wicked games | aemond targaryen

𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚛𝚝𝚢-𝚝𝚠𝚘

VALAENA ENSURED JACAERYS and Lucerys were safe in their rooms before returning to her own. Her lips tugged into a frown when she approached her room, surprised to find Ser Donnel was not standing outside her door waiting for her. The Keep was quiet as she slowed, stopping before her room as she glanced down the corridor for any sign of life.

When she found none, she turned back to the doors and pushed them open.

"Elissa, have you seen..." Valaena trailed off as she entered the room, her eyes landing on her father as he stood up from where he sat. Her voice caught in her throat as the door clicked shut behind her, leaving her to face what she had been avoiding all day.

Daemon didn't speak at first as his gaze swept over her, unreadable as ever.

"I was beginning to wonder if you planned to return at all," his voice was quiet, laced with something sharper as he spoke to her.

"I-"

Valaena faltered as Daemon held up a hand to cut her off. She swallowed her words, pressing her lips together as her gaze dropped to the floor. She couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes.

"I looked for you," he said after a moment. "I asked the guards. The maids. Even Ser Donnel didn't know where you'd run off to."

"I needed time," Valaena said softly, her eyes still fixed on the floor.

"To hide?" he asked, his voice accusing.

"To breathe," she replied, lifting her head just enough to meet his gaze. He seemed caught off guard for a moment as his stern expression faltered for a moment.

"You cannot run from your duty," Daemon told her.

"And what is my duty?" she asked, the edge in her voice sharper than before.

"To claim what is yours," Daemon replied, each word firm as he spoke to her. "To be who you were born to be."

"And if I do not want it?" she challenged, her voice trembling despite her defiance.

Daemon took a step forward, softening his tone slightly as he spoke, "I know the dragon pit scares you, but if you just-"

"I don't want a dragon!" she burst out, the tears welling in her eyes as she released a deep breath at the confession. "I never did."

The silence that followed was deafening as Daemon stared at her in disbelief, as if his own daughter could not possibly refuse a dragon.

"You're a Targaryen," he finally spoke, as if trying to convince himself. "It's in your blood."

"Not enough," she whispered as her arms wrapped tightly around herself, feeling like a small child again.

The words hung heavy in the air between them as Daemon studied her for a long moment. Then he looked away as if he could not bear it any longer.

Valaena opened her mouth, searching for something to say, but the words never came. She froze as he turned and walked away, leaving her alone in silence.

⁂          ⁂          ⁂

Baela released a laugh as she held onto Rhaena for support as they walked through the quiet corridor, their footsteps muffled by the worn carpets that lined the stone floor. The castle had grown still in the late hour, the torches on the walls flickering softly as they passed.

She opened her mouth to make a retort, stopping when Rhaena tensed beside her. Baela straightened as she followed her sister's gaze, finding her father storming past the end of the adjoining corridor ahead without so much in a glance in their direction before he disappeared again.