House of The Dragon-The Beauty, The Bold, and The Black Dread: Chapter 164: A Confused Prince

(Baelon's POV)

"What the fuck are you talking about?!?!" I exclaimed as I tried to sit up, "Enough lying!!!" 

Orwyle stepped back, "The poison..." He said, "It must have been mixed with the Night Murmur, it must have created a serious effect that messed with his mind, making him think he lived events that did not happen. I have seen this before." 

"Take it easy, Baelon." Uncle told me, "Lay back down, you are hurt." 

"No." I said as I sat up, "W-Where is Helaena?! I want to see my wife! Where is she?!" 

"She is in her chambers." Daemon told me, "Just relax." 

"My Prince, you have been poisoned and drugged." Orwyle told me, "You must have fought back your assailants and you tried escaping, ending up collapsed in the streets for Prince Daemon to find you.." 

I shook my head, "N-No...." I said, "T-That cannot be....I...I was only drugged....I was raped..." 

"They raped you?" Daemon asked as I tried crawling out of the bed, "No, nephew, stay in bed." 

"Let me get up!!" I snapped, "I need to see my wives and children!!" 

"I am trying to tell you that you do not have any children, not yet." Daemon told me, "Orwyle, what did you say that happened?" 

"I do not recognize the poison that was used but it must have been mixed with the Night Murmur and another drug." Orwyle said, "While he was bleeding out and out cold, he must have lived out events that did not happen. It can happen, the mind can be manipulated and play tricks on one." 

"N-No...." I said as I pushed Daemon away, "You are wrong....that cannot be....." 

I slowly walked on the floor, feeling a numb sensation in my stomach as Daemon tried to grab my arm. 

"Baelon, dammit!!" He said, "Lay back down!" 

"Fuck off..." I said, "Where is Helaena? Take me to her....now...." 

The doors to the room opened and Mother walked in, "Baelon!!" She said with tears in her eyes, "You are awake!" 

She ran up to me and gently grabbed me by my arm as I wobbled. 

"Mother..." I said, my throat dry, "Where is Valerion?" 

"Valerion?" Mother asked, "W-Who is Valerion?" 

"What are you saying, Mother? Valerion is your grandson!!" I shouted

"My Queen, the Prince's mind is not in the right state." Orwyle said, "He is currently believing that he lived out events that did not happen. He believes he had already married the Princess Rhaenyra and that Helaena gave birth to twins." 

"Twins???" Mother said

"No....No...." I said, "Valerion is my son....Daella is my daughter....b-bastard daughter...." 

"Bastard???" Mother said with shock, "B-Baelon, did you and Rhaeny-" 

"No!!" I said, "I.....It's.....where is Helaena?!" 

"She is in her quarters, worried sick." Mother said, "You need to lay back down, I will call her." 

"No, take me to her!" I said with an angry look, "Now!!" 

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

"Helaena, sweetling....." Mother said as I limped through the doorway as she supported me, "Baelon is awake!" 

I saw that Helaena was sitting in the couch, her eyes widened as I walked over. 

"B-Baelon.." She said softly

She looked exactly as I remembered before that night, she had not gotten her small bump. She looked so beautiful back then....or now.....when she had first told me she was bearing my child. 

I pulled away from Mother and slowly limped over to Helaena, getting to my knees as I grabbed her lap. 

"H-Helaena...." I said, my voice shaky, "T-Tell me it is not true.....tell me....." 

Helaena looked at me, "W-What?" 

"Our son...." I said as I grabbed her hands, tears in my eyes, "Tell me.....our son, where is he?" 

"Baelon..." She said softly, "What do you mean?" 

"Where is Valerion, Helaena?" I asked her, "Do not lie to me...." 

"Valerion?" She said softly before patting my cheek with one hand and giving me a warm smile, "Baelon.....he is here...." 

She patted her own stomach with her other hand, implying that our son was still in her belly. 

"No...." I said as I hung my head down, "N-no.....this cannot be....." 

"Baelon, my beloved...." Helaena said, "Are you alright?" 

"I....." I said, "I....was poisoned......I...no, this is not right...." 

"Shhh...." I felt her hand on the back of my head, "It is okay, my love....just fall back asleep....let the deep slumber take you....." 

"No...." I said as I looked back up at her, "Helaena....I.....we.....we were living our lives on Dragonstone...I lived through it! Our son was born! My daughter was brought to me! Helaena....so much emotion...so many memories...!! Rhaenyra and I finally reconciled...." 

"You did?" She said with a smile, "That makes me happy...." 

"No...." I said, "All of that was a lie? A conjuration of my mind? I....I refuse to believe it!" 

She patted my cheek, "I saw it, Baelon." I said, "This life you speak of....it is not too far-fetched....and if you truly believe that you reconciled with our sister....then you have a chance to do it right now...." 

"I...." I said, "What?" 

Something did not feel right. Was this the poison in effect? Why did my entire body feel numb? What the hell was going on???

I was in Mereen, I was burning the entire place down! I was fighting Gael's brother! What?!

I felt Mother's hand on my shoulder, "Baelon..." She said, "You need rest.....please.....get some sleep, my son....." 

I laid my hand on Helaena's lap, "I refuse to believe it..." I said as tears flowed down my cheek, "No....I....m-my son.....my daughter....I..." 

"It is okay, Baelon." Helaena said softly as she patted my cheek, "You are well. You are safe. Nobody else will hurt you...not anymore...." 

"But....our son...." I said

"He will come soon." Helaena said with a chuckle, "Do not worry about that." 

"Helaena?" I heard a voice say, "I heard Baelon was awake...is he alright?" 

I lifted my head up and turned to see Rhaenyra walking up to us, her eyes right on me. She had a look of surprise in her face, seeing me on the floor like this. 

"Rhaenyra...." I said softly

"He is awake...." Helaena said, "But it appears his mind is a bit hazy....he is saying things that only one with exhaustion would..." 

"Baelon....Are you alright?" Rhaenyra said as she stared at me, standing next to the couch, "I heard what happened....I....I am sorry that it happened to you..." 

"We have done everything to find the culprits, Baelon, do not worry about anything." Mother said, "Your Father is enraged. None of this will go by unpunished." 

"Rhaenyra...." I said as I reached for her hand, "I....." 

Rhaenyra looked taken aback by this, "Baelon?" 

I grabbed her hand and pulled her towards me, "I..." I said, "No, this cannot be real.....I...." 

I wrapped my arm around her legs and hugged her. 

"Baelon??" Rhaenyra said, "Are you alright?" 

"No....." I said, "I am not! You mean to tell us reconciling did not happen?! Rhaenyra!" 

"Baelon, calm down." Mother said, "S-Sit down...." 

"Let us take this opportunity to discuss it, Baelon," Helaena told me, "Please, love...." 

I looked up at Rhaenyra, who was looking at me with surprise, "I...." I said, "All of us were together....all three of us.....we were.....making it work...." 

"All of that was a lie....????"