Dragonstone rose from the sea like an ancient stone warship.
Behind the castle, the volcanic peak of Dragonmont constantly released pale gray steam from its geothermal vents, filling the island with the scent of sulfur and salt.
Long ago, Dragonstone had been a military outpost of the Valyrian Freehold, much like Tyrosh. When House Targaryen sold its holdings in Valyria and settled here, the island became forever tied to their legacy.
Even after years under Lord Stannis Baratheon's rule, Dragonstone still longed for the return of dragons and the blood of Old Valyria.
It remembered its glorious past.
---
As Gendry's ship docked, several familiar figures were already waiting.
Daenerys Targaryen.
Lady Dacey Mormont, the She-Bear.
Maester Qyburn.
Ser Assel Florent, the acting Lord of Dragonstone.
And the silent Kingsguard known as Jon Strong.
Hidden throughout Dragonstone were Boniface's Hundred-Man Crusade, a force of disciplined knights quietly guarding the last true dragon queen.
Their armor was immaculate.
Their gray warhorses stood calmly beside them.
Though their beliefs differed, they shared one thing in common—they served neither corruption nor hypocrisy.
Shireen and Lady Selyse had already departed for King's Landing.
It spared everyone unnecessary awkwardness, even if Lord Stannis found his wife's presence rather irritating.
---
Daenerys wore a deep violet fishtail gown that perfectly complemented her silver hair and violet eyes.
Queen Rhaella's delicate crown rested upon her head.
A golden bracelet set with amethysts shimmered around her wrist.
She looked almost otherworldly.
The moment she saw Gendry...
She rushed into his arms.
"Gendry!"
She hugged him tightly before immediately pulling back to inspect him from head to toe.
She carefully checked for wounds.
Even the smallest scratch.
Although her years of hardship had ended and her health had greatly improved, Daenerys remained only a little over 1.7 meters tall.
She looked petite beside Gendry.
Even so, she was still considered tall for a woman.
She certainly wasn't as towering as her female guards.
Dacey stood nearly six feet tall.
Brienne was even taller.
Gendry chuckled and gently ruffled Daenerys's silver-gold hair.
"I won again."
"And not even a scratch."
"I also brought back quite a few spoils from Magistrate Marajo."
Daenerys noticed the enormous sword strapped across his back.
"What an incredible sword."
"It's even taller than I am."
Gendry smiled.
"It's called Tiger Roar."
"Despite its size, Valyrian steel is remarkably light and incredibly sharp."
Still...
Even such a priceless weapon couldn't compare to his Ring of Fire.
---
Ser Assel Florent, Maester Qyburn, Lady Dacey, and everyone else bowed respectfully.
"You've all worked hard."
Gendry returned the greeting.
Brienne was also present.
However, she had been guarding the dragons within Dragonstone's inner courtyard.
Ser Assel knelt.
"Dragonstone stands ready to serve you."
"Congratulations on your great victory north of the Blackwater Rush..."
"And on reclaiming King's Landing."
Like many members of House Florent, Ser Assel possessed large ears and an otherwise plain appearance.
He was sturdy rather than handsome.
Strong arms.
Powerful legs.
A dependable man.
While Lord Stannis governed from King's Landing, Ser Assel had managed Dragonstone's affairs with unwavering diligence.
His loyalty to Stannis surpassed even that of many members of House Florent's main branch.
As a second son...
He had carved out his own path through service.
Gendry smiled warmly.
"The honor belongs to everyone."
Although Ser Assel was usually known for his blunt temper and impatient personality...
Before Gendry...
He was as gentle as a lamb.
Such was the authority carried by the First Knight and First General of the Seven Kingdoms.
---
"How are the coastal defenses?"
"And the fishermen?"
Gendry asked.
Ser Assel answered immediately.
"We've organized patrol fleets using ships from Driftmark, Crab Isle, and Dragonstone."
"The crews are experienced and trustworthy."
"No suspicious vessels have been allowed near the island."
"As for the fishermen..."
"You needn't worry."
"These are the ancestral lands of House Targaryen."
"The people are happy to serve both you and Princess Daenerys."
Gendry nodded.
Both he and Daenerys enjoyed genuine support among Dragonstone's people.
That goodwill eliminated countless potential problems.
---
Ser Barristan approached with a smile.
"Your Highness."
Daenerys smiled shyly and stepped out of Gendry's embrace.
"It's good to see you too, Ser Barristan."
Anguy and the others also offered their greetings.
Soon afterward...
Gendry and Daenerys mounted their horses and rode toward Dragonstone Castle.
---
Dragonstone itself was sparsely populated.
Beyond the great fortress stood only a modest fishing village.
Most of the island's people lived beneath Dragonmont.
Some farmed the rocky land.
Others earned their living fishing.
Although Dragonstone possessed a busy harbor...
Recent wars and the seizure of merchant vessels had left the docks unusually quiet.
---
Dragonstone Castle dominated the island.
It seemed less like a castle...
And more like a living dragon carved from black stone.
Unlike any fortress elsewhere in Westeros...
It was a masterpiece of Valyrian sorcery.
Legend claimed Valyrian sorcerers never carved stone with chisels.
Instead...
They shaped molten rock using fire and magic...
Like potters molding wet clay.
The Valyrian roads.
The Black City.
Dragonstone itself.
All had been created this way.
Everywhere Gendry looked...
Stone dragons watched silently.
Thousands of gargoyles lined the towering walls.
Hellhounds.
Wyverns.
Griffins.
Manticores.
Minotaurs.
Cockatrices.
Stone lizards.
Each served as both decoration and battlement.
The Great Hall resembled a sleeping dragon.
Visitors entered through its enormous open jaws.
The kitchens formed another dragon curled upon itself, with smoke escaping from its nostrils.
The towers resembled dragons preparing to take flight.
Even the torch holders emerged as dragon claws from the walls.
Dragon tails became staircases and bridges.
Dragon wings sheltered the armory and smithy.
The entire fortress breathed ancient Valyrian magic.
---
As Gendry walked deeper into Dragonstone...
The Ring of Fire on his finger suddenly grew warm.
Not painfully hot.
Instead...
A gentle heat spread through his hand.
The ring was absorbing fire elemental energy.
Its reaction became stronger the closer he approached Dragonmont.
Gendry immediately understood.
This island possessed an extraordinarily high concentration of magical energy.
That made perfect sense.
Dragonstone itself radiated ancient magic.
And beneath it...
Lay one of the world's rare volcanoes.
Since the Doom of Valyria destroyed the legendary Fourteen Flames...
Very few active volcanoes remained anywhere in the known world.
---
The inner courtyard nearest Dragonmont was heavily guarded.
It was also the hottest place on the island.
This was where Daenerys's dragons rested between hunts.
The air carried the unmistakable scent of sulfur...
Ash...
And dragonfire.
Brienne of Tarth stood watch in polished blue armor.
Though she admired the dragons' majesty...
She still couldn't entirely suppress her fear.
After all...
Dragons had vanished from the world for more than a century.
Gendry smiled.
"Brienne."
"Thank you for protecting Princess Daenerys and the dragons."
Brienne bowed respectfully.
"It is my duty."
"It is an honor to serve you, Your Highness."
"I have sworn before both the Old Gods and the New."
"I will dedicate my life to your cause."
"I shall be the Shield of the Storm."
---
Daenerys looked toward the dragon keep.
"It's time to feed them."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
The black-armored guards immediately released several wild black goats into the courtyard.
These swift mountain goats had been brought from the Stormlands.
The frightened animals ran wildly around the enclosure.
Instinct warned them that countless members of their kind had already died here.
Then...
A massive shadow swept across the sunlight.
"My dragons..."
Daenerys smiled.
"They're here."
From the eastern slopes of Dragonmont...
Three enormous dragons descended from the sky.
At first they looked like distant birds.
Tiny silhouettes soaring among the clouds.
Then...
Their wings spread wide.
They glided across the sun.
Darkness swept over the courtyard beneath their shadows.
Powerful wingbeats stirred fierce gusts of wind as they landed.
Their heads resembled those of great horses.
Their necks were long and serpentine.
The gathered guards instinctively stepped backward.
Fear.
Wonder.
Excitement.
Every emotion appeared on their faces.
Brienne spoke quietly.
"The Black Dragon is the strongest."
"Then comes the Green Dragon."
"And finally the White Dragon."
Maester Qyburn nodded.
"That matches the ancient records."
"Among dragons..."
"Some are naturally born stronger than others."
The three dragons were easy to distinguish.
Each possessed a unique size, temperament, color, and dragonfire.
---
Balerion, the Black Dragon, was the largest.
The fiercest.
The boldest.
His scales were darker than midnight.
His eyes glowed blood red.
Even his horns and spinal spines shimmered crimson.
His dragonfire mixed black and scarlet flames into a terrifying inferno.
---
Vhagar, the Green Dragon, possessed glowing bronze eyes.
Her emerald-green scales shimmered with bronze highlights like a forest at sunset.
Her dragonfire blazed orange and yellow, streaked with brilliant emerald flames.
---
Viserion, the White Dragon, bore creamy-white scales that often appeared pure white beneath the sunlight.
His horns, wing bones, and crest gleamed gold.
His molten golden eyes shone brilliantly.
His dragonfire burned with pale gold, crimson, and fiery orange intertwined together.
---
A sudden roar echoed through the courtyard.
Balerion folded his wings and dove first.
One terrified black goat fled desperately.
It never had a chance.
Black-and-red dragonfire engulfed it.
The animal screamed.
A moment later...
Balerion landed upon it, crushing its spine beneath his massive claws.
Vhagar and Viserion followed close behind.
Each hunted with practiced precision.
Dragonfire first.
A killing strike second.
The hunt ended quickly.
As always...
Balerion finished first.
He remained the strongest, fiercest, and most dominant of the three dragons.
The other two naturally followed his lead.
Though all three loved Daenerys...
Only Balerion acknowledged Gendry as his true master.
No matter how affectionate he was toward Daenerys...
He obeyed only Gendry's commands.
________________________________________
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