It took everything Wyman Manderly had to appear calm as he hosted the crown prince and his companions inside New Castle. And what a lineup he had! Not only was his twin brother with him, but so was the young Lord of Highgarden, a Martell prince, a Baratheon, and a Greyjoy. The Lord of Riverrun's brother was also accompanying him, something Wyman never would have expected. The Blackwood and Dayne were curiosities, but also startling. The Velaryons and the Celtigars were the only ones Wyman had been expecting to see.
It was such a continental entourage that Wyman wasn't sure if such a group had ever been assembled before.
There was also the red priestess, one that Wyman had been hearing rumors about for some time now. No one knew exactly what her role in court was, but he was aware that some lords were not pleased with her being so close to their future king. Wyman himself did not care. He was already a follower of the Faith in a kingdom that believed in the old gods. He was one of the few lords who understood how it felt to be surrounded by people who held different beliefs from you. So long as she didn't start burning people alive, as was reported that some in her faith did, then he had no issue hosting her.
The presence of the Alchemists' Guild was also worrying. The order had been seen spreading their influence recently. Not just in King's Landing, but in other parts of the realm as well. There were rumors that they were in a partnership with the crown prince, and now Wyman was able to confirm these rumors for himself. This did not explain the exact nature of the partnership, but if the past was any indication then Wyman had his reservations. Still, it was not something that he was going to come out and say, not without cause.
Wyman had also noticed a peculiar man standing beside the crown prince's maester. The man was tall, taller than anyone else in the group, so he immediately stood out. His hair was shaggy and we wore unassuming dark robes similar to the maester's. For reasons he could not explain, Wyman had a feeling that there was something more to this man than just his odd appearance.
The presence of the "White Bull" and "the Bold" in his court was a great honor for Wyman. The two men were perhaps the two most renowned knights in the Seven Kingdoms at the moment. Hosting them alongside the famous pyromancer crown prince would certainly go down in history.
Except now the presence of these two famous knights paled in comparison to the three dragons that were currently resting inside his hall.
After the crown prince had disembarked from his ship, the two sides had traded pleasantries. Wyman had stumbled over his words, his eyes fixed solely on the dragons the entire time. His sons had been no better. Their young age could excuse their behavior, but he was the Lord of White Harbor for gods' sake!
The fact that he was seeing the first dragons to roam Westeros in over a century could perhaps be used as a proper excuse for his poor manners, right?
At the very least the crown prince had not taken offense to his poor greeting, his eyes expressing nothing but mirth.
Guest Right was offered and accepted, and the two sides had then traveled to New Castle by carriage. The people had lined the streets, all cheering at the arrival of the crown prince. They tried to get a glimpse of him through the window, but they had little success.
If only they had known that inside the carriage there were three dragons. They would have probably fled in terror at the mere mention of them.
Wyman was sure that he might have soiled himself at one point, or maybe he was just being overly dramatic.
It had been different for his sons, who had continued to stare in wonder at the dragons all throughout the ride. They dared not touch them, though. The way they hissed while staring at them was warning enough.
They were nothing but hatchlings, and yet they were still terrifying to look at. But they also had an otherworldly beauty to them that could not be ignored. It was hard for Wyman to put his thoughts into his words properly. He was no poet.
He was mesmerized by them, plain and simple.
After arriving at New Castle, Wyman allowed the crown prince and his group to settle in and relax for a few hours. No doubt after being at sea for so long they needed a break to regain their bearings. It also gave Wyman the time he needed to compose himself alongside his family.
His cousin had never looked more shocked. His lovely wife was also on the verge of passing out as she sat down to settle down.
His sons had just shared their observations with one another, talking animatedly the entire time.
At least they were happy.
Wyman had thought that, with the few hours from when the crown prince had arrived to when the feast began inside the Merman's Court, he would be able to better handle the sight of the three dragons.
He was wrong.
Even as the feast raged inside the hall, with singers and musicians raving about, Wyman was still staring at the three dragons as they seemed to play with one another all throughout the hall. Wyman could tell that he wasn't the only one who was mesmerized, as there were times when the singers would pause mid-song to glance at the dragons and see what they were doing.
All the questions that Wyman had had up to this point, ranging from what the crown prince was doing heading north to where he had been, faded from his memory.
Just what was happening? How could there be dragons in Westeros again? It made no sense!
As a sign of honor and respect, prince Rhaegal had taken the head seat, which resembled a throne, that was usually reserved for the Lord of White Harbor. Wyman sat next to him, while the prince's red priestess took his other side. It seemed like she wanted to be as close as she could to the prince at all times. If not for the presence of the dragons, it was something that Wyman would have given more thought to.
"I hope you don't mind, Lord Manderly," the prince began, causing Wyman to perk up, "but I took the liberty of using one of your ravens earlier today. I sent word to King's Landing about our safe arrival."
Wyman did not mind. "It is no trouble, my prince." He tried to keep his voice steady. "I am sure that his Grace must have been worried for your safety…"
He trailed off, unsure of how to ask what he really wanted to know.
"Your maester said that you had already sent a letter of your own."
"Yes. The day before. We were all worried about your disappearance."
For a moment, Wyman wondered if his letter would cause any panic in the king's court before the prince's raven arrived.
"Hmm, yes." Rhaegal glanced down at his cup, which he had barely drank from. "I suppose in all of my excitement I did not consider how my time on Skagos would be noticed. I still have more growing up to do."
Wyman's brain halted. Skagos? Did he hear that correctly?
"My prince….did you say that you went to Skagos?"
"Hm?" Rhaegal glanced at him. "I did. We spent around three days there. It was a most stimulating experience. I'm sure my companions will not soon forget it."
No, Wyman was sure that they would not.
But why Skagos?
The start of a conversation was doing wonders to help Wyman ease his mind away from the dragons. He focused on what he really needed to say here today.
"My prince, I know I may be intruding, but why did you decide to go to Skagos? Is that why you were late to arrive?"
"You are not intruding, my lord. I brought it up for a reason."
Oh. Wyman realized that he may be walking into a trap a little too late.
"I went there to secure my family's legacy."
Wyman didn't need to wonder what the prince was referring to.
'There were dragon eggs on Skagos?'
Unbelievable. Wyman never would have guessed it.
"While there, I found myself fascinated by the land and the people," Rhaegal continued as Wyman's mind tried to refocus on the conversation. "It's a pity that the Starks have ignored the island for so long. They have much to offer."
Wyman's eyes went to the tall robed man who was sitting beside maester Qyburn. He was drinking, but he hadn't said a word to anyone throughout the feast.
Rhaegal followed his gaze and smiled. "I'm sure you've guessed it already, but he's a Skagosi. He and I have talked much during our journey here."
Wyman was trying to connect the dots, but Rhaegal didn't mind doing that for him.
"The Skagosi did not appreciate my arrival and my demands for fealty, so they decided to battle me. I defeated them, and now the three major clans have sworn their allegiance to me. I have also decided to incorporate the island into the Crownlands. My father does not yet know of this, but I'm sure he'll see the wisdom of my decision when I return to King's Landing and explain the situation to him."
Wyman felt a headache coming. There was so much in the prince's words just now that he didn't even know where to begin!
He had battled the Skagosi? The fact that they had taken up arms against the crown prince could see them all hang for treason. The island was always a distant place despite it being technically under the control the North and thus under the hegemony of the Iron Throne. No laws were enforced there. It was said that the Skagosi still practiced cannibalism and the lord's right of the first night. Not that their ignorance would make a difference. If the crown prince wished it, he could see the entire island burn for their actions.
Instead he had taken over the island and had the three clans swear their allegiance to him?
Already Wyman could see Rickard Stark taking offense to this, and he was not the type to look the other way when it came to affronts, personal or otherwise.
"My prince, taking Skagos away from the North is…." Wyman didn't know how to phrase his thoughts properly without potentially insulting the crown prince.
Rhaegal waved his hand in a calming manner. "Say what you think, Lord Manderly. This is why I brought it up in the first place. I wish to hear what you make of this, and what the North's reaction will be."
Surely the crown prince already knew that the Starks, hell all the houses, would not be pleased with this development?
Still, Wyman calmed his nerves as he said, "My prince, Skagos has been a part of the North since before the Iron Throne was forged. The people there were no different from the Ironborn. They were raiders who constantly pillaged the land and took captives to sacrifice or as slaves. It was only through the Stark kings that the island was finally pacified. And even then, they have rebelled many times throughout history. Their last revolt was during the reign of King Daeron II. Lord Barthogan Stark lost his life when he tried to bring order back to the island. They eventually succeeded, but not after much death."
"Order?" Rhaegal frowned. "You give the Starks too much credit, my lord. For they did not bring order to the island. They just restored the status quo. The Skagosi still fight among themselves over resources, and they remain isolated from the rest of the kingdoms. Tell me, of what use is that to anyone?"
Wyman suddenly found himself in a very difficult place. Was the crown prince trying to make enemies out of the Starks?
"Ah, my apologies," Rhaegal said as he cocked his head. "I forget myself. My frustration has gotten the better of me."
Frustration?
"There is much potential in these lands, Lord Manderly. I aim to see Skagos prosper in the future, and I see similar potential in the North. Unfortunately, most of my predecessors were too busy resting on our laurels to do anything about it. We may have brought the kingdoms together and seen an end to perpetual war, but we can still do better. My frustration is aimed at their lack of action."
Wyman's fears began to ease the more he heard the prince talk.
"I've had similar thoughts myself," he admitted, almost whispering the words. A part of him felt like he was betraying the Starks by agreeing with the crown prince, but he could not help but admit that much.
"Your family has accomplished much, so I can understand the feeling," Rhaegal agreed. "Despite losing your original lands, you still found a new place for yourself and even prospered from it. I was not able to see much, but I can still tell that White Harbor is a beautiful city. Clean and prosperous. I can't say the same for King's Landing unfortunately."
Wyman felt a surge of pride at the prince's words but also some confusion.
"From my understanding, King's Landing has remained stable during your father's rule, my prince."
Rhaegal shook his head. "That's only on the surface. The people may be content so long as they're fed, but I don't feel that's good enough. There is still much poverty, and people's lives are wasted on aimless pursuits. King's Landing is a reflection on my family, and I will not have it squander like this. That's also true for the rest of the kingdom, for as kings all successes and failures ultimately rest on our heads. But I forget myself. That's a story for a different day. Right now, I must focus on the North."
Wyman was starting to understand the crown prince just from this brief conversation. He saw the kingdom as an extension of his family, of himself. He could not stand seeing a poorly managed kingdom, for he felt as though that would reflect poorly on himself.
It was such a prideful way of thinking that Wyman almost laughed. Not because he wanted to mock the young prince. It was the opposite. He just found it funny.
"You have an interesting way of seeing the world, my prince." Wyman settled for a more diplomatic answer.
Rhaegal just nodded before continuing, "So tell me, Lord Manderly. What would the people of the North feel is satisfactory in return for Skagos?"
Wyman didn't know why the prince was turning to him specifically for this matter, but all the same he would make sure to give his honest thoughts. If a conflict could be averted, then all the better.
"The main struggle for the Northern houses has always been food, my prince," he began. "That, and our lack of wealth." Wyman did not include himself in that, because while his house wasn't the richest on the continent, far from it, it was still the richest in the North. It wasn't even close. They were more than a little comfortable thanks to their trade network with other parts of Westeros and Essos, but the Westerlands and the Reach had them beat.
"Mhmm, yes. Food," Rhaegal said softly. "The one thing that ultimately drives our behavior. I had figured as much, but I appreciate hearing it from you nonetheless."
"You did?" Wyman was a bit surprised. Many in the southern kingdoms couldn't begin to imagine the struggle that the cold presented the North with. Other than Wildling raids, it was the North's biggest obstacle. Of course, it also shaped the Northern lords into the hardy people that they were today. There were always two ways to look at things.
"Why the surprise?" Rhaegal raised an eyebrow. "I will one day become king of Westeros. If I aim to elevate my land and the people living in it, then I must understand the struggles that they face. Even though I've read reports in the past, such as when my great grandfather sent relief to the North during a particularly nasty winter, it still helps to hear from the people themselves. And among all the lords in the North, you are the most accustomed to the politics of the south. Some might call that a curse, but I see it as a blessing. It better helps me understand the people that I will one day rule, even in this remote and unforgiving land."
Wyman was starting to see that the young prince was gifted in using flattery to get his way. The problem was that, even if it was a form of manipulation, his words were true. If the crown prince had approached a different Northern lord with this information, then they immediately would have taken offense which would have led to a less than amicable talk.
Eyeing the young dragons again, Wyman was thankful that that had not come to pass.
'There is also the prince's own magical abilities,' he thought grimly.
A Targaryen prince with both the flame and the dragon. It was a combination that had never been seen before, and Wyman almost shuddered thinking about any lord stupid enough to stand in the prince's way.
On the other hand, the fact that the prince was willing to negotiate at all rather than use brute force to get what he wanted spoke favorably of his character. He was not someone Wyman was opposed to helping, especially if it led to a more prosperous North.
Surely Rickard Stark would come to understand this as well.
"My prince, I will not mind sharing what I know with you," Wyman declared, coming to a decision. "All the Northern houses have gathered in Winterfell in preparation for your arrival, so you will be able to present yourself to them there. You will have my full cooperation in this."
Meeting in person more often than not was better than corresponding through letters. Once the lords of the North saw the dragons for themselves, they would understand that they had to be more careful when dealing with the Iron Throne from now on.
For the dragon was tightening its grip, and Wyman saw that it had the North in its sights.
Rhaegal looked pleased as he sent him a nod.
"I appreciate your cooperation, Lord Manderly. This will help me with other ideas that I have for Skagos. Ideas that will benefit you and your house greatly I'm sure."
Wyman returned the nod with a grateful one of his own.
These were definitely changing times, and house Manderly would ride it out as it always did.
---
Tywin stared out the window from his chamber inside the Tower of the Hand.
King's Landing was in disarray.
After Rhaegal's letter was read, news of the dragon's return spread quickly through the city by the king's command. He had even ordered the High Septon to ring the bells of the Great Sept to celebrate the news.
When told of the reason, the High Septon's face had gone pale. For a moment, it looked as if someone had physically assaulted him. Thankfully, he managed to recover and carry out the king's orders, but from the way his body tensed as he walked away it was obvious that the news were not a happy one for him.
By the end of the day, word of the dragon's return was on everyone's lips, and speculation was rampant.
Just how had the prince been able to accomplish such a miracle? Once more whispers of the prince being blessed by the gods spread, and the people of King's Landing rejoiced thinking that their future was assured with such a blessed prince as their future king.
The king had not stopped there. As was his way, Aerys had little sense for discretion and sent ravens to all the houses to further spread the word, hinting at the possibility of being able to see the dragons during the upcoming name day celebration for anyone who decided to attend.
There was little doubt on everyone's mind that King's Landing would once again be flooded with lords, knights, and others alike in the coming days. Not since news of the prince's magical abilities had there been such fervor, and the City Watch worked overtime to ensure that the order in the city remained.
Tywin had never before seen his friend be so full of excitement. A permanent expression of glee had been plastered on the king's face since the news had reached him, and that had been more than a day ago. He was constantly bragging about how his son was the culmination of prophecy and that he was a clear sign of the supremacy of Targaryen rule.
One would almost think that the prince's accomplishments were his own.
The rest of the royal family were also feeling a wave of excitement after their initial shock disappeared. Princess Shaena and prince Daeron were more than a little eager to see the dragons for themselves, especially since one of them was still unclaimed.
The small council had many questions of course. None of them had heard about the prince's plans to go to Skagos. Tywin had discovered that a force had gathered on Dragonstone in the days leading to the prince's departure to the North, but he never could have guessed that it would lead to something like this.
What else was being kept from them?
The fact that Lucerys Velaryon had been allowed to accompany the prince was not lost on any of them. Whatever the exact nature of the expedition, the fact of the matter was that the Velaryon lord was the only one the prince had trusted enough to bring along. There was much jealousy from the other members in the small council who all saw the Velaryons as upstarts trying to accumulate more power in the king's court. They knew that Aerys would heap rewards on any who had helped his son accomplish what many had thought impossible, and they wanted to secure those rewards for themselves.
Tywin saw the petty jealousy for what it was. However, a part of him could not help but feel slighted. Surely the young prince could have turned to house Lannister for help in this endeavor. The return of the dragons was surely going to be one of the most historic moments in Westerosi history, and the fact that his house had not been a part of it irked Tywin.
But what could he do about it? The moment had passed, and now Tywin had to face the future.
This blunder taught Tywin that perhaps he had been underestimating prince Rhaegal a little too much. He recognized the prince's abilities, magical or otherwise. He had a great mind, one worthy of a king. Certainly more worthy than Aerys. However, Tywin had still been thinking of Rhaegal as nothing more than a boy. A capable one, but still not a man worth giving his full attention. For Aerys was still king, and he held the ultimate sway over his house.
That had been a mistake.
Now the crown prince was not just a pyromancer but also a dragon rider. Such power was poised to change the political landscape of Westeros forever, and Tywin did not intend to be left behind.
Tywin recalled Pycelle's warning from before, about the favor the prince was placing upon house Velaryon. Now he was beginning to see more clearly the reality of it. He might not know the full details, but the dots connected themselves. It wouldn't be long before the Velaryons and the other houses sworn to Dragonstone gained more prominence, just because of their close relationship to the prince.
A mental map of Westeros began to appear in Tywin's mind as he pictured how the future might now be shaped, and at the center of it all stood the crown prince with his flames and the dragons.
It was now more imperative than ever for the Lannisters to tie themselves to the Targaryens. However, there was little chance for Cersei to become queen. Not as long as princess Shaena was in the picture.
'What to do?'
From the contents of the letter, everyone now knew that prince Rhaegar was also a future dragon rider, for one of the dragons had bonded with him.
This opened new possibilities for his house, but they were still not favorable. Tywin was not content with being second place. Already he had to endure the humiliation of being looked down on by the realm when his father had ruled. Tywin had made a vow to never endure that shame again. He wanted to make sure that his house dominated Westeros for the foreseeable future. No, even longer than that. So that by the time he finally left this world, he could do so in peace knowing that he had corrected his father's foolish mistakes.
'I think it's about time I bring my children to court.'
He had hesitated due to Cersei's young age, but he could no longer play things cautiously. The realm was changing and fast, and if he did not start making moves then the situation would spiral out of his control. The Martells had already made a move of their own, and Tywin wasn't going to allow the Dornish to get one over him. Even if Loreza Martell was a friend of his wife, the future of their house was more important than such ties.
Thankfully Joanna had recently sent word that she was pregnant again, so it would be the perfect excuse to have her come to the Red Keep with their family. For safety of course, for the prince employed a very capable maester specializing in the healing arts. Kevan was more than capable of continuing to look over Casterly Rock until the celebrations of the princes' name day began.
Ultimately, it would be the lion who would come out on top. He was certain of it.
---
Rhaegal and his group spent two days at White Harbor. During that time, he was able to relax from all the sea travel that they had done. He traversed through the city, enjoying the sights. It was also during this time that people of the city were able to see him and the dragons for the first time, and to say that they were alarmed was an understatement. They did not run in fear, but they were also a bit apprehensive about the dragons' presence. Despite their small size, they were fearful that they might be burned. It was only after that Rhaegal gave assurances that they were safe that people started to become more comfortable, even going as far as looking at the dragons with wonder and celebration.
It had made the rest of his stay more enjoyable.
This time also gave Rhaegal a peace of mind. After all, from when he first traveled from Dragonstone until now, he had constantly been on edge, wondering if he would be able to succeed when so many had failed in the past.
It was not his fault really. So many things happened that Rhaegal still had a hard time accepting that any of it was real.
This world was hardly a simple one, was it.
His talks with Wyman Manderly did more to ease his mind. It was true that he respected the man's insights, for his house was one of the most unique ones in the realm due to their location in the North. How they continued to be accepted despite their differing beliefs was a wonderful accomplishment, one that Wyman admitted was not always an easy one. However, even though he and his house still kept to the Faith, they were not fervent believers either. That was not the case for the people living in the city, but it helped that house Manderly did not show any disrespect toward the old gods. They had also never attempted to spread the Faith beyond the walls of their city, so the rest of the North was happy to leave them be so long as their loyalty remained true.
When it was time to depart to Winterfell, Euron had suggested that they go up the White Knife for a faster route. Unfortunately, their ships were too big to fully navigate the river, as there were rapids and rocky shoots. The last thing Rhaegal and Lucerys wanted was for their new fleet to end up destroyed in the river just because they wanted to reach Winterfell a few days earlier. Besides, Rhaegal wanted to take part of his force to Winterfell with him, so ultimately they left White Harbor by carriage under full escort.
Lord Celtigar stayed behind with the fleet and the rest of Rhaegal's men. He had no particular interest to see Winterfell, and Rhaegal needed someone to stay behind and in command of his forces.
They were a few days into the journey, and Rhaegal was more than a little bored. The North was vast, and there was a certain charm to seeing snow everywhere. But that got boring quickly. It did not help that the kingdom was sparsely populated, so villages and towns were separated by great distances.
The temperature was quickly decreasing, and even though Skagos had been further north it was more cold here than on the island.
How bizarre.
The low temperature did not seem to bother the dragons any. That was not true for the rest of his companions, with the exception of Melisandre and their new Skagosi companion. Even Rhaegar was shivering every so often.
"The magic here grows stronger," Melisandre said softly as she sat next to him inside their carriage. Apart from the dragons, only Rhaegar and Monford were seated with them. The others were in separate carriages, or in the case of Ser Brynden and the Kingsguard they were on horseback, riding alongside them for protection.
It was doubtful that anyone would be stupid enough to attack a heavily armed force such as this, but stranger things have been known to happen.
"Magic?" Monford rubbed his hands for extra warmth. They were all wearing coats for the cold, gifts from Wyman and his family. "What are you talking about?"
"It's creeping stronger now," she said, ignoring Monford. She was only looking at Rhaegal. "Even from here, I can feel it."
Rhaegal said nothing. He was not all that surprised by her words. Now that they were on the mainland, it was expected that she could sense more.
If only he could as well.
He was already planning on visiting the Wall anyway, if only to pay his great uncle a visit. No doubt seeing dragons with his own eyes would bring great joy to the aging man.
Monford looked at Rhaegar. "Do you know what she's talking about?"
"Best for you to not know," was Rhaegar's answer as he stroked the top of Aegorax's head.
It was funny how the young dragon was making purring-like sounds from the attention.
Ancalagon did not appear to have the same wants, as the black dragon was more happy napping on his lap than looking for attention.
The third dragon was curled by Rhaegal's side, but he knew that that would only last until they returned to King's Landing. Once there, he already had a good feeling as to who would be the one to claim the beautiful and slender dragon.
He was going to have to find a way to make it up to the other, but what could make up for a dragon?
'Being the older brother sucks sometimes.'
Rhaegal could already picture the tears, and he was not looking forward to that.
However, the closer their procession got to Winterfell, the more prominent an all too familiar sensation began to spread through his body and mind.
Rhaegal's eyes narrowed in thought.
'How could this be?'
It was almost as if he was back on Skagos, and the three dragon eggs were calling to him. Only now that sensation was pointing him elsewhere, and as time went on it became increasingly obvious to him where the sensation was pointing to.
Winterfell.
Rhaegal's mind was filled with many questions by this revelation, the most prominent of which was: how? Did the Starks have dragon eggs hidden somewhere? Did they even know of their presence? Was there another explanation?
Melisandre sensed his distress, but she said nothing, merely smiling coyly from her seat.
Rhaegal did not notice this, his mind too distracted by his thoughts.
All of a sudden his trip to Winterfell became all the more interesting.