(Baelon's POV)
"Rhaenyra told me what happened." Helaena said as she walked up to me while holding our son, "Poor thing, Daella must have been so terrified."
I was standing in the balcony, overseeing the result of the storm from the night before. The overwhelming smell of fresh rain was pungent in the air, it was enough to make me scrunch my nose.
"Yes....." I said, "It is not something I want to happen again. I told Rhaenyra to have her in her chambers from now on. The girl has become attached to her."
Valerion was reaching out for me and Helaena handed him over while smiling.
"To say that it is complicated would be an understatement." She told me as I took Valerion, "But there is not much we could do. I am glad you finally showed her an inkling of affection."
"Hm...." I said as Valerion began to pull on my shirt, laughing while I patted his head, "I suppose..."
"I never once pressured you...." Helaena said softly, "Not since you made it clear that you did not want to force yourself to do anything....because I understand completely....."
"Everyone told me to accept her...." I said, "I cannot believe it took me this long..."
"To be fair, you could have taken years." She said as she hugged me, "I am glad it did not take that long....."
"It is just....." I said, "I do not know.....the thing is, Helaena....I know this is normal....for Lords and even Kings and Princes to have bastards.....Hells, the whole premise of our conflict with our enemies is that they themselves are bastards...but this is different..."
"I know." She said softly, "Some Lords simply satiate their lust and sire bastards, choosing to neglect their children who have no fault....but in your case, neither you nor the girl's mother had any choice. It is a horrible thing, truly.....I....I could not bear to hold resentment to either of you....because the truth is....should it have happened to Rhaenyra or I.....well-"
"Do not say that." I said seriously, "If you put it like that, I am glad it happened to me, not any of you....."
"I do not approve of what happened." She said softly, "But I will not condemn an innocent woman and her child because of the actions of a monster...."
"I swear she will pay....." I said as Valerion hugged my chest, "I swear it, Helaena...."
"What will you do to her?" She asked me, "When you finally get to her....?"
"I do not know." I said truthfully, "But nothing physical....I want her to be punished for what she did....if.....if it is true....that her son is mine...."
Helaena looked at me with a frown, "Baelon?"
"I will rip that child from her arms." I said seriously, "She wanted to use him against me....well, I cannot have that happen..."
"And the child?" She asked
"We will cross that bridge when we get there." I told her, "For now.....all we have to do is wait for them to turn up...."
"I understand..." She said
"I am sorry if I insulted you, Helaena..." I said softly as I patted her cheek
"No." she said, "It was not you who insulted me. It was her...it was them.....they hurt my Baelon...."
"I...." I said, "I wish to make it up to you, however....."
She smiled, "How so?"
"I want another one." I said with a smile
"A-A child?" She said with surprise, "Are you certain?"
I nodded, "Yes." I said, "It is not fair that we only have one together..."
"Oh, Baelon...." She said, "If I am with child, will you be so pent up and angry like I was when Valerion was still in me?"
I chuckled, "No." I said, "I promise."
"We will speak on that later." She said with a smile, "I want nothing else but that...but mayhaps when Valerion is a bit older...."
*************
"I am so sorry!" Min cried as she prostrated on the floor, "P-Please forgive me, My Prince!! I did not hear her cries while I was asleep!"
I waved her off, "It is fine, Min." I said, "Stand up."
She slowly looked up, "My Prince?"
I sighed and reached down for her, slowly picking her up, "I understand." I said softly as she looked at me with tears in her eyes, "I do not blame you. You needed the tea to sleep through your nightmares. It is unfortunate...if you wish, I will have Daella sleep in Rhaenyra's chambers from now on. So nothing like this could happen again...."
She nodded rapidly, "Y-Yes, please..." She said, "That would be best...I....I feel terrible, Prince Baelon, for something like this to happen...."
I nodded and walked over to the couch, sitting on it and patting the spot next to me, "Sit."
"My Prince?" She said
"Go on." I said as I leaned back, "Sit. I wish to speak with you."
She slowly walked over to the couch and sat down, her posture was straight and she seemed tense. Her hands were on her lap as she looked ahead with a bit of nervousness.
I sighed again, "Listen..." I said as I leaned forward and began to fidget with my hands, "Neither of us asked for this....I know that....we both experienced the same thing....but I know that you received worse than I did....I cannot imagine the pain you went through..."
Min looked at me, "I..." She said, "Well....I know it pained you....and-"
"The others are dead, Min." I told her suddenly
"E-Eh?" She said softly
"The other girls....." I said seriously, "They are dead. It took a long time to confirm, but my information was sound....I suppose only you survived."
"M-My Prince...." She said as she looked down, "I..."
"I truly do not know if they gave birth as well." I said, "And I do not know if those children are alive or not if they did.....all I know is this; Daella and Gael's son are the only bastards that I know of.....well....even Gael's son is up for debate, so I wish to confirm that...."
"I..." She said softly
"There is a place for you here, Min." I said, "I will not turn you away, so do not think anything of the sort. You are her Mother, no matter what happens...but.....if you do not wish to bear the pain, the responsibility, the burden of that....I will take responsibility.....and I will take her off your hands..."
"Thank you..." She said softly
"It could take time...." I said, "For you to fully heal.....and worry not, it is okay...."
"I understand..." She said
"She is my daughter...." I said, "And whatever hardships I will endure for that fact....I cannot help but just meet them head on.....well....for now, I will simply try to live my life...."
"D-Do you love her?" She asked me suddenly
"I...." I said, "It is a difficult question.....but..between the two of us....she is mine, Min...and I do not have it in me to not do so.....but yes..."
"I do...."
***************
"Mama!" Daella said as she stood up slowly and reached Rhaenyra's leg, a smile on her face while Rhaenyra clapped
"Good job, Daella!" Rhaenyra said with a smile on her face, "You are so precious, my girl!"
We were in Rhaenyra's chambers, Valerion was also there, sitting on a blanket on the floor while playing with toy knights that Daeron had brought him a few weeks prior. He had a focused looked on his face while he clashed the two knights against each other.
I could not help but smile, seeing my boy like that, in his own world and having fun. Ignorant of all that has happened around him.
I want nothing else but that.
"Oh!" I heard Rhaenyra say
I turned to see Daella slowly sliding along the couch towards me, a smile on her face as she looked at me.
"Hm....?" I said as she reached me, "What is it?"
She grabbed my pants and smiled, "Mama!"
I pointed at my face, "Mama? No, I am not your mother." I said as I reached for her and picked her up, "I am your father."
She grabbed my shirt as she laughed, her other small hand reaching up to my face and grabbing my nose.
"Is she not precious?" Rhaenyra asked
"I suppose so...." I said
"Where is Heleana?" She asked
"She told me she was looking for one of those blankets she had made when she was with child." I told her, "She will be here..."
Daella was smacking my face while laughing brightly.
"Hm...." Rhaenyra said as she scooted over closer to me, "Children are a joy, are they not?"
"Daella, stop that...." I said as I turned my face to avoid getting smacked, "Hm, I suppose they are...."
Rhaenyra reached over and patted her head, causing her to smile at her and reach for Rhaenyra.
I handed her over, "They grow so quickly." I said, "My son will soon be big enough to begin his training...."
"Hm...." Rhaenyra said as she held Daella with a smile, "I cannot wait for that....and as for this beauty....I only hope I can stay with her...."
"You want her to be yours....." I said
She looked at me, "She is not my daughter...." She said with a sad frown, "But.....I do care for her..."
"Just like I am not Alicent's son....." I said with a chuckle, "Sure, she is not yours...."
"That is different, Baelon." She said
"It is not." I said as I looked over at Valerion who was still focused with his toys, no sign of noticing anything else around him, "She is yours."
"I...." Rhaenyra said, "Her mother still lives."
"And she accepts the situation they are in." I said, "As long as the girl is loved, Min will not mind who she calls a mother."
"I see...." Rhaenyra said
"Big and happy family...." I said with a sigh, "Do you think this is what Helaena dreamt of?"
"I believe so..." She said
"Rhaenyra...." I said, "I do not want Father to die....."
"What?" she said, "What makes you say that?"
"I am the Heir." I said, "When he dies, I take the Throne and we will have to move to King's Landing.....I do not want that....I want to live here....with Helaena....with you....I want Father to have a long reign ahead of him...."
"Longer than Jaehaerys...."