Chapter 18: Worries
(Baelon's POV)
"Yes, My Prince." The Saddlemaker said, "I will get started on the dragons' saddle. I just need a bit of time."
I nodded, "Of course."
I was in outside the Dragonpit, where the saddlemaker for our dragons was. Typically, he works on horses and since most of our Dragons already have their own saddles, he doesn't necessarily work on Dragon Saddles. But ever since Aegon had practically begged for Sunfyre to have his own customized saddle, he had been contracted.
After several tries in pleasing my brother, he had become accustomed in working on them. But, one thing is for sure; He's never made a saddle for a Dragon as large as Balerion. Well, his work is to be tested for sure.
"My Prince...." He said as he looked at me, rolling up the plans for the saddle, "D-Do I.....Do i have to be the one to climb on the Black Dread?"
"No." I said
"G-Good..." He said, "I've helped put the saddle on Sunfyre....and I almost died....I don't plan on being roasted alive by Balerion....."
I patted him on the shoulder, "Worry not." I said, "Your life will not be in any danger. We'll work with Vhagar first, then Balerion. The ladders are nearly ready, so I suggest you start on the saddles."
"Of course." He said, "I will work tirelessly on them."
"You will be rewarded handsomely, obviously." I chuckled, "But I leave it to you."
He bowed slightly and walked past me, without saying a word.
"So you've certainly taken it upon yourself to do as you please, eh?" I heard a voice say
I turned to see Uncle Daemon walking up to me as Lady Laena followed behind him, her beautiful smile on her face.
"Uncle. Aunt." I said as I nodded, "What brings you here? You plan on taking some laps? Ooh, let me join you."
"Hehe." Daemon said as he glanced at her, "Not today, nephew."
"Ah." I said, "Shame."
Lady Laena stepped up, "There are things I want to discuss with you, My Prince." She said, "About my Father."
I raised an eyebrow, "What about him?"
She gulped slightly and looked down, "It is no secret that ever since your birth, he's made it his mission to secure the power that is Baelon Targaryen.....and ever since Balerion was claimed, he's become that much persistent. When you and your sister were young, you were betrothed to each other even before it was made official. That is because my Father had been firm in his advances towards your hand. He's wished for us to be married, but alas, that never came to be."
"Hm." I said as I looked at Uncle, "Is that so?"
Daemon nodded, "Everyone in the Realm knows that Corlys is still sour that Rhaenys was overlooked at the Great Council." He said, "And he's been wanting to claim the power that is the Iron Throne."
"The Iron Throne." I said with a chuckle, "Of course. What's that got do with anything now?"
"My Father had gotten over your betrothal with your Sister. Ever since Daemon and I married, he's lowered his ambition, satisfied at the union of our Houses." Laena continued, "But....."
"But?" I asked
"Snakes in the grass." Daemon said, "There are those who whisper in his ear. As the wealthiest house in the Realm, House Velaryon is second to the Targaryens in terms of power. They have dragons through my cousin, The Princess Rhaenys and her blood; Laena and Laenor. And our daughters as well...."
"Who?" I said with a frown, "Give me names, I will sort them out. A couple of minutes before the Black Dread should do the trick."
"It's not so simple." Laena said, "Their whispers hit home. My Father will become filled with such ambition. I fear that if he makes a mistake, His Grace will punish him severely. Daemon will do his best to prevent that; the mistake."
"And what mistake is that? Treason?" I asked seriously, "Aunt, you know what that means."
"I know." Laena nodded, "But it is why I ask you to give me your word. Speak to my Father, you're the only one he'll listen to you."
"Lord Corlys doesn't respect me as much as the other members of the Court." I said as I looked away, "He sees me as a child."
"He fears you." Daemon said, "You're the Heir, as I once was."
"Why would he even think of doing something so foolish? What is going on?" I asked, "I'm serious."
"Skagos." Daemon said as he took a step closer, "It is much deeper than simply coastal raids. These cannibal savages had never had the balls to do such things. You know that, Nephew. I have heard the rumors of what you did in the North."
I frowned, "And what rumors are those?"
He chuckled, "Do you...." He said as he glanced at Laena, "Do you need me to say it here? You and Rhaenyra...alone....and well....."
"Thread carefully, Uncle." I said with a serious scowl, "My Sister is a married woman. What you're implying has severe consequences."
"Husband." Laena grabbed his arm with a serious look, "He's right. That's not what we came to speak to him about."
"You killed a man on her behalf, didn't you?" Daemon said with a sly chuckle, "He was being overly touchy with my Niece, so you cut his head off. Or that's what I heard."
"Yea. But that was two years ago." I said, "What's that gotta do with anything here?"
"Oh...." He said as he looked at me, "I know you, Baelon. I'm no fool. You're well aware that the Skagosi attacks are possibly linked to what happened back then."
He was right. I have had that suspicion for a while. And he's also right about another thing; it's much deeper than just Skagos. I had to get to the bottom of things, I had no clue what I had begun back then. The consquences of my own actions, going a bit too far, I had to fix things.
"Prince Baelon..." Laena said, "I have reason to believe that those that whisper in my Father's ears are connected to Skagos. So I came here to ask you one thing; if I can confirm such suspicions, would you aid me? Would you help my Father get out of this situation? I will hand you these conspirators in a silver platter, you can do as you please with them."
I nodded, "Give them to me when the time is right." I said, "I will gladly dispose of them."
Daemon chuckled, "I like the sound of that." He said, "You and I, Nephew. When the time comes, we'll lay ruin to Skagos. They don't know what they're doing, messing with my Brother's Realm."
"Mm." I said as I looked at him, "I guess so."
"Oh and one more thing." Laena gave me a smile, "I am quite happy that Helaena is going to marry you. I am more than confident that you and her will produce such beautiful children."
"Have you kissed her yet?" Daemon asked abrubtly
I widened my eyes and felt my face get slightly hot, "W-What?!" I took a step back and looked at him, "What did you say?!"
"Daemon! What kind of question is that?" Laena shook her head
"What?" Daemon said, "It's a reasonable question."
"She's his sister." Laena said, "It's not the first thing in his mind, clearly."
He shrugged, "So? They're gonna marry and will share the same bed, it's only natural they take the first step; a Kiss." He said, "Or are you too scared to do so, Nephew?"
I shook my head, "N-No, of course I haven't kissed her, are you insane?!" I exclaimed, feeling my face getting hotter, "What's wrong with you?!"
Daemon chuckled, "He's blushing."
"He is." Laena smiled, "How adorable."
"What's wrong with you two?" I said with a scowl, "Y-You come here and talk business, worried about potential treason and now we get to this! Who in their right mind asks a person if they've kissed their Sister? What do you want to ask next? When am I going to bed her? The hell is wrong with you?!"
"We're Targaryens, it's natural." Daemon said
"That doesn't make it better!" I exclaimed, "It's something that you have to take slowly!"
"My Parents didn't take it that slow, from what King Jaehaerys boringly told me." He said as he tilted his head, "My Mother took my Father for a ri-"
"Daemon!" Laena said, "Enough, let us go. Thank you for your time, My Prince."
I turned around and waved them around, "Alright, alright. Goodbye, we should have supper together sometime." I said, "Over here mentioning my Grandparents and their wedding night....."
"You got to be joking....."