Conversation With The Queen

(Baelon's POV)

"She is your sister, Baelon. And she needs your support right now." Mother told me as I sat down, "How could you act so coldly towards her?" 

I sighed, "It is more complicated than that." I said

I was in my quarters, Mother had come to scold me about what had happened with Rhaenyra. After she cried herself to sleep, I simply left her alone. It was already the following day so I guess she had told Mother about what happened. Either that or she told somebody about what happened because I was the villain of the situation. 

Helaena was currently with Aemma, comforting her. It must be hard for the poor girl, I cannot imagine the pain of losing a brother, much less two. 

"Complicated?" Mother said with a scowl, "What do you mean complicated?! What happened between the two of you? I did not pry because I respect your wishes, Baelon. But right now, the situation we all find ourselves in....it is not the time for complications!" 

I looked at her, "What do you want me to say?" I said, "I grief their deaths, Viserys and Maelor. How do you think I feel?! They were my nephews! I loved them!" 

"Then why do you act so heartless with Rhaenyra?" She asked, "What happened?!" 

I stood up from my seat, "I do not wish to speak on it." 

"No, you must speak on it." She said seriously, "Speak to me about it right this instance! The Realm is in a serious predicament, Baelon. I have no time to deal with whatever it is you have. There is so much at stake here! Your Father is ill, your nephews are dead, we must be together! As a Family!" 

I shook my head, "I can't speak about it." I said, "Not now of all times." 

I felt her turn me around, "Baelon." She said firmly, "You can speak to me. Do you not trust me? I am your Mother." 

"It is not that." I said

"There is a good chance that your Father might pass, gods I hope it does not happen.." She said, "You will be King, gods be good.....and you will need all of us united to get through this. This plague..." 

"The Plague will pass." I said, "Father will make it through...I know it...I can feel it..." 

"That is not my point." She said, "If something happened between you and Rhaenyra...just tell me....what did you two fight about?" 

"I really do not wish to speak about it, Mother." I said, "Not with everything going on. I got Lords and Lordlings speaking ill of my wife about her desire not to have a child and now this plague. I really have a lot on my mind." 

"I know, Baelon. Gods, I know." She said, "But I also know that there is something that has been troubling you the past two years. So please, just tell me!" 

I closed my eyes, "Mother....will you stop insisting....?" 

"No!" She exclaimed, "I am the Queen, your Mother, I deserve to know!" 

"Fine!" I said, "Two years ago, Rhaenyra and I fought because I believed it was her husband who tried to poison me." 

She widened her eyes, "W-What?" 

I looked at her, "Do not tell a single soul of this. Do you understand?" I said seriously, "I cannot have anyone knowing about this." 

"B-Baelon, why would you think that? Trevor almost died, they say he spat out the wine when he felt that Corlys was acting strangely." She said, "Why would he-" 

"I don't trust him." I said seriously, "I never did. I know it was him, I just cannot prove it. That piece of shit was always off." 

"But Baelon...." She said, "That is....that is a strong accusation. Why would he want to....?" 

"To get rid of me." I said as I paced around, "To get Balerion free....to start a conflict, using Rhaenyra. Because I did not have enough proof to have him as the one responsible, the one behind Willam Blackwood's involvement, behind Harwin Strong's suspicion, Rhaenyra felt it was her duty to defend her husband. I tried to speak her out of it, to get it through her mind that Trevor is nothing but a manipulative bastard who never cared for her." 

"Baelon....that....that is something that one cannot just throw around." She said seriously, "If Trevor is responsible, that puts Rhaenyra in danger." 

"Which is why I wanted to speak, to convince her to turn him in! To keep her safe." I said as I looked at her, "But instead, she refused! She.....she...." 

I frowned and looked down, remembering the fight. 

"What?" she frowned

"She was already having problems, Mother...." I said before shaking my head, "I do not know if I should speak about it..." 

"Baelon...tell me... "She said softly, "You can trust me with this. I will not tell anyone." 

"She told me she fell out of love with Trevor. That the feelings she had for him were real at one point...." I said as I looked at her, "And that she fell in love with me...and was deeply hurt when I accused Trevor of this. She was in a tough situation, I understand it now.....she did not know what to do and she made a choice. A choice that hurt me.....it hurt me the most. He wanted to kill me, to drive our Family apart and she defended him!" 

"Baelon..." She said

"How am I supposed to feel? I am angry, Mother. I have been angry at her for two years!" I said, "And now, her sons died and I am not sure if I should forgive her for that....what am I supposed to do?! Trevor is out there, fathering bastards and she loses her sons? What kind of shite is that?! It is not fair!" 

"Wait, what do you mean?" Mother frowned, "Bastards?" 

I nodded, "I am not completely sure about that...but I have sources telling me that Trevor has a paramour...." I said, "Allegedly, she's Lord Corlys's bastard...which is quite shocking in it of itself. But she is with child, Trevor's child. It angers me so, Mother. It really does...." 

"This...." She said, "I do not know what to say....this is not something we can just bring forth to your father, not in his condition." 

"I am going to deal with this when the time comes." I said, "I just need this plague to pass...I am sorry, Mother....those boys....they did not deserve to die....they.....gods, it hurts me so much." 

She walked up to me and patted my shoulder, "Oh..." She said, "My boy....my beautiful boy....it's okay...." 

I nodded, "Yea...." I said, "Mother.....I...." 

"Yes?" She asked

"I...." I said, "Helaena...she.....seems hesitant about having a child of our own...she was not sure at first but there are times where she seems like she does....but she...falters...." 

"Do you want one?" She asked softly

I nodded, "I do." I said, "But I love her so much, I do not have the heart to force something on her. I just cannot do it. I want to be a father, but most of all, I want all of us to be happy." 

"Oh, Baelon...." She said as she hugged me, "With time, everything will resolve itself. Helaena still has her doubts....you are doing good, my son, giving her the time she needs." 

"Yea..." I said, "I am sorry....." 

"For what?" She asked me

"For....acting like this...." I said, "Please forgive me." 

"There is nothing to forgive..." She said, "We need to communicate clearly." 

"That is all."