GoT: Jaime x Bäahal: Riding the Dragon – part 1
A/N: I love them, it’s been a while.
Xxxxxx
Otherworldly, the beauty of the silver princess was otherworldly. Jaime could remember just how taken aback he was by her when they first met. The Long Night was upon them, so his mind was focused on it, but she still managed to take his breath away. Her dark skin, her silver locks, those communicative purple eyes left a hard print in his mind. Jaime always thought that Bäahal was out of reach. He thought it when he met her at Winterfell. He thought it when he met her again at Highgarden. Even now as she was standing in the huge garden of the Red Keep, with the pale moonlight as the sole source of light giving her body some sort of glow. Jaime had been looking for her as soon as he was no longer needed by Commander Targaryen. He had wanted to see her again, despite the danger that his presence near the princess could put them through. Jaime had tried and was still trying his best to keep his word to his siblings and make sure that he wouldn’t bring the name Lannister to an end because of his antics. Yet, the sight of the upset princess never sat well with him.
How could he spend days and nights far away from her when her sadness was written all over her face? How could he stay away? Jaime did his best already. He did his best to keep away from the silver head but he wasn’t able to, not when he saw defeat on her face. After so many days spent away from her, the knight finally caved in and went to talk to her in her room. There, she begged him to stay by her side, and hold her until she’d stopped crying. He agreed to stay for a while until it was decent enough for him to leave her room without arousing suspicion. So, after the lengthy meeting with Jon, and upon realizing she wasn’t in her usual spots, the Lannister was starting to worry about the princess. Where could she be?
Bäahal was fairly hidden in the castle. She wouldn’t be seen a lot outside. Whenever she went, she was always followed by the two trusted guards he tasked with her protection. They waited at her door until she decided to leave it and would follow her throughout her daily walks to the garden and the dragons’ nest. He understood why she put some distance with the world she no longer trusted and a sister she feared. Yet, he also knew she needed to be comforted and would look for some company. Bäahal was a creature of habits. She didn’t do many things, especially since the siege, but there was something she would still do. It came to Jaime that she only found comfort when in the company of dragons and would spend as much time as possible with them. He had heard from his brother Tyrion, of how the princess spent hours sitting on a stool. She would remain silent, while her eyes would look at Viserion’s brothers' play-fight. Sometimes she would cry, sometimes she would remain contemplative but always, the sight before she would soothe her heart a little more.
Tyrion’s tip proved to be right. Jaime found the princess in front of the dragons’ nest. Rhaegal and Drogon were He found her standing under the moonlight. Tonight, the moon was peculiarly bright. Her hair shone bright and gave her skin a peculiar glow. The princess was wearing a noticeably light fabric, made of black and red cotton. Her arms were exposed and so was her neck, but she was wearing a light red cloak. Jaime made a couple of hands gestures to his soldiers, indicating that he wanted to be left alone with the princess but to scout the place and make sure it was safe. They wouldn’t dare get any closer anyway, how could they when they were scared beyond reason by the majestic dragons before them? Now certain that he was alone with the princess, Jaime sighed in relief. Good. They needed that privacy. The noise of his heavy footsteps was enough for Bäahal to turn her head and then the rest of her body so she could face the person who chose to walk closer to her. The knight noticed that in her haste, she had not dried her eyes well enough and a tear fell onto her cheek. Jaime’s heart skipped a few beats as he took a good look at her. She was beautiful under the moonlight, so beautiful that he forgot what he wanted to say for a minute.
“You found me….” -Her voice seemed calm, calmer than he expected her to be. -
“I had good intel.” -He stopped a few steps in front of her. “Princess…” -He paused for a minute. - “Bäahal...” – And he closed the distance between the two of them. – “You cried!”
“Out of frustration, nothing more.” -She replied in a whisper before her violet hues looked away from his face. - “You found my favorite place in all of the Red Keep. I like to come here, to find some peace.”
“Peace?” He didn’t dare comment on it. To the Lannister, there was nothing quiet about the place, not a possibility to find some peace amidst the loud noise made by those fantastic beasts. However, he wanted to keep her talking. His hands gently laid on her shoulders he stroked with his calloused thumbs. She nodded, mind-absently holding his wrists with both of her warm hands and nodded at him calmly.
“When we were at Winterfell, several days after Viserion died, we had a conversation you and I about how much I was missing him. I lost something I will never find anymore, but when I come here and watch his brothers play together, I can still feel him. Suddenly, I feel at peace.” She gave him a soft smile before he bent a little forward and pressed his forehead to hers in a gentle gesture. “It’s the most I can have for the moment.” She whispered before she held his wrists harder.
“We made a choice. We knew the consequences of that choice.” -He said, closing his eyes for a moment- “I knew that the moment I would turn around and look at you at Casterly Roc, I wouldn’t be able to stop looking. I would always reach out to you.”
He cupped her cheek, forcing the cape to fall on his hand while his green eyes. He was intensely looking at her, determined, hungry, foolish. He was foolish to think that he could have had any chance not to fall for the princess. He was foolish to think that he could be allowed the right to love someone and leave unscathed. He was foolish to think that the stubborn princess would give up on him. He was foolish to think that once he would have tasted happiness, he would give up on it. Bäahal’s love was pure, intense, devastating. She saved him when he didn’t want to be, forced him to find his way out of his misery and embrace life again with his sister. How could he give up on her smile? How could he give up on her, right at this instant, he could care less about what the world thought of them. She lifted her head so she could look at him and before he could say anything, the silver princess pressed her lips to his. It was desperate, a desire for connection so strong that she took the risk to be seen by anyone. The kiss felt good. It was possessive, bruising and demanding. Rhaegal felt her agitation and shrieked louder in their direction, blowing some wind into them. That made the young woman blink and turn her head to look at the dragon that was agitated as well.
“I know we have a long way to go, Jaime. I chose to stay by your side. I chose you, and I made a promise to Lady Kyra as well. If loving you means keeping my distance with you just so your family is safe from my sister’s wrath, I would. I would sacrifice everything I have to make sure you’re all safe.” It sounded like an Oath yet hearing this broke his heart.
“I know….”
“Yet..” -The dragon shrieked louder and flapped its wings, blowing some more wind. “Yet I think it is unfair that we have to suffer for the greater good. Why is it that you and I always have to sacrifice something?” She felt her long silver locks float around her face due to the dragon’s antics. “I want us to be happy.”
“Even if your sister accepted us from the start, the others would not. The whole world hates me, Bäahal… you would never be able to peacefully love me.”
“I Don’t care about the whole world …” She grabbed his hand and held onto it while the wind became really intense. “He’s upset.” She said calmly, staring at Rhaegal.
“/You/ are upset.” Jaime pointed out, which made her lower her head and hold onto his hand a little harder. “He knows it.” -Dragon or not, Rhaegal was still an animal and animals were known to be sensitive little creatures. Of course, he would. And in contrast with the princess apparent calm, the creature was agitated.
“I have been unfair to him…I came here trying to find peace but all I’m really doing is sharing my anguish with them.” -She lamented before her head turned to look at the taller man next to her. “I should stop coming over, for their sakes.” -She sighed and released his hand. -
“And wallow in your own pity in the garden? How is that better, Bäahal? I have a better idea for you.”
“I’m listening?” She curbed a brow and averted her gaze from Jaime to Rhaegal that had stopped flapping its wings.
“You told me a long time ago that the one thing you loved doing with Viserion was to ride him. When you flew with the dragon you felt free. I understand that these two dragons are your siblings’, but instead of watching them, can’t you come closer and pet them like you did Viserion?”
“Pet the dragons...”
She was aghast, yet his idea wasn’t stupid at all. All she did ever since Viserion died was come to see his siblings and mourn for his death. She never truly bonded with the dragons the way she did before. She had not touched any of them for years, nor did she even try and fly with them all over Westeros. Petting was a beginning, it was radical. Jaime might not have been a dragon rider, he had pets. He had dogs and cats, all of whom died because of either Cersei’s jealousy or Tywin’s determination to teach his children a lesson. Petting the dragons... It suddenly became clear to the princess who looked at the knight again and hold both of his hands. Jaime smiled, for he noticed the shift in her gaze. She entwined her fingers with his and gave him a soft smile.
“Pet the dragons…. Why haven’t I thought of it earlier?” -Her voice was strangled by a sob. Something blocked her and prevented the silver head to go and touch any or both of the surviving dragons.
“You tell me.”
There it was his light smirk that crept on his face. It was a matter of seconds before the princess’ attitude changed. Her face transformed and she excitedly pulled Jaime and her forward, so they could get closer to the dragons. Drogon had been calm since the beginning. He let out a growl before he returned to sit quietly. Rhaegal was far more curious and since his connection with Bäahal was the strongest between his brother and him, He walked towards the princess. Jaime wasn’t at ease. He hated the idea of getting closer to those creatures. Not so long ago, he was in a war trying to destroy Daenerys and the dragons and he knew that those animals probably remembered him as such a threat. Or perhaps, that was just his memories of the events that made him feel uneased towards the princess. She had forgiven him for their antagonistic positions prior to the end of the last war. He had been her enemy yet had never behaved as such with her. He couldn’t before, he couldn’t now and as she started to stroke the face of this huge dragon, the only thing the knight was thinking of was how he would give his life to keep her smiling.
Otherworldly. She was otherworldly. Her soft calming voice as she petted the dragon and the smile that graced her features were enough to take away his breath. She would take a look at him, her intense violet hues would reflect gratitude for the man, for his comforting presence, for his kindness and those qualities that only she was aware of. How could she still love him? She waved for him to come closer to the dragon, but he shook his head at first. Yet, she insisted, outstretching her arm towards him so he could grab her hand. He wasn’t dragonborn but she was, maybe with her presence, through her touch the animal wouldn’t go on a rampage and try to kill him. There were no words exchanged between the two of them at this time, only a smile and a warm hand that gently guided him so he could touch the snoot of the animal. His own eyes, green with surprise and shock slowly warmed up at the scene unfolding before him. Here he was, touching a dragon. Rhaegal was docile, he let himself being touched by the stranger for he shared the same scent at his “’aunt”. He trusted Bäahal to not hurt him, and he could tell that the man before him wouldn’t hurt “her”, so he allowed Jaime to touch him. Nonchalant about being touched but playful with his aunt, he wrapped one of his wings around the pair and pulled them together and against him in a hug.
“I think he likes you.” -She whispered before her purple gaze set upon the knight.
“I think he likes /you/, he tolerates me.” Jaime joked. His jaw was still clenched however but his eyes were still focused on the woman next to him. “I…Bäahal. I know you are sad and I know we’re walking on eggs just so my family doesn’t pay for my stupidity…but I would kill all the seven gods to keep you smiling.”
“Only /you/ can make me whole.” She claimed, cupping both of his cheeks with her warm hands. “This is my truth, this is THE truth. I don’t care about the whole world, as long as you are in it.” She pressed her lips to his again, in a searing kiss. What could he say to it? What could he do, if not return the kiss she gave him?
What could they do?
-TBC-
