The Dragon of Dragonstone

It was a stormy night, the kind that you dream about. The wind howled, the rain poured down on the ancient walls of Dragonstone like a waterfall, and the dark silhouettes of the mountains surrounding the island looked like the claws of some great black beast waiting to pounce.

Inside one of the rooms of the old castle, Queen Betha Blackwood lay in her large wooden bed. Her hair was long, dark and wavy, and her eyes were a bright green. She had a slender face with high cheekbones, a small nose and a light dusting of freckles across her cheeks. Her lips were full and pink, and she bit them lightly as she stared up at the ceiling. The creaking of the ancient stone walls interrupted the sound of the howling wind, and the flickering of the candles cast shadows across the room.

The queen frowned. "It's getting louder," she said, her voice soft.

"What is?" asked King Aegon. He was tall, with long silver hair and eyes like his son's, a piercing blue. His skin was tanned, and his jaw was strong and square. He had been a warrior in his youth, and still moved with the strength of the dragons.

"The storm, it's getting louder. It sounds like it's getting closer."

King Aegon sighed. "Betha, you're exhausted. You need to sleep."

"But the storm, it's-"

There was a loud crash, and the whole room shook violently. Queen Betha screamed and grabbed hold of the bedpost. "The castle!" she cried. "I think the walls are going to collapse! What should we do?"

King Aegon strode over to the window and threw open the shutters. The wind tore at his hair, but he paid it no mind. He gazed out into the darkness, and then turned back to his wife. "The walls are fine," he said. "But the island is another matter. Look."

Queen Betha went to his side, clinging to his arm for support. Outside the window, the waves crashed against the rocks, spraying water high into the air, and the wind whipped the waves into a frenzy.

"A storm on top of a storm," she whispered. "This isn't natural."

"No, it's not. It's worse than that," he replied.

"Worse? How can it be worse?"

"The magic... there's a dark magic behind this storm. I can feel it."

The queen's eyes widened. "But where could it have come from? And why now? Why would someone attack now, when the kingdom is so vulnerable?"

"I don't know," he replied, "but I will find out." He put his hand on his wife's shoulder. "You must go to the Red Keep in King's Landing. Take our son and my cousin, Ser Alyn. I will find a way to get to you, I promise. But you must go now. This island won't stand if the storm continues to rage."

Queen Betha nodded. "Then let's go. I can't wait any longer."

Outside, the wind still howled and the rain still poured down, but the queen and her husband didn't notice. They were too busy plotting their escape.