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House Of The Dragon-The Beauty, The Bold, And The Black Dread: Chapter 61: Suspicions II
🕑 Added 2025-01-16 06:17:17 +0000 UTC(Baelon's POV)
"Uncle Baelon!" I heard a voice call out for me
I stopped and turned around, seeing Aemma walking up to me. She wore a nice red dress and her hair was combed straight, setting down on her shoulders. She looked quite lovely and the most surprising thing of them all, she had grown quite tall after two years.
"Aemma?" I said as she reached me, a smile on her face, "Is that you?"
She nodded as she placed her hands behind her back, "Yes!" She said, "I've missed you so much!"
"Wow, look at you, kid." I said, "You're so big now. How old are you now? Ten and two, right? You're so tall...."
She scratched her cheek, "Yes, I have been told plenty by grandsire..." She said, "I guess I never noticed."
"Both you and Aemond grew a lot during these past two years." I said with a smile, "It is something, I will tell you that."
"Where are you going?" She asked
"I was just going to see Helaena." I said, "Have you seen her?"
"Yes, right away when you two came back." She said, "Can I come with?"
I gestured her over, "Come, let's go." I said, "I would like for you to tell me all the adventures you have had these past two years."
As we walked down the hall, I saw a glint of light in her eyes, her smile was pretty, and her hair was beautiful. She was a spitting image of her mother and a pit started to form in my stomach. I could not bring myself to harbor any negative emotions toward this precious child despite what I felt for her parents.
"Well, not much, really." she said, "I have been quite frustrated that I could not claim my own dragon. I wanted to have another go at Vermithor but Mother never allowed me to go to Dragonstone."
"Oh, is that so?" I asked, "I didn't know this."
She frowned, "Apparently, you are not speaking?" She said as she looked at me, "Is this true?"
"Hm." I said as I looked ahead
"I guess it is true." She said, "You aren't mad at her, right?"
I stopped and looked at her, causing her to stop walking as well.
"Aemma." I said seriously, "I love you, you are my dear niece. I have never raised my voice at you nor have I ever mistreated you. But I would appreciate it if we do not speak about your mother. I apologize, but please do me that favor."
"O-Oh..." She said, "I'm sorry."
I patted her cheek, "It is okay, my dear." I said, "It is not your fault."
She looked down, "I hate it when you're mad..." she said, "Even if it is not directed at me....."
"I am not mad." I said, "I....look, when you get a bit older, you will understand."
"I know...that is what everyone tells me." She said softly, "Father as well...."
I raised my eyebrow, "What about him? What has he said?"
"Nothing much...." She said as she looked down, "He's been acting strange....ever since the Wedding...."
I frowned, "How strange?"
"There...." she said as she shifted in her feet, "There was this night when he woke me up.....he was drunk, I think. I was surprised....and a bit scared...I have never seen him acting like that.....He just sat down in my bed as he drank from the bottle of wine..."
"And then what?" I asked
"He..." she said, "I don't know if I should say it...it's nothing...."
"No." I said as I lifted her chin up, "Tell me. You can trust me."
"He started saying stuff about how when I grew up, I would understand the things he has done or will do." She said, "Or something like that. He..."
"What?" I asked
"He mentioned your name...but left right after..." She said
Trevor....
That piece of shit.
So he is plotting something. Are my suspicions, the feelings that I have suppressed for two years, are they going to come back? Is he going to try to kill me again? The worst kind of enemy that I hate the most are the slimy kind that do nothing but stay in the shadows, plotting their schemes like they are some sort of masterminds.
Cowards.
"Hm..." I said as I pulled my hand away, "That is strange."
"Are you...." She said, "Are you and my Father at odds?"
"No." I lied, "Do not worry about it. Your Father is his own man, he knows the decisions he makes might potentially affect his family. But despite that, he is aware that I will not let anything happen to you or your brothers."
"S-Should I be worried, Baelon?" She asked me with a concerned face
"No." I said, "Stay by our side and you will be fine."
"I see...." She said
I reached for her hand and grabbed it, "Come, dear." I said as I began to walk, pulling her aside, "Forget all of that, let us go and see Helaena."
*************
"Ain't this some shit...." I said as I drank wine from the cup, standing next to the fireplace
It was later that night, Helaena was with Mother and Aemma, having supper. I was invited but I had a meeting with someone, so I decided to not to attend.
I looked at the flames, they flickered rapidly, such a natural force of power. It is fire that people are mostly afraid of....whether it be the natural form or from a dragon's maw. Fire is absolute power, where a Targaryen goes, everything burns.
Dragon's blood. Fire and Blood...
"Fire and Blood...." I said softly as I looked at the flames, "Hm.....fitting...."
There was a knock on the door and I turned around, seeing how it opened and Ser Arryk walked in.
"My Prince." He said as he bowed slightly, "Lord Larys Strong."
I gave him a nod, "Let him in."
He nodded and stepped to the side as Larys limped in. He wore an all-black outfit with a simple badge with House Strong's sigil on it, similar to the one I had seen at Harrenhal.
He walked over to a chair and gestured to it, raising his eyebrows as if he was asking to sit.
"Go ahead." I said as I stood there
He sat down and leaned on his cane, "Two years." He said, "You have not been in King's Landing in two years. How does it feel? To be back at the place where you were born and lived most of your life."
"It is a headache." I said
He smiled slightly, "I can imagine how you feel." He said, "How goes your marriage with the Princess?"
I scowled, "That is none of your business."
He raised his eyebrows, "I only ask...." He said, "Because of the rumors..."
"I know of the fucking slander." I said seriously, "And I will not stand for them. Those fuckers know what will happen."
"I heard what happened. A pretty lenient punishment for those who will speak such things." He said, "Dragonfire is much more fitting."
"I am no tyrant." I said, "I am not even king. Challenging them to a duel should suffice. I won't even kill them."
"That is true." He said
"What is it you wanted to speak to me about, Larys?" I asked
"Aside from the slanders against you and your wife, no disrespect intended...." He said, "There are also rumors about you and your Sis-"
"Don't speak about her." I warned
"Very well." He said, "Well....that brings me to what I will speak about."
"Go on." I said
"I have found my brother." Larys said
"Is that so?" I asked, "Where?"
"Essos. He was spotted in Volantis." He said, "Working as a sellsword, his identity hidden."
"I see...." I said, "So all this time, he never came back? He was indeed behind everything."
"It is strange, why he would be involved. But I do recall that he had a certain affection for well...you know..." He told me, "But aside from that, I did not see any actual reason. He did not seem to hold a grudge against you....well, I assume that it is him after all...."
"Trevor." I said
"I am getting closer." He said, "With my newfound position, I have more sources planted in Claw Isle. There is a certain Bastard that has been getting pretty affectionate with Trevor Celtigar. It is not unusual for a Lord to be unfaithful to his wife. That....certain bastard is under my command..."
I narrowed my eyes, "And...?"
"That bastard is with child..." Larys said, "Trevor's, allegedly. And here is the real kicker....."
"What is it?" I asked
He looked around before looking right at me, "I do not know if it is true.....but that bastard is the late Lord Corlys's..." He said, "One of three....from the same woman....who allegedly is a bastard of her own, bearing Targaryen blood....making this bastard and her unborn child.....of dragon's blood...."
"You have to be fucking kidding me..." I said, "He's making more moves..."
"I wish to know where your priorities lie, My Prince." He said, "I need to know that I am to be rewarded for all of this. This is true.....all of it.....I need to know that-"
"You will do as you are told." I said pulling something out of my pockets, "Remember, Lord Larys....what you did was a crime....even if it was for my sake and I am overlooking it...the fact that I have not punished you for this is reward enough..."
What I had in my pocket was the note that Larys had written and sent to me on the Wedding, the one that stated that he had switched the poisoned cups. It was in his handwriting and most members of the Council were aware of this. This is proof of his involvement but it is not something I am going to get to light.
"Hm...." Larys said, "Here I thought you would burn that."
"I will." I said seriously, "When we bring Trevor to justice. Whether he is exiled, sent to the Wall, or executed. The Realm must know of his crimes. But worry not.....should you help me out in crushing him, I will not only burn this, but I will personally place you on the Small Council, a Master of Whispers....the Second Son of House Strong, moving quite up in the world. And who knows? Perhaps a Hand of The King when I ascend."
He smiled slightly, "I would not be worthy of such honor."
"Mayhaps." I said, "But your work is not done. Bring me this bastard so I can question her. I need to know everything that she knows."
"With time, that will happen." He said as he stood up, "I have heard that Prince Aemond is also investigating this....perhaps I shall join forces with him."
"That would be nice." I said
"When you are ready to speak about her, I would like to discuss potential futures for-" He started
"You are not marrying her." I cut him
He lifted his arm, "No, that is not what I meant..."
I crossed my arms, "Then what?"
"Again, when you are ready." He told me as he began to walk away, limping slowly, "Know that I do this for the sake of the Realm. And the best possible future for the Realm should our King leave us, I pray not......"
"It is you on the Throne."
