House of The Dragon-The Beauty, The Bold, and The Black Dread: Chapter 169: Pain II

(Baelon's POV)

"You really do not remember what happened?" Helaena asked me as she gently rubbed my chest, "You were about to leave and were attacked. It all happened so fast. I heard Balerion's roaring viciously." 

I blinked, "No...." I said, "I...I mean, it is hazy...I remember a sound.....I was attacked atop Balerion? By whom? Who is that foolish?" 

She tapped my shoulder, where I had a small wound that was stitched up, causing me to grimace in pain. 

"Assassins." She said softly, "They used poisoned darts." 

"Oh." I said as I gently reached for my shoulder, "Did they aim for my neck? Must have missed....." 

"Perhaps they did." She said, "But...there was much more than just assassins. The island was breached by intruders. Daeron was able to land in time for the fighting. We lost a few guards....even some keepers.....this is not a situation Father will take lightly..." 

"So....." I said softly, "I fought while poisoned?" 

"Balerion burned a lot of men....and I believe you must have fallen down from the saddle because your leg's bruises suggest that..." She said as she gently ran her hand down to my thigh, "It is swollen, all of it....." 

I felt a throbbing pain in my left leg, even her mere touch was causing my entire body to be overtaking by said pain. It hurt, it hurt a lot. But that is alright, I want to feel this pain, it made me feel alive....it made me think....it made me believe this was real. 

"Who attacked me?" I asked, "Who was it that breached the island?" 

"Our enemies." She said softly

"Is everyone else alright?" I asked as I looked at her

Her face looked so exhausted, like she had not slept at all. The Maester and the maids tell me that Helaena was by my side the entire time I was bedridden, not wanting to sleep or eat until I woke up and was well. 

It put me at ease that she did this but it worried me that she is pushing herself this far for me. 

"Yes." She said, "Daeron fought off the attackers when they reached the Dragonmont. There was a lot....You ended up going down there and helping him....but after a certain point, according to Daeron, you collapsed against the wall, bleeding from your eyes and mouth. He says he was terrified, worried you had actually died....." 

"Is he alright?" I asked, "I want to see him...." 

"He is fine." She leaned in and kissed my forehead, "He just suffered some stab wounds. He is a fighter, our youngest brother." 

"I am glad...." I said as I grabbed her hand, "I do not remember much about that...it is strange, Helaena..." 

"It could be the poison...maybe its effects are not gone..." She said, "But....it happened....Balerion burnt a piece of the Dragonmont off, he was so angry." 

"I hear his rumbling...." I said with a weak smile, "I am relieved to hear him..." 

"He is also relieved you are alive." She said softly, "When you were asleep, he would roar into the sky, a tone of concern....He could feel your heartbeat get weaker....he knew you were in a bad state." 

"I should see him...." I said, "The Old Boy....." 

"When you are done resting..." She said, "The poison is one thing but you also received so many wounds that pierced through your armor...." 

"R-Right...." I said, "I can feel the pain all over....it is burning me up...." 

"You should take something for the pain..." She said as she patted my cheek, "Please...." 

"No." I said, "It is right....this pain.....I....I want to feel it..." 

"Why?" She asked

I looked at her, "That is the only way I can know this is real." I said, "I want to be sure that I am not just imagining this..." 

"You are not." She said, "I promise you." 

"Then let me feel this pain." I said as I raised my hand and squeezed the stab wound, feeling the sharp pain jolt through my entire arm, "It is only right...." 

"I do not understand..." She said, "What happened in your mind?" 

"A lot....." I said, "A lot happened, Helaena...." 

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

"Easy...." Helaena said as I sat up and turned around, my feet dangling from the bed, "You are alright?" 

I nodded, "Yes, love." I said as my entire body throbbed, "I am fine." 

It was a few hours later that I had woken up from a quick slumber. After I woke, I saw that Helaena was sleeping next to me in my arms. It only felt right to have my love in my arms like that. I did not want to move her, but the moment I made a noise, she woke right up and was wondering if I was okay. 

I just wanted to get some movement in my body, despite being in pain. I did not want to be sunk in my bed for days at a time without seeing my children. 

I looked down at my thighs, seeing that they were covered in bandages as well as my stomach and arms. I occasionally get vague flashes of the fighting that happened, but other than that, everything is hazy. 

The more I stare at the bandaged wounds, the more I think about how it went down; the fighting. The poison must have really hindered me if I was able to be cut this much. 

Helaena patted my shoulder, her touch was so comforting, "Just a few minutes, okay? Then back to bed." She said to my ear softly, "I do not want you to open your wounds again." 

"Again?" I asked

"When you were out, your body convulsed at one point and your stitches opened." She said as she crawled out of bed and stood next to me, "There was a lot of blood." 

"I am sorry." I said

"It is no fault of yours." She said as she grabbed my hand, "Come..." 

I heard the door open and I looked up to see Rhaenyra walking in, a look of concern on her face. 

"How is he-" She started before stopping as she saw me, "Baelon...." 

She then quickly walked over to me and stopped right in front of me, taking a few seconds to scan my entire body. There was a hint of disbelief in her face, as if she had not seen me in this state before. I can understand, Helaena said that she was busy checking on Daeron and the children. 

"Rhaenyra...." I said 

"He is fine." Helaena said, "Much better...." 

Rhaenyra looked at my left hand, the one I stabbed, "Oh...." She said as she gently reached for it and lifted it, "I was so worried....." 

"I am sorry...." I said as I grimaced

She then looked at me, I saw a tear forming in her eye, "Baelon, you stupid fool...." 

"I know..." I chuckled, "I am one...." 

She then patted my cheek and leaned in, kissing me on the forehead, "Do you have any idea how worried we were?" She asked softly, "You could have died.....what would we have done if that were the case? My heart cannot handle this kind of pain, Baelon....neither can Helaena's...." 

"I know." I said, "I am sorry...." 

She sighed and kissed my cheek once, "You stupid man...." She said before kissing my cheek again, "Oh, Baelon...." 

She kissed my cheek and forehead multiple times as my body throbbed in pain. But no matter how painful it felt, it was a nice sensation, feeling her kisses. 

"Rhaenyra..." Helaena said, "You are making me envious..." 

"I am sorry, sister." Rhaenyra cleared her throat and straightened up, "I know you were here with him the entire time, not leaving his side....but I was worried sick about him as well..." 

Helaena patted my cheek, "I know..." She said, "Our man is well, so it seems...." 

"Where is Valerion?" I asked, "Daella?" 

"They are with Elinda." Rhaenyra said

"I want to see them." I said

"Baelon, you are in a bad shape." Helaena started, "You should r-" 

"Please." I cut her off as I hung my head, "I need to see them...." 

"Of course...." Rhaenyra said, "I..I will bring them...." 

"Daeron too." I said, "What happened to him?" 

"He was stabbed in his shoulder and had a nasty cut on his thigh." Rhaenyra told me, "He can walk about...." 

"Good." I said, "That is good." 

"Bring them to me."