The Heir of the Dragon: A Rhaenyra Targaryen Quest

---

You gave a small nod to Gwayne, unnoticable to all save the two of you and Alicent. After Alicent played her favor he carried his lance over to you.

"If you would be so kind as to honor me, princess," he said with casual charm.

You tossed your own favor, a small wreath of dark vines and tiny red flowers, onto his lance. Gwayne nodded and made his way to his side of the field.

"What was that about?" you wondered.

"I think my brother was just being polite," Alicent replied, "you did help him secure a command in the City Watch after all."

"Yes but he had to know I would accept," you argued.

Refusing to give one's favor when asked was generally not done unless it was a hedge knight or someone of far lesser station. Alicent had been all but forced to give her favor to Daemon at that fateful tourney in King's Landing, even after Daemon had all but cheated to defeat her brother. So why would Gwayne even bother getting premission first?

"Well you are heir," Alicent observed, "maybe the rules for heir are different."

You nodded, that was a fair point. This was your first tourney since you'd become heir, maybe there were different standards at play.

"I doubt he's doing it as part of some scheme by my father," Alicent assured you, "I know from experince he would not be so indirect if he was."

There was an undeniable truth to that as well, Otto Hightower had thrown Alicent at your father the very night your mother died. Otto was many things, passive was not one of them. If Otto wanted to convince you marry Gwayne you were fairly certainly he would be talking to you a lot more than he had been.

Then again, Otto and Gwayne both had not so subtly pushed for the latter to take part in this progress even though he'd just take his role in the city watch. You'd assumed it was because he was worried about Alicent being effectively being cut off from her family for a whole year, but now you weren't so sure.

Alicent seemed unconcerned by the idea, though you couldn't tell if that was because she didn't believe there was any sort of plan going on between her brother and father, or the idea of there being a plan didn't bother her. The start of the joust left you unable to answer either way.

Gwayne did quite well all things considered, but he was simply outmatched by Cole in the end. The Joust would last for three rounds, with Gwayne hitting the first round and Cole's lance hitting true the next two, with the second strike knocking Gwayne from his horse.

Cole would go on to win the entire jousting competition. crowning the wife of Lord Dondarrion as the Queen of Love and Beauty in an effort to honor his father's liege lord.

As Criston Cole rode past, celebrating his victory, you saw a hungry, yearning look in his eyes. The gold and glory were secondary to him, Cole was in this for something greater, something more, something he had clearly yet to find. You knew right then that you would see him again in the next tourney, and odds were high that when you finally entered a tourney as a mystery knight, Criston Cole would be the biggest challenge to your victory.

Relationship with Ser Gwayne Hightower Improved

---

You kept your thoughts on your dream bottled up until after you had left Harrenhal and began your trip towards the Eyrie. Then after a few days on the Kingsroad you said Syrax was growing restless and that you should fly the rest of the day's journey. As Syrax was much faster than a wagon train containing hundreds of people, this gave you ample time to find a quiet spot away from prying eyes. You found a clearing on the edge of a forest, the land clearly already well grazed. No hint of smoke or any sign of people nearby so you felt safe enough to talk.

You began recounting what happened that night, the words came slowly at first, it was all you could do not to laugh as you spoke, everything you said sounded so absurd. But eventually you pushed your way through and the words began to flow faster and faster. Syrax did not seem particularly interested at first, leaving you feeling more like you were just reminding yourself what you had been through, but when you mentioned the woman at the heart tree, something stirred within the dragon, she raised her head up and began to stare purposefully as you spoke.

"She was real," you insisted, "I'm not sure if she was actually there in body but she felt far too real to be just a vision."

You played with the rings on your finger as you began to pace back and forth.

"I named her apparently," you muttered, "named her and rejected her, whatever that means."

The only living thing you had named was Syrax. You stared at your dragon intently for a moment, you could never imagine rejecting Syrax in anyway, you were as loyal to her as she was you. More than that though, even if that girl had somehow been a dragon given human form by the dream, she wasn't Syrax. The eyes were not your dragons, and you could never imagine Syrax being so passive about rejection, or so timid in general.

Which left you wondering just who was that woman. A daughter yet born? Why would you ever reject one of your own. The idea seemed absurd even you had somehow caught a glimpse of things yet to be.

"What did it all mean?" you asked, "Was it a dream like Daenys or Aegon's dream? Nothing I saw matched what father spoke of."

The day your father decided to make you his heir he told you that Aegon's Conquest had been motivated by a dream similar to that of Daenys the Dreamer's as much as ambition and circumstance. But your father had spoken of a terrible cold coming from the north. This wasn't cold though, this was dragons, dragons waging war upon each other.

Syrax stood up, standing all four limbs as she stare intently at you. Despite how different they were from any person's, you could read the worry in her eyes.

"I heard you that night," you breathed, fearful of your own words, "I heard you and ever other dragon roar as two dragons and their riders did battle. The song you made was so loud and so terrible."

The dragon let out a soft high pitched noise, her expression one of concern.

"I don't know who they were," You answered as though Syrax had asked something, "It wasn't you or I up there, but I could not say who it was, all saw was a brief glimpse of one of the riders."

Your memories of the vision seemed to taunt you, the riders and their dragons ever shifting like as you tried to focus on them, the only constant being that brief glimpse of white-gold hair you saw on one of the riders. It was almost maddening, if you could just figure out who was fighting, if it was Daemon or someone else, you might somehow be able to stop this terrible dance before it began.

"You cannot stop what's to come," the woman's voice seemed to echo in your mind, "The threads you add are your own, but the weave began long ago."

That strange woman had spoken of the horrors as if they were an undeniable certainity. Written since the Doom of Valyria according to her.

"Written where?" you wondered aloud, causing Syrax to perk up in curosity.

If there had been something written about the terrible dance you saw, and any record of it survived, there was a good chance your family had it somewhere, either on Dragonstone or in the Red Keep. There were many texts that remain untranslated, perhaps you could find something to support what that woman was saying.

And then what?

If you found proof of what that woman was saying, wouldn't that just prove her point that whatever was coming had been put into motion long ago and there was nothing you could do to stop it. That sooner or later you would find death in God's Eye.

You looked back towards Harrenhal and the lake, you couldn't see either by this point but you knew they were somewhere in the distance, carrying with them the promise of death. Either yours or at your hands, that woman had been so frustratingly vague.

"What do we do if can't stop it?" you sighed, "What if we do everything we can to keep the peace and Daemon or Johanna still come for us when my father's gone?"

You were heir by law, that was the truth of things, it was the King's written will that you were princess of Dragonstone. But you knew that people would argue otherwise when Johanna had a son, and Daemon still clearly considered himself the rightful heir. You wanted to believe your father's efforts were enough but you also knew there was a chance they wouldn't be.

And if there was a war, one with dragons on both sides, what you saw at the tree was just a small hint of the horrors of to come.

Syrax stepped forward, looming over you protectively. She out a loud roar that echoed through the nearby forest. It was deeper than the almost trumpet-like roars than you were used to, more gutteral as well, a reminder of her growth over the recent years. The defiance in her was umistakable.

"Yeah, your right," there was a hint of a smile on your face, "we're warriors, if a war is coming, we'll be ready."

Maybe that woman, whoever she was, was right and there was no way of stopping what's to come. Even if that was true, she said herself that the threads you add are our your own, fate was not completely outside your control. No matter what lay ahead, you would weave your own victory.

-2 Stress

Your Bond with Syrax has Increased

Actions Modified

---

With thoughts of Harrenhal and that first night still lingering in your head, you made your way northwest. The forests, rivers and fields of the Riverlands soon gave way to the jagged snowcapped peaks of the Vale of Arryn. In sharp contrast to the easy travels of the Kingsroad, the highroad would prove step and stoney as it wound it's way between the mountains of the moon. Going was slow at times, particularly after a landslide blocked your path. A few worried that the mountain clans might take advantage and attack, after all you had many carriages and supplies and there were only so many men to defend it all. But the sight of Syrax flying in circles of above kept the mountain clans well away from you.

You were stopped at the Bloody Gate where the Knights guarding it asked their traditional question "Who would pass the Bloody Gate?"

Alicent and you joked about having you get aboard Syrax and answering from the other side, the answer amused you deeply and for a moment you considered entertaining the idea before Alicent convinced you the joke wasn't worth the anger it would cause.

Your progress would then make it's way towards the Eyrie. Lady Jeyne was waiting at the Gates of the Moon at the base of Giant's Lance with a large gathering of Vale nobles and knights who had remained loyal to her. Despite how recently the two of you had seen each other, Jeyne greeted you with warmth and energy, something that seemed to mildly surprise her lords. It seemed Lady Jeyne was not known for her warmth.

Most of your progress would remain at the Gates of the Moon, the Eyrie was small and effectively a summer palace, there was only so many it could handle comfortable, particularly now as Autumn has begun to really set in. Jeyne mentioned on the way up she would be relocating to the Gates of the Moon for the Winter after your visit was over.

You were grateful you came when you did, the Gates of the Moon were a fine castle, strong and stout, but they were also plain and rather dull, while the Eyrie was elegant and beautiful. You couldn't help but feel your visit would be lesser somehow had you been forced to stay in the Gates.

Your cousin was hosting no tourney, most of her knights soon departing for the one set to be held in Gulltown. She has said she hoped she would get a chance to speak to you in private, curiously she also suggested you bring Alicent along if you wish, though she did not explain why, only smirking when asked.

On a more serious note, there was the matter of one of Arnold Arryn, the would be usurper who had tried to take Jeyne's seat. He and the biggest of his co-conspirators were being held in the Eyrie's sky cells. Many among both the lords of the Vale and your own retiune, have said you should put them on trial and deliver the king's justice to them. Jeyne herself was indifferent on the matter, she was content to leave Arnold to spend the rest of his life rotting in cell, but she had no issue with letting you deal with him if you so wished.

Either way, your visit to the Eyrie was looking like it could become a memorable one.

114 AC

Actions during a Royal Progress (Take Three Total)

While taking part in a royal progress, turns are shortened. Instead of three months they now represent one stop on the progress. As a result, you are now limited to three actions per turn. These can be three regular actions or three conversations or any combo of the two. Tourneys, feasts, and judgements will all be important parts of your progress due to the vote and there will be multiple examples of each along the trip though not every location will have every option, nor is it expected of you to take every option when presented. So a couple of judgements for example will be enough to stastify your promises to your father. Also note that some stops will have an interlude, some won't, and a few may even just be covered in an interlude.

Conversations

[] [Conversation] Speak with Alicent Hightower
While your relationship with your lady is new and fresh, it couldn't hurt to talk her and see how she feels about the changes in your personal relationship and how she feels now that you've gone from repressing her feelings to begin to express them more openly. Plus, some quality time with her would be nice.

[] [Conversation] Speak with Gwayne Hightower
If Gwayne doesn't already know about your relationship with Alicent, he probably will learn soon enough. Perhaps you should tell him yourself. He clearly wanted to protect his sister and thus might be willing to help hide your relationship from Otto and others if need be. It wouldn't hurt to also see what he was up to with his odd behavior at the Tourney
-[] Talk to him alone
-[] Bring Alicent with you

[] [Conversation] Speak with Ser Raylon Tarly
You could ask your sworn shield what he makes of your current situation, from his opinions on the Lady of the Vale to Daemon's now clear animosity towards you.

[] [Conversation] Speak with Rhea Royce
Daemon has made clear he now considers you something of a rival and has written far worse to Rhea. You aren't sure if you and Rhea should get together and figure out what this means and how you should prepare for whatever is to come, or celebrate your victory over your uncle, perhaps both.

[] [Conservation] Speak with Lady Jeyne Arryn
Jeyne wants a private audience with you in her Godswood but she has not said why. Curiously she noted her loyal handmaiden Jessamyn Redfort would be there as well. Even more curiously she has invited Alicent along if you wish. Did she simply want to talk about your new relationship or was there something more at play?
-[] Bring Alicent along
-[] Talk to Jeyne alone

[] [Conversation] Write-in
Subject to QM approval, has to have a reasonable chance of being at Harrenhal

Actions

[] [Action] Relax
This is going to be a long trip, perhaps it would be good to get in some rest before you find yourself facing bigger struggles.

[] [Action] Train
The Eyrie itself has little room for training unless you sought to fight in the great hall itself. And the thought of training above the Moon Door was decidely less than appealing to you. Thankfully the Gates of the Moon has a decent sized training yard. Annoyingly none of the knights have said anything about wanting to clash swords with you. Perhaps an open challenge would change that.
-[] Challenge to a Duel: Raylon has suggested dueling others as a way of sharpening yourself against new blades. Have others find flaws in you that he has missed (Pick One)
--[] [Duel] Challenge the Knights of the Vale
--[] [Duel] Ser Gwayne Hightower

[] [Action] Train with Syrax
The jagged and frosty mountains of the Vale were certainly quite the contrast to what you were used to flying over, perhaps a new experince would do a lot to improve Syrax's flying.

[] [Action] Feast
Lady Jeyne hasn't made plans for a particularly large feast. Apparently she had promised Lord Grafton that she would not overshadow the feast he had planned for your arrival in Gulltown. But she is more than willing to arrange a modest sized one if you so desire.

[] [Action] Take Part in a Judgement
Many lords want to see you put Arnold Arryn on trial for his crimes, and many of your advisors think doing so would be an easy way to establishing your authority as your father's proxy. But while Arnold's guilt is clear for all to see, there are many questions over what should be done to the man and his conspirators. Some want them sent out the Moon Door, some say they should be sent to Wall, while others argue for mercy. Jeyne has indicated if you choose not to put them on trial, she'll simply keep her traitorous cousin as a hostage to prevent anyone from using his young son in another rebellion.

[] [Action] Study the Tourney
There are no Tourneys being held near the Eyrie

[] [Action] Take Part in a Hunt
Despite the mountainous terrain, there is plenty of hunting to be done in the Vale. Though between the Shadowcats and the Mountain Clans, such a hunt would carry a small amount of risk.

[] [Action] Study
There is always room to improve your education and the libraries of Eyrie could provide you with a unique learning experience
-[] Study the law books Lord Strong has given you.

[] [Action] Improve your Poetry
Your fair lady thankfully quite enjoyed your first attempts but you know you have much room for improvement.

[] [Action] Study Music
You want to serenade Alicent with music. It's what a proper knight would do after all and she deserves as much. Plus, it just sounds wonderfully romantic. Alicent has been vague about what kind of music she would prefer, saying anything from a Harp to your singing would all be equally wonderful. Regardless, you lack much in the way of training in any sort of music and that had to change. Perhaps Harrenhal would be the perfect place to serenade Alicent.

[] (Action) Write-in
Subject to QM approval

Vote by Plan

---

QM's Notes: The who you talked to decision was kind of one of those decisions where most outcomes (Save not talking about it with anyone, bottling up can be bad) have some benefits, though naturally talking with Syrax has very different benefits then talking with people would have. Also the Judgement will be the last action done at the Eyrie so don't worry about the order of things if you taking that action.