Game of Thrones: The Red Dragon Lord

Above the Narrow Sea, the vast blue ocean stretched endlessly, blending seamlessly with the cloudless sky. The sea breeze blew strong, making the sails crackle, while the waves lapped rhythmically against the sides of the ships, splashing white foam.

A large-scale fleet was heading north through the waves, composed of twenty mighty sail warships and over thirty armed merchant ships, each loaded with cargo.

From the sails to the flags, everything depicted a blazing flame, as if a surging sea of fire danced wildly in the wind.

Above the fleet, a golden dragon nearly twenty meters long circled gracefully, occasionally diving into the water to catch fish, sending up crystal-clear sprays of water.

The golden dragon's deafening roars echoed, not only displaying its invincible majesty but seemingly escorting the mighty fleet.

Merchant ships traveling the Narrow Sea dared not approach, keeping their distance from the massive fleet, yet they couldn't help but witness the soaring golden dragon in awe.

On these merchant ships, people stared at the dragon, their eyes wide in disbelief, whispering amongst themselves, pointing up at the sky.

As if on cue, the news spread quickly, carried by those merchants, and rumors and speculations began to fly across the Narrow Sea, filling the air with talk of the dragon and its mysterious master.

King's Landing – Red Keep

Robert Baratheon, the king, made a rare appearance in the royal council chamber, a place he had seldom visited before.

Only a few days prior, Robert had been reveling in a brothel. But now, reports from merchants in King's Landing had caught his attention: they'd seen dragons, and the master of this dragon was none other than Gavin Belerys, Lord of the Stepstone Islands. Robert had scoffed at first, dismissing it as mere sensationalism, thinking it was all just the product of the imagination of a few merchants.

In his mind, dragons were legends, creatures of the past, long extinguished by time. He couldn't believe they could reappear so easily.

However, over the past two days, more merchant ships had arrived in King's Landing, each bringing definite news. Gavin Belerys not only commanded a massive fleet but also owned a dragon.

Robert entered the council chamber with heavy steps, the sound of his boots seeming to announce his displeasure.

"Robert Baratheon I, King of the Andals, Rhoynar, and First Men, Ruler of the Seven Kingdoms, and Warden of the Realm, arrives."

The members of the royal council immediately stood in unison to greet the king.

Robert took his seat on the Iron Throne, waving his hand impatiently for the others to sit.

"Your Majesty," Prime Minister Jon Arryn spoke first. "This matter cannot be taken lightly."

Robert waved his hand dismissively. "I just want to know if that Gavin is a remnant of the Targaryens?"

The ministers exchanged uneasy glances, and the room fell silent for a moment.

Varys, the spymaster, was the first to speak, his voice calm and respectful. "My little birds have told me that Gavin Belerys's mother was a Valyrian remnant from Volantis. She likely comes from the dragon-riding bloodline, though it's clear that her ancestry has no connection to the Targaryens."

Archmaester Paisir added, his voice shaking slightly. "Indeed, Volantis is full of silver-haired, purple-eyed Valyrians. The blood of dragonmasters is widespread there, making it difficult to distinguish the true lineages."

Robert turned his gaze to Varys. "Spider, tell me—where did his dragon come from? Where is it now?"

Varys replied, "It is rumored that after Gavin Belerys returned from the ruins of Valyria more than two months ago, he brought back a golden dragon. As of now, he is leading a fleet to Braavos. It is said that he was invited by Neptune, and the dragon followed him."

Robert's face darkened at the mention of Braavos. "Those two Targaryen remnants are also in Braavos. We can't allow this any longer. Send someone to kill them!"

Jon Arryn immediately spoke up, trying to calm the king. "Your Majesty, killing two children is not something a king should do. It would tarnish your honor."

Robert roared in frustration. "Honor? Honor won't make them obey. Fear and blood will! Those two Targaryens must die."

At that moment, Petyr Baelish, the new Finance Minister, interjected. "The Targaryen children are guests of the Sea King. While their situation is dire, they are under his protection in Braavos. It would be difficult for us to take action against them without provoking the Sea King."

Robert took a gulp from his wine glass, some of it spilling down his beard. "Then find someone from Braavos. We don't need soldiers—just a brave man with a sharp dagger."

Jon Arryn's frown deepened. "Your Majesty, this discussion isn't just about the Targaryens. We must focus on Gavin Belerys and his dragon. Whether or not he's a Targaryen, this situation must raise alarms. Don't forget Aegon, three hundred years ago. Gavin might only have one dragon now, but his fleet is far larger than Aegon's was at that time."

Queen Cersei, who sat beside the king, chimed in. "The dragon is already a threat to the king. Why not prepare people in Braavos to handle this? If the dragon rider dies, the dragon will be..."

Before she could finish, Robert interrupted her sharply. "Shut up, woman! Don't make me throw you out."

He then turned to the council. "If Gavin dares to claim the throne, I'll smash his skull in. But right now, he is a lord under the Iron Throne. Killing him without cause would stir unrest in the Seven Kingdoms."

Jon Arryn's frustration was evident. No longer bothering with formalities, he said urgently, "Robert, we cannot wait for him to claim the throne. The Stepstones are not the Iron Islands. Once he claims it, we won't have naval superiority. A young man with a dragon and a powerful fleet is a serious threat. Aegon was a warning."

Robert glared at him, his patience thinning. He turned to the ministers. "Then tell me—what should we do?"

Jon Arryn paused, his mind working quickly. "We need to closely monitor Gavin Belerys's movements. We must understand the situation in the Stepstone Islands. While they are still under the Iron Throne's rule, we can use the Royal Council's name to restrict them."

Robert sighed heavily. "Fine. I'll listen to you. You decide how to proceed with the restrictions."

Jon Arryn turned to Petyr Baelish. "Petyr, you'll need to return to the Stepstone Islands. Make sure they fall under the port tax collector system."

Then, he looked at Varys. "Varys, send your little birds there as well. Keep a close watch on everything they do."