Chapter Ten
Believe, Achieve, Succeed
-Motto of House Black
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Doran Martell groaned unhappily as another rather large wave hit the side of the boat moving it causing another wave of nausea to rise in him. He imagined that if he looked at a mirror right now, he would be seeing his face in a vivid shade of green. There's a very good reason as to why Doran is the ruler and Oberyn is the adventurer. Other than the fact that he had a serious disease of gout in his bones, Doran is prone to road sickness and worse, sea sickness. Of course being the next ruler of Dorne, his parents tried extensively to hide that fact from anyone other than their immediate family. It won't do well for a ruler to be given a reason to be mocked and laughed by his subjects after all. As it is, the Prince of Dorne could literally count in his two hands the number he had left the hot sands of his country.
Another wave hit the right deck of the Swan ship Doran is in forcing the wheel-chair of the Prince of Dorne to move nearly causing said Prince to shriek like a girl in fear. Unable to control his raging stomach any longer, Doran immediately grabbed the moleskin that the Arnorians gave him before he boarded and practically burped out the entirety of his lunch not caring about public appearance any longer. He's sure the Tower Guards assigned to him are snickering, despite the stoic face they're maintaining.
Imrahil who had been in charge on this current journey are pushing the Swan ships as best as he could, making the week trip into two days past the Summer sea and Summer Isles as they hurried back to Arnor. Doran can't fault him, Alya is in critical condition and only the magic of that Dryad "thingy" is keeping her from completely losing all her blood from the throat wound she had.
And that's the reason why Doran despite his large misgivings had braved these seven hells of a journey. Alya had been on their halls and keep when she had come to them as an ambassador for her people. Doran had lost count the number of times he beat himself mentally for allowing Alya to join in the internal problems of Dorne despite it succeeding and her volunteering. With her wounded, the situation between Arnor and Dorne is at a thin thread. He knew nothing of this people and how her father would react once knowing that her daughter is almost killed on a campaign that Doran sanctioned. Wars have been fought for reasons less. And he would never allow Dorne to tangle with Arnor if he could.
After House Uller had been put down, the Arnorians lost none with only a few wounded while the Martell soldiers had fifty-two men dead and another hundred wounded with half of that never be able to hold a weapon again. That is saying something since during the forefront of the attack; the Arnorians had been the ones at the front. They simply had better armor and better training, something that Doran didn't fail to notice. It'd be best if he's here to explain things than to let heresay and rumors be the one that Alya's father believe and cause a bloody war.
Doran just sighed as they final entered the famous Sea of Mists that is the borders of the Arnorian Seas. It's a good thing that Elia had gone with him; else his problem would be ten times worse.
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Tywin Lannister, warden of the West and Lord of Casterly Rock winced despite his cold facade as the mad king threw the glass he is drinking on the floor with a crash that echoed along the halls of the Red Keep filled with Dragon Bones. If not for the fact that he's the Hand of the King, Tywin would have been trying his best not to be put in this situation currently. Being in front of Aerys Targaryen when he's as mad as this is potentially hazardous for anyone in the vicinity with the probability of him or her being burned alive.
"You told me you've sent your fastest riders on Dorne Tywin! I want that girl taken and brought here for questioning! How did she leave?!" demanded the skulking figure in front of them, his spittle practically flying on his every word.
"They left without warning your Grace," replied Tywin sagely knowing that soothing words is best required now in the current situation instead of his usual cold and stern one. "Even the fastest horse from King's Landing won't be able to arrive in Sunspear in a matter of weeks. My men have ridden as fast as they could without killing the horses to bring your invitation but the princess of Arnor haven't stayed there enough before my men could get to her,"
"Bah! Excuses! Excuses! Your men are seemly pathetic, like all you Lannisters. I want all of them brought here tomorrow to be judged for their incompetence," spat Aerys looking half-deranged as he gave the order.
"Yes your Grace," Tywin simply bowed trying his damnest not to show his gritting teeth. Those men are loyal to him and handpicked by him personally. He would get a lot of negative feedback he's sure once Aerys is done with the farce of a judgement before burning them. Still, it's better they than him.
"Wait," Tywin stiffened as the piercing mad eyes of the nutty king turned on him. "Maybe they aren't too blame, maybe it's you, you sneaking lion! You're obviously conspiring with Dorne to take me down from the Iron Throne aren't you? And now you're allying with backwater savages to come and kill me and the dynasty I am building! You can't! I am a Dragon! I cannot be burned! However you will burn Lion!" declared the Mad King laughing uproariously and Tywin for a moment was sure that his end will come in flames as the Mad King turned to his Kingsguard to give the order when Varys who is standing beside Tywin came to his rescue just in time.
"Perhaps Lord Tywin is speaking truthfully your Grace," interjected the only man that Aerys seemed to listen, other than the head of the Alchemist Guild. And also just in time to save his hide.
"Speak Spider!" ordered the Mad King with a twirl of his hands simply.
"He had nothing to be blames Your Grace, my little birds in Dorne had sung that the Princess Alya Black of Arnor had been on a diplomatic mission with the Dornish leadership when Prince Doran received word from his forces that are besieging House Uller, a house in Dorne undermining the Martell authority,"
"So those snakes down south are collaborating with the enemies from the sea!" hissed Aerys in an accusation as more spittle flew from him.
"No your Grace, Oberyn Martell, Doran's brother had met with this princess when he's touring Essos and had joined her in bed more than once apparently. He had given her an invitation to visit Dorne and thus she had appeared. However for reasons unknown then, the princess of Arnor led a charge against the fortress of House Uller with her forces and the Martells'. Apparently they won in a day but an accident from a loose crossbow hit the Princess' neck and nearly killed her. Her men had brought her back to her Kingdom to be healed, which is unlikely, a fatal wound my birds reported it to be and her chances of passing through it are slim to none," explained Varys.
"Hmm..good! At least that's one threat to the realm down. Inform me more if these savages from the sea dare enter my kingdom without permission Spymaster. I gotta find my wife and celebrate,"
Tywin winced alongside Varys and the Kingsguard as the king still cackling trotted back to the walkways heading towards the royal chambers obviously to rape his queen again. Nodding to Varys in thanks, Tywin watched the Kingsguard disperse the hall to guard their positions with the king. He let off a small breathe of relief that is unnoticeable to many. He had nearly been killed there for a moment.
"Lord Hand if I may," the usual almost feminine voice of Varys made Tywin turn to the Eunuch that had saved his hide.
"Lord Varys," nodded Tywin.
"Just Varys Lord Hand, as you already may well know, his Grace might still harbor suspicion on you about these affair. If I could suggest ways of certain proof that can help you, I advise that you round up the gifts that the Princess of Arnor offered to the Dornish in the King's name and present them to His Grace, that would be unresolvable proof that only the Dornish and the Dornish alone had contact with this Princess Alya Black,"
Tywin only nodded at what Varys said, it does have point and it's not as if it would hurt him or the Lannister name as a whole. Sure Dorne would be pissed, but it had the king's seal and the blame would be at Aerys and Aerys alone. His name got cleaned in the Mad King's eyes, he confiscates some precious goods that might be priceless and no backfire on any way possible.
"Thank you for the information Lord Varys, I'll make sure to act on it," nodding once more to Varys, Tywin walked away ready to send a message to Lannisport to order five ships, with them fully crewed to go to Dorne and confiscate whatever the Arnorians gave the Dornish. Now that he thought about it, maybe he would succeed on making Aerys earn a good mood that he could manipulate the deranged man to agree on a marriage between his son and his daughter. He never noticed the gleam on the spider's eyes staring at his back as the Old Lion calculated his own plans and agendas.
"Sorcery and magic and anything related to it will never set foot on Westeros and its people. What happened to me no will ever bear as long as I am here and I am I swear," muttered the Spider watching the retreating back of the Lion lord before also going on his own way back to his office.
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"What the hell happened to her?" Sirius Black half-yelled, half-screeched as he took to the stairs down to the Houses of Healing, two steps at a time, ignoring the frantic calling of his chamberlain that he be careful else he might fall and accidentally broke his neck.
There are only a few times that Sirius felt true fear. One was when the news was brought to him that the Potters, the best people in the world he knew was dead and also his daughter, another had been when his soul nearly got sucked in by a Dementor and the latest is when he was tossed like a ragdoll on this new world inside the merchant ship that had bought them when they're still alive and it was caught in a storm.
However nothing could compare to the terror that is seizing him right now as he reached the entrances of the Houses of Healing, the Tower Guards guarding it immediately standing aside at the sight of their king and did not bother with formalities and pleasantries knowing very much the reason of his haste.
Sirius had been in the middle of the thrice demented paperwork that he abhorred with a passion (which Alya usually managed if she's at Minas Tirith) when word came from a messenger riding a Gryphon that the ten ships that have went with Alya returned. Normally he would be giddy with joy seeing that his daughter didn't waste time galvinating around the world and delaying as much as she could, he preferred her here where he could watch her grow and protect her from anyone or anything that might cause her harm. He loved her with all his heart and he had sworn never to let her go again, so when the chamberlain uttered the words that his daughter is wounded, he wasted no time apparating to the entrance of the Houses of Healing and sprinted inside its lofty corridors.
"Where's my daughter?!" snapped the King of Arnor slamming open the doors of the room reserved for the royals as he strode inside where Dryads and even a centaur are gathered beside Imrahil and Trystane in the corner watching Healer Harding and the Dryad Matriarch scan the body of his daughter who much to Sirius' horror looked as pale as sheet even as two healers tried their best to staunch the bleeding coming from her neck where an ugly looking wound festered and a crossbow bolt on it.
"Keep it down your Grace," whispered Arthur, the Lord of Ithilien who had entered behind him on the door to check also on their beloved princess. "I know you're worried and afraid, I understand that. I myself am a father after all. However yelling and bothering the healers as they did their work would only be troubling and bothering them my king,"
Sirius wanted nothing more than to punch Arthur, stride to the side of his daughter and question the healers to the death to assure him that his daughter would be alright, rational and emotional desires warred, rational won in a landslide.
Sighing tiredly, Sirius nodded in agreement to his the lord of Ithilen's words. What he say is true after all, and Alya if she's awake would kick his butt into kingdom come for acting like a demented rooster. Walking to a seat provided for him by the others Sirius sat patiently as Imrahil in a small voice narrated what caused and the reason why of his daughter's current condition.
"You allowed her to go into battle?" asked Sirius incredulously as Imrahil finished. That is extremely irresponsible and idiotic, not to mention the political ramifications that such an action could cause. Why in the world did Alya help anyway? And Imrahil is fair-headed and wise, it is something that he never thought the lord of Dol Amroth will do.
Said lord only winced at the question. "Yes my king, I tried protesting but the princess has overruled me and wanted to proceed with her decision. You know as well as I do how stubborn and headstrong she can be when she put her mind to it," he pointed out.
"I guess I can't blame you," answered Sirius looking at the frail face of his lovely daughter. "What prompted you to go into battle Alya?" he wondered out loud before turning his direction to the healers led by Harding who had finally left Alya's side except for the Dryads who are singing a lullaby showing off an aura of green magic heading to the unconscious body on the mat.
"Healer Harding, is my daughter going to be okay?" asked Sirius, trying not to show his nervousness as the Healer sighed tiredly looking at him in the eye sternly.
"I'm going to be frank with you my liege, the news I have is neither good nor bad," spoke the Head Healer glancing at the body of their beloved princess in sorrow. Like everyone else, he also loved their princess who had done a great effort on ruling and making everyone on the Island of Arnor prosperous.
Gulping, he droned on. "As you can already probably deduce, the damage to her is severe. The arrow had damaged a part of her spinal cord cutting it severely which is the reason of her catatonic state as of now. We were lucky that her trachea and large parts of her breath way isn't touched else she would be drowning already in her own blood. It's also fortunate that she brought her Dryad handmaiden with her, if not for her, she would already have died. As it is, the magic she wove is the only thing temporarily binding the damage inside her and is allowing small amounts of blood to rush up to her brain, just enough to keep her alive without it leaving through the wound in her body in copious amounts,"
"So will you be able to fix her? She isn't going to die is she? Can you heal her?" asked Sirius anxiously looking at the pale face of his daughter.
"Yes my king, we would be able to fix her," assured Healer Harding with a wry smile. "And she won't die. You had to thank Prince Imrahil for that else any later and she would even be out of our reach. Conventional tools won't help her case after all and its only nature magic which some fairies and dryads had volunteered to perform will heal her now and bring her back. As Head Healer, it is my duty to inform you my king that despite the fact that we might succeed on healing our princess, there might be problems afterwards," informed the Healer making Sirius' eye sharpen at his words.
"Explain!" he demanded simply and sternly.
"Lack of regular blood flow and air in her brain might have some adverse effects in her body my king, effects that we don't know yet until she woke up. I felt it would be prudent if you're given a heads-up instead of being surprised," answered the Healer sagely despite the glaring down of his liege. "If that's all my king, please vacate the room and we would start the process if you don't mind,"
Sighing once more, Sirius nodded at the lords gathered on the room alongside the Tower Guards as they vacated the room, leaving the dryads to take care of his baby girl. Once more he felt fifty years older than his current age as the door closed behind him.
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On another room inside the Houses of Healing, a pair of violet eyes opened with a small gasp looking around frantically and wondering about the fact that the surroundings she had seen before plunged into eternal darkness and pain is different from the one she had woken up to.
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So that's that this chapter. Please Review. By the way, I had no idea what to add next, so please be patient for the next update. And for the negative opinions that some are giving me in PM's and reviews, Ill take a little delay at the next update.
AnimeAA5Kicker: Yes, it's the wife of Aegon I.
Secret-sorrow: Secret :P
Hikari-Nova: Youre the only one who got the reason as to why I put Rhaenys here hahaha
Light Lord Cybergate: Alya just didn't attack some house in random, House Martell which is the ruling family of Dorne sanctioned and allowed it, even supported it. It is Dorne's internal affair, something that the Crown doesn't concern itself with. Secondly she charged first and inspired everyone as a leader. And Alya knows how to fight, remember, war against Voldy? She's not a pampered princess.
Spoiler
PS: Fun times later with both Oberyn and Kevan with the mermaids and the water dragon.
PS: Rhaenys is gonna lay the smackdown on Sirius for being a pervert.
PS: Alya's beauty increase and her….disability will show. Also change of attire that many of you will probably disapprove.
PS: More fluff with Elia.
PS: Doran gets treated.
PS: Plans to return on Westeros. And Introduction of Lord Rickard Stark.
PS: Edain King gets involved.
PS: Rhaegar plans to marry Elia.