Chapter 123: Rhaegar, Guardian of the Narrow Sea
The morning sun spilled into the house, and Rhaegar could still feel the moist, fresh air.
Rhaegar walked out of the room, and Ser Arthur Dayne was already waiting outside the door.
This was not stinginess, but a sign of respect and courtesy.
Although Dawn is not a Valyrian steel sword, its legendary status and preciousness even surpass ordinary Valyrian steel blades, and it is also the heirloom of House Dayne. Treasures stir the heart. Rhaegar knew that Lord Tywin Lannister had repeatedly approached impoverished noble houses in the Seven Kingdoms, offering huge sums to buy their Valyrian steel swords, but was consistently refused.
The two exchanged weapons. Rhaegar took back his Shadow Cleaver, and Arthur Dayne retrieved the sword Dawn.
Although Rhaegar was a little reluctant to part with Dawn, he felt that the course of history would not change significantly. Arthur Dayne would still carry Dawn to King's Landing and become one of the Kingsguard, giving Rhaegar time to contemplate it later.
The Kingsguard was Arthur Dayne's dream, and the greatest honor for a knight in the Seven Kingdoms was to wear the white cloak of the Kingsguard.
Furthermore, Arthur Dayne was the second son of his house, not required to inherit the family seat or marry and have children. The white cloak was one of the best destinations for a second son like him. In this regard, he saw eye-to-eye with Ser Oswell Whent, a younger son of House Whent. It was extremely rare for someone like Ser Barristan Selmy, the heir of Harvest Hall, to choose to join the Kingsguard, showing an extreme dedication to honor. Barristan gave up his family inheritance and a girl he had once hoped to marry, who eventually wed his cousin.
Arthur Dayne looked at Rhaegar and felt that the Prince, after only a day apart, seemed to have undergone a new change, as if he had been reborn in fire, possessing a mysterious and esoteric aura, and Rhaegar's martial skills were even more unfathomable.
Rhaegar and Arthur Dayne hit it off immediately, and the two headed together to the dining hall at the Water Gardens.
Rhaegar felt that Arthur Dayne possessed the qualities of a great knight, and they were indeed quite compatible. If Rhaegar were with Prince Oberyn Martell, known as the Red Viper of Dorne, Rhaegar would not feel this way. The Red Viper was too arrogant, quick-tempered, and fierce; Rhaegar even felt he was sometimes sinister.
Rhaegar's breakfast at the Water Gardens consisted of a plate of premium blood oranges, a plate of seagull eggs fried with ham and fire pepper powder, and a cup of fresh milk.
He still shared this breakfast with members of House Martell, sitting at the main table. Princess Elia Martell sat in the seat of honor, flanked by Prince Doran Martell, Prince Oberyn Martell, and Rhaegar. Everyone was talking and laughing, and the atmosphere was very harmonious. Even the Princess's sickly appearance seemed somewhat better today. However, Oberyn maintained his usual attitude, looking askance at Rhaegar.
"According to the message from your father, you have been appointed Supervisor of Bloodstone Customs, and after the main structure of the Bloodstone port is completed, you will also be formally invested by King's Landing as Guardian of the Narrow Sea and the Stepstones?" Princess Elia suddenly asked.
"Yes," Rhaegar nodded, not denying the news.
Rhaegar had changed into a new outfit today, still a black shirt and black trousers, but today his black shirt was embroidered with a silver three-headed dragon, Rhaegar's personal sigil, making him appear even more brilliant, as if glowing.
Rhaegar ignored all the covetous gazes, regardless of gender; even handsome men have their troubles.
Rhaegar was somewhat helpless. This news could have been suppressed for a while to avoid overly provoking the Free Cities and Braavos. But there was nothing to be done; King Aerys II Targaryen was truly a blabbermouth who could hardly keep a secret. The Mad King had already spread the information.
Twelve years old, and already the Guardian of the Narrow Sea and the Stepstones.
Rhaegar did not explain much. Although he was young, it was not unprecedented. It simply meant Rhaegar was more dazzling and outstanding.
Maegor the Cruel was also a born warrior; at sixteen, Maegor defeated three Kingsguard knights consecutively and then won a mounted tourney, being knighted by his father Aegon I Targaryen, the Conqueror.
Daemon Blackfyre knocked down all the squires in a melee on his twelfth nameday, and King Aegon IV Targaryen, the Unworthy, acknowledged his son's prowess.
Upon hearing this, the lords of Dorne immediately pricked up their ears.
Bloodstone Customs represented financial power. Guardian of the Narrow Sea represented military power.
Now the Iron Throne granting these two important authorities to the Prince not only showed the importance placed on the Crown's current foremost fighting force, but also indicated that the Iron Throne would not easily withdraw its troops from the Stepstones, but intended to cultivate the region deeply.
If this were the case, how could Lys, Myr, and Tyrosh, not to mention Braavos, simply let the matter rest?
The King on the Iron Throne can appoint the highest military commanders in various regions and grant the title of Warden to defend against foreign invasion.
Traditionally, the four most important Wardens are:
Warden of the North — House Stark of Winterfell
Warden of the East — House Arryn of the Eyrie
Warden of the West — House Lannister of Casterly Rock
Warden of the South — House Tyrell of Highgarden
Besides these, there are secondary guardians, such as:
Warden of the Prince's Pass in Dorne
Warden of the Boneway in Dorne
Warden of the White Knife in the North
The conferral of the Guardian of the Narrow Sea was therefore a major political event.
Once the Guardian of the Narrow Sea and Stepstones is established, the position will be comparable to the traditional Four Wardens. Although inferior in population and military strength, it controls vital sea lanes.
The establishment of the Guardian of the Narrow Sea means the war continues, and the flames of war in the Narrow Sea will not be extinguished. Prince Rhaegar, who controls the Stepstones, will also command considerable financial resources and military strength.
The lords of Dorne looked at Prince Rhaegar with even more fervent eyes.
This was the Silver Prince who controlled the sea lanes. In the future, imports and exports for Dorne—and even for other kingdoms and Free Cities—would require his cooperation.
Prince Daemon Targaryen, the Rogue Prince, once crowned himself King of the Narrow Sea and the Stepstones, but later grew tired of the region.
Rhaegar would effectively be the King of the Narrow Sea, merely taking the title of Guardian to show deference to the Iron Throne.
The lords of Dorne were already formulating various ideas.
The Prince was surrounded by beauties like a painting, so charming him with beauty might not work easily. Perhaps the prettiest person present was Lady Ashara Dayne of Starfall.
It was said that Rohanne of Tyrosh, the Pearl of Tyrosh, and Lady Roberta Baratheon, called the Light of the Stormlands, who were infatuated with Prince Rhaegar, were both top-tier beauties.
Even their own Dornish roses might appear slightly pale by comparison, and ordinary women likely would not even catch the Prince's attention.
However, Prince Rhaegar was a born warrior, and his Dragon's Den Camps were renowned as a strong army.
Now that he occupied the Stepstones, expanding his army was inevitable, and many Dornish lords considered sending their sons into his army to gain favor.
"Prince Rhaegar is only a teenager, yet he is already a Guardian. Young and accomplished," Princess Elia exclaimed.
Rhaegar was so young, yet his position was so prominent. This reminded the lords of Dorne of a famous figure — Oakenfist, Alyn Velaryon, the legendary admiral of the Velaryon fleet.
Yet no one objected to Rhaegar's appointment.
Prince Rhaegar had earned people's respect through blood and fire, sword and battle.
From the Pale Mountains, Maidenpool, to the Stepstones, victory continued, and songs of triumph were always heard.
"It's only temporary, temporary. Everyone knows that according to the agreement, the Stepstones are only managed by the Iron Throne on behalf of others. Maybe ten years from now, we will return them to the Free Cities. The Iron Throne's treaties still have legal effect," Rhaegar explained with a slight smile.
But the lords of Dorne were not fools, and many of them almost laughed out loud.
Who would believe that statement?
The Iron Throne building fortresses and establishing customs on Bloodstone, coupled with the conferral of the Guardian title—financial power in one hand, military power in the other—made it clear that they would not withdraw from the Stepstones.
Once the Iron Throne and its armies were enriched by customs duties, how could they willingly give up this land?
It would inevitably lead to a bloody war with the Daughters of Valyria.
But seeing Prince Rhaegar's earnest expression, the Dornish lords felt awkward laughing.
Not only was the Prince unmatched in war, but he also seemed adept in the game of thrones, having learned such shrewdness at a young age.
In comparison, King Aerys II was indeed far too lacking.
The treaty mediated by Braavos between King's Landing and the Free Cities had effectively become a dead letter.
The breakfast continued in a lively and increasingly harmonious atmosphere.
Today, no one came forward to challenge Rhaegar again; yesterday's battle had truly convinced everyone.
A continuous series of duels lasting the entire day, featuring the best knights of Dorne, yet none were his match.
The brave men of Dorne were as numerous as sand, but their defeat sadly caused them to lose face.
After Rhaegar finished breakfast, he began strolling with the Dornish lords in the Water Gardens.
Actually, he currently wished more to visit the Greenblood River and Planky Town, to see if he could find any traces of Rhoynish water magic.
According to what Rhaegar had seen in dreams and what was written in ancient histories, Rhoynar water magic was heavily restricted by location and casting conditions.
The Rhoynar once displayed great power along the Rhoyne, flooding Valyrian armies, summoning waterspouts and walls of water, calling upon the power of Mother Rhoyne.
However, compared with the dragonlords of Old Valyria, the Rhoynar were still at a disadvantage.
The Valyrians possessed not only their own sorcery but also dragons, which could fight in almost any terrain.
However, looking at the Princess of Dorne and her children, Rhaegar was certain they possessed no magic whatsoever.
Even Nymeria of the Rhoynar, their legendary ancestor, was famous as a warrior queen, not as a water sorceress.
Instead, she famously burned her ten thousand ships to prevent retreat after marrying Lord Mors Martell.
Since then, the Dornish had gradually grown distant from the sea.
Furthermore, Dorne and the Iron Throne had fought many wars, employing endless schemes and ambushes, yet there were never any traces of water magic.
Given the chance, Rhaegar thought he still needed to visit Planky Town, or even travel along the Greenblood.
When Nymeria crossed the sea with ten thousand ships to Dorne, she burned the entire fleet on the day of her wedding to the Martell lord, signaling her determination never to return.
However, some descendants of the Rhoynar refused to fully integrate into Dornish culture.
When they first arrived in Dorne, they hammered the burnt ship hulls into rafts.
These Rhoynar mourned the loss of their distant homeland in Essos, and they adhered to ancient river traditions to commemorate the Rhoyne, their Mother River.
Having left their Mother River behind, the rest of their lives were spent as exiles.
Perhaps traces of the water magic Rhaegar sought could still be found along the Greenblood.
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