House of The Dragon-The Beauty, The Bold, and The Black Dread: Chapter 167: A Confused Prince IV

(Baelon's POV)

I slowly walked along the wall, holding my hand against it as I held my stomach with my other arm, the one that I had wounded. 

I could feel the cold stone under my bare feet as I walked. there was nothing but a strange ambience of emptiness throughout the Halls, I had no clue why this was the case. 

I let out a sigh, "Everything is so strange....." I said, "Why do I have this feeling of uneasiness..." 

I reached Helaena's door and opened it, walking through it. I found it odd that I did not see any Kingsguard posted outside, they were supposed to be guarding her. 

I walked towards her couch and immediately sat on it, feeling a great sense of relief as I sunk on the cushions. 

I then looked around the chambers, seeing that it was empty, Helaena was nowhere to in sight. 

"Huh?" I said, "Where is she? I figured she would be here..." 

I rubbed my temple, feeling that throbbing sensation yet again. 

I could not wrap my head around what had just happened. 

So everything....every waking second...every moment that I had lived through for over a year....it was a lie? 

No...

That was just too much. How could that be? Everything was so detailed, it was real to me....

What kind of poison and drug was used on me? I know I heard Orwyle mention the Night Murmur that was used by Gael and her brother to incapacitate me. But he did not name the other poisons that was used on me. 

It was a nightmare, surely this was a nightmare, right?

I lived so many months...

 I held my son in my arms. I felt true and raw emotions when it came to my son and my daughter. How could any of that not be true?!

I hung my head down, "Oh...man...." 

I heard faint shouting in the distance, barely audible. 

I looked up, "Huh?" I said as I slowly got up and walked towards Helaena's window, "I wonder what that is..." 

I reached the window, feeling no wind coming through but the curtains were flowing, similar to Mother's chambers. I looked out to see that the City was there in front of me, outside the window and down there. There was no sound, which was strange. Was this part of the effect of all the healing concoctions that Orwyle gave me? 

I narrowed my eyes, "I swore I heard shouting." I said, "Hm....where is everyone?" 

Now that I thought about it, I had not seen Father since I woke up. Mother told me that he was busy planning his counterattack on our enemies. I had not see my brothers either, which was odd because I know they would not just ignore the fact that I was awake and alive. 

Unless they were already across the Narrow Sea, burning everything in their paths like they were in the Dream.

"It all felt so real...." I said softly

"What did?" I heard Helaena's voice

I turned to see her standing a couple of feet away from me, her warm smile immediately making my body feel at ease. 

"The dream..." I said as I turned to face her, "It felt so real...." 

"Did it?" She said, "Well.....the poison could affect the mind so easily....and....it was a dream, Baelon....are you still tired? You should rest." 

"I am done resting." I said, "I should move about, get the body moving." 

"You have pushed your body too hard, Baelon." Helaena said softly, "Your mind is strained as well...so much stress...so much going on....you are tired, you should rest....do you wish to be in my arms while you slumber?" 

"I would love nothing but that." I chuckled, "But I feel fine...really...." 

"Are you certain?" Helaena asked, "You are not tired, Baelon?" 

I shook my head, "No." 

"You are...." She said softly as she offered her hand to me, "You are tired, let us go to bed, Baelon." 

There was something odd about the way she spoke to me. Her smile was warm but her voice carried no warmth, if that made any sense. I was not used to her speaking to me like this. 

"I am fine." I said as I took a step forward, "It is still daylight." 

When I took that step, I heard the faint shouting outside the window. 

"-old him!!"

I frowned and glanced back, "What was that?" I asked, "Did you hear that?" 

"Hear what, love?" Helaena asked, "I did not hear anything." 

"Hm...." I said, "Perhaps it was the effect of the concoctions....." 

"And exhaustion." She said, "Come....you need sleep..." 

I took another step forwards, the thought of sleeping in her arms was really tempting, "Hm...." 

When I took that second step, I heard another shout. 

"Hold him down! He's burning up! Someone get a wet-" 

I looked back, "Hm....." I said, "I swear I hear someone....." 

"No, you do not." She said, "You are being really silly today, Baelon." 

I looked at her, "Is that so?" I asked, "Say, why do I not hear the dragons today, Helaena? Did most of them leave the Pit?" 

"I....hear them just fine...." Helaena said, "When you woke, Balerion let out a roar that shook the entire city.....did you not hear it?" 

I blinked, "No...." I said, "I mean.....I do not hear a lot of thi-......Helaena.." 

I said her name very seriously as I looked down, seeing something that was out of place. 

She gave me a smile, "What is it?" 

I pointed at her belly, "W-What is that?" 

She looked down at her belly, it was much larger than I last saw her. 

"Oh? Our child." Helaena said as she patted her belly with her hand, a smile on her face, "Why do you ask?" 

"Helaena....when I woke, your belly was not that large...." I said, "Daemon told me you were nowhere that large...." 

"You are mistaken, my love, I have always been this large...." She said with a smile, "You have been out of it for months...." 

"M-Months?" I said, "No...you....that is not right...." 

"You are tired." She said as she offered her hand to me again, "Come....let us sleep..." 

I did not understand. 

What was going on. 

I took a step forward. 

"His body is trashing around, someone hold him down, we need to feed him thi-" 

The shouting was louder, almost as if it were right outside the window. 

I stopped and looked back, "Who is shouting?!" I exclaimed, "What is going on?!" 

"Baelon, you are frightening me...." Helaena said, "Do I need to call the Maesters?" 

I looked at her, "What is going on, Helaena?" I asked softly, "W-What is this?" 

"Baelon, come to bed...." she said softly, "Lie down in my arms....close your eyes.....and sleep.....for as long as you need...eternity if it need be..." 

"E-Eternity...?" I asked, "What? Helaena....let me ask you something......why were you not there when I woke up? W-Why did you not seem that surprised that I was alive?" 

"Because I knew that it takes more than mere poison to kill you." She said as she lowered her hand and her expression got a bit more serious, "You are Baelon Targaryen, wielder of Blackyfre and Rider of Balerion. There is so much burden on your shoulders, many want you dead.....but you still persevere.....the Bold.....the one chosen by the gods....I know all of this makes you tired, Baelon.....just come with me.....we will go to sleep....together....when you wake up....maybe your son will be born...." 

I took a step forward, almost compelled to do so. 

"W-We might lose him!!" 

"No!!" 

"Just hold him down!!" 

The shouting were louder but even if I turned around and looked at the window, I could still hear it in the back of my head. 

The shouting did not come from outside.....it came from my head. Someone was shouting in there. 

I looked at Helaena, "Love...." I said softly, "Why do you want me to sleep with you?" 

"You are Tired....." Helaena said with a somber expression, "And you wish to rest." 

"Rest...?" I said

"Yes." She said softly, "Rest." 

"Helaena....." I said, "What happens when I go with you and fall asleep?" 

"Nothing." She said, "Absolutely nothing." 

"Nothing...." I said softly, "A void....." 

"A void, indeed." She said as she tilted her head, "Will you come?" 

I shook my head, "Y-You....." I said as I clenched my fists, "You are not real, are you?" 

"W-What?" She said, taken aback, "What are you saying, Baelon?" 

I looked at my arm, "I feel no pain...." I said softly, "Not here.....the throbbing, the sharp pain....that is from outside, is it not?" 

"Come to sleep, Baelon." Helaena said, "Please.....do not make me cry...." 

"Helaena...." I said as I looked at her, "I love you." 

"I love you too...." She said, "That is why I need you to slee-" 

"If I go with you....." I started, "And I close my eyes....that is it, it is over.....and I am tired, am I?" 

"You are so exhausted...." She said softly, "Both in body and mind...." 

"I am...." I looked down, "But....I cannot....I cannot go with you...." 

"Why not?" She asked

"You are not real." I closed my eyes, feeling tears roll down my cheek, "You are not real.....this is not real....." 

"I am." She said, "I am truth." 

"Truth?" I asked

"Come, sweet Baelon..." she said, "I....took this form....because you need to rest....come.....fall into your deserved slumber." 

I looked at her and let out an exhale, "Oh, sweet Helaena...." I said, "My everything.....my world....." 

"No." 

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

"Baelon!" I heard the distorted voice of Helaena shouting in my ear

I shot my eyes opened and sat up, "AGGHHH!!!" I shouted as my entire body felt like it was burning, "GAHH!!!" 

"Hold him!!" I heard Maester Gerardys shouted, "Do not let him open up his stitches!!" 

"W-What?!" I said as the entire room was spinning, "U-Ughh.....!!!" 

I felt a soft and small hand on my arm, "B-Baelon!" Helaena's voice said, "I am here, Baelon!!" 

"H-Helaena?" I managed as I felt something coming up my throat, "G-Ghhuggh-" 

"Get the bucket!!!" I heard Maester Gerardys's voice shout, "Bend him over the bed!!" 

I felt arms push me to the side, a hand on the back of my head as I felt an obscene amount of liquid release from my throat and mouth. 

"By the gods....!!" I heard someone say, "Blood?!" 

"Keep him still!" Gerardys said

I felt as everything came and the moment I finished throwing up, my entire body shivered. There was nothing but pain all over me, as if I was set on fire. 

"W-What the hells....?" I managed as I was pushed back up

"Hold him down to the bed, I need to feed him this..." Gerardys said, "Princess, help me open his mouth..." 

"Alright..." Helaena said as I was laid down

"What is going on?" I said as my vision was blurry, "Where am I?" 

"Shhh..." Helaena said as I felt her hand on my mouth, "Open your mouth." 

I felt her fingers pry my mouth open as some liquid was poured into it. It felt cool yet thick and I began to gag. 

"Close it!" Gerardys said, "My Prince, swallow it!" 

I did as he said, feeling the liquid pass down my throat as my entire body was shaking violently. 

"Is this normal??" I heard Helaena ask

"The poison is being purged..." Gerardys said, "We are fortunate to have attacked it on time...." 

I then sat up, "Where am I?!" I shouted suddenly, panting heavily, feeling my entire body sweating profusely, "What the hell is going on?! Am I dead?!" 

"Do not move too much, My Prince! Your wounds will open again!" He said

I pushed whoever was to my right away as I got out of bed. 

"Baelon!!" Helaena exclaimed, "Wait, do not-" 

"Knife....! Knife!!!" I shouted as I stumbled on the ground, feeling pain everywhere around my body, "I need.....!!" 

"Someone grab him!" Gerardys shouted

I could not focus my vision in front of me, only relying on my sense of touch as I reached a table and felt something was on it, a sharp object. It was small, probably one of the small incision knives that the Maesters used. 

I grabbed it and held it tightly, "Knife..." I said as my entire head throbbed, "I..." 

"What are you doing, Baelon!!" I heard Helaena's shouting

I then drove the knife into my hand, feeling an overwhelming sharp pain into it, blood pouring out of the wound. 

"Ghh....!!" I said, "P-Pain...." 

I then took it out and felt it slipped from my hand as I collapsed to the ground. 

"No!" Helaena's voice resounded in my ears, "Baelon!!" 

"Get him back on the bed!!" Gerardys shouted, "W-What are you doing, My Prince?!" 

"I..." I said as I felt arms around me, the entire room was spinning yet again, "I feel it....this....this is real...." 

"Of course it is...." the man who was holding me, possibly a guard, "My Prince....stay still...." 

"It hurts...." I said softly as I was laid on the bed, "Where am I? D-Dragonstone?" 

"Where else, Baelon???" I felt Helaena's hand on my cheek, "Where else?" 

I looked up, "It hurts...." I said softly, "I am alive....." 

"You are..." Her voice was shaky

"I...." I said, "Where is Valerion? D-Daella?? A-Are they.....are they real....?" 

"What??" Helaena asked, nearly choking up, "Of course, Baelon...of course....they are your children...." 

"They are with Rhaenyra right now."