Chapter Text
Upon entering her chambers, Alara had never imagined she would see something more beautiful than her own bed. After spending hours trapped in meetings, all she wanted was a private appointment with her mattress for the rest of the afternoon.
And, of course, the very moment she threw herself onto the bed without even changing out of her dress, the door to her chambers opened.
She could count on one hand the number of people who were allowed to enter a lady's chambers without announcing themselves.
And that was how she knew exactly who it was.
"You know, I could kill you right now, and Luke would become the heir to the Iron Throne."
"Well, that would be quite unfortunate for Driftmark."
"We still have Joff to take the place."
"Good to know you're threatening the future King of the Seven Kingdoms so casually. That could be considered treason." The boy flopped down beside his friend on the bed. "I could have your head for that."
"I'm sure my father would be delighted to remove yours once he found out you're lying in the same bed as his youngest daughter."
That made the dark-haired prince laugh.
"I believe the mighty Lord Marvel has already caught us in far more compromising situations," he teased.
But instead of laughing, Alara slowly opened her eyes, a sharp ache piercing her chest.
Yes, her father had seen them hugging, holding hands, and spending countless hours together. While those moments had fueled plenty of romantic speculation within both families, to Jace, she was nothing more than his closest friend...
No matter how desperately Alara wished it were otherwise.
"What do you want, Jace?" the silver-haired girl asked, all traces of amusement gone from her voice.
He frowned in confusion, though he dismissed it as simple exhaustion.
"My mother called a meeting with me, Daemon, and the Hand," Jace began explaining while Alara pushed herself upright and smoothed the wrinkles from her dress.
"I still think it's funny that Lord Corlys retired as Master of Ships just to become the Queen's Hand, while your brother is finally getting lessons on how to be Lord of Driftmark. But anyway..." She tilted her head. "What was so important that it required both the Queen and the Prince Consort? Did you blow up another stable with Vermax?"
She was smiling again.
Jace grabbed one of the pillows and lightly smacked her with it.
"You only keep bringing that up because no one saw it was Vermithor who destroyed the western stable. Honestly, I'll never understand how no one noticed. The stupid dragon is enormous."
"Hey!" Alara gasped dramatically. "Don't talk about my baby like that!"
"Your 'baby' eats two cows a day."
"He's still growing..."
"And may the gods help us all once he's bigger than Balerion."
"He'll still be a baby."
Laughing, she tossed the pillow right back at him.
Yes, Alara had a dragon.
Vermithor—the Bronze Fury—the second largest living dragon in the world, once ridden by King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, remembered throughout history as the greatest king Westeros had ever known.
Well...
At least until Rhaenyra Targaryen ascended the Iron Throne as the Queen of Hope, Defender of the People, and Dragon Queen.
Though much of that reputation had been earned thanks to Alara herself.
Not that she had ever told anyone.
Now, she was Vermithor's rider, while her older sister had claimed Silverwing—a pairing that had shocked the entire realm.
House Marvel was one of only three noble houses in Westeros that possessed Valyrian blood, which explained the family's silver hair and violet eyes.
Unlike House Targaryen, however, the Marvels had never been dragonriders.
Just as the Targaryens ruled the skies and the Velaryons ruled the seas, House Marvel had built its legacy through engineering, innovation, and knowledge far ahead of its time.
Within their lands, neither age nor gender determined a person's worth.
If someone wished to learn, they would be given every opportunity to do so.
So when Viserys I named Rhaenyra his heir, Cassian Marvel, Alara’s father, had been among the very first lords to pledge his loyalty to the princess—and among the first to raise his banners when Aegon attempted to usurp his sister's birthright at the urging of the former Queen Dowager.
When it became public knowledge that the Marvel sisters had claimed Vermithor and Silverwing at only fourteen and twelve years old, the entire court had been thrown into an uproar.
What no one knew...
...was that one of those girls possessed the memories of another life.
And thanks to that knowledge, she had prevented the bloodbath that might have driven dragons into extinction.
"So..." Alara asked with an easy smile, "what was so important?"
"My mother finalized the list of potential brides." Jace's eyes lit up with excitement. "Somewhere on that list is my future princess."
The smile vanished from Alara's face.
She froze.
Her lips parted, but no words came.
"Potential... brides?" she whispered.
Jace didn't seem to notice. He leaned back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling.
"I thought this would happen sometime this year. Now that my mother sits the Iron Throne, I have to secure the succession. They even gave me the list already. They said I could meet some of the ladies before making my decision, just like my mother was once allowed to do."
Every word felt like another knife twisting inside Alara's chest.
She had always known this day would come.
Yet that stubborn hope buried deep within her heart had refused to die.
Year after year...
She had foolishly believed that one day Jace would return the feelings she had carried for him for so long.
But now, after everything they had been through together...
Reality stood before her.
She had never truly been an option.
Swallowing hard, Alara forced herself back to the present.
"So..." she managed, her voice trembling despite her efforts, "are... are you excited?"
"When my mother first brought it up, I have to admit I was surprised." Jace sat upright again, smiling.
Alara forced herself to smile back.
"But now? Yes... I am." His expression softened. "I grew up watching the love my mother and Daemon share. Luke is happy with Rhaena... and now, with this opportunity..." He smiled to himself. "I'm happy to think that I'll have someone by my side too."
That last sentence finally gave Alara the courage to ask the question that had haunted her for months.
"So..." She held her breath. "There was never anyone before? You've never... thought about someone?"
"No." Jace looked at her as though the answer were obvious. "Of course not. You're my best friend, Al. If I'd ever liked someone, you would've known."
That was it.
The final blow.
Whatever tiny fragment of hope Alara had stubbornly clung to was thrown off a cliff in that instant. She clenched the bedsheets so tightly she thought her nails might tear the fabric.
So that was the truth. She had never stood a chance. And now she had to accept it.
Jacaerys would marry someone else.
Some well-educated, graceful, beautiful lady...
Everything Alara believed she wasn't.
Gods...
Only that very morning, she had come back covered in grass stains after chasing little Aegon III and Viserys II around the gardens.
"My mother will begin sending ravens over the next few days," Jace continued, completely unaware of the storm raging inside her. "The first candidates will be invited to King's Landing, along with the heads of their Houses."
Alara forced herself to ask the next question.
The excitement in his eyes told her there was something more.
"Have you... already started considering anyone?"
"That's exactly why I came here!" Jace reached into his tunic and pulled out a rolled parchment. "As the future king—even in times of peace—I still have to think about what's best for the Crown and the realm. And you're the smartest person I know, Al."
He held out the parchment with a bright grin.
"I wanted your opinion on the candidates."
"My... opinion?" she whispered in horror.
No.
This was too much.
Having her heart shattered was one thing. Helping the man she loved choose another woman to marry… All in less than ten minutes?
She wouldn't survive it.
"No... I can't."
Alara quickly stood and crossed the room, shaking her head.
"Alara?" Jace immediately got to his feet and followed her, concern replacing his smile. "What's wrong?"
He frowned.
"Did I say something that upset you?"
Alara inhaled deeply, willing herself to stop trembling.
She couldn't take this out on him. None of this was Jace's fault.
He couldn't help not returning her feelings.
"Al..." Jace gently took both of her hands, making her finally look at him.
That was exactly what made this so painful. The way he was always so kind. So gentle. Always looking after her. Always putting her first.
And now...
Now he stood before her, unknowingly destroying the last hope she'd ever allowed herself to have.
He wanted her friendship. And she would have to learn that it was the only thing she could ever give him.
"No, I..." She drew another slow breath before speaking again. "I've just been overwhelmed with preparations for the new aqueduct. You should ask someone else... Luke, maybe."
Jace studied her face. He clearly didn't believe her.
They had been best friends for years and he knew when something was wrong.
"I'll pretend I believe that," he said with a small smile. "Because I know you've been exhausting yourself with work lately. Being responsible for the greatest royal construction project in the kingdom isn't exactly easy."
His teasing finally earned the tiniest smile from her. Seeing it made him feel a little better.
"But Luke?" Jace laughed softly. "Really, Al?"
He squeezed her hands.
"You're the person I trust most in the entire realm."
His expression became sincere.
"And you have the best judgment of anyone I know. I need your opinion."
Alara's eyes widened in panic all over again.
She had to get out of this conversation.
"I really can't right now, Jace." She stepped back slightly. "I have to take Vermithor to the bay and inspect the construction site. I should've left already."
It was a lie.
She had planned to visit the site the following day so she could finally rest that afternoon. But she would gladly throw away what little energy she had left if it meant escaping this conversation.
Jace's shoulders visibly slumped.
He believed her. And somehow...
That hurt.
It had been days since they'd spent any real time together because of all the projects happening across the realm. He'd thought talking about his future engagement would be exciting.
They could have gone through the list together.
Instead...
It felt like Alara wanted to be anywhere but with him.
She noticed the disappointment on his face immediately.
She couldn't leave things like this. They were friends, and Jace wasn't to blame for her insecurities.
"Jace..." She reached for his hands again. "I promise we'll go through the list later, alright?"
She offered him a pleading smile.
"I really can't right now. You understand... don't you?"
"Of course."
He smiled back, though it was noticeably weaker. He would never force Alara into anything.
Never.
To Jace, she had always been one of the most important people in his life. Respect had always come naturally between them.
"Why don't you ask Rhaella instead?" Alara suggested. "She's become an incredible diplomat. I'm sure she knows far more about the candidates than I do."
"That's a great idea."
He smiled again.
"As always."
Stepping closer, Jace gently kissed her forehead.
Once, that simple gesture had been enough to send Alara's heart racing.
Now...
She had to learn to accept what it truly was. Nothing more than affection between lifelong friends.
Knowing that didn't make it hurt any less.
"We'll have dinner together tonight?" he asked warmly. "No work. No list of brides. My mother wants to make family dinners a regular tradition."
The words We're not family almost escaped Alara's lips.
She stopped herself just in time.
The bond between the Valyrian bloodlines dated all the way back to Aegon's Conquest.
Her ancestor, Alara Marvel—the woman she had been named after—had served as Commander of Aegon the Conqueror's Kingsguard.
Since then, the friendship between their Houses had endured for generations.
Today, Queen Rhaenyra considered Cassian Marvel her closest friend.
The two had shared the same wet nurse as infants. And when they became adults, both had insisted that their children grow up together.
Although Alara had spent most of her childhood in Olimarion with her siblings while Rhaenyra's children were raised on Dragonstone, the two families made frequent journeys to spend entire seasons together.
Olimarion was a land devoted to scholars, commerce, innovation, and technological advancement. It had been granted to her ancestor by Aegon I himself.
Generations later, House Marvel ruled one of the largest and wealthiest domains in Westeros—and remained House Targaryen's greatest ally.
Now, Alara, her father, her older sister, and her eldest brother were all in King's Landing overseeing the capital's new development projects.
Projects that Alara herself had designed. Being an engineer in another life had turned out to be unexpectedly useful. And being born into one of the very few noble Houses in Westeros that rejected sexist traditions had been nothing short of a blessing for the realm.
Back in Olimarion remained her second older brother...
And her mother, who was expecting their fifth child.
The following month, Cassian would return home to be with his wife during the birth. Another Marvel custom the rest of Westeros found utterly bizarre. A husband staying beside his wife throughout childbirth.
It was only one of many reasons Alara admired her father so deeply.
In the end...
Yes.
Every Marvel considered the Targaryens family.
But all Alara could think was that they would never become family in the way she longed for.
Gods...
She was becoming far too sentimental.
She needed to leave.
"Alright."
She forced another smile.
"I'd better change before I go see Vermithor."
Jace remained standing exactly where he was.
Alara had to bite back a laugh.
That adorably clueless expression...
It was another one of the countless reasons she'd fallen in love with him.
"So..." she teased. "Are you just going to stand there?"
"Oh..."
Realization finally dawned on him.
"Oh!"
The prince's entire face turned scarlet.
He immediately began backing toward the door without looking where he was going—
—and promptly tripped over one of the armchairs.
Recovering with what little dignity he had left, he hurried out of the room as quickly as possible, somehow managing to become even redder.
A quiet laugh escaped Alara's lips.
But the sadness in her eyes never disappeared.
Now...
The long road toward acceptance had finally begun.
Tonight...
She was going to have a very long conversation with her sister.
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"You were wonderful today. Grandfather said you were impeccable as captain," Rhaena said proudly, giving her fiancé's shoulders a gentle squeeze.
Luke blushed and returned his fiancée's smile.
Jace rolled his eyes in amusement as he stepped into the room and saw the couple together. He was genuinely happy for his brother and, in a way, he had to admit that he envied him as well. Perhaps that was why he had been so excited at the thought of finding a partner for himself.
"I thought you had enthusiastically gone to discuss the list of potential brides with Alara," Rhaena teased as soon as she noticed the Crown Prince entering the room. There was amusement in her expression, and it seemed the rest of the family shared the very same look.
Everyone turned toward the dark-haired prince.
Also gathered in the room were his younger brother, Joffrey, along with the Queen and the Prince Consort, Rhaenyra and Daemon. This was one of the chambers the royal family used to spend time together—another tradition Queen Rhaenyra valued deeply. The bonds within the House of the Dragon had to remain strong, for only united could they preserve their House.
"I did. But Al had work at the aqueduct and had to return to the construction site," Jace replied as he dropped into one of the comfortable armchairs beside the crackling fireplace.
"Well, I imagine she'll have to finish that project even sooner now, considering she'll have many more responsibilities from now on," Rhaena continued teasing.
"More work?" Jace asked in disbelief as he poured himself a goblet of wine from the table beside his chair. "Don't tell me there's already another project waiting after the aqueduct! At this rate, I'll never see her again."
The silver-haired princess frowned in confusion, though she continued nonetheless.
"Well... I certainly hope not. Having to balance another construction project while taking on all the new responsibilities of being the future Princess would be exhausting, even for someone like Alara."
Jace spat out every drop of wine he had just put into his mouth.
"The responsibilities of what?!" Jace asked, still coughing from choking on the wine.
Now everyone in the room was looking at him in confusion.
"My son..." Rhaenyra decided to step into the conversation. The Queen had little Visenya in her arms and gently passed the child to Daemon before turning back to Jace. "You do know Alara's name is on the list, don't you?"
"What?!" Jace exclaimed again.
He immediately pulled the list from his pocket and looked down at it.
It took him less than five seconds.
Alara's name was the very first one on the list.
"Why is Alara's name on here?!"
"Well, as Crown Prince, you need candidates who would satisfy the great Houses," the Queen explained calmly. "But it was common knowledge that you would choose Alara. The list itself was merely a formality, meant to preserve appearances before the Small Council."
"What?!" It seemed to be the only word the prince was capable of saying.
"You didn't tell me any of this this morning! I thought the arrangement was that I would meet the candidates, just as you told me. Not that you had already chosen for me!"
Jacaerys clearly had not understood what his mother meant.
"No, my dear." Rhaenyra stepped closer and gently cupped his face in her hands. "I did not mean that it had been arranged. I meant that everyone believed you would choose Alara. The list was simply a formality to maintain appearances before the Council."
"You all thought I chose Al?!" Jace exclaimed, his face turning completely red.
"Judging by how red you are now, all of King's Landing would think the same," Luke teased his brother.
"But I didn't choose her!" Jace said, making everyone in the room stare at him in surprise. "I don't know where all of you got that idea, but I have never thought about marrying Alara! Did you really think I went to see her to ask for her hand?"
The silence that followed answered his question.
Jace stood there, completely stunned.
Him... marrying his best friend?
Where had everyone gotten such an idea?
Earlier that morning he had simply said he was going to speak with Alara about the list, and that was exactly what he had done. Not once had the thought of marrying her crossed his mind.
And yet...
Caught completely off guard, he suddenly found himself imagining Alara wearing traditional Valyrian ceremonial robes.
He could see her silver hair cascading over her shoulders, a delicate crown woven from white roses—her favorite flowers—resting upon her head.
At the end of the aisle stood her future husband, ready to drape his House's cloak over her shoulders.
Jacaerys held his breath the moment he realized...
The face he had imagined beneath that groom's hood...
...had been his own.
His cheeks burned even hotter.
That was madness.
"Jace, it's alright." Rhaenyra tried to reassure her son. "You will not be forced to marry her. It seems I misunderstood the situation. I shall speak with Cassian, and you will remain free to choose your own bride."
"Gods..." Jace ran a hand through his hair. "Lord Cassian knew about this? And Carden? Does he know as well?"
His face suddenly turned pale.
"If Al's brother knows that I... rejected her, I'm dead."
He slowly sank back into the armchair before another horrifying thought crossed his mind.
"I'm doomed." He covered his face with one hand. "Does Nyra know too?"
"No," Rhaenyra replied. "Neither her brother... nor, more importantly, her sister knows."
Jace let out a long breath of relief. If Nyra knew...
Silverwing would probably make him its next meal.
"But I need to speak with Cassian immediately."
The Queen glanced at Daemon. After exchanging a look with his wife, he rose in silent agreement, ready to accompany her to that conversation.
Then Rhaenyra turned back to her son. She needed one last confirmation.
"Are you absolutely certain of this, Jace?"
"Of course I am! I don't even know how any of you came to that conclusion in the first place!"
The Queen looked at him with quiet compassion—sorrow that he could be so blind to the truth, and that no one had realized it sooner.
Because now...
The decision had already been made.
Without another word, the Queen and her Prince Consort left the room. Just before the doors closed behind them, Jace caught Daemon ordering a servant to inform Lord Cassian that he was being summoned to a meeting in the Small Council chamber.
"I don't even know how you all came to that conclusion in the first place." You have to be joking," Rhaena said angrily, bringing the attention of everyone still in the room back to herself.
Jace looked at his cousin in surprise.
"After everything the two of you have been through, you're truly denying that you love Alara?"
Jace blushed once more, then let out a weary sigh.
"Rhae, I'm serious. Marrying Alara has never crossed my mind."
"Then let me ask you something else, Jacaerys."
The moment she used his full name, he knew Rhaena was furious.
She walked until she stood directly in front of him. He had never seen her look so serious.
This was not his cousin Rhae. This was the strategist. The diplomat. The future Lady Rhaena Velaryon.
"Have you ever imagined Alara marrying another man?"
Jace looked at her, startled. He had no answer.
"Because that's exactly what's going to happen. The moment the Queen speaks with Lord Marvel, it will all be over for you, and another man will take your place."
Jace was speechless.
Of course he knew Alara would marry one day...
He could picture her walking through a grand hall, dressed in the purple colors of House Marvel, wearing a crown of white roses…
"Alara doesn't want to get married," he said at last. "She's focused on her projects..."
"For the love of the gods, you are impossible!" Rhaena exclaimed as she turned toward her fiancé. "I swear, if he weren't your brother, I'd kill him."
"Go ahead," Luke replied seriously.
Lucerys loved Alara as though she were his own sister.
They had grown up together, and the silver-haired girl's friendship was one of the most precious things in his life.
If his brother was acting like a complete idiot, Luke wouldn't mind if he got hit a few times.
"How have you never looked at Al that way?" Rhaena asked, turning back to Jace. "You once told me you wanted a queen who was kind, intelligent, but also strong enough to help you rule the realm—not merely a wife for appearances."
She took another step toward him.
"Wouldn't Alara be all of those things?"
"And besides..." Rhaena folded her arms. "She's beautiful."
Jace's face turned scarlet yet again.
He was beginning to think he had never been this embarrassed so many times in a single day.
"Yes! I mean..." He stumbled over his own words. "No!"
Rhaena raised an eyebrow.
"So you don't think Al is any of those things?"
"What?!" Jace stared at her in disbelief. "No! Of course she is!"
Gods...
He wished the floor would simply swallow him whole if it meant this conversation would end.
"Then what exactly is the problem?"
"We're not like that!" Jace shouted.
He dragged both hands through his hair in frustration, leaving it completely disheveled.
"Al is my best friend, Rhae! It doesn't matter what all of you imagined."
His voice softened.
"She wouldn't want to be forced into a marriage with someone she doesn't love."
He shook his head firmly.
"I would never do that to her."
The anger on Rhaena's face slowly faded.
In its place came something far worse.
Disappointment.
And pity.
It was the very same expression Rhaenyra had worn before leaving the room.
"May the gods grant you wisdom, Jace," Rhaena said quietly. "Because when you finally realize the mistake you've made today..."
She held his gaze for a long moment.
"...it may already be too late."
Jace wouldn't regret it. Because he was certain of how he felt.
...Wasn't he?