(Baelon's POV)
"What did Father speak to you about?" I asked Rhaenyra as we stood atop the Dragonmont, "You were together for a long time."
She looked at me with a smile, "Not much."
"Not much?" I asked her with a raised eyebrow, "You know that is a lie."
"Hm." She said as she reached for my hand, "He just wanted to know if I was alright....if I was happy here...with the two of you...."
She squeezed my hand as she looked at me, a smile on her face. The breeze had her white hair flowing to the side and the light of the setting sun was making her skin glow. To say that she was beautiful would be an understatement.
Father and Mother had come to visit for at least a week, they told us. The King left his Hand to run the Kingdom while we waited for Helaena to go into her labors. The entire time, Mother was very awkward and distant with Rhaenyra and I, constantly doting on Helaena who was not leaving her bed much.
As Rhaenyra and I stood here, Father was probably with Helaena alongside Mother. Considering how tense things could get, even the silence being too much, Rhaenyra did not want to be there. She admitted that things would be too awkward with Mother and did not want to concern Helaena at all.
I came here outside to see if she was alright but I suppose she was.
"He wondered if he made the right choice." I told her
She nodded, "He did."
"I see...." I said
"Do you think he did?" She asked me
I nodded, "He did."
"Is it selfish of me to agree with you?" She asked, "Is it selfish of me to say that I have wanted this to happen."
"No." I told her, "It is not."
"You love Helaena very much, don't you?" She asked me
I looked at her, "I do." I said, "I will never stop loving her. She is everything to me. Even now, I want to be sitting next to her, by her side."
"Why don't you?" She asked me, "You do not have to be by my side here...holding my hand....appearances, Baelon."
"We are in Dragonstone." I told her as I raised her hand and kissed it, "But you are right, I should be with her. I wanted to check in on you."
"I am fine, thank you." She said, "Being with you is more than enough. Helaena needs you to be with her at this moment."
"She would understand the brief moment without me." I told her
"She will." She said, "But still.....please go with her."
I nodded, "Very well." I said as I let go of her hand, "I will see you soon then."
"Yes." She said
I took a step to the side when I heard Elinda call out for us.
"My Prince! Princess!" She said as I looked at her, "Princess Helaena has gone into her labors!"
**************
"Just a little longer, Helaena..." I heard Mother say as she was on the side of the bed, "You are doing great, my sweet girl."
Helaena squeezed my hand tightly, "O-Oh..." She said softly, "B-Baelon...."
I leaned closer to her, "I am here, love." I told her, "It is okay, you will be okay."
She had gone in her labors, and the Maesters told us that the end is nearly here, she needed to push through. She had done great, and did not seem to struggle at all. Despite the pain she seems to be in, she has not yelled or shouted a single peep.
I looked at her, her face was covered in sweat as she kept huffing, her hand squeezing mine hard. I had not felt pressure like this ever, nobody has ever gripped my hand as strongly as this.
"Princess, I need you to push." Maester Gerardys
"Go on, sweetling." Mother said as she wiped her face from the sweat, "You are doing great."
"Keep going, Helaena." I said as I held her hand
Helaena nodded and closed her eyes, "Okay...." She said softly
I leaned in to her, kissing her on the cheek, "It will be okay, love." I told her, "He is almost here.....our son...."
She looked at me, "Yes..." She said
Suddenly, I heard crying as the Maester let out a sigh.
"There it is...." He said as the crying got louder
Helaena grimaces as her body relaxes, her grip on my hand not loosening.
"A-Are you..." I said before looking over to Maester Gerardys
"Oh...." Mother said softly
I watched as he had the babe in his hand and all of the midwives swarmed over him, taking the child and immediately cleaning him.
"I-Is he okay, Maester...?" Helaena asked as she gripped my hand, "M-My child....?"
"It is a Prince, a healthy one." Maester Gerardys said with a smile, "I am happy to say he came without any issues."
"A Prince...." I said as I stood up, feeling surreal, "A son....."
"Let me see him." Mother said as she walked over, "My grandson...."
The midwife handed the babe to Mother, already cleaned and wrapped in a blanket, one that was sewn by Helaena months prior. I assume she had told them to use it when he came into this world.
"Oh...." Mother said as she held the babe, "Look at him....so beautiful....."
"Mother...." Helaena said, "C-Can I see him?"
Mother smiled at her as she walked over, "Of course." She said, "He is perfect."
I felt Maester's Gerardys hand on my shoulder, "Congratulations, My Prince." He said, "The Princess did great for her first child. She will be fine, I guarantee it."
I nodded, not taking my eyes of the child, "Thank you." I said, "I appreciate all of your work....."
Mother handed the babe to Helaena who had tears in her eyes, her lips were curled up.
"Look at him..." Mother said sweetly, "He has both of your hair....he is beautiful, he is perfect....."
"O-Oh..." Helaena said as she held him, "Oh, he is magnificent.....my babe....my son..."
Helaena leaned down and kissed the babe on the forehead as he grunted slightly, his eyes closed.
Mother looked at me, "Baelon...."
I was too focused on the child that I did not process her voice for a couple of seconds, "Y-Yes....?" I said as I looked at her, "What is it?"
"He looks just like you..." Mother said with a smile
"R-Right....." I said
I heard the doors open, "Is it done?" Father's voice said, "Is my granchild here?"
Helaena looked up, "Y-Yes, Father...."
Father walked over and stood next to Mother, a smile on his face, "Oh...." He said, "A son....this is.....this is just amazing! Baelon, you are a father now!"
"Do you wish to hold him, Father?" Helaena asked him
"I do." Father said before looking at me, "But his Father should do the honors before the King."
Helaena looked at me, "Baelon..." She said with a smile, "Our son....."
I stepped forward, reluctantly reaching my arms for her, "Y-Yes...." I said, "I...."
"It feels surreal, does it not, Baelon?" Father asked, "I felt the same when my eldest was born."
Mother cleared her throat, "Right...." She said, "Have you decided on a name?"
Helaena was handed me the child, "I....Baelon has...." She said, "Right, Baelon?"
I took my son into my arms, "I..." I said as I gently held him, "I need to do something first...."
"What?" Father said, "What do you need to do?"
****************
"Are you serious, Baelon?!" Mother exclaimed, "Why must you do this now? Take Helaena out of her bed?!"
I was walking atop the Dragonmont, holding my son in my arms as I made my way forwards.
I stopped and looked back at them, Mother was holding onto Helaena as Father did the same, "I did not ask her to do this!" I said, "Love. you should be in bed!"
"I...." Helaena grimaced, "I want to be here for this..."
"Heleana?" I heard Rhaenyra say
I looked to the side and saw that she was rushing over to Helaena.
"Sister..." Helaena said softly, "My son is born....."
Rhaenyra looked at me, "What....? Baelon, what are you doing?" She asked me with a baffled expression, "She should be in bed, why do you have the babe outside? Both of them should be resting!"
I looked at my son, "Well...I did not plan for Helaena to do this. I did not want her to leave the bed.." I said, "But....."
"What are you planning, Baelon?" Father asked me as he held onto Helaena's arm
I was about to speak when I heard the loud thudding of Balerion walking over. The ground trembled slightly as his rumbling was heard.
"By the gods...." Mother said, "Baelon, are you mad?!"
I turned around to see Balerion's figure rising into view, his massive eyes staring right at me as I looked at him. I can understand if they are intimidated by him, not everyone can stand in front of the Black Dread and keep their wits about.
I walked forwards, "Well..."
"Baelon!" Mother exclaimed
"It is fine, Mother." Helaena said softly, "May I....I must walk...."
Balerion blinked, staring at me as his head was high in the air.
I then felt Helaena's hand on my arm, holding onto me.
"You really should have stayed in bed, love." I told her, "I did not wish to have you do this."
"I need to be here for this." She smiled, "I am his Mother....."
I nodded, "Right..." I said as I gently raised the babe up in front of me, "You already knew this would happen, right?"
"I had a suspicion...." She chuckled
"Balerion.....this is my Son." I said in High-Valyrian, "Acknowledge him."
He leaned his snout down and was only but a foot away from us, the babe being held in front of him. He sniffed a couple of times but did nothing, simply stood still. It was as if he was processing the scent of the babe.
He then let out a soft rumble and leaned back, shaking his neck slightly and raising his head into the air.
After a few seconds, Balerion opened his maw and let out a roar, loud enough for everyone to hear. Because we were close to him, the roar hit our ears a bit hard and we grimaced.
All but the babe, who showed no reaction. He simply had his eyes open and looked up at the sky as I pulled him closer to me.
Balerion then looked down at me, blinking.
After a few more moments of silence, I heard the roar of a familiar dragon down in the Dragonmonth.
"Vermithor..." Helaena said softly
"It is a sign....." I said with a chuckle, "Balerion approves..."
Balerion then began to turn around and crawl away, as if nothing happened.
"Are you satisfied....?" Helaena asked
I nodded, "Yes. He gave me his blessing....to name my son...." I said with a smile, "Our firstborn son...."
"Valerion Targaryen."