Rhaegar Targaryen, the last Dragon Prince of House Targaryen,
was born in Summerhall, among the grief of the false spring. He was the Son of
the Mad King Aerys II Targaryen, older sibling of Viserys and Daenerys
Stormborn, the Mother of Dragons.
He was a quiet, shy child, who spent his time reading in the
Library in Kings Landing, instead of training to become a Knight as befit the
Heir of House Targaryen. Yet, around the age of ten he left his books behind
and presented himself to his household’s knights asking them to train him in
combat. Many wondered at this sudden change, few whispered that the young
Prince read a prophecy in one of his books, about the Long Night to come and
the need for a Champion.
Regardless of the reasons, the young Prince rose in the
ranks and became a Knight to be reckoned with. He constantly trained and became
close friend with Ser Arthur Dayn, the Sword of the Morning, who held the great
sword Dawn. Rhaegar was not enamored with fighting or tourneys, but once he
entered the fray few stood against him.
He married Princess Elia of Dorn, and had two children. It
is whispered that the same prophecy that pushed him to become a Knight,
foretold a Dragon with three heads, and a Prince that was promised. Elia, being
frail and ill, was unable to bear him a third child, and the last Dragon Prince
feared for the fate of Westeros.
Meanwhile, his father, the Mad King fell deeper into insanity. Rhaegar, beloved
by the common people, and many of the nobles, became the hope of the seven Kingdome.
With a heavy heart, the Prince shouldered his responsibility and in an effort
to gracefully replace his father, he organized a large tourney at Harrenhall.
The greatest lords and knights of Westeros were invited, to
hold a Grand Council and depose his father. Somehow, the Mad King learned of
his son’s effort and attend the Tourney. With his plans in shambles, the Dragon
Prince fought fiercely and won against the best knights of the realm, even the
fabled Sword of the Morning fell to his lance. As custom dictate, the Prince
was given a Crown of beauty to present to his beloved. Yet, he rode past his
wife Elia, and gifted the crown to Lyanna Stark, the betrothed of Robert
Baratheon. At that moment All smiles faded…
Instead of uniting the great houses, and ushering a new era of peace under his
wise leadership, Rhaegar angered many nobles houses, and once the tourney
ended, the Prince and Lyanna Stark disappeared. The hot headed wolf, Brandon
Stark, brother of Ned, took off in anger to King’s Landing demanding the return
of his kidnapped sister. The Mad King considered it an act of treason and
summoned Brandon’s father, Rickard Stark to court. Once he had both stark he
summarily executed them in a gruesome way.
Lord Jon Arryn, fostering Ned Stark and Robert Baratheon
raised his banners and rebelled against the Mad King. Thus started the war of
the usurper. After months of skirmish and minor battles, Prince Rhaegar reappeared
and led the formidable loyalist forces against an equally large rebel host,
formed by the houses of the North, the Vale, and the Stormlands.
In a great battle on the river Trident, the fate of the
House Taragyen, Westeros, and even the world was decided. In single combat,
Robert Baratheon wielding his war hammer faced the last Dragon wearing his
famous armor, adorned with a three headed dragon made of rubies. The
combatants, both loyalist and rebels, stood still, transfixed by the epic duel…
The world held its breath, as blows were exchanged, until with the fury of
storms and the anger of a scorned lord, Robert Baratheon drove his massive
warhammer into Rhaegar’s armor, shattering the ruby dragon piercing the
Prince’s heart.
Rhaegar Targaryen, the last Dragon Prince, died on the
trident, on a ford forever know hence, as the Ruby Ford.
What drove the wise Rhaegar to choose Lyanna Stark as the Queen of beauty? What
madness seized him to disappear with her? What spell impelled him to risk his
father thrones, his house’s fate for a woman. We may never know, yet a single
word can be heard, whispered by the water of the trident, echoing through the
hall of Harrenhall… PROPHECY… The Dragon Has Three Heads… There must be one
more, the Prince that was promised…
Thus, end the sad tale of the last Dragon Prince. Remember travelers that when
pass the ruby Ford, to look hard and long in the turbulent water. It is there
that the fate of the Westeros was sealed, it there that the world was doomed,
or possibly saved. Look hard for you also might still find rubies in those
waters…
