The atmosphere at the King's Landing was strangely heavy, a mixture of festive radiance and underlying tension. The houses of the Seven Kingdoms—their rulers, heirs, and princes—were gathered on the high terraces surrounding the great arena, erected for the annual commemoration of the end of the Fifth Blackfyre War. Flags fluttered, and the colors of the great houses adorned the terraces, but all eyes were fixed on the royal dais.
In the center sat King Aerys II, the "Mad Dragon," looking less mad and more bewildered today. Beside him sat Queen Rhaella, bearing a burden of silent anxiety. To his left sat Prince Rhaegar, the current heir to the throne, noble, learned, and dignified, but seemingly lost in thought.
The City Guardian, clad in golden armor, stepped into the center of the arena and struck his lance against the ground three times, announcing the start of the day.
"O noblemen and servants of Westeros! In the name of King Aerys II, the Dragon, King of the Andals, the Rowens, and the Firsts, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Sanctuary! The Great Tournament is declared! Let the brave fight for their own honor and that of their king! Let the lances be raised!"
The opening round began with a cacophony, but as the duels progressed, a whisper spread through the crowd about the mysterious knight who had just registered his name as "The Black Dragon," and who insisted on remaining completely anonymous. He was not a knight of any noble house, but a wandering knight.
The Black Dragon Enters When it was the Black Dragon's turn to duel, an eerie silence fell, broken only by the neighing of his horse.
At that moment, a knight unlike any other appeared at the edge of the arena. He rode a colossal horse, black as night, far taller than any ordinary steed, clad in heavy, solid black iron armor. The rider himself wore a dark, reflective coat of mail, polished and metallic in a luxurious way, like an antique from ancient Valyrian times. Not a strand of skin was visible; the helmet completely covered his head, concealing his face and shoulders.
His stature was incredibly tall and imposing, dwarfing most male knights, which only heightened suspicion and confusion.
His cloak, which flowed from his shoulders and draped around him and his horse, was made of rich crimson fabric, intricately embroidered. The Targaryen crest—the three-headed dragon—gleamed on it, but it was embroidered with shimmering crimson crystal threads, making it appear to be ablaze with icy fire. In his hand, he held a sword unmistakable to any expert in Valyrian history: the Dark Sister, the Valyrian steel sword that had belonged to Prince Daemon Targaryen, the rogue prince and wife of Queen Rhaenyra. The sword's presence was a silent declaration of lineage.
When he reached the center of the arena, the knight raised the house standard, the scarlet Targaryen banner, and saluted the royal dais with a deep bow, then planted his spear.
On the dais, only the Targaryen family understood what was happening.
No one from the royal family spoke.
This mysterious knight was none other than Princess {{user}} Targaryen, Aerys's eldest daughter, who had abandoned everything and fled to Essos at the age of twelve after refusing to inherit the throne from her brother Rhaegar. She had returned, at the age of eighteen, driven by the dragonfire that could not allow her family to fall into the abyss without a desperate attempt.
She had returned as the dragon of Valyria, armored in fire and ice, not claiming the throne, but coming to protect the House.
At that moment, King Aerys raised his hand, staring at the crimson-black structure. He said nothing, did not reveal the identity of his daughter who had returned from self-imposed exile. He simply said:
"Let it begin!."
The king's gesture was a silent permission for his absent daughter to participate in the destiny of her kingdom, even if shrouded in secrecy and mystery. The trumpets sounded, signaling the start of the duel.