Chapter 6: Breakfast with Family

Baelon entered the grand dining hall of Runestone where his family was already gathered around the massive Weirwood table that could host a dozen with ease. Lord Yorbert sat at the head, grey-bearded and stern. To his left sat Baelon's mother Rhea, His uncle Geold gave him a pointed look, annoyed seeing his nephew come late and causing him to wait. Geold's wife Halley smiled brightly, her auburn hair glowing in the morning light filtering through the high windows.

Baelon liked his Aunt Halley. She was rather pleasant, and treated everyone kindly. On the opposite side, Daemon and Alyssa sat together. Baelon stepped towards his mother Rhea, but a gentle yet forceful cough from Alyssa forced him to reconsider. She waved to beckon him; he obliged to go and sit down beside her. 

Once he sat down, Alyssa hugged him and said," Good Morning Baelon."

"Hmm, good morning Alyssa." Baelon patted her on her back.

Seeing that everyone had sat down, Lord Yorbert gestured for the maids to serve breakfast. The servants began bringing out platters laden with soup, black bacon, freshly baked bread, honeycomb, berries, and fruits for their breakfast. 

Baelon liked simple breakfasts like these, rather than those heavy and luxurious food all the time. The maid serving food for Alyssa wanted to feed her but Alyssa stopped her.

"Brother, feed me," Alyssa asked him sweetly.

"Just because it happened once doesn't mean that it will happen again," said Baelon.

"No, Baelon feed me. I don't like others feeding me." Alyssa refused vehemently. 

"Fine, but you need to eat by yourself later ." said Baelon. He used the knife to smear the honey onto one side of the bread. Then, on another slice of bread, he placed pieces of smoked bacon. Finally, he stacked the bread on top of each other, and used a knife to cut it into smaller pieces. Once he was satisfied that the pieces were bite-sized and chewable, he used the fork to stab each piece and held it.

"Here say aaah!." 

"Aaaahh," Alyssa opened her mouth wide opened cutely. With a glomp, she ate the bread.

Looking at this Daemon smiled," Baelon, it looks like Alyssa has you wrapped around your finger."

"I'm only doing this because one of the maids scraped the inside of Alyssa's cheek with a fork while feeding her. Now, she refuses to let anyone else feed her." said Baelon while continuing to feed her.

"Its interesting to see," said Yorbert," I have never seen anyone else eat bread like this before him."

"That's because the outer layer of the bread is harder to digest, so I cut out the outside and use the inner layer only," said Baelon.

"I'll just take your word for it," said Daemon.

"Baelon, what were you doing so early in the morning today." asked Rhea.

"Mother, I was in the training grounds, looking at the latest recruits." he answered to his mother.

"Brother, take me with you from now on." said Alyssa.

"I will if you wake up earlier in the mornings," said Baelon.

"Looking at the close relations between the siblings, Geold smiled with ill intent," Baelon and Alyssa are quite close. Even by Targaryen standards."

Daemon lost the smile on his face," And what is that supposed to mean, Lord Geold."

"Nothing, just appreciating the bond between a brother and sister." Geold raised his hands in mock surrender.

"Uncle, what is the Targaryen standard?" asked Alyssa.

"It's nothing, just the fact that Targeryans are close to each other," said Rhea.

Daemon wanted to say something, but Baelon spoke up, "It's a shame that you and Uncle Geold aren't close enough according to Targeryan standards then mother."

"Haah!" Daemon thumped the wine goblet in happiness. "It's a shame. Truly a shame," he spoke through his laughter.

Baelon looked confused about why Daemon reacted in such an exaggerated manner, but it wasn't his place to ask. 

Geold and Rhea's faces turned red in anger, or embarrassment, and they did not speak up for the rest of their breakfast.

Daemon looked at his son eating all the dishes with gusto and thought about what his wife said,' appetite of a dragon indeed.'

Once their breakfast was over, Lord Yorbert asked," Prince Daemon, what are your plans for this trip."

"There are no deadlines this time," said Daemon," I came here this time to teach them the customs of the House of Targaryen's. Especially Baelon. How can a Targaryen not have long hair?"

"Just the same way as I have black hair, I choose what to follow from House Royce and House Targeryan father." said Baelon," I will not change my hair for tradition."

"Se brāedāzma aspo ao call nykeā muñnykeā emagon poisoned ao." (The bronze bitch you call a mother has poisoned you.) grumbled Daemon in High Valyrian. 

Halle looked around the table in confusion. Yorbert and Geold didn't know the exact meaning, but they guessed that Daemon was telling his son to follow traditions. Only Rhea understood that it was a jab at her since Daemon called her a 'brāedāzma aspo'(bronze bitch) several times.

"lo bona's skoros ao call narys, pār nyke suppose nyke've developed olvie se sylutegon syt ziry. Tolī ry, nyke issa muñnykeā's riñnykeā." (If that's what you call poison, then I suppose I've developed quite the taste for it. After all, I am my mother's child.) replied Baelon in response.

"ao ȳzaldrīzes valyrīha. Qilōni taught ao?"(You speak Valyrian. Who taught you?) said Daemon.

"Rybas Baelon Rybas."(Obey me Baylon) Alyssa said with a cute scrunched-up expression on her face.

Baelon chuckled at Alyssa's attempt to speak what little Valyrian she learned. He switched to the common tongue so that everyone on the table could follow.

"Books taught me much of it. Conversing with the Dragon Keepers taught me the rest." said Baelon.

"Amazing Baelon," said Yorbert," When did you learn High Valyrian?"

"Around a few months ago," said Baelon. "It was surprisingly easy."

"It's in your blood Baelon," said Daemon. "High Valyrian is the medium in which we bond with our dragons."

"I know, I've read about it in some books." said Baelon.

"Then let me take you on a ride with Caraxes today," Daemon dropped a bombshell on the table.

"Papa me too." clamored Alyssa.

"No," shouted Rhea," He is too young." 

"He will be safe with me." argued Daemon," Would I harm my son?"

"You are such an irresponsible father!" she shouted. At her words, a lull ensued in the room. Baelon sighed. It was at moments like this when he realized that the marriage was not working out. Daemon was nineteen years old now. Rhea was twenty-five years old. The two just weren't compatible. Rhea thought that Daemon was too brash and immature. Daemon hated Rhea because she was too overbearing and boring. She constantly contradicted whatever Daemon did.

"Mother," Baelon brought attention to himself," It's fine mother. I want to go."

"Baelon, a dragon is not a pony to play with. It is a beast of destruction. It should not be treated with a playful attitude." said Rhea.

"Mama, Vortigern will protect me and Baelon," said Alyssa.

Baelon got down from his chair and hugged his mother," I understand that you want us to be safe mother, but I need to know. The dragon keepers have taught me, but I must also learn."

Rhea looked away," I understand. After all, you are Targaryen. You have it in your blood to seek out and tame dragons."

"So it's agreed then." said Daemon," Baelon and Alyssa will come for a ride."

Rhea didn't say anything, so Daemon took that as a yes. "Come then children, Let your father take you for a ride."

Daemon left after excusing himself to Lord Yorbert. Alyssa and Baelon went after him. Lord Yorbert asked," Rhea, why did you react so violently."

"I don't know father. Alyssa already likes Daemon more than me. I don't want to lose William too." said Rhea.

Yorbert was silent. He often had wondered if marrying Rhea to Daemon was the correct decision. Now, he knew that it was wrong of him to get them married. 'If only I was firmer and let Rhea choose.' thought Yorbert.