The Red Keep's grand hall was alive with music, laughter, and the clinking of goblets. Lords and ladies from across the realm gathered beneath the soaring arches, their finest silks and velvets catching the torchlight as they celebrated the wedding of Princess Rhaenyra to Lord Laenor Velaryon. The promise of union between two great houses filled the air, but beneath the gaiety, the court's usual undercurrents of tension were ever present.
At the high table, King Viserys sat upright, regal and composed. Queen Alicent, resplendent in her green gown, exchanged a brief, knowing glance with her husband. Both were keenly aware of the delicate politics swirling around them, but something else weighed on their minds a shadow that had lately crept across the realm.
A sudden hush fell over the hall as a breathless messenger was ushered forward by a steward. The man's face was pale, his eyes wide. Clearing his throat, he addressed the king with urgency.
"Your Grace, urgent news from the Dragonstone" the messenger said, holding out a sealed scroll. "A massive dragon has been sighted flying near the dragon mount. Riderless, dark-scaled with bright red, and as large as Vermithor."
Viserys's eyes widened in disbelief, the parchment trembling slightly in his hand as he broke the seal and scanned the message.
"Vermithor's size… You say riderless?" His voice lowered, laced with a mix of shock and apprehension.
Around the hall, the court murmured in surprise. Some leaned forward, curious and anxious.
"Surely you jest?" Queen Alicent whispered, glancing toward the king.
"No," Viserys said quietly, his gaze distant but sharp. "This can only be the creature we have heard whispers of—the Shadow."
Corlys, seated nearby, exchanged a glance with Prince Daemon. Both men's expressions darkened, recognizing the significance of the news.
Queen Alicent's lips pressed into a thin line. "If it is truly that dragon, wild and without a rider, what does it bode for the realm? An unknown force, uncontrolled, in our skies…"
Viserys nodded solemnly. "It is unlikely it'll cause any problems. But the size alone is staggering."
"Have the ravens confirmed it's in dragon mount?" asked Lord Corlys Velaryon, his brow furrowed in concern.
"They say it passed swiftly over the Dragonstone and it's now in dragon mount," the messenger replied. "No sign of hostility, but its very presence unsettles the small folk and sailors."
Rhaenyra sat quietly, her sharp eyes fixed on the king. She understood the unspoken worry beneath his words.
Prince Daemon stirred, his voice low but carrying weight. "A dragon without a rider is a threat to all. It answers to no command, no house."
Viserys sighed.
The hall was silent for a moment before Lord Velaryon spoke again, "We must keep watch. Send ravens to Dragonstone and beyond. The realm must be prepared."
"Indeed," Viserys said, folding the letter with care. "And the Shadow's return must be made known, though we know not what to expect."
As the feast resumed, conversations hushed to whispers. The presence of the mysterious, colossal dragon unknown, riderless, and enormous hung over the court like a storm cloud. Some looked toward the skies, others exchanged uneasy glances. All understood that the realm's fragile peace might soon face a challenge unlike any before.
King Viserys' gaze lingered on the ceiling, where the banners fluttered softly, and for a moment, his thoughts drifted to Dragonstone the island where the shadow first appeared and where this enigma now awaited its next move.
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