(Baelon's POV)
"Sending men to the wall without His Grace's leave is not recommended, Prince Baelon." Otto told me, "What you did was overstep."
"No, killing him would be overstepping." I said as I leaned back, "Mercy. They only get one display of my mercy."
We were in the Small Council room, discussing what had just happened not too long ago. That foolish little lordling from House Caswell had decided to run his mouth. The punishment should set people straight.
Father sighed, "Baelon." He said, "We have just gone back to normal. We do not need scandals like these."
"Again, killing him would cause a scandal." I said, "I showed mercy."
"He is right, brother." Daemon said, "If you heard it yourself, you were to take tongues."
"Well, why didn't you?" Father asked
"This is the first step." I said, "It sets them straight but if for some reason they get comfortable and think that they can insult my wife and sister with getting away with their lives, only getting a punch to the face, then they will do it again. The second time, I will break a few bones and get it over with. That will make them get comfortable and they could do it a third time. The third time, they will get their tongue cut off. And after the third time...there won't be a third time."
"Why not prevent any of that and punish them properly?" Father asked me with a raised eyebrow
"My definition of a proper punishment will be seen as barbaric and cruel." I said, "Especially when it comes to my wife."
He sighed, "Very well...." He said, "The next time this happens, do not hold back. Take their tongues. Do I make myself clear?"
I nodded, "Sure."
"That brings us to our next topic." He said, "It is happening, you and your sister."
I sighed, "So it is...." I said
"I must say." Lord Jasper said, "Upon further thinking, it is the proper choice, Your Grace. Nobody would dare challenge the decision and considering how fresh the Trial By Seven is, we do not want another Trevor situation from arising."
"Agreed." Lord Tyland said, "We support it. You could look at it as another Conqueror situation. Prince Baelon has his dragon, his sword, and soon he will have two wives."
"How fortunate of him." Daemon chuckled as he leaned back
"Make no mistake." Otto spoke up, "This is for the sake of the realm. Princess Rhaenyra was the focus of a scheme that aimed to topple the Crown and start a vicious and brutal war."
"Yes." Father said, "When dragons go to war against each other, everything burns. Especially if one of them is Balerion."
"That threat has passed." I said, "His allies are all dead, or at least most of them."
"We cannot be so sure that there are no dissenting voices here under our noses." Daemon said, "I say we look into that."
"I agree with Prince Daemon." Otto said
"If it comes to that, we do it quietly." Father said, "We will not cause a scare. What Trevor was about to do could have shaken the Realm terribly. How many Houses do you think would have marched to our walls and caused chaos?"
"So it is decided, then." Otto said, "Your Grace, The Princess Rhaenyra will be married to Prince Baelon as a matter of security. She will still be within House Targaryen as well as her daughter. For both their safety, this is the best course of action. Princess Helaena is with child, Baelon will already be a father so the matter of succession will not be an issue. Should the Princess bear a son, a direct line will be established."
"Hm." I said
"I did not think that far ahead but sure." Father said, "It is decided."
"I suppose so....." I said
"Well, if anyone dares oppose this decision." Lord Jasper started, "They have Balerion to answer to."
"Nobody would dare do that." Lord Tyland said, "I don't think so."
"No wedding." I said suddenly
Father looked at me, "What?"
"I don't want a wedding." I told him, "Just a quick ceremony to get it over with so I can leave to Dragonstone."
"Baelon." Father said, "What do you mea-"
"My wedding was ruined by Trevor." I cut him off, "Helaena's day was ruined. I feel like I keep repeating myself but all of you seem to forget that. I cannot disrespect my wife by marrying another woman and having a wedding that goes by better than ours. No, I cannot allow it. If you are so adamant about making this happen, then do me the favor of doing it quick and quiet. The Realm should already know by now that it is happening, so let's just finish this."
He sighed, "I..." He said, "Fine..."
"A ceremony in the Sept should suffice." Otto said, "Under the grace of the gods....with the royal family as witnesses and well, most of the Lords of the court...."
"That is fine by me." I said, "I just want to go home."
"This is your home." Father said
"You know what I mean." I said as I looked down, "So much has happened already, a little quiet would be nice."
"The calm before the storm that is your ascension, eh?" Daemon said
"My Father is King." I told him, "And he will be king long enough to see my child grow up, you can count on that."
"I like that sentiment, son." Father smiled
Otto cleared his throat, "I do not mean to interrupt." He said, "But the other matter at hand....before we run out of time...."
"Right." Father said, "The issue of dragons and their riders."
Daemon looked at him, "what about it?"
"Baelon once brought up an interesting topic and this relates to the whole Trevor situation and his plan." Father continued, "Rhaenyra was married off to House Celtigar, taking Syrax with her of course in a similar situation to that of Rhaenys and House Velaryon. House Velaryon currently only has three dragons in Meleys, Silverwing, and Moondancer. And Trevor's plan was to do the same, adding more dragons to House Celtigar. Now, Syrax returns to House Targaryen and well....House Velaryon will part with their dragons..."
"That means.....?" Daemon said
"Rhaenys does not plan to remarry." Father said as he leaned back, "Meleys will be part of House Targaryen again and as will Silverwing, of course. Laena is married to you, Daemon."
"Hm." Daemon said, "I suppose we are not throwing House Velaryon to the dirt, right?"
"They just lost Seasmoke since losing Laenor." Father said as he looked around the table, "House Velaryon has been our allies and part of our family for years now, we have not forgotten them. But we need to keep our dragons close."
"Prince Baelon wished to pass a law that prevents any female Targaryen that does not marry within the family from claiming a dragon." Otto said, "When he eventually becomes King."
Daemon looked at me, "Is that so?"
"I don't want another House to gain a dragon and eventually rise against us." I said
"But there is a major issue with that." Father said, "The idea that we control the dragons is but an illusion. Yes, we claim them, and then we ride them. But a bond with a dragon is much more than that, it is a mutual relationship that starts with anyone with the dragon's blood, whether male or female....."
"Which includes those bastards." Daemon said, "That is what makes them so dangerous, they could just run up on one of our dragons and claim them should their blood not be as diluted as they claim."
"Exactly." Father continued, "If the dragons are capable of accepting anyone with dragon's blood, there is no point in keeping actual legitimate Targaryen-born women from getting their own dragon."
"I realize the mistake in that plan, but there is another alternative." I said, "Anyone who marries a Targaryen is taken into the family. If a lord, no matter where they are from, decided to marry one of our daughters, they are no longer part of that House. No matter what, Dragons should be kept within our House."
"A decent proposition." Otto said, "But it would still cause some issues."
"Issues worse than the potential threat of a war between dragons?" I asked with a raised eyebrow, "Does not matter to me, I will take that risk."
"Anything is better than the destruction of everything."