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Prince Valarr announced that he will retire to his bedchambers after having supper with his family and his betrothed, Kiera of Tyrosh.
It was the first time he met her; seemed like a lovely girl, meek and humble. Valarr noticed that she smiled sheepishly when their eyes met at the dinner table. He was conscious of smiling back at her, and every time he flashed a smile, rouge bloomed on her cheeks. But none splashed on his.
And as much as he liked entertaining her gazes, Valarr had eyes only for one person. One that he stole glances with when they believed no one was looking, when he was still present, that is.
Daeron was suddenly notably absent during the feast sometime after it started.
At first, Daeron entertained Valarr's glances and smiles. He, too, would do the same. At one point, he winked at him, and Valarr would smile at that. Aerion noticed this and rolled his eyes. He whispered something to his brother, but Daeron elbowed Aerion on the ribs after. Maekar saw this and admonished Daeron for his conduct at the table, but didn't dismiss him.
However, Daeron left on his own accord, with wine glass in hand. Valarr didn't know that Daeron had left since he had been talking to Kiera's parents. He would eventually see that Daeron was no longer in the table, and Valarr was tempted to leave the table just so he can follow his cousin, but Matarys, seeing Valarr looking frantic not seeing Daeron, stopped him from doing anything rash.
Matarys knew of Valarr and Daeron's attraction to one another. What he didn't know was they were in a relationship before, but Daeron broke it off. He didn't say his reasons, but deep down Daeron had felt envy. He knew he wouldn't be able to marry his cousin. He might have, if he were a woman (and so would Valarr, if Daeron remained a boy). Alas, the gods had different plans for them.
Valarr stayed in his seat at the table and had to collect himself. He glared at his brother, but Matarys mouthed a "sorry" to him. He stayed a little bit longer, so that he could be a "gracious" host to his soon-to-be parents-in-law.
After awhile, as the festivities have died down, Valarr had finally excused himself to leave and sleep to his bedchambers. Daeron the Good acknowledged Valarr's leave.
Minutes later, Valarr arrived in his apartment at the Red Keep. The guard finally opened the door and as soon as the whole room was revealed to him, he stood frozen at the sight of a welcomed guest.
The guest had his hands on the window sill and looked at what he could view of King's Landing. He turned to see the occupant of the apartment and smiled at him.
"Daeron." Valarr whispered to himself. He wondered if his eyes deceive him. Maybe he drank too much ale during the feast, trying to forget that his wedding day was on the morrow and perhaps he could change plans and marry Daeron instead, make him his wife.
But no, Valarr wasn't feeling any of the maladies that were associated with drinking too much ale. He did not feel lightheaded or about to nauseate. And there Daeron was. The boy's he loved for so long. Not once had his feelings wavered for him. The object of his heart's desire, in his chambers. His heart raced at the sight of him.
Oh to kiss him. Oh of course he could kiss him. There weren't any others in sight. They were free to kiss to fuck if they wanted. Oh, they would. But Valarr was standing still, there was no urge to run to him, only that to look at him with longing.
Yet, he strode towards Daeron, and Daeron still faced the window where he tried to keep his expressions from Valarr. He didn't want Valarr to see him teary eyed and sad. Most of all, he didn't want to see him hurt.
Valarr placed a hand on Daeron's waist, the other hand on the other side. He, then, wrapped his arms around Daeron, holding him tight. He rested his head at the back of Daeron's head. He smelled of wine, but that didn't matter to him. No, so long as he could hold Daeron that was more than enough for him.
Daeron lifted his hand from the window sill where he'd place his hands on Valarr's that rested on his stomach. A tear rolled down Daeron's cheek after. And the dam broke finally, and he cried, not caring anymore that Valarr could him cry his heart out.
He loved Valarr, too.
It was with Valarr that he experienced love. Anytime he thought of Valarr, his chest would feel tight. He would feel the beat of his heart drumming in his chest. And he felt those sensations as soon as Valarr. Valarr needn't say anything. Daeron could feel that Valarr loved him, too. And Valarr does, very much so, which prompted him to ask.
"Can I keep you?"
Daeron sobbed harder. Is this what it's like to be loved? He thought. It broke his heart to know that Valarr wanted to be with him. If only they could break off the engagement and marry. No, they weren't allowed. It wasn't legal.
"Yes." Daeron nodded and answered with a faint voice. In return, Valarr kissed his shoulder and rested his forehead on it momentarily.
He turned around to look at Valarr, prompting Valarr to lift his head off his shoulder. It didn't matter to him that his face looked blotchy from crying. When Valarr saw his face, Valarr lifted a hand to Daeron's face and wiped some of the tears that still trickled on his face. He cupped a hand on his jaw and Daeron leaned at the touch.
Even though Daeron had been crying for a few moments, Valarr still thought that he looked beautiful. He gazed intently at him and wished that the gods would hear his plea. To keep Daeron. To stay by his side. To be given the freedom to love him.
"I love you." Daeron blurted out with a tremble in his voice, and he touched his forehead on Valarr's. He, then, wrapped his arms around Valarr's waist. But it was Valarr that reached in for a kiss. It was a quick and delicate peck first. Then, Daeron planted his lips this time on Valarr's. Valarr felt a heat rush through his cheeks and slid a hand to Daeron's neck to brush his fingers on it.
As Valarr pressed further against Daeron's lips, he heard a knock on the door. He ignored it at first, but the door rapping was incessant.
"Prince Valarr." Valarr heard one of the guards say.
He groaned in anger. But he had to let go of the kiss and muttered, "fuck". Valarr's breaths were heavy, and he glared at the guards outside the door for interrupting them.
"It's Prince Maekar, your highness." The guard announced. "Looking for his son Prince Daeron."
Valarr rested his head on Daeron's shoulder. He once again pecked Daeron's shoulder with his lips.
"Gods." It was Daeron this time that cursed. He didn't want to surrender himself. No, not when he and Valarr could spend a night together. Curse you, Father. Daeron thought.
"I love you." Valarr said to him as he lifted his head from his shoulder. Daeron smiled at the admission, even if he'd heard it a thousand times from Valarr. Yet, he felt butterflies in his stomach. It felt like the first time he'd heard it.
Unfortunately, Daeron had to leave. Valarr knew it, too. Valarr grasped one of Daeron's hands, trying to stop him from going, hoping that he'd defy his father. Lie. Daeron would. He would. But Maekar was relentless. He would stop at nothing to find Daeron. Best that Daeron would yield now than later. It would save them the trouble from explaining themselves. Since Valarr still held on to Daeron, and Daeron wasn't releasing his grasp from Valarr's hand, Valarr's arm outstretched until Daeron was far enough to release the hold on one another.
When they no longer held each other's hands, Valarr blamed the distance for the space it created. But he could hold on to the phantom touch that Daeron left him.
"Why the fuck are you taking so long, Daeron?" Maekar demanded. He was getting impatient by the second. Daeron rolled his eyes at that and wanted Maekar to wait longer.
But before Daeron left Valarr's apartment, they gazed at each other for one last time that day. Daeron smiled at Valarr with teary eyes, while Valarr looked at him with admiration. Valarr wished that if a septon were here, they'd marry them in secret, and they would marry in a traditional Valyrian wedding. They'd cut their lips and hands with dragonglass and mix it in a goblet to symbolize their union.
However, it would remain in Valarr's imagination. And perhaps, he hoped that Daeron wondered the same. But despite this dream staying in their heads, there was something real between them.
They didn't need to say it out loud again.
Because they knew.
They could see it in each other's eyes.
They knew they loved each other.