(Baelon's POV)
Balerion let out a rumble as I was hunched over his teeth, the stench of his breath nearly knocking me out. I was scrubbing his teeth, making sure they were clean and not wounded.
The rumble was that of an annoyed old man, one that was too proud to admit that he needed to be taken care of.
"Don't you dare do some foolish." I warned in High-Valyrian "You keep feasting and feasting on cattle so eventually, one of the bones will prick your mouth. Who do you think is brave enough to search through this?"
I had a bucket of water next to my feet as I held a brush in my hands. Balerion had his maw open wide as I would get in there and make sure there were no pieces of meat or bone stuck between his teeth. I also checked if there were no injuries or unwanted objects in the roof of his mouth or below his tongue.
This is dirty work.
I will not sit here and lie that a dragon's mouth smells delightful. It does not.
The stench of burnt meat and bones that brews up over time is not something anyone could bear. And Balerion constantly eats his massive share or cattle. And not just any cattle, big, meaty, and filling cattle that I personally make sure is brought over to feed him.
Now, here I am.
I usually bathe for nearly an hour after doing such a task. I ensure that every inch of my body is scrubbed and the stench of Balerion's mouth is gone.
He let out another rumble as I scrubbed between his massive teeth.
"I don't want to hear it!" I said loudly, "Just bear with it!"
"It takes a lot of courage to willingly put your head inside the maw of a dragon." A voice said
I glanced behind me, seeing Father standing in the distance. Otto and Ser Harols were standing behind him a few steps back, looking at Balerion with cauton. Even they are not trusting enough to come so close to him.
"Father." I said as I continued scrubbing, "What do you need?"
"An explanation." I heard him say
"Of?" I asked
"Why did you not tell me that Helaena is with child?" He asked, "Why did you not tell me that you are to be a father!"
I sighed and straightened up, stepping away from Balerion's maw as he slowly closed it.
"I figured Mother would tell you." I said as i dropped the brush into the bucket and patted my arm, "I take it she did."
"This…." He said as he walked towards me, "This is a great deal. You are to be a Father, your first child will soon come!"
I nodded, "Yes. It is a great deal." I told him, "You have no idea how happy I am."
"This is great news." He said with a smile, "Why would you not tell me?"
"If you didn't hit me with unwanted news before something like this, you were to be the first to know." I said
He frowned, "Baelon…." He started, "You have to understand that I do things for the sake of the realm and our Family."
"What I understand is that despite everything I did for the sake of the realm and our Family, I am spat in the face with this insult." I said, "This is an insult to Helaena and I will not tolerate it."
"How is this an insult to her?" He asked me
"I am her husband, Father!" I exclaimed, "Hers! Nobody else's. By making me take a second wife, how is that going to make her look? How is she supposed to be taken seriously? Not only was our wedding ruined, but she has to endure the fact that her husband has to take another woman as his wife? Have you thought of that?"
He sighed, "Heleana is a gentle soul." He said, "She will accept it."
"That is not my point." I said, "I-"
I was cut off by the sound of Balerion straightening up. His wings caused massive thuds that shook the ground and a shadow was cast upon us as he raised himself up.
I looked at him and he let out a rumble.
"What is it now?" I asked him, "Don't you dare be in one of your moods."
He snorted loudly, the pressure hitting us.
"Seems that he can feel your ire." Father said, "There is so much to discuss, Baelon. But I wanted to congratulate you personally about becoming a Father. You cannot be mad for long, a House divided is easily conquered. I am happy for you, son. I really am."
I nodded, "I appreciate that, Father." I said, "But…."
"No more about that." He told me, "This evening I wish for all of us to feast. Every single member of my family is to attend. Including your elder sister and her daughter."
I sighed, "Fine."
"I really expect you to calm down by then." He said, "I know you must be upset but the news of your wife must balance things out."
"I would have left by now if it was not possible of calming down." I told him, "But that said, We will leave soon. It is about time we return home."
"That is fine." He chuckled, "Again, I expext to see both you and Helaena tonight."
"We will show." I told him, "You have nothing to worry about."
"We will discuss this later in detail but the subject of your one plan should you become King has reached my ears." He said suddenly, "It is a plan with good intentions but Baelon, it is not a wise one."
I nodded, "I thought about it a lot." I said, "And I realized my mistake. And I even mentioned the contradiction about that as well. I cannot keep the future women of our House from claiming dragons when said dragons do not care much."
"Right." He said as he nodded
"But I thought of something else." I said, "But like you said, we will speak in detail later."
"Of course." He turned around and walked away
I then looked up to see Balerion looking at me.
"What?" I asked him, "Do you want to fly? We'll fly."
"You old man."