Chapter 160: Gifting Dark Sister

On either side of the Iron Throne stood members of the Targaryen and Velaryon Houses, each lost in his own thoughts.

With a smile, Rhaegar stepped out from the crowd and called, "Father!"

Viserys looked at him and nodded.

Rhaegar approached, unsheathing one of the swords at his waist. Everyone noticed that the Heir carried two scabbards—one long, one short. Rhaenys, watching intently, was amazed.

Rhaegar crossed the scabbard in his hand and smiled. "Auntie, take the sword."

Rhaenys recognized it immediately—the house sword, Dark Sister.

"Blackfyre is a symbol of kingship, and Dark Sister deserves to have duties of its own," Rhaegar announced, his tone solemn. "Its first owner, Queen Visenya, used it to protect Aegon the Conqueror, killing more than a dozen assassins with a single sword."

"I hope Dark Sister becomes a symbol of protection for the kingdom."

Rhaenys, visibly moved, took the sword with trembling hands. "I never thought I'd hold Dark Sister one day."

"The Dark Sister never belonged to any one person," Rhaegar explained. "From now on, it will be the sword of every Master of Dragons."

Hearing this, Rhaenys's eyes filled with determination. With a swift motion, she unsheathed Dark Sister and declared, "I will fulfill my duty and bear the burden of guarding the family."

Applause erupted, reaching a crescendo. But the celebration was not over.

Queen Alicent led the way to the banquet hall, while Rhaegar and the other dragon masters headed to the Dragonpit. Corlys took Laena and his two granddaughters back to Driftmark by boat.

The meeting had been agreed upon in advance. After the appointment of the Master of Dragons, everyone took up their respective duties.

...

Above King's Landing.

"Roar..."

Accompanied by rising dragon roars, five giant dragons burst from the Dragonpit—Cannibal, Meleys, Sunfyre, and others. The people of King's Landing paused to watch the majestic sight of the dragons dancing together.

Meleys, swift as lightning, carried Rhaenys straight to Blackwater Bay. Bored, Aegon followed on his Sunfyre.

"Let's go, too!" Rhaegar said, guiding the Cannibal with a calm demeanor. With a powerful flutter of wings, the Cannibal quickly left King's Landing, followed by Rhaenyra on Syrax and Laenor on Sea Smoke.

All three dragons passed through the clouds, traveling together for now. After they disappeared into the sky, the city of King's Landing buzzed with news of the five dragons.

At the entrance of the Dragonpit, Helaena, dressed in white, held Aemond's hand and stood on her tiptoes, looking at the sky.

"Sister, the dragons have flown away," Aemond said gently, looking enviously at the sky.

"I know," Helaena replied, her big eyes full of determination. She beamed, "Let's go! Let's tame a dragon too!"

"Yes!" Aemond nodded eagerly, allowing his sister to lead him.

...

The three dragons soared through the sky.

From King's Landing, they passed Sow's Horn, God's Eye Lake, and the Saltpans.

By dusk, they had flown over the Mountains of the Moon, surveying the endless ranges and treacherous peaks below. Soon they reached the first gate of the Vale of Arryn, the impregnable Bloody Gate.

The Bloody Gate is a fortification consisting of a series of battlements on the cliffs on either side of the road leading from the Mountains of the Moon into the Vale of Arryn. Two watchtowers clung to the cliff face, connected by a weathered gray stone arch bridge.

The walls had been defended by successive Bloody Gate knights, who had repelled numerous enemies who had attempted to reach the Eyrie.

"Roar..."

The Cannibal's roar echoed over the Bloody Gate, drawing the attention of the Bloody Gate knights. The dragon was the unmistakable symbol of House Targaryen. The appearance of three dragons in quick succession could only signify the arrival of the royal family.

In a flurry of movement, dozens of  knights emerged and stood upright on the cliffs flanking the arch bridge. A sturdy knight in heavy armor stood on the bridge, looking up at the approaching dragons.

Rhaegar, observing the activity below, found it interesting.

"This is a Bloody Gate knight. Should I greet him first?" Laenor asked gently, seated atop Seasmoke.

It was getting late, and it wasn't wise to continue the journey at night. They decided to visit Eyrie City with Rhaegar's brother and sister.

Before Rhaegar could answer, the knight below shouted loudly, "Who wishes to pass through the Bloody Gate?" It was the duty of the Blood Gate Knights to question those attempting to pass through.

Rhaenyra chuckled softly, glancing at the slightly exhausted Rhaegar and Laenor. "They've asked, so it's only right to respond," she said.

"Leave it to me," Laenor volunteered. He guided Seasmoke lower and announced, "This is the eldest son of Viserys I, heir to the Iron Throne, Rhaegar Targaryen."

The Knight Commander's pupils narrowed, and he puffed out his chest. "And who are the companions?" he continued.

"The eldest daughter of Viserys I, Princess of Dragonstone, Rhaenyra Targaryen, and me, heir to Driftmark, dragon rider, Laenor Velaryon," Laenor declared proudly.

"I understand. Let them pass!" the Knight Commander shouted. With a wave of his hand, he signaled the Blood Gate Knights on both sides of the cliff to stand down.

Rhaegar found this interesting and whispered, "Let's go. We need to reach the Eyrie before dark."

Rhaenyra and Laenor complied, and together they rode their dragons through the towering Bloody Gate.

Since the Heroic Age, countless soldiers and armies had perished here, unable to conquer the Vale of Arryn. Only once, during the Conquest, had Queen Visenya landed in the Eyrie's garden with her dragon, Vhagar, easily bypassing the Bloody Gate. The young Lord of the Eyrie had been amazed as Vhagar descended from the sky, and Visenya held him in her arms and teased him. When his regent mother arrived, Visenya's mere presence was enough for the Eyrie, and the entire Vale, to submit to Aegon the Conqueror.

As the three dragons flew through the Bloody Gate, a fierce wind blew in their wake. The Knight Commander knelt on one knee, placed a hand on his chest, and shouted, "The Vale sends its sincere greetings to you, Prince!"

"The Vale sends you its greetings!" echoed the rest of the Bloody Gate knights, falling to their knees in unison.

The voices carried by the wind reached Rhaegar's ears. He smiled faintly and urged Cannibal to speed up. His mother, Aemma Arryn, hailed from the Eyrie, making the Vale his natural ally.

Passing through the Bloody Gate, the mountain range elevation increased, and the paths became narrower. Further up was the summit of the Gates of the Moon, the highest peak known as the Giant's Lance.

Rhaegar guided Cannibal higher, the air pressure posing no hindrance, as if breaking through an invisible barrier.

"Roar..."

In the blink of an eye, Cannibal rose into the sky, with the Giant's Lance in sight.

(Word count: 1,146)