Dragonstone

The ancient fortress reverberated with the sound of thunder, lightning causing the stone dragons and gargoyles to look even more fearsome than they looked during night time. The different colors of lightning bathed the stone demons in an eerie glow.

Rhaella Targaryen was used to the Storms that frequently engulfed Dragonstone. She was used to the thunder, the rumbling, the howling of the winds and the crashing of the waves against the cliffs that would spook any visitor to the Targaryen's ancient fortress but not her and why would it, for she was the Princess of Dragonstone, Queen Daenerys Stormborn's Heir to the Unified Kingdoms of Westeros.

The Unified Kingdom's of Westeros, now that was a thought which had always bothered her a little. Before the Targaryen's were overthrown they ruled Seven Kingdoms and now they ruled Four with the Iron Islands directly under the control of her Mother.

The North had declared independence with the Majority of the Riverlands and the Vale of Arryn. Dorne too was not under the dominion of the Targaryens but an ally at best.

The Unified Kingdoms comprised of the Crownlands which now constitute some of the Riverlands Houses South of Harrenhal, the Southernmost outpost of the North besides the God's eye. There were also some Houses of the Riverlands south of Harrenhal that had migrated North of the Red Fork to avoid being part of the Unified Kingdoms but a majority of them had declared for the Dragon Queen.

The Reach, The Stormlands and the Westerlands were staunch allies of the Crown with the Stormlands being the fiercest even though it had strong Northern ties. Nonetheless her mother had never questioned House Storm's loyalty and nor would Rhaella for House Storm was an ally that was indubitably essential for the survival of the Coalition.

Several new Houses had been established in the Stepstones, mostly comprising of minor Lordships that were created post the Battle of Dawn and the Targaryen Ascension. The new houses and their people were of Essosi origin with most of them speaking a variant of Valyrian or Ghiscari, with House Vilibazmio of Bloodstone being the Warden of the Stepstones.

Sitting in the room of the painted table, looking at the storm outside Rhaella saw a burst of lightning far in the distance descending from the Heavens accompanied by the roar of Thunder…but that wasn't the only road she heard. It was faint but she was sure that Shea heard the roar of Daraxyes in the distance. Daraxyes was one of the dragons that had been hatched from the first clutch laid by Rhaegal or Drogon. No one really knew which of the two had laid the clutch, not even her mother; She just happened to find the clutch one morning in the cave on the base of face of Dragonmont where Drogon and Rhaegal roosted.

Out of the Clutch of six eggs, five eggs had hatched. Four eggs for her and her siblings and Daraxyes seemed to have been claimed by her mother until another rider arose for him. Her mother never rode Daraxyes for she was bonded to Drogon, not to mention Drogon would kill any other Dragon that Daenerys even tried to ride.

Her own Dragon's name was Pyrrhax, a slim and lean dragon with scales the color of blood red and a bronze underbelly and wings the same color. She had golden yellow eyes and was a docile creature that purred rather than roared but her docility was not to be confused that the harm she could inflict.

Pyrrhax was the third largest dragon and the second dominant out of the living Targaryen Dragons, her flame burned as hot as Rhaegal's. Her anger and viciousness could compete with Drogon's. Even Rhaegal steered clear of her on most days, giving the younger dragon her berth on the Dragonmont whenever she flew to the island.

On that note, Rhaella hadn't spotted Rhaegal for sometime now. She had seen him a couple of weeks ago fly North but she hadn't seem him return yet. True, the Dragon often flew away to meet its rider, the King in the North for a couple of days on occasion but never had the Dragon been gone for more than a week. Now that she thought about it, Rhaegal had flown just before the previous full moon and according to the Maester the next full moon was almost upon them.

She'd have to write to her mother and inform her that Rhaegal had been gone an entire Moon's turn. It was better to be prepared than sorry.

Mulling over her thoughts, she didn't even realize when her councillor, brother and sworn sword walked into the room such was the din of the storm raging outside.

"I see that the Storm has you fascinated once again Sister", said Aryal, coming to stand behind her. Rhaella turned from the missing wall that opened out to the sea to see her brother. Platinum blond hair and emerald green eyes with sun kissed skin, her brother resembled his father more than their mother.

Rhaella, took after their mother. Small of frame and petite, with silver-gold hair and eyes the color of amethysts she was a Targaryen through and through. Even though she and Aryal didn't share a father Rhaella knew that their bond was deeper than siblings born of true blood.

"You know how the storm calms me down, I could look at it endlessly." She replied, waving her hand as a gesture for them to take a seat on the table while she sat at the head of the table.

"I'm surprised you aren't out there riding Pyrrhax." Said Davina, Rhaella's personal councillor and her Mistress of Whispers. Davina belonged to the Hightowers of Oldtown, the strongest house in the Reach after the Tyrells.

"Pyrrhax doesn't like flying in a storm." Rhaella said, sub consciously reaching out to her mount, a feeling of warmth flooding through her.

"I don't think anyone should be out there in that Storm." Added Roland Selmy, a grand nephew of Ser Barristan.

"Says a man of the Stormlands" quipped Aryal, a smile etched on his face.

Roland was Rhaella's sworn sword. A couple of years elder to her, her was a loyal companion and also someone who she shared her nights with.

"I'm just saying a dangerous Storm is brewing outside." He further added, his dark brown eyes tinged with seriousness as he exchanged a glance with Rhaella.

"Speaking of Storms " Davina said, "It seems there is some kind of a hostility brewing in the Dornish Marches."

Rhaella smiled, "You mentioned that a couple of weeks ago Davina. What's new ?" The Crown Princess asked.

Davina sighed, "Well a couple of weeks ago only the Dornish were mobilizing. Now it seems the Storm lords are fortifying and preparing their defences as well in response to the actions of the Stony Dornish."

Rhaella quirked her brow, "I would reach out to Aegon, but our brother's loyalty to the Martells far outweighs his loyalty to us."

"The Dornish have a tendency to have closer bonds with their own Your Grace, your Brother is no Exception to that rule." Davina added leaving the others around the table to immerse themselves in their own thoughts.

"The Stormlands will prepare for this threat as they see fit and if I know Lord and Lady Storm they'll definitely react to the Dornish in kind." Aryal said, coming out of his train of thought.

"Be that is it may brother with Mother in Dragon's bay its imperative that we keep peace in the realm while she is away." Rhaella said in response to her brother's statement.

"The Small council must be informed." Roland said, looking over to Davina.

"Tyrion already knows." Davina answered, without wasting a second.

"Then it seems that I must fly to Dorne and Aryal to Storm's End to get a better understanding of the situation" Rhaella said looking over to her brother who simply nodded, implicitly agreeing with her decision.

"What of Orys?" Aryal asked Davina, "Where is he currently?He might be of some help with his parents."

Davina smiled a sly smile, "The Storm Heir was traveling to Storm's End last I heard. His parents sent for him and his elder sister."

Aryal's face was without expression, but his eyes were tinted with a slight tinge of embarrassment. Orys was his best friend, but what he felt for Cat was something that was inexplicable. Something that he never saw culminating into what he desired.

Rhaella picked up on what was going through Aryal's mind.

"You'll fare better with the Storms than I" Rhaella said.

"I'll accompany you to Dorne, Your Grace" Roland said. "I'm sure two can travel on Pyrrhax."

Rhaella nodded, appreciating Roland's concern and his devotion to her.

"Davina" Rhaella said looking over to her councillor, "while Aryal and I are out trying to figure out this unpleasantness between the Stormlands and Dorne I want you to remain by Daeron's side while we are out."

She then got up from her seat and the others arose as well, "while Aryal and I are out, Daeron is the Prince of Dragonstone."