Chapter 165: Chapter 165: Runestone
Syrax hovered over Eyrie Castle before landing gently in the courtyard.
Rhaenyra stepped forward and took Jeyne's hand, inviting her, "How about the two of us share a dragon?"
Jeyne glanced nervously between the Cannibal and Syrax, her apprehension clear. She shook her head and declined, "Let Jessamyn ride with you. I'll take the black dragon."
The Cannibal, over three times the size of Syrax, had a strong black body and a wide, flat spine. For Jeyne, who feared heights, it offered a greater sense of security.
Rhaenyra grunted softly but didn't push further.
"Cousin, please," Jeyne said, extending her hand towards Rhaegar, clearly nervous.
Rhaegar took her hand and helped her climb the soft ladder. In a voice only they could hear, Rhaenyra whispered to him, "Make sure Jeyne enjoys the ride."
Rhaegar, puzzled, asked, "Aren't you sisters?"
"I can't keep quiet when she jokes, and she won't forget it," Rhaenyra replied, her tone brooking no argument. She then turned and led Jessamyn towards Syrax.
"Tsk, tsk, no wonder Alicent and Laena can't get along with you," Rhaegar muttered, shaking his head and smacking his lips. "But I like it!"
As he climbed onto the dragon's back, Jeyne was fastening her safety chains.
"Hold on to the grips tightly; the Cannibal flies fast," Rhaegar reminded her as he settled into the saddle.
"Uh-huh," Jeyne replied, too nervous to speak, her eyes wide with fear. Who would have thought that the Lady of the Eyrie, perched in the highest castle on the continent, would be afraid of heights?
"Cannibal, let's go!" Rhaegar commanded, and the Cannibal leapt into the air, soaring towards Runestone.
"Roar..." Syrax followed closely behind, flapping its wings to keep up.
Runestone lay north of Gulltown, adjacent to the Bay of Crabs, with its castle built on the sea. As the two dragons soared over the plains of the Vale and the southern mountains of the Mountains of the Moon, they could see the Bay of Crabs in the distance between the eastern Vale and Crackclaw Point.
The distance between the Eyrie and Runestone was similar to that between King's Landing and Dragonstone Island. At its normal flying speed, the Cannibal would reach Runestone before noon.
...
Runestone
"Roar..."
The Cannibal's roar echoed like a thunderclap as the pitch-black dragon appeared over the Vale near the castle. Its vertical pupils surveyed the scene below with keen judgment.
Rhaegar looked down at the majestic castle built in the middle of the flat terrain, a common architectural style in the Vale.
"Land, Cannibal."
Rhaegar held the pale-faced Jeyne close, guiding the Cannibal towards the castle. He hadn't intended to frighten her, but her repeated pleas to hurry had made him anxious about their altitude, prompting the Cannibal to fly at full speed to reach Runestone as quickly as possible.
Boom!
The Cannibal's massive body landed in the castle courtyard with a resounding thud. Lady Rhea and a group of guests emerged from the castle to welcome the royal family.
"We've arrived."
Rhaegar unfastened the chain around Jeyne's waist and helped her dismount. "I'm a little dizzy; tell them my regards." she murmured weakly, leaning against him as she fought off nausea. The dragon ride had nearly overwhelmed her.
As the people in the castle gathered around them, Lady Rhea approached swiftly, her demeanor as composed and sharp as ever. She assessed Jeyne's condition with concern.
"Help her inside; she's feeling ill," Rhaegar instructed, passing Jeyne to Lady Rhea. "I wish you a happy wedding, Lady Rhea."
"I need a husband to impregnate me; this marriage is better than the first," Rhea remarked with a hint of self-pity, her outlook on marriage seemingly bleak.
"Rhea, how is Lady Jeyne?" a middle-aged man with a beard asked, approaching with concern.
"I'm fine, let's welcome the prince and Lady Jeyne into the castle first," Rhea replied, then introduced the man to Rhaegar. "This is my fiancé, Gerold Royce."
"Greetings, Prince," Gerold said respectfully.
"No need for formalities, Ser Gerold," Rhaegar replied, feeling a bit awkward meeting his aunt's fiancé. His thoughts briefly wandered to Daemon, imprisoned in the dungeons of King's Landing.
"My good uncle, will he regret not drinking his ex-wife's wedding wine?" Rhaegar mused with a quiet chuckle.
As Rhaegar and Jeyne approached the castle, more guests came forward to greet them.
"Prince, House Arryn of Gulltown salutes you."
"Prince, House Grafton of Gulltown salutes you."
"Prince, House Melcolm of Old Anchor salutes you."
Rhaegar smiled warmly, acknowledging each greeting. "Greetings, my lords. Please forgive me and Lady Jeyne; we've traveled a long way and may need to rest for a while."
Turning to Gerold, he added, "On the back of the dragon are gifts from the royal family and the Eyrie for your wedding. I'll help you retrieve them later."
Gerold glanced nervously at the Cannibal, its spine towering like a castle wall. He swallowed hard. "There's no hurry, Prince."
Gerold had met dragons before, including Daemon's Caraxes, but the Cannibal's sheer size and menacing appearance were overwhelming. The Cannibal's green eyes and black scales gave it an aura of malevolent power.
"Roar..."
The Cannibal, sensing the humans' attention, lowered its head, its piercing eyes scrutinizing the gathered crowd. Everyone instinctively took a step back.
"Cannibal, don't scare my friends!" Rhaegar chided gently, hiding a smile.
"Prince, please come inside," Gerold urged, gesturing toward the castle and leading Rhaegar in, surrounded by the crowd.
The castle's first floor featured a grand hall, lavishly decorated. Rhaegar called for a maid to assist Jeyne upstairs to rest while Gerold stayed to manage the guests.
Rhaegar took the first chair beneath the main seat, greeting the nobles of the Vale one by one. Most were from the southern part of the Vale, untouched by the Mountain Clans' rebellion. Gerold, despite his ordinary appearance, was courteous and attentive, ensuring everyone felt welcome.
Among the guests, Rhaegar spotted familiar faces from Crackclaw Point, including Yara Crabbe of Whispering Castle. After a brief greeting, Rhaegar asked, "Why don't I see your father?"
Yara's beautiful face turned somber. She forced a smile. "Father's health has been declining these past few years. I represent the Crabbe House."
"What a pity," Rhaegar replied, offering comfort. Despite the years, he felt a deep sense of nostalgia for the family that had been loyal to him since childhood.
(Word count: 1,061)
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone