CHAPTER XXVIII - THE ROYAL TOUR
We departed from the capital at the turn of the year, travelling with only a single ship, Reclaimant, which was more than enough to carry everyone necessary for the royal tour of the south. Reclaimant had been built during the reign of my father, King Rhaegar, and was named so for his father, Aegon, whom had landed in Westeros many years ago to reclaim our family's throne. The largest ship in the fleet, Reclaimant had four hundred oars, and though not exceptionally fast, it was the strongest ship in the Seven Kingdoms, capable of withstanding numerous smaller vessels. The ship was capable of carrying a large number of men, though our trip did not fill it to capacity. Travelling with only a small household, two of the Kingsguard and fifty guardsmen, the ship was still capable of carrying one hundred or so extra men.
Dragonstone
The journey to our first destination- Dragonstone- was a short one. Departing from King's Landing, we arrived at Dragonstone in a day, maybe slightly more. Sailing into port, the menacing stone dragons of my family's ancestral seat loomed high above- watchful guardians over the ancient castle. The island had not been in my family's direct control since the days of the Usurper, but now belonged to House Massey, through marriages and laws of inheritance over the years. Greeted at the port by Lady Massey, I informed her that our stay in her home would not be a long one. "Nonsense, your grace" she said, "it is an honor to host the king. You are welcome on Dragonstone for as long as you please. We are happy to have you."
This was my first time visiting Dragonstone, and frankly, it was not as I thought it would be. The ancestral home of House Targaryen in the Seven Kingdoms, I had expected a place of great warmth and vibrance. Instead, I found an island that was dark and damp. It had a heavy air to it, one that seemed as thought it was capable of making the weak-minded weep. The only source of warmth was one that I had imagined for myself- the stone that loomed over the castle, and lingered in it's walls.
For two weeks I stayed in the halls of my ancestors, and for two weeks I was captivated by the beasts etched into the walls of the castle. Great winged creatures carved into the stone, they made my thoughts wander back to the egg I had received not long ago. Some tales told that the stone dragons of Dragonstone could be brought to life, while others told that dragon eggs were stones that could be brought back to life too. I should hope so, I thought. A dragon could be very useful indeed.
Storm's End
Following my stay on Dragonstone, we reboarded Reclaimant and made the journey to Storm's End- the seat of the Lord Paramount of the Stormlands, Lester Connington. The Conningtons were made Lords Paramount after my grandfather retook the Iron Throne. Jon Connington had been one of his greatest allies and his Hand, and the family has held the position ever since. Griffin's Roost was a fine keep, but Storm's End was one of the most impressive in the Kingdoms, and when the Baratheons were defeated, Storm's End was gifted to the Conningtons, to serve as their official seat.
Lester Connington greeted us at the docks of the castle, and took us into his keep. The walls of Storm's End were tall- far taller than those of the capital- and the circular keep in the center of the walls was monstrous. It would be near impossible to take such a keep from a decently-sized garrison, and the histories have proven that true. The castle was certainly of a different ilk than Dragonstone. It was far more welcoming, though the winds battering against the high walls created an eerie aura around the keep. Outside, storms and winds raged around, while inside, everything was largely secure. It was a strange feeling.
Lester Connington was not like his father, and was not a particularly welcoming man. He was older than I was, and as such, there was little in common to talk about, but I attempted to converse with the man anyway. Lord Lester ensured me that the Conningtons were still loyal servants of the Iron Throne, and that the Stormlands would always be at the service of the king. It was welcome to hear such a thing, though I hoped that with the business of my uncle behind us, such services would not be required any time soon. After a few weeks in Storm's End, I thanked Lord Lester for his hospitality, before departing for the next destination of the tour.
Sunspear
From the damp of Dragonstone to the winds of Storm's End, we next traveled to a far more accepting climate- the sands of Sunspear. Entering through the Threefold Gate, our party rode up the streets of the city, with a crowd gathered to bear witness to the king. Arriving at the Old Palace, we were greeted and taken up to the Tower of the Sun, where upon entering the halls we were greeted by members of House Martell.
House Martell had been restored to power under the reign of my father, having been supplanted by House Vaith. For that, they were eternally grateful to me and my family, creating an even stronger bond between our two houses. For many, many years, House Martell has been the greatest supporter of House Targaryen in the Seven Kingdoms, so much so that they joined in my grandfather's war almost as soon as he landed on the shores of Westeros. After all, the members of House Martell and House Targaryen are now distant cousins, through the marriage between my great-grandfather Rhaegar and Princess Elia.
Trystane Martell, the head of House Martell, was not present in Sunspear, for obvious reason. After the death of Willas Tyrell, Trystane Martell was named the new Hand of the King, and as such, his duties lied in the capital. Instead, it was his family that welcomed and hosted me. For weeks we dined, celebrated and enjoyed each other's company. It was by far the most enjoyable stop on the tour so far, and I wondered if it would be at all possible for such lofty heights to be reached in Oldtown and Highgarden. Only time would tell, and with that, we departed once more.
Oldtown
Oldtown was a city of magnificence. Once the largest city in the Seven Kingdoms- and by far the oldest- Oldtown was the jewel of Westeros for centuries. It is said that my ancestor, Aegon I, was expected to make Oldtown his capital, before he instead chose to establish King's Landing. I wouldn't have blamed him. A grand city, full of packed streets, vibrant markets and hundreds of thousands of people, it was truly a marvel to behold, even for a king.
My stay in Oldtown was more brief than those in Sunspear and Storm's End, for though the city had plenty to see and experience, there was little in terms of diplomacy to keep me in the city. I visited with House Hightower for a while, but in truth, the Hightowers were not the Lords Paramound of the Reach. It was the Tyrells that truly required my attention, and so I would be travelling to Highgarden before long.
Before departing from Oldtown however, I made sure to pay a visit to the Citadel. I spoke with various Archmaesters and Maesters present in the Citadel, and even some of the novices training to become Maesters in their own right. I also paid a visit to the grand library of the Citadel. It had to be the largest library in the Seven Kingdoms, even larger than the one in the Red Keep- full of thousands of books. One book in particular caught my eye. 'Blood and Fire', it was called. *This could be useful*, I thought, and with the permission of the Archmaesters in attendance, I took the book with me on my journeys, as something to read while travelling.
Highgarden
After my stay in Oldtown was complete, the penultimate destination on the royal tour was up next- Highgarden. Instead of re-boarding Reclaimant, my ship was sailed back to King's Landing, and the journey to Highgarden continued along on horseback. Following the Roseroad, we arrived at Highgarden ten days after departing the old city. While Sunspear had been a pleasant stay, and was beautiful in it's own right, it was hard to imagine a place more beautiful in all the Seven Kingdoms than Highgarden.
Trees and bushes and plants and other decorations adorned almost every space in the keep that wasn't a street or a building. There wasn't a spot of squalor anywhere to be seen, and the birds sung happily in the midday sun. King's Landing was a nice-enough place, particularly in the Red Keep, but it still had it's downfalls. Why couldn't Aegon have chosen this place as his seat? I began to think.
In the great hall of Highgarden, I was greeted by the court of House Tyrell, and the Lady of the house herself- a girl of three. She knelt before me, and stumbled her way through the few words he could even say properly. I could make out that she was attempting to apologize for the actions of her father, Lord Steffon, and that this was her attempt to swear fealty. "My Lady", I said to her, helping the child to her feet. "You are but a child, you do not have to kneel before me, nor do you have to apologize for the actions of your father. Are you your father, my lady?" She shook her head. "Then I will not treat you as such. House Tyrell and House Targaryen shall be friends one more. You and I shall be friends, my lady."
Summerhall
After my stay in Highgarden, I next made the short journey to Summerhall, the ancestral summer house of my family. Over four moons had passed since I departed from the capital, and I now find myself in a place where I could relax. The days were long and warm, and Summerhall was the perfect place to spend them, at least for a while. Destroyed in the days of Aegon V, my grandfather and father had overseen the reconstruction of the palace, in an attempt to return it to glory. It took many long years, but at last it was complete, and it was a marvel to behold.
The days turned to weeks, and still I lied dormant in the halls of the palace, for a time, forgetting of the troubles of being king. It had been many years since I was able to relax properly, something I had not truly done since I was a child. My father passed when I was still a boy, and as such, I had been thrust into the position of power when I was of an age where the only power I should have had was over my own two feet. It was nice to finally forget about all that for a while. A well deserved rest, I thought.
On one particular evening, as I soaked in the sun on one of the many terraces of the palace, my mind began to wander towards the past. Almost one hundred years ago, Summerhall went up in a blaze, and to this day there are still so many questions left unanswered about how it all happened. Some stories say that my ancestor, Aegon V, was attempting to hatch dragon eggs of his own. Is it really that dangerous to bring dragons into this world? I thought. With a dragon egg of my own, it was only natural that such thoughts came to mind from time to time. If there was ever to be a day when I was to hatch the egg, I had to know what I was doing. I can't have another tragedy occurring. No. I'll do it right.
We departed from the capital at the turn of the year, travelling with only a single ship, Reclaimant, which was more than enough to carry everyone necessary for the royal tour of the south. Reclaimant had been built during the reign of my father, King Rhaegar, and was named so for his father, Aegon, whom had landed in Westeros many years ago to reclaim our family's throne. The largest ship in the fleet, Reclaimant had four hundred oars, and though not exceptionally fast, it was the strongest ship in the Seven Kingdoms, capable of withstanding numerous smaller vessels. The ship was capable of carrying a large number of men, though our trip did not fill it to capacity. Travelling with only a small household, two of the Kingsguard and fifty guardsmen, the ship was still capable of carrying one hundred or so extra men.
Dragonstone
The journey to our first destination- Dragonstone- was a short one. Departing from King's Landing, we arrived at Dragonstone in a day, maybe slightly more. Sailing into port, the menacing stone dragons of my family's ancestral seat loomed high above- watchful guardians over the ancient castle. The island had not been in my family's direct control since the days of the Usurper, but now belonged to House Massey, through marriages and laws of inheritance over the years. Greeted at the port by Lady Massey, I informed her that our stay in her home would not be a long one. "Nonsense, your grace" she said, "it is an honor to host the king. You are welcome on Dragonstone for as long as you please. We are happy to have you."
This was my first time visiting Dragonstone, and frankly, it was not as I thought it would be. The ancestral home of House Targaryen in the Seven Kingdoms, I had expected a place of great warmth and vibrance. Instead, I found an island that was dark and damp. It had a heavy air to it, one that seemed as thought it was capable of making the weak-minded weep. The only source of warmth was one that I had imagined for myself- the stone that loomed over the castle, and lingered in it's walls.
For two weeks I stayed in the halls of my ancestors, and for two weeks I was captivated by the beasts etched into the walls of the castle. Great winged creatures carved into the stone, they made my thoughts wander back to the egg I had received not long ago. Some tales told that the stone dragons of Dragonstone could be brought to life, while others told that dragon eggs were stones that could be brought back to life too. I should hope so, I thought. A dragon could be very useful indeed.
Storm's End
Following my stay on Dragonstone, we reboarded Reclaimant and made the journey to Storm's End- the seat of the Lord Paramount of the Stormlands, Lester Connington. The Conningtons were made Lords Paramount after my grandfather retook the Iron Throne. Jon Connington had been one of his greatest allies and his Hand, and the family has held the position ever since. Griffin's Roost was a fine keep, but Storm's End was one of the most impressive in the Kingdoms, and when the Baratheons were defeated, Storm's End was gifted to the Conningtons, to serve as their official seat.
Lester Connington greeted us at the docks of the castle, and took us into his keep. The walls of Storm's End were tall- far taller than those of the capital- and the circular keep in the center of the walls was monstrous. It would be near impossible to take such a keep from a decently-sized garrison, and the histories have proven that true. The castle was certainly of a different ilk than Dragonstone. It was far more welcoming, though the winds battering against the high walls created an eerie aura around the keep. Outside, storms and winds raged around, while inside, everything was largely secure. It was a strange feeling.
Lester Connington was not like his father, and was not a particularly welcoming man. He was older than I was, and as such, there was little in common to talk about, but I attempted to converse with the man anyway. Lord Lester ensured me that the Conningtons were still loyal servants of the Iron Throne, and that the Stormlands would always be at the service of the king. It was welcome to hear such a thing, though I hoped that with the business of my uncle behind us, such services would not be required any time soon. After a few weeks in Storm's End, I thanked Lord Lester for his hospitality, before departing for the next destination of the tour.
Sunspear
From the damp of Dragonstone to the winds of Storm's End, we next traveled to a far more accepting climate- the sands of Sunspear. Entering through the Threefold Gate, our party rode up the streets of the city, with a crowd gathered to bear witness to the king. Arriving at the Old Palace, we were greeted and taken up to the Tower of the Sun, where upon entering the halls we were greeted by members of House Martell.
House Martell had been restored to power under the reign of my father, having been supplanted by House Vaith. For that, they were eternally grateful to me and my family, creating an even stronger bond between our two houses. For many, many years, House Martell has been the greatest supporter of House Targaryen in the Seven Kingdoms, so much so that they joined in my grandfather's war almost as soon as he landed on the shores of Westeros. After all, the members of House Martell and House Targaryen are now distant cousins, through the marriage between my great-grandfather Rhaegar and Princess Elia.
Trystane Martell, the head of House Martell, was not present in Sunspear, for obvious reason. After the death of Willas Tyrell, Trystane Martell was named the new Hand of the King, and as such, his duties lied in the capital. Instead, it was his family that welcomed and hosted me. For weeks we dined, celebrated and enjoyed each other's company. It was by far the most enjoyable stop on the tour so far, and I wondered if it would be at all possible for such lofty heights to be reached in Oldtown and Highgarden. Only time would tell, and with that, we departed once more.
Oldtown
Oldtown was a city of magnificence. Once the largest city in the Seven Kingdoms- and by far the oldest- Oldtown was the jewel of Westeros for centuries. It is said that my ancestor, Aegon I, was expected to make Oldtown his capital, before he instead chose to establish King's Landing. I wouldn't have blamed him. A grand city, full of packed streets, vibrant markets and hundreds of thousands of people, it was truly a marvel to behold, even for a king.
My stay in Oldtown was more brief than those in Sunspear and Storm's End, for though the city had plenty to see and experience, there was little in terms of diplomacy to keep me in the city. I visited with House Hightower for a while, but in truth, the Hightowers were not the Lords Paramound of the Reach. It was the Tyrells that truly required my attention, and so I would be travelling to Highgarden before long.
Before departing from Oldtown however, I made sure to pay a visit to the Citadel. I spoke with various Archmaesters and Maesters present in the Citadel, and even some of the novices training to become Maesters in their own right. I also paid a visit to the grand library of the Citadel. It had to be the largest library in the Seven Kingdoms, even larger than the one in the Red Keep- full of thousands of books. One book in particular caught my eye. 'Blood and Fire', it was called. *This could be useful*, I thought, and with the permission of the Archmaesters in attendance, I took the book with me on my journeys, as something to read while travelling.
Highgarden
After my stay in Oldtown was complete, the penultimate destination on the royal tour was up next- Highgarden. Instead of re-boarding Reclaimant, my ship was sailed back to King's Landing, and the journey to Highgarden continued along on horseback. Following the Roseroad, we arrived at Highgarden ten days after departing the old city. While Sunspear had been a pleasant stay, and was beautiful in it's own right, it was hard to imagine a place more beautiful in all the Seven Kingdoms than Highgarden.
Trees and bushes and plants and other decorations adorned almost every space in the keep that wasn't a street or a building. There wasn't a spot of squalor anywhere to be seen, and the birds sung happily in the midday sun. King's Landing was a nice-enough place, particularly in the Red Keep, but it still had it's downfalls. Why couldn't Aegon have chosen this place as his seat? I began to think.
In the great hall of Highgarden, I was greeted by the court of House Tyrell, and the Lady of the house herself- a girl of three. She knelt before me, and stumbled her way through the few words he could even say properly. I could make out that she was attempting to apologize for the actions of her father, Lord Steffon, and that this was her attempt to swear fealty. "My Lady", I said to her, helping the child to her feet. "You are but a child, you do not have to kneel before me, nor do you have to apologize for the actions of your father. Are you your father, my lady?" She shook her head. "Then I will not treat you as such. House Tyrell and House Targaryen shall be friends one more. You and I shall be friends, my lady."
Summerhall
After my stay in Highgarden, I next made the short journey to Summerhall, the ancestral summer house of my family. Over four moons had passed since I departed from the capital, and I now find myself in a place where I could relax. The days were long and warm, and Summerhall was the perfect place to spend them, at least for a while. Destroyed in the days of Aegon V, my grandfather and father had overseen the reconstruction of the palace, in an attempt to return it to glory. It took many long years, but at last it was complete, and it was a marvel to behold.
The days turned to weeks, and still I lied dormant in the halls of the palace, for a time, forgetting of the troubles of being king. It had been many years since I was able to relax properly, something I had not truly done since I was a child. My father passed when I was still a boy, and as such, I had been thrust into the position of power when I was of an age where the only power I should have had was over my own two feet. It was nice to finally forget about all that for a while. A well deserved rest, I thought.
On one particular evening, as I soaked in the sun on one of the many terraces of the palace, my mind began to wander towards the past. Almost one hundred years ago, Summerhall went up in a blaze, and to this day there are still so many questions left unanswered about how it all happened. Some stories say that my ancestor, Aegon V, was attempting to hatch dragon eggs of his own. Is it really that dangerous to bring dragons into this world? I thought. With a dragon egg of my own, it was only natural that such thoughts came to mind from time to time. If there was ever to be a day when I was to hatch the egg, I had to know what I was doing. I can't have another tragedy occurring. No. I'll do it right.
Hey guys, again, sorry for the long delay between posts, I've had other things to deal with. Also, this post is a bit different, as you can probably tell. I didn't quite know how to handle visiting places to gather dragonlore, and figured this might work out well, and that this format would suffice. I hope it was/is fine. 
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