The next morning, a thin mist shrouded the harbor on the Blackwater Rush.
Viserys stood on the docks, the sea breeze blowing salty, damp air into his face. He watched the soldiers load the last cart of supplies aboard. His gaze sharpened slightly when he saw two soldiers carrying the wooden chest containing the dragon eggs.
"Be careful." He stepped forward, his voice brooking no argument.
The soldiers carrying the chest immediately slowed their steps. "Rest assured, Your Highness. We'll take care."
"Put that chest directly in my cabin."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"All the cargo has been accounted for, Your Highness," Alliser Thorne reported with a salute. "The three dragon bones are in the lower hold, covered with sailcloth. The treasure chests are mixed in with the everyday supplies. They won't attract attention."
"Good. Have Rhaenys's and Lady Ashara's belongings been taken care of as well?"
"Everything is in place, Your Highness. As instructed, their cabins are next to yours."
"Good." Viserys nodded in satisfaction.
Just then, a palace carriage flying the Three-Headed Dragon Banner entered the docks under the escort of a squad of Gold Cloaks. It came to a smooth stop before him, and Ashara Dayne was the first to emerge. She wore a pale lavender gown beneath a gray traveling cloak.
She turned and carefully lifted Rhaenys out of the carriage. The little girl was still rubbing her sleepy eyes. She wore a finely made blue velvet dress, and her silver braids were slightly loose. Clearly, she had only just woken.
Princess Elia Martell stepped down next. Her face was a little pale, but she still carried herself with royal dignity.
What surprised Viserys most, however, was that Varys was also in the carriage. The eunuch wore his usual plain gray robes, an impeccably courteous smile on his face.
"Good day, Your Highness. Princess Elia was kind enough to allow me to accompany her," Varys said in his usual gentle voice, with just the right measure of concern. "I came especially to see you off. Dragonstone has its own unique scenery. May your stay there be a pleasant one."
Viserys studied Varys without betraying his thoughts. This eunuch always finds a way to surprise me. I only eased up on watching him a little, stopped following him constantly, and here he is where I least expected him. Tracking him every day takes a lot of effort, after all, and these past two days I've mostly been focused on transporting Blackfyre. What is he here for? Is he already thinking of placing a bet on me?
Outwardly, however, Viserys maintained a courteous smile. "Thank you for making a special trip to see me off, Lord Varys."
Varys bowed slightly, his gaze drifting over the soldiers boarding the ship as though by chance. "May the Seven bless you with a smooth voyage." It was a customary blessing, delivered with a sincerity no one could fault.
Viserys inclined his head, then turned his attention back to the other three. Rhaenys squirmed in Ashara's arms, apparently wanting to get down and walk on her own.
"Are we really going on this big ship?" the little girl asked excitedly, no longer as sleepy as before. She reached both hands toward Viserys.
"Yes, we're taking this ship to Dragonstone." Viserys reached out and took Rhaenys into his arms.
"We should board now," Ser Alliser reminded him quietly.
After bidding farewell to those who had come to see them off, they boarded the ship and departed.
The sea breeze picked up, dispersing the thin mist over the harbor. House Targaryen's Three-Headed Dragon Banner snapped from the mast. Viserys stood at the bow with Rhaenys cradled gently in one arm, gazing toward King's Landing. Ashara stood beside him, the hem of her lavender gown fluttering in the breeze, while Arthur Dayne kept watch nearby, as steadfast as a rock. The white knight had boarded the night before; the gold dragons in the hold were, after all, the means by which they would secure their future.
As the outline of King's Landing slowly blurred in the distance, Viserys could not help feeling a pang of melancholy. After this departure, it might be more than a decade before he returned.
"Look, that's Dragonstone!" Rhaenys pointed excitedly at the dark outline gradually appearing ahead. After a day and a night at sea, they had finally reached the waters off Dragonstone.
Dragonstone's castle, built of blackstone, stood on the shore like a ferocious beast, looking especially solemn beneath the gloomy sky. As the ship approached Dragonstone Harbor, Viserys saw Ser Jon Darry already waiting on the docks.
"Queen Rhaella is waiting for you in the castle, Your Highness." Ser Darry's gaze lingered on Ashara and Rhaenys for a moment, showing a trace of surprise before he quickly regained his composure.
Viserys gave a slight nod and stepped onto the docks with Rhaenys in his arms. Ashara and Arthur followed as the party headed toward the castle. They brought only a few trusted men to carry the chest of dragon eggs and the gifts prepared for the queen. Ser Alliser remained behind with the rest of their trusted men to escort the treasure brought from King's Landing. After all, they would be staying on Dragonstone for at least several months, until Daenerys was born. They could hardly leave the treasure aboard the ship the entire time.
After making their way along the rough road, they entered the castle. Queen Rhaella was already waiting in the hall, her figure looking somewhat frail upon the throne.
"Mother." Viserys stepped forward to pay his respects and gently set Rhaenys down. The little girl immediately ran to Queen Rhaella and called sweetly, "Grandmother," drawing a rare smile from the queen.
Ashara and Arthur came forward in turn to offer their greetings. The queen's gaze lingered briefly on Ashara, then passed over Arthur's white cloak before she gave a slight nod of acknowledgment.
Then she turned her attention back to Viserys. "Now that you're here, stay. This will also give you a chance to see our family's cradle of the dragon."
Viserys gestured for the attendants to present his gift. Queen Rhaella opened the pearl-inlaid wooden box and gently brushed her fingertips over the ornament of dragon bone inside. A flicker of emotion crossed her eyes.
"That was thoughtful of you," she said softly, carefully returning the ornament to its box.
In the days that followed, Dragonstone seemed cut off from the world. Viserys trained with Ser Arthur every day, following the routine he had established in King's Landing, while Ashara taught Rhaenys to read.
Three months later, a raven brought grim news of the Battle of the Trident. When word arrived that Rhaegar had fallen, Queen Rhaella was overcome with grief.
Arthur Dayne immediately sought an audience with Viserys. "Your Highness, I must return to Westeros." The white knight gripped Dawn's hilt tightly. "I must avenge Prince Rhaegar." Arthur and Rhaegar had been very close. They had known each other since their youth and grown up together, rivals who were more like friends. In the original course of events, Arthur had protected Lyanna for Rhaegar rather than joining the war, which showed just how close they were.
Jon Darry spoke up right after him. "The Kingsguard's oath requires us to protect the royal family."
"No one grieves Rhaegar's death more than I do. He was always the brother I loved and respected most. But do you think the rebels will spare Dragonstone?" His voice was unusually calm. "They will never allow the Targaryen bloodline to survive. If you both leave, who will protect my mother? Who will protect Rhaenys?"
He turned to face the two knights. "Now, as the heir to House Targaryen, I command you to remain. Dragonstone needs your swords."
Under Westerosi law of succession, inheritance of the Iron Throne was governed by a clear system of primogeniture. Yet Rhaegar's death on the Trident had brought a crucial change to the line of succession. Aerys II was still the lawful king of the Seven Kingdoms, and Rhaegar's son Aegon now stood behind Aerys's surviving second son in the succession. In other words, as the king's living second son, Viserys was now the rightful first heir to the Iron Throne.
Arthur and Jon exchanged a glance, then finally sank to one knee. "As you wish, Your Highness."
Before you continue