Plague II

[a/n: So far, we were going 1-1 for the updates here on Webnovel and Patreon. But I might stall them out for a bit until I finish the current arc on Patreon.]

(Baelon's POV)

I walked inside Father's quarters as I saw Maester Orwyle walking up to me. 

"He's got a bit of energy." He said to me, "But...he should not exert himself too much." 

Father was being held by Mother as he walked, his face was paler than usual as he coughed into a napkin. Mother was wearing her cloth mas and some gloves as well. There were precautions that had to be taken. 

"Father." I said

"Cover your mouth, Baelon." Mother warned

Orwyle gave me a folded cloth, "Here, My Prince." 

I took it and placed it over my mouth, "Should you be resting?" I asked Father, "What are you doing up?" 

Father stopped and looked at Mother, "D-Does he not know?" He asked, "The tragedy that has befallen our Family?" 

I frowned, "What are you talking about?" I said, "Know what? What happened?" 

"Rhaenyra is here, Baelon." Mother said, "She brought the wrapped bodies of your nephews....they were afflicted with the cough and could not handle it....." 

I froze, "What?" I said as the cloth fell from my hand, "What did you say? V-Viserys and Maelor....they...." 

Father looked at me with a grim face, "The gods are cruel..." He said, "They keep you protected from disease....but they take away my grandsons....." 

I took a step back, "N-No, that cannot be..." 

I could not believe what I was hearing. This Racking Cough had just happened, it came out of nowhere. Not only did it take the lives of innocent Smallfolk....they take away the lives of my nephews....

What...?

Why? 

Why did that happen? What did they ever do? They did not deserve such fates. 

They must have suffered, they must have been in pain. This type of illness is not something that is easy to deal with, even with the best treatment. 

And Aemma, the poor girl....

This might not be something she would want to hear, losing her brothers. 

Father walked up to me, being held by Mother, "Mayhaps..." He patted my shoulder, "It is best if you set aside your grudge....and speak to your sister...." 

I did not know what to say, no words were coming into mind. This was more than a shock, this was something that nobody could expect. 

If the gods take away the sons of my Sister, what else could they do? 

"Why...." I said under my breath

"We may not know." Father said, "I need to see her. We need to begin the pyre....as soon as possible, Baelon." 

***********

"Sister..." Helaena said softly as she held Rhaenyra in her arms, "I am so sorry....." 

"I....cannot understand why this happened to me...." Rhaenyra sobbed, "Why? Why must the gods do this to me?" 

"It must be hard, my dear." Father said as he sat on a chair next to them, wearing a cloth mask, "I do not think anyone could understand the pain you are going through....it is not something so easy to discus...." 

It was after the Funeral, everyone who was not afflicted gathered around to have Syrax cremate the remains of Viserys and Maelor. The last time I saw them was after my wedding. It pained me greatly that I was not able to go see them in the two years since being married. I know that our last meeting was positive, I ruffled their heads and told them that when they claimed their dragons, they could ride alongside Balerion and I. 

There were no words coming out of my mouth. I could only stare at the floor, completely baffled at the situation we were in. 

My nephews were dead. 

What could I possibly say to that?

We were now in Rhaenyra's chambers, everyone who was capable of doing so came to support Rhaenyra. Helaena sat next to her, holding her as she sobbed while Father sat next to them. Mother stood behind the couch, patting her shoulder in support as Aemond and Aemma stood next to the couch. Aemond had an arm around Aemma, holding her as she sobbed quietly. Daeron sat in another chair, looking down with a sad face. He did not say anything, I don't think he had anything to say. 

Aegon was not here, he had to be with his wife and son, which I do not blame him for. He did attend the Funeral and to say that he was distraught was an understatement. He was a father and the potential pain of losing a child is something he understood well enough. I thank the gods that Jaehaerys is well and healthy. I do not know what I would feel should I lose another nephew. And Aemma, I am so glad that she was among the resistant to the cough. 

"You can stay here for as long as you wish, Rhaenyra." Mother told Rhaenyra as she cried, "We are with you, you understand? We are your Family." 

"Of course." Father said as he coughed, his voice was a bit shaky, "We are here. All of us." 

I stood at the far end of the room, leaning against the wall, just staring at this. I did not know how to feel about the situation. Is my heart this cold? Why can't I just go over there and tell my sister, my own flesh and blood, how sorry I am? 

What is wrong with me? 

Is my hatred for her husband that strong? That I do not show any signs of remorse for the death of his sons? 

No. I loved my nephews. They were my family as much as they were Trevor's. 

I had my arms crossed and looked down, "Hells...." I whispered, "Why must this happen?" 

I have not heard from Uncle Daemon and the others, I hope they are well. This whole plague is about to hit the Realm hard and I wish that everyone is prepared. I had written to him a day prior, telling him to make sure everyone was healthy. 

I could hear Rhaenyra's sobs, the pain behind them. She is hurting, I know it. There was not much I could say or do that would make her feel better. She lost her children, what am I supposed to do about that? 

Perhaps I should just leave. 

I sighed and began to walk away when I heard Father call out for me. 

"Where are you going, Baelon?" He called, his voice was somewhat weak

I stopped, "I..." I said

I looked at him, he had stood up. 

"Do you want to know something?" Father said, "I do not know what happened between you and your sister that you do not speak but she had just lost her sons, her boys.....you will show some support to her." 

I looked at him, "Hm...." I said before looking past him and at Rhaenyra who was still being hugged by Helaena, "What good am I going to do?" 

"You are her brother, Baelon." He said, "Do you not car-" 

"Of course I fucking care." I cut him off, "They were my nephews. I loved them...." 

"Then....." Father said before coughing violently and stumbling forward

"Viserys." Mother said as she walked over

"Father, are you alright?" I asked as I grabbed him by the shoulders to keep him from stumbling, "You need to get back to bed, get some rest." 

Mother reached him and Father waved us away. 

"No...I...." Father said, "Well....oh....my head....." 

"Viserys, you need your tea.." Mother said, "We should get you to your chambers now." 

"Before I go..." He said firmly, "Everyone.....Out.....we will leave Prince Baelon and Princess Rhaenyra to speak....to talk out their differences....." 

"Father, this is not appropriate....she just lost her sons, she is grieving." I said

"Then why are you not grieving with her?!" He exclaimed before breaking out into another cough

"Enough." Mother said firmly, "Do as he says, Baelon. Now." 

I sighed without saying anything. 

I then watched as everyone but Rhaenyra stood up and walked out the room, acting like there was nothing wrong with what had just happened. 

As he passed me, Aemond gave me a slight nod. Aemma was walking behind him and before she walked past me, I stopped her by holding her shoulder. 

She looked at me, "Uncle...?" She sniffed, tears in her eyes

"I'm sorry, little on." I whispered, "Stay strong, okay? For all of our sake." 

She nodded, "Y-Yes.." 

She then walked away. As everyone left the room, I turned around to see Helaena standing in the doorway and giving me an approving nod. 

Then, it was just Rhaenyra and I in her own room. The door was shut behind Daeron who was the last one to walk out. He did not even look back or anything, just left. 

I then turned to see Rhaenyra sitting down and wiping some tears away, trying to hold it in. 

For several seconds, I stood there, looking at her. While I did feel terrible about what had happened, I could not bring myself to say something. I merely watched as she kept sniffing and looking down, wiping the tears as they came. 

There was still tension, I could feel it. The more I looked at her, the more I remembered what we fought about two years ago. 

I let out an exhale, "You should get some sleep." I said finally before turning around and taking a few steps, "You must be exhausted." 

"Fuck...you....." She said softly

I stopped and glanced at her, "Hm?" 

"Two years...." She said, her voice trembling, "My sons are dead.....and that is all you can say to me?" 

"What do you want me to say, Rhaenyra?" I asked with a frown

"I don't know...." She said, "Something....something other than that.....something that tells me.....that you cared about them..." 

I sighed and turned back around, "I cared for them..." I said before walking over, "Don't misunderstand that." 

I reached the couch and sat down next to her, a good amount of space between us. She was still wiping away her tears, there were so many tears. 

"Gods...why must this happen to me...?" She sobbed

"Nobody knows." I said as I looked ahead

I really did not want to be here. 

"I miss them so much...." She kept sobbing

I really was a heartless bastard. 

I looked down, "Right....." 

I then felt her hand across my cheek; she had slapped me hard. 

"Fuck you, Baelon!!" She shouted

I sighed as I rubbed my cheek, "I knew it...." I muttered

She had tears in her eyes, "Why must you treat me this way?" She said, "W-Why? Do you think this is the rightful punishment for my husband? His sons dead? You must be happy.....y-you heartless piece of filth." 

I looked at her, "You are in pain, grieving." I said, "I do not want to fight with you." 

She swung her arms at me, hitting me in the chest, "I hate you! I fucking hate you!" She sobbed, "You stupid little fucking animal! My sons are dead! My sons....my boys!! They're dead and you don't give a shit!!" 

I leaned back as I let her hit me, there was anger and pain in her eyes. 

"R-Rhaenyra..." I said as she kept hitting me, her blows were weak, "Stop it...." 

"I hate you so much...." She sobbed as she kept hitting me, "Why...? Why is it like this? Why are they dead, Baelon...? Why do you hate me....? Why.....I hate you so much.....I hate you....." 

She slowed her blows down as she sobbed uncontrollably, her entire body trembling. 

I gently grabbed her arms and pulled her into me, hugging her, "It's okay." I said softly, "Just.....just close your eyes, you're tired....." 

"I hate you so much....." She repeated, "I fucking hate you.....gods...my heart hurts so much.....they pull it out of my chest and you stomp on it....the way you look at me...no ounce of love behind those eyes, Baelon...I fucking hate you so much...." 

I patted her back softly, "Hm." I said as I felt her digging her face in my shoulder, "Is that so?" 

"I hate you...." She sobbed

"I heard you the first.....ten times.." I said 

"You're so cold....." She sobbed, "I fucking hate you, Baelon Targaryen...." 

"So you've told me." I said

She must have so many emotions in her mind at the moment, she probably doesn't realize what she is saying. It was best if I didn't incite her anger anymore, I really did not want to deal with any of this. 

"I...." She sobbed, "I love you, Baelon...." 

"Hm....." I said 

"Why do you hate me?" Her voice trembled, "Just....kill me already...." 

"No." I told her, "I will not do that." 

"Why do the gods hate me?" She sobbed, "Why do I love you so much? Gods, it hurts....my boys are dead...I miss them so much....." 

"I am sorry, Rhaenyra." I told her, 

"This is a tragedy."