House of The Dragon-The Beauty, The Bold, and The Black Dread: Chapter 175: Epilogue II

(Baelon's POV)

"If the boy is yours...." Helaena said softly, "What will you do?" 

I sighed, "I do not know." I said, "And I do not want to worry about that. Not now. Let's just worry about our brother and uncle returning." 

We were at the balcony of my chambers, my entire body was still throbbing, but the pain put me at ease. It was no longer as much as it was before, but it was there. I wanted that pain to remain, it told me that everything was real. I would squeeze the wound in my hand to make sure that none of this is in my head, that none of it was a dream. 

She grabbed my hand, "Very well." she said softly, "I want you to make the right choice, Baelon." 

I looked at her, "Hm...." I said, "It is different, the situation with that one. Daella.....well....Min had no choice. She was forced, she was raped as much as I was....but....the boy....that woman, she was the one who did this to me...I do not know what to think..." 

"You hesitate." She said

"I do." I said, "I have hesitated too much in my life. Every doubt I have had up until this point, I have acted out of emotion. When Father betrothed the two of us, I was doubtful of the situation. I was always in denial, I did not accept the union between brother and sister...." 

"Because you could not have the woman you wanted as a child." She said as she leaned closer to me, "It is understandable, no matter how much tradition is instilled upon us, there will be one person that stands out, questioning the methods." 

"And I was that?" I asked with a raised eyebrow

"Baelon, you've questioned everything." She said with a smile, "You questioned the fact that Blackfyre should be wielded by the King and had Father gift it to you." 

"Ha...." I said with a chuckle, "That is right." 

"You have responded to everything out of emotion, you are right." She continued, "And that is not wrong to do so. It does not make you weak, Baelon." 

"It makes me indecisive." I said, "Something I critiqued Father for.....oh, does the apple not fall far from the tree?" 

"You were doubtful about everything. Even about us marrying each other." She said, bringing the topic back to that, "But know that I was not doubtful one bit. I knew what I wanted my whole life; You. And Mother saw that, which is why she wanted us to marry each other. Someone that was raised outside the ways of the Targaryens supported that idea.....and wanted to continue that tradition..." 

I leaned in closer to her, "I am glad I realized what I wanted...." I said softly, "I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Nothing else..." 

She patted my cheek, "With me?" 

"Yes." I said, "I want you. Only you. I want you to bear my children...I want you to feel the joy of carrying more of our little ones in your belly. I want you to be happy, Helaena...." 

"Hm...." she smiled, "Let us hope we get to that point; My Dream." 

"Yes." I nodded

"If War breaks out, let us pray that it does not break out to the point of no return." She said as she stepped back, "I almost lost you....we almost lost you...." 

"I do not want that...." 

****************

Later that night, I was woken up by a knock on the door to Helaena's chambers. 

I sat up, "Who is it?" I called out

"My Prince." I heard a call out, "This is urgent, the King needs to see you." 

I frowned, "What?" 

"It is urgent, My Prince." the guard said

I looked at Helaena, who was shifting in her sleep. She was not bothered by the knocking and the voice. 

I slowly got out of bed and began to walk over to the door, stopping by the small table on the way to it. I saw that I had the dagger that Uncle had gifted to me on my wedding day; I usually leave it there whenever I sleep with Helaena. 

There was something telling me to grab it, so I did, placing it behind me inside my pants. 

"Which guard are you?" I asked as I slowly walked over to the door, "Where is Ser Steffon?" 

"He has been relieved," the guard said, "Hurry, it is urgent, My Prince." 

"I am going." I said, "Despite how I look, it is difficult to walk quickly." 

I opened the door slightly, seeing a guard standing in front of it, holding onto his belt as he had a serious look on his face. 

"Why did Ser Harrold not come?" I asked, "Ser Criston?" 

"They are abed." He said

"Who has the night's watch?" I asked

"Ser Lorent." He said

"Where is he?" I asked him with a raised eyebrow

"Patrolling." He said

"Hm...." I said, "Very well....just me?" 

"Yes." He nodded

"What of Helaena?" I asked, "I need someone to guard the door." 

"The Princess will be safe." He said

That was odd. 

I walked out of the room and closed the door, giving him a nod, "Very well." 

He gestured me to the side, "After you." 

I shook my head, "We walk side-to-side." I said, "Where is Father meeting me?" 

"Outside." he said

"Alright." I said as we both began to walk down the hallway

As we walked, I could not help but feel very strange at all of this. Something was definitely off. We turned the corner and suddenly, I saw that Daeron was walking toward us with a limp. 

"Oh, Brother." He said, "I found you."

"Daeron." I said as we walked next to the guard, "Father wishes to see you?" 

"Yes." He said, "It is strange, for us to be called in the middle of the night." 

I nodded, "It is." 

We then walked for a couple of minutes in pure silence, the sound of Daeron's belt-buckle clattering against what I assume was a dagger in his waistline was prominent. I then noticed something about the rhythm of the clattering. It was a bit off, which prompted me to look at his feet. 

I saw something weird.....

We reached the hallways that led to the outside ramparts and I noticed that this part of the castle was empty. Which was very strange; usually, there is someone patrolling this part at this hour. 

I stopped, "Hm....." 

"What is it?" Daeron asked me

The guard looked at me, "My Prince." he said as he placed his hand on the handle of his sword, "We should hurry, the King needs to see you." 

"Something...." I said before drawing my dagger with my left hand and swinging it at the guard's throat, "Is off....." 

The valyrian steel cut through his throat, and he stumbled back as he looked at me with a shocked face. 

Daeron looked at me, "W-What are you-" 

I kicked him in the knee, buckling him down hard, "You fucking imbecile." I said, "You are limping in the wrong leg." 

He looked at me, "What?!" 

I punched him hard in the jaw, feeling pain all over my right side as I did so. His body jerked back and he hit the ground. 

"Agh!!" He shouted as the guard next to him bled out

I then shook my arm, "Shit...." I said, "I was wondering when you lot were going to do something....I knew you were contracted....the Gift of Death was given to them, huh? To Gael?!" 

"Daeron" stood up and rubbed his mouth, "Y-You...." He said as he panted, "You are truly something else.....Our God would love to have you as an offering....." 

"Hm...." I said as I twirled my dagger in my hand, "Come on then....." 

"Try to send me to him!!"