·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

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[ act i - lies kept ]

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍

episode nine || the green council

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           — DELIA WAS LEANED BACK in an arm chair, a book in her lap with her hands busy twirling her dagger. Her thoughts kept on wandering back to the leave of Rhaenyra and her family.

Delia, of course, had gone to see the family off. She'd been by Lucerys' side feeling the burning gaze of his older brother. The princess found it hard to meet Jacaerys' eyes, feeling as though she would crumble under his dark chestnut eyes she'd grown so fond of.

Delia blinked, pulling herself from her mind to place her focus on the pages opened before her. The girl began to softly hum as a way to keep her concentration.

Aemond was sat at the table just a few feet from the princess, doing his studies. The two siblings were used to each others presence in the library, their regular banter at a rest.

Aemond noticed the soft hum his sister was letting out, immediately letting him know she was an unease with a thought. The silver haired prince paused, a nagging feeling in his head to question the girl.

Delia continued spinning her dagger, the movement bringing her calm when a voice suddenly spoke. "Did your betroths leave upset you?"

The red headed princess quirked a brow up at her brother who had spoken up, staying silent when he continued, "Or was it his brothers?"

Delia's hand that was twirling her knife stilled, her body tensing with her expressive eyes on her brother who turned towards her. A slight amused expression caressed his prominent features, "It's obvious to anyone who looks close enough, dear sister."

Delia swallowed audibly, her eyes completely blank before she leaned forward in her seat slightly. The girl clutched her dagger, "You're delusional."

Humor flickered through the prince's eyes, a couple smirk gracing his lips, "You're really going to try and deny it?" Delia scoffed out, wearing an unreadable expression as she lied painfully well, "There's nothing to deny, Aemond."

The prince let out a gentle chuckle, a slight mocking tone could be found in it as he shook his head, "You say that as if your eyes didn't follow everywhere he went during his stay with us. The Strong boy who caught my bastard sisters heart."

Delia sprung up from her seat, in the blink of an eye she was pushing Aemond's back against the table with her dagger pressed threateningly at his throat. Delia's eyes were blazing in anger, jaw clenched before her voice came out soft— the complete opposite of her words, "Say what you will about me, lēkia. But hold your tongue when it comes to him, I will not hesitate to draw blood." ( brother )

Aemond grunted slightly, feeling the sharpness of sisters dagger begin to pierce his skin. "Protective, are you now, mandia? Sīr olvie syt konīr iksin daorun naejot deny, mhm?" ( sister, So much for there was nothing to deny, mhm? )

Delia struggled to contain herself, "You can criticize Rhaenyra's family all you want, insult them as you wish. But they are more my family than you all will ever be, jorrāelagon lēkia." ( dear brother )

A flicker of emotion flashed through the prince's eyes, but as quick as it came it had gone. Aemond's face flushed his anger, pushing his sister back before standing, "Perhaps you're right, you all can be one happy bastard family."

Delia shook her head in disbelief, "How can blood mean so much to you?" The girl didn't wait for Aemond's response, instead continuing, "Before you found out, we were as close as ever." The princess' chest heaved, many emotions begin to swell through her.

Aemond grit his teeth, watching his sisters eyes dim slightly, "You're our mothers greatest threat."

Delia chuckled lowly, but not a hint of amusement could be traced in it, "We used to be close, inseparable almost. I stood up for you when no one else did. I always acknowledged you, I would be the one to tell Aegon to fuck off when he was being a cunt to you. Yet how quick you were to turn on me when the truth came to light, as if that made me your sister any less."

Aemond tipped his chin up, he knew how much his words cut Delia deeply— in truth he hadn't known why he had reacted in such a way, but there was no coming back from it. "Half sister." he'd felt the need to correct.

Delia scoffed out, eyes glossing her as she licked her lips, "Right, half sister. Thank you for being my constant reminder of that, lēkia." The princess' voice spat out, now laced with anger as she realized it was no use. That was all she would ever be in her families eyes. ( brother )

Aemond held an unbothered expression, a part of him didn't care about how he'd hurt Delia over the years. Yet another— the part that had grown up close with his younger sister objected.

Delia slipped her dagger back into its place at her hip, breathing softly as she whispered under breath, "Kesā va moriot sagon ñuha hāedar." ( You will always be my little sister )

Aemond's eyes fell ever so slightly— barely noticeable as the princess continued, "I once believed those words."

Before the prince could come up with a response, the doors to the library opened— revealing a servant who wore an apologetic expression, "My prince, my princess."

Delia turned towards the woman, curiosity filling her blue eyes while she tipped her head to the side slightly, "What is it?"

Aemond listened to the servant intently who responded, "It's the King."

Delia's lips parted, her eyes narrowing in question, "Has something happened?" Aemond straightened up his posture as the servant answered, "The Queen has asked for your presence."

Aemond immediately knew— who wouldn't? Viserys was old and rotting away, everyone knew his days were coming to an end. Delia was quick to ground out, "Where?"

"The princess Helaena's chambers—"

The servant couldn't finish her sentence before Delia was storming down the hall with Aemond trailing after her. The pair were quick to make their way around the Red Keep before stepping into their older sisters room.

Delia halted in her steps upon seeing their mother seat beside Helaena in a comforting manner. Alicent's eyes glanced up to meet her two other children, lips pursed with her eyes soft.

Delia knew as soon as she met her mothers eyes, that Viserys had gone. She saw it coming, the King did not have many days ahead of him— but the news was still received with shock.

The day could not have gone any worse.

Alicent sighed out softly, "Have either of you seen Aegon?" Delia brows furrowed themselves together, "No, why?"

Aemond swallowed thickly, knowing precisely where their mother was going with her question and just how his youngest sister was about to react. The Queen huffed out slightly, her mind running through the various places her eldest son could be, "We need to find him."

Delia raised a brow in curiosity, "Should we not alert the princess Rhaenyra of what has happened? She's next in line for the throne."

Alicent pursed her lips, unsure how to go about the topic with her youngest daughter, "I was with your father in his last moments, my sweet love. His last words for me... were that Aegon be crowned in his stead."

Delia stilled, her mind whirling as she attempted to process what her mother had just sputtered. Anger, confusion, disbelief plagued the princess' senses, her eyes roaming over Alicent's expression.

The red head took a small step backwards, "You'd name Aegon king, instead of Rhaenyra who's been heir for over twenty years?"

"This," Alicent's soft yet stern voice started, "is what your father wanted."

Delia let out an incredulous scoff, "Is everyone supposed to believe that? Do you really think Aegon, out of all people, is fit to rule?" It was absurd, after everything he'd done— not only to herself but to others who'd fallen victim— her mother was willing to risk everything for him.

"This was Viserys' dying wish." Alicent kept pressing.

Delia clenched her jaw, "You know that's a fucking lie. Was he not walking away from his death bed to defend Rhaenyra just two days prior?" Alicent inched closer towards her child but the red head only staggered backwards, earning concerned glances from her brother and sister who were still in the room.

"Delia." The Queen attempted but was shut down by the princess who shook her head, "No, how can you spill all that rubbish about wanting peace between both families— going as far as to betroth me to Lucerys just for you to take what is not rightfully Aegon's."

Alicent clasped her hands together, "This was not an easy choice to make—" The mother couldn't continue her sentence before her daughter cut her off, "Everyone knows that is not true, at least have the decency to tell the truth about that."

"You're overreacting, Delia."

The princess' eyes widened in disbelief, a scoff slipping past her tainted lips at what her mother had said. Overreacting? Overreacting? As if Alicent wasn't putting the person who'd hurt her most on the throne knowing what he did and what he's done. As if it wasn't important, as if it was something that could've been brushed off.

Delia fought back the overwhelming crash of emotions hitting her all at once, "Overreacting?" Her voice weakly spoke, "For years, I have stayed silent at your wish. Pretended as if nothing had ever happened, stayed civil— for you. I dealt with the horrors I faced alone because not even you would comfort me."

Aemond watched the two in slight confusion about what his sister was referring to, watching as she stumbled closer and closer to the door.

"I have looked the other way for years. But I am sick of it, so I am done." Delia's strong voice bounced off the walls of the room. Her blue eyes blazing with tamed anger as she gave her mother a look she'd never received from her sweet Delia. Always had she been quiet, reserved, and diligent.

But the princess' patience had run thin.

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AUTHORS NOTE,
leaning more towards the sadder ending tbh