(Baelon's POV)
I was woken up by the sound of thunder and rain, I believe a storm was upon the island.
"Curses..." I said as I rubbed my eyes, "And I had just drifted off to sleep.....I hate that....I barely get the sleep and the damn thunder wakes me right back up..."
I sniffed and sat up, looking around the room. Tonight, I had decided to sleep in my chambers in order not to disturb Helaena tonight, as she had gone to bed early. She is a deep sleeper once she gets going, not even thunder can wake her up. And I believe that she will have Valerion sleep with her since that boy does get startled.
I would much rather leave them be and sleep in peace.
I groaned and got out of bed, rubbing my hair as I began to slowly walk over to the door.
"I wonder if Rhaenyra is awake...." I said, "Mayhaps I can bed her tonight....."
I opened the door and walked out, hearing the loud sounds of rain hitting the roof of the castle. It would not take that long for the dragons to begin roaring in response. I know Balerion will not budge one bit when it comes to rain and thunder, he finds the rain to be nothing more than nice showers.
I dragged myself down the hall, slowly making my way towards Rhaenyra's quarters, feeling nothing but exhaustion all over my body.
"Maybe instead of bedding her, sleeping with her in my arms would be better....." I said as I rubbed my hair again, "I sure am sleepy.....damned storm.....always waking me up....."
I felt my stomach growling, which caused me to stop and look down.
I was hungry at this hour? Oh boy, I hate when that happens.
And now that I think about it, my throat was kind of dry.
So something to eat and a bit of wine to quench the thirst.....
That sounds about right....
"Oh man...." I said, "I know Helaena is going to be asleep.....so I cannot eat or drink with her....and Rhaenyra might not want to.....Hm....I do not think that the cooks are awake....man..."
I then heard some strange sounds in the distance, turning the corner of the hallway.
"Huh?" I said as I slowly walked over, "What is that?"
As I walked closer to the source of the sounds, they became much more clearer and recognizable.
They sounded like crying.
I turned the corner and saw that it was the girl sitting in the middle of the floor, weeping. She had a black dress on, one that Rhaenyra had given to her not too long ago.
I stopped and blinked, standing over her, "Daella?" I said as I looked around, "What in the hells are you doing here? Alone...?"
She had her hands on her face, bawling.
"Huh..." I said as I blinked again, "I see, the thunder must have woken you up...but should you not be with Min? You crawled all over the castle? No, that cannot be.....what are you doing, Daella?"
"Ma...mama...." She sobbed uncontrollably
I looked around, seeing that the halls were empty, only she and I were here, in the dark with the storm booming over the castle.
"You are looking for Rhaenyra....." I said softly as I looked down at her, "Hm....."
I bent over and picked her up, her cries were as loud as the thunder.
"There you go...." I said as I held her in my arms, "Do not cry, Daella.....It is okay...."
She grabbed my shirt, sobbing, "M-Mama...mama...." She sobbed
"Shhh...." I said softly as I patted her back gently, "It is okay....do not worry about anything....."
She nuzzled up against my chest, slowly calming down.
The poor thing. She must have been scared, terrified of the storm. I do wonder if Min is okay, perhaps she slept through the cries or something. I am curious to hear her explanation.....
Daella stopped crying and began to sniff, rubbing her face against my chest, wiping her tears on my shirt.
"Huh, you are quite something, girl." I said, "Well....at least you have calmed down. It is understandable, I also get woken up by the sound of thunder at times....but I am not scared or anything, I am more annoyed than anything...."
She sniffed again, merely staring off into the distance as I held her.
I looked at her, "Hm....." I said, "Wait...I-Is....is this the first time I have held you? I believe it could be....."
It is.
I have not held this girl once since she was brought to Dragonstone. It almost made me look like a cold-hearted bastard.
That is something that both Rhaenyra and Helaena have called me.
"What is this feeling?" I said as I gently patted her head as she cuddled up against my chest, "Daella.....you are...."
This felt nice.
It was like holding Valerion, exactly like it.
Why did I deny this girl this entire time?
She was mine, was she not?
I am scum.
"You are asleep?" I asked her and took a peek at her face, "You are falling asleep...."
Her eyes were slowly closing, her innocent face being covered by drowsiness.
"Hm..." I said, "You can sleep in my arms if you desire."
*************
"Baelon, is Daella here?!" Rhaenyra came bursting through the doors of my chambers, a look of alarm and panic on her face, "She is mi-Oh...."
I was sitting down in the chair, holding a sleeping Daella in my arms. Half of her face was buried in my chest, the other half was popping out, an adorable sight for sure.
I gestured at Rhaenyra to keep quiet, "I found her crying in the hall...." I said, "I was on my way to go and bed you, but found her instead."
Rhaenyra walked over to me, "I am sorry...." she said, "She was supposed to be with Min but I suppose she wanted to go to my bed instead.....the Maester gave Min a tea to sleep through the storm....her...nightmares and all....Here, let me get her..."
She reached for Daella but I raised my free hand up.
I shook my head, "No." I said, "She stays with me."
"Eh?" Rhaenyra said, "What?"
I lowered my arm and patted Daella's head with it, "She is comfortable." I said, "I will not have you disturb her sleep."
"Oh..." She said softly, "And you?"
"I will stay in this position until I drift off to sleep myself." I said, "Is that a problem?"
"N-No...." Rhaenyra said with a bit of surprise, "That is fine...."
"Hm." I said, "Good."
She walked to my side and placed her hand on my shoulder, "She's something, is she not?"
"Hm, I suppose so." I said
"She's beautiful." Rhaenyra leaned down to me, "Is she not?"
"She is." I said
Rhaenyra kissed my cheek, "I am proud of you." She said softly, "You...you have finally accepted her...it must have been difficult....."
"Hm....." I said simply
"I...." She said, "I do not wish to disturb you then...."
She began to slowly walk away, looking at me with a smile on her face.
"Rhaenyra." I called out to her
She stopped and looked at me, "Yes?"
"She....." I said, "She is mine....right?"
Rhaenyra nodded, "She is...." She said softly, "She is your daughter...."
I nodded, "Hm....." I said, "She is....."
"She is my girl....."