Warcraft
Game of Thrones
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The Eighth Kingdom
*** The North - Winterfell ***
Eddard "Ned" Stark, Warden of the North stared out at the procession from King's Landing, that belonged to his sister, marched into Winterfell. The gray overcast reflected his mood on his true feelings on the matter. Three Kingsguard accompanied his sister, Ser Barristan among them, the old Knight gave Eddard a polite glance but kept his eyes alert for any attackers. He was right to be worried, after all, his sister was no longer the North favored daughter.
Riding up behind the Ser Barristan was the future crown prince of Westeros, Aegon Targaryen, who was his father's son through and through. A handsome face crowned by long straight silver hair and purples eyes, though those were a bit duller than his sire. He heard his own two daughter gasps audibly upon seeing the procession, a quick glance to his right showed Arya and Bran gawking at Ser Barristan and the Kingsguards while Sansa eyes was riveted on the Prince. It was the figure next to the Prince that surprised him greatly.
The boy resembled a Stark.
Ned could make out the feature of his father in the boy, his borther Brandon and even his own if he was being honest. In fact, he couldn't find any trace of the Targaryen features in the boy. His face had a bit of a softer touch that reminded him of Lyanna when they were younger. Back when she had an easy smile and before she betrayed them all. Against his better judgment he felt a sense of kinship with the boy already. This was his nephew, an unwanted one, but they were bound by blood. Finally he saw the center of the caravan pulled in, a carriage with dragons and wolves motif adorning it's outside. Ned could feel the tension from his men who saw it, even he was not unaffected.
'How dare she!' That was Ned first thought but he shook his head of it. It was petty but it was the most visceral emotion that bubbled up before he could hold it down.
The carriage stopped which also halt the entire procession and the door to it opened. The two princelings immediately dismounted their horses and moved toward the carriage. When the door to the carriage open he saw that his sister was no longer a girl of fifteen as he remembered her but a beautiful full grown woman. She held herself regally, a far cry from the wild young girl he knew and her eyes immediately swoop over his entire family with a grace he would have never pegged her as having. He noticed that her eyes stop and appeared a bit hesitant upon falling on Catetlyn, his wife. A kaleidoscope of emotions danced on her eyes before her eyes fell upon him. Mixed in with her tentative hesitation was real joy at seeing him. Her smiled bloom and once more he was reminded of how she once was in years pass.
"Ned!" Lyanna Stark Nee Targaryen, Queen of Westeros jumped off from her carriage and rushed over to her brother.
Ned immediately got onto his knees as his sister approached and that was the cue for the rest of his family and household to do the same. Apparently the gestured pull Lyanna up short as she stopped in surprise before him. Ned could sense real confusion from her.
"Welcome your grace to Winterfell,"Ned greeted his sister formally.
"Ned..."
He heard the hurt in her voice but kept his head low. Finally after a long ten second he heard Lyanna make a movement toward him and felt two hands on his shoulders.
"Arise Warden of the North," Lyanna matched his formal tone as she pulled him up to face her. "I thank you for keeping his Grace realm in peace and prosperous."
Ned stood tall over his sister by a full head, he tower over the boys too though Aegon was closer to his height then Jon was, he saw her blue eyes locked onto his and a mix of emotion was visible. He saw her slight anger and for a moment, he let his own anger loose which made her seem to lose hers. Turning to the side to break her light hold on him he turned to his family.
"May I introduce you to my family your grace," He pointed over to his wife. "This is ny wife Catelyn."
His wife immediately gave a perfect curtsy to Lyanna. "Your grace."
Catelyn was polite to the extreme and Lyanna sensed that after all they were once friends for a time when Brandon was the one that was suppose to marry her. He quickly moved the introduction along by motioning to his oldest child.
"Robb's my firstborn and heir to Winterfell and next to him is my oldest daughter, Sansa," Ned looked at his children to prompted them to which Sansa, like her mother made a perfect curtsy while Robb bowed to her in respect.
"Your grace," the two echoed while Ned look to the last three of his children.
"Finally this is Arya, my youngest daughter, Bran and Rickon my sons."
"Y-your Grace," His children fumbled as best as they could much to his sister delight when she saw the final three struggling.
"It's okay, no need to try." Lyanna giggled and gave a wink to the children who face lit up.
"We have made accommodations for your men," Ned notified for the Kingsguard benefit more than for Lyanna. "They can follow Ser Rodrik for now. We have a feast waiting for you your grace."
"Ned..." Lyanna once again tried to reach out for him but he had already performed his duty and moved away from one of the two Queen of Westeros.
+++ Winterfell, Hearth +++
Lyanna knew that her brother was avoiding her and it hurt. She had try to get him to open up but all she was met with was stringent formality. The only person she did NOT want to make small talk with was Catelyn. The woman was all smiles being the perfect host while chatting her up about the latest gossip in King's Landing or what was the latest fashion every time she try to engage Ned in some type of conversation. Catelyn would do well among the ladies of the court with well she was inoffensively being offensive.
However, she was Lyanna Stark damn it, and a Targaryen now. Lyanna was going to get Ned to talk with her if that was the last thing she do! So with her face set she made to call to her brother when Catelyn intervene.
"Pardon your grace but is the Princess of the Realm Rhaenys and Daenerys doing well?" Catelyn asked benignly but Lyanna eyes was already on her.
Lyanna teeth gritted in anger as she glared at her good sister. The woman looked so perfectly innocent she should have become a Septa. Clearly Catelyn knew about her real reason for being here now seeking refuge and it was a threat if she try to talk with her brother, Catelyn would continue her line of questions. For a moment Lyanna wonder if Ned knew also. If he mocked her in private and relished in her martial troubles. She quickly shook those thoughts away and looked her her good sister.
"They are...doing well," Lyanna answered slowly while cursing her husband. She had no ill will toward Daenerys but her husband lust toward her was obvious...it was clear to all on what was going to happen to her and everyone was powerless to stopped it. Still she wanted to turn something around on her "goodsister" and spotted her son talking animatedly with Robb. This was the first time she ever seen him this open beside with Aegon and Daenerys.
"Our sons seem to have gotten along quite well," Catelyn too sounded surprise. Robb usually try to mimic his father's attitude but this was the first she ever seen him seem comfortable around a boy his age. Perhaps it was due to their similar status?
Aegon seem to be talking with Ned oldest daughter, a pretty girl that would rival any of the other daughters of the great houses, making her blush. The younger one...Arya if Lyanna was honest reminded her a bit of herself at that age curious about anything new that crossed her vision. As if the formality was over, the girl was actively asking Jon questions that he was having trouble replying to, probably from the fact that no one have ever showered him with such attention before. The other two boys were more shy and reserve but their eyes seem glue to the Kingsguard.
This.
This was why she went to the North. Lyanna turned to look at her good sister and for once, despite the cold reception she received personally, the North have welcomed her son. For that, she would be always grateful to Ned children. She was content to chase Ned another day, after all she plan on staying the month, plenty of time to corner him. The gap between them have been like a festering wound, she need to lance it and let the poison bleed out for good or ill.
So with that thought in mind, Lyanna sat back and let herself relax. This was Winterfell, the North, her home. The door open and allowed maester Luwin in, in his hand a small parchment which he handed to her brother. A raven? Did Rhaegar do something? However she saw her brother face morphed into one of pleasant surprise. Catelyn seeing her husband expression moved away from Lyanna and checked to see what was going on. After a moment of reading the note her facial expression to seem to change both into one surprise but one she did not begrudge.
Lyanna did not want to be left out so she made her presence known. "Good news brother?"
She saw Ned eyes flicked to her hardening just for a slight moment before schooling his face.
"It would appear so, Your Grace," Ned answered while reminding her of the distance between them. He looked over to Ser Selmy Barristan then back to her.
"As you know, I have given permission for the Alliance of Stormwind to augment the forces of Castle Black every two years."
Lyanna nodded well aware that the North had left a foreign army onto Westeros soil on purpose as if to snubbed the crown. Rhaegar, in his love for her then, had weather the storm of criticism from the other lords to appease and perhaps repay the North for what had transpired. As far as she was concern, a larger army to protect her father and brother was something she had no qualms about.
"There is something to say for letting a lion get too close to a wolf's den, Lord Stark," Barristan Selmy politely criticized. He was a Westerosi through and through and did not like that the North appeared close to their rival.
"Perhaps but I'll tell you something," Ned responded just as politely. "Since they have helped Castle Black manned the walls, the raiding by the Wild lings have all but stopped."
Lyanna was surprised by that, even she lived her, her father had lamented about the Wilding raids. The North is vast and while they could protect the bigger villages with ease, Castle Black was the one on the front line. They have always asked the crown to send more soldiers to keep guard with their dwindling numbers. Ned rebuttal was clearly a jab at the Targaryen inability to help the Night's Watch.
"That being said, usually they inform me of when their next rotation shift as a courtesy but this time, Lord Lothar have seen fit to make a detour here so that his son and nephew can see Winterfell first hand within a weeks time."
Lyanna and the assembly was stunned. Even Ned own children appeared floored by the news. Aegon and Jon are use to Azerothian denizen but even they have never met the fame Lord Lothar, Champion of Azeroth and Westeros. She vaguely recalled the young handsome man she met all those years ago and wonder how much he'd have changed.
*** Winterfell, One week later ***
"Castle ahead milord!"
Lothar saw the castle of Winterfell before the Sergeant William Marcus notified the convoy. The castle many battlements starting to come into focus an impressive structure by any definition.
"Formation!" Lothar ordered and heard the shuffling behind him. His escort was twenty knight ranked soldiers on horseback locked up in two line of ten. The main convoys have already made their way north on foot already.
"Double march!"
Immediately the horses increased their speed. Directly behind him were two boys covered in thick dark blue cloak that was standard issue for Stormwind soldiers heading north. Already he could see the flag of the Stark's Direwolves were unfurled at their gate entrance. His own knights flew six flag of the Alliance letting it flutter in the wind as they approached.
"Regular march!" Lothar bellow as the gate was opening while they were a good half mile out. The horses began a slower march, their hooves in sync as he entered through the Winterfell courtyard.
"And stop!"
And just like that all of the horse stopped as he looked around for the Lord of Winterfell. He found him on an overlooking balcony, a dominate position to look down those of lower rank than him. The last time he saw Lord Stark was at the tourney, he was a severe looking youth then. Time had not change his disposition.
With ease Lothar dismounted and walked over to where Lord Stark was before he took off his helmet and cradled it in his hands as he gave an Azerothian salute to the Lord Paramount.
"Well met, Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell!" Lothar voice boom in the courtyard before bowing and heard the cling of armor telling him his men were doing the same. After an appropriate amount of time he looked back up.
"Winterfell welcomes the Lions of Azeroth," A slight smile adorned the Northern Lord face before he made his way down to the courtyard.
"And personally I would like to welcome you Lord Lothar, Ser Brann Bronzebeard have spoken glowingly about you when last I met him."
Lothar clapse the older man and smiled. "Please call me Anduin, all my friends do. Also I wouldn't believe everything Brann tells you."
"Then so be it Anduin, Call me Ned, all my friends do as well," Lord Eddard Stark smile truly. Lothar did not realize this was a privilege only a few get but nodded.
"Oh right," Lothar suddenly remember and beckon his son and nephew over. "My son and nephew. Callan and Bolvar, greet the lord you two."
The two boys took off their helmet and greeted the man. Lothar eyes scanned the courtyard and saw the castle workers and maid staring at him and his two charge. He would have to warn them not to engage in any tomfoolery with eager maidens. The women of Stormwind were by no means prudes but, the women of Westeros seem to love a bit more freely than his own country women. It is not uncommon for Stormwind soldiers to bring home a bride after they served their tour in Westeros. That in itself wasn't a problem as most of the foreign spouses seem to hail from the North. It was the brides or husband taken in King's Landing that gave Stormwind Intelligence a headache. Luckily most seem to check out and weren't spies but he would not be surprise if they were being watched for a period of time.
"Greeting Lord Stark!" Callan nervously said while Bolvar stiffly bowed.
"Thank you for hosting us!"
"It is no trouble for Winterfell greatest ally," Ned look at the two youth and approved of what he saw. "I like to thank you two in advance for manning the Wall."
"It is our duty!" Callan recite the word and Bolvar nodded his head as well.
"Good!" Eddard chuckled in approval before he looked back at Lothar. "I see the son takes after the father."
"Ahem!" The sound of a female clearing her throat grabbed Lothar attention. When he traced the origin of the voice his eyes widen.
"Your Grace?" Lothar was stunned at seeing Lyanna Targaryen here. She was older but he still recognized her. His son and nephew noticed the changed and followed his lead to bow low. They would kneel before no king except those of Stormwind after all.
"It has been a long time Sir Lothar," Lyanna moved over to him and her eyes seem to take him in a way that made him felt out of sort.
"How is your wife doing?"
"Fine your Grace," Lothar replied immediately. He was confused, why was Lyanna up north? Why was the chief architect of House Stark demise here? Still he answered her politely.
"She would be happy knowing you've inquire about her."
"Please call me Lyanna," the second Queen of Westeros chided immediately. "I count you amount a true friend to both House Stark and me."
That was a surprise to him to hear her say it. "I am honored that you think so."
"Jon, Aegon, meet one of the greatest Knight of the eight kingdoms, Ser Lothar."
Lothar eyes widen at seeing the two royal prince here, he remember seeing them briefly during his stint in Kings' Landing but they were very young at the time. The first one, Jon, looked at him curiously while his brother, Aegon, was looking at Bolvar with great interest.
"Lord Lothar," Jon greeted him politely.
"Young Prince," Lothar tilt his head slightly in respect for the boy position.
"I say Ser Arthur is the greater knight," Aegon eyes shifted from Bolvar to Lothar face. His smile was genial friendly even as he countered his stepmother statement.
"It is my understanding that you two never crossed sword. Dawn never clashed with Ashkhandi, right?"
Lothar saw Bolvar bristle but was relieved when Callan gave Bolvar a warning look. Seeing that there won't be an incident he replied to the prince.
"No your grace, we are both busy men after all."
"Fair enough, though Ser Arthur did teach my my swordsmanship " the silver haired prince looked at Bolvar steadily before turning to Lothar.
"Would I be correct in assuming you taught your son and nephew personally?"
"I did," Lothar acknowledge and looked at the two boys. Callan were the more level headed by Bolvar hands were balled up tight.
"Then perhaps if time permitted, we can cross sword in a friendly duel?" Aegon smiled benignly at the two boys.
"If time permits," Lothar cut in before any of the two boys could respond. He looked to Lord Stark who understood what Lothar wanted.
"Shall we make for the Feast Hall?" Lord Stark interjected and ushered everyone inside the castle. "Your men are more than welcome to join, Rodrik will show them where they can stable their horses.
+++Winterfell, Feast Hall+++
Arya was giddy at seeing the Stormwind soldiers, they looked different to her compared to her own father's men. More sleek and clean in a way. She also heard that there were women among them were and to her surprise three of the knights, and they had to be knights because they were armored, were women! Their helms were off but their features were clearly girlish, they had longer hair, softer feature but were tall as some of the men!
"Arya," her mother called to her. "Don't be rude and stare."
Arya pouted but not before seeing a lady knight have caught her eyes and winked at her. She couldn't help but break out into a huge grinned now. Now her only lament was not seeing a dwarf of gnome or maybe one of their fame flying gryphons. She was a bit disappointed when they did not fly upon gryphons even if their warhorse were magnificent too! She went back to eating her food and turn to face her father where her mother sat was her Aunt, the Queen, Lyanna. To his right, in the guest of honor place was lord Lothar.
She glance over by Robb and saw Bran with him talking to the two younger Stormwind knights. One of them were the son of Ser Lothar himself and the other was the fame bastard of Ser Arthur. She looked over to Sansa and saw stupid Jeyne Poole blushing while whispering to each other making stupid eyes at the two boys. She was a bit appalled by their behavior, wasn't it just a week ago that they were fawning over the princes like that? That was not to say she hated the princes, Jon was very nice to her, actually seemingly very interested in her adventures but Aegon just treated her like a little kid.
Arya wish she could be over there listening in on what they were talking about. Aegon seem to try to be chatting one of the boys, the one with dark red hair like Robb, who did not seem comfortable around him. If she was honest he seem rather reluctant to talk to the prince, the one with the sandy color hair, Ser Lothar son, seem to be more amicable.
"Arya what did I say about staring?"
Arya could only groan and glumly turned back to her food.
+++ Sansa +++
Sansa could barely contained her wonderment at what has transpired in the past week. Not only did they get a visit from the Queen herself, but the two Princes where here too! Real princes! And they were as every bit as handsome as she imagine they could be, different but better than she thought, the only disappointment was Ser Jaime Lannister did not arrive with the Queen also. She been told he was the fairest knight in all of the land.
However the princes being here was not bad at all, and now they were join by the son of the fame Ser Lothar and the bastard son of Ser Arthur Dayne! The two were not handsome in the princely type of way but appeared more...matured, as if they have seen more of the world. However the two were as good as princes with their lineage. Like any good noble lady, she had learned all of the Houses under her father and any noteworthy houses in Westeros. With the addition of the Alliance of Stormwind, the noble Houses of the Azerothian were also required reading in case her future husband ever deal with them.
Callan, if she remember right, was for all intent and purpose a prince even by Westeros standard. From his line were the first king of all humans in Azeroth, he was a direct descendant, not a branching one she recalled. That had shocked Westeros nobility on why a king would be foolish enough to let the equivalent of a Blackfyre serve their crown. It was strange and odd but King Wrynn and their House of Nobles have verified the validity of Ser Lothar's claim and as such it could not be called into question.
Then there was Bolvar Fordragon, the well known bastard of Ser Arthur Dayne himself! It was no secret that by all right Bolvar should have been a Sand, but Lady Fordragon have declared him heir of House Fordragon, a noble house of Stormwind. It was shocking to say the least that a woman could determine who would and could be heir. His parent romance have sent an entire generation of Westeros maiden weeping to bed on more than one occasion.
Many things the kingdom of Stormwind did perplexed her when compared to Westeros. Glaring among them where why were the three ladies knights? Was it not better to have men do the fighting? She did not think the two women were ugly and were quite pretty by even her own standard but there they were in full armor mingling with with her father's house guards.
Suddenly there was a shift telling Sansa her mother was turning back to her and with practice ease her eyes drifted back to her own food. Unlike Arya bullish bumbling , she was no amateur when it came to spying on the room without calling attention to herself.
"Handsome aren't they?"
Sansa eyes widen as she were next to her Aunt and the voice came from her. She looked to woman that she should by all right despise. Yet after getting to know her this entire week, she found herself unable to do so. Everyone know the story of the wolf that betrayed the pack, how her Aunt wild nature had cost her grandfather and her two uncles their rightful place in Winterfell. It was one of the reason why she knew her mother and father was so hard on Arya, sometime unfairly.
Still, what could do except blush at having been caught, perhaps she was not as clever as she thought.
"You really are a rare rose found in the north," the Queen praised her with a soft smile.
It was then something happened as maester Luwin rushed into the dining hall holding two parchment in hand , his face paled and not just from the exertion. A raven message again? Sansa wonder what it could be this as the maester handed one to her father and another to her aunt.
It would be rude to try to look at the content of the letter of course but that did not stop Sansa from reading her aunt expression who smile was now replaced with incredulity and trembling hands. She noted that the seal on the letter was the three headed dragon, the king's own personal seal.
What could have happened in King's Landing?
*** Somewhere***
"Oi, Wake up!"
Khadgar eyes opened in a panic and was immediately blinded by light even as he try to get to his feet only to be hit with a wave of dizziness instantly.
"Ugh.."
"Easy human," the voice of Jodi Moonsong comforted him more than he liked to admit, as he blinked the vicious sunspot from his eyes. Eventually he was able to to make out a large area.
"What the..where are we?"
"That's what I want to ask you human," the night elf captain said, her tone was clearly miffed as she pointed to the area they were in.
The first thing that stood out was the wreckage of their ship was on land, there were night elves sentinels using first aid on some of the more wounded but over all the crew of one hundred appeared to be fine. The second thing he noticed was large ancient gateway on top of a hill. He could feel remnants of mana fading away as if whatever the spell was used was now completed. Finally he realized they were standing in the middle of of a mountain of some sort but trees as far as his eyes could see surrounded them from the mountain top.
"Where did you take us mage?" Jodi had enough of Khadgar stupefied look and snapped her fingers over his face to get his attention.
"I...I think… we're in Azeroth..." Khadgar said in wonder as he looked around the area.
"Did you hit your head or something?" Jodi gave Khadgar a queer look. "Of course we're in Azeroth, where else would we be?"
"No," Khadgar reached out to try and cast a smell and found that it was difficult to wrestle with the mana in the area as he gave Jodi a disbelieving look.
"Azeroth, the lost continent!"
The mana saturating the area were not as plentiful as when they were home in Lordaeron or Kalimdor.
"Impossible!" Jodi cried out even as the other Night elves, with their excellent hearing looked alarm.
That was when Khadgar sensed it, a powerful mana presence coming their way and sounds of a familiar cry.
"You hear that? Those are Gryphons!" Jodi second in command cry out in relief and then proceeded to glare at Khadgar for scaring them.
Khadgar felt disappointment until he saw the gryphons squad start to bank down. Their riders were not the Wildhammer dwarves but humans and the flag on the gryphons were ones that no longer exist within the Eastern Kingdoms. It was flag from the lost kingdom of Stormwind. He saw Jodi too look perplex when she did not recognize the armor style of the human. It was too uniformed to be a mercenary troop and all of their weapons were similar as if it was mass produced.
The Night elves immediately armed themselves with glaives and bows while the armored gryphon riders landed, their own cross bows pointing at elves. However instead of speaking to them, a black raven flew pass them and landed in front of Khadgar and the night elf.
Thats when an alarming cloud of smoke emitted from the raven and a huge burst of mana power was utilized transforming the raven into that of a human. One who looked amused by the entire thing with all of the Night elves arrow notched and aimed right at his head.
"Well," the mage chuckled as he took in the sight of the Khadgar companions. "I never thought I'd ever get to see a Night Elf much less Night elves in my life time."
Jodi looked at Khadgar as if to confirmed of they really did land on the lost continent.
"And you must be a mage from Dalaran, the Kirin Tor if I remember correctly?" the magus looked over to Khadgar in genuine fascination.
"I am Khadgar and this is Jodi Moonsong, captain of the wreck ship you see here," Khadgar introduced not knowing much else to do but wait for more information to be available.
"How interesting…," The powerful mage stroke his beard in amusement as he glanced at Khadgar. "Are you aware that your name mean "trust" in the ancient dwarven language?"
"N-No," Khadgar answered with uncertainty.
The mage then sigh but gave a half smile .
"Well then it appear that is what I shall do young Trust."
The mage then spread out his arm dramatically but clearly in amusement as point to himself making him seem like those pompous archmages Khadgar was familiar with in Dalaran.
"I am Medivh, the Guardian, and on behalf of the Alliance of Stormwind, welcome to Azeroth."
TBC...
For those that read my Bio, that was written a long time again when I was young. It is there to serve as a reminder for me. Anyway, saw GoT... now that I know anyone can kill the NIght King and Jon is not that important it gives me more room to work with.
