and the grief in them was impossible to hide. "I wish we’d met in another life. One where I wasn’t promised to someone else. One where I could choose." She held his wrist just a moment longer, then murmured, "but this isn’t that life… is it?"

His own selfishness kicked in over the touch of her hand to his wrist, the look in her eyes. He hated to see her upset. It tore him apart inside to witness it, knowing that nothing he could do could help her. She deserved more than this, he just knew that she wouldn't grasp for it seeing as the decision had already been made.

"It could be." he finally said with a certainty that he wasn't sure he actually felt. He could do this, he could make things easier for her. Wasn't that what you did when you loved someone? "It could be this life. You and I...we can leave right now. Who's here to stop us? Just you and me. It's that easy."

Julianna’s eyes searched his, her heart thudding painfully in her chest. "We leave and go where?" She asked quietly. "To Essos?" The idea clung to her, tempting, dangerous. A life with him. Just them.

Her fingers trembled against his wrist. "You make it sound so easy," she whispered. "But nothing about us ever was." A beat passed. Then softer still, "if I ran... would you still love me once the storm passed?"

Julianna’s shoulders eased just a little at Baela’s warmth, the smallest flicker of relief in the weight pressing on her chest.

"A walk sounds… wonderful," she said softly, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "It’s too late for anything else, but not for a little air." She hesitated, then glanced toward the distant end of the hall. "I think I need to remind myself there’s more to this place than whispers and stares."

baela herself felt more at ease upon hearing julianna react positively to her offer. she smiled, taking a step to the side while smoothing the fabric of her skirts. ❝it might help you clear your mind,❞ she replied, then a small sigh escaped her lips. ❝the gods know that we all sometimes need a reminder of that.❞

baela offered her cousin an arm, thinking of what could lift her spirits as they started walking down the hallway. ❝if you have a free morning on the morrow, we could go for a ride together.❞

#of wine and blood #𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐕𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧 | threads

Julianna glanced at Baela’s offered arm and hesitated for only a moment before slipping her own gently into the crook of it. The simple gesture was unexpectedly grounding.

"A ride sounds… nice," she admitted quietly, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Something about the open air and movement helps. Clears the noise in my head." She sighed, looking ahead as they walked. "Thank you, Baela. For this. For understanding."

Her throat tightened at his question. So simple, so gentle—and yet it cleaved through her like a blade. Julianna’s eyes didn’t leave his, though her expression shifted, softening into something fragile. "Need?" she echoed, almost to herself, as if uncertain of the word. "I—no. Nothing I have a right to ask of you."

A gust of wind stirred the surrounding grass, and she glanced away, to the horizon, to anything but the ache she saw reflected in his eyes. When she spoke again, her voice was quiet, barely more than the breeze. "Only to see you. Just once more, before everything changes." She turned her face back to him, and the pain in her gaze was no longer hidden. "I should’ve let you go in peace. I was selfish to call you here."

The very thought of things changing, of him not being able to come to her like this tore him apart deep inside. He didn't want to lose her, he didn't want to have to look into her eyes and know that they were too far away from one another. What happened then? What peace could be had then? It didn't seem likely that either of them would feel anything of the sort when they were separated.

"You weren't." He argued with a small shake of his head, insistence thrumming through his voice. He shouldn't do it, he knew that. He should have left some space between the two of them and yet he couldn't allow it. He reached his hand out and gently set it on the side of her face, his thumb creating a caress along her cheek. "Any time you call...I'm here. You know that."

Her breath caught at his touch, eyes fluttering shut for just a moment. The warmth of his hand, the softness of his voice—it all made her ache in ways she tried so hard to hide. "Don’t..." She whispered, though she didn’t pull away. Her fingers found his wrist, not to stop him—but to feel him. Just for a little longer.

"I know you would’ve come," she said, voice low. "And that’s what makes this harder." Her eyes met his again, and the grief in them was impossible to hide. "I wish we’d met in another life. One where I wasn’t promised to someone else. One where I could choose." She held his wrist just a moment longer, then murmured, "but this isn’t that life… is it?"

Julianna's throat tightened at her grandmother's words, and for a moment, she said nothing—just watched the fire flicker as if it might offer her a way to swallow the ache that had lingered too long beneath the surface. "I know," she said finally, her voice low. "She would stop. She always has for us, even when the world pulled at her from every side."

She looked at Rhaenys then, truly looked, and there was something almost childlike in her eyes—something she rarely let show. "When the time comes... I think I would like you there." A pause. "Not to speak for me. Just to stand with me."

"That is what mother's do." Rhaenys said. "We do what we can to make sure that our children are happy." She said. She would do anything for her children to be back and still happy. She knew that Laena and Daemon had been happy.

A nod from her as she walked toward her. "Of course dear." Rhaenys said. "You tell me when you are ready and I will be there. You and your siblings' happiness is also important to me."

Julianna's eyes stayed on the fire for a moment longer before she spoke, her voice quiet but steady. "Your words do ease me. I know she loves us—I’ve never doubted that. Only… with all that’s happened, I fear there’s little room left for what I want."

She looked back to Rhaenys, the flicker of candlelight dancing in her gaze. "I will speak with her. Not tonight, but when I can say the words without wavering. When they are truly mine." A pause, then softer, more certain, "I do still believe there can be happiness. For all of us. Even now."

Julianna let out a soft breath—part sigh, part bitter laugh. "He is a prick," she said quietly. "But it’s not just him. It’s the way they all look at us—like we’re always one breath away from being exposed." She glanced down the corridor. "My brothers are already back in their chambers. Mother didn’t want a scene."

"I know what they think," she added after a beat. "And I’m tired of pretending it does not matter." Her gaze lifted to meet Baela. "Thank you. For coming after me. You didn’t have to. But… it means something. Even if I can’t quite say what."

baela listened to julianna's words with tightly pursed lips. what was there to say? that she was sorry for the rumours ( even if they wouldn't be true ), for the way the word strong became an insult in front of the three siblings?

her lips lifted to a smile upon julianna's next words. it was true—she herself wasn't sure what she meant when she sprung up from her place at the supper and rushed after her cousin, but was glad that it was met with understanding. ❝nobody should bear this alone,❞ she said, the tone of her voice turning warm. ❝would you like to take a walk? or if it's too late i can accompany you to your chambers.❞

#of-wine-and-blood #𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐕𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧 | threads

Julianna’s shoulders eased just a little at Baela’s warmth, the smallest flicker of relief in the weight pressing on her chest.

"A walk sounds… wonderful," she said softly, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "It’s too late for anything else, but not for a little air." She hesitated, then glanced toward the distant end of the hall. "I think I need to remind myself there’s more to this place than whispers and stares."

Julianna let out a quiet sigh, her fingers tightening slightly at her side. "I haven’t spoken with her yet," she admitted softly. "There’s... been so much happening. It feels like there’s never the right moment, or enough time."

She looked back toward the window, the restless sea reflecting her own unsettled thoughts. "But you’re right. I can’t keep putting it off. If I want to have a say, I need to find the courage to speak."

"I understand." Rhaenys said. "Despite how much is happening if your mother knew you were unhappy and worried she would stop everything to listen to you." She said as she stepped toward her. "That is one thing I know about your mother." She said.

Viserys's death had been the start of everything, but loosing Luke well that had really put them on the path they were on now. "I wouldn't go now, but if you want me to be there I will be there."

Julianna's throat tightened at her grandmother's words, and for a moment, she said nothing—just watched the fire flicker as if it might offer her a way to swallow the ache that had lingered too long beneath the surface. "I know," she said finally, her voice low. "She would stop. She always has for us, even when the world pulled at her from every side."

She looked at Rhaenys then, truly looked, and there was something almost childlike in her eyes—something she rarely let show. "When the time comes... I think I would like you there." A pause. "Not to speak for me. Just to stand with me."

Julianna’s breath caught at his words, and for a moment, the careful composure she’d built around herself wavered. Her fingers twitched at her sides, yearning to bridge the space between them but restrained by the weight of unspoken promises. She lifted her gaze, steadying herself against the flood of memories and emotions.

"You always were the one who would answer," she said quietly, a soft smile brushing her lips, bittersweet and full of what could never be. Her voice dropped to a whisper, barely more than a breath. "I hoped you would." She hesitated, then took a small step closer, the distance between them shrinking yet still vast in everything it meant they could not say. "There’s much we cannot undo, Rand."

He can see the restraint in her and it aches at the center of his chest, pulsing and twisting. He can remember when there were no boundaries between them, nothing at all to separate them from each other. There were no words that they couldn't say, nothing that they couldn't broach, yet here she stood full of hesitation.

"I know." He answered, his voice falling to a whisper as he lowered his gaze. Her shadow created a shape on the ground and he found that he had memorized even that about her. "Did you need something?" he asked, finally lifting his eyes to look at her even though it pained him to have her step closer but still be so far away.

Her throat tightened at his question. So simple, so gentle—and yet it cleaved through her like a blade. Julianna’s eyes didn’t leave his, though her expression shifted, softening into something fragile. "Need?" she echoed, almost to herself, as if uncertain of the word. "I—no. Nothing I have a right to ask of you."

A gust of wind stirred the surrounding grass, and she glanced away, to the horizon, to anything but the ache she saw reflected in his eyes. When she spoke again, her voice was quiet, barely more than the breeze. "Only to see you. Just once more, before everything changes." She turned her face back to him, and the pain in her gaze was no longer hidden. "I should’ve let you go in peace. I was selfish to call you here."

Julianna startled slightly at the soft voice, but she didn’t turn around right away. The shadows from the flickering candles stretched long across the cold stone floor, and the quiet felt heavy.

After a moment, she sighed quietly. "Thank you, Baela. I... I don’t mind the company." Her voice was low, almost fragile, as if the weight of the evening had pressed too hard. "It’s not easy, hearing things like that from him. Sometimes it feels like there’s nowhere to hide." She finally met Baela’s eyes, a flicker of vulnerability breaking through her usual composure. "I just need a moment, that’s all."

the silence that followed went on for some time, almost to the point that baela was ready to turn around and walk away embarrassed by the fact that she overvalued their relationship and that julianna didn't see her as close enough to share this moment with her.

but then her cousin spoke and baela let out a sigh of relief. she stepped closer to julianna, ready to offer any comfort, be it verbal or physical. ❝you shouldn't mind him. aemond's a prick,❞ she remarked. ❝and you don't have to return to the supper if you don't want to. nobody would criticize you for it.❞

#of-wine-and-blood #𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐕𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧 | threads

Julianna let out a soft breath—part sigh, part bitter laugh. "He is a prick," she said quietly. "But it’s not just him. It’s the way they all look at us—like we’re always one breath away from being exposed." She glanced down the corridor. "My brothers are already back in their chambers. Mother didn’t want a scene."

"I know what they think," she added after a beat. "And I’m tired of pretending it does not matter." Her gaze lifted to meet Baela. "Thank you. For coming after me. You didn’t have to. But… it means something. Even if I can’t quite say what."

The tension in the hall lingered after Aemond’s words, the air thick with unspoken anger. Julianna’s mother’s command cut through the silence. "Julianna, to your quarters. Now."

Without a glance back, Julianna lowered her gaze, the sting of the evening’s events still sharp in her chest. She moved quickly, her footsteps echoing as she left the room, the weight of everyone’s eyes on her. The further she walked, the more the tension seemed to press in, leaving her feeling small in the vast, cold corridors of the Red Keep.

@of-wine-and-blood

baela got up from the table, excusing herself from the supper as well and rushing after julianna. still when she closed the door behind herself, the other young woman already wasn't there and baela was met only with the faint light of candles and silence in the hallways. she continued down the corridor. ❝julianna?❞

when she finally found the brunette, it was in the middle of a quiet hallway. ❝there you are. i'm sorry for what my cousin had said.❞ the gods knew she had little love for aemond as well. ❝would you like some company? or would you prefer to be left alone?❞

#of-wine-and-blood #𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐕𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧 | threads

Julianna startled slightly at the soft voice, but she didn’t turn around right away. The shadows from the flickering candles stretched long across the cold stone floor, and the quiet felt heavy.

After a moment, she sighed quietly. "Thank you, Baela. I... I don’t mind the company." Her voice was low, almost fragile, as if the weight of the evening had pressed too hard. "It’s not easy, hearing things like that from him. Sometimes it feels like there’s nowhere to hide." She finally met Baela’s eyes, a flicker of vulnerability breaking through her usual composure. "I just need a moment, that’s all."

The sun hung low as Julianna stood waiting, the breeze tugging at her gown. She hadn’t seen Rand in years, and though her heart quickened, she knew this meeting wasn’t simple. When he finally appeared, her breath caught. Rand.

"Rand," she greeted softly, offering a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "You came." She forced herself to meet his gaze, the past rushing back to her. Duty, betrothal, and the reality of her life stood like walls between them. But the connection, the pull, was still there. "I hope the journey wasn’t too difficult," she added, the words almost a formality.

@caracarnn

He hadn't been sure how he would have been able to compose himself at seeing her again. It felt as though long years stretched between them even though the memories remained at the forefront of his mind. Once his eyes met hers and he heard the timbre of her voice, his heart filled with far too many emotions that he couldn't even begin to explain.

"It wasn't difficult." he answered honestly, wanting to reach out to take hold of her hands as he held her eyes. He wasn't sure what proper decorum would be given the changes between them, throughout their lives. "I would have come whenever you called." He said with absolute assurance.

Julianna’s breath caught at his words, and for a moment, the careful composure she’d built around herself wavered. Her fingers twitched at her sides, yearning to bridge the space between them but restrained by the weight of unspoken promises. She lifted her gaze, steadying herself against the flood of memories and emotions.

"You always were the one who would answer," she said quietly, a soft smile brushing her lips, bittersweet and full of what could never be. Her voice dropped to a whisper, barely more than a breath. "I hoped you would." She hesitated, then took a small step closer, the distance between them shrinking yet still vast in everything it meant they could not say. "There’s much we cannot undo, Rand."

Julianna’s gaze dropped for a moment, then lifted to meet her grandmother’s with quiet clarity. "I'm not worried they'll be made without me," she said. "I'm worried they'll be made for me." She moved a little closer to the fire, the shadows dancing across her face.

"Talk of alliances. Marriage. Who I ought to be to serve the realm. It's always just beneath the surface—spoken like it's already decided, only waiting to be announced." Her voice didn’t rise, but there was steel in it. "I don’t fear duty. But I would like to be asked before I'm handed away like a banner."

"Have you spoken with your mother?" She asked. "I don't think she will make a decision without you being involved." Even if she was a queen she wouldn't leave a decision like that out of her daughter's hands.

"That is the way of being a daughter." Rhaenys said. "My own father had that conversation and your mother even went on a tour to decide on her suitor." Before it was decided that it would be Laenor. "I think if you are worried then you should talk with her and let her know your fears."

Julianna let out a quiet sigh, her fingers tightening slightly at her side. "I haven’t spoken with her yet," she admitted softly. "There’s... been so much happening. It feels like there’s never the right moment, or enough time."

She looked back toward the window, the restless sea reflecting her own unsettled thoughts. "But you’re right. I can’t keep putting it off. If I want to have a say, I need to find the courage to speak."