(Baelon's POV)
[Two Months Later...]
"Your belly is noticeable now..." I said as I patted Helaena's belly, "My child is growing....."
"Yes...." She said as she patted my head, "Aren't you a curious father...."
I was kneeling down in front of her as she sat in a chair, holding my hand to her belly. Every night, I do this, trying to feel the heartbeat of my unborn child. It was an exciting feeling, having my hand on her belly for what seemed like hours.
I looked up at her, "Hm..." I said, "You are becoming more and more beautiful by the day, my love."
"I appreciate the flattery, Baelon." She said, "But do you not have duties to attend to?"
"Like what?" I asked, "I have already taken care of the issues at the villages."
"Father and Mother soon arrive, you need to have the Castle ready by then." She told me as she grabbed my hand
"Right." I told her as I straightened up
"I have already taken care of that." I heard someone say
I turned to see Rhaenyra standing in the door of Helaena's chambers, she was holding her hands in front of her and giving my wife a slight smile.
"Oh, Sister..." Helaena said
"I've arranged for the King and Queen's chambers to be prepared for when they arrive." She said, "Ser Robert and the others are ensuring that the security of the castle is increased, the food and wine should be ready by their arrival, and the smallfolk and their worries about the dragons have been quelled."
I nodded, "Thank you."
"You should not have, Rhaenyra." Helaena said, "It is not-"
"Worry not, sister." Rhaenyra said as she walked over to her, "I do not mind."
I stepped back as Rhaenyra reached Helaena and patted her cheek. I saw the way she smiled at her, it was that of genuine care.
"I am sorry if you are burdened by many responsibilities here..." Helaena said, "That was not my intention...."
"It is fine." She said, "You need not stress about me. It is not healthy for the child."
"Right..." Helaena looked at me, "Baelon...."
"What?" I asked
"Are you not going to say anything." She asked me
I shook my head, "Not necessarily." I said, "I have already thanked her for taking the initiative. It was the right move."
Helaena frowned, "Well...."
"It is okay, sister." Rhaenyra said, "I merely did this so Baelon can focus on spending time with you."
"Right..." she said as she looked at her
Rhaenyra stepped back, "If you do not mind, Baelon..." She said as she looked at me, "Aemma will join us alongside Father and The Queen."
I shook my head, "I don't." I said, "She is welcomed here whenever she desires to come."
"Thank you." She said as she began to awkwardly walk past me, "I will leave you to it, then."
"Wait." I said
"W-What is it?" She said
I glanced back at her, "Seasmoke has been spotted in Dragonstone." I told her, "If Aemma comes, she should try again to claim him."
"Are you certain?" She asked, "It did not work the last time."
"Well, he simply ignored her, I think it is a good thing." I said as I crossed my arms, "Perhaps this time would be better. Perhaps this time, she becomes a dragonrider."
"I will keep that in mind." She said softly, "I will take my leave now."
I nodded, "Right."
I then heard her footsteps as she walked out of the room.
"Baelon..." Helaena said
I looked at her, she was giving me a frown.
"What?" I asked
"You want Aemma to try to claim Seasmoke again?" She asked, "What brought this to your mind?"
I shrugged, "Nothing really..." I said, "I just think it would be nice if our niece finally claims a dragon."
"Hm...." She said, "I do not like the way you speak to her."
"What way?" I asked with a frown of my own, "What do you mean?"
"You treat her without affection. You have been for the past few months..." She said, "She, too, is your wife. Treat her as such."
I sighed, "Well..." I said, "In case you did not know, many Lords of the realm do not treat their Lady-Wives with affection. It is quite rar-"
"You are not a Lord." She said, "You are the Crown Prince, the Heir to the Iron Throne. And you are her husband. You speak of that, but at the very least, those Lords have consummated their marriage."
"I only have eyes for you." I said, "I will not argue with you, Helaena. You know that it was merely for appearances and her protection. We are married, sure...and she is already protected...there is nothing else to be done."
"Would you say that when she drifts apart due to your neglection?" She said as she looked away, "Nothing good comes out of it."
"I...." I said as I looked away, "Listen, I do not feel comfortable about it, alright? You know how I feel..."
"I figured that giving it time would change things..." She said softly, "I was wrong, apparently."
"My love." I said as I looked back at her, "She is right, you do not need to stress about things like this. Please..."
"Then do me that favor..." She said, "I will not be able to share your bed all the time, not while I carry your child."
"What?" I said, "What is that supposed to mean?"
"You will eventually become pent up because you will hold yourself back....to take care of me...." She said, "And you will act even more harshly against her. There will be more tension that will be detrimental to the two of you."
"I will not be pent up." I said with a chuckle, "You speak such ridiculous things, Helaena."
"Oh, is that so?" She asked with a raised eyebrow, "You may be very gentle with me but when days and weeks pass where we do not lay together, it will be very difficult to keep the same gentleness when we eventually do....especially in my condition."
Is this what it has come to? To have a talk about sex? What has gotten into her head?
"So what you are saying...." I said before shaking my head dismissively, "No, that cannot be right...."
"Oh yes." She said, "Baelon, Father will come and he will pester you about a child with her like he did before about a child with me."
"Oh please." I chuckled, "He knows damn well that will not happen."
"And why should it not?" She asked
"Because..." I started, "I-It just will not...."
"History repeats itself." She said, "The Conqueror had children with her two wives, that is all I am saying."
"Yes, and look how that ended up." I said with a slight smirk, "Maegor ended up usurping the Throne and had his reign of terror, using the same Dragon I have to keep everyone in line. All because he was the Conqueror's son."
"You are saying should you have a son with her, he will turn out like Maegor?" she asked with a raised eyebrow
"You said history repeats itself, if that is the case, then yes..." I said, "That is what I am saying."
"You are a fool." She said as she shook her head
"Why?" I asked her
"Maegor did not spend much time with his father." She told me, "That is where things will be different. You are not that kind of man, I know it."
I sighed, "I do not wish to speak about this any longer." I said, "Things are fine the way they are now."
"For now." She said, "Just know that I meant what I said,.....about you being pent up and all...it will create tension."
"How so?" She said
"The two years we were here, alone....nothing else to do..." She said, "That is all we did, Baelon, remember that."
"Right..." I said as I waved her off, "If you say so."
"Go get me more lemon cakes." She chuckled with a warm smile, "I have gotten hungry."
"Only two. The Maester said to watch how much of those you eat per day." I told her as I began to walk away, "You should eat proper food rather than sweets."
"Just bring me the cakes, husband." She giggled, "Then we can share the bed tonight."
"We have visitors on the morrow."