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[ act i - lies kept ]

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐗𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍

episode nine || the green council

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         — DELIA ANXIOUSLY FUMBLED with her trembling hands, teeth nibbling at her lip until she drew blood. The more the princess thought, the more that gnawing feeling ate away at her. She was stuck. Completely stuck and stumped left to try and decipher what her next move should be.

Allowing Aegon to be crowned king? No, she'd rather drive a dagger through her own heart than to allow that to happen. But what could she do? She was caught in the middle, her mind reeling at each possible outcome with her problem at hand.

She had never once thought she'd have to side against her family, leaving them in the dusk to side with the true heir. It was right, but Delia— despite all her family has put her through— never imagined betraying them. As much as she hated it, she loved them.

Turning her back on Rhaenyra though, after years of saying how it should her upon the throne seemed unbearable for her to even think of. Her friends that belonged to that family flashed through her mine. Baela, Rhaena, Luke... Jace. The Velaryon prince's were so dear to Delia's heart, having spent most of her childhood with them and they'd always made her feel welcomed.

Even Rhaenyra had treated the princess with almost the same kindness as she showed her children. Her sister who truly wasn't her sister. If she fled to Dragonstone to warn the heir of what was to come, no doubt she could never step foot near the Red Keep ever again.

Yet, the thought that Delia would be unwelcomed at Dragonstone after delivering the news due to being Alicent's youngest daughter crossed her mind. She had no way to ensure that they wouldn't turn their backs on her. Then she would truly have no one to turn to.

Delia ran her hands through her red locks, a frustrated sigh leaving her lips with the unsettling pit in her stomach only growing the more time passed.

Aemond turned the corner of the corridor to see his younger sister hunched upon the bench just a few feet away. Ser Criston lingered behind the prince who made his way towards the princess, "Come along."

Delia raised her head to meet her brothers eye, confusion filling her blue eyes before the question spilled from her lips, "What are you on about?"

"Mother has sent a search for Aegon, he's disappeared into the city."

Delia's expression morphed into a slight scowl, "Perhaps he should be left there then." Aemond tipped his head to the side, "I might have to agree with you there."

The princess didn't bother hiding the surprises glint that shone in her eyes from her brothers response. She thought that the dead would rise once again before he ever agreed with her on any matter.

"Are you agreeing with me?"

Aemond rolled his eye, his stoic features still in place, "Don't grow accustomed to it."

Delia hummed softly in slight amusement before her expression grew serious again. Alicent was most likely searching for her oldest brother to get everything set for the coronation. A muscle in her jaw tensed the longer she thought about it, no matter how much she tried to shove away the anger rising within her— she couldn't tame it. Or perhaps she didn't want to.

"Why are you here?" Delia's harsh tone was directed at her brother before her eyes peered back at Ser Criston, who stood tall behind the silver haired prince. Aemond rested his hand upon his swords hilt, "I need you to help me find him."

Delia clenched her jaw, her eyes going hard at what her brother was asking of her. He wanted her to help him find the cunt who was to usurp the throne? "You've finally lost your head it seems."

"This isn't up for consideration—" Delia was quick to stand, cutting the prince off as she glared into his violet eyes, contrasting her blue, "The hell it isn't. I would rather be fed to the dragons, then help you or our mother with this absurdity."

Aemond narrowed his eyes slightly, "This is not a choice. You are not siding with that family full of nādrēsy." (bastards)

Delia grit her teeth, "Was I not just a bastard to you this morning? You barely think of me as your sister and now you demand I fight alongside you as such?" The princess used her pointer finger to push her brother back a bit, "How easy it is for you to consider me family when you need something."

Aemond glared right into his sisters blazing eyes, "You are going to stand beside us."

"Daor." Delia snapped, chest heaving as she couldn't believe what she was being told, "You want to find Aegon? Go ahead, but I will have no part in it. I have stood by the sidelines and watched our family do as they please for too long."

The princess went to walk beside him before Aemond quickly reached out, grasping her forearm rather tightly, "You are not siding against us."

Delia kept her head up before tilting it to the side to meet her brothers anger filled eyes, "And who will stop me? You?" A humorless chuckle slipped past her tainted lips, "I think we both know how that will end."

Her eyes stayed on his for a second longer before she ripped her arm out of his hold, continuing her way down the corridor while Aemond only watched.

Ser Criston glanced back at the girl before settling his attention on the prince before him, "What shall we do?"

A heavy exhale was his response for a long moment before his voice chimed up, "Let us worry about finding my brother for the time being."

"Of course, my prince."

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Delia anxiously chewed her nails while she paced the area of her chambers. Her mind swirling with options of how she could handle the chaos unfolding before her.  The princess huffed out in frustration, feeling caught in the middle of two sides, each of which pulling at her equally.

A knock at her door pulled her out of her thought, blinking before speaking up, "Come in."

Delia watched the Queen entire, her hands clasped before her with her eyes looking as if she was trying to decipher something. The red head came to a stop to fully face Alicent, "Muña." ( mother )

The Queen gazed into her daughters bright blue eyes, "Aemond and Ser Criston should be back with Aegon soon." Delia struggled to contain the scowl itching to pain her features, "Mhm." she dryly responded, not giving much to her mother.

Alicent let out a heavy breath, "I need you to begin to ready yourself for the coronation. Your lady should be here soon to bring you the dress you will wear. I want your hair down and fix that attitude of yours please. I have enough stress on me already, Delia, your bitterness is not needed at this time."

Delia let out a harsh scoff, her eyes widening slightly, "Oh yes, because I'm supposed to be gleaming with joy about the fact that my brother, who attempted to take my virtue might I add, will be usurping the throne from my betroths mother. My deepest apologies."

Alicent's head snapped around before giving her daughter an incredulous look, "Are you mad? Someone could've heard, Delia." The Queen peered back at the closed door before looking back at her child, "Watch where you say things like that."

Delia couldn't believe what she was hearing, "What is wrong with you? How is it that you don't even bat an eye at what Aegon does? What he has and will continue to do. Helaena has been put through the hell of being wed to him and she has suffered everyday because of it."

Alicent pursed her lips, "These conversations have their time, my child. At the moment, we cannot speak of this." The weight of the thought of Otto getting Aegon before she could nerved her to no end.

Delia's eyes faltered, her posture slacking, "Why? Why can't you for once listen to me? I am trying to talk to you— my mother yet you will always care about my siblings more."

Her mother parted her lips, "Delia..."

"I have tried to be everything for you. All I ever wanted was your validation but you were always busy with my brothers." Delia swallowed thickly, refusing to give her mother anymore of her tears, "I am so sorry that I am your bastard, that I am the very thing that puts everything you've done at risk... but I did not ask to be born this way. And yet, you've always held a bit of resentment towards me."

Alicent shook her head, attempting to disagree with her daughter but she was not given the chance to. "Do not lie to me. I have always known, even when I tried convincing myself otherwise." Delia clenched her jaw, replacing the sadness she was beginning to drown in for blazing anger, "I needed you that night. I needed my mother."

The Queen's expression faltered, knowing what night her child was referring to. "My sweet girl."

Delia eyes hardened, no. She'd had enough, an apology would no longer heal the wounds she bared, "I am tired, and I am done seeking your acceptance." Her voice was voided of any emotion, her chin tipped upwards, "I will see you at the coronation."

The princess walked past her mother, stepping back out into the corridors as her choice was finally made.

The seven hells would quicker freeze before Delia let Aegon warm the throne. Consequences be damned.

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AUTHORS NOTE,
almost done with this first act and then the wait for season two