The Game Begins Anew
Chapter 1
Princess of the North
Wind coursed through her long dark hair as she flew south to the centre of the Northern Kingdom.
Astride on her dragon, Princess Rhaenys Snow-Targaryen daughter of Jon Snow, the King at the Wall and Lord Protector of the Free Folk surged towards her destination as soon as she caught sight of the Great Castle on the Horizon.
It was Winterfell, the Great Castle where her father had grown up to become the man that she knew and loved.
She gently tugged at her dragon's reigns to bring him to a lower altitude.
She felt Veraxes rumble beneath her. A faint growl escaped past his fangs as he obeyed her gentle nudge and command.
Rhaenys dropped enough altitude so that the Guards on the Hightower and the Watchtowers could easily recognize her on the back of her dragon without the use of a spy glass.
As soon as she crossed the first Guard Tower she heard the blow of a conch horn. She heard it blow Once, Twice, Thrice and then again for the Fourth and Final time. Blowing the horn four times was a signal that a Friendly visitor had arrived, a visitor of an Important Rank and Station.
On an impulse, she urged Veraxes lower so she could see the newly built streets and buildings of Winter Town which was now capable of housing over a hundred-thousand people. If Winterfell and the North had prospered, Winter Town in itself had grown exponentially becoming the centre of trade, commerce and arts for the People of the North.
She flew low enough to see the cobbled streets lined with merchant shops and food carts, with people going about their business. She stared at sight of Winterfell Castle built anew from the ashes and destruction of war.
As she flew over the streets, she saw the northerners streaming out into the wide-areas cheering for their Dragon Princess. "Princess of the North" she heard them call her as they cheered for her. Hovering above the gathered crowd, she waved to them as they broke into applause and their cheering loudened.
With a smile that could kill, she waved at the gathered crowds one last time before she made her way to the Godswood of Winterfell. She flew over the thirty-foot tall outer wall of Winterfell Castle and over the ancient trees that had stood in the Godswood for millennia and descended into a courtyard which had been specially built for visiting dragon riders by the her aunt, The Queen of the Northern Empire.
As she descended into the courtyard, she recognized several people waiting to welcome her.
Rhaenys dismounted as soon as Veraxes large claws touched ground, and fell into a deep courtesy in front of the Queen.
"Rise Princess Rhaenys" her aunt said, stepping forward and embracing her.
Rhaenys snaked her arms around her aunt and gave her a warm hug as well. Rhaenys held her aunt, the Queen in high esteem and loved her very much. It was her aunt who had christened her with the title, "Princess of the North".
As they drew apart, Rhaenys took a good look at her aunt.
Queen Sansa was a fine, regal woman who stood straight with an air of pride coursing through her. Her eyes were cold as ice but the smile which she reserved for a few induced a sense of warmth in the person who received them. The Queen although getting close to her middle ages had kept herself in good health and the only thing that betrayed her age were the few wise lines at the corner of her bright-blue Tully eyes.
"Come my child, I believe you are a little cold. You have had a long journey." She said, with a warm smile. She looked to her hand-maidens and summoned the two in-front of the entourage forward. While one of them held a shawl made of fine white wool, the other one held a cloak made of fur from the skin of an Ice Bear.
Taking the garments one at a time from the handmaidens, Sansa fastened the Cloak at her neck and then draped the shawl around her shoulders. Rhaenys instantly felt warm but what was surprising was that she didn't know she was even cold.
"Come my daughter, we have much to discuss." Sansa said to Rhaenys and the two women fell in step with each other making their way to the Black Pool on the banks of which stood the Weirwood.
Rhaenys knew they weren't alone, maintaining a respectable distance from them were two members of Sansa's Queen's guard more commonly known as the Winter Knights.
"It's been a long time since you visited us." Sansa spoke, "and while I know that you'd come see us during any opportunity that you get, I know for a fact that this isn't a familial visit."
Rhaenys remained silent. May be Sansa did have an inkling as to why she was here in Winterfell.
"I received a raven from your father less than a Moon's turn ago" Sansa continued, "He said that he could feel a chill in his bones just like the last time when the long winter came upon us."
This time Rhaenys didn't keep her silence, "Do you feel the same?" Rhaenys asked her aunt.
Sansa looked to her for a split second and without her uttering a single word, Rhaenys knew that her aunt and her father felt the same.
"We haven't had a long winter in about two decades now. What we feel doesn't necessarily signify the return of the Others, it just signifies that this time around the Winter is going to be a harsh and long one." Sansa spoke with a sense of finality in her voice and Rhaenys simply nodded.
The two women soon reached the ancient Weirwood that had stood at the centre of the Godswood for several millennia, its haunting eyes marred with tears of blood red sap.
Sansa knelt before the Weirwood and Rhaenys followed suit. With a silent prayer on her lips, Rhaenys felt the Godswood come alive. The rustling of leaves and the whistling wind echoed in her head. Frightened, she opened her eyes which she didn't remember closing.
"What is it?" Sansa asked Rhaenys, the former's hand firm on the latter's shoulder.
Rhaenys thought for a moment before shaking her head, "It's nothing, Aunt Sansa." And with a smile on her lips she further added, "I think riding Veraxes has tired me out."
Sansa simply nodded before summoning one of her guards and two hand-maidens to herself. Addressing the guard, she said "The Princess is tired; please escort her to her chambers."
The guard nodded and with a final hug, Sansa left Rhaenys in their company to be escorted to the castle. Rhaenys watched her aunt turn her back to her and walk deeper into the Godswood. When she finally lost sight of her, she turned to her hand-maidens and the Winter Knight to whose care she had been given into.
Familiar with the Godswood and even more so with Winterfell Castle, Rhaenys began making her way out of the Godswood and to her own personal chambers. The Knight fell in step beside her while the handmaidens maintained a respectful distance, fully aware that the Princess didn't need ushering.
"Have Princes Robb and Eddard come back from their visit to Bear Island?" she asked the Knight.
"No, My Lady" The Knight answered, his voice polite for that of a Northman.
"You are from the lands beyond the Neck aren't you?" Rhaenys asked him "and please call me Rhaenys".
She felt the knight smile and stifle a laugh. "What's so funny?" she asked him.
"You remind me of someone Lady Rhaenys." He said, his voice sounding as if his mind was deep in reminiscence.
"May I ask who, Ser…?" Rhaenys then realized she didn't even know his name.
"Ser Podrick Payne" He said, answering her unasked question and before Rhaenys could say anything else, "And the answer to the question you did ask: the person who you just reminded me of is your aunt Arya Stark" he said, a wide smile spread across his face.
Rhaenys was taken aback for a moment and she came to a sudden halt. The Knight too stopped a step ahead of her.
"You are Ser Podrick Payne?" She asked bewildered at the thought of being face to face with a man about whom she had heard stories of as a child.
"Yes", the Knight said removing his silver-plated iron helm.
He looked just as the stories had described him; an oval face with a square jaw, dark brown eyes and a warm smile. His dark hair was cut short and cropped at the sides. He had wide shoulders and from the look of it well-muscled strong arms.
Her father had once told him that Ser Podrick was one of the best swordsmen he had ever come across.
"Are you alright Princess Rhaenys, it seems to me that you might need a Maester's service." The knight said, concern showing on his face.
It took Rhaenys more than a few moments but she did manage to compose herself, "I'm absolutely fine Ser Podrick."
"Are you sure" He asked her, with a look in his eye as if he knew she was hiding something.
Rhaenys nodded and averted her eyes from meeting his.
From there on, the company walked in silence till they reached Rhaenys' chambers where Ser Podrick bowed to her before leaving her in the company of the handmaidens.
"Would you like me to send someone to escort you to the Feast tonight?" he asked Rhaenys as he began to walk away from her chamber doors.
"Yes, that'd be great." She said and with that final exchange the Winter Knight gave her a final smile, donned his helm and walked away.
Much later Rhaenys realized she hadn't asked why the feast was being held.
She turned to one of her hand-maidens who were preparing her bath, "Do any of you know why the feast is being held?"
One of them, a girl no older then fourteen with large doe shaped eyes and dark black hair looked up and answered, "Your Grace, the feast is being held in honour of Joy Hill of House Lannister."
At that moment something changed. A fire began to course through her veins, a fire that was like no other. A fire confined within ice.
She now knew why her father had sent her here. She now knew her purpose.
A/N: The SYOC is still open. If anyone is still interested in sending in characters please pick the OC form from My Profile and read the instructions and background given below::
Well Guys! As the title states this is an SYOC and given below are the houses for which you may send your characters:
House Snow-Targaryen of the North
Arms: A White Dragon and Direwolf on a Field of Black
Prince Jon & Princess Val Snow Targaryen
House Targaryen of the North controls the Lands beyond the wall, the castles on the Wall that still stand after the Battle of Dawn and the Lands of the Old and New Gift.
Eastwatch-by-the Sea is the biggest settlement with hundreds of free folk families settled around the old castle and northern-most port.
The biggest town is Hard Home where the majority of wildlings retreated to after the Battle of the Wall and several managed to stay safe during the battle of dawn. It is said that the runes protected the Wildlings from the White Walkers and their wights.
The seat of House Snow-Targaryen is Castle Black during the winters and a re-built colossal fortress on the Fist of the First Men during the spring and summer months.
Important Houses are House White Mask of Queensgate and House Giantsbane of Oakenshield. House Thenn lives far in the North, in a valley shielded from winter by high mountains and natural geo-thermal energy below the ground.
SYOCs open for:
1. 1 Daughter from House Snow-Targaryen. (Only the daughters can have dragons)
Accepted Characters:
Prince Drago Snow-Targaryen - Submitted by King James10158
Princess Rhaenys Snow-Targaryen (Dragon's Name: Veraxes) - Submitted by TheNightGirl
Prince Quaryn Snow-Targaryen - Submitted by sgt2x4
2. 1 Son and 1 Daughter from House Thenn. (All Places Open)
House Targaryen of the Crownlands
Queen Daenerys Targaryen
Prince Aegon and Elia (Sand) Targaryen
The Crownlands is the Governing power of the Iron Islands, the Westerlands, the Stormlands, the Reach, Dorne, the Stepstones and the Houses of the Narrow Sea.
Queen Daenerys rules as the Lady Protector of the Targaryen Empire but is yet to name an Heir.
SYOCs Open for:
1. 1 daughter of Queen Daenerys. (Only the daughters can have dragons)
Accepted Characters:
Princess Valaena Targaryen (Dragon's Name: Valarr) - Submitted by Aelia Lestrange
Prince Daerion Targaryen - Submitted by Suspicion's Curiosity
Prince Alistair Targaryen - Submitted by Silverstone007
2. 1 son and 1 daughter of Prince Aegon and Princess Elia of House Targaryen. (Only the daughters can have dragons)
Accepted Characters:
Prince Jacaerys Targaryen - Submitted by Suspicion's Curiosity
Kingdom of the North
Queen Sansa of Winterfell
Lord Rickon Stark and Lady Lyanna Mormont of the North
Lord Robin Arryn of the Vale
Lord Edmure Tully and Lady Myranda Royce of the Riverlands
Bonded by the Alliance of the North and under the rule of Sansa Stark, the North quickly developed and grew in strength faster than the Targaryen Empire after the Battle of Dawn.
With several new towns on the Stony Shore and expansion of White Harbour and Widow's Watch into large cities, the North has prospered under the Ice Queen's rule.
The Northern Kingdom comprises of the North, the Kingdom of the Vale and the Riverlands Houses North of the Trident and the Tumblestone. However House Piper of Pinkmaiden and House Bracken of Stone Hedge also remain ardent supporters of the North even though they come under the dominion of the Targaryen Empire.
SYOCs open for
1. Both Sons Finalized
Accepted Characters:
Prince Robb Stark (Direwolf Name: Artos) - Submitted by lady terr
Prince Eddard Stark - Submitted by Alina Royce
2. 3 Sons and 2 Daughters of Rickon Stark
3. 2 Daughters of House Tully
And Now, Two new Houses have characters open for Submission:
House Lannister
Lord Tyrion Lannister, Lord Paramount of the Westerlands
Ser Martyn Lannister, Ser Tyrek Lannister, Lady Janei Lannister and Joy Hill
House Lannister might have fallen from power but over the years it has been growing strong once again. Mines of Gold, Silver and Iron that were once thought of as over mined and deduced to have run dry, sprouted wealth again when they were dug even deeper. True, the output wasn't as much as it once was but the mines of Pendric Hills and the Lonely mountains in the southern most part of the Westerlands produce enough metal to allow House Lannister and Westerlands to achieve the strength it once did.
Add to the Gold the intelligence and wisdom of Tyrion Lannister, House Lannister is getting back in the game and this time to put an end to it for once and for all.
SYOCs Open For:
1. One Bastard daughter of Tyrion Lannister
2. Two Children of Martyn Lannister and Elena Tyrell
House Baratheon (Storm)
Arms: A Black Hammer and A Bolt of Lightning on a Field of Fire
Lord Gendry Storm and Lady Arya 'Stark' Storm
Lady Mya Storm (Robert's Eldest Child) & Lord Edric Storm (Robert's acknowledged Bastard)
House Baratheon and the Stormlands were in ruins at the end of the war. With its rations and men spent in the war by Stannis in the Battle of the Long Night, it was rumored that the Stormlands would become a part of the Crownlands. However those rumors were squashed when Queen Daenerys had one of her generals Ser Gendry of Hollow Hill, a bastard of King Robert re-christened as Lord Gendry Storm along with his remaining bastard siblings and gave them the control of the Stormlands for their dedication to her and her cause.
Not everyone agrees with the Queen's decision but there are not many who openly voice their opinion any more, those who did at one point of time didn't live to hear the reason behind her decision.
Under the paramountship of the Storms the Stormlands have recovered but are in no way a power to reckon with.
SYOC open for:
1. Two Sons and One Daughter of Arya and Gendry
2. One Son and Daughter of Edric with Obella Sand.
Please Send the Form via Personal Message and feel free to ask any questions as well... Where's The Form? It's available on my Profile.