The Dragon Council, established just fifteen years into Queen Rhaenyra's reign, had proven to be a resounding success, a testament to Cregan Stark's foresight. It was a revolutionary concept for Westeros, a deliberate tempering of absolute monarchical power.
It comprised all adult Targaryens of age, a gathering of dragonlords and their kin, each with a voice in the destiny of their house and the realm.
The council met regularly, its chambers often filled with passionate debate, with differing opinions and strong personalities clashing.
There were, inevitably, power struggles. Young, ambitious princes and princesses, seasoned veterans of the council, all vied for influence, for their voices to be heard, for their visions to prevail.
Arguments could become heated, voices raised, and tempers flared. The very air in the council chambers would sometimes thrum with the latent power of dragons, a silent reminder of the might contained within the room.
However, crucially, these struggles never took the form of full-blown war. The framework of the council, its established rules, and the collective memory of the Dance of the Dragons, served as a powerful deterrent.
Succession, once a bloody lottery, was now a matter of reasoned debate and collective decision. When a king or queen died, the council would convene, meticulously assessing each eligible Targaryen.
They weighed their strengths, their weaknesses, their wisdom, and their temperament. The most suitable candidate, not necessarily the eldest, was chosen to wear the crown.
This system, though it sometimes led to prolonged discussions, ensured that only the most capable ascended the Iron Throne, preventing the reign of a weak or foolish monarch.
Furthermore, the council's power to remove an unfit ruler was a sword of Valyrian steel hanging over every monarch's head. It ensured accountability, forcing kings and queens to consider the welfare of the realm above their personal whims.
Major decisions, from declaring war to forging new alliances, from enacting sweeping laws to initiating grand public works, all required the council's approval. This collective wisdom, though it sometimes slowed the pace of governance, prevented rash or disastrous choices.
The council was a living, breathing testament to the lessons learned from the Dance. It was a testament to the belief that even the most powerful family in Westeros needed checks and balances, that even dragons could benefit from tempered power.
In 216 AC, a pivotal moment in Westerosi history unfolded, a testament to the enduring peace and diplomatic prowess of the Targaryens under Rhaenyra's legacy. King Aeron, Rhaenyra's grandson, sat on the Iron Throne, a monarch shaped by the new era of Dragonhold and the Dragon Council.
Aeron was a king of quiet wisdom, less prone to the fiery passions of his ancestors, more inclined towards diplomacy and strategic alliances. He understood that true strength lay not just in conquest, but in unity.
His gaze turned south, towards the ancient, proud, and fiercely independent principality of Dorne. For centuries, Dorne had resisted integration into the Seven Kingdoms, maintaining its unique laws, customs, and titles.
Previous attempts to bring Dorne into the fold had always ended in bloodshed, in failed invasions and bitter resentment. But Aeron sought a different path.
He initiated a series of delicate, protracted negotiations with the Martells, the ruling house of Dorne. Messengers traveled back and forth, bearing proposals and counter-proposals, each word weighed with immense care.
The Dornish, proud and wary, were initially skeptical. They valued their independence above all else. But Aeron's patience, his respect for their customs, and the undeniable stability of the Targaryen reign began to sway them.
The negotiations culminated in a grand agreement, a diplomatic triumph that would bind Dorne to the Iron Throne not by conquest, but by blood and mutual respect.
The core of the agreement was a marriage: a Dornish Prince, the heir to Sunspear, was to be married to a Targaryen Princess, a direct descendant of Queen Rhaenyra.
The marriage was celebrated with immense pomp and ceremony, a grand affair that blended Dornish and Targaryen traditions. The wedding feast was held in Sunspear, a vibrant spectacle of Dornish music, food, and culture.
The terms of the agreement were that Dorne was allowed to remain a principality, unique among the kingdoms of Westeros. Its rulers would retain their titles of Prince and Princess, rather than being reduced to lords.
They would govern their lands according to Dornish law, with minimal interference from the Iron Throne, as long as they remained loyal and paid their due taxes.
This integration of Dorne into the realm was a monumental achievement. It brought an end to centuries of simmering animosity, creating a truly unified Westeros.
The peace that followed was profound. Trade flourished between Dorne and the other kingdoms. Cultural exchanges enriched both sides. The southern borders of the realm, once a source of constant tension, were now secure.
Dorne, with its unique identity preserved, became a loyal and valuable part of the Seven Kingdoms, a testament to Aeron's diplomatic skill and the evolving nature of Targaryen rule.
In 220 AC, another ambitious project was initiated, a testament to the enduring alliance between Asgard and the Iron Throne, and a further step in unifying the realm. The success of the initial railway line from Moat Cailin to Storm's End had been undeniable.
It had proven its worth in trade, in rapid troop movement, and in fostering communication. Now, the time had come for a grander vision.
An agreement was forged between the Crown and Asgard for a massive expansion of the railway line. This new endeavor would connect King's Landing to every Lord Paramount's stronghold across the realm.
From the Red Keep, lines would now stretch to Highgarden in the Reach, to Casterly Rock in the Westerlands, to the Eyrie in the Vale, to Riverrun in the Riverlands, and to Sunspear in the Dorne.
The terms of the agreement remained the same: Asgard, with its unparalleled engineering expertise and advanced technology, would undertake the construction, maintenance, and operation of the entire network.
In return, Asgard would receive a commanding 70% of the profits, a testament to their indispensable role and the sheer scale of their investment. The Iron Throne would receive the remaining 30%, a steady stream of wealth that bolstered the royal treasury.
The construction was a colossal undertaking, spanning fifteen years. Thousands of laborers, both Northern and Southern, toiled tirelessly. Mountains were tunneled through, vast rivers were bridged, and dense forests were cleared.
It was a monumental feat of engineering, transforming the landscape of Westeros. The clang of hammers, the roar of steam engines (a new, wondrous sound to many common folk), and the shouts of foremen became a familiar symphony across the continent.
The project provided immense employment, stimulating local economies and bringing prosperity to countless villages along the new routes. It was a tangible benefit that the common people could directly attribute to the Crown's foresight and Asgard's ingenuity.
By 235 AC, the grand vision was complete. The entire network of railways crisscrossed Westeros, iron arteries binding the disparate regions into a cohesive whole.
Celebrations erupted across the realm. Grand feasts were held in every major city connected by the new lines. The speed of travel and communication was revolutionary.
Merchants could now transport goods across vast distances in a fraction of the time, leading to an unprecedented economic boom. News traveled faster, binding the realm's distant corners closer than ever before.
The railway network solidified Asgard's economic power, making it an indispensable partner to the Iron Throne. It also cemented the Crown's control over the realm, allowing for rapid deployment of troops and swift communication with its vassals.
The railway was a symbol of the new era, a testament to the progress and unity that defined Rhaenyra's golden reign.
In 240 AC, the Iron Throne, now secure and prosperous, turned its attention to a long-standing nuisance that had plagued the shipping lanes of the Narrow Sea for centuries: the Stepstones.
These treacherous islands, a labyrinth of rocky outcrops and hidden coves, had always been a haven for pirates, slavers, and renegade lords. They disrupted trade, preyed on merchant vessels, and defied the authority of any kingdom.
Previous attempts to control them had been fleeting, often ending in costly failures. But the unified Westeros under the Targaryens, now bolstered by a strong navy and the formidable presence of dragons, was no longer content to tolerate such lawlessness.
The decision to conquer the Stepstones was made by the Dragon Council, a strategic imperative to secure vital trade routes and project the Crown's power across the seas.
The campaign was launched with overwhelming force. The Royal Fleet, now larger and more organized than ever, sailed south, carrying thousands of seasoned troops.
The Targaryen dragons, including the descendants of Syrax, Vermax, and even the now-loyal Tessarion, soared above the fleet, their presence a terrifying harbinger of the Crown's wrath.
The conquest was no easy feat. The pirates and renegades of the Stepstones were fierce, desperate fighters, intimately familiar with the treacherous currents and hidden passages of their island strongholds.
Naval battles were fierce and bloody, as the royal fleet systematically cleared out pirate vessels and blockaded their havens. Ground assaults on the rocky islands were brutal, as the royal army rooted out entrenched defenders from caves and fortified coves.
The dragons played a crucial role, their fire clearing paths, destroying hidden strongholds, and breaking the will of the defenders. They were instruments of overwhelming force, turning the tide in many a desperate skirmish.
The campaign lasted for five arduous years, a testament to the stubborn resistance of the Stepstones' inhabitants and the challenging terrain. But the Iron Throne was relentless.
By 245 AC, the conquest was complete. Every pirate lair had been purged, and brought to justice. The Stepstones, once a symbol of lawlessness, were now firmly under Targaryen control.
In a grand decree issued from King's Landing, the Stepstones were declared the 7th Kingdom of Westeros, a new addition to the unified realm.
And, in a powerful statement of direct control, House Targaryen itself was declared its Lord Paramount. The islands would be governed directly by the Crown, their strategic importance too great to entrust to any single noble house.
The conquest of the Stepstones secured the shipping lanes, ensuring the free flow of trade and bolstering the realm's prosperity. It was a final, decisive act of expansion, solidifying the Targaryens' dominion over all of Westeros and its surrounding seas.
The realm, under the enduring legacy of Queen Rhaenyra and the institutions she helped establish, had truly entered a new era of peace, prosperity, and unparalleled power. The future, once uncertain, now stretched out, bright and unified, under the watchful eyes of dragons and the steady hand of the Crown.