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Game of Thrones White Dragon Rising
Game of Thrones The Sun Dragon Descends
At the break of dawn, the Fury arrived at Dragonstone, which guarded the entrance to Blackwater Bay.
Dragonstone was an island formed by the eruption of the active volcano known as the Dragonmont. Following Targaryen tradition, this seat was granted to the heir to the throne, who bore the title "Prince of Dragonstone."
Because of the active volcano, the land was barren. Aside from the castle, the island was sparsely populated, home to only a small fishing village.
Most of Dragonstone's vassals were lords of other islands, making it difficult to rally banners. When Stannis, a Lord Paramount, called his banners in the original timeline, he only managed to raise three thousand men.
Of course, that might also have been due to Stannis's conversion to the Lord of Light and his prickly, unlikable personality.
Arthur, a devout follower of the Old Gods (mostly in name), only mocked the Seven in private. In public, he wasn't foolish enough to do so; the Faith of the Seven was the greatest common denominator in Westeros.
He tailored his words to his audience, simply to build rapport with Stannis.
Though Dragonstone was barren, it was rich in dragonglass deposits. There might even be fossilized dragon eggs hidden within the Dragonmont.
Dragonglass, or obsidian, had a razor-sharp edge but was brittle like glass. In ancient times, the Children of the Forest, the original inhabitants of Westeros, used dragonglass as weapons.
However, the First Men, who migrated from Essos with bronze weapons (and whose descendants in the North now worshiped the Old Gods), eventually beat the Children into signing a peace treaty that ceded the land.
Nowadays, dragonglass was mostly used for decoration and amulets, or occasionally for study by maesters. No one saw its true value.
But Arthur knew better. Dragonglass was a potent weapon against the Others and wights beyond the Wall. Like Valyrian steel, it possessed magical properties capable of piercing the defenses of the Others.
He intended to have Karl 'Bi' gather the blacksmiths of the guild to research whether dragonglass could be incorporated into swords and other weapons.
"If you wish to tour Dragonstone, please suit yourself. Aside from various stone dragons and gargoyles, there is only the active volcano known as the Dragonmont."
Stannis walked side-by-side with Arthur up the long stone steps toward the castle on the slopes of the Dragonmont, their retinues trailing behind.
Arthur looked up. The castle of Dragonstone was built of black stone. Its towers were carved into the shapes of dragons, and grotesque gargoyles served as battlements along the walls.
Compared to the barrenness of the island, the castle itself was unique and magnificent.
Arthur asked a question he already knew the answer to. "Books mention that obsidian is often found near volcanoes. Does this place produce obsidian?"
Stannis didn't break his stride. "The caves in the volcano are full of it. What do you want with that sharp, brittle glass?"
Schwing!
Arthur suddenly drew the sword at his waist, startling Stannis and his entourage.
He held Zhanlu flat in front of Stannis. "Do you recognize this?"
Stannis looked at the longsword. Its blade was as black as ink and impossibly sharp. He realized immediately what it was. "Is this a Valyrian steel sword?"
"Yes. I forged it myself." Arthur sheathed the blade. "I have always wanted to study the technique of incorporating obsidian into weapons, but I lacked a large supply of the material."
Stannis's expression turned peculiar. "You know how to forge swords? And Valyrian steel at that!"
"An excellent swordsman needs a weapon that fits his hand perfectly. Undoubtedly, a sword forged by oneself is the most satisfactory."
"By that logic," Stannis said dismissively, "Robert should forge his own crown, the High Septon should carve his own statues of the Seven, and a captain should row his own oars."
"Arthur, a man's energy is limited. Now that you are the Governor of the Dornish Marches, you must shoulder the responsibilities that come with the title. Leave the hammering to the smiths."
Arthur continued climbing the steps. "When I forged this sword, I was making a living running a smithy in Braavos. Stannis, the responsibilities one is born with are not immutable."
"I have a blacksmith guild in my territory. I plan to have them research this matter. If they discover the value of obsidian in forging weapons, I will need a stable source. In the future, you could even use obsidian to pay for the Amber Peach Wine shipments."
Ser Imry Florent, following behind, immediately chimed in. "Ser Arthur, that is a splendid idea! In ancient times, the Children of the Forest used obsidian for weapons. Surely the material has extraordinary properties."
Stannis huffed. "If obsidian weapons were truly powerful, the Children of the Forest wouldn't have become myths found only in fairy tales."
It wasn't until they reached the castle gates and the guards opened them that Stannis added, "If it pleases you, research all you want."
Clearly, he held no hope for the prospects of obsidian weaponry.
After partaking of bread and salt, Arthur entered through the main gates. The design of the castle was dominated by dragon motifs.
Smaller dragons framed the gateways; dragon claws jutting from the walls held torches; immense stone wings housed the armory and smithy; and dragon tails formed archways, bridges, and outdoor staircases.
The keep of Dragonstone was called the Stone Drum because its ancient walls boomed and echoed during storms.
Its entrance was shaped like the gaping maw of a dragon crouching on the ground.
Quentyn looked up in awe as they approached the dragon's mouth. "Were living dragons truly this large?"
"Balerion the Black Dread could swallow an aurochs whole, or even a mammoth," Arthur said, touching one of the realistic stone teeth. "I read it in the ancient texts."
"The texts are correct. I saw Balerion's skull in the Throne Room," Stannis said, a flicker of memory in his eyes.
"I remember the first time my father took me to court. Robert had to hold my hand. I was four at most, which means Robert was five or six. back then, we thought the King was incredibly noble and terrifying, just like those dragon skulls."
"Years later, Father told us that on the morning of our audience, the Mad King had cut himself on the Iron Throne, so the Hand sat in his place."
"It turned out the impressive figure we saw was Tywin Lannister."
Just then, a jester with a motley face hopped down the stone steps. His broad face and bald scalp were covered in red and green tattoos, and he was singing a nonsensical, off-key song.
Arthur's gaze lingered on Patchface for a moment before he followed the steward to his guest quarters.
Because he wanted to explore Dragonstone, he had told Stannis he would stay for at least three days.
"My Lord, when do we go exploring the Dragonmont?" Penrose asked excitedly after hearing Arthur's plan. He was both frightened and fascinated by the dragon and gargoyle sculptures in the castle.
"I've already sent Gerold and Jimmy to find a guide in the fishing village," Arthur replied. "Once you've settled the rooms, we'll head out and take a look."