[ act i - lies kept ]

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍

episode eight || the lord of the tides

— THUNDER RUMBLED OVER THE skies as the walls to the Red Keep shook from it's force. Delia had her hands clasped behind her, her footsteps clacking against the floors as she treaded through the silent corridors.

Delia raised her head to see the princess Rhaenyra walking towards her with a tired expression caressing her features.

The red headed girl tugged her lips upwards in a small smile, "Princess."

Rhaenyra met the girls welcoming eyes, "Delia, I almost didn't recognize you."

Delia pursed her lips, "It has been many years, I take it the travel here went well?"

The older Targaryen princess nodded, "I suppose so. Jace and Luke were quite excited to see you again."

Alicent's youngest daughter smiled, "I had missed them much as well. Did you go to see father?"

Rhaenyra's expression fell slightly upon the mention of him, "I did. He hasn't seemed any better at all with time?"

Delia swallowed thickly, fumbling with her hands while responding, "No, he seems to be getting worse, princess."

Rhaenyra let out a heavy sigh, her eyes closing for a short moment before straightening up once again, "I should check on Aegon and Viserys, I'll see you later, Delia."

The red head bowed her head slightly as the silver haired woman walked past her, "Of course."

Delia breathes softly, her thoughts going to her fathers current condition. The girl shook her head, ridding herself of the thought before she could dwell on it any longer before continuing to tread down the corridor.

The princess stretched out her hand to grasp the handles to the doors before her— pushing them wide open to tread into the library.

Delia licked her lips, her eyes roaming over the large shelves. The princess stepped closer, her hands reaching up to run her fingertips over the spine of the books.

She inspected each of them, looking for a specific book that she could recognize by its spine. Delia raised her eyes, feeling a presence linger closely behind her. The princess slowly removed her hand from the shelf before swiftly reaching for her dagger that rested on her hip.

In the blink of an eye, the young girl had her weapon in hand, spinning on her heel to aim the weapon at the unknown person.

Jace sucked in a sharp breath upon the sudden knife being held rather closely to his neck. Delia's tense arms relaxed as the prince met her line of sight, she immediately pulled back her weapon, sheathing it back onto her hip before giving the boy an incredulous look, "What are you doing?"

Jacaerys blinked a few times, "I saw you come in and wanted to surprise you. I didn't think you'd pull a dagger on me."

Delia pinched the bridge of her nose, "Never sneak up on me, I could've harmed you." Jace hid an amused smile as he watched her expression, "Note taken."

Delia furrowed her brows as a thought suddenly entered her mind, "What are you doing here?"

Jacaerys licked his lips, the boy had gone to the library immediately after entering the castle. Many memories between himself and Delia lingered in the very room they were standing him, the two spent most of their days as kids in there.

He had missed the library— remembering when he was younger how on instinct he'd over to the room, knowing Delia would always be there with her head in a book, reading about dragons or weapons.

The Velaryon prince smiled at her, "I figured I'd find you here." Delia's eyes glimmered at his response, her hands folding together before her, "Of course you did. We spent much of our younger years here."

Jace pursed his lips, "How has time been treating you?" The boy took notice of how Lia's features shifted ever so slightly, had he not been watching her intently he wouldn't have caught it. Delia shrugged, "As well as it can I suppose. And you, my prince?"

Jacaerys hummed softly, "Most of it spent learning High Valyrian." Delia couldn't stop the chuckle that slipped past her lips, "I told you you'd regret not learning it with me all those years ago."

The prince rolled his eyes at her smug look, "Yes, yes, you were right. Is that what you wanted to hear?" A wide grin etched itself onto the red head's tainted lips, "Most pleasant thing I've heard all day."

Jace enjoyed the amused expression that was settled onto Delia's features, finding it entrancing the way the corners of her mouth always tugged upwards with a glint caressing her eyes.

"Do you spend most of your time training with Aemond now?"

Delia tightened her grip on her clasped hands, giving the boys question a long thought, "No, I train with Ser Criston. Aemond decides to make an unwanted appearance at times, when he's bored or in the mood to rile me up."

Jace had taken notice of the tense air between the two siblings. Delia's eyes gave it all away whilst she looked at her older brother, her expression giving away that she was no longer gladdened by his presence— but instead the quite opposite.

"Has something happened between the two of you?" Jace carefully questioned, not wanting to overstep any boundaries. Delia clenched her jaw slightly, "No, it's merely sibling quarrel. Nothing more."

Jacaerys didn't believe her, her eyes giving away something on the contrary but he stayed silent. The prince thought to himself for a short moment before his eyes lit up, "Would you care to accompany me somewhere?"

Delia pulled her brows together in confusion, "And where might that be?" Jace gave her a questioning look, "Trust me?"

Delia pursed her lips, narrowing her eyes at the boy before sighing heavily, "Fine." A smile broke out onto the prince's face, the boy moved on his feet, pushing open the large doors as he held it for Delia to walk out after him.

The princess quirked up a brow, "May I at least have an idea as to where we are going?" The two walked down the corridor side by side, the prince turning his head slightly to look at her, "No."

Delia grumbled under her breath before Jace began to pick up his pace. The red headed girl groaned, "What is this? A race?"

"I recall you always leaving me in the dust when we used to walk together."

Delia let out a soft laugh, the memories of those times flooding through her mind as she picked up the front of her gown, moving quicker to keep up with Jacaerys.

Alicent clasped her hands before her with Ser Criston at her side as they walked the corridors. The Queen's mind was plagued with thoughts of the trial that was to take place the day to come when her daughters familiar laughter echoed in her ears.

Alicent glanced up to see Delia rushing after Rhaenyra's eldest son. Her footsteps faltered— her eyes catching sight of the small smile her daughter held before the two disappeared from her line of sight.

Ser Criston rose a curious brow, "I have not seen the princess laugh like that before."

Alicent pressed her lips together, "That's because she hasn't. Not since she was a young child." The Queen licked her lips before continuing down the hall, deciding to keep her thoughts on the current matters at hand.

Delia tilted her head as they approached the dragonpit, "What are we doing, Jace?"  The Velaryon boy extended his hand out for her to take. Delia blinked at him before placing her palm in his as he led her into the pit, where the dragon keepers bowed their heads at them, "Ñuha dārilaros," (My prince, princess.)

Delia offered the male a kind smile, "Sȳz bantis." (Good evening)

Jace slowed his steps as Vermax came into view, his hand tightening on Delia as the red head's lips parted upon the sight of the dragon. The princess marveled at how much the winged creature had grown since she'd last seen him, he was beautiful.

Jacaerys glanced back at Delia, overjoyed to see her entranced expression as her eyes roamed over the dragon, "I thought you might want to see Vermax."

Delia breathed softly, "He's certainly grown much since I last saw him." The girl took notice of his green scales, watching the creature let out harsh huffs— steam leaving his mouth as the dragon intently watched his rider.

Jace gently let go of Delia's hand to approach Vermax, extending his hand out for the dragon to sniff before lowering its head at him. Jacaerys ran his hand across the side of Vermax's snout, "Gīda, Vermax." (calm)

"Ziry's gevie." (he's beautiful) Delia loved being in the presence of dragons, such majestic creatures that embodied power. Jace glanced back at the princess, a soft look caressing his features as he reached his hand out expectantly.

Delia's eyes slightly widened as she realized what he was thinking of doing, "Are you sure? What if he doesn't want me to?"

Jace shook his head, "He won't hurt you, I promise."

Delia wasn't entirely worrying about getting hurt, more so of upsetting the dragon since most preferred their riders touch to any others. The only other dragon she had been this up close with what with Halaena's— Dreamfyre. She was also a beauty.

Delia hesitantly stepped towards the two, her eyes trained on Vermax who huffed slightly but stayed in his place. The princess placed her hand in the princes', allowing herself to be pulled in closer by him.

Jacaerys placed his hand over hers, guiding it as he slowly and gently laid her palm on the dragon. Vermax heavily breathed out and Delia could feel her hand rise as he did so.

A wide genuine smile caressed the girls tainted lips, amazement set into her features while she let out a breathy laugh. Jace allowed himself to enjoy the sight, his heart beginning to beat faster at the sound of her laughter.

Delia turned her head to see Jacaerys smiling softly at her, his expression catching her off guard as she blinked. The girl carefully slipped her hand out of his, clasping her own together before speaking, "Thank you."

Jace shook his head, "This was the least I could've done."

Delia locked eyes with the boy, neither of them looking away for what seemed longer than a few minutes. The princess trance was broken as Vermax growled softly.

Delia smoothed out the front of her dress before beginning to walk backwards, "I should head back in, but thank you for this Jace and I'll see later?"

The Velaryon prince nodded, "Of course, Lia."

Jacaerys watched the red head turn on her heel, picking up the front of her dress as she treaded out of the pit. The boy never took his eyes off of her until she was completely gone from his line of sight.

Vermax gently pushed his head against Jacaerys who placed his hand upon him in response. The young prince pursed his lips, even after the many years the two had spent apart, he still enjoyed her presence the most.

Jace knew there was no way out of what he was feeling, and the thought terrified him.

―♔―

AUTHORS NOTE,
i am trying to include more valyrian dialogue but bare with me as it is a difficult task