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Love Day was a rather small holy day in Westeros, one of the few unimportant ones that often seemed to be forgotten. A holy day to celebrate love and fondness, mostly celebrated by those in blossoming courtships or by lord husbands who had done far too many unsavory deeds and wished to flaunt their gilded relationships before the court. Yes, Love Day was, in fact, an unimportant holy day compared to Maiden’s Day and Feast Day of our Father Above , but it still held an inkling of charm if you merely overlooked the cheesy connotations.
However, for Elowyn Voltaryx, Love Day was definitely not a day she explicitly marked down. No, of course not, for she was a mother, and thanks to the old Gods and the new, it seemed as if no one was very fond of offering her a day to collect her sanity.
“ Calla ,” Elowyn hissed at the girl sprinting ahead of her, who was either ignoring her mother’s warnings or merely too winded up in her own childlike infancies to bother. She inhaled sharply, trying to rein in her last remnants of patience as she picked up her flowing skirts and began walking after the girl. “Calla, I said no, will you please listen?”
It seemed as if the Gods finally took pity upon Elowyn’s poor soul because the blonde-haired child finally came to a stop, turning to face her with her large, deep amethyst eyes. It was still a mystery to Elowyn how the girl came to inherit her grandmother’s eye color, almost as if it had been a last parting gift from Rhaenyra herself. Calla opened her mouth but quickly closed it, the girl was only two years old and despite being a menace , she still struggled to form complete sentences but she was still learning. “I want cake, ” she whined, followed by a small petulant stomp from the child. Thanks to her father’s relentless spoiling, Calla had grown into a brat who wasn’t too fond of being told no.
“You’ve had enough sweets, it’s not even noon yet,” Elowyn tried to reason, lowering herself to the girl’s eye level. Calla just pouted, crossing her arms as she kneaded her brows together and Elowyn knew that once she got into one of these moods, it was truly fruitless. She reached out, gently brushing a few strands of hair out of the girl’s face. Elowyn had feared childbirth for many years, swearing she’d never welcome motherhood and yet, here she was, standing in front of her child . “What if we linger around the library for a bit? I could read to you,” she offered, momentarily forgetting that Calla’s stubborn attitude would not welcome the proposal, much less coming from her mother. Yes, because if Elowyn’s life wasn’t difficult enough, her only child shamelessly favored her father and Calla wouldn't even bother to hide it. And of course, how dare Elowyn offer to do an activity Calla loved to do with her dad? From the withering glare, the two-year-old threw at her, Elowyn couldn’t help but groan, running a hand down her face.
“I recall Calla saying you were a rather boring reader, ” a voice rang out in the hall, footsteps against the stoned hall echoing as he approached them and Elowyn couldn’t help the smile that spread on her lips. Calla spun on her heel, and ran towards Jacaerys, “ Dad, ” she whined as she ran into his arms. He scooped her up, and Elowyn couldn’t help but roll her eyes because everyone knows Calla is the spoiled spitfire she is because of how much he spoils her, and yet, it warms her heart just as much. Elowyn couldn’t recall her own father treating her like that, though the man wasn’t awful, he merely wasn’t great either.
Elowyn straightened up, dusting herself off as she listened to Calla babbling about, filing her long list of complaints for the day. “I thought you were busy today, I heard about some meeting with a few lords?” Elowyn asked, walking closer to him and planting a kiss against his cheek. She almost wanted to bring up what today was, just to annoy him, though she knew that if he had forgotten about it, the reminder would send him into a frenzy to find a gift to make up for his absentmindedness, followed by many apologies. Elowyn did not wish to cause any more inconveniences for her husband, she knew the copious amount of stress and worries he had to deal with, especially now since he was king.
Jacaerys hummed, “I decided to let my council deal with it for the day, I have better things to attend to,” his tone was almost conspiratory, and Elowyn couldn’t help but raise a brow at that. She knew her husband quite well, having had the pleasure of knowing him since they were both five years old, and she knew that whenever he took on that conspiratory tone or decided to pass on his duties to his council–which was uncharacteristic of Jace, he had always prided himself in taking matters into his own hands and becoming a worthy ruler that his late mother would approve of, something Elowyn had to continuously drill into his thick head that he was doing just fine— he was up to something.
And Elowyn loved to pry and prod.
“The king of the Seven Kingdoms slacking off? I’m sure the Seven Hells will much sooner freeze over, ” she teased, her lips curving into a light smirk. Calla’s giggle followed, a sort of reinforcement from the child who was completely unaware of the mind game her mother was currently playing but it helped nonetheless. Jace simply shrugged, shifting Calla higher up and pressing an obnoxious kiss against her cheek, which Calla clearly disapproved of by the look of utter disgust. Elowyn just rolled her eyes, knowing that prying any further wouldn’t get her anywhere. Her dear husband was hiding something, and he was keeping this secret locked up.
“Well, since you decided to clear up your schedule, watch Calla for a while,” Elowyn said, glancing down at her nails, clicking her tongue, and spinning on her heel. “I give up the mother duties for a few hours, you can entertain the gremlin," and so, she made her exit down the hall.
***
Elowyn pricked the needle through the piece of fabric in her lap, carefully stitching together the rose-colored fabric. She was in the process of making another dress for Calla, the girl was quickly growing and while they could get Calla’s dresses tailored or commissioned, Elowyn stubbornly continued to sew her daughter's dresses. A hobby to pass the time had turned into a passion project for Elowyn, she sought out the moments of peace and quiet where she could focus on different fabrics and stitching intricate stitches to create articles of clothing. However, as the door to their chambers opened, Elowyn instinctively glanced up from her work, already knowing who it was.
“Calla has been put down for a nap,” Jacaerys announced as he gently closed the door behind him, Elowyn held up the messy clump of fabric that would soon turn into a dress for him to see. He walked closer, giving the pink fabrics an approving hum and then placing a kiss on the side of Elowyn’s head. “The afternoon is free and I have something planned,” he announced, his tone did not hide the waver of excitement in his voice and Elowyn shot him a look, her blue eyes narrowing slightly. “Something planned? Color me surprised,” she replied flatly, sarcasm dripping from her tone but instead of getting a smartass response in return, he kneeled beside her and began peppering her neck with soft and ticklish kisses. “Alright, that’s enough, ” Elowyn said, trying to swallow down the laughter that threatened to spill out, but of course, he did not listen and instead, latched onto a spot on her neck, right on her pulsepoint. She hummed softly, the fabric in her hands slipping from her grasp and onto the floor as her eyes fluttered shut. He knew just what to do to make her completely melt, it was both a blessing and a curse.
“It’s Love Day ,” he whispered against her skin, sending shivers down her spine, and at that moment, Elowyn was sure that whatever he had planned was going to cause her to beg the Seven for forgiveness . His lips trailed down her neck, and then he was trailing kisses along her collarbone, and before her brain could properly catch up, his lips were gone and she pouted. “I asked for horses to be prepared for us, I wanted to spend some time with you, away from all of this ,” Jace said as he stood up from the floor, dusting off his clothes. “Aren’t you awfully romantic today?” Elowyn teased, but as he extended out a hand to help her up, she took it without a second thought, “I can’t help but be a romantic fool when it comes to you, my love.”
***
The horses came to a stop, their hooves stilling against the grass as the birds chirped, welcoming them to the small clearing amidst the woods. It was almost magical, with the soft echoing sound of running water from a nearby river and the large trees that encapsulated the clearing like a privacy screen. Elowyn had not ventured beyond King’s Landing, honestly, she was not one to explore forests and interact with nature willingly. She lingered atop her horse, watching as Jace got off his horse and walked over to her side, his hands finding her waist and carefully lifting her off and onto the ground. They both knew that Elowyn could’ve done that herself and yet, neither said anything. His hands lingered on her waist for a moment longer before he dropped them and moved back to his horse. “You know, this reminds me of when we were younger,” Elowyn began as she wandered away to look at a wildflower, the soft yellow shade reminded her of the sun, “when we’d have picnics out in the gardens before…” She let her words drift with the wind, yet they both knew what she wanted to say.
Jacaerys remained silent at that, it had been six years since the dance had ended, yet the losses still felt raw and recent , as if they had happened the day prior. He busied himself with setting out a large, blue picnic blanket he had packed into the horse’s saddle bag. Though, from his silence, Elowyn could tell that the mention of the dance had reopened old wounds, and she cursed herself for bringing it up. That was the difference between the two, while Jace could bottle up his feelings and prioritize other things, as unhealthy as it was, Elowyn would drown in memories and nostalgia, unable to move past the things that had happened, as if she was slowly drowning in a lake of molasses. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought that up,” she uttered sincerely as she came to help him set down the blue blanket. He shook his head, “It’s history now, no point in avoiding it,” he stated, though his tone revealed how disconnected he felt from his words. They fell into an awkward silence, they could not properly discuss what had happened despite how long ago it was, and both were still haunted by the devastation. Pleased with how the blanket sat on the grass, he straightened up, returning to the horse to retrieve another saddle bag and bringing it over to the blanket, while Elowyn watched. Their wounds were different, and Elowyn knew she would never fully understand him or the baggage he carried, but she wished she could carry it all for him.
“I love you,” Elowyn said as she sat on the picnic blanket, sitting with her legs tucked under her as the purple silks of her gown spread out around her, “I’m afraid I’ll never tire myself of saying those words..” Jacaerys placed the other saddle bag down before kneeling before her, his hands softly cupping her cheeks, “I am forever thankful to have you by my side, you’ve kept me sane through it all, my love,” he began softly, his tone filled with adoration as he gently stroked her cheekbones with his thumbs. “Don’t do that, let’s not dwell on that right now, I want to spend time with you, I’ve missed us. ” He sat back, dropping his hands from her face and Elowyn missed the warmth of his touch almost immediately but she then remembered the gift she had brought. She got up, sprinting to her horse and rummaging through the saddle bag, “I have something for you,” she said, her voice taking on an exciting lilt as she pulled out a long box wrapped in sapphire velvet and tied off with a gold ribbon. She returned to his side, handing him the gift as she lowered herself back down on the blanket. She watched as he carefully untied the ribbon and began stripping off the velvet wrapping, revealing a dark wooden box which he proceeded to pry open. Inside, laid atop a bed of red velvet was a dagger, its hilt an olive translucent marble-like material, with gold intertwined around, and the pommel was the head of a dragon made out of gold, resembling the head of his late dragon, Vermax. At the bottom of the hilt, before the blade begins, two large wings on opposite sides in gold decorate it before the blade transitions from gold to silver.
Jacaerys was speechless for a moment, a soft gasp leaving his lips as he gently traced the details of the dagger. Despite his silence, Elowyn knew he liked it. His honey-colored eyes lit up as he recognized the dragon imagery, nostalgia flooding back. “Thank you,” he finally said, carefully freeing the dagger from the box, watching as the sun glinted off the blade. She smiled, “I knew a blacksmith that owed me a favor, I wanted you to have something that reminded you of Vermax, I know how much that loss has plagued your thoughts.” And they both knew it was true, Elowyn had always been aware of his insecurities, the insecurities that still presented themselves today, the whispers that always seemed to follow him and cling to him like a cloak of shame, no matter the crown or the throne. She had always been there whenever he’d ramble about it when they were younger, he had always played it off as if it didnt affect him by acting overconfident though Elowyn could see the uncertainty that lingered behind his gaze. She had been there for the aftermath of the battle of the Gullet , where he had almost lost his life but had lost his dragon to save his brothers. Elowyn had never been fond of the dragons, though she had spent so much time around the Targaryens to know how significant the bond they shared with their dragons was and though she’d never begin to understand what the loss felt like, she still sympathized with the best way she could.
“It’s… it’s one of the best gifts I’ve ever received,” Jace said lightly, his voice wavering with emotion and she couldn’t help but lean forward and press a kiss against his lips, the gesture filled with devotion and fondness. She pulled back, “It is Love Day , after all, how could I not get you a gift?” which earned a low chuckle from Jacaerys, “I’m afraid you don't need a reason for your gift-giving habits, my heart, I’m running out of room from all of the trinkets you bring me.”
***
The sun had begun to set, the sky transforming into shades of orange and pink. They had spent the entire afternoon enjoying each other’s company, chatting about anything and nothing at all, and snacking on fruits that had been packed. Her fingers tangled in his brown curls as he laid his head on her lap, her eyes watching the sky as it morphed into the setting sun, though she could feel his gaze watching her. “I also have a gift for you,” he announced, her eyes falling to meet his gaze, a curious glint on them. He remained in the same position, though he reached for his pocket and retrieved a small emerald green box. Elowyn snorted, taking the box from him and carefully opening it. Inside was a gold ring, a neat ‘E&J’ engraved on it, their initials. Elowyn took the ring out of the box, inspecting it up close as her eyes widened with surprise. As she turned the ring in her hand, she noted a phrase engraved on the inside in a language she assumed was High Valyrian. “Ñuha prūmia,” Jacaerys spoke up, repeating the engraving on the ring, his words dripping like honey, thick and sweet. Whenever he spoke to her in High Valyrian, it’d make her heart flutter and her blood rush to her cheeks, and he was aware of its effect on her. “My heart,” he translated for her, reaching up to delicately brush a strand of her hair behind her ear, “Ñuha prūmia iksis lēda hen ao.” Elowyn felt the tears pricking at her eyes, the flood of pure, adoring emotions hitting her all at once as she threw her arms around him, pulling him in for a kiss. The kiss was gentle and soft, the familiarity of his lips against her seemed to soothe her in a way nothing else could, a way of exchanging words that would never be done justice by voicing them and would much flourish in an act of love. They pulled away, “I love it, it’s a beautiful gift,” she said breathlessly, her eyes dropping to the ring as he took it from her grasp, carefully slipping it onto her finger, followed by a soft kiss to her temple.
“It’s growing rather late, we should head back before it gets dark,” Jacaerys said as he pressed another quick kiss to her lips, before standing up and dusting himself off. Elowyn watched him for a moment, her eyes trailing up his body before shaking herself out of the lovesick trance he seemed to always put her in, following his lead. “Right, we wouldn’t wish for Calla to wreak havoc in our absence,” she expressed as she began to help him fold the picnic blanket, gathering up their picnic supplies and packing them all away. Her movements were almost hesitant, she didnt want their moment to end, it had been far too long since they had a moment just to themselves. However, a part of her, the maternal part of her heart that longed to have her child nearby at all times, could not wait to get back to the Keep and tuck her daughter into bed.