Chapter 8
"Cousin Baelon!" Baelon entered the dining hall of Driftmark. The lords and ladies who had arrived for the funeral were being treated to a supper. Baelon turned to the table reserved for the children of the royal family to find Prince Lucerys waving him over excitedly.
Baelon made his way over, and Jacaerys moved so that he was squeezed between Lucerys and Baela.
"Can you show us more magic?" asked Joffrey excitedly.
"Maybe later, Joffrey," said Baelon, tired from giving broom rides to his cousins. "I get tired if I use too much magic."
"Okay," he said disappointed, his lips forming a pout, and Baelon sighed.
"Lumos," the small boy gasped at the small ball of light that suddenly appeared on the tip of Baelon’s finger. "I use this when I want to read under the covers at night."
Joffrey poked the orb of light with his finger, his eyes widening as the orb floated over his hand.
"Did someone teach you magic?" asked Rheana, leaning in curiously.
"No," said Baelon, shaking his head. "I just sort of know. I don’t know why I can do it, I just can."
Baelon waved his hand, and the orb disappeared. He looked towards the head table to find the king and queen staring at him intensely. Her eyes were filled with rage, and his with curiosity.
"Baelon," he looked up to find his father calling to him, and he excused himself. His father was speaking with Princess Rhaenyra, and Baelon walked forward as she turned to him with a smile.
"Hello," he said with a bow.
"Hello, Prince Baelon. I was just speaking with your father, and I was hoping to get your input."
"On what?" he asked curiously; his father’s violet eyes were shining like they always did when he did something clever.
"How would you like to come live at Dragonstone? I would have you join Jacaerys as my cupbearer and foster under my master of arms."
"Really?" he turned to his father, who nodded encouragingly. "Would I have to leave my Kepa?"
Rhaenyra and Daemon’s eyes met, and something unsaid passed between them.
"Dragonstone has many rooms; your father would also come with you. I would never separate a father from his son."
"Okay," he said with a bright smile that reached his eyes.
"Excellent," said Daemon loudly enough for anyone nearby to hear. "My son will be the cupbearer to the heir to the throne!" His voice rang out, and all eyes turned to them as was his intention. Baelon’s eyes fell to Lord Hightower, who seemed to clench his jaw in anger. The king gripped his goblet so tightly his hand went pale.
***
Baelon was asleep when he heard a banging at his door.
"What the hell?" Baelon groaned, pushing himself off the bed.
"I’m sorry, my prince. There has been an incident, and the king has demanded your presence.
"At this hour?" Baelon looked at the guard confused, who led the way.
Baelon followed the guard towards a parlor, and he heard screaming getting louder and louder as he got closer and closer.
"Alicent, enough!"
Baelon’s eyes went wide as he looked at the scene before him. Aemond was clutching at his eye, and there was a trail of blood down his shirt. Lucerys was screaming and had a bloody nose. His father and Ser Criston Cole were mere inches from each other, looking like they might come to blows at any moment.
Suddenly the queen charged at Princess Rhaenyra with a knife in hand, and several screams rang out in the air.
"Accio Knife!"
Baelon caught the knife as it was flung from Alicent’s hand into the air. All eyes turned to him, and he looked towards his father, whose lips formed a thin line.
"Why was my son awoken?" he demanded, turning to King Vesirys angrily. "He has nothing to do with any of this."
"I called for him, your grace," said Otto Hightower. Baelon turned to the Hand of the King, who stepped forward with his head high.
"You fucking cunt, I’ll have your head for this," yelled Daemon, shoving Criston aside angrily.
"I overheard the prince," said Otto, turning to the king, ignoring Daemon completely. "When Prince Aegon’s hand was injured, he said he could fix it. Perhaps he could heal Aemond’s injured eye."
Baelon turned to Aemond; he put down his hand, and Baelon flinched at the bloody mess beneath.
"You!" The queen marched towards him with wide eyes, putting two hands on his shoulders. "Can you do it? Can you make my son as he was?"
"I—" before Baelon could respond, Daemon rushed to his side. Standing in front of the queen, he put a protective hand on Baelon’s shoulder.
"My son will do no such thing," Daemon said furiously. "Did you not call him a demon earlier today? Pray to those cunts you call gods for a miracle, but leave my son out of it."
"Viserys," she said, turning desperately to her husband. "Command him to do it!" Daemon scoffed at that, and the queen’s face went red with rage.
"If I can’t have my son as he was, then I demand justice. Ser Cole, bring me the eye of Lucerys Velaryon!"
Ser Cole moved, and Lucerys screamed in panic.
"Petrificus Totalus!" A bright light hit Criston Cole’s back, and Alicent screamed, as his legs stopped moving and his arms snapped to his side. The knight fell backward, slamming onto the floor. His eyes moved around in panic as he lay on the ground, unable to move.
All eyes fell on Baelon, and Daemon grinned as he kicked Criston with the corner of his boot.
"What did you do to him?" Otto turned to Baelon, who shrugged.
"He was going to hurt Luke. I stopped him; he’ll be fine eventually."
"Can you do it?" Viserys's voice was strained as he turned to Baelon. "Can you heal Aemond?"
Baelon looked at Aemond and felt his father’s hand on his shoulder. He turned to his father, who shook his head, and then to the king.
"I could heal him, but I won’t."
"What? Why not?" screeched the queen angrily.
"Why would I help the son of the man responsible for all my troubles?" Daemon grinned at his son’s words.
"Daemon," snarled Viserys angrily. "You have poisoned this child against me?"
"Your grace, I tried to warn you," began Otto Hightower.
"My father is not to blame," said Baelon, turning to the Hand. "It was the king who disinherited me and stripped me of my birthright. He is the reason I grew up without a home."
"My son is innocent," said Alicent angrily.
"As was I," responded Baelon. "I was only a child when he took what was rightfully mine. Since I have been here, all your family has done is insult me and treat me with disdain. You called me a demon, and Aegon called me a bastard."
"My son is right," said Daemon, stepping forward to face the king. "I warned you, Viserys, that one day you would regret what you did to my son." Daemon turned to Aemond, who flinched at his gaze. "When you look in the mirror and you see one eye staring back at you, remember it was your father who was responsible for your misfortunes."