Chapter #8: Surviving & Nora's Magic
Blake
Her cat ears twitched beneath the hood, listening out for the sounds of the prey she was hunting. A small creature enough to feed herself and for her to get some more furs to shield her from the cold after.
An insignificant crunch, below the ability of most humans to ear, but with her cat ears Blake heard it and knew the location. She stepped slowly towards the prey being careful not to make any noises though it was difficult with the snow covering the foliage.
Breath turned to mist as she took slow, deep breaths. She nocked the arrow before even sighting the target. Raising from her crouched approach the ears came into view, standing tall and alert much like her own Faunus ears.
She raised the bow, pulled back the arrow and prayed that this time she'd hit her target. At the bottom of the breath, release. She told herself, lining the rabbit up as its nose twitched and its whiskers moved.
Twang, and the arrow was in the air, it didn't last more than a second as it collided and pierced right through Blake's target. The rabbit's blood quickly staining the snow beneath its now resting body.
Taking the rabbit, the resource into her hands she pulled the arrow from it and cleaned it on the rabbit's fur. She smiled to herself beneath the hood, having successfully caught one after two days of trying and missing was rewarding as she was still getting used to using a bow. She'd already decided she needed to save her bullets for when it really mattered.
"Finally. Now you won't have to take food off someone from camp." Dorrand said, deriding Blake for the actions she often did.
She didn't give the son of the tribe leader a response as she tucked the rabbit into the leather bag she carried. True, she had often relied on others to get her daily requirement of food but that didn't mean she didn't regret it. She knew she was taking nourishment away from others each time and mentally noted who she had to repay, though after killing that bear she had more than shown herself capable of hunting large creatures. Trouble was there weren't many of them.
"Come on, a rabbit each isn't good enough. We're out like the other hunters to provide for the tribe." Blake didn't need to be told this, it was something she knew well and the more food they could catch in a single outing the more they could preserve and use over the next few days before going out again. And it wasn't only the food, nothing of the animals went to waste.
Hide and furs often being used for clothing or to make huts. The meat was eaten, eyes and tongue too. The bones had the most use though, the people used them to make tools, weapons, construct huts akin to tents if the bones were big enough. Otherwise they were used to help keep clothing shut, buttons. Finally they would use bones as medicine too, something Blake had read about on Remnant and been told from the leader.
She'd been a part of the tribe for weeks now, her position odd as while they were all humans she had shown great skill and bravery as she struck down the bear single-handedly. She'd been made a fur coat of her own and the leather used to fit her with clothing too. The meat and bones went to the village as a whole and fed them for a week with larger proportioned meals, a rare gift that seen her getting thanked by many.
Still, she had her ears which the people found strange, but what Blake found strange was that none of them had ever heard of the term Faunus. They did tell her stories of the skinchangers though, people who could enter the body of animals and control them, but never did any story mention the addition of animal appendages.
It was at that point that Blake started to realise she wasn't on Remnant anymore. The lack of technology and a learned society. The ancient weapons and strange traditions. The stories they had and views they held, most notably against what was called the Night's Watch, an organisation of men who looked upon those beyond this, Wall, as savages.
While Blake didn't really think these people were savages, she'd only been there a short time and never seen The Wall or the Night's Watch. She didn't know of the history and had only seen one side, the side of the tribe she was in. Isolated deep within this "true north" she'd been told she was in.
Still, Blake new that her survival was most important and that once she'd prepared enough, she'd leave the tribe to its former existence without her being there. She needed to know more about this world in order to find herself a place in it, or to figure out if there was a way back to Remnant, to her friends who would surely be missing her, mostly her team.
She and Dorrand continued hunting through the woods for hours, searching for any animals large or small. Three more rabbits between the two and two birds later, they started making their way back towards the camp.
Once back in camp the rabbits and birds were taken from them and added to what the other hunters caught, one duo managing to catch themselves a deer. They were praised for their catch, but all were thanked for their contributions, even if their manners weren't sincere. Blake remained quiet and got on with what she needed to, keeping warm and making sure her little hut was keeping the wind out.
It wasn't just her hut though, she shared it with several other women both old and young, most choosing to stay away from her but a couple staying close on the cold nights where the winds howled and threatened to tear the fabric off the wood and bone frame.
She was thankful these humans were more focused on survival, and that the few that had at least somewhat accepted her were willing to aid her as although she'd been with the White Fang, living in the frozen tundra that was the "real north" was harder than she had expected. At least with the fang she had food and better shelter, warmer climates too.
Limbs freezing and a lack of food, stories that made the Grimm sound like large pests, at least they couldn't bring the dead back to life, not like those White Walkers she was told about. But it wasn't the stories that bothered her the most, it was the cold. He cat ears often getting chilled and she hated staying still even when she was tired.
She'd been told many things of how to keep warm. Stay by fires, hide in caves or behind large rocks, any shelter was preferable to none. Exercise by the means of fighting was even better, but apparently the best thing for the cold was to fuck. She'd hear men and women every night doing this, keeping themselves warm, surviving by using one another repeatedly. It was something Blake wasn't against, but she had her principles, and for the time being she wasn't about to let some random male or even female keep warm in an intimate fashion.
A new morning arose with Blake being roused from the warmth she'd found during the night. With a small hiss she sat up, a hunter looking to her ears atop her head which quickly folded down.
"Get out." She hissed.
"I'm your partner today. Get up, there was howling in the night and the leader thinks maybe we can get ourselves a couple of wolves" Blake groaned and nodded. She'd heard the wolves and wouldn't mind putting herself back in a more favourable position with a wolf kill.
"Leave, I'll be out in a moment." She said softly, the flats of her home clapping shut, a sound that caused a few others inside to stir. Great, now they'll be pissy they got woken up. Her tent wasn't filled with hunters, these women were the cooks and cleaners, helped with gathering and training with crude looking blades.
Blake stumbled out into the cold winter, snow crunching beneath her feet and the wind snapping at the fur cloak she now almost lived in every moment of every day. The stench was something she had gotten used to as bathing in the north was hard. Icy lakes or water so cold that you'd lose your extremities if exposed too long. Even her cat ears had been close to frozen solid more than once.
Walking to where her partner was she looked at him, a man looking to be in his forties with a claw scar across his cheek. A bear… no. a Wolf? She wondered as she warmed her hands near the fire the hunters were gathered around. She wasn't the last, but nearly.
"Alright you bastards. I'm sure you all heard the wolves last night. I want you all to hunt them, stay safe and come back though, losing a hunter is the worst thing that can happen to us." Hrorand finished and looked to his side pulling his son closer. "Any questions come and ask my boy."
With that the older man walked away and back to a tent. Her eyes flicked up to Dorrand who was surprisingly already looking at her. Blake's amber eyes narrowed as she say a smile. He started giving the groups of two their hunting grounds, she knew the time had come for her to be given a harder one, but what she got made her partner curse.
"You sending me to die you stupid fuck?"
"Watch your tongue old man! You realise I'm the leader after the old man drops." Blake put her hand on her partner's shoulder.
"Leave it, we'll come back alive and you can shove it in his face then." Blake just wanted to get away from the potential fight. I'm running again, running into an open area. She'd been warned about the area she had just been sent. Not trees, a boulder in the centre but climbable by wolves and bears as they'd often been seen relaxing on the boulder.
Checking her quiver and making sure she had no food hidden away in any of her pouches Blake was convinced she was ready. Fifteen arrows and Gambol Shroud hidden under her cloak. She still hadn't fired a shot, hadn't needed to pull it out since she'd arrived on this frozen land.
"You really think we'll make it back? Those who go there are always the more experienced and careful. Even then sometimes only one returns, or neither." Turning to face the older man she maintained an uninterested expression.
"The tribe needs to eat and exercise keeps us warm. I know I'll make it back but should the worst happen, stay behind me." Blake said, offering to protect him.
"I don't need your protection girl, you're still green here. Just because you got lucky and killed a bear doesn't mean a thing." Pride… a fool. Blake wasn't being arrogant, she simply knew that she was more skilled thanks to her training on Remnant, a place she hoped she could return to someday.
"Forget I offered. Let's get going, standing around talking is freezing my joints already." With a grunt and knocking her aside with his shoulder, the man began leading the way, something he'd have to do since Blake was yet to remember all the zones and paths.
Nora
Training with the king of these Seven Kingdoms had been fun for Nora. She'd held back a lot and allowed Robert to get back into the swing of things, literally as he tried to use his own war hammer.
Nora parried and dodged with ease as the king grunted and swore, insulted her and called her terrible things. Nora just poked her tongue out, tripping the fat man and waiting for him to get up each time. It was entertaining until she gave him what she considered a light tap from her hammer.
Robert was knocked flat on his ass, the armour he wore had a dent in it and Ser Barristan even drew his sword. Nora thought she was going to have to fight against this old man and didn't like the idea of having to subdue him.
Luckily for the both of them, Robert roared back to life. Getting to his feet red cheeked and fuming with rage, he reminded Nora of Yang for the briefest of moments. Though he had black hair and was fat, a male to boot and by no means an attractive man, at least in his current form.
He returned to the match, swinging wildly and with a lot more power than before. Nora could feel it every time she blocked his weapon, a smile grew on her face as she felt the strength that lay behind all that fat. Though she didn't know it was still nothing compared to when he was in his prime and leading the rebellion that made him king.
But that was over two weeks ago and almost every day since, the king had demanded Nora train with him, something that she didn't mind doing since she got to beat up on a king. Today had been no different, Robert had worn armour to protect himself as every session he'd ben hit with Nora's hammer.
Not wanting to wear her hammer out, Nora had requested a training one and Robert had seen to it that she received not one but two, just in case felt like changing her weapon up a little. One was lighter and allowed for faster movements but had less sting to it, Robert honestly preferred it to the heavier one which had winded him on many occasions.
Nora took the king's powerful blow yet again, blocking it with ease and pushing his weapon to the side before striking him in his breastplate with the pommel of her training war hammer. With a grunt Robert staggered backwards, but as Nora went to sweep his legs from under him he sidestepped. He moved! He actually moved! Inside she was cheering, up until then that move would've seen him on his back, again.
"Not today you little monster." Robert breathed, a smile plastering his face.
"Finally learning that you don't like it on you bum eh fatty?" Nora taunted. Robert lost his smile immediately and swung hard. Nora dodged and pivoted, swinging her hammer at his bulging gut once again. The impact was solid, but she was using the lighter of the hammers.
Thinking she'd again winded him she eased up, before taking a fist to the side of her face. Stumbling sideways she looked at him in shock. Her aura had taken the damage but she'd let her guard down in front of a man now bellowing with laughter.
"You're slacking girl." Robert taunted in return having landed his first real blow against Nora.
"You're fighting with more fire today! Awesome! Maybe we can get you looking like a king again!" She'd said in excitement but had offended Robert.
"You calling me fat! Again!"
"It's the truth, but since you're training with me maybe we can get you looking like me." Nora posed, her arms rippling as she flexed and showed that she wasn't joking. A woman from another world who could stomp all over the king in an instant, if she wasn't so kind hearted.
"Barristan! Would you like to fight this girl, she insulted your king."
"Your Grace, are you asking me to end this girl's life?" Nora looked between the two.
"No way, just because you're a bit overweight and you don't like me pointing it out?" Nora asked sounding a little hurt by the current tone of things.
"Not to kill her, but to teach her some respect." Robert growled, hammer at the ready.
"At the same time your Grace?"
"Oh! Old and fat, a two on one! This should be fun!" Nora bounced from side to side, hips and shoulders swaying slightly out of time as she readied herself for a fight.
The knight moved to her left while the king, his fatness moved to her right. Nora was experienced in fighting, she'd been doing it ever since she was a little girl after all. Since she met Ren and they'd lost their village, survival required fighting.
The scratching of steel against a scabbard reached her ears, the older man called Barristan, nicknamed The Bold as Varys had educated her. Head of the Kingsguard and the best swordsman in all the Seven Kingdoms. He was someone Nora was wary about, unlike Robert who she knew was slow and angry, she knew next to nothing about Barristan.
A huff from Robert let her know where the first strike was coming from and she moved to deflect it. But just as she started moving, the sound of moving armour made her change her mind. She dodged Robert's strike and blocked Barristan's who quickly move to another, and another, then another. Strike after strike, pinpoint and twice breaching her guard and taking chunks out of her aura, Nora was more than surprised.
He's fast… so fast. Barristan had his reputation for a reason, as a sword fighter he was said to be unmatched in one on one combat and Nora was struggling with him, let alone the constant attacks that came from Robert.
Left… left… block. Counter! Nope! Back peddling, Nora found herself getting more and more excited. She hadn't been pushed like this since Pyrrha and her had been sparring, but it wasn't like she was going all out, too afraid to hurt them beyond reason. Her aura could take hits where as if she hit them. The thoughts of the guard that had his bones broken by her hammer flickered through her mind.
Feeling a sharp jab and knowing it was Barristan, she looked to find his eyes becoming concerned and confused. He'd just hit her again and nothing had happened. No blood, not even a scratch. She took that moment to end it. With Barristan's mixed emotions and Nora's new-found course of action, it was over in four strikes.
One knocking his blade up, the second connecting with his hand, the third being the pommel striking him hard in the chest and the fourth and final blow being with the flat of her hammer against Robert's armoured stomach. Robert fell to the ground while Barristan only stumbled, baffled by the sudden and accurate counter attack that came from Nora.
Nora put her weapon down, leaning it against the wall as she went over to the table where Robert kept his wine. On said table there was some water that Nora quickly drank, two glasses full before looking back to see the two men whispering to one another. I wonder if they're talking about… Her thought were interrupted by the knocking on the door.
"Your Grace, your Hand has come to see you."
"Let him in!" Robert called, walking over to the table and pouring himself and Barristan some wine.
The king's Hand, Eddard Stark made his way into the king's personal training room with his eyes falling upon the small girl. Nora remembered seeing him briefly upon his arrival to the capital and the Red Keep.
"Ned! What brings you here? Want to try your hand at fighting this little shit?" Robert gestured to Nora who would happily take the challenge.
"You've been beating a woman by training. I thought better of you Your Grace." Eddard spoke openly, letting his views be known truthfully.
"Other way old man. I beat both of their butts." Nora said, Eddard narrowed his eyes at the girl and shook his head.
"No one could be Ser Barristan." He said flatly, denying Nora's claim that she could have ever beaten him.
"Lord Stark, I don't know if I would say she bested me. But there was something that I couldn't explain. I should have drawn blood but she doesn't even have a scratch. It was like magic."
"Magic doesn't exist Barristan, perhaps you're get too old." Robert said with laughter following. Nora just looked between them, Barristan confident he'd hit her while the other two denied it since there wasn't even a mark, and she wasn't wearing any protection.
"It's no magic. It's my aura. We were taught a Beacon that is the manifestation of a person's soul." It won't do them any harm in knowing, I already told Varys about it. Nora figured the king would hear it from her or Varys so why not her.
"Then, you're telling me that I did hit you?" Barristan asked, a hand resting on the hilt of his sword while the three looked at the much shorter girl.
"Yup, I counted three time but I think it was more than that."
"Absurd, you'd be bleeding or dead by now." Robert growled, again waving her claim off as impossible.
"Is there a way you can prove this, Miss…" Eddard asked.
"Nora Valkyrie. And of course! Old guy, try and cut me in two at the waist." Nora put her hands behind her head and stood waiting, her aura active and focus at where she told him to strike.
"You are sure I won't harm you child?"
"Come on! It'll be fun!" Nora started giggling as the bewildered looks the three men had were virtually identical.
Hearing the sound of a sword being drawn, Nora looked into Barristan's eyes and nodded. A smile remained on her face and her relaxed posture showed her confidence in the matter.
"Old Gods protect this girl." Eddard prayed as Barristan swung. His sword cutting through the air as both Eddard's and Robert's faces began to twist into a disgusted form as they thought they knew what would happen.
The sword connected with Nora, her aura taking the blow and leaving the bomber safe and sound. Sure there was a little discomfort as although it took the impact and damage, the force behind the attacks were always felt in some small way.
Nora dropped her arms and she looked at the men one at a time, laughing at the perplexed expressions that each of them wore. Now I think they'll believe me. Silly men.
"So, do you believe me now?" None of them spoke as they all tried to process what had just happened, why Nora hadn't been split in two from the greatest swordsman in the Seven Kingdoms.
"How?" Barristan asked.
"I told you, it's my aura. Think of it like armour, but its invisible and you can't hurt me until it is depleted, in most cases. And if you give me enough time it recharges too. What I'm saying is, so long as my aura is active them it's nearly impossible to harm me." Smiling widely she looked to the king. "That's why I don't wear all that heavy armour you offer me."
"Magic, sorcery." Robert grumbled. "Ned! What did you come here for. Let us not speak of this anymore."
"The Hand's Tournament…"
"Is going to be grand! What other way to celebrate your appointment as my Hand." Robert boomed loudly, putting a hand on Eddard's back.
"It cost too much Your Grace, we should call it off, spend the crown's…"
"Nonsense! You deserve this! The people, need this." His broad smile was something Nora at least admired, he was easy to please but equally easy to anger.
A tournament sounds like fun, and that means strong people. Strong people I can play with. Getting herself worked up and excited, Nora waited for the two old friends to stop arguing. Eddard trying to convince Robert that they couldn't afford such an extravagant event before trying to get him to lower the winning purses for every event.
Robert denied him with a more deafening shout. He was the King and it was going to be his way. Eventually Eddard gave up after looking to Barristan for assistance but the old knight merely looked away.
"As you wish, Your Grace." He said, dismissing himself.
"Hey can I fight!" Nora skipped to the king's side looking up at him. Robert dwarfed her by nearly a foot and a half, not to mention that his gut made her seem to be almost hiding behind him.
"You're not a knight, only knight can compete." Barristan said gently. Nora screwed her face up and sighed.
"Then make me a knight. You're the king so you can do whatever you want." She stomped the ground and widened her stance. "I want to see what your best fighters are made of." With a white toothed smile, Nora held Robert's gaze while his Hand and leader of the Kingsguard looked on.
"And why would I do that? You have no loyalty to me, call yourself a queen of my own castle. I know nothing about you." Robert was right in his assumptions, but Nora responded quickly.
"I could have killed you by now plenty of times. Even the old guy wouldn't have saved you."
"Watch your tone girl, you're speaking to the King!" Eddard growled as Nora claimed she could have ended the king and the best swordsman in the seven kingdoms.
Nora just wanted to see what they could do and poked her tongue out at Eddard, Robert roared in laughter and put a hand on her orange head of hair.
"You're a bold one! You remind me of myself when I was younger."
"So you'll make me a knight?" Nora asked hopefully.
""I'll consider it. For now how about we return to our sparring. I believe I still have time before I must attend other matters." He looked to Barristan for reassurance with the guard nodding.
"If you'll excuse me Your Grace, there are things I must attend to in your stead." Eddard excused himself again, this time leaving the room while the two hammer wielding warriors went at it again, Nora just toying with the fat king while thinking about the tournament.
Hope you all enjoyed and Merry Christmas for all those celebrating.