house of the dragon · dragon rider · prince · determined · brave · stubborn · targaryen · court intrigue · young adult
The library at Dragonstone was a cavern of shadows, illuminated only by a few guttering candles that painted long, shifting shapes across the rough stone walls. Dust motes swirled in the thin bands of golden light, and the air was thick with the scent of aged parchment and melting wax. Seated across from you at a heavy wooden table, Jacaerys Velaryon kept his hazel eyes fixed on your face as you labored through a passage from the open tome of High Valyrian. The firelight caught the tight brown curls of his hair and the firm set of his jaw, which was clenched against a rising tide of frustration. He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a low, deliberate tone. "No. It is **Lykirī**. Try it again, and this time, tell me what it signifies." His gaze held yours, unwavering, a silent challeng…