wicked games | aemond targaryen

𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚛𝚝𝚢-𝚘𝚗𝚎

"YOUR FATHER HAS been looking everywhere for you," Rhaenrya's voice carried around the bark of the tree that Valaena hid behind, startling the girl as she glanced up from the book in her hands. 

She didn't answer right away, her fingers tightening around the worn leather cover as she glanced over her shoulder to where Rhaenrya rounded the tree where she hid.

"You would think he would get the hint," Valaena muttered to herself with a sigh as she closed the book.

"He means well," Rhaenrya said softly as she stopped beside her, knowing all too well why the girl was hiding in the gardens.

Valaena huffed but didn't answer, her eyes fixed on the page as she flipped it with deliberate care. Rhaenyra took no offense to her silence, settling beside her with a quiet grunt, one hand resting on the swell of her pregnant belly.

"Careful," Valaena snapped the book shut as she leaned forward to help her. "You shouldn't overexert yourself in your condition."

Rhaenyra let out a soft chuckle, accepting the girl's outstretched hand with some effort.

"You sound like the maesters," her stepmother teased, although annoyance dripped into her voice at the thought of them.

"I'm serious," Valaena frowned, clearly not amused as she worried for Rhaenrya's health.

Rhaenyra simply smiled at her worry, patting her hand lovingly as she glanced around the gardens they sat in. Her eyes traveled down to the book in Valaena's grip, the torn cover clutched tightly in her hand.

"I used to read under this very tree a lot when I was younger," Rhaenyra commented as Valaena stared down at the worn book in her lap.

"I didn't realize you liked to read," Valaena commented, unable to remember a time her stepmother willingly picked up a book to read.

"I didn't," she said with a laugh and shake of her head. "My father insisted. Said it was important to know our history."

"That sounds like him," Valaena said, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

"Yes," Rhaenrya gave a soft smile as she appeared to be reminiscing. After a moment, she seemed to shake herself out of it as she looked back at Valaena. "I used to tear pages out of the book to help me remember."

Valaena widened her eyes in disbelief as she lifted the book to her chest protectively, as if Rhaenyra would snatch it from her hands and begin ripping out the pages.

Rhaenrya released a laugh at her reaction, her hand coming up to cover her mouth.

Before either could say another word, the sound of approaching footsteps rustled in the gardens behind them. A moment later, Lucerys appeared around the trunk of the tree where they had secluded themselves, his hair wild and cheeks flushed.

"There you are," Lucerys said with an exasperated sigh as he dropped down beside Valaena on the grass, leaning into her side. "Daemon is looking for you."

"Well, clearly he's not looking hard enough," Valaena said with a light-hearted shrug, wrapping an arm around Lucerys. "You both managed to find me just fine."

"You're not hiding from me, though," Lucerys pointed out.

"I would never hide from you," She told him, reaching up to ruffle his hair.

"Val," Lucerys groaned. "You know I hate it when you do that."

"That's why I do it," Valaena replied with a grin, giving his curls one last tousle before dropping her hand. He made a face but didn't pull away from her side.