Red Keep Council Chamber: The Original Plea and the Alliance's Gap
Early summer in King's Landing brought the humidity of the sea breeze. The stained-glass windows of the Red Keep's council chamber fractured the sunlight into a spectrum of colors, casting them upon the 'Allied Forces Combat Power List' on the long table. Daenerys's fingertip traced the annotations: 'valyrian steel weapons three-tenths short' and 'dragonflame temperature not up to expectation.' Her brow furrowed.
Bran's Greensight warning last night had reiterated that The Cold God's Altar's ice barrier required 'super-high temperature dragonflame' to break through. Yet, even after being enhanced by evolution fluid, Drogon and Rhaegal's dragonflame still lacked a crucial final burst of power.
"Your Majesty, the dragonglass ore at The Citadel has been fully mined, but the rate of Wights' attrition in the Arctic ice fields far exceeds expectations," Tyrion said, entering the room, leaning on his cane. His cloak was dusted with the library's grime. "Sam sent word that ancient texts record 'ancient dragonbreath ore in the Western Continent that can amplify dragonflame power,' but the exact location is unknown, only that the first men left Dragon's Nest ruins there."
As Daenerys looked up, she saw Arya standing at the council chamber's entrance. She wore black Stealth Squad leather armor, a valyrian steel dagger tucked into her boot, and a newly sewn deerskin pouch at her waist. Inside it was a hand-drawn sketch of the Western Sea by Bran, its edges already frayed from repeated handling. "Arya, why are you here?" Daenerys asked, setting down her quill, a hint of surprise in her voice. Since clearing the Wights from beneath King's Landing, Arya had been training the newly recruited Stealth Squad, responsible for the alliance's intelligence gathering.
Arya walked to the long table, unrolled the sketch from her deerskin pouch, and pointed her fingertip at the blank space on the westernmost edge of the map: "I wish to request permission to go to the Western Continent to search for dragonbreath ore and Dragon's Nest ruins. Drogon and Rhaegal are critical combat forces against the cold god. If we can find resources to amplify dragonflame, our chances of breaking through the cold god's barrier will be much higher."
The council chamber fell silent instantly. Tyrion raised an eyebrow. He had assumed Arya would continue to focus on intelligence work and hadn't expected her to volunteer for the unknown West. Daenerys also hesitated: "There are no complete records of shipping routes to the Western Continent. The first men's accounts are fragmented, and it's said there are seas with perpetual storms and unknown magical creatures. It's too dangerous."
"Precisely because it's dangerous, someone needs to go," Arya's gaze was firm, much like Ned Stark's when he guarded the North. "I've learned stealth with the Faceless Men and survival with Syrio. I can handle unknown dangers. Moreover, Bran's Greensight said that the 'ancient power' of the West is beneficial to dragons. This might be our only chance."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over the combat power gaps on the list: "The allied forces are currently short on dragonglass, short on dragonflame power, and even more so on the confidence to fight the cold god. My trip to the West is not just to find resources, but also to scout a path for the alliance. If there truly are first men ruins in the West, perhaps we can find other ways to fight the cold god."
Just as Daenerys was still weighing her options, Lord Illyrio's voice came from outside the door: "I wish to accompany Arya." He wore silver-grey light armor, a dragonglass short-blade and r'hllor oil flask hanging from his waist. In his hand, he held a tattered sea chart of the Western Sea, which he had found in The Citadel's archives last night, marking the location of the 'Mist Isles' that the first men had reached. "I have studied the characteristics of Dragon's Nest ore. If we find dragonbreath ore, I can immediately determine if it's usable. Also, I am familiar with tactical layouts and can help Arya deal with unexpected situations."
Daenerys looked at the two. Lord Illyrio's certainty and Arya's resolve intertwined, reminding her of her own courage when she set out from Pentos. She walked to the window, gazing towards The Vale. Drogon was soaring low, his bronze scales gleaming in the sunlight, as if responding to this unknown exploration. "Alright, I agree," Daenerys turned, her voice carrying an undeniable authority. "But you cannot go deep alone. You must select five elites to accompany you, equipped with enough anti-cold medicine, holy fire equipment, and dragonglass weapons to ensure your safety."
King's Landing Armory: Formation of a Five-Person Elite Squad
The next morning, in the open space in front of the King's Landing Armory, Arya and Lord Illyrio were selecting the accompanying elites. The sun had just climbed the armory's stone walls, and the faint glow reflected from dragonglass weapons already covered the ground. Unsullied, R'hllor Warriors, The Citadel apprentices, Iron Islands sailors, and Northern rangers, among other candidates, stood in neat formations, each person's eyes filled with longing. For the people of Westeros, exploring the West was an even more legendary feat than fighting the cold god.
"The first spot, Grey Claw." Arya pointed to the Unsullied in the front row of the formation. His bronze armor bore three knife marks, medals from the Meereen campaign. "You are skilled in close combat, can wield dragonglass spears, and understand basic wound treatment. You are the melee core of the squad."
Grey Claw knelt on one knee, his voice hoarse but firm: "I am willing to serve the alliance, even if I am buried in the Western Sea."
Lord Illyrio then selected the second elite: "R'hllor Warrior Lena." A woman in red leather armor stepped forward. A faint orange flame burned at the tip of her holy fire staff. She was one of Melisandre's most accomplished disciples. "You can control holy fire barriers, deal with unknown magical threats, and provide holy fire blessings to the squad, enhancing weapon power."
Lena raised her hand and caressed the runes on her holy fire staff, softly saying: "The holy fire is with the squad."
For the remaining three spots, Arya and Lord Illyrio spent half an hour sifting through candidates, finally settling on:
Tommen, The Citadel Apprentice: Sixteen years old, proficient in first men script and ancient text interpretation, carrying a copy of 'Records of the first men of the Western Sea' from The Citadel archives, able to decipher textual clues in ruins.
Old Ge, Iron Islands Sailor: Sixty years old, having spent half his life at sea, once reached the 'Shattered Isles' in the West with Yara's father, Balon Greyjoy, familiar with navigation techniques in stormy seas.
Bane, Northern Ranger: Formerly Jon's attendant, skilled in tracking and wilderness survival, able to find water and food in unfamiliar terrain, precise archery for long-range support.
With the five-person squad assembled, Arya began distributing equipment: each person received a dragonglass dagger inlaid with r'hllor powder, three canisters of dragonglass fire oil, and two bottles of anti-cold medicine. Tommen additionally carried parchment and charcoal pencils. Old Ge took an extra set of backup compasses and sea charts. Lena's holy fire staff was fitted with a dragonglass base, allowing it to be used as a spear in emergencies. "Our goal is to find the Dragon's Nest ruins and dragonbreath ore. We will not provoke unknown creatures. If we encounter danger, prioritize protecting Tommen—he is key to interpreting the ruins." Arya's voice was clear and strong; years of combat experience naturally gave her a leader's demeanor.
Lord Illyrio added: "Old Ge, you are responsible for planning the route and avoiding storm zones. Bane, you and I will take turns on daily watch. Lena, use holy fire to set up defenses for the camp every night to prevent sneak attacks from nocturnal creatures. Grey Claw, you and Arya will bring up the rear, ensuring no one is left behind during a squad retreat." He pulled a bronze whistle from his Huaizhong and handed it to Arya. "This is a signal whistle specially made on Dragonstone. Its sound can penetrate storms. If you encounter an emergency, blow it three times, and I will immediately provide support."
Arya took the whistle, tucked it into her deerskin pouch, and her fingertips touched the valyrian steel dagger inside, a warmth spreading in her heart. This dagger had accompanied her through countless life-and-death situations, and now it would go with her to explore the unknown West. The armory's blacksmith arrived then, bringing the last piece of equipment: a palm-sized bronze mirror, its back engraved with the first men's dragon Pattern. "This is a 'dragon-seeking mirror' found in The Citadel. If there's a Dragon's Nest or dragonbreath ore nearby, the mirror surface will glow red. It might be useful for you to take it."
King's Landing Harbor: Farewell Commotion and Hidden Foreshadowing
Three days later, King's Landing Harbor was bustling with people. Arya and Lord Illyrio's squad had boarded 'wavebreaker ii,' a longship specially allocated by Yara from the Iron Islands. Its hull had been reinforced to withstand the impact of stormy seas, and its sails were embroidered with simplified Direwolf and dragon Pattern, symbolizing the cooperation between Stark and Targaryen.
Daenerys stood on the high platform of the pier, followed by Tyrion, Sansa (who had specially come from Winterfell to see them off), and Bran (pushed in his wheelchair by Lyra). Drogon and Rhaegal circled above the harbor, their roars occasionally echoing, drawing cheers from the common folk. "Arya, Lord Illyrio," Daenerys's voice carried across the harbor through a megaphone, "The Western Continent is an unknown journey, but you are not going for adventure. You are going for the alliance, for the future of Westeros. Remember, if you encounter insurmountable danger, prioritize retreat. The alliance needs you to return alive."
Arya stood at the bow of the ship, nodding vigorously: "Your Majesty, rest assured, we will find the dragonbreath ore so that Drogon and Rhaegal's dragonflame can pierce the cold god's barrier!" Her gaze swept across the pier. Sansa was waving at her, her eyes filled with reluctance. Bran gave her an 'all clear' gesture, silently mouthing, "Greensight will watch over you." Last night, Bran's Greensight had already caught a blurry outline of the Western Isles, where 'warm power' was indeed fluctuating, most likely Dragon's Nest ruins.
Tyrion, leaning on his cane, walked to the edge of the pier and threw a deerskin pouch to Lord Illyrio: "Inside are The Citadel's 'Storm Warning Manual' and a simple escape route I drew. If you encounter the 'Perpetual Storm Sea,' adjust your course according to the methods in the manual. Also, merchants from Qarth have been active in the harbor recently. After you depart, I will send people to keep an eye on them to prevent them from causing trouble."
"Thanks, Imp." Lord Illyrio chuckled as he caught the deerskin pouch. Although he and Tyrion had once had differences due to their Lannister affiliations, they had long since become allies fighting side by side. Old Ge shouted then: "My lord, the wind is coming! If we don't leave now, we'll miss the best sailing window!"
Arya took one last look at the pier. Sansa's figure gradually grew smaller, Daenerys's dragons were still circling, and the cheers of the common folk surged like waves. She turned and nodded to Lord Illyrio: "Let's go." Lord Illyrio waved to Old Ge, the longship's sails slowly rose, and propelled by the sea breeze, it sailed towards the western horizon.
As the ship just sailed out of Blackwater Bay, Lyra, riding a fast horse, rushed to the dock and handed Daenerys a secret letter Bran had just written: "Lord Bran says his Greensight saw 'traces of ice and fire' in the Western Isles, possibly remnants of a battle between the first men and dragons. He warns Arya and her team to be careful, as there might not only be a Dragon's Nest but also early creations of the cold god there."
Daenerys clutched the secret letter, watching the wavebreaker ii gradually become a black speck, a hint of worry rising in her heart—the unknown of the West was more complex than she had imagined.
Western Sea: Initial Storms and Team Integration
On the first night wavebreaker ii sailed out of King's Landing waters, it encountered a small storm.
The black clouds hung very low, and the waves, like the claws of a giant beast, constantly slapped against the hull, the sails flapping loudly in the wind.
Old Ge stood by the helm, rain streaming down his grizzled beard, yet it didn't affect his judgment in the slightest. "Fifteen degrees to port! Avoid the reef area!" His voice, hoarse from years of sailing, cut through the wind and rain to reach every crew member.
Arya and Illyrio stood at the bow, securing themselves to the mast with ropes.
The mirror of the dragon-seeking mirror occasionally shimmered in the lightning, but there was no red light—they had not yet entered the range of the Dragon's Nest ruins.
"Hold tight!" Illyrio suddenly reached out, pulling Arya, who had almost been swept away by a wave.
His hand was warm and strong, sheltering her between himself and the mast. "There are many reefs in these stormy waters. Old Ge says this is just an 'appetizer'; there's a more dangerous 'Misty Sea' ahead."
Arya nodded, the rain soaking her leather armor but making her feel more alert.
She remembered her days in Braavos, practicing stealth in heavy rain, then only for revenge, but now she had a more important goal.
"Why did you agree to come to the West with me?" Arya suddenly asked, her voice a little blurred by the wind, yet it reached Illyrio's ears accurately.
Illyrio looked at her rain-soaked hair, tenderness in his eyes: "First, the research on the Dragon's Nest ruins is crucial for fighting the cold god, and I want to see for myself how the first men coexisted with dragons; second," he paused, his tone becoming serious, "where you go, I don't want you to face danger alone."
Arya's cheeks flushed slightly, luckily the night and rain covered her momentary lapse. She turned to look at the sea and whispered, "I can protect myself."
"I know."
Illyrio smiled, "But it's always better to face things with someone than alone."
The storm subsided at dawn.
As the first rays of sunlight pierced the clouds and spread across the sea, Tommen excitedly ran to the bow, waving "Records of the first men of the Western Sea" in his hand: "Lord Arya, Lord Illyrio! Look at this passage—'West of the Misty Sea, there is an island like a giant dragon dormant, with fire in its heart that can melt ice and iron.' This must be the Dragon's Nest ruins!"
He pointed to an illustration in the book, a crude rock painting by the first men, depicting a volcanic island with several dragons circling it.
Old Ge leaned in, squinting at the illustration, and suddenly said, "This is Dragonstone Isle! I went to its outer perimeter once when I was young with Lord Balon. The sea water there is warm, and the island is shrouded in smoke year-round. It's said that few ships that enter ever come out."
Bane then noticed a flock of peculiar seabirds in the distance, their feathers tinged with reddish hues. "Those are 'Firefeather Birds,' The Citadel says they only inhabit waters with dragonbreath ore!"
Arya immediately pulled out the dragon-seeking mirror, aiming its surface towards the Firefeather Birds, and sure enough, a faint red light appeared—they were getting closer to the Dragon's Nest ruins.
Illyrio gathered the squad members for an impromptu meeting on the deck: "According to Tommen's records and Old Ge's experience, the outer perimeter of Dragonstone Isle has a reef belt, so we'll need to use small boats to land; there might be high-temperature air currents on the island, which ordinary leather armor can't withstand, so Lena's holy fire barrier might be able to block some of the heat; Grey Claw, you and I will go ahead in a small boat to scout, and once it's safe, we'll bring the others ashore."
Grey Claw nodded, beginning to check the ropes of the small boat; Lena adjusted her holy fire staff, ensuring the holy fire would burn steadily; Tommen rolled the Records of the first men into a tube and placed it in a waterproof leather pouch; Bane climbed the mast to observe the flight direction of the Firefeather Birds and determine the landing point; Old Ge, meanwhile, marked the location of Dragonstone Isle on the sea chart and added details to the route.
As the sun set, wavebreaker ii finally reached the outer perimeter of Dragonstone Isle.
The distant island, in the twilight, resembled a sleeping giant dragon, the smoke from its peak tinged with a faint red, and occasionally bubbles would emerge from the sea, carrying the scent of sulfur.
Arya stood at the bow, the red light from the dragon-seeking mirror growing brighter.
She knew that the first stop of their Western exploration—the Dragonstone Isle Dragon's Nest ruins—was right before their eyes.
Illyrio walked to her side, a dragonglass short-blade in his hand: "Prepare to land. Remember, our goal is to find dragonbreath ore and clues to the Dragon's Nest. Do not actively provoke any creatures on the island. If danger arises, prioritize protecting Tommen and the dragon-seeking mirror."
Arya nodded, drawing her valyrian steel dagger, its blade gleaming coldly in the twilight—unknown dangers awaited them, but in her heart, there was no fear, only firm resolve for her mission and hope for the alliance's future.
The small boat was slowly lowered, Grey Claw and Illyrio boarded first, rowing towards Dragonstone Isle.
Arya stood at the bow of wavebreaker ii, watching their figures gradually approach the island, a hint of anticipation rising in her heart—perhaps this was the key to Drogon and Rhaegal's evolution, the hope for the alliance to defeat the cold god.
The sea breeze blew, carrying the scent of sulfur from the island, and also the challenge of the unknown; the exploration of the Western Continent had finally officially begun.
Conclusion: The Glimmer of the Dragon's Nest and Hidden Dangers
By the time Illyrio and Grey Claw's small boat reached the shore of Dragonstone Isle, night had fallen.
Lena's holy fire staff glowed orange-red in the darkness, illuminating the rocks on the shore—these rocks were not ordinary stones, but had a dark red luster.
Tommen scraped off a bit of debris with his dagger and placed it next to the dragon-seeking mirror; the mirror instantly erupted in a dazzling red light: "It's dragonbreath ore! Ten times purer than The Citadel's!"
Arya and the other members then landed, stepping on the rocks made of dragonbreath ore, feeling a faint warmth emanating from beneath their feet.
Bane patrolled along the shore and suddenly shouted, "There are first men footprints here!"
Everyone gathered around, only to see several faint footprints on the rocks, twice the size of ordinary human footprints, and scattered around were several dragon scales, gleaming with a bronze luster—consistent with Drogon's scales.
"These are traces of the first men and dragons acting together."
Illyrio knelt down, caressing the footprints, "Tommen, see if there's any mention of the Dragon's Nest entrance in the Records of the first men."
Tommen quickly flipped through the ancient book, his finger stopping at a passage: "'The Dragon's Nest is hidden in a fire cave; it needs to be guided by dragonglass and opened by holy fire'—it means we need to tap a specific rock carved with dragon patterns using a dragonglass dagger, and then ignite the runes at the entrance with holy fire!"
Grey Claw immediately pulled out a dragonglass dagger and, following Tommen's directions, gently tapped a rock carved with a dragon pattern.
With a "crack," the rock slowly moved aside, revealing a pitch-black opening.
The rock walls of the opening were covered with first men runes, emitting a faint blue light.
Lena raised her holy fire staff, bringing the holy fire close to the runes; the runes instantly ignited, and an orange-red light spread along them, illuminating the passage of the opening: "It's very spacious inside, wide enough for two people to walk side by side!"
Arya gripped her valyrian steel dagger, the first to enter the passage, followed closely by Illyrio, with the squad members entering in sequence.
The passage was warm like spring, the dragonbreath ore on the rock walls glowed red, and occasionally water droplets fell from the ceiling, dripping onto the dragonbreath ore, making a "sizzling" sound.
After walking for about half an hour, the passage suddenly widened, and a huge cave appeared before their eyes—in the center of the cave was a circular stone platform, on which fragments of dragon eggs remained, and the surrounding rock walls were covered with traces of dragon claws, clearly the core area of an ancient Dragon's Nest.
"This is the Dragon's Nest ruins!" Tommen shouted excitedly, almost dropping the ancient book in his hand, "The Records of the first men say that dragon eggs stored here hatch dragons that can control high-temperature dragonflame!"
Arya walked to the stone platform and picked up a piece of dragon egg fragment; the fragment glowed with a warm light.
She brought the fragment close to the dragon-seeking mirror, and the red light of the mirror merged with the light of the fragment, forming a beam of light that shot towards the top of the cave—there was a huge rock painting, depicting the first men riding dragons and fighting ice-like creatures.
In the corner of the rock painting was a line of first men text, which Tommen softly translated: "'When ice comes, fire resists; when dragons awaken, cold retreats'—this means that the fire of dragons is key to fighting the cold god!"
Just as everyone was immersed in the joy of discovery, a low growl suddenly came from deep within the cave, and the red light of the dragonbreath ore on the rock walls instantly dimmed.
Illyrio immediately drew his dragonglass short-blade, signaling the squad to be on alert: "Something's coming! Lena, holy fire barrier! Grey Claw, prepare for close combat!"
Lena's holy fire staff instantly erupted with a strong light, forming an orange barrier; Grey Claw and Arya stood back to back in front of the barrier, valyrian steel dagger and dragonglass dagger drawn simultaneously; Bane drew his bow and aimed an arrow into the darkness deep within the cave—the first crisis of the Western exploration had quietly arrived.
At King's Landing harbor in the distance, Daenerys received the first secret letter from the squad, which read, "The Dragon's Nest ruins have been found, and the dragonbreath ore is of extremely high purity."
She held the secret letter and walked to The Vale, looking at Drogon and Rhaegal, a glimmer of hope rising in her heart: "Soon, your dragonflame will become stronger, and we will be able to defeat the cold god."
What she didn't know was that deep within the Dragon's Nest of Dragonstone Isle, there were not only resources to enhance dragonflame, but also a warning left by the first men—behind the text in the corner of the rock painting, there was another line of worn-out small text that Tommen had not yet discovered: "Beside fire, shadow of ice, servants of the cold god, hidden in the nest."