The Bronze Dragon-A House of the Dragon fanfic

Chapter 32

I suppose everyone's story begins the same way. We all come into the world kicking and screaming, scrabbling for any sort of warmth we can find. Some, like my mother, get it only from one of their parents while others like my father get it from no one. I and my siblings have been fortunate enough to get it from both.

As for our stories, they all begin, as I said, in more or less the same way. This is how my story began . . .

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"You are certain of this, Maester?" Helaena asked. She had been feeling dizzy lately and her breasts had been feeling tender. She had thought that something was wrong with her to start with, but Barden seemed to have an alternative diagnosis.

She was pregnant.

Helaena wasn't certain at first, as sure as she was that she was barren, but Barden seemed confident about this. "I am certain, My Lady. I've seen the same symptoms with Lady Rhea when she was carrying our Lord, and with Ladies Julia and Alyssa." He replied. "You are with child, Lady Helaena. I am certain of it."

Helaena's head dropped into her hands and she started sobbing. I'm not barren after all . . . she thought. All that worry, all the concern had been for nothing. She was carrying her child inside of her; as her mother had once carried her and her siblings. Barden on the other hand, looked concerned. "My Lady, I can give you Moon Tea if you want to-"

"No!" Helaena snapped through her tears. "I mean . . . no. These are tears of happiness, Barden." She smiled widely. Barden smiled in return; he knew how much the fact she hadn't had any children yet had weighed on her, and with luck, she would be able to have many more as well.

"I am glad, My Lady." He replied. "Now, there are a few things that you will have to do in order to ensure a stable pregnancy. You may feel odd cravings at odd hours, and you may sleep or need to use the privy more than usual. I would strongly advise you refrain from drinking wine; even watered-down."

Helaena nodded. Her mother had described pregnancy to her and Nesaena more than once as they grew up, and she was already aware of most of the stuff that went with it, but it was good to hear Barden reconfirm it. "I don't drink that much anyway. I'll be happy to stick to water."

"Very well. I'll be sure to check up on you regularly as well." Barden said. He had done the same thing with Rhea when she was pregnant with Daevar, as well as Julia and Alyssa for their children. He supposed it was poetic in a way; he had been there for Daevar's birth, and now would be here for the birth of Daevar's children.

"I'll be sure to return here as well." Helaena said before turning to leave. She was going to have a child. Daevar's child. Her child. After all the worry that she had been barren, she was carrying their child. She rushed back to their chambers to wipe away the tears from her face; it wouldn't do to give Daevar the news after she had been crying. He would likely think something was wrong about it.

She opened the drawer on the bedside table and took out a handkerchief, wiping her face. Much as she wanted to spring and tell Daevar, he was likely busy with his duties in the Great Hall; an important meeting with Lord Redfort had been schedule for today, and her bursting in to announce her pregnancy likely would not go over brilliantly.

Instead, she closed her eyes and laid down on the bed. She had the same vivid dreams again, except this time they sent a chill through her.

It was a battle. A fierce one, as a black, green and bronze dragon duelled each other fiercely. The green and black dragon were tearing each other to shreds, while the bronze dragon roared at them in distress, before giving up and attacking both of them to end the fight. Blood flew everywhere, and before long the dragons were letting out distinctly human cries.