Chapter 80: Dyre Den CastleChapter 80: Dyre Den Castle

The next morning, Rhaegar emerged from the embrace of a soft goose down bed, his brow furrowed with the fragmented memories of dreams he had had the night before.

"Prince, Lord Sam awaits you in the breakfast room," a maid's voice called from beyond the ornate stone bedroom.

"I am aware of that," Rhaegar replied, rising to his feet with a trace of fatigue clinging to him.

Throughout the night, his sleep had been interrupted by haunting visions. In one, Rhaenyra's tear streaked face loomed before him, her grip on his hand tight as she voiced her concerns. In another, his father's normally placid face was distorted with rage as he ordered severe punishments, heads impaled on spikes as reminders of his wrath.

"Rest assured, I'll be back soon," Rhaegar murmured to himself, determined to finish his mission and return to Dragonstone Island once the threat of the Shadow Creature had been defeated.

...

Rhaegar pushed open the door to find a young girl in a delicate silk gauze dress waiting for him.

"Lady Yara, there was no need for you to come to inform me personally," Rhaegar remarked, acknowledging her presence with a nod.

Yara offered a small smile. "Father assigned me that duty, Prince. It's no trouble at all."

"You are too kind," Rhaegar replied, returning her smile with one of his own.

Indeed, Sam Crabb knew a thing or two about hospitality. The dinner he had arranged for Rhaegar the night before had been a pleasant experience, with good food and mild company.

They descended the stairs together to find Sam already seated at the table in the waiting room.

"Prince," Sam greeted warmly as Rhaegar approached.

Rhaegar returned the greeting and gestured for Sam to sit down, taking his own seat across from him.

As they began to partake of the simple but exquisite meal, Rhaegar addressed the subject of the previous evening.

"Lord Sam, what do you think of my proposal?" he asked.

Sam paused thoughtfully before answering. "The Shadow Creature poses a grave threat to the peninsula, and the Crabb House stands ready to fight alongside you."

He went on to outline the complicated dynamics of the region. "In the eastern part of the peninsula, controlled by the Brune and Crabb Houses, the presence of wildlings is scarce. If we are to confront the Shadow Creature and rally the scattered wildlings, cooperation between our two families is essential."

Rhaegar, well-versed in history and politics, understood the importance of gaining the support of the local nobles. While the encounter with the Brune House had been less than favorable, the prospect of working with the Crabbs seemed promising.

Sam's willingness to offer assistance was evident, and Rhaegar gratefully accepted.

...

Breakfast ended, but Rhaegar remained unsure of how to confront the Shadow Creature.

Sam, however, had a suggestion.

"The ship where the Shadow Creature first appeared is still stranded on the beach. I didn't dare approach it before, but now that you're riding a dragon, I can try to investigate it," Sam suggested.

After a moment's thought, Rhaegar agreed, "Proceed as you think best, Lord Sam."

With the plan in motion, a hundred fully equipped soldiers were gathered from the Whispers, led by Sam himself.

Meanwhile, Rhaegar ascended Cannibal the Dragon to oversee the operation from above.

The wildling army remained on standby, stationed in the wilderness for the time being.

As they traveled toward the beach, located along the coast, came into view after an hour's journey.

Upon reaching the beach, they spotted the stranded junk ship in the distance, the site of the Shadow Creature's first appearance.

"Cannibal, land," Rhaegar ordered, motioning for Cannibal to descend onto the beach.

The abandoned ship, battered by the elements, lay in disrepair, its hull weathered and its mast partially broken.

Sam dispatched ten soldiers to search the ship, paired off for safety, ready to alert the others at the slightest sign of danger.

To their relief, the search revealed no threats.

"The ship is empty," the soldiers reported upon their return.

Rhaegar and Sam exchanged looks of disappointment.

"Return to The Whispers and see if there are any developments among the wildlings," Rhaegar ordered, causing Cannibal to take flight again.

A simple search had proved futile; a more strategic approach would be needed to draw out the Shadow Creature.

...

At Rhaegar's command, the Cannibal gracefully soared to the Whispers.

Moments after landing, Rhaegar noticed a messenger on a white horse engaged in a heated argument with the guards at the walled gate.

Confused, Rhaegar approached, his curiosity piqued by the unfolding scene.

"Where do you come from as a messenger?" Rhaegar inquired, his brow furrowed in confusion.

Seeing Rhaegar's arrival atop the dragon, the messenger quickly disengaged from the guards and addressed him, "Prince, I come from the Dyre Den. Please read this letter."

" Dyre Den... House Brune?" Rhaegar murmured, his expression troubled. "What of Wells? I informed him of the temporary truce on the peninsula."

"Lord Wells died!" the messenger declared, his face heavy with grief as he knelt before Rhaegar.

"What?" Rhaegar's voice cracked with disbelief, his mind struggling to comprehend the sudden turn of events.

The messenger continued, recounting the grim details: "After bidding you farewell yesterday, Lord Wells returned to the castle and secluded himself. No one dared approach him. When the maid entered his chamber this morning, she found him lifeless in his bed. There were no signs of external injury, but the Maester determined that blunt force trauma had penetrated his mouth, nose, and ears, causing fatal brain damage."

Rhaegar's mind raced as he processed the information, a shiver running down his spine at the implications.

"The Shadow Creature..." he murmured, a sense of foreboding settling over him.

Previously, the Shadow Creature had only targeted the savage tribes, but its brazen attack on a noble lord marked a dangerous escalation.

Shaking off his unease, Rhaegar decided, "From now on, we must all stay close to the Cannibal for safety."

Determined to address the situation, Rhaegar accepted the messenger's letter and quickly scanned its contents.

The letter explained Wells' death, had an agreement for a truce with the Whispers, and an invitation to a banquet at the Dyre Den signed by Bart Brune, Wells' brother.

After reading the letter, Rhaegar instructed the messenger, "Wait here for Lord Sam. I will go on ahead."

With a heavy heart and a sense of urgency, Rhaegar spurred the Cannibal on, heading straight for Dyre Den, which lay across from the Whispers. The two castles were built on the south and north shores of the eastern part of Crackclaw Point, separated by a large area of wilderness.

Fortunately, the Cannibal is very fast, a half hour is enough for a round trip.

As the sea breeze whipped around him, Rhaegar's mind raced with the weight of impending danger, spurred on by the threat lurking in the center of Crackclaw Point.

...

Rhaegar and his dragon soon arrived at the Dyre Den, a foreboding castle perched on a rugged mountaintop. The Cannibal circled the fortress before descending gracefully, its menacing roar echoing through the air as emerald flames erupted from its maw, signaling the arrival of a Targaryen prince.

The soldiers stationed on the city walls, stunned by the imposing sight, wavered in their resolve.

Looking down at the closed gates of Dyre Den Castle, Rhaegar awaited the lord.

As expected, the sturdy wooden doors swung open to reveal a procession of finely dressed men and women emerging from within.

In the forefront was a tall, slender youth reminiscent of the late Lord Wells.

Close behind were a woman with a prominent red eye and a weathered, armored middle-aged man.

As the Cannibal landed in the courtyard, the gathering of nobles found themselves face to face with both man and dragon, their astonishment palpable as they gazed upon the figure astride the dragon's back.

Recognizing Rhaegar as a representative of House Targaryen, the young man stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Your Grace, Bart of House Brune, at your service."

Rhaegar looked at him with a puzzled expression. "Your brother has died?"

(Word count: 1,355)