[ act i - lies kept ]

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐍𝐄

episode six || the princess and the queen

― DELIA PERCHED HER CHIN upon her palm, her eyes roaming over the book sprawled before her. The princess enjoyed the times when the library was quiet, it was very rare. The eight year old girl hummed a soft melody when footsteps could be heard getting closer and closer.

Delia automatically assumed it was her eldest brother, Aegon. He always sought her out when she was reading, most of the times to rip the book away from her or tease her for wasting away her time. Aegon was known for making the lives of his younger siblings harder, but Delia never paid any mind to him, she wouldn't give him that satisfaction.

"I thought I'd find you here."

A happy feeling fluttered through the princess as Jace's voice echoed through the room. The red head turned in her seat to meet the brunette's inviting gaze, "Lia."

Delia gave the prince a warm smile, "Jace, what are you doing here?" Jacaery's fumbled with his hands slightly as his hair covered most of his eyes, "I was hoping you'd join us later in the dragon pit."

The princess' smile faltered upon hearing this, she always hated going into the pit, it was a constant reminder of how her dragon egg didn't hatch, and how she never could ride a dragon.

Delia remembered the day she found out she was not a true born Targaryen, she'd kept hounding her mother with questions as to why she never allowed her near the other dragons, after all it was her supposed right.

Alicent had finally snapped, exhausted with her daughters persistence and shouted the painful truth. Visery's was not her biological father, and the girl had never been more heart broken.

Visery's had always been kind to the girl, to an extent since he was never known for speaking much with his children. To find out he was not her father distressed her, she was young when she found out, perhaps too young. Alicent made Delia swore to never speak a word of the truth to anyone, as it could cost them their lives, and what six year old wouldn't do as their mother said, especially with such consequences.

Delia tried as hard as she could to rid herself of the thought, but every time whispers about Jace and Luke's legitimacy roamed around, all she could think about was her own situation.

"Lia?"

The eight year old girl snapped out of her daze, blinking a few times before setting her attention back on Jace who was awaiting her answer. The red head mustered up a soft smile, "I don't think I should."

Jace frowned a little before taking a step closer to her, his eyes holding a pleading gaze, "Please, it's always more fun when you're around, and I'm finally gaining more control over Vermax."

Delia swallowed thickly, her eyes glancing back at her open book before returning to the prince's, "I'm quite very sure." The princess wasn't supposed to go down there, orders from her mother.

"Please, Lia. Luke and I like it when you're there with us." Jacaery's attempted to convince the young girl who heavily sighed in response, "Alright, but not for long."

A wide smile spread across Jace's lips as he nodded eagerly wanting to say more before the door to the library opened, Luke's head peeking in from the other side, "Jace, c'mon, we have to pick a dragon egg. Mother is in labor."

Jace looked over at his younger brother before gazing down at Delia, "We'll meet later." The princess gave him a small smile before waving over to Luke who sent her a cheeky grin in return.

Dehlia watched the two Velaryon boys scurry out of the library with Ser Harwin trailing after them. The young princess sighed softly before returning to her book.

She wanted to finish the last chapter before heading off to the pit.

―♔―

Delia stood between her older brother Aemond and Jace as she watched the dragon keepers bring out Vermax. The red head fumbled with her hands rather anxiously before sparing a look at Jacaery's, who wore an eager expression.

"Let him come." The keeper grunted in high Valyrian as Aemond stood near his sister. Vermax was unchained and a yawn could be heard coming from Delia's side and she already knew it was from Aegon.

The keeper guided prince Jacaery's forward as his dragon growled softly. The princess pursed her lips tightly when she felt someone linger closely behind her. Delia looked back to see Luke peeking from behind her as the young boy intensely watched his older brother.

Vermax grunted before inching closer and closer towards Jace. The keeper adjusted his grip on his staff, "Call Vermax to heel, Prince Jacaerys."

"Serve." the young prince spoke in high Valyrian, keeping his eyes set on his dragon. Vermax closely watched the child before hissing at him.

Delia flinched slightly at the sound whilst Jace staggered backwards, "Halt."

Vermax steps faltered as he stayed in his place, a soft growl emitting from him while the keeper nodded approvingly, "Well done."

Delia narrowed her eyes as her attention went to the keeper walking in a small calf, the red head placed her hands behind her as Vermax's attention was immediately drawn by the animal.

Jace smiled at his dragon while the keeper tied the goat to a post, leaving it there. Delia glanced down at Luke who wore an intrigued expression.

The dragon began to approach the animal as Jacaery's spoke, "Vermax." but the dragon did not listen as it continued to inch closer towards the goat.

"Vermax."

The keepers placed their spears before the creature, "Halt." Stopping the dragon from going any further as the man beside Jace spoke, "Zaldrizo aoho syt aeksio sagon ao bevilza, darilaros nuhys."

Delia was able to catch onto a few words that came from him just as the other keeper translated, "You must hold mastery over your dragon, my young Prince."

"Hae Darilarot Aegot Vvsperzomy."

The keeper gestured over at Aegon, "As Prince Aegon has with Sunfyre."

Delia let out a heavy sigh before rolling her shoulders back as the male continued, "Zijosy aot tetiri ozlettosy, toli rybagon zirylo vindilza."

"Once they're fully bound to you, they will refuse to take instruction from any other."

The red headed princess' gaze fell to the ground beneath her, a part of her saddened by the fact that she would never bond with a dragon. For too long, it was all she ever wanted. She'd always had the hope that some day it would become reality, but all hopes of that had died out.

Vermax let out a screech, his eyes never leaving the goat. Jace smiled at his dragon before glancing back at the keeper, "Can I say it?"

The male nodded in approval and the prince glanced back at Delia who was softly smiling at him. Jacaery's looked back at Vermax while straightening up slightly, excitement coursing through him, "Dracarys, Vermax."

Vermax hissed softly before breathing fire, ear piercing squeals echoed through the pit as the animal burned. Delia blinked at the scene as Vermax approached the dead goat before beginning to tear his teeth into it.

Delia had her eyes trained on Vermax when a hand gently taking ahold of her forearm caught her attention. The princess looked over to see Jace looking intently at her, "Are you okay?"

Delia nodded softly, "Of course, you did well." Jacaery's smiled shyly, "Thank you."

"Aemond, we have a surprise for you." Aegon spoke to his younger brother, a hidden glint in his eyes as Luke smiled. Delia pulled her brows together in confusion as she turned towards her two siblings, making Jace let out of the hold he had on her arm.

"What is it?" Aemond questioned, reluctance heard in his tone as Luke nodded, "Something very special." The Velaryon boy ran off as if to grab something while Delia felt eerie about what the boys had done.

"You're the only one of us without a dragon." Aegon spoke while he walked with Aemond who replied, "Indeed."

"And we felt badly about it, so we found one for you."

The princess turned and gazed at Jace, her eyes now slightly hostile, "What did you guys do?" The boy pursed his lips, "It was Aegon's idea."

Delia grit her teeth while Aemond quirked up a curious brow, "A dragon? How?"

Aegon fought the smile threatening to creep onto his lips, "The gods provide." Delia shook her head as Luke came out from the cave with a pig on a cord.

"Behold, the pink dread."

Delia let out a harsh scoff before pushing Aegon at the shoulder, "You just don't know when to stop." Her eldest brother rolled his eyes, "Are you upset we didn't get you one?"

Delia narrowed her eyes at him, "Do you have nothing better to do than terrorize Aemond?" The princess watched her brother stay silent, holding a coy glint in his eyes that made anger rattle through her.

Delia shook her head in disbelief before turning to face Lucery's, "Aegon is not a good influence, Luke." The princess shifted her eyes over to Jace, "And you should know better, Jacaerys."

Delia spared Jace one last look before shuffling on her feet to make her way out of the dragon pit.