Platonic Jacaela - Tumblr Posts
A Passion of Ice and Fire
Pairing: Jacaerys Velaryon/Cregan Stark
Chapter 6: Jace tells Baela all about his love affair with Lord Cregan Stark.
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“Tell me everything!” Beala commanded.
“Well,” Jace started, “I arrived in Winterfell early in the evening. The cold in the North is unlike anything we have here. I thought Vermax might retreat back to the Vale as soon as he felt snowfall, but we pushed on. When we arrived, I was met with Lord Cregan Stark himself.” Jace could feel a sparkle low in his stomach remembering the first time he met Cregan. “When I met him, he was so different from what I had expected. He was young, but his eyes looked so aged and hardened that I felt out of my depth asking him to swear loyalty to our cause. He must have seen my nervousness, because he greeted me swiftly before showing me to my quarters and making arrangements for Vermax. When he excused himself there was something softer, almost sweet, in his expression.” Jace recounted knowing his cheeks were betraying his attempts to hide his affection.
“How did you realize he shared your fancy?” Baela interrogated.
“On my second night’s stay, I couldn’t find sleep, so I decided to take a walk along the grounds. I walked until I came across the Glass Garden. They grow some of the most beautiful Winter Roses there. I decided to stay there and take a look at them. It just so happens that Lord Stark also wanted to inspect the garden that night. He found me there and he looked at me with such a kind, genuine look on his face that I thought I might burst into flames right then and there.” Baela couldn’t contain her giggles as she listened to Jace’s dramatics. “Would you like me to finish the story, or should I leave you to your ocean?” Jace threatened, lifting himself off the rock slightly to prove his point.
“No!” Baela cried, still laughing. “I’ll stop, I promise.” She said, having no intention of stopping.
“As I was saying,” Jace continued, “We sat and talked for hours. I was so lost in the conversation; I didn’t even notice him inching closer to me. After a while, he snuck an arm around my waist. He looked at me like he was asking for permission. I gave him a smile and he pulled me close to him. He asked me if I enjoyed what he was doing, and I said yes. He brushed a piece of my hair behind my ear and kissed my cheek.” Jace paused, not sure how to continue from there.
“And? What happened after that?” Baela eagerly questioned.
“Well… after that we… we…. we began to… make love.” Jace stammered, his excitement replaced with a deep sense of awkwardness.
“Oh.” Baela said, grinning widely. “Jacaerys Velaryon, you saucy minx.” She teased, leaning in closer as Jace turned to hide his burning face.
“We need to head back, or we’re going to be late for supper.” Jace said, already getting up. As he pushed himself up, the light caught Cregan’s necklace, which caught Baela’s attention.
“What’s this?” Baela asked, reaching out to touch the pendant. “Did he give this to you?”
“Yes, he did. He gave it to me as a way to remember him. Remember what we shared. What we still share.”
“You really do love him.”
“Yes.” Jace stated without a second of hesitation.
“I’m glad for you Jace." Baela grew serious, taking Jace's hands, "I hope you can hang on to this happiness.”
A Passion of Ice and Fire
Pairing: Jacaerys Velaryon/Cregan Stark
Chapter 7: Jace reunites with his little brothers Joffrey and Aegon. Joffrey has a lot of questions and opinions for his big brother.
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As Jace and Baela made their way back to the castle, the sound of children’s feet on the dirt trail grew louder and louder.
“Jace! You’re home!” Joffrey exclaimed, running down the hill, followed by a toddling Aegon. Jace knelt down to embrace his little brothers. Their reunion was briefly interrupted by a tutor, her voice panicked as called after the boys.
“Oh, there you are! I’m sorry to bother you, my prince, my lady.” She apologized.
“That’s alright.” Jace assured, placing Aegon on his hip. “Come now,” he said to both children, “we need to freshen up before supper.” They started up the hill again.
“Jace?”
“Yes Joff?”
“When will I get to eat with you and mummy again?” Joffrey asked. Rhaenyra had begun to let Joffrey dine with everyone else for unimportant dinners, but since the war started, every dinner was an important dinner.
Jace chose his words carefully, knowing this would be one of many delicate questions his brothers would have. “I’m not sure Joffrey, only time will tell. But I can assure you, it’s much less fun without you there. Nothing but tedious politics and strategy.”
“Why did our uncles make mummy so angry?” Joffrey asked, he had heard his mother and members of her council talking loudly about his uncles during his lessons, their voices dripping with disdain. Jace and Baela shared a worried look, searching for the right answers. Jace took a deep breath before answering.
“Well…. Aegon stole something that belonged to mother, and Aemond took his side. It would be as if little Aegon stole your room when you weren’t home, and Viserys said he was right in doing so.”
“That would make me angry.”
“Exactly. But Aegon stole something even more important than that, he stole her throne. Grandsire said that mother would rule the realm when he passed. But now, Aegon and Queen Alicent claim he changed his mind, and Aegon is the rightful king now.”
“But why?”
“Because the Greens think mother is not strong or smart enough to rule.”
“But mummy is strong! And she’s smarter than any of those idiot Greens!” Joffrey exclaimed, his steps growing into angry stomps.
“Yes, she is. And that is why we are going to fight for her and get her throne back.”
“I can fight too! I’ll defend mummy, just like you!”
“There will come a time for that, Joffrey. But right now, mother needs you to be good and brave. She needs you to listen and try hard in your studies and training. And when your time comes, you will be as fierce and noble as any of us.” Jace assured his brother, hoping it would calm his eagerness for the time being. As they came closer to the castle, Aegon, who had been sitting quietly, grabbed onto Jace’s necklace, grasping the pendant with surprising gentleness.
“Pretty.” He said, staring at it, fascinated.
Jace let out a soft chuckle, “It is pretty, isn’t it.”
“Where did you get it?” Joffrey asked.
“My….. friend from the north gave it to me, as a gift.”
“What’s her name?”
“My friend is a boy, Joffrey. His name is Cregan.”
“But he gave you a necklace. I thought that was something only boys and girls do.”
“Well, my friend is a boy and he gave me a necklace. It was a kind gesture.”
“Does that mean he loves you?”
That question made Jace stop dead in his tracks. Baela looked at Joffrey with a mix of shock, fear, and amusement.
“Where did you learn that?” She asked him gently.
“In my book, the princess gives the gardener her favorite necklace. She says it so he can have a piece of her, because their love is forbidden.” The four of them stood in silence for several seconds. At that moment, the tutor, who had been trailing behind them, completely forgotten, spoke up. Her shrill voice felt like a shockwave, shooting down Jace’s spine.
“I think I’ll take the young prince to clean up now. I shall return for Prince Joffrey when he’s finished.” She announced, realizing the princes’ need for privacy at the moment.
“Thank you.” Jace whispered, handing Aegon back to her. After they left, Jace turned back to Joffrey. He and Baela took a seat on the rocks, with Joffrey nestled between them, his eyes bright with curiosity and confusion.
“Does your friend Cregan love you, Jace?”
Jace took a moment before answering, “Yes, Joffrey. He does love me.”
“Do you love him?”
“Yes”
“And is it forbidden? Like the princess and the gardener?”
Jace felt a lump in his throat as he said, “Yes, Joff. It’s forbidden.”
“Why?”
“Because….” Jace struggled to find the words and keep his composure.
“Because,” Baela intervened, “people don’t understand it. They don’t understand why two men would love each other instead of a woman, much like they don’t understand why your mother is meant to rule the realm. And when people don’t understand something, they get angry, make rules that were never needed so they can feel more in control. But you can’t control love, Joffrey. It happens when it wants, where it wants, no matter how many laws and dangers there are against it, it’s still there.”
“So, what will you do now?” Joffrey asked Jace.
“Our love will have to be a secret for now. Baela and I will marry, our friendship will bind us. Cregan will take a wife soon, and I hope she is kind to him, understands him the way Baela understands me. We will find moments to hold each other close, before returning to what is expected of us.”
“That sounds sad. I don’t want you to be sad for the rest of your life!” Joffrey exclaimed, his voice thick with emotion, his eyes filling with tears. Jace smiled sadly at his brother’s concern, gathering him into his lap.
“I won’t be sad forever, Joff. It’s not like the storybooks. It will be hard and sad at times, but I still have plenty to make me happy. You make me happy. Baela makes me happy. My family makes me happy. Vermax makes me happy. And Cregan and I still have our love for each other. We will find a way, even in the shadows.”
“It’s not fair.”
“No, it’s not. But such is the way of the world. It will do you no good to be sad for me.” He said, gently wiping Joffrey’s tears away. “Know that I’m alright, and I have all the love I could ask for.”