Baelon sipped from his wine at the funeral of his aunt by marriage, Laena Velaryon. He glanced over at his cousins, the twins Baela and Rhaena Targaryen. They were being held in an embrace by Princess Rhaenys 'The Queen who Never Was'
As his sister was bringing another Strong bastard into the world, she was intent on dying by fire with her babe in Essos. Daemon didn't seem too sad, more bored, and had laughed during the eulogy read by Vaemond, Lord Corlys' brother.
He thought it was beautiful, or perhaps he missed whatever was humorous, or maybe he is truly as dour as Aegon says.
High Tide and the island of Driftmark was a pleasant place as well, quiet when you are far enough away from Spice Town and Archonei loved the freedom, far from the cramped spaces beneath the Dragonpit.
The other dragons seemed a little lively as well, Sunfyre perched over and watched everyone and Dreamfyre flew overhead with Caraxes and Syrax. He spotted Seasmoke but that specific dragon seemed to like to roam.
After laying the dead to rest, the many in attendance took to the outside space and he sat himself near one of the fires next to the entrance though he rose to go and see Vhagar fly overhead.
He had to admit that he wished to ride her but a bond was already forged with his dragon, that and no Targaryen ever claimed more than two or maybe one did centuries ago and was burned to a crisp for the attempt.
And Vhagar was indeed the largest dragon, with the exception of the Cannibal- A dragon who feasted on the young and newly hatched.
"How have you been, little brother."
He turned away from sight and thoughts to be face to face with his sister who he hadn't seen since she fled the city.
Baelon had always believed she looked like what he imagined their mother to look like, as a boy she spent a lot of time with him. He even faintly remembered her singing him to sleep, thunderstorms so often terrified him when he was little.
Even at her age, she was still beautiful, childbirth had not made a difference in her shapely curves at all, Baelon lamented. If only he had been born before Father made her the heir, she would have been his choice for Queen.
"Sister... Where might Ser Laenor be? I would offer my condolences." She smiled and reached a hand to stroke his cheek, he tensed at the motion her fingers made and she frowned noticing he had.
What he now knows, it has all crushed whatever he feels towards her and it all hurts at the same time.
"He is with Ser Qarl, I believe but he would happily accept your well wishes." She then smiled again, "I am sorry for missing your fourteenth name day, I will be sure to send a gift from myself and the boys."
Unless it was the right to rule, he wouldn't give a shite what it was. "Thank you, sister. I am one more year from manhood." Father thinks he could be ready for knighthood on his fifteenth name day.
"You look just like Father when he was younger." She complimented though it is a lie, even at their young age everyone believes Aegon looked more like their father than the dour quiet first son.
Aegon was far more friendly, always winking at women and generous to the knights and squires he surrounded himself with. The Queen's done a lot to make sure her boy is favored by the court.
Usurpers around every corner and he hasn't any position to get support for himself.
"Baelon, is something wrong? You look lost in thought." No, everything is wrong and he doesn't know what to do about it.
Gods, he feels like screaming. "I am fine, sister. I have to go." He pushed past and was nearing the entrance until he heard Aegon and Aemond speaking amongst themselves.
The pair were looking where Helaena was sitting, playing with her bugs as she likes to do. His young sister was reluctant to leave the capital or the Keep at all, he had felt the same when the raven came and informed the family of Lady Laena's death.
Other than Aemond, he was rather close with her and had visited her during days when they weren't doing anything just to talk. She was shy and hardly interested in leaving her side of Maegor's Holdfast. The only one to also understand her somewhat was the Queen.
It was Father who demanded they go despite his grace being unfit for travel as it is. "What are you two gawking at?" He said and his half-brothers turned, Aegon smiled and Aemond frowned.
"I was just telling Aemond how unfortunate I have to marry our dolt of a sister, she should marry you instead. The Dour Dragon and the Simple Maiden." Aegon joked and Baelon lost his temper, grabbing his brother by the scruff of his shirt and surprising him, "Let go of me, Baelon!" He exclaimed.
"You joke and poke and prod but what are you? A misnamed drunken fool with no future but to be another forgotten Aegon forever shadowed by our forbearers." He let his brother go and stormed off not caring that his outburst caused a scene with many of the guests in attendance staring at them.
He didn't even notice the burning glare sent his way by his fool brother.
Baelon's feet carried far and away from the castle, he kicked the sand and wished he was back home instead of this pit of despair that had taken hold of those present.
He thought that he shouldn't have said all of that to Aegon, the only reason his brother was what he was was due to their father refusing to truly know them. He dotes only on Rhaenyra, and Baelon only spends time with the old man was when he forces the interactions.
Such as when he insisted on being part of the Small Council to learn in his sister's absence as cupbearer.
He's thought about asking his father if when he turns fifteen he can travel, a progress similar to Rhaenyra when she was younger so that he can be allowed to know the various Lords and Ladies and gather friends and allies.
They will be needed in case his father dies.
A screech from above alerted him and Baelon smiled, Archonei landed close by as the last lights of the day shoned over her scales.
Archonei is a black-scaled she-dragon, born the year of the great council and claimed when he turned ten just four years ago. She was closer to the size of Sunfyre and as big as a warhorse. Her wing membranes were the color of scarlet and her eyes mud-red.
The idea came to him to run away, go back to King's Landing early but he quickly put aside the thought.
"Kessa īlon sōvegon, ñuha gevives? (Shall we fly, my beauty?)" He spoke in the tongue of his people, Archonei needed no other command and bowed her head low.
Baelon climbed on the dragon's back and neglected his fastenings, after flying more than a few times he had become comfortable not doing so. "Sōves (Fly)." He said and she flapped her wings thrice before taking to the sky.
Rhaenyra felt the strings of her heart pull when she saw the outburst from her brother to their half-sibling.
She had wondered what caused it, then blamed it on Aegon knowing how much trouble he could be especially when he ropes his nephews into his pranks.
When she left the capital, she had wished to bring Baelon with her and her family to Dragonstone, he would have loved it there. She worried and feared what the Greens would do to corrupt the last of her mother but it seemed the other way around.
Baelon was sitting in on Council meetings, he didn't seem close to Alicent or her children and wore their House colors proudly albeit more red than black.
When he was a babe, when they both (Baelon and Aegon) were babes they seemed so joyful and happy. Rhaenyra remembered spending a good amount of time with them but became distant after Jace was born.
At the point Luke was born she had her own family to bond with, though she regretted not involving Baelon who was raised alongside Alicent's children. Her brother grew to be fond of his half-siblings and they became ever distant.
The four brothers were close, that much she could discern from how protective Baelon was of Aemond and how Aemond was so loyal to Aegon. Helaena and Daeron seemed to be the odd ones out, however.
Before leaving her home, she had suggested a marriage between her firstborn son, Jacaerys to her sister, Helaena.
"I want nothing!" She heard her uncle say to her father, whatever the two spoke of she didn't exactly wish to know. Daemon stormed away to the beaches, the same way Baelon had done and she thought to herself the two must be similar somewhat.
Daemon shared a passing glance with her just before departing and Rhaenyra couldn't help but act on her impulses.
She placed a hand on her son's shoulders, "Go to bed." Jace protested but she insisted, "No, please go to bed." Then she too followed her uncle.