House of The Dragon-The Beauty, The Bold, and The Black Dread: Chapter 171: Pain IV

(Baelon's POV)

"By the gods..." Mother said, "I-I have no words for this...." 

I raised an eyebrow, "That is...." I said, "That is a first...." 

She looked at me with a vicious scowl, "Y-You think this is funny?" She asked, "You think this whole situation is humorous?" 

"Alicent." Father said as he walked up to stand next to her, "Calm down." 

I was sitting on the edge of my bed, Helaena was next to me, holding my hand as she gently rubbed it. Mother and Father had just arrived and I also heard the loud roaring of both Vhagar and Caraxes so I assume Aemond and Daemon are also here. 

I looked down and rubbed my neck, feeling throbbing all over my body as usual, "I am sorry that you two have to look at me in this state." I said, "It is shameful, for your son to be the target of such constant assaults...." 

"What?" Mother said, "Do not say that. Do not say that like it is your fault." 

"Part of me knows it is." I said seriously, "All of this....I am the victim of my own hubris. I should have not gone into that building.....I should have burned Gael in Braavos....I should-" 

"Enough." Father said, "Saying all of this will not change anything, Baelon. You walked into that building, you spared that woman in Braavos. As much bad came from it, you also ended up with some good. Or are you tell me that you did not want your daughter to be alive?" 

I sighed, "I do not know...." 

"Baelon...." She said, "We will get through this.." 

"Does he know?" Mother asked

I looked up, "Know what?" 

"Alicent." Father told her, "We should stay calm about that....Baelon does not need to concern himself with that. Daemon and Aemond will take the lead on it." 

"What?" I said, "What happened?" 

"This is a terrible matter, Viserys." Mother told him, "The Realm will find out and they will want retribution. If Baelon being raped was not a declaration of War....then this is! You have to do something about it." 

"We are!" Father exclaimed, "But I do not want my son, my Heir, to foolishly get up from his bed while injured and worsen his wound! Look at him, Alicent! Look at him!" 

"What is going on?!" I cut in

"Baelon." Helaena hugged my arm, "Calm down." 

"Vermithor was stolen!" Mother said suddenly

I widened my eyes, "W-What?" 

Father closed his eyes and sighed, "Yes...." He said, "In the attack, according to Daeron.....Vermithor was claimed by a Dragonseed and he escaped. The only one that managed to survive the assault was the one that rode him off to the East." 

I looked at Helaena, "You knew about this?" I asked, "And you did not tell me?" 

"I did not want to worry you...." She said with a tear in her eye

"This is not good at all...." I said with a gulp, "Vermithor....Father, do you realize what that means? If there are two dragons that represent House Targaryen, it is Balerion and Vermithor! Balerion is the Conqueror's dragon and Vermithor is-" 

"Jaehaerys's dragon...." Father said, "I know." 

"W-Who...." I said, "Who could have...?" 

"He was tall." A voice said, "Long white and grey hair and a big beard. He was muscular too...." 

I looked over to see Daeron limping over. 

"Oh, my sweet boy." Mother walked up to him to hold him by the arm, supporting him, "Are you well?" 

"I am fine." Daeron said, "Brother, the man that claimed him....he was the one from King's Landing.....the smith...." 

I narrowed my eyes, "The smith?" 

He nodded, "Yes." He said, "I tried to stop him.....but I was stabbed in my shoulder. I killed the one that stabbed me but he had already gotten on Vermithor and flown away....." 

"It..." I said as I looked down, "That man....there is no doubt....he must be Saera's son as well....." 

"How could you be so sure?" Father asked

"Saera was Jaehaerys's daughter....and it does not matter if they are bastards are not, Gael and her brothers are direct descendants of the Conciliator....just as we are." I said while grimacing, "Vermithor must have sensed that....dammit!! This is what I feared!!" 

Father sighed, "I know." 

"They have a dragon." Daeron said, "But despite that, they should know it is not enough to oppose us. They wanted Baelon dead, they had those assassins try to take him out in a desperate attempt. Balerion is the one that gives any side an edge in battle. But....Vermithor is a vicious dragon.....he could be used well...." 

"What are we going to do?" I said

"You two will do nothing but rest." Father said, "I am letting Daemon and Aemond take care of this." 

"Are you sure?" I asked

"Vhagar and Caraxes are more than enough to take Vermithor on should it come to that." Father said, "And this Smith....he is an inexperienced rider, so I do not have to worry about anything." 

"Kill him." I said seriously, "Spare Vermithor." 

"Baelon." He said, "If it comes to that, I have no guarantee that we will have to spare the dragon. He is fierce, as fierce as Balerion. You know that." 

"That dragon...." I grimaced, "He is meant to be ours. He is Valerion's...my son is fated to ride him...." 

"How can you be so sure?" He asked me

"Because I can feel it." I said seriously

"Enough of this. Get some rest." He said, "Your King commands it." 

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

"I cannot believe that Vermithor was taken...." I said as I sat on the bed, "Rhaenyra...this is bad...." 

It was later that night, Rhaenyra had come to my chambers and was cleaning my back with a wet cloth as Helaena laid asleep next to us. 

"It is a shocking thing..." Rhaenyra said softly, "But luckily, Balerion was beyond enraged that his rider did the right thing and left. Balerion did not chase because he was more worried about you...." 

I felt the wet cloth press against the back of my shoulder, my entire body throbbing. 

"Hm...." I said, "So....War, huh?" 

"I can only hope that it does not go to that." Rhaenyra said

"It might...." I said, "Father has had enough. As have I...." 

"I know." She said

I looked over at Helaena, her sleeping face looked so beautiful and peaceful. 

"I cannot imagine what the both of you were going through." I said, "Watching me in a terrible state. And my dear Helaena....she was so worried...." 

"I could not sleep either....but Helaena was worse..." She said as she gently rubbed the cloth against my back, "She could not leave your side. Even now....she refuses to." 

"In that dream....." I said, "Everything seemed so hopeless....I truly thought that everything that I had gone through it was false...that it was in my mind. The joy of seeing my son come into this world.....the realization that I felt something for my daughter....." 

She stopped rubbing the cloth, "I see....." 

"And of course..." I said as I looked at her, "The panic I felt when I thought that you and I did not mend our relationship....."

She was looking at me with a neutral expression. 

I reached for her hand and grabbed it gently, lifting it up and kissing it. 

"We do not want any of this to happen." She said softly, "This violence.....the risk of losing you...The probability of you leaving your children fatherless....it weighs heavily on our hearts." 

"I know." I said

She looked down, "I thought I was going to lose you." 

"But I am here." I said

"You are." She said softly

I turned to face her, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her close to me. I saw the way she looked at me, her beautiful eyes staring right into me. 

"I am glad we are here." I told her softly, "The three of us." 

She nodded, "You are?" 

"Yes." I said as I kissed her lips briefly, "My only regret is that they are not with us...." 

"They....?" She said with a frown

"Your boys...." I said as I kissed her lips briefly again, "Viserys....Maelor....." 

I saw tears forming in her eyes, "I-I miss them...." 

"I miss them too." I said

"You do?" She asked, "You loved them?" 

"I did." I said

"Even if they were that man's blood?" She asked as she sniffed

"Your blood is thicker...our blood is thicker..." I said as I embraced her tightly, feeling the throbbing pain get tenser, "They would have been my sons, Rhaenyra.....I would have raised them. I loved them.....as much as I love Aemma now..." 

"You would....have done that?" She asked

I nodded, "Yes." I said, "Do you know what I feel?" 

"What?" She said

"Pain." I said, "My entire body is throbbing. Just by holding you. But your warmth...this feeling, it outweighs it....I am alive, Rhaenyra. All of this is real....being here with my two women with me......I know that everything is right." 

"Baelon." She said as she looked down

"Yes?" I asked

"I am....." She said before stopping herself

"What?" I asked, "What is it?" 

She looked away, "I am with child...."

I blinked, "Huh?" 

She nodded and then looked at me, sniffing and giving me a smile, "Y-Yes...." She said, "I did not think it would happen so soon..." 

"M-Mine.....?" I asked

She chuckled, "Who else would be the father?" She said, "You silly man....." 

I smiled and leaned in to her chest, hugging her tightly, "That is great news..." I said

She hugged me back, "Do not be an imbecile now....." She said softly, "I want you to be here for when our child comes." 

"I will keep that in mind." I said as I kissed her chest and looked at her, "You are so beautiful, Rhaenyra...." 

She patted my cheek, "You should get some sleep." 

"Stay with us." I told her, "The three of us together....it has been a while since I had two goddesses sleeping in my arms." 

"I do not want to open your wounds." She said with a frown

"It is fine." I said as I kissed her cheek, "You deserve my warmth too. As does my Helaena...." 

"Let us sleep now."