(Baelon's POV)
"What did you say?" Aemond said to Aegon as he was sitting down in his chair, "Baelon is what?"
Aegon chuckled, "He's getting married to Rhaenyra!" He said with a smile on his face, "Can you believe that?!"
I scowled, "You little shitstain." I grumbled with my arms crossed, "Why the hell do you bring me here so you can laugh at me?"
We were in Aemond's chambers, he was still feeling the effects of his wounds from the Trial. Even during the Funeral, the guy was unable to stand perfectly still without his knees wobbling. It was supposed to take a few more days at least for him to recover completely. He seemed fine, it was just that he occasionally felt pain and lost balance.
Aemond was looking at Aegon for a couple of seconds before his eye switched over to me, "This must be some sort of jest." He said, "Father declared this? He wants you to take a second wife?"
I looked at him, "Yes."
"Well...." He said, "That is interesting."
"Interesting?" Aegon said, "It is funny-"
"Shut up." I told him before smacking his shoulder, "Why must you find this situation humorous?"
Aemond cleared his throat, "I suppose that if the Faith does not find it unacceptable, it is the smart move to do." He said, "Nobody will be able to challenge it if it is you, Baelon. And it will keep a situation like Trevor's from arising."
"That is what I told him." Aegon said, "But our Brother does not seem to listen."
"Rhaenyra will be a sought-after prize." Aemond continued, "There is no other way to look at it. Our sister has suffered enough. Father must be taking that into account, so marrying her to you will stop anything else from happening. This could purely be ceremonial, nothing else needs to come out of it. She already has a grown daughter, there is no need to put another child in-"
"You too?" I told him with a raised eyebrow, "I seek advice from my brothers and the two imbeciles come up with the same thing?"
Aemond looked at me, "I do not know what you want me to say." He said, "This entire situation is precarious. I am to marry her daughter, our niece. Ever thought of giving me advice on that situation."
"Aemma is going to be your only wife." I told him, "This one is already married and Daeron is to marry a cousin of Mothers. One wife.....one. I am already married!"
"Have you spoken to Helaena about this?" Aemond asked, "What are her thoughts on this? I genuinely think this will happen, Baelon. If Father decided it was for the best, there is not much we can do about it. If anyone ever dares to protest it, the presence of Balerion will be enough to deter them. But the entire Realm is already speaking of the Trial by Seven and what it means."
"And what could that be?" Aegon asked him
"House Targaryen cannot be challenged." Aemond told him, "Trevor tried to do that by attempting to kill Baelon multiple times. Even this Trial was an attempt to get rid of as many dragonriders as possible and he only succeeded in taking one out. It matters not what your feelings on this are, Baelon. It will happen and it is what is best for the realm."
"It doesn't matter what my feelings are?" I asked with a raised eyebrow, "How could you say that to me? After everything I have done for you? My feelings, my emotions, they don't matter?"
"Not when it comes to the Realm." Aemond said with a serious expression, "You of all people should know that. You are to be King. Father knows that when you sit the Throne, changes will be made. You are already adamant about that new law that concerns Targaryen Women and their dragons."
I sighed and turned around, "I suppose you are right about that." I told him, "But only that. I do not accept this one bit...."
"We need to wait and see how the rest of the Realm react to this." Aegon said, "Father has not made any official announcement. Does Rhaenyra even know?"
"Enough of her." I said with a serious expression, "I'm going to my wife."
I took a couple of steps and saw that the door opened and Daeron walked in.
"Oh, brothers, you are here." He said, "I searched for you everywhere. Uncle Gwayne was asking if we can have supper in his chambers tonight."
I walked past him, "Sure." I told him,
"I'll see you there."
*************
"What an interesting decision Father has made..." Helaena said as she sat down, working on a tapestry, a smile on her face, "It does make sense....."
I looked at her. "S-Seriously?" I asked, "Does that make sense to you?"
She shrugged, "To keep our sister safe..." She said, "You must understand how she feels. Years of manipulation, everything revealing itself at the last moment. That man took away her boys, shattered her heart, and made it so that she does not trust anybody else. She is broken at the moment and requires someone to help heal her."
I was over at Helaena's chambers, telling her of what had happened. Father wanted me to take another wife and I was nervous to see what her reaction would be. I didn't expect her to be nonchalant about it.
She was so calm, so serene, and had a smile on her face that would not go away. It was as if she was not focused all that much in what I was saying, like her mind was on something else.
"A-And I am the one that would do that?" I asked
"We both will." She said simply, "She is my sister too. I adore her, she is everything to me. The only sister that I will ever have in this world...."
I looked at her, "Why are you like this?"
"What do you mean, my love?" She asked as she looked at me
I walked over to her, knelt down in front of her, and grabbed her hand gently.
"Why are you so.....kind...?" I asked with a frown, "So gentle....so....perfect? None of this bothers you? Why are you so accepting? You don't protest, you don't argue....you make this so difficult for me, Helaena.....how am I supposed to be against this when the one woman that I care the most about in the world does not mind such a decision?"
"She is our Family." She said softly, "She deserves peace. As do you. As do I."
"I know...." I said as I looked down, "I know, but...."
She patted the back of my head, "My Baelon....." She said, "Do not misunderstand me....It would kill me inside to see you with someone else....if I could not have you.....if I could not feel your warmth whenever I desire...."
I then looked at her, "Then why....?"
"You silly man..." She smiled, "I already have you. Taking her as a second wife will not change what we have, will it? Whenever I ask, you will wrap your warmth around me, will you not? You will always be my man..."
I nodded, "Y-yes....."
"Sometimes, we do things for the sake of the future." She said, "You understand that.....I can relate to your emotions, my sweet Baelon....I know...I am here if you need to speak....and I will make the acceptance of this decision to be easier...."
I sighed and stood up, "I suppose so..." I said as I walked over, "I just did not expect this. Everything I had done up until this point was for you, for our Family. I never saw that this would be the result of accepting a Trial by Seven.....I...I should have had Father execute him...."
"Do not say things like that. Things happen because Fate needs them to happen." She said
"I know, love..." I closed my eyes, "I just don't know...it's too strange....would it not be awkward between us? I do not even know if she wants this herself....I....."
"Whatever the case, the two of you must be on good terms when the child comes." She said
"I don't know how that is possible." I said as I shook my head, "I did something unspoken of, I could not ever think of-....What.....?"
What did she say?
I turned to look at her, she was giving me a smile.
"I am with child." She said while blushing, "Your child....."
Was.....
Was this a dream?
It had been a few weeks since she refused the Tea and we had not had time to be intimate. Everything had been happening so fast that I could not share her bed recently.
"Helaena....." I said as I looked at her, "A-are you certain?"
She nodded, "Come..." She offered me her hand, "My sweet love...."
I walked over to her and took her hand, "A.....a child?" I said softly, "I will....I will be a Father....?"
"Yes..." She said as I knelt down in front of her again, "I am sorry, Baelon. For making you wait this long....."
"I am going to give you a child...."