(Baelon's POV)
"Baelon...!" Helaena said as I brought her out to my chambers' balcony, "What are you....?"
"Come now." I said, "I wanted to show you something."
"Baelon-" She started before widening her eyes
She stopped and looked at the railing, seeing that it had several vases with flowers all around. Even on the balcony floor, I had several pots that had flowers, ranging from violets to roses and lilies. She looked at all of them, a bit taken aback by them. My entire balcony looked like an entire flower garden.
I watched as she walked to the railing, gently touching one of the lilies.
She leaned in and sniffed on it, "What is this Baelon?"
I walked up to her and held her by the waist, which caught her off guard, jumping up a little, "An apology." I told her as I leaned in and kissed her on the cheek, "I know you did not agree with me going to do what I did."
She looked at me, "Baelon..."
I held her close to me, "You mean a lot to me." I told her, "I do not wish to make you mad....."
"It was foolish." She said softly
"I know." I said, "But I had to do it."
"I understand." She said
"Do you like the flowers?" I asked
"They are lovely." she said as she gave me a sweet smile
"I am glad." I said as I tucked her hair behind her ear, "I want to be alone with you today."
"What did you go to Dragonstone for?" She asked me suddenly
"To check on Rhaenyra." I said, "Why do you ask?"
"Is that all?" She asked me
I nodded, "Yes."
"You cannot lie to me." She said, "You know that, right?"
I leaned against her and pressed my cheek against hers as I held her tightly, "I know." I said, "Do you know that when flames burn, the ashes left behind provide nutrition to the land, making it fertile, and sometimes more plant life can thrive after.....I wonder.....what kind of plants will thrive on that part of Skagos...."
"That is disturbing to think of, Baelon." She said
"I know." I said, "Perhaps.....flowers like this will sprout in the ashes of our enemies, Helaena. I want you to know....that I will value your wishes to be merciful...I know you do not agree with violence or bloodshed....but for you....our Family, I will burn everything. Fire and Blood, you know that."
"I am aware..." She grabbed my arms, "The only thing I want from you is your assurance that you will not die....that is all I care about, Baelon."
I kissed her cheek again, "I give you my word." I told her, "May I ask you something?"
"What is it?" She said
"Will you take to the skies with me?" I asked her, "The two of us on Balerion?"
"...Fine...." Helaena said reluctantly, "Sometimes, I cannot with you....."
************
[The Next Day....]
"What a Bold display, Nephew." Uncle Daemon chuckled as we sat on a table underneath a gondola in the gardens, "You are truly something. Worthy of that beast."
I leaned back, looking into the distance, seeing the Blackwater, "Why are we here, Uncle?"
As I asked this, I noticed some servants walking up to us and setting down a jug of wine and cups.
Daemon looked at me, "There is much for us to discuss." He said as he poured wine into the cup, "Your attack on the Skagosi was incomplete. There is a possibility that they could be riled up."
"Let them do what they please." I said with a frown, "I will go back. And The King wants me to finish the job."
"I agree." He said, "Finish the job. Force them to surrender or wipe them all out. It does not matter, Skagos never did. What matters is the snakes that slither around the realm, trying their best to strike when the time is right."
I raised an eyebrow, "What?"
"For a long time, I figured Otto Hightower was among the snakes and perhaps he is." He said, "But when you claimed Balerion, he never once made a move that would benefit him. At that point, he had already won; his daughter was Queen, and his grandchildren were Royalty and with dragons. Your sister or your cousins, my daughters. That was the option I gave your Father. And he chose your daughter, to prevent complicating things."
I nodded, "Okay." I said as I took the cup, "What about it?"
"Some Lords were not happy." He explained, "They tried to get close to you, offering their much older daughters for you. I thought of them as an insult. Having women who are used to fooling around with other men be offered to my Nephew, who wields the greatest power in the world. All so they could use you to their advantage. No. Unacceptable. You remember the Blackwood woman that stuck to you for a good week?"
"Lady Melissa....?" I asked
"Yes, her." He said, "He wasn't even Lord Blackwood's daughter, just some niece. Even Lord Royce of Runestone tried sending her niece, Lady Rhea to try to woo you. She is significantly older than you and she was forced to do that."
I blinked, "I actually liked her." I said, "I did not know it was like that."
"No, because you were a child." He said, "You just thought of her as some woman you befriended. Obviously, lusty feelings were not in the mix."
"So what is the point of this?" I asked
"Your display against the Skagosi will send ripples across the Realm." He said, "As Laena had mentioned, these specific Lords have been moving about in the shadows, trying to to think of something to get closer to you, to Balerion. There is no doubt now, the Black Dread is powerful."
I frowned, "I always thought of that as stupid." I said, "Yes, Balerion is healthy and all but even if he was not, there are still the other dragons. Caraxes is more than enough to go and put an unruly House in their place."
"They focus on the bigger fish." He chuckled, "An idiotic mentality but the fact is.....even those other weapons are wielded by those who they know they can't get to. But Balerion? The greatest power wielded by a boy, in their eyes, a boy that they can mold to their liking? They salivate at the idea. Greed and ambition is their biggest trait."
"I am not someone they can take advantage of." I said seriously
"I know." He said, "But you need to show them that. Skagos is the first step. Here is my advice, Nephew. Go and burn that place down, show everyone that you mean business....."
"Perhaps I will." I said before taking a sip, "Tell me, Uncle. Did it bother you when Father refused your offer of marrying me with Baela or Rhaena?"
"No." He said, "You're marrying a Targaryen, that's all that matters. Be happy. Make Helaena happy. I have my differences with her mother and grandsire, but I have no issue with her."
"I wish you two a good future."