It was high time that the Princess of Dragonstone actually resided in Dragonstone itself.
To sit on the Targaryen ancestral seat... and await her ascension.
Such a move involves the welfare of her own burgeoning heir as well. The one in her very belly.
The belly that Rhaenyra can't help but just touch. To try and feel the little life being cradled in it.
A babe of her own. Just right after she's become a wedded woman.
A wife and a mother-to-be.
Fates that she very much denied in front of her own pregnant mother... but had now become identities that she was getting used to.
Just as she was also getting used to the fact that her dear husband that was known for glorious battle... had actually become overtly maesterly and taken up the role as the overseeing healer.
With a Red Hand that put a stopper to many counsels of the more experienced maesters... and proposed his own.
A truly odd but attentive partner...
With odd pregnancy methods like basking in early morning sun. To apparently combat deficiency in "vitamin D".
Something about having a proper diet as well... with foods that are a must and some that should be avoided.
The usual bed rest was another that he also recommended... but Ronan had the audacity to actually recommend bedly activities in her "schedule"…
And even with his various justifications, Rhaenyra can't help but just shake her head on all of them.
While shifting her thoughts into another pregnancy knowledge he's imparted unto her... which was about staying away from stress… or to not worry herself with problematics.
Hence, the decision to move here... to be away from strain... the complications of the capital. Especially its stench, which would not bode well for the babe. And for her heightened sense of smell.
Furthermore, he claimed that a shitty environment has a high likelihood of molding shitty people.
To which, the pregnant Princess can't help but just agree.
Considering that last she heard, the Rogue Prince was actually planning to marry his former whore and trying to argue for the legitimacy of their bastard.
Another problem is that Alicent, whom she last saw to be a bit mad, was now diligently wearing green... conspicuously so.
Last but not least is that Otto Hightower... who could be assumed to always be incessantly whispering to the King's ear. Probably to try and appoint Aegon as the new Heir. In persistence or desperation.
Regardless, they were a troubling ensemble that she really shouldn't be thinking about... hence, the need to move to this place in the first place.
Then again, as much as she listened to so many of her husband's wisening words... it is her good-mother's specified request that she will take paramount at the end of all of this.
The frequently visiting Lady Rhea and her solemn warning that Ronan must never ever be the one to name the babe... due to obvious reasons that need not be expounded upon.
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Of course... true to his words, Ronan was now learning about health as much as he could... and applying it when he can.
He even incorporated some pregnancy habits and tips that he remembered from relatives of his past life.
Though he was no OB or GYN… he might actually get there. And that's at least better than only relying on those maesters, who are plenty suspicious in his opinion.
Granted, the scope of healing was broad... so specializing in midwifery was still acceptable in the meantime.
For as much as he wanted to grind to the level of some saint-level healer... or be a super-attentive husband to Rhaenyra's eyes.... there were just plenty of activities on Dragonstone that he wanted to try.
Foremost of them was these castle's walls. Specifically, the unique material that it was composed of... which was obviously dragonstone, the fused kind.
Honestly, it was just for the sake of satiating his curiosity more than anything else.
Especially when it collates to all the other stones he has come across during his travels.
Like the carved stones of the mazemakers... that he had the chance to knock upon while he was simulating being a Maze Runner in Lorath.
And then there were those dilapidated blackstone dwellings under the waters of the Thousand Islands.
Related to the Deep Ones he's fished out... or the ancient empire that the pre-flooded 300 was speculated to be.
Ronan was partial to it being squisher-make... though a more concrete conclusion could probably be made when he decides to visit the foundation of the olden Hightower... or when he takes the time to perch for a bit on the Seastone Chair.
And for a more complete comparison... he could also inspect those single-fused, the sky-fallen, light-drinking, greasy, and even oily blackstone varieties.
The single-fused slabs of blackstone were from the great wall of Yi Ti... and the sky-fallen blackstone had some connection to one of its God Emperors as well.
As for the light-drinking type... it was the blackstones that are said to contribute to the darkness of the shadowy Asshai.
While the greasy one is a secretion of some toad. The Toad Stone in the Isle of Toads.
Last but not least was the oily blackstone that plant life dared not touch... but that may just have to do with whatever voodoo was affecting the enigmatic ruins of Yeen.
Of course, as he thoughtfully listed these stones out... it was clear that there was something very much suspicious about all of them.
And that really tickled Ronan's fancy some more. Of what were to happen if he unlocked their mysteries.
Then again, travel was out of the question at the moment... so he could only play that out... much, much later.
When a trip to Southern Essos and that Southern Continent was finally right.
As of now, it was just the fused dragonstone at hand... and it just so happened that studies and attempts to recreate the dragon-themed concrete were available here at Dragonstone itself...
And Ronan could work with that. He could very much work on it.
Just as how he could also make do with another Valyrian-made mystery that also had noted notes of recreation in this historic castle's library...
Valyrian steel.
Paltry as the recorded experimentations on these might be... it was still something. Something that his nifty golden finger can capitalize on.
It feels cheaty, however...
To breeze through his V-steel collection by just outright manufacturing them.
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Of course, how could Ronan forget about the main reason that made this castled island a rather essential location to be in?
For its dragonglass... obviously…