blacksired

[blacksired]

his heart, her ocean

Chapter 3: The voice and a deal

Pairing:Jacaerys Velaryon x FEM OC!

Warnings: none yet

Word count: dunno

Previous chapter:

•·.·''·.·• •·.·''·.·

In the days that followed, Nereida spent nearly all her time in her secret cave, tracing the edges of the silver locket with gentle fingers. She knew every detail of the painting inside by heart—the soft strokes of the silver-haired woman, the two younger boys, the dark-skinned girls… and Jace.

She sighed, leaning back against the cave wall as her tail flicked absentmindedly.

She had saved him. She had touched him, sung to him. And yet, he was so far away.

"Still staring at that thing?" Liri's voice cut through the silence as the tiny seahorse swam up beside her.

Nereida gave him a half-hearted glare. "Go on then, say it."

Liri spun in a slow, dramatic circle. "Oh, I don't need to say anything. Your face says it all. You're completely obsessed!"

Nereida groaned, pressing the locket against her chest. "I just... I keep wondering. Does he remember me? Did he wake up thinking it was all a dream?"

Liri huffed. “Of course he remembers. You saved his life. But what does it matter? He’s up there, and you’re down here. You know how this ends.”

Nereida didn’t respond. She only held the necklace closer to her heart, staring wistfully toward the surface.

•·.·''·.·• •·.·''·.·

Jacaerys Velaryon had never been one to dwell on dreams. He was a man of action, a prince with duties and responsibilities.

And yet, he couldn't let this go.

The girl had been real.

He could still hear the song, the haunting beauty of it. Still feel the soft, cool touch against his cheek. The image of her face—blurry, barely visible—haunted his every waking moment.

The castle library had become his second home, its candlelit halls littered with books and scrolls as he pored over every legend, every tale that spoke of strange voices from the sea. Sirens, spirits, old forgotten gods—nothing he read felt right.

“She wasn’t a monster,” he muttered to himself one evening, rubbing his temple. “She wasn’t a trick of the mind.”

Lucerys, who had been flipping lazily through a book beside him, snorted. “Are you sure? Because this is starting to sound like something a man says after he’s hit his head too hard.”

Jace shot him a glare. “I know what I heard.”

Lucerys smirked, but before he could tease further, Baela and Rhaena entered the library, both grinning as if they were in on a private joke.

“Tell me it isn’t true,” Baela said, crossing her arms. “You actually sent word to the villages for women to come sing to you?”

Jace looked back down at his book. “And if I did?”

Desperate for answers, he sent word throughout the villages on Dragonstone, calling for any young lady with a beautiful voice to come to the castle. If she could sing the song he had heard, if she could make him feel what he had felt that night, he would know.

Rhaena giggled. “Because you think one of them might be the mystery girl from the sea?”

Jace exhaled sharply. “I need to find her.”

Baela shook her head with a smirk. “Jace, I say this with love, but you’ve lost your senses.”

Yet despite his siblings’ relentless teasing, Jace followed through with his plan.

For the next several days, young women from the nearby villages arrived at Dragonstone, lining up in the great hall with hopeful expressions. They sang, one by one, their voices ranging from sweet to utterly unbearable. Some warbled off-key, some sang too softly, and others tried far too hard.

Rhaenyra sat beside her son, a forced smile on her lips as she massaged her temple. By the tenth girl, her patience was thinning. By the twentieth, she was regretting ever letting Jace go through with this.

Each time, Jace listened intently, closing his eyes to see if any voice sparked recognition in his heart. And each time, he opened them with disappointment.

None of them were her.

By the end of the last performance, Baela, Lucerys, and Rhaena were barely holding in their laughter from the sidelines.

“Well,” Baela teased, nudging her younger brother. “Find your true love yet?”

Daemon, who had remained silent throughout most of it, let out a short, dry laugh. "The boy has lost his wits."

Jace clenched his jaw. "I haven't."

"Oh, brother," Baela said, watching another unfortunate girl attempt a melody that made Jace visibly wince. "Have you truly lost your mind, or is this some grand excuse to avoid a political marriage?”

Rhaena giggled. "Perhaps it's both?"

Jace shot them both a glare. "This isn't a game."

Lucerys leaned forward, resting his chin in his hand. "It rather feels like one. A very painful one."

Another girl sang, her voice cracking in an unfortunate attempt at a high note. Rhaenyra, sitting beside Daemon, closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. "Enough," she muttered under her breath. "I've had enough of this madness."

Jace turned to her, frustration tightening his jaw. “Mother—”

Daemon raised an eyebrow. "You nearly drowned in a storm, Jacaerys. Perhaps what you saw was nothing more than a dream brought on by your injuries."

"It wasn't a dream!" Jace snapped, standing so abruptly that the hall quieted. He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his dark curls before speaking again, calmer this time. "She was real. She saved me. And I will find her."

“Jacaerys,” Rhaenyra interrupted, rubbing her temples. “I love you dearly, but if I have to endure one more dreadful song, I will have Ser Lorent escort me to exile.”

Baela burst into laughter. Lucerys grinned. Even Rhaena covered a quiet giggle.

Jace, however, was unmoved.

Rhaenyra looked at her son and saw the unwavering determination in his eyes. She sighed, softening.

“I do not doubt that someone saved you,” she admitted. “But this… this obsession is not healthy.”

Jace clenched his fists, but before he could argue, Rhaenyra stepped forward and gently touched his cheek. “I know you wish to find a match. And I want that for you too, but my son… this girl may not even exist in the way you think she does.”

But Jace only shook his head, his grip tightening around the table edge.

He would find her.

He had to.

•·.·''·.·• •·.·''·.·

The ocean was quiet, save for the gentle rush of currents as Nereida swam toward her secret cave, her mind lost in thoughts of Jace. The locket was clutched tightly in her hands, the faces inside now familiar to her—though their names remained a mystery.

She had come here every day since the storm, tracing the delicate lines of the painting and wondering what it would be like to belong to that world. To be by his side.

But she was not alone.

Talon watched from behind a jagged rock, his golden scales dim in the deep blue waters. His sharp green eyes narrowed as he followed her movements, curiosity turning to suspicion. He had always known Nereida was different, always drifting too close to the surface, always distracted. But now, seeing her enter a hidden cave—one she had clearly kept secret from him and the court—he knew something was wrong.

Without hesitation, he turned and swam away.

Nereida had just settled onto a rock inside her cave, holding the locket close, when the waters outside stirred. A powerful presence entered the cavern.

She turned quickly—only to find herself staring at her father.

King Thalor loomed in the entrance, his trident crackling with energy, his expression dark as a stormy sea. And beside him, standing stiffly, was Talon.

Nereida’s heart dropped.

Her father’s gaze swept the cave, his frown deepening as he took in the sight before him—an entire collection of human artifacts, stacked high on shelves of coral and rock. Rusted weapons, glass bottles, silver goblets, torn bits of sails… all things lost to the ocean.

And then his eyes landed on the locket in her hands.

Silence stretched between them like an unspoken threat.

Then, the Ocean King spoke, his voice like a rolling tide. “What is this?”

Nereida swallowed hard. “It’s nothing—”

Her father moved before she could finish.

With a single swing of his trident, a powerful surge of water ripped through the cave. Shelves cracked, objects tumbled, centuries of treasures scattered into the currents.

“No!” Nereida cried, lunging forward as vases shattered and maps tore apart, but she could do nothing against the raw force of the sea.

King Thalor showed no hesitation. He turned, eyes burning with disappointment, and struck again. More artifacts crumbled. Another strike—and the delicate glass painting within the locket cracked straight through the center.

Nereida gasped, clutching the broken locket to her chest. “Father, stop!”

But he didn’t.

Only when the last of her collection was ruined, the cave left in wreckage, did he lower his trident. His fury had cooled, but the sternness in his face remained.

“You are my daughter,” he said. “And you will not waste yourself on dreams of the surface. This ends now.”

He turned and left, the waters around him swirling with authority.

Talon remained frozen in place, staring at the destruction he had caused. His eyes darted between Nereida’s trembling form and the ruined cave, guilt tightening in his throat.

Nereida sank onto a smooth rock, pressing her forehead to her arms as sobs wracked her body.

Talon hesitated, then slowly reached out. “Nereida, I—”

She flinched, shoving his hand away. “Don’t.”

“Nereida, I didn’t—”

“You did.” Her voice was raw. She lifted her head, eyes shining with unshed tears. “You told him.”

Talon clenched his jaw. “I didn’t think—”

“No, you didn’t,” she snapped.

For the first time, Talon looked truly ashamed. He had been raised to do his duty, to serve the Ocean King—but he hadn’t expected this. He hadn’t expected to see her suffer.

Nereida wiped her tears away, her grief hardening into determination. “I know what I have to do.”

Talon tensed. “What?”

She turned to him, her expression sharp as a blade. “I’m going to the Sea Witch.”

A silence colder than the deep set between them.

Liri, who had been hiding behind a coral outcrop, darted forward in alarm. “Nereida, no! You can’t be serious!”

“Nereida, listen to me,” Talon started, his voice urgent. “You don’t know what you’re doing. The Sea Witch is dangerous—”

“And what would you have me do?” she shot back. “Stay here? Marry you? Live my life caged beneath the waves while my heart belongs to the surface?”

Talon winced.

She swam past him, her resolve unwavering. “You can go tell my father again,” she said bitterly. “I don’t care anymore.”

Talon didn’t move. He didn’t call for the guards.

Instead, after a long pause, he turned and followed her.

Liri, still frantic, zipped around him. “You’re just going to let her do this?!”

Talon exhaled. “I’m going to make sure she doesn’t get herself killed.”

And with that, they swam into the dark unknown, where fate waited in the shadows.

•·.·''·.·• •·.·''·.·

The waters grew darker as Nereida swam further from the kingdom, the warm glow of the coral reefs fading into an eerie twilight. Even the currents seemed different here—thicker, heavier, as if the ocean itself were warning her to turn back. But she wouldn’t. She couldn’t.

Talon and Liri followed close behind, though neither said a word. Talon’s face was grim, his jaw tight with unease. Liri, usually so full of chatter, hovered near Nereida’s shoulder, his tiny body trembling.

Then, they saw it—the entrance to the Sea Witch’s domain.

A massive cavern, its entrance framed by jagged rocks and twisted kelp, loomed ahead. Strange glowing plants pulsed faintly along the cave walls, their dim green light casting eerie shadows. The water here felt colder, heavier.

And then, movement.

From the shadows, two long, sinuous forms slithered into view. Moray eels, their slick, inky-black bodies twisting and curling like dark ribbons in the current. Their yellow eyes gleamed with unnatural intelligence.

"Well, well," one hissed, its voice smooth as oil. "What have we here?"

"A little lost princess," the second eel crooned, circling around Nereida with slow, deliberate movements. "How delightful."

Nereida forced herself to remain still, even as the creatures slithered closer. "I’ve come to see the Sea Witch," she said, her voice steady.

The eels exchanged a glance, their grins widening.

"Ohhh," the first eel purred. "You hear that, Nox? She wants to see her."

"Oh, how interesting, Lux," the second eel replied, his yellow eyes gleaming.

Nereida’s patience thinned. "Take me to her."

The eels let out a soft, hissing laugh. "Of course, Your Highness," Nox said smoothly.

"Right this way," Lux added, slithering ahead into the darkness.

Nereida followed without hesitation.

Talon grabbed her wrist. "Nereida, stop. Think about what you're doing."

She yanked her arm free. "I have thought about it."

Talon’s expression darkened, but she didn’t give him time to argue. She turned and swam forward, deeper into the cave, where the Sea Witch awaited.

The cavern twisted and turned, the eerie glow of bioluminescent plants barely lighting the way. The deeper they swam, the more unsettling the surroundings became. Strange shapes loomed in the darkness—coral formations that resembled grasping hands, shadows that moved when nothing was there.

And then, at last, they arrived.

The chamber was vast, its walls lined with shelves of glass bottles filled with swirling, shimmering liquids. Strange symbols were etched into the stone, pulsating with dark energy. And at the center of it all sat her.

The Sea Witch.

Her name was Nyxora.

She lounged upon a throne of black coral, her dark tendrils of hair flowing around her like ink in water. Her deep violet skin shimmered under the dim glow of her enchanted lair, and her six long, sleek tentacles curled lazily beneath her. Her eyes—sharp and knowing—landed on Nereida, a slow smile curving her lips.

"Princess Nereida," Nyxora purred, her voice smooth as silk, rich as honey. "I've been expecting you."

Nereida's breath caught, but she steeled herself. "You know why I'm here."

Nyxora tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Do I?"

Nox and Lux coiled around their mistress, grinning. "She wants to be human," Lux whispered.

"She wants the prince," Nox added

Nyxora chuckled, resting her chin on her hand. "Oh, how tragic. A mermaid in love with a human prince." She sighed dramatically. "It's a tale as old as time, really. And yet... I do love a good romance."

Talon tensed beside Nereida. "This is a mistake."

Nyxora barely spared him a glance. "Ah, the betrothed." Her lips curled. "Feeling threatened, dear?"

Talon scowled, but he said nothing.

Nereida swam forward, her voice firm. "I want to make a deal."

Nyxora's grin widened. "Then let's talk, my dear."

Nereida’s heart pounded as she floated before Nyxora’s dark throne, her fingers curling into fists at her sides. She had made up her mind. There was no turning back now.

“I will give anything to be human,” she said, her voice steady despite the fear curling in her chest.

Nyxora’s violet lips curled into a slow, delighted smile. “Anything?”

Nereida swallowed hard but nodded. “Yes.”

The Sea Witch leaned forward, resting her chin against her hand, studying the young mermaid with deep amusement. “Oh, how deliciously desperate. You’d give up your world, your family, your very nature… all for a boy.” She sighed theatrically, tapping a sharp black nail against her cheek. “You young ones are always the same.”

“I love him,” Nereida snapped.

Nyxora arched a brow. “Oh, do you? After a single night? After a single song?” She chuckled darkly. “No, dear. You don’t love him.”

She lifted a hand, dark magic crackling at her fingertips as the currents in the cave began to shift, pulling around her like a living thing. The soft glow of the potion bottles on the walls flickered as shadows twisted and curled through the water.

Nyxora’s voice dropped to a whisper, seductive and knowing.

“But you want to.”

The words sent a chill through Nereida, but she didn’t back down.

Nyxora’s smile widened, and then—she began to sing.

Her voice slithered through the water, smooth as silk, dark as the deepest trench of the ocean. The melody was haunting, weaving its way around Nereida like a siren’s call, laced with temptation and danger.

“Your voice, so sweet, so rare, so pure…

A gift, a treasure, a song so sure.

But what is a song when no one can hear?

What is a dream when love is near?”

Talon and Liri flinched as the magic in the cavern grew heavier, wrapping around Nereida like invisible chains.

Nyxora stretched out a hand, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

“A prince so handsome, a love so bright…

To hold him close, to dance in light.

A kiss to bind, a kiss to claim…

But fail, dear child, and drown in shame.”

She snapped her fingers, and a swirling vial of shimmering, dark liquid appeared in her grasp.

Nereida stared at it, her breath shallow.

Nyxora twirled the vial between her fingers. “The deal is simple, Princess,” she purred. “I will grant you legs. You will walk on land as a human, as beautiful as you are beneath the waves.” She smirked. “Your prince won’t be able to resist you.”

Nereida’s chest tightened with hope.

“But,” Nyxora continued, her smile sharpening, “there is a price.”

Nereida knew it was coming. “What do you want?”

Nyxora leaned in, her violet eyes gleaming with delight. “Your voice.”

Talon stepped forward. “No,” he growled. “That’s too much.”

Nyxora didn’t even look at him. She kept her gaze locked on Nereida, her fingers swirling through the water as strands of dark energy curled around them.

“You’ll still be able to smile, to laugh, to charm him with your pretty eyes,” she said, her tone smooth, coaxing. “But you won’t be able to speak. No songs, no words, no whispers of love.”

Nereida’s heart pounded.

Nyxora tilted her head. “And there’s one more thing,” she added with a sly smirk.

Nereida stiffened. “What?”

Nyxora held up three slender fingers. “Three days. That is all you get.”

A cold dread slithered through Nereida’s spine.

“In those three days,” Nyxora continued, “you must make your prince fall in love with you. Truly in love. And not just any love—he must kiss you.” Her smile was wicked. “A true love’s kiss, the kind that seals fate. If he does, you will remain human forever.”

The words settled in Nereida’s chest like an anchor.

A kiss. That was all it took. If Jace kissed her, they could be together. She would never have to return to the sea.

But Nyxora wasn’t finished.

“And if he doesn’t?” the Sea Witch whispered, her eyes dark with amusement.

Nereida swallowed hard. “Then what?”

Nyxora’s grin stretched wider, revealing a row of sharp teeth. “Then, my dear… you will return to the sea.”

Nereida exhaled, relief washing over her.

But then Nyxora chuckled. A deep, cruel sound.

“Oh, don’t look so hopeful,” she taunted. “You won’t be coming back as you are now.”

Nereida froze.

Nyxora gestured to the floor of her cavern, where clusters of eerie, twisted polyps lined the seabed. Misshapen figures, frozen in silent agony, their forms barely recognizable as they swayed in the water like lost souls.

Talon inhaled sharply.

Liri let out a tiny, horrified squeak.

Nereida’s blood ran cold.

Nyxora leaned closer, her voice a velvet whisper. “If you fail, you’ll belong to me, dear princess. And you’ll join my collection.”

The cavern seemed to close in around Nereida, the shadows stretching, the faces of the trapped souls watching her with hollow, pleading expressions.

Talon grabbed her arm. “Nereida, don’t.”

Liri shook his head furiously. “Please! Let’s go home! We can find another way—”

But Nereida didn’t move.

Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her mind screaming at her to run, to listen to them, to turn back before it was too late.

And yet—

Jace’s face flashed in her mind. His soft brown eyes. His kind smile. The way he had touched her hand, even in his half-conscious state. The way his voice had called for her, even when he didn’t know her name.

She thought of the ruins of her cave. Of her father’s rage. Of the life she was expected to live.

Talon’s voice cut through the shadows. “Nereida, no.”

She turned to him. His face was tight with panic, his fists clenched. “This is madness! She’s lying—there’s always a trick!”

Nyxora chuckled. “Oh, but there’s no trick, dear boy. Just a simple bargain.”

She lifted a hand, and the parchment drifted toward Nereida. The glowing script shimmered with magic.

“All it takes… is a signature.”

Nereida hesitated. Her gaze flickered back to Talon, to Liri, who was trembling beside her.

“Nereida, please,” Liri begged. “Don’t do this.”

But it was already decided.

Nereida reached out, her fingers brushing against the contract. The magic pulsed beneath her touch, cold yet intoxicating.

She met Nyxora’s gaze. “I’ll sign it.”

With a final breath, she pressed her fingertip to the parchment. Magic surged from it, sealing the agreement with an unbreakable force. The moment the contract disappeared into the shadows, Nyxora let out a delighted laugh.

She lifted her arms, and the cavern exploded with swirling currents of dark magic. The glow of enchanted sigils burned into the walls as Nyxora began to sing once more, her voice wrapping around Nereida like a siren’s call.

“Now sing, little princess, your song so divine,

Your voice is the price, and soon he’ll be thine.”

A golden mist, shimmering and bright, began to rise from Nereida’s throat. She gasped, panic flashing in her eyes.

“Nereida!” Talon shouted.

She clutched at her throat as the magic pulled at her, tearing the melody from her very soul. A soft, aching note escaped her lips—her final song, her final sound—before her voice was ripped away entirely, drawn into the glowing orb that hovered in Nyxora’s hands.

The moment it left her, a searing pain shot through her body.

Her tail—her beautiful, shimmering tail—began to change.

Nereida’s vision blurred. Her body convulsed as her fins split apart, reforming, reshaping—her tail shedding into two long, human legs. The pain was unbearable, like being torn in half. She couldn’t breathe—

Talon moved first. He darted forward, grabbing her before she collapsed completely.

“She can’t survive down here like this!” he shouted, his grip tightening around her. “We have to get her to the surface—now!”

Liri, despite his terror, rushed to Talon’s side, trying to help.

Behind them, Nyxora only laughed, a deep, wicked sound that echoed through the cavern.

“Swim fast, little fish,” she crooned. “The clock is already ticking.”

Talon didn’t wait to hear more. With Nereida in his arms, he kicked off, racing toward the light above as fast as the currents would carry them.

The last thing Nereida saw before everything faded into black was Nyxora’s grinning face, and the glowing orb of golden light—her stolen voice—locked safely in the Sea Witch’s hands.

•·.·''·.·• •·.·''·.·

omfg😭💗 I’m in love with this. It’s published on my wattpad aswell: blacksired02

[blacksired]

his heart, her ocean

Chapter 2: Between two worlds

Pairing:Jacaerys Velaryon x Fem OC!

Warnings: none

Word count: idk

Previous chapter:

•·.·''·.·• •·.·''·.·

The halls of Dragonstone were quiet that morning, save for the crackling of torches and the distant crash of waves against the cliffs below. Jacaerys Velaryon sat by the window in his chambers, staring out at the sea, deep in thought. His mind replayed the events of the previous night—the storm, the sinking ship, the desperate fight to stay afloat. And then… her.

The girl. Her beautiful voice.

Her voice had been the most beautiful thing he had ever heard, like the tide itself singing to him, lulling him from unconsciousness. He had felt her touch, soft and cool against his cheek. But when he had opened his eyes, he had only caught a blur—a silhouette, shimmering like the sea itself.

Who was she?

A knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts.

“Come in,” he said, turning slightly.

The door swung open, and Lucerys entered, followed closely by Joffrey, Baela, and Rhaena. Their faces were a mixture of concern and amusement.

“The dragon keepers said that Vermax shall be fine. He has gone through a shock due to the storm but now he’s getting better” Lucerys uttered taking out a chair from the table and taking his seat. Jacaerys nodded, relief washing over him, he had been stressed about Vermax for five days since they arrived back.

“You’re not still thinking about that girl, are you?” Baela teased as she crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe. “You almost drowned, Jace. Are you sure you weren’t just dreaming?”

Jace exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. “It wasn’t a dream.”

Lucerys exchanged a glance with Joffrey, who walked closer to his older brother and asked to be scooped up. “You said she saved you? And that she had… a beautiful voice?”

“Yes.” Jace ran a hand through his curls, his frustration growing. “I heard her singing. I felt her touch. I swear it. And I think she has my necklace”

Rhaena, ever the kind one, gave him a small smile. “But you didn’t see her face?”

Baela smirked. “Maybe she was a sea spirit come to steal your heart.”

Jace shot her a glare, but before he could respond, another voice cut through the room.

“Enough.”

They all turned as Princess Rhaenyra entered, her silver hair braided back neatly, her expression gentle but firm. Prince Daemon followed behind her, arms crossed, eyes filled with amusement.

“You truly believe this girl was real?” Rhaenyra asked as she stepped toward him.

Jace stood, his jaw tightening. “I know she was. And I intend to find her.”

Rhaenyra studied him for a long moment before sighing softly. “Jace��” She placed a hand on his cheek, the way she had since he was a boy. “It’s a beautiful thought, truly. But you were unconscious. It might have been a dream… a trick of the sea.”

“It wasn’t,” he insisted. “And I know how much you want me to find a match, Mother. So I will. I will find the girl who saved me, and I will marry her.”

Silence filled the chamber.

Baela scoffed. “Gods, you really are hopeless.”

Daemon let out a low chuckle, but Rhaenyra only sighed again, her gaze searching her son’s face. He was determined, she could see that much. And she knew better than anyone—when Jace set his mind to something, there was little anyone could do to change it.

Finally, she nodded. “Very well. But be careful where you go searching, my son. The sea and world are vast… and they keep many secrets.”

Jace glanced out the window once more, his fingers grazing his cheek where he had felt the girl’s touch.

“I will find her,” he whispered. “I swear it.”

•·.·''·.·• •·.·''·.·

Beneath the shimmering surface of the ocean, past sprawling coral gardens and towering rock formations, lay Nereida’s secret cave. Hidden behind a curtain of seaweed, it was her sanctuary—a place untouched by the rules of her father’s kingdom.

The cave was filled with treasures. Not gold or jewels, but objects from the human world—things that had fallen into the sea over the years. Rusted compasses, broken swords, delicate porcelain plates painted with strange symbols, pieces of fabric in colors brighter than any fish in the ocean. Nereida had spent years collecting them, fascinated by the world above, despite her father’s warnings to stay away.

And now, clutched tightly in her hands, was her newest and most precious treasure.

The necklace.

She turned it over carefully, opening the small locket once more. The faces inside stared back at her, their expressions frozen in time. The silver-haired woman, the dark-skinned girls, and him—Jacaerys.

A small, excited squeak sounded beside her.

“You’re staring at it again.”

Nereida turned to her tiny companion, Liri, a seahorse no bigger than her palm, his translucent fins fluttering as he circled around her.

“I can’t help it,” she admitted, brushing her thumb over Jace’s likeness. “I’ve never seen a human like him before, Liri. He was… different.”

“Different how?” Liri tilted his head. “Did he have extra arms? Gills? A tail like yours?”

Nereida giggled. “No! But he wasn’t like the others. He was… sturdy. Brave. He went back for one of his own, even when the sea was trying to swallow them whole.” Her gaze softened. “And his eyes, Liri. Even through the storm, even when he was barely conscious when he opened them just slightly… they were kind.”

Liri let out an exaggerated sigh. “Oh no. It’s worse than I thought. You’re in love with him.”

Nereida blinked. “I am not!”

“You are! I know that look.” Liri swam in tight little circles, his voice full of teasing. “The dreamy eyes. The way you’re clutching that necklace like it’s your most prized treasure. You’ve never acted this way about anything in your collection before.”

Nereida huffed, setting the necklace down on a smooth rock. “He’s just… interesting. That’s all.”

Liri snorted. “Uh-huh. And the sea is just a puddle.”

She ignored him, stretching her arms before reclining against the cave wall. “I wonder if he remembers me. If he’s thinking about me the way I’m thinking about him.”

Liri perched himself on a piece of coral, watching her closely. “You saved him, Nereida. Of course he remembers you.” Then, his tiny voice grew more serious. “But you know what your father will say if he finds out.”

At that, her smile faded.

Her father, the great King of the Ocean, would never approve of this. He barely tolerated her fascination with humans as it was. And now… now she had not only interacted with one but saved him.

And worse, she wanted to see him again.

“I know,” she murmured. “But… that doesn’t mean I can forget him and father won’t know ever… I hope...”

Liri swam closer, nudging her arm gently. “Just… be careful, alright? The surface world isn’t like ours. And your father…” He hesitated. “You know he has other plans for you.”

Nereida stiffened. She knew exactly what he meant.

Her father wanted her to marry one of their own. A suitor chosen for her—a merman prince, strong and noble, someone who would rule beside her when the time came. It was a future she had never wanted.

But now, with the memory of Jace’s face burned into her mind, she wanted it even less.

A deep, echoing horn reverberated through the sea, its mournful sound traveling for miles. The moment it reached Nereida’s ears, her heart clenched.

The Sea Court was being summoned. She glanced at Liri, who gave her a knowing look. With one last look at the locket resting in her secret cave, Nereida turned and swam into the open waters, heading toward her father’s palace.

The castle of the Ocean King was carved into the side of an underwater mountain, its towers rising like jagged coral spires. Bioluminescent plants and glowing fish swirled around it, illuminating the great throne room where hundreds of merfolk were already gathering. Nereida kept to the edge of the crowd, her presence unnoticed for now.

At the center of the chamber, her father sat on his throne, his powerful form draped in shimmering seaweed and adorned with pearls. His trident, a symbol of his dominion over the ocean, was clutched in his strong hands. He was speaking in deep, commanding tones to two figures before him—one of whom made Nereida’s stomach twist.

Talon. Her betrothed.

The merman stood tall and proud, his golden scales gleaming under the ethereal light filtering through the water. He had a strong jaw, piercing green eyes, and a confidence that Nereida had never been able to match. Beside him, his father, Lord Maros, a high-ranking noble of the sea, listened intently as the Ocean King addressed them.

“I am pleased that our houses will soon be joined,” her father was saying. “A union between my daughter and your son will strengthen our kingdom against the dangers of the depths of the sea and the surface world.”

Nereida felt a lump form in her throat.

So it was final.

Talon turned his sharp gaze to her father, then scanned the crowd. “And where is my bride?”

Nereida froze.

She wasn’t ready for this. Not now. Not when her thoughts were still tangled with memories of a beautiful dark-haired prince who didn’t belong to this world and she didn’t belong to his.

Liri, hovering beside her, nudged her gently. “You can’t run now.”

Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself and swam forward through the parting crowd.

Her father’s expression softened slightly when he saw her, though his eyes still held the weight of expectation. “There you are, my daughter.”

“Papa” Nereida smiled approaching the king and pecking his cheek softly before turning her attention to the other men.

Talon’s lips curled into a smirk. “Late, as always.”

Nereida forced a smile, though it felt stiff on her face. “I was… preoccupied.”

Talon chuckled, folding his arms over his chest. “And what could possibly be more important than your own betrothal?”

Nereida opened her mouth, then quickly shut it, biting back the first response that came to mind. Telling him she had been on the surface saving a human prince probably wouldn’t go over well.

Instead, she offered a small, awkward laugh. “Oh, you know… just swimming around.”

Liri, who had settled behind her shoulder, let out the tiniest snort.

Talon raised an eyebrow. “Swimming around?”

Nereida nodded quickly. “Yes! I like to… explore.”

His smirk deepened, but there was something sharp in his gaze. “Still playing at being a little adventurer, I see. You always were more interested in human trinkets than your own kind.”

The way he said it sent a shiver down her spine. She had always known that nobody approved of her curiosity about the surface, but now, standing beside Talon with the whole court watching, it felt suffocating.

Still, she kept her polite, if slightly awkward, smile in place. “I suppose some things never change.”

Her father cleared his throat, drawing their attention back. “This union is for the good of our kingdom,” he reminded her. “It is time you accept your duty, Nereida.”

She lowered her gaze, nodding obediently, but inside, her thoughts were racing.

She had to find a way out of this.

She had to see Prince Jacaerys again.

•·.·''·.·• •·.·''·.·

damn I can’t stop writing help😭

[blacksired]

his heart, her ocean

Chapter 1: The Surface Becksons

Pairing:Jacaerys Velaryon x Fem OC!

Warnings: none (yet🌝)

Word count: idk, 3000+

Next chapter:

•·.·''·.·• •·.·''·.·

In the depths of the Narrow Sea, where the sun barely kissed the water's surface, Nereida lived a life of curious freedom beneath the waves. As the daughter of the King of the Ocean, her every movement was watched over by her father's many eyes, the currents of the sea whispering news of her every move. Yet, despite her royal blood and the expectations that came with it, Nereida had always been drawn to the world above.

Her father, King Thalor, a mighty ruler of all the sea, would have preferred his daughter to remain in the hidden caverns of their undersea kingdom, away from the human world. But Nereida was different. Her heart was filled with an unquenchable longing for adventure, for glimpses of the world above that she could never quite reach. And so, she often found herself slipping to the surface under the cover of night, hiding just below the waves to watch ships glide across the water. Their sails were like the wings of a bird to her, and the voices of the sailors, distant as they were, filled her with a longing to understand their world, to be part of it.

Her father, the mighty King Thalor of the Ocean, ruled over all beneath the waves. He was a powerful, ancient being, but even he could not keep Nereida from yearning for the land above. He did not understand it. He had arranged a suitor for her—a strong, handsome mereman named Talon, who had proven himself brave in battle against the sharks and sea serpents of the deep. Yet Nereida’s heart was not swayed by such promises of power and security. She longed for something more, something that the depths could not offer.

Tonight was no different. She had been forbidden to leave her father’s kingdom for any length of time, but tonight, there was something irresistible about the distant ships that sailed under the pale moonlight. As the moon hung high in the sky, casting a silver glow over the calm waters, Nereida floated just beneath the surface, her red hair with white shades rippling in the current. She had found a new ship—a Velaryon ship, no less—and she couldn't help but be drawn to the crew. They were laughing, their voices carrying across the wind, oblivious to the world below them.

She peered from the surface, watching the Velaryon ship glide gracefully through the waters, its sails full with the wind, the crests of waves caressing its sides. Her heart raced. The ship was unlike any she had ever seen, and the men aboard were unlike any she had ever heard of. Nereida drew closer, her curiosity consuming her. She could hear their voices carried on the wind.

“That Jacaerys, he’s something else,” one of the sailors said with a chuckle, wiping the sweat from his brow.

“Aye, that he is. And merely seven and ten if I’m correct,” another replied. “The boy’s been burning pirates alive in the Stepstones like they were nothing. I’ve seen him fight off a dozen men in a single battle. Makes the rest of us look like children… worthy heir of his mother Princess Rhaenyra”

Nereida's heart skipped a beat. Jacaerys. She had heard his name whispered in the songs of men in other ships, a brave warrior with the blood of dragons running through his veins, though she was not entirely sure what dragons were. The same name that had been spoken with reverence and awe in the kingdoms above. She had never imagined that the man would be so... captivating.

But then, something above her caught her attention.

A shadow loomed over the ship, vast and unmistakable. A sudden gust of wind caught the sails and made the crew scramble to adjust, but Nereida's gaze was fixed on the sky.

A dragon.

The massive creature soared above the ship, its wings outstretched, casting a shadow as dark as night itself. Nereida gasped, her eyes wide with astonishment as she watched the dragon glide effortlessly through the stormy sky. It was a sleek, powerful beast with scales the color of olive green and gleaming as it flew above the ship. Her heart raced.

Nereida then looked back on the ship from her place settle on the side him, a tall figure on deck, laughing and chatting with his crew. His dark hair was wild from the wind, and his bright, warm eyes were full of life. She felt drawn to him, a pull she could not explain.

“My Prince, you’ve killed more pirates than the Ironborn, that’s for sure,” one of the sailors called out, clapping Jacaerys on the back.

“Aye,” Jacaerys said with a grin, his brown eyes sparkling with pride. “And there’s more where that came from. We’ll rid the seas of them yet, but now we return home. My mother is beyond worried” he rolled his brown eyes with a chuckle staring in the dark horizon.

His laughter echoed through the night air, and Nereida’s heart soared. She couldn’t look away, entranced by the way he moved, his every gesture so full of life.

“Look at him fly!” one of the sailors shouted, pointing up at the sky. “Vermax, the ill tempered He’s a beauty, ain’t he?”

“Aye, the boy's got himself a dragon worthy of his blood,” another man agreed, his voice full of admiration.

Nereida could hardly believe her eyes. She watched in awe as Vermax circled above the ship, his wings beating the air with thunderous power. The dragon’s eyes gleamed with intelligence, his form effortlessly cutting through the skies.

She had never seen such a magnificent creature before. It was not like the deep-dwelling serpents or sea dragons that her kind sometimes spoke of. This was something different—something far grander, born from the skies rather than the depths. She could feel a strange pull toward it, as if the dragon's very presence was calling her, inviting her into its world.

As she marveled at the dragon’s flight, the storm began to pick up, the wind howling through the rigging, and the waves crashing violently against the ship.

“The storm's coming in fast!” someone shouted, and the sailors scrambled to adjust the sails, their earlier admiration for Vermax fading into nervous tension.

Before Nereida could retreat beneath the waves, the storm hit with a ferocity she had never felt. The sea churned violently, and the ship rocked wildly as waves slammed into it. The wind howled louder, whipping through the rigging. Lightning split the sky, casting brief flashes of light across the chaos.

The winds howled like vengeful spirits, lashing at the Velaryon ship with a fury that sent waves crashing over the deck. The storm had arrived in full force, and the crew fought desperately to keep the vessel steady. Jacaerys Velaryon clung to the rigging, his heart pounding as he barked out orders.

"Tie down the sails! Hold the ropes steady! We’ll not be capsized by this damned storm!" he shouted over the howling wind.

Lightning cracked the sky, illuminating the chaos. The ship groaned under the force of the waves, and Vermax screeched from above, his massive wings struggling against the fierce winds. The dragon had tried to remain close, but even he was at the mercy of the storm’s rage.

“Lower the boats! Now!” a sailor cried as another wave nearly overturned the ship.

One by one, the crew scrambled into the lifeboats, cutting the ropes and lowering themselves into the turbulent sea. Jace helped the last of them in before climbing over the rail, ready to jump, when a desperate cry stopped him.

“Help! I’m stuck!”

Jace turned sharply. One of the men, a younger sailor named Corwin, had fallen back, his foot trapped beneath a broken plank near the ship’s stern.

“Go! Get to safety!” Jace ordered the others before plunging back onto the deck. He ran through the slanting rain, his boots slipping on the drenched wood as he reached Corwin. “Hold on!”

Gripping the wreckage, Jace heaved with all his strength. The ship lurched as another wave crashed over the side, nearly knocking them both overboard. With one final pull, Corwin’s foot came free.

“Go, go!” Jace urged, pushing him toward the railing.

Corwin stumbled forward, reaching for the rope ladder leading down to the boats below, but before Jace could follow, the ship trembled violently beneath his feet. A wooden beam cracked and split open, and his leg was suddenly yanked downward—his foot caught in a widening hole in the deck.

“Your grace!” Corwin shouted, but before he could turn back, a blinding flash of lightning struck the mast, splitting it in two.

The ship groaned like a dying beast, and the last thing Jace saw was the world tipping as the deck broke apart beneath him. Then, darkness.

From a distance, Nereida watched in horror. The storm churned the sea into a violent tempest, waves swallowing the mighty ship piece by piece. She had seen men jump into boats, their desperate cries carried away by the wind—but Jacaerys had gone back.

And now he was gone, lost beneath the waves.

Without hesitation, she dove into the depths, her tail slicing through the water as she pushed forward with all her might. The currents were unforgiving, tossing her side to side, but she was built for the sea. She would not let it take him.

Then she saw him, a dark shape sinking into the abyss.

She reached for him, wrapping her arms around his unconscious form. He was heavier than she expected, his clothes and red cloak dragging him down but she gritted her teeth and kicked harder, her muscles burning as she fought against the storm’s pull.

When they finally broke the surface, the lifeboats were nowhere to be seen. The men had been carried away by the raging sea. They were alone.

Holding him tightly, Nereida swam through the endless night, toward the distant shadow of Dragonstone, the storm raging around them.

The morning sun painted the sky in hues of gold and pink as Nereida pulled Jacaerys onto the shore. The storm had passed, leaving the world quiet except for the gentle lap of waves against the sand.

Breathing hard, she sat on her tail beside him, brushing the wet curls from his forehead. His face was peaceful, his breathing steady. Her heart ached at the sight of him like this—so vulnerable, so human.

Then, she noticed his hand, tightly fisted around something. Gently, she pried his fingers open, revealing a silver necklace. It slipped from his grasp, landing softly in the sand beside them.

Curious, she picked it up. The pendant was round, and as she opened it, a small painting was revealed inside—a delicate depiction of eight people.

A woman with silver hair. A man with the same striking silver locks. Jace beside the woman. Two younger boys who resembled him. And two girls, their silver hair and dark skin oddly familiar to Nereida.

She traced the images with her fingertips, a strange sense of warmth filling her. Who were they? His family? His loved ones?

Her gaze returned to him, her lips parting as she began to sing. Softly, gently—her voice carrying over the quiet shore like the whisper of the tide.

Jace stirred. His brows furrowed slightly, his fingers twitching in the sand. His lips parted as if he wanted to speak, but he was too weak. Then, his hand, still damp and trembling, moved atop hers as she cupped his cheek.

His eyes fluttered open just slightly, their brown depths unfocused and hazy. He saw her, but only as a blur of light and shadow. His fingers brushed against hers, as if to hold onto the warmth of her touch.

Nereida barely had time to savor the moment before voices echoed down the shore.

Panicked, she pulled away, slipping back into the water. She hid beneath a cluster of jagged rocks, her wide eyes peeking just above the surface as two figures ran toward Jace.

“Prince Jacaerys!” one of the servants gasped, rushing to his side. “By the gods, we thought you were lost!”

Jace blinked, his mind still hazy, his hand lifting to his cheek where her touch had lingered. Then, he smiled—small, dazed.

“Someone saved me,” he murmured. “A girl.”

The two servants exchanged skeptical glances. “My Prince, you must have hit your head. You were alone when we found you.”

Jace shook his head, still staring out at the horizon. He knew what he had seen—or at least, what he had felt.

“No,” he said softly. “She was real. And I have to find her.”

The servants looked unconvinced, but they helped him up, leading him back toward the towering castle.

Nereida remained hidden, watching them disappear into the distance. Her heart pounded with something she could not name.

Then, she glanced down at her hand—the golden necklace still clasped in her fingers.

She opened it again, staring at the painted faces inside. The silver-haired woman. The dark-skinned girls. Jacaerys, right beside them.

She did not know their names, but she knew one thing.

She had stepped into his world now.

And she was not ready to let him go.

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hope u like this<333