Chapter six          𓃦          Red river

Despite the lack of true marriage between the two, Baelor remained in Genna's chambers. While he could always get a separate chamber for himself, the fear of whispers echoing among the hallways of the Keep made him stay in the marital chambers.

Baelor was only able to get Genna under the covers when the night turned in early morning. The tears still fell down her cheek and ended on the cold pillows, her lower lip caught between her teeth, biting so harshly, blood spilled. And like a ghost, Baelor washed inside the room, the dark green doublet lost on the armchair by the fireplace, boots falling on the floor beside the bed. He sat on the edge, hands clasped together on his lap, back facing Genna.

His wife's hand reached forward but stopped a few centimetres from the cut skin of his back. Genna's fingers gently traced the old, screaming red scar that reached from his left shoulder down to the last rib on his right side, allowing Baelor to choke back a sob he wasn't aware he was holding. He closed his eyes, head falling forward which gave Genna the impression he despised her touch, pulling her hand away. Quickly, he turned his head to look at her – eyes red from crying, the bags under them darker and bigger than ever before – whispering, "I did not hate it."

Genna watched his face shifting, eyes wandering to her belly again. He turned fully, laying down. While his face faced her, his eyes never met hers. Her husband's hand reached forward but stopped a few centimetres from the growing belly. Baelor's fingers gently traced the nightgown – dark green, a present her mother-in-law requested from Dorne – stopping at the sudden kick underneath. Despite the situation rising around them like dark clouds capture Baelor and Moonfyre in the sky, his lips twitched in a smile. He pushed himself lower on the bed, both hands on the belly, face inches from it as he whispered, "hello there. I see you are awake."

If this was her husband, Genna would let her fingers run through the brown mop of hair. But it wasn't. He never truly was, she insisted. Still, her eyes traced his every movement – thumb gently rubbing against the nightgown that covered her, nose almost rubbing against it when the babe kicked again, how his eyes continued to sweal with tears: for the babe, for himself, for his daughter, Genna did not know. But in truth, she could never read him.

Genna didn't notice Baelor's quiet words, too caught in the thoughts plaguing her mind, "I do wish you to be a son. But . . . you have three elder sisters. Rhaella wishes for a sister. You will love her, she is . . . she is full of joy. She even named you. Crazy, no? She wants to name you Rhaenys. Because she loves whenever I tell her stories of the Conquerors. And you have an older sister named Visenya, so I think she saw the opportunity in that. But Alyssa thinks you are a boy. In truth, she wishes for a brother because she wants to have someone to train with. Rhaella is far too much quiet for that. She wants to name you Aegon. I told her it is silly because I have a twin whose name is Aegon. She tried to convince me with the Conquerors again. So, we would have Visenya and Aegon. All we need is Rhaenys now."

When his lips pressed against her belly, Genna woke from her daydream state. Baelor pulled himself up the bed again, turning to his side to face Genna. He pursed his lips in a line before whispering, "mother is praying for the girls' safety in the Sept."

Genna nodded, whispering back, "I shall thank her for it in the mor."

Baelor bit the inside of his cheek, nodding his head, eyes never meeting her gaze. Whispering back, he added, "did they see butterflies? The girls."

She nodded again, "in the mor. In the Godswood."

Baelor's jaw clenched, humming, "before or after my brother took Alyssa on dragon back?"

Genna bit her tongue in disbelief, before replying, "before."

There was something truly rotten inside Baelor Targaryen, she concluded over the past few years of staying by his side. If it was in the pit of his soul, his heart or mind, she couldn't place. For some time, she hoped she would be able to find it and pull it out; to save him. But soon her dreams faded away, like every girls dreams do when they enter a marriage they did not wish for.

        In the morning, Baelor allowed Genna to sleep – she'd stir, twist and turn for the whole few hours he stayed in the chambers – as he walked back to the chambers of his daughters. He stopped in his tracks in front of the doors, the smell of fresh lemons stopping her. His jaw clenched once more, fingers opening and closing in a fist. Baelor took a few steps to the side and down the hallway before opening the secret passage, following the scent he knew all too well.

He pushed the doors to the chambers harsher than he intended, knocking a vase of freshly brought flowers to the floor, the glass shattering. Myna jumped at the sound before quickly stepping his way, whispering, "what are you doing here?"

Baelor's hand clasped around her throat, her fingers quickly wrapped around his, trying to gain some air as her head hit the wall behind her. While Myna tried gasping for air, Baelor spoke, seething with anger, "if you dare lay a finger on my daughters – a fucking finger, Myna – I swear to the Seven, to the Old Gods; to whoever the fuck you want, I shall have your head on a spike in front of the Keep."

Tears sprinkled her eyes, the pressure around her throat becoming stronger with every word that left his mouth, "pl – please . . ."

"You know what I am capable of doing, Myna," he replied, the same seething voice, his eyes were moments from turning the same red Moonfyre possessed, "do not test me. Not now."

The air finally reached her lungs as she fell on her knees, fingers gazing the hot skin of her neck once Baelor's hands left. He crouched down on her level, nudging her side with his knee, "one of the servants shall bring the moon tea later."

Myna looked up from the floor, slightly shaking her head, "what?"

Baelor chuckled, almost laughed, shaking his head, "you did not – did you truly believed I would allow your bastard to enter this world? I am many things, Myna, stupid is not one of them."

Myna pushed herself back and away from him, under her back hit the side of her bed, hands shaking. Baelor remained where he was crouching, "you would never be able to explain why a child of Aemond Targaryen – the true blood of the dragon – would look more of a Hightower. So . . . riddle me this, Myna."

Baelor pulled himself from the ground, walking to the crying girl on the floor like a predator stalking its prey, "how much involvement did you have with my daughters sickness?"

With wide eyes, she looked up, shaking her head, her throat suddenly dry, "n – none. None, Baelor, I swear it. I have done many awful things in my life, poising a child is not one of them."

"So, if it was not your plan," Baelor spoke, crouching in front of the shaking girl, "whose was it?"

Myna choked out a sob, Baelor speaking again, "Otto? Daemon? Rhaenyra?"

Her lower lip wobbled, shaking her head, sobbing, "no one, no one, I swear it."

"You swearing things mean nothing to me, Myna," he almost whispered, eyes blown red – the same colours Moonfyre wears.

"I do not know how else to tell you, Baelor," she cried out, knees pulled to her chest, "I had nothing to deal with your daughters sickness. I would not hurt a child like that. Especially not yours."

Aemond's voice echoed through the hallways outside the chambers, making Baelor pull himself from the group and disappearing back in the secret passage like a ghost leaving the living once more.

Entering the main hallway once more, Baelor stopped when he saw the presence of Rolan by the doors of the chambers. With furrowed brows he walked closer, "what are you doing here?"

Rolan tilted his head, nudging his head to the closed doors, "guiding your children. Obviously. I had the privilege of taking over Cole."

Baelor snickered with his hand on the doorknob, "he seeked for my mother again?"

"He is her Grace's sworn protector."

Another snicker from Baelor before he opened the doors, "sworn protector, yes."

The prince closed the doors behind him, eyes searching for his daughters – Rhaella laid on her side, Alyssa tugged behind her sister, face buried in the back of the brown hair of her twin. His lips tugged in a small smile before he quietly walked to the bedside, dipping the mattress as he sat down. His fingers gently stroked Alyssa's back, making her stir from her long sleep.

Baelor leaned forward, pressing a kiss on her temple – not as warm as it was before – whispering, "how do you feel, pretty girl?"

Alyssa murmured with eyes still firmly closed, hating the sun shining inside the chambers, "better."

"Your tummy still hurts?" he whispered before his daughter finally opened her eyes, turning to face her father, shaking her head. Baelor smiled at her, "good. I'm glad."

"Can we go on Moonfyre now?" Alyssa eagerly asked, fingers already reaching out for her father's arm.

Baelor could hardly contain a laugh, "not yet, little dragon."

Alyssa pouted, "but you promised!"

"Not right in the mor, sweet girl," he whispered to her, fingers enclosing around the hand that reached for him, "later. When you fully recover."

Just as Alyssa tried to argue again, Rhaella slowly stirred from her sleep, turning on her other side, quietly groaning out, "where is mother?"

"Asleep, pretty girl," Baelor whispered gently, his fingers grazing the girl's cheek, "are you feeling better?"

"I want mother," Rhaella whispered back, leaning in her father's touch.

"I know," Baelor nodded, "but was up all night and deserves some rest, alright? When she wakes, we will go see her."

The doors opened, only heard when shoes clicked against the floor. Turning his head, he met with the face of his sister, a pair of bellflowers between her fingers. Heleana offered a sweet smile, not seeing pass Baelor, "are they up?"

Baelor nodded his head before pulling away from the twins, standing up to allow Heleana closer. At the sight of their aunt, the girls smiled, Rhaella pulling herself in a sitting position as Helaena came closer, offering both their flowers, "gifts from Jaehaera and Aemond from this mor."

While the girls took the flowers, Baelor shook his head with a scoff, "is everyone dotting over Aemond recently?"

"Lēkia," Helaena hummed, turning her head towards her elder brother, almost as a warning.

"What?" Baelor shrugged his shoulders, arms over his chest, "all I did was ask."

"Aemond is being nice to you and the girls," his sister tried to calm the tension he suddenly felt for their brother as she sat on the edge of the bed, Rhaella moving to her side.

"I never asked him to be," he replied, sitting down on the opposite bed, Alyssa sneaking from under the covers, padding on the other side in her father' arms.

"People do not have to act nice just because they are asked to," Helaena hummed as Rhaella pressed her cheek against her aunt's thigh, Helaena's fingers gently running over her hair, "some are just nice."

Baelor pulled Alyssa on his lap, wrapping his arms around her as she buried her cheek on his shoulder, "like Genna, you mean?"

Helaena nodded, eyes following her fingers as they disappeared in her niece's brown curls, "like Genna. She is sweet. And she does not mind me talking about bugs to her, even when I know she hates them."

Baelor placed one ankle over the other, his fingers gently tapping against Alyssa's ribcage, "she is many things."

Heleana hummed again, the dress covering her knees being adorned by Rhaella's feather like touches, her fingers gently tapping on any surface she could get to. The flower rested by her side, "there is a beast under the mask."

Baelor clicked his tongue as his siter's hushed voice, "you speak riddles again, Hel."

"Hm?" she hummed once more, looking up at Baelor.

"You speak in riddles again," he replied as Alyssa laid down across his lap, arms stretched out to capture her father's hair in between her fingers, "you do it more often lately."

"Perhaps," Helaena replied in a quiet tone before the doors swung open, the two girls excitedly calling for their mother as Genna entered.

"Thank the Seven," she breathed out with a shaky voice as Rhaella and Alyssa reached her sides, "are you better?"

Genna placed herself on the bed that was occupied by Baelor as Rhaella buried herself on her mother's side, Alyssa standing in front of her, hands on her mother's knees, with a smile as sweet like honey, "perfect! My tummy does not hurt anymore and kepa promised to take us on Moonfyre!"

Genna smiled at her daughter, running her fingers across her cheek – this is not her ghost, she is fine, she is well – while her other one wrapped around Rhaella who was busy with burying herself as far in her mother's side as possible. Helaena pulled herself off the bed's edge, moving to Genna, pressing a kiss on the top of her hair, "I will see you later."

Genna looked up and smiled at Helaena, nodding her head, "I will come later."

Helaena disappeared from the chambers like she always did – quietly, with no fuss. Alyssa moved to the side, to her father, looking up at him with wide eyes, a smile tugging her lips, dimples visible, "Moonfyre?"

"Later," Baelor promised, hand on her cheek as she pouted, "you are still sick, sweet girl."

"Am not!" she pouted, crossing her arms across her chest, making Baelor chuckle,

"you are," her father responded, "in the afternoon, alright? Get back in bed, please."

Though stubbornly and with the extra amount of padding her feet across the floor, Alyssa pulled herself in the messed-up bed with the promise of her father taking her on dragon back in the afternoon. Rhaella didn't need to be told what to do, already following her sister in the bed – although there was one free, she still slid under the covers next to her twin. Genna's hands cupped underneath her belly, making Alyssa perk her head up, "is it a boy?"

"We will have to wait until the birth, sweetling," Genna responded softly with a smile.

Alyssa pouted again, crossing her arms over her chest, puffing, "you never tell me anything."

"Alyssa," Baelor warned.

"Kepa," she returned the same attitude.

To not rise any fight so quickly after the night of almost losing them, Genna pulled herself off the edge of the bed, moving to the opposite bed, pressing her lips on each of their foreheads, "sleep now, girls. I know you had very little sleep over the night. We will come back later."

        Within the busy life of the Red Keep, the chambers of the Queen Alicent were always quiet. Though the room was big, filled with portraits of the family, candles gently washing across them, the fireplace cracking, it still felt incredibly small whenever Genna sat inside. While Alyssa had her wish granted and Baelor took her on Moonfyre, Rhaella was busied with her grandfather Tyland, excitedly showing him the Godswood. Visenya laid in Alicent's arms, giggling anything her grandmother bopped her nose, Helaena sitting next to the fireplace on the green carpet, the collection of bugs in front of her.

By the Queen's request the armchair, that was occupied by Genna, was filled with different pillows, giving her as much comfort as possible, a small chair ready if the Lady Lannister wished to lift her legs from the floor. A giant millipede crawled across Helaena's hand as she spoke, almost in a daydream state, "they are like brother."

Genna smiled, jesting with the princess, "did you call your brother a bug?"

"Mhm," Helaena hummed, eyes focused on the animal trailing up her fingers, "they do not bite or sting. They only look terrifying. But in reality, they are not."

Helaena looked up at the armchair, "would you like to hold it?"

And thought Genna was scared of little creatures and bugs like these, she still nodded and readjusted herself on the armchair, outstretching her arm towards Helaena, who gently placed the millipede on the back of her hand, letting it crawl upwards. The Lady Lannister tried to steady her breathing to not scare the animal or make Helaena feel bad for placing her in this situation.

"How are you feeling, Genna?" Alicent broke the silence, her fingers gently grazing Visenya's belly, "with the pregnancy and all?"

At her mother's voice, Helaena gently took the animal off Genna's hand (for which she was thankful). Genna smiled at Helaena before readjusting herself on the armchair, looking at the Queen, "better than I expected. I – uhm – felt something strange at nigh time but the Maester assured me the babe is fine and that it was only stress."

Alicent frowned at her words, "I can have someone fetch the Maester again, just to be sure."

Genna shook her head, offering a smile, "no need, your Grace. If I shall feel the pain again, I will call for one. But thank you for the offer."

Alicent nodded, sending her a smile back as Visenya gurgled something in her arms. She looked down at her granddaughter with a smile, "she is the sweetest babe."

Genna smiled, nodding her head, "she is. She is far calmer than the twins were. Especially Alyssa."

The Queen chuckled, "Alyssa was a reckless babe. I still remember how she tugged my hair the first time I held her."

The Lady Lannister smile, chuckling through her nose, "she still does. I am trying to get out of that phase."

"Enjoy it while it lasts, Genna," Alicent murmured gently, eyes watching Visenya though her tone indicated more on her own children.

Genna hummed in response, her fingers tracing circles on her belly. To break the silence again, she spoke, a smile adoring her features, "Alyssa believes she will be getting a brother this time."

"If the Seven are merciful," Alicent whispered before looking at Genna, the smile vanishing from her lips, "I do adore the girls, Genna, do not misunderstand me. But . . . the Realm needs male heirs, for as one day, Baelor might sit on the Iron Throne."

Genna tensed, "I am aware, your Grace."

"Blood is too thick, too river like," Helaena hummed as the millipede slowly moved from her hand and in the wooden box. Genna raised her eyes towards the princess. And though the rest of her family often ignored the riddles, Genna had them locked down in the back of her head – blood is too thick, too river like.