ALL NOVEL Chapter 10: Scolding
(Baelon's POV)
"You two went behind my back, released the scum from their cells, and fucking executed them?!" Father yelled at Uncle and I
I merely looked away as I sat on a couch and blew raspberries, "Yep.." I said
"Sounds about right." Uncle said
"What gives you the right?!?!" Father bellowed
I looked at him and saw that he was standing next to mother, who had her arms crossed while slowly shaking her head, giving me the trademark Alicent stares.
"The fact that they dared to touch my Niece, your daughter." Uncle Daemon said as he leaned forward from his seat, "Nobody touches one of our own and gets away with it, it's a simple as that, Viserys."
"What am I to tell the people?! When they find out that two smallfolk were dragged out of the walls and executed in front of Balerion, The Black Dread!!" Father kept going as I rolled my eyes
"You will tell them nothing or the fucking truth!" Uncle stood up, "They committed a crime and we paid them back with blood. The fact that we don't string up the rest of the ratcatchers should tell them we're merciful, at the least."
"Enough of you, Daemon!!" Father said as he pointed at him, "You have been a terrible influence on my son, taking advantage of his power to meet your own goa-"
"Oh please." Uncle said, "I merely acted in defense of my niece! My blood! My Family! Can you not see that?!"
"Acting with brutality?! That is NOT what we represent!!!" Father responded
"We represent Power!!" Daemon shouted, "Our Dragons are the mightiest power in the world! If we don't use them to punish our enemies, they will merely get too comfortable that things like these will happen again!! Why the fuck do you think Rhaenyra has not left that damned rock in so long?! Need I remind you of what happened?!"
"Do no mention Rhaenyra, Daemon." Father said as he glared at him, "You-"
I cleared my throat, "You done?" I told the two of them
They both looked at me, Father frowned as he stepped to the side.
"Am I..." He scoffed, "Am I done? The nerve on this one..."
He reached for a cup of wine from the table next to him and began to chug it down as Daemon walked back to his seat.
"Calm down, husband." Mother said, "I am sure Baelon has a reasonable excuse why he overstepped."
I nodded, "I do." I said, "They touched my sister. My Betrothed. Such things will not be tolerated, not while I still live."
"And while I still live, you will not step over me and mine authority to execute prisoners that await justice." Father said as he set the cup down, "You-"
"I am her Brother!!!" I shouted with a scowl, "She's my Sister, Father!! My sister!!! I can't let some fucking pieces of shit lay a finger on my precious Sister without me doing something about it!! I'll do it again ten times if I could!"
"Baelon..." He said as he steadied his breathing and looked down, "I..."
"Viserys." Mother said as she walked up to him and grabbed his hand, "He's right. While the method to go about it was a bit....too much....he's right. Justice had to be served..."
I stood up and walked up to him, "Uncle is right." I said seriously, "If we don't punish them, they will learn to get comfortable, even with our Dragons...and they will do as they please..."
"Who's they?" He said with a frown
"Our enemies, Father." I said,
"They're everywhere and you know it."
*************
I walked through the doorway as Ser Criston closed the door behind me. I saw Helaena sitting on her bed, curled up and hugging her knees. Her maids were next to the bed, looking at her with worry.
"Princess, you need to bathe..." one of them said
"Or at least eat..." the other said
As I approached, I noticed she was trembling slightly, mumbling under her breath. Her hair was covering her face so I couldn't see her eyes. It unsettled me, I am always able to see her beautiful eyes, taking in their majesty, but now....I couldn't....and I didn't like that.
"S-Sister?" I said as I stood next to the bed, "It's me, Baelon...."
She didn't respond, merely mumbling to herself.
I looked at the maid who gulped nervously, "Has she eaten?"
"N-No, my prince..." She said
I nodded, "I see...." I said while looking back at her, "Helaena....you need to eat, sister."
Helaena stopped mumbling and turned her head to face me, "B-Brother?" she said softly
"Y-Yes." I said as I slowly sat on her bed, "It is I, Baelon."
I reached for her shoulder and she flinched, moving an inch away.
"I..." She said softly, "I'm not hungry..."
I pulled the hand away, understanding her reaction.
"You must eat." I said as I looked at her, "Please, Sister....I hate seeing you like this...It always breaks my heart."
Every time one of Helaena's pets die, whether it be her bugs, her birds, or her cats, she becomes gloomy and sulks in her room. For days at a time, she stays in her bed, mumbling to herself, lost in her own mourning. My sister is one of the sweetest souls in the Realm, possibly the purest, and the fact that mere animals dying is enough to make her this sad is the reason why I always protect her.
But this wasn't one of her pets dying, no. This was much worse than that. If Criston Cole was a few minutes too late....what could've happened was something that would leave a scar for ever. I understand that this was something traumatic for someone as sweet and gentle as her, and I want to be there for her.
She's my sister, I love her.
"I'm not hungry..." she repeated as
"Helaena...." I scooted closer, "Please, can I touch you?"
She looked at me, I caught a glimpse of her eyes, "O-Okay...."
I gave her a warm smile and gently patted her shoulder, feeling her flinch slightly.
"It's okay." I whispered, "Sister, it's okay.....they're gone....they won't touch you again...."
"I know." She said softly, "You killed them."
I nodded, "I did."
"Why?" She asked
"Because they hurt you." I responded
"Why would you do that for me?" She asked
"Because you're my sister...." I said as I rubbed her shoulder with my thumb, "Because I love you."
"They were lives...and you took them..." She said
"And I would do it again, Helaena. For you." I told her
I reached for her hair and moved it out of her face, revealing her eyes, red from crying. I tucked her hair behind her ear as I placed my hand back on her shoulder.
"B-Brother...?" She said
"Yes?" I said with a smile
"Stay with me?" She asked
I nodded, "Of course..." I said
"Thank you." She said
I leaned in and kissed her on the forehead as I wrapped my arm around her, "It's okay, my dear sister." I said softly, "Stay by my side...."
"And nothing will happen to you."