Chương 10: 010 Helaena Targaryen

A few moons had passed since my second name day, and Daemon had already visited the Keep and offered his supposed crown to Viserys.

But he left shortly after as the tensions rose once again between him and the court.

I managed to get close to Rhaenyra, spending time whenever possible, which is every other day.

But I spent most of the time with my mother, Alicent. She is in her final months of pregnancy, so I stayed with her, and today, well, she is giving birth.

.....

Aegon sat in his room, his eyes wandering around while his ears perked up. He had grown since his second name day, now standing almost two and a half feet tall.

He pursed his baby lips while clenching his little fists in worry.

"Nothing is going to happen to them, Aegon," Rhaenyra, who was sitting behind her brother, said, trying to reassure her worried brother.

"Aaaaah!"

Just then, a loud scream echoed through the Red Keep, which made the young prince tense up.

"It seems that the labors have started," Rhaenyra mumbled to herself as she held her brother's hand. "She and the babe will be okay."

Rhaenyra watched her brother relax a little. She grew fond of him as they spent a lot of time together; she could clearly remember after the hunt how her brother clung to her like a little duck.

"Aaaaah!"

Rhaenyra heard another scream; they were in the room beside the one Alicent was in.

Aegon insisted that he be there, but everyone opposed it as he was still a child, so Rhaenyra convinced Viserys that she would accompany him and managed to be in the room adjacent to them.

"Aaaaah!"

She pursed her lips; she too was a little worried about her friend. Images of her dead mother flashed in her mind.

Rhaenyra got a little closer with her former friend, although they were still awkward around each other; it was still progress, progress of which she didn't know what to make of.

"Aaaaah!"

The two siblings sat in silence while they nervously listened to Alicent's guttural screams.

….

An hour had passed, and Aegon's face was now flushed red.

Not just him; even Rhaenyra's face was now flushed red.

"Fuuuccckk! It hurts!"

Alicent's pain of roars surprised everyone who heard; is it really the sweet queen who has always been polite?

The roars continued, each getting more unqueenly than the others until everything became silent.

Aegon's worry intensified with each second; he couldn't hear his mother's screams, causing his mind to play illusions of her demise.

But he shook his head, shaking off the ill thoughts, 'Nothing will happen to her; she will live and die as an old woman!' He mumbled to himself.

Another few minutes had passed, and a knock was heard, and the door opened.

A maid walked in, bowing to the two Targaryens; she informed, "The Queen and the babe have survived, Your Graces. The Queen has given birth to a healthy girl."

There was a small smile on her face, relieved that her queen had lived through the arduous pain of labor and was healthy.

Aegon's face lit up with happiness and excitement; he jumped off the chair and dashed toward the maid.

His heart was banging against his chest as he asked, "Aegon, see Mother and the baby!"

Rhaenyra, too, got up from her seat and walked toward the maid, eager to know if she could see them.

The smile on the maid widened as she replied, "Of course, Your Grace. The queen has sent me to bring you to her."

"Then, go!" Aegon yelled as he ran out of the room, followed by Rhaenyra, who was shaking her head.

The half-siblings entered the delivery room. A hint of iron lingered in the air as they entered the room.

Aegon swiftly walked toward the massive bed in the middle.

There were several maids and a maester who was recording the birth of a new Targaryen in the book.

Alicent glanced toward her son, whose eyes were shining with a mix of worry and excitement.

A small smile bloomed on her tired face, drenched in sweat, as he sat beside her.

"Mama, Okay?"

"Yes, my sweet child. Mother is okay." She replied, a warm feeling filling her heart, sweeping her tiredness away.

Alicent's gaze landed on another figure as they walked toward her. Her eyes widened a little in surprise as she didn't expect her friend, Rhaenyra, to be here.

"How are you?" Rhaenyra asked; her face was as stoic as a stone, but Alicent could tell that she was worried, maybe not as much as her son, but still, it made her happy.

"I am fine; the maester said the baby and I need rest for a few days," Alicent replied.

Just then, a maid walked near them, her arms holding a baby covered in a soft towel.

"Here, Your Grace." The maid said as she handed over the princess to the Queen.

The baby had little silver-white hair on her head. Her full and chubby.

Her small hands curled into fists as she slept peacefully.

"She's so cute," Alicent murmured as she caressed her daughter's cheeks.

Rhaenyra's eyes flashed momentarily as she replied, "Of course, she has the blood of the Targaryens; she will be beautiful!"

The pride in her ancestry couldn't be hidden, as the Targaryens were deeply proud of their lineage.

Alicent chuckled at her stepdaughter's comments and replied, "Yes, she does. I shall pray to the gods that she will be as beautiful as her sister."

Rhaenyra's cheeks reddened slightly at her former friend's comments, her chin raised unconsciously as she replied, "O-of course, she will be as beautiful as I am."

Alicent's eyes gleamed as she looked at the heir; she noticed how her son was becoming closer to Rhaenyra, and she wanted to use this chance to mend their relationship. 'It seems to be working!'

Noticing Alicent's gaze, Rhaenyra tried to divert the topic and asked, "Have you decided on the baby's name?"

"Yes," Alicent replied, knowing full well what her friend was trying to do. But before she could answer him, Aegon replied,

"Helaena!"