Early the next morning, the Blackwater Rush port was shrouded in a thin mist.
Viserys stood on the dock, the sea breeze rushing at him with a salty, damp scent.
He watched the soldiers load the last cart of supplies onto the ship.
When he saw two soldiers carrying the wooden box containing the dragon eggs, his gaze slightly tightened.
“Be careful.” He stepped forward two paces, his voice carrying an unquestionable tone.
The soldiers carrying the box immediately slowed their pace, “Rest assured, Your Grace, we will be careful.”
“Put this box directly into my cabin.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“All the cargo has been tallied, Your Grace.” Ser Alliser Thorne saluted and said, “The three dragon skulls are placed in the hold, covered with canvas.
The treasure chests are mixed among the daily supplies and will not draw attention.”
“Very well.
Have the luggage for Rhaenys and Miss Ashara been arranged as well?”
“Everything is properly settled, Your Grace.
Per your instructions, they have been assigned cabins adjacent to yours.”
“Mm.” Viserys nodded with satisfaction.
Just then, a wheelhouse carriage flying the Three-headed dragon banner drove into the dock, escorted by a squad of Gold Cloaks.
The carriage stopped steadily in front of him, and Ashara Dayne leaned out first.
Today she was wearing a light purple long dress, covered by a grey travel cloak.
She turned around and carefully carried Rhaenys out of the carriage, who was still rubbing her sleep-heavy eyes.
The little girl wore an exquisite blue velvet dress today, her silver braids a bit loose, obviously having just woken up.
Immediately after, Princess Elia Martell also stepped down slowly from the carriage.
Her complexion was slightly pale, yet she still maintained her royal demeanor.
However, what surprised Viserys the most was that Varys was actually in the carriage as well.
The chief eunuch still wore his signature plain grey robe, with an impeccable, proper smile on his face.
“Good day, Prince Viserys.
Thanks to Princess Elia’s generous permission for me to accompany them,”
Varys’s voice was as soft as usual, carrying just the right amount of concern, “I have come specifically to see Your Grace off.
Dragonstone has unique scenery, and I hope you have a comfortable time there.”
Viserys calmly sized up Varys, pondering inwardly.
This eunuch was always full of surprises; he had only slightly relaxed his surveillance and not tracked him constantly, yet he unexpectedly appeared here.
After all, tailing someone every day took a lot of energy, and his main focus these past two days had been transporting Blackfyre.
He had no idea what he came for; could it be that he was already preparing to place a bet on him now?
Varys bowed slightly, his gaze seemingly sweeping casually over the soldiers boarding the ship, “May the Seven Gods bless your voyage with smooth sailing.”
Varys spoke the routine blessing, his tone so sincere that no fault could be found.
Viserys nodded slightly, his gaze falling back on the other three.
Rhaenys struggled a bit in Ashara’s arms, as if she wanted to get down and walk by herself.
“Are we really going to ride this big ship?”
The little girl was no longer as sleep-heavy as before, and she asked with excitement in her tone.
At the same time, she reached out her hands towards Viserys.
“Yes, we are going to take this ship to Dragonstone.”
Viserys reached out and took Rhaenys.
“We should board the ship,” Ser Alliser gently reminded from the side.
Bidding farewell to the crowd seeing them off, their party boarded the ship and left.
The sea breeze gradually picked up, parting the thin mist shrouding the port.
The Three-headed dragon banner of House Targaryen fluttered loudly in the wind on the mast.
Viserys gently cradled Rhaenys in the crook of his arm, standing at the bow to look out toward King’s Landing.
Ashara stood by his side, her light purple skirt fluttering lightly in the sea breeze, while Arthur Dayne guarded the side like a steadfast rock.
This white knight had already boarded the ship last night; after all, those gold dragons in the cabin were the guarantee of their future lives.
The outline of King’s Landing gradually blurred in his field of vision.
Looking at this scene, Viserys could not help a trace of melancholy welling up in his heart.
Parting now, their return would likely be more than a decade later.
“Look, that is Dragonstone!”
Rhaenys excitedly pointed to the black silhouette gradually appearing ahead.
After a day and a night of sailing, they finally reached the waters of Dragonstone.
The castle of Dragonstone, built of black stone, stood on the shore like a fierce beast, appearing exceptionally solemn under the gloomy sky.
As the ship approached the port of Dragonstone, Viserys saw that Ser Jon Darry was already waiting on the dock.
“Queen Rhaella is waiting for you in the castle, Your Grace.”
Ser Darry’s gaze lingered on Ashara and Rhaenys for a moment, showing a hint of surprise, but quickly returning to calm.
Viserys nodded slightly, then held Rhaenys and stepped onto the Dragonstone dock.
Ashara and Arthur followed behind them, and the group walked toward the castle.
They only brought a few trusted aides to carry the box containing the dragon eggs and the gifts prepared for the queen.
They left Ser Alliser behind with the remaining trusted aides to escort the treasures brought from King’s Landing; after all, they would stay on Dragonstone for at least several months until Daenerys was born, and the treasures couldn’t be kept on the ship all the time.
Queen Rhaella had long been waiting in the great hall, her figure appearing somewhat frail upon the throne.
“Mother.” Viserys stepped forward to salute, gently setting Rhaenys down.
The little girl immediately ran to Queen Rhaella’s side, sweetly calling out “Grandmother,” prompting a rare smile from the queen.
Ashara and Arthur stepped forward one by one to pay their respects.
The queen’s gaze lingered on Ashara for a moment, swept over Arthur’s white cloak, and finally nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
Afterwards, her gaze turned back to Viserys, “Since you’ve come, stay here.
You can also take this opportunity to see our family’s cradle of dragons.”
Viserys motioned for the attendant to present the gift.
When Queen Rhaella opened the pearl-inlaid wooden box, her fingertips gently stroked the gift inside—an ornament made of dragon bone—and a flash of emotion crossed her eyes.
“You are thoughtful,” she said softly, carefully placing the ornament back into the box.
In the days that followed, Dragonstone seemed isolated from the world.
Every day, according to his previous routine in King’s Landing, Viserys trained with Ser Arthur, while Ashara was responsible for teaching Rhaenys how to read.
Three months later, a raven brought the grim news of the Battle of The Trident.
When the news of Rhaegar’s death in battle arrived, Queen Rhaella was heartbroken beyond measure.
Arthur Dayne immediately sought an audience with Viserys, “Your Grace, I must return to Westeros.”
The white knight’s hand tightly gripped the hilt of Dawn, “I must avenge Prince Rhaegar.”
One must know that Arthur and Rhaegar had a very good relationship; they had known each other since they were young and grew up together.
They were rivals, yet more like friends, which could be seen from how he didn’t participate in the war in the original plot, but instead helped Rhaegar protect Lyanna.
Jonothor Darry followed closely behind: “The vows of the Kingsguard require us to protect the royal family.”
“I am even more heartbroken over Rhaegar’s death in battle; he has always been my most respected brother.
But do you think the rebels will spare Dragonstone?”
His voice was exceptionally calm, “They will never allow the bloodline of Targaryen 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 of House Targaryen, I order you to stay.
Dragonstone needs your swords.”
According to the inheritance laws of Westeros, the succession of the Iron Throne must follow a clear system of primogeniture.
But after Rhaegar died in battle at The Trident, the order of royal succession underwent a critical change.
Now Aerys II was still the legitimate king of the Seven Kingdoms, and the succession order of Rhaegar’s son Aegon would fall behind Aerys’s surviving second son.
That is to say, as the king’s surviving second son, Viserys was now rightfully the first heir to the Iron Throne.
Arthur and Jon exchanged a glance, and finally knelt on one knee.
“As you wish, Your Grace.”