House of The Dragon-The Beauty, The Bold, And The Black Dread

(Baelon's POV)

"Words cannot describe how frustrated I am with you...." Mother said as I approached the door of the Red Keep

I was holding my helm while still wearing my armor, "Hm." I said with a slight smirk, "I am no longer a little boy, Mother. Things have to be done by me now." 

She stood there, giving me a serious look, "You could have gotten hurt." She said, "I am tired of being worried sick about you, Baelon." 

I walked up the steps where she was standing and chuckled, "But I am not hurt." I said as I kissed her on the cheek, "I do appreciate the concern. I am glad that I have a loving mother like you." 

She looked at me, "The next time you do something as reckless as this, tell me." She said, "You can tell me things in confidence, Baelon. Do not do this without telling anyone, okay?" 

I smiled, "I'll keep that in mind." 

"Your Father is waiting for you." She said, "Go on now. What you did is not something you can shrug off." 

I nodded, "I know." I said, "But you and I both know that it had to be done." 

"Whether I agree or not, it matters not." She said, "Go to your father, do not keep him waiting." 

I nodded, "Fine." I said, "I will see you later, Mother." 

I had returned from going to Skagos and setting a good portion of the island ablaze. It was necessary for the sake of the Realm. The Skagosi were about to get too comfortable, attacking the North and a full-scale invasion could have been on the horizon. With the letters Lord Stark had sent me, I had to take action. He had his men on high alert with the Night's Watch requesting aid with the Wildling problem. 

While I don't really mind about the Wildlings and any problem beyond the Wall, it is the fact that the Skagosi were suspiciously attacking right when Lord Stark had divided his attention up there that bothered me. So something had to be done. If I knew one thing about how things in this world work, it is that once someone gets comfortable enough from poking the bear without a reaction, they will plunge their blade through its neck, making it too late for the Bear to crush them.

The North is the bear and the Skagosi were poking it. With time, they would have plunged their blade through their neck and nothing could have been done to prevent so many innocent lives lost. I did what was necessary to stop them completely. 

I only wish that no innocent lives were taken. 

As I walked through the door and down the hallway, I could only feel a strange yet anxious feeling. This was different than going to Dragonstone without telling anyone, flying Balerion in broad daylight, and scaring fishermen when I flew too low. This was different than me going to the stepstones and threatening the Triarchy with Dragonfire.

No, this was much different, I actually went and did what I intended to do. 

I sighed, "Okay...." I said, "Let us see what he has to say now." 

***********

I walked through the door of the Throne Room, seeing that Father was sitting on the Iron Throne, holding Blackfyre as I approached. 

I saw Ser Harold standing next him as Otto stood on the other side. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Uncle Daemon leaning against the pillar, giving me a slight smirk. 

I looked at him and he gave me a nod, approving of what I did. 

I ignored him and walked up to stand in the middle of the room, holding my helm at my side, "Your Grace." I said, "You were expecting me?" 

He was giving me a serious look, "You flew Balerion to Skagos?" He asked, "And set the place ablaze?" 

"Not all of it." I shrugged, "But yes, I did." 

"Why?" He asked, "Why did you do something so reckless? And without my leave, that is." 

I frowned, "Because if we allowed the Skagosi to do as they please, we would set an example to the rest of the Realm. That they could make a mockery out of us and get away with it." I said, "The North has its problems, yes. And they could deal with it in their way, but how many lives would be lost before they crush a full-scale invasion, hm? What good is the power we wield if we don't use it?" 

"There is a reason that I do not allow you to go about and burn islands as you please, Baelon." He said, "If I allowed you to do as you please, the whole Realm would take it as a declaration of War! Balerion is not a weapon that could be waved around so carelessly!" 

"It is not careless!" I exclaimed, "I know what I am doing. And Balerion isn't just a weapon, Father. He is a Symbol! He's the Conqueror's Dragon, ridden by the man who bent Westeros to its knees! If I can show those who think it is okay to insult your reign, then I will! They need to be reminded that while Aegon is long gone, Balerion is still here! Ridden by someone worthy and who is not afraid to remind them that the only reason they are living and safe is because of us, House Targaryen, and by extension, you, the King! If you cannot see that, then I do not know what else to tell you." 

He grimaced, "Is that what you truly think will happen?" He asked, "That by going about and using force, you will put everyone in line? Do you truly think that my Grandsire, the Conciliator, built years of peace just so an impulsive boy can merely crush that overnight?" 

"The Conciliator did not have a healthy Balerion while he reigned. You do." I said with a frown, "Jaehaerys had dragons as well, Father. He knew he could use them should his hand be forced and guess what? It never was. Want to know why? Because they remembered Maegor, who actually had Balerion. The fear that was instilled into them was one of the reasons that they would be so willing to listen to him. He used that to his advantage and was willing to use words and reason to mediate peace in the Realm. It is hard, to keep that peace after his death. I know it will not be that easy but not all of us could do what Jaehaerys did, to keep the peace."

"You are right." He responded, "It is hard to keep the peace. Especially when I have two imbeciles doing their best to break that fucking peace!" 

He glared at Uncle, who rolled his eyes and looked away, saying nothing. 

"You are being blinded by your own weakness, instilled by Jaehaerys's peace, Father." I told him seriously, "You don't see that there are those who are still angry that you refused their daughters to me when I claimed Balerion. Do you not see? It is this peace that is making not only you too comfortable, but everyone else. This is a display of strength, necessary for the incoming era. Sometimes, there is a bit of noise in the era of silence." 

"Weakness?" He said before chuckling, giving me a sarcastic smile, "That's quite Bold of you, Baelon. All of this... buffoonery, is simply you being Bold...What will you do if your half-assed display of strength will merely add fuel to the fire that are those savages? What will you do if they decide to fully invade because the Prince of Westeros did not finish the job?" 

I gave him a serious stare, "Then I will finish the job." I said, "It is really that simple." 

"If it comes to the point where those Island Savages decide to declare a full-scale war, then you do it alone, you go and crush them as you wish." He said seriously, "Nobody and I mean nobody else will aid you. And you will not return to King's Landing until the threat is eliminated. Is that what you want? To be remembered as a war-mongering Prince? The Heir that will inherit the Throne with blood on his hands?" 

"Every King has blood on his hands." I said, "If that King doesn't, he is not fit to be King. Heavy is the Crown, Father. You should know that." 

"If any other dragon flies near Skagos when it comes to that, it's on you." He said seriously again, "You are no longer a boy, I can understand that. Do as you please." 

I turned around, "I don't need anyone else to destroy ants like them." I said before walking away, 

"I, Baelon The Bold, will be more than enough."