(Baelon's POV)
"Daella?" I asked Rhaenyra as she placed the babe on the cradle, "Are you certain of this?"
She smiled at the child, reaching inside and patted her head. I saw Min out of the corner of my eye standing on the side, awkwardly staring at this.
"I am certain." She said, "Do you object, Min? You are her Mother."
"I…." Min said, "I accept."
"It is decided then." Rhaenyra said, "Well, it was already decided."
"But Rhaenyra…." I said, "That-"
"Baelon." She cut me off and straightened up, walking up to me and placed her hand on my chest, "Do you plan on giving me a child?"
"I…." I started, "Rhaenyra, it is complicated….you know th-"
"I do." She said, "I know it. But even if you decide so, There is no guarantee that I would even be able to give birth. Face it, I am old. And with that, the chances of you losing me is also high. Helaena's fears were valid and I have already done my job, my body is past its use….."
"Why would you speak that way?" I frowned
"This way, Valerion would have company." She said, "And the child would not be casted out. She is your daughter, bastard or not. And this….this is normal. Lords and even Kings have had bastards. Nobody will object."
"But would people be okay with me having one?" I asked, "That is the whol-"
"They will have to." She said firmly, "Because it happened. And there is nothing you nor I could do anything about it. How do you think I feel? I went through so much pain…..I was manipulated, I lost my sons…I was shunned….."
"Rhaenyra…." i started
"And at the end, I ended up with you." She continued, "I married you….under circumstances nobody wanted….and then….when I thought our relationship was mended, when I have doubts and fears that you would not want to give me a child….she comes….with your daughter."
Min looked down in shame. This is exactly what she did not want to cause and I could tell right away. But it is not her fault, even I know that.
What am I supposed to do in this situation,
"You have a daughter with another woman that is not me, that is not Helaena…." Rhaenyra said with a sad frown, "How am I supposed to feel? And you would deny me the chance to not hold animosity towards the child? I am naming her Daella, it is final. At least give me that!"
I didn't expect for her to become instantly attached to the girl. But I cannot be surprised. Her feelings are valid and I was about to undermine them.
I sighed, "Okay." I said, "I am sorry. I…."
She patted my cheek, "I cannot hate you, why would I?" She said softly, "Even though you have an illegitimate child….I cannot…..because it is not your fault. You did not mean for it to happen."
I stepped back and pulled away, "I…." I said before looking at Min, "I am going. Make sure you get some good rest and sleep. Do not forget to eat as well, you seem starved."
She nodded, "Thank you…."
I looked at Rhaenyra, "We will speak on this later."
**************
"A what?!" Mother exclaimed as Helaena and I stood in front of her, "A daughter?!"
It was a few days later, I had written to Father and asked him to come to Dragonstone urgently. He had arrived and quickly went to the privy as the sail over here did not do well for him.
Now, Mother had asked us what the urgency was and Helaena bluntly blurted it out when I was avoiding the topic.
I looked down, "Yes." I said, "An illegitimate daughter."
"Y-you…." She started, "You are serious? Baelon…."
I looked at her, "What Father said…." I said, "It is true."
"And are you certain this child is yours?" Mother asked
"She is." Helaena said, "I am more than certain. You should see her, she is beautiful."
"And the Mother?" Mother asked, "Where is she? I have so manu questions."
"And I will answer them." I said seriously, "She is resting. There was so much she had gone through. We have her here, she will stay in the castle, posing as one of the maids while she cares for the babe."
"I want to see her. Both of them." She said seriously, "I will determine if she is yours or not."
"Mother, she really is-" Helaena said
"This could be a trap, my dear." She cut her off, "You do not know if it is not!"
"I know it!" Helaena said, "I saw her in my Dream. Daella is Baelon's, she truly is!"
"Daella?" Mother said with a frown, "You named her?"
"Rhaenyra did." I said as I rubbed my temple, "I did not want to…she had no name when we came here."
"This is too ridiculous to be true." Mother said, "I….I need to process this."
"Well well…" I heard Father say, "My grandson grows by the minute! He will be a fierce warrior in no time!"
We all turned to see him walking in with Valerion in his arms. He must have detoured from the privy and picked Valerion up from his cradle.
"Viserys." Mother said as she walked up to him, "Why did you wake him?"
"He was awake." Father chuckled, "Eagerly asking for the King's arms."
Mother gently took Valerion away from him and stepped away as Helaena walked up to her. Both of them smiled as Mother held him in his arms. It was like her shock and anger at what she was told immediately disappeared.
"Viserys, Baelon has something to tell you." Mother said
"Ah yes." Father said, "I imagine it must be of great concern that you called me here."
I nodded, "It is." I said, "What you were worried about, after we found out I was raped….it is true."
He looked at me for a couple of seconds, "Are you sure?" He said, "Completely certain."
I nodded, "Helaena is positive."
Father sighed, "Oh by the gods…." He said, "Well, we cannot be sure if we do not see the child. I mean, if someone told you via a letter, we need undeniable proof that it is your chi-"
"The girl is here." Mother said, "And the mother."
"G-Girl?" Father said, "It is a daughter?"
I nodded, "Yes."
"And…." Father said, "I have many questions."
"Know that Helaena is certain she is mine. Both she and Rhaenyra look at her face and keep claiming it is my face as well." I said
"Baelon…" Helaena said
"And what, you cannot tell?" Father raised an eyebrow
"I cannot." I said seriously,
"Because I cannot look at her in the face."