Dragonstone was the ancestral seat of the Targaryens.
It was also known as the daughter furthest from Valyria.
The Targaryens originated from a powerful nation—Valyria.
The "Valyrian steel swords" coveted by the Seven Kingdoms and the Free Cities were products of the Valyrian Freehold.
Before the Doom of Valyria, a woman named Daenys appeared in the Targaryen family.
She dreamed of the terrifying doom of Valyria.
Her father, Aenar, believed in his daughter's "prophetic dream" and moved the entire family to Dragonstone.
House Targaryen's choice was naturally mocked by other dragonlord families, but time gave a just answer.
Sure enough, not long after, Valyria was destroyed in a terrible catastrophe. Even the sub-continental peninsula where Valyria was located shattered in that earth-shattering disaster.
Aenar's daughter became known as Daenys the Dreamer.
House Targaryen became the sole survivor among the forty dragonlord families of Valyria and lived on Dragonstone for a century.
A century later, Aegon the Conqueror landed in Westeros, and the War of Conquest began.
In the Targaryens' most prosperous era, there were many dragons and wild dragons here.
After the fall of the Targaryen dynasty, Robert granted Dragonstone to Stannis. Apart from dragons, the most unique thing about Dragonstone was its distinctively styled fortress.
Most of the fortifications were built in the likeness of dragons.
Coupled with the perennial fog on Dragonstone, those dragon-shaped statues and buildings looming in the mist seemed like real dragons reborn.
At this moment, a massive fleet had assembled at Dragonstone. Masts stood like a forest, resembling spears in a military formation.
Banners fluttered colorfully; the nobles of the Stormlands had pledged their loyalty to Stannis.
Davos, known as the "Onion Knight," looked at this massive fleet, somewhat distracted.
"Father."
A call pulled Davos from his thoughts. He turned to see his third son, Maric.
Gods be praised, he was a smuggler, yet his wife bore him seven strong boys.
The first four were already adults, so Davos sent them all into the fleet of his beloved Stannis.
"Father!" Seeing his excited son, Davos smiled and asked, "How is the Fury?"
"Much bigger than our Black Betha."
The Fury was Stannis's flagship. He had once commanded this warship to conquer Dragonstone and suppress Balon Greyjoy's rebellion.
Davos believed that this time, the Fury would again secure victory and the throne for him.
Now, Maric served as the oarsmaster on the Fury.
"Against such a massive fleet, even a storm would be helpless."
"Heh heh."
Davos chuckled happily. Indeed, just looking at this fleet from afar, he could feel his own insignificance.
Wait! A storm!
Davos suddenly remembered that when the Targaryens were about to be overthrown, they actually still had a powerful fleet.
But a storm destroyed it in the harbor, which was exactly why Stannis could successfully conquer Dragonstone. Could the Lannisters summon a storm?
No, only Stannis has the blood of the Storm Kings.
But what if there's a trap?
Davos remained uneasy. He decided to talk to the Fleet Admiral, Lord Imry Florent.
Though the other party might not listen to his advice. Imry was Stannis's brother-in-law.
He likely looked down on a noble who rose by smuggling onions.
But Davos had to try, all for his king, Stannis!
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A wolf with fur nearly pure white, standing almost as tall at the shoulder as an adult's waist, reached a high vantage point. It raised its long snout, sniffing the air with a wet nose, as if tracking prey.
Behind the giant wolf, an army was rapidly moving south along the Kingsroad, closing in on King's Landing.
No one noticed them; no one knew of them.
They were like a wolf pack stalking in the night.
It was the army Jon led out of Harrenhal.
And that wolf was Ghost.
They were about three or four days' march from King's Landing.
Unfortunately, most of Jon's troops were infantry; otherwise, they could have been faster.
Plus, they had to bring some basic siege equipment, which slowed them down.
Fortunately, according to news brought back by the raven, Dragonstone's army was still preparing.
He should still be able to launch the attack together with Stannis.
At this moment, Beric came to him and said, "Jon, we're almost at Sow's Horn. Ahead lies the territory of House Hogg. Should we let the soldiers rest here until tomorrow morning? The number of stragglers has exceeded two hundred."
When speaking to Jon, Beric's tone carried suggestion and respect. He even leaned forward slightly.
For no other reason than that this young man's decisiveness—or perhaps ruthlessness—proved he was no ordinary person.
The mutiny at Harrenhal was executed swiftly without any hesitation. There was no wavering in placing Roose Bolton under house arrest.
Even his oath before the Northern lords...
He truly disregarded his own life and future, focusing solely on avenging Eddard.
"Alright. Ser, arrange for the soldiers to rest here until tomorrow morning. Also, arrange scouts to block news of our army. I'll take the cavalry ahead to attack Rosby."
"Rosby?"
Beric was puzzled. They could reach King's Landing straight down the Kingsroad. Although Rosby was also very close to King's Landing—only a day's journey—it required a detour.
"Jon, the Lord of Rosby is Gyles. He's too old to walk, let alone run."
Beric implied that Rosby had no combat power, and there was no need for Jon to waste precious troops there.
But Jon had a reason he must go.
"What if Tommen and Myrcella are there?"
"What!"
Beric exclaimed, as if a lightning bolt flashed through his brain.
Yes, it was indeed very likely that Tommen and Myrcella were at Rosby.
As King and Queen Regent, Joffrey and Cersei naturally couldn't leave King's Landing.
But Tommen and Myrcella had to be sent away. If King's Landing fell, at least Tommen could still raise Robert's banner.
A little thought led to the conclusion that they could only be at Rosby.
After all, Stannis had blockaded the coast; Cersei didn't have many choices.
Beric sized Jon up secretly from head to toe, unconsciously taking half a step back.
This young man's mind was too sharp, his thoughts too meticulous.
Such a person could only be a friend. To be his enemy would be too unwise.
Soon, Jon took Hakon and Tommen, leading over four hundred cavalry straight for Rosby.
Of course, Ghost led the way.
Tommen and Myrcella were "future troubles."
Capturing them might not help much with the immediate siege.
But they were key to Jon's plan.
Only by controlling these siblings could he dismantle the basis of the Tyrell-Lannister alliance after killing Joffrey.
Even if the core principle of House Tyrell was that they only cared about being Queen regardless of who was King, the Lannisters still had to produce a King.
In this battle, he not only had to take King's Landing.
More importantly, he had to shatter the "Lion-Rose Alliance."
That was the biggest goal.