This chapter was a pain to write. Sorry for the delay but I've been busy with real life combined with a lack of inspiration. Hope you enjoy.
Chapter 10
Oberyn wasn't surprised, disgusted yes but certainly not surprised. Tywin Lannister wasn't a man who would let his legacy slip away from him without a fight, of course he would make an attempt on the Princess' life, although the Red Viper was surprised that Tywin was actually calling a trial by combat rather then simply sending someone to cut Selene's throat in her sleep.
Oberyn glanced around the training grounds of the Red Keep where the trial by combat was taking place, various lords and ladies of Westeros taking their seats as they waited for the contestants to turn up. Oberyn used the opportunity to study the expressions of the various lords. The lords of the Stormlands were outraged by what was happening, the bannermen of Storm's End had all been united behind the princess, and more then a few of them had loudly objected to the trial taking place. The lords of the Westerlands however had been the opposite, they had repeatedly stated that Joffrey was the rightful heir to the Iron Throne and that the princess was nothing but a usurper.
But those opinions had been obvious, it was the rest of Westeros that interested Oberyn. The Reach had mostly been supportive of prince Joffrey and while some houses like the Florents and Oakhearts had favoured the princess, most were firmly supportive of the Lannister spawn. In fact Oberyn had actually overheard several Hightower knights give the princess the unflattering nickname of Rhaenyra the Second. The Vale had mostly been supportive of the Princess, with the exception of the odd house here and there. Not surprising as he knew that Selene had visited the Vale several times and was close with many key houses like the Royces. The sole Ironborn favoured the princess, although that wasn't surprising since the young Greyjoy wished to use the princess as a precedent in order to cement her own hopes of ruling the Iron Islands.
The Riverlands, as with every political event and conflict since the dawn of time had been divided. The Mallisters, Blackwoods, and Pipers had supported Selene while the Freys, Vances and Brackens had all supported Joffrey. Edmure Tully had been rather neutral, showing a strange amount of wisdom considering his reputation and had simply observed both candidates, assessing which would be the better option, though he seemed to find the princess preferable, rather surprising since he knew the Tullys were loosing a rather decent amount of gold thanks to the Stormlands new agricultural methods.
Personally between the two Baratheons Oberyn would support the princess, and that had nothing to do with Dornish customs that favoured the eldest. Oberyn glanced at the Lannister coloured Baratheon only to turn away in disgust, the boy was practically salivating at the upcoming fight. It truly sickened Oberyn that the boy was so eager to watch his sister die and if he already possessed a sadistic streak when he was only thirteen then the Dornish Prince truly dreaded what he would be like when he was older and actually managed to sit on the Iron Throne.
Oberyn glanced at the rest of the royal family. The two young children, Tommen and Myrcella, both looked terrified about what was happening, despite their young age both the children knew that their was a very good chance that they were going to watch their older sister die. The Lannister queen had a massive grin on her face, not even bothering to put up any kind of pretense while the king seemed to be going back and forth between rage and fear about what he was feeling. If it was any other man then Oberyn would have felt sorry for him but for the Baratheon king who had spat at Elia's body after the Lannisters had butchered her, he felt no sympathy whatsoever.
A hushed silence fell over the crowd as the combatants entered the training grounds and Oberyn saw red. Ser Gregor Clegane, the Mountain that Rides, and the man who had raped and murdered his sister. Oberyn's body tensed as he gripped his chair tightly, resisting the urge to grab his spear and charge at the Mountain, driving his poisoned blade through the monsters heart.
"Calm yourself lover." A soothing voice told him as Ellaria held his hand with her own, calming him down slightly.
"The Baratheon girl's going to fight THAT." His daughter Nym stated with a small amount of horror at the sheer size of Clegane. He was called the Mountain for good reason.
"Unless she's careful she's going to be killed by that." His oldest Obara stated. That was true, while the princess was indeed a very skilled fighter she did not yet possess the skill to take on someone of the Mountain's calibre.
Oberyn teared his eyes away from Clegane and looked at Selene Baratheon. She wore a simply chain mail suited ideally for her, which honestly offered little protection, and she had no shield, only a longsword. It was clear that the Princess intended to use her speed, a smart decision against an opponent as reliant on strength as the Mountain, but if she failed to dodge or block a blow then that armour would do nothing to save her. The girl had her hair braided and tied to prevent it from getting in the way, or being grabbed and he also noticed a dagger on her belt as well. From he angle he couldn't get a proper look, but it seemed to be a remarkably expensive dagger.
It was the sword that the princess wielded that drew his eyes. It wasn't the same sword that the princess had been using the last few weeks to train, he should know he had been watching her train many times, even sparring with her a few times.
The new Grandmaester Marwyn, mocked Marwyn the Mage by his fellow Maesters according to Sarella due to his obsession with magic and the higher mysteries as opposed to other sciences and studies. "In the sight of gods and men, we are here to ascertain who the rightful heir to the Iron Throne is. Do the the combatants wish to speak any last words?" The question was mostly pointed at the princess, it seemed even the Grandmaester did not have much hope for the princesses chances against the Mountain.
The Mountain merely grunted while Selene did not look at either her opponent or the Grandmaester, instead staring at her family, or more particularly her brother Joffrey. The intense gaze of his sister was enough to force the sadistic grin off the little shits face while a look of worry came over it. "At least I have the courage to face my enemies, can you say the same my darling brother?" The boy flushed especially as the gathered nobles all whispered to each other. Oberyn smirked at the princesses words. She had just pointed out that the boy was a coward in front of all the lords of Westeros. True the boy was only three and ten name days, but the princess was not yet six and ten name days old and yet she was still fighting one of the most ferocious warriors in Westeros.
"Begin." As soon as the word was said the princess drew her sword from its scabbard causing a hushed gasp to fall over the crowd at the sight of the blade.
"Dawn." He muttered in shock. No it wasn't the Daynes ancestral weapon. The blade itself was the same milky white as Dawn but it wasn't Dawn, for starters Dawn didn't glow. To the untrained eye it would look like the sword was on fire with white flames, but it wasn't. The blade shone with a white light, that had absolutely nothing to do with the sun reflecting on it. The blade was truly beautiful and unlike any other sword Oberyn had ever seen.
"Lightbringer." He heard someone whisper. Looking he saw that it was the Red Priest Thoros of Myr who was looking at the princess in shock. Lightbringer, Oberyn glanced back at the sword in Selene's hand. He had never seen a blade like that before, could it truly be the fabled fire sword of legend? And if so how had come to be in the princesses possession?
It wasn't just the audience that was staring captivated by the blade, Gregor Clegane was staring dumbly at it as well. "Ser Gregor, are just going to stand their like a dumb ox or are we going to fight." Selene called out causing Oberyn to laugh. The Princess may be a woman but she certainly wasn't lacking balls.
Clegane let out a bellow of rage as he charged at the princess with a speed that should have been impossible considering his size and the weight of the armour he was wearing, intent on decapitating the princess in one go. With a natural grace Selene ducked under the blow and then swung her sword at Clegane, a loud clang filling the training grounds as her blade connected Ser Gregor's.
- Line Break (Flashback(evil grin)) -
Yara walked through the corridors of the Red Keep on her way to the Princess's chambers. Just the night before Selene Baratheon's claim to the Iron Throne had been challenged in front of all the lords and ladies of Westeros by her younger brother Joffrey. Yara had to admit, it was a bold move. A trial by combat was only used in extreme circumstances and as far as Yara was aware it had never before been used to determine the royal succession.
Although it would certainly be quicker and easier then calling a Great Council as it had been done in the past.
When Yara reached the princess' chambers she didn't bother knocking, she just walked straight through and none of guards made any moves to stop her. Yara found Selene on the floor, knees bent and hands behind her head, pushing her chest up to her knees and and then back to the floor and she was muttering what Yara guessed was numbers.
"That's a strange exercise." She spoke causing to stop her exercise as she glanced at her.
With a small laugh Selene got off the floor. "But rather useful." She replied to the Ironborn. "Would you like a drink?" Selene offered as she poured herself a glass of wine to which Yara agreed as she looked at the princess curiously. Considering that only the night before she had been challenged to a trial by combat she appeared to be remarkably unbothered by it.
Yara sipped the wine while Selene grabbed a book from the shelf in the corner of the room. "Have you ever read this?" Selene asked as she showed Yara the book.
"I'm not much of a reader." Yara admitted. She wasn't illiterate like many Ironborn nobles but she wasn't like her uncle Rodrik. "'The Hoares of the Iron Islands: Raiders or Traders?' by Maester O'Cornorl." She spoke the title as she stared at the princess not understanding why she had given her the book.
"Of all the houses to rule the Iron Islands the Hoares were by far the richest and the most successful. They turned a bunch of backwater islands into a thriving kingdom. Compared to them, your own ancestors honestly can't compare."
Yara frowned, red tinting her cheeks at her words. "Is that so?" She asked with a bit of anger.
"I'm not trying to insult you or your ancestors. I'm just trying to point out that your family hasn't been the wisest of rulers, and best way to forge a good future is to acknowledge the mistakes of the past." Selene stated.
"And your saying your own ancestors are perfect?" Yara asked causing Selene to snort.
"Hardly but there is reason why house Baratheon has gone from mere commoners on Dragonstone to ruling all of Westeros, and house Greyjoy isn't." Selene replied. "You told me yesterday that you considered yourself more of a Harlaw then a Greyjoy,"
"I did." Yara answered even though it wasn't a question.
"Your uncle doesn't have any children, would he be willing to name you the heir of Harlaw?"
"He has offered a few times, why?"
"Theon will still rule Pyke, but you will rule the Iron Islands from Harlaw, if you can prove to me that naming you its ruler is the best choice. Read that book."
"That's all?" Yara asked incredulous.
"No." Selene answered with amusement. "Ironborn raid and pillage-"
"We only do that because we do not have the crops to sustain us." Yara interrupted.
"Exactly." Selene yelled, causing Yara to jump a little in surprise and confusion. "But what you don't understand is that their are alternative ways to get the crops you need in order to survive. Neither the North or the Vale have the farmlands to sustain themselves, otherwise they'll suffer famines."
"What's your point?"
"My point is that the Iron Islands don't need to resort to raiding in order to get the crops they need in order to survive. Use your resources, you have iron ore in abundance, trade it. Edmure Tully is in the capital and not only do the Tullys have fertile lands in abundance but they also have a complete lack of iron ore which makes them the ideal family for you to trade with."
Yara nodded along. The princess made a good point, she wouldn't deny that but what she was suggesting was much harder in reality then it was in theory. "Making a trading deal is easier said then done, my people aren't exactly well liked by greenlanders, especially the people from the Riverlands who were conquered by the Hoares."
"That's why I suggest the Tullys." Selene stated. "Personally I don't actually like Lord Hoster that much, overbearing and overly ambitious, but I do respect him. Lord Hoster is a cunning politician and a skilled businessmen. He may not like Ironborn but he is the kind of man who'll see the benefits of an alliance with you, and with an alliance with the Riverlands feeding the peoples of the Iron Islands will be far easier."
"Raiding is part of our way of life." Yara countered. "While some of the wiser captains will see the benefits of trade, the majority look down on 'the gold price' as opposed to paying the iron price. What's your solution for that?" Many Ironborn lords had attempted to change their culture, her grandfather Quellon for example but they were unsuccessful.
"The reason the lords of Westeros hate the Ironborn is because they are the victims of your raids, but if they weren't the victims then most would be completely indifferent." Selene didn't add any more, waiting for Yara to connect the dots herself.
"But merely raiding Essos wouldn't suffice." Yara stated as her mind worked. "We would still interfere with trade, drawing ire from the lords of Westeros as our raids would impact on it. So you want us to raid pirates. The Stepstones and the Basilisk Isles are but two of many places that are home to countless pirates."
Selene smiled as Yara realised what she was implying. "You and the Iroborn raid lands infested with pirates with permission from the crown and no interference from the royal fleet. Your peoples desires for raids and plunder in satisfied without targeting Westeros, which will help to tie the Iron Islands with the mainland, as not only are we not the victims of the raids but you do us favours by wiping out pirates."
"To trading and raiding." Yara spoke holding up her glass.
"And to killing pirates." Selene replied clinging her glass with Yara's as the two young women drank to their budding alliance.
- Line Break -
Marwyn the Mage they called him, the fools didn't realise just how accurate that nickname was. To say he didn't get along with his fellow Archmaesters was an understatement of the highest order. In truth they barely tolerated him and his delusions as they called it. It was considered unbecoming of a maester, let alone an Archmaester to be as fascinated with magic as he was.
After an all day meeting with the remaining Archmaesters they had come to the conclusion that Joffrey Baratheon was within his rights to demand a trial by combat to defend his claim as heir to the Iron Throne. And then they had began the debate about who among them should become the new Grandmaester since Pycelle had decided to retire, and action that was intriguing enough on it's own since the Grandmaesters mostly served until their death.
To say that the debate had been long and tedious was an understatement but after hours he had been chosen as the new Grandmaester. It wasn't because of his skills, but was instead an attempt to get him out of the Citadel. After all he was representation of what the Maesters hated most; magic.
When Marwyn entered his private chambers he immediately pulled his bed out. Removing one of the fake floorboards a red glow filled his chambers. Removing the glass candle he couldn't help but stare intensively at it. It was during Robert's rebellion when magic had returned and the glass candles had relight. It hadn't been easy keeping the fact that magic had returned from the rest of the Archmaesters, replacing all the glass candles with fake ones had been but one of many actions he had undertaken to keep the truth hidden
For years he had been trying to keep magic hidden from the rest of his order, the attempts they had taken to eradicate magic from Westeros was in many ways horrifying and he dreaded to think what should happen when the rest of the Maesters learnt that magic had returned to the world. Being in King's Landing would make that information all that much harder to keep hidden, so he'd have to take every artifact with him, which created a big risk. The capital was a vipers nest overwhelmed with spies, it would not be easy.
Besides unless Marwyn was mistaken powerful magic was present within the capital. He wasn't a particularly gifted mage, his collection of ancient texts on magic had allowed him to learn some magic but he had no illusions about his abilities, he may have magic but he was by no means a master of the craft. But he did have the ability to locate magic within others, one of the reasons he had taken the young acolyte 'Alleras' under his wing. He wondered if he could take the acolyte with him to King's Landing but that was besides the point.
The point was that powerful magic was present in the capital, very powerful magic. It both intrigued and worried him, there hadn't been such powerful magic in Westeros since the Dance of the Dragons where not only were all the dragons killed but every member of the Targaryen family who knew of their ancient Valyrian abilities was killed, leaving only children who knew nothing but stories.
- Line Break -
Selene sighed as she sat down, a glass of wine her hand. She was fairly sure that she was starting to drink a bit too much but she blamed her father for that, alcoholic genes and that shit, besides it was well deserved in her opinion. In three days she would be fighting Ser Gregor Clegane. Selene had been training every day since Tyrion had told her of his father's plan.
She had been training with her father, Barristan Selmy, and on a few occasions the Prince of Dorne Oberyn Martell. So say that they had been harsh taskmasters was an understatement. Hell her father could Jaqen a run for his money in terms of brutality, she had been trained by a master assassin yet she still felt like she was going to drop to floor in exhaustion.
She new why her father was pushing her so hard, he blamed himself for what was happening and was trying to ensure that she was skilled enough to take on the Mountain.
A knock on her door drew her attention. "Enter." She called out and Jon entered. "Jon. How are you?" She asked her cousin.
"I'm fine." Jon relied nervously. "And you."
"Besides a massive bruise on my side I'm fine." Selene joked although was lost on Jon who was simply frowned. "Jon the whole brooding act may be attractive but you really need to liven up. Girls like a bit of fun behind the brooding mask." She teased causing him to blush. Jon was just far to easy to tease.
"I- I don't brood." Jon stuttered out.
"Yes you do." She laughed slightly.
"I'm here because I'm worried about you. In three days you'll be fighting the Mountain, are you prepared for it?" Jon was worried, very worried. Even in the far North he'd heard of the Mountain's reputation as the Lannister attack dog and he wasn't sure if Selene could beat him.
Getting up off the chair Selene walked over to Jon and pulled him into a hug. "Trust me Jon, I will not be dying at the hands of Gregor Clegane." She reassured her cousin. "So how are you enjoying the capital?"
"It's good." And Jon wasn't lying, true he still wasn't used to the smell and he didn't think he ever would be, but in the capital he was simply the cousin of a princess and a squire to a Kingsguard, which was better in Winterfell where he was a symbol of how his father had been unfaithful to his lady wife. True some people did still look down on him for being a bastard, but most simply didn't give two shits.
"I heard you have even become friends with Samwell Tarly?" Selene asked curiously, she didn't know much about the son of Randyl Tarly but she did know that his father was meant to be disappointed with him. For a man who was regarded as one of the greatest military generals in all of Westeros, having a scholar of a son had to be a bitter sting.
"I have, he's very different from most of the young nobles from the Reach." Jon stated.
"Meaning he doesn't act like the sun comes out of his ass and we should all be grateful for it." Selene replied causing Jon to snort at his cousins words as he nodded. There were a lot of young pompous teenage nobles from the Reach.
"I've also met the Tyrells briefly." He said causing Selene to grimace.
"You have my sympathies." Selene stated confusing him slightly.
"What do you mean?"
"Of all the Tyrells the only ones I actually like are Willas and Garlan." Selene spoke. She didn't the Tyrells, respect them to a certain extent yes but she didn't like them, and she would have to be a fool to trust them. Overly ambitious with no loyalty to anybody but themselves and that wasn't just the current generation of the family either. Mace Tyrell was an imbecile and a coward who reminded her far to much of Cornelius Fudge, Olenna was an overly ambitious bitch that wouldn't hesitate to slit open her own husbands throat if the old crone thought it would benefit her, and if you believed the rumours she actually was responsible for his death. Margaery, Selene actually did have a certain amount of respect for but considering her ambition was rivaled only by her grandmother and that nearly every word that passed the woman's lips was a bald faced lie, it was honestly very hard to genuinely like her. Loras wasn't so bad, even if his arrogant and condescending attitude did get on her nerves. Truthfully Willas and Garlan were the best Tyrells in her opinion.
"Are the rest of them really that bad? I mean I know Loras is arrogant and insulting and Lord Mace is meant to be an idiot-"
"Believe me Jon, Olenna has already made a dozen plans about how you could benefit her, and manipulate you so that you can serve her. Olenna is just as ruthless as Tywin Lannister but twice as manipulative. And Mace Tyrell can't even use the privy without one person holding his hand and another wiping his ass." Selene warned him. It honestly wouldn't surprise her if Olenna was planning on setting Jon up with a minor Tyrell and making arrangements for him to inherit Winterfell.
"So don't trust the Tyrells, or the Lannisters, or Baelish any other family I should be wary of?" Jon asked half jokingly.
"Well I would keep an eye on the Martells." Selene said half jokingly, half seriously. Oberyn Martell was subtle, but not as subtle as he thought himself to be and she had seen him watching Jon a few times.
- Line Break -
Selene groaned as she was once again disturbed from her sleep, dreams constantly plaguing her and preventing her from developing a deep sleep. It had been the same dream since she had returned to the capital, she was dreaming of the Isle of Faces, almost like the island was trying to summon her, which was ironic since she actually was planning on visiting the island.
Getting herself dressed Selene made sure no spies were nearby. Whatever was on that island did not seem content to let her wait, and considering that in two days she was going to be fighting the Mountain there wasn't anywhere near enough time to travel from King's Landing to the Isle of Faces in the Riverlands.
"Destination, determination and deliberation." She muttered as she pictured the destination in her mind as she gathered her magic. Turning on the spot, Selene disappeared with a loud crack, vanishing from the Red Keep.
Selene stumbled slightly but managed to keep herself upright and forced down the bile trying to force it's way up her throat. Selene took a few steady breaths as she tried to get her strength back. Apparition was a straining action, even more so in this life. Selene had long since mastered wandless apparition in her last life so she honestly didn't understand how it was as straining as it was in Westeros. Perhaps the absence of magic, she really had no idea, but it was a lot more magically draining.
Selene looked around her, making sure that she was in the right place and she was. She could see the ruined castle of Harrenhal in the distance, and in the other direction she could see the Isle of Faces. She couldn't be certain from the distance but the island appeared to be mostly covered in forests.
Selene shivered slightly as she stared at the God's Eye. There was powerful magic there, very powerful, almost a bit like she could recall from the powerful magic that was present within Hogwarts, if not even more potent. Slowly she walked towards the lake around the island, not really sure what she was looking for, until after a few moments she saw a small boat being rowed towards the shore.
Waiting patiently for the longboat to reach the shore Selene closely eyed the two people rowing it. They seemed to be dressed in green robes, not to different to the kind of robes that were used by maesters. When they finally reached the shore she took a good long look at both of them. While at first glance their robes were that of a maesters, despite being green in colour, a closer glance showed that despite being robes they appeared to be much more form fitting and less restricting of movements, and they were also armed with daggers. Daggers that she recognised from her vision in Winterfell, jagged and brittle, definitely not ideally suited for combat, or at least ideally suited for combat against people, she realised remembering watching her future self use such a weapon against wights.
"Selene Baatheon, descendant of the Storm and Winter kings?" One of the green men asked her.
"I am. May I ask who you two are?" The two men shared a glance, as if silently discussing whether they should tell her their names.
"I am Priest Dorak, this is Priest Arthur." The same green man answered.
"May I ask what you are priests of?"
"We are priests of the Old Gods, commonly known as the green men." Dorak again while Arthur remained silent. "The High Priest has been expecting you?"
"Well then we mustn't keep him waiting." She spoke with a small amount of sarcasm as she climbed onto the longboat after the two priests. "I'm not an expert of the religion to the Old Gods but I wasn't aware that their were priests." She stated, while not a religious person she was curious about the green men, or priests.
"The Ironborn have the drowned men, the Andals have Septons and Septas, while the Dornish who pray to the Mother Rhoyne have their own ceremonies. Why would the First Men be any different?" Dorak asked with a amusement as he rowed the boat.
"Good point. But I have been to the North, the last kingdom to still pray to the Old Gods and yet I have never heard of any such priests." Selene pointed, causing a grimace to cover both Dorak and Arthur's faces.
"You can blame the Andals for that." Arthur spoke, his voice rough as if he wasn't used to speaking often.
"The Andals killed all traces of us South of Neck, with the exception of those who managed to flee to this island, and while the Andals failed to conquer the North, over the centuries they found ways to removing our culture and way of life from the North. Can you speak the Old Tongue?"
"I can understand and speak a bit of it but I am no expert." Selene admitted. "Is that the main language spoken on the Isle of Faces?" She asked curiously causing the two priests to nod. "So what can you tell me about this High Priest?"
Neither of the two priests answered, merely sharing looks of amusement. "You know I am basically risking my life here right? Two men I've never met are escorting me to an island infamous for its mystery." She pointed out, only half joking.
"Trust us Selene, if we wished you harm, we would not bother taking you to the God's Eye." Dorak said with clear amusement in his voice as they reached the shore of the God's Eye and Selene climbed out of the long boat, missing the silent laughter in both priests eyes.
As soon as her feet touched the ground Selene let out a gasp of shock and almost collapsed to the floor as she crossed the boundary wards on the island, feeling the intensity of their power. 'Fuck. No wonder the Andals could never conquer this island, it makes Hogwarts protections look like a shield charm cast by a first year,' She thought to herself. The power around the island was nothing short of exceptional.
"So you are indeed gifted." Arthur spoke with a strange emotion in his voice that she couldn't quite place.
"You would not have felt the protections had you not possessed magic." Dorak explained.
Once Selene had gotten used to the wards she turned to the priests. "Lead the way." She gestured to the two of them. She had come this far and she wasn't turning back now.
The awe that Selene felt when she followed the two priests through the forests on the island reminded her of in her last life when she had first seen Diagon Alley. The green men did not live in huts, or hovels, or grand castles but in something else entirely. The houses seemed to be built within the very trees themselves, connected each tree-house by bridges high in the air. (Picture Lothlorien in lord of the Rings)
The island was also very populated. Men, women and children were all within sight, some wearing the robes of the green men but most of them were wearing simple clothing. And it wasn't just people living on the island as she resisted the urge to gawk at the Children of the Forest and the giants, and even one mammoth, although she wasn't able to resist glancing. The giants weren't that awe inspiring, and while the mammoth was more impressive, it to wasn't exceptional, even if she had seen nothing like them in this life.
The Children of the Forest however were far more surprising. Physically they were the size of children, but they moved with a grace that no child, and even many adults simply didn't possess. They were beautiful in a strange way, but also dangerous as well and despite their small statue she made a mental note not to cross one of them.
"They're afraid of me." She spoke to the two priests escorting her. Well not everyone was afraid of her, the giants and the Children certainly weren't but they were definitely suspicious of her.
"Your the first visitor this island has had in many years, and we were raised to be suspicious of outsiders, fear is to be expected." Dorak stated while she nodded in understanding.
"Why cut off all contact with the outside world? I know many would denounce what is on this island as heretical, but there are some who would accept it." Selene understood why they would do such things in the past, when the Faith Militant still existed and persecuted and hunted magic, but with the religious order dead, she didn't see the need for the continued secrecy.
"When the Targaryens came we did consider it, especially when the Councilor disbanded the Faith Militant but at the time we chose to observe them first, and after the Dance when the dragons died and the Targeryens lost the knowledge of their dragon lore, and became far less tolerant, we decided it would be best to remain hidden." Dorak answered her.
She continued following the two priests until they stopped at a pathway. "From this point onward you must go on your own." Arthur said to her.
"Why?" She questioned them.
"Because he wishes to speak to you alone, and he doesn't wish for the two of you to be disturbed."
Walking forward Selene followed the path, although instincts ingrained by Jaqen constantly had her glancing for potential enemies and she fingered the knife on her belt just to remind herself that she wasn't weaponless and she had regained her strength from her apparition.
Finally Selene walked to a clearing where there was stone pillar roughly five feet in height with an elderly man standing next to it. The man was old, very old looking like he had to be the same age as Walder Frey. But despite his age there was a clear strength in the man, a powerful posture that showed someone who wielded great strength. She had no doubt that the elderly man had been a powerful warrior in his prime. She wondered who he had been, his purple eyes and silvery hair clearly showed that he was of Valyrian descent.
Was he a Targeryen? He was certainly old enough to be one, although she couldn't think of who he could be. "I am..." She began introducing herself before the man interrupted her.
"Selene of house Baratheon, daughter of Robert Baratheon and Lyanna Stark." The disdain in his voice as he spoke of her parents did give some evidence to him being a Targaryen.
"And you are?" She asked causing the man to smirk.
"I am Daemon Targaryen, consort of Queen Rhaenyra and father of Kings Aegon the Third and Viserys the Second. Rider of the dragon Caraxes." The smirk on the man's face didn't leave once as he made his less then believable introduction.
"And you expect me to believe that?" Selene said dubiously. Daemon Targaryen would be two hundred years old by this point, well beyond the lifespans of humans.
"For the reincarnated master of death, I would have thought you'd have more of an open mind." Daemon said amused at the look of shock she gave him.
"How do you know who I am?" She demanded, stepping towards the old man.
"I've traveled all over the world, learnt things you can't even imagine, and I learnt even more from the Children, who were the ones to summon you to Westeros." Daemon told her.
"What? Explain." She snapped.
"The power of the hallows lies within you, protecting you from death, the Children were able to use that power to summon your spirit from the limbo and bring you into this world." Daemon told her.
"Why?" She asked, subconsciously using occlumency to keep her emotions from overwhelming her.
"Because millennia ago those fools created a monster and they need your help to destroy it."
"The Night King." She stated as Daemon nodded. "I am not their weapon." She stated through gritted teeth as her anger spiked. She had enough manipulations in her last life, she wasn't going to be the pawn of some creatures. For years she had wondered why she was alive when she should be dead, and now she knew the truth, it was because of a bunch of meddlesome cowards who needed someone to their dirty work for them.
"You saw your vision, you know the Night King will come after you. You don't have to like them, hell the Children saved my life after my battle with my loathsome nephew and they are the one of the reasons I've lived as long as I have and I still don't like them, but the White Walkers are a threat to us all." Daemon stated. "You've felt the protections around the island. It's starting to weaken, as are the protections of the Wall, as the Night Kings power grows, the strength of the Children fade."
"And how do I know you didn't plant that vision in my head to manipulate me?"
"Believe what you want but that vision was a true glimpse of the future. The Children thought you would be able to defeat the White Walkers on your own but that vision showed them that unless you have help then you won't. Which is why I've been trying to summon you to this island. Come over here." Daemon said and Selene slowly walked to the stone pillar, her distrust clear with every step.
Built within it was a bowl with runes on the outskirts, and filled with a swirling liquid that reminded her of a pensieve. "What will I see?" She asked.
"I don't know." Daemon confessed. "Everyone sees something different."
With a deep breath Selene plunged her head into the water.
Selene recognised where she was the second she saw it. It was Hogwarts in the aftermath of Voldemort attack. She saw the old bastard himself leading an army of Death Eaters while Hagrid carried her body. She saw Voldemort offering the defenders a chance to join, yelling a few curses when she saw Malfoy bastard join the dark lord even though she had saved his life. She watched with pride as Neville drew Gryffindors sword from the sorting hat and lead the people against an attack on the surprised Death Eaters with Neville decapitating Nagini, ridding Voldemort of the last of his horcruxes.
Selene watched as Molly Weasley killed Belatrix Lestrange, and watched with pride as she saw Hagrid grab Voldemort from behind while he was distracted fighting Professor McGonagall and Aberforth Dumbledore and snap the man's neck.
Selene felt relief and closure and knowing that her sacrifice hadn't been in vain, that Voldemort had died.
The next seen was completely different and she couldn't recognise the landscape, but what she did recognise were the White Walkers moving across the land, killing anything in their path. She saw armies of men and Children fight valiantly but in futile attempts against them. Selene watched as they created ships of pure ice and sailed across the Narrow Sea into Essos.
Next she was in a forge, watching a smith hammer steel. He placed the steel in water, causing it to break. With a second blade she saw the man plunge it into a lions heart, causing it to shatter, and the third time she saw him plunge the blade into his wife's heart. Rather then shatter, the blade glowed with white light, imbued by the magic of a willing sacrifice. Magic Selene was very much familiar with.
She watched the man, Azor Ahai, and his two sons, Brandon and Durran lead a war against the Walkers, driving them from Essos. She saw the family sail to Westeros, to what is now Storm's End, surviving against all odd the storms of Shipbreaker's Bay. They met with Garth Greenhand, leader of the resistance of humans and Children in Westeros and watched as the four of them fought the White Walkers.
She saw Azor Ahai drive off the Night King on the God's Eye, but was wounded in the process, dying moments later.
She watched as Brandon the Builder, Durran Godsgrief and Garth Greenhand drive the Walkers into the lands of always winter and build the Wall with the help of the Children and the giants.
The next vision was of Aegon's Conquest. Selene saw the burning of Harrenhal, the Last Storm and the Field of Fire. She witnessed Torrhen Stark bending the knee to Aegon the Conquerer and laying the ancient crown of the Kings of Winter at his feet.
The next thing Selene saw was the tournament of Harrenhall, the battle of the Trident and finally the Tower of Joy.
Selene collapsed to the floor in shock, tears streaming down her face.
"What did you see?" Daemon asked curiously.
"More like what didn't I see." Selene snapped as she struggled to comprehend what she had seen. She wanted to deny it, to call what she had seen fake but she knew deep down that it was the truth. "I saw my mother plunge all of Westeros into war because of her selfishness, killing hundreds of thousands of people including her own father and brother." She muttered out loud though more to herself then Daemon.
"Why did you bring me here?" She asked Daemon, getting to the point.
"Come with me." Daemon spoke leaving the clearing, not waiting to even check if she was following. For an old man Daemon truly did move at an impressive speed. Selene followed the man, her mind on what she had seen. It had always been rumoured that her mother had willingly went with Rhaegar Targaryen but Selene hadn't believed the rumours, especially since most of the rumours stemmed from houses that had fought for the Targaryens.
'Why? Did you really hate my father so much that you felt you had no choice but to run off with another man?' Selene questioned as she walked. And what did her mother really think of her, did Lyanna love her as her daughter, or did she simply see Selene as the daughter of the man she hated.
"How have you managed to live for so long?" Selene asked in order to distract herself from what she had seen.
"The magic the Children used to save me, combined with the ambient magic of the Isle of Faces has slowed down the aging process. As you can see I am no way immortal." He said gesturing to his old and withered form. "But I have lived far longer then I ever thought possible."
"But why stay on this island. You are regarded as one of the most respected Targaryens to ever live, why stay on the God's Eye when you could have made a difference." It was that that confused Selene, why did Daemon stay on this island doing nothing?
"It took me decades to recover from my wounds, by that point I was long believed to have died by the rest of my family and the world had moved on, and I no longer had a place in it. Many times I thought about leaving, wondering if I could have changed things, but in the end I would have changed nothing. My grandson's failure at conquering Dorne, the Blackfyre rebellions and your own father's rebellion, I wouldn't have been able to stop any of those events, so I stayed." Daemon answered.
After that the two of them walked in silence, until they reached another clearing with a large stone table. At the centre of the table was a weapon, a longsword to be exact, a milky white blade she had seen in her visions, even if it no longer glowed with power. "Lightbringer." Selene stated, recognising the blade from the visions she had seen. "Why didn't the Children or the Last Hero's suns use it to kill the Kill the Night King?"
"Because they were unable to Master of Death." Turning around she saw a Child of the Forest.
"Who are you?" She asked, her patience nearing its end.
"You humans are always so obsessed with names." The Child spoke with a certain amount of amusement in its, her voice. "But you can call me Lief."
"Were you one of the ones that summoned me here?" She wasn't referring to the God's Eye and Lief knew that as well.
"I was one of those who helped resurrect you." The Child answered.
"Why?"
"Would you have preferred an eternity within limbo, unable to move on into the afterlife, but unable to return to the world because you hadn't properly mastered your powers?" Lief asked her, confusing her slightly. Daemon had mentioned that she'd been stuck in limbo before the Children had summoned her, but did that mean that she wasn't means to be stuck there. And what did she mean about her powers.
"You seem to know a lot about about the hallows." She said to Lief suspiciously causing Daemon to snort.
"Do you really think you're the only person to unite the hallows and become the Master of Death?" Daemon asked almost condescendingly. Selene flushed a little bit. She had actually thought that she had been the only person to possess all three hallows, even if she'd never actually had the chance to use the Elder Wands she had still been its master, not that it stopped the wand from killing her.
"Look at the blade." Lief instructed. It was at the top of the pommel, a tiny little thing that looked more like a scratch then anything, but it was clear. The sign of the Deathly Hallows.
"So the Last Hero was the Master of Death." She stated, more to herself then the two people with her. Had Azor Ahai been reincarnated like she had been, or did the Hallows also exist in this world as well? It would explain how Jaqen not only recognised the mark of the Hallows on her but how Rhaegar had possessed Valyrian texts with information of the Hallows.
"Indeed he was." Lief answered.
"But what does being the Master of Death even mean?" Selene snapped.
"The staff of destruction, the stone to summon the spirits of all who walked before us, and cloak to allow one to move unseen." Lief began explaining. "Fools believe that these artifacts will grant them true immortality along with power akin to that of gods. But we all know that's false. They grant great power yes, but come at a terrible cost. Being the Master of Death means you cannot find peace in death, you are trapped to spend an eternity within limbo, unable to move on, 'to you next great adventure.'" Lief spoke, using one Dumbledore's favourite quotes, causing her eyes to twitch slightly.
"Azor Ahai united the hallows, and with their powers, combined with the sacrifice of his wife he forged Lightbringer, a blade to rid the world of the demons plaguing it. He defeated the Night King, but was slain before he could kill him."
"I saw all this. His sons created the Wall and trapped the White Walkers in the lands of Always Winter, it doesn't explain what you want with me? Or why you simply didn't resurrect Azor Ahai if those who unite the Hallows are trapped in limbo." Selene snapped, her temper rising. She didn't want to be dead, and she was glad to be alive, but she had no desire to be their puppet.
"The Night King is a master necromancer, we can't resurrect the Last Hero because the Night King has already banished him into the abyss. And at the time it didn't concern us, he was trapped beyond the Wall, but his power is growing and the protections keeping him bound are failing. Only Lightbringer can destroy the Night King, Valyrian steel and dragonglass at best injure him, and only the Master of Death can wield Lightbringer. And we found the spirit of another who had mastered the hallows and we summoned your spirit, resurrecting you."
"Do you have no respect for the dead." Selene said to Lief.
"We did what needed to be done to defeat the Night King." Lief spoke, not apologising for her actions.
"It's called responsibility, you created the Night King, it should be you who deal with him, not placing the responsibility on someone else."
"You saw the vision, you know he'll come for you." Lief argued.
"Only because of you." Selene snapped.
"Perhaps, but it doesn't change the fact that he'll never stop hunting you, you will never have peace, not until you kill him." Lief answered back. "Hate me and my brethren all you want it won't change the facts."
Selene turned away from the thing in front of her in disgust. Slowly she walked towards Lightbringer and clasped her hand around the pommel.
Immediately Selene gasped as power filled her, power unlike anything she could imagine as Lightbringer glowed with magic for the first time in eight thousand years, recognising the power of its master.
- Line Break -
Selene sat at her desk, Lightbringer on her desk within its sheath. Her mind had a lot to process with everything she had learnt on the Isle of Faces, about the Night King, about being the Master of Death, about her mother, and her brother. It was hard to believe that Jon was her brother. Although in a way it did make sense, her uncle had always been so secretive of who is mother was, and now Selene knew why.
She could understand her uncle's actions, and also his hesitation in allowing Jon to come to the capital, a Targaryen bastard would not have been save in the capital. It also explained Oberyn Martell's interest in Jon, she had no doubt that he and his brother Doran were aware of Jon's parentage.
She hadn't spoken to Jon since she'd apparated from the Isle of Faces back to the capital, or even her father for that matter. She couldn't avoid them, although she was unsure if she should tell either of them the truth, more Jon then her father. Did she wait for her uncle to tell Jon the truth about his parentage, or should she do it herself.
"Enter." She called out when she heard a knocking on the door, and her father walked inside. The last few months had certainly been good for her father, physically at least, emotionally it had been very hectic for the man but he was in a better shape then he had been since the Greyjoy rebellion where in the aftermath he had truly started to let himself go physically. "Father." She said standing from her desk.
"Selene." He greeted as he pulled her in a hug. "So how are feeling?" He asked nervously. His daughter was skilled fighter, a very skilled fighter in fact but Clegane was a beast. He would be lying if he said that he wasn't afraid about what could possibly happen, he was absolutely terrified.
"Confident." She spoke smiling. After everything that had happened on the Isle, fighting Clegane honestly couldn't compare to taking priority. Finding out that she was meant to fight an ancient magical being thanks to the Children was enraging, and worrying. She remembered the vision of her future self fighting the Night King, and she had been defeated with ease. "I can promise you father, that I will not be dying at the hands of Gregor Clegane." She promised him.
Robert gave his daughter a strained smile. "I have something for you." He said as he handed her a dagger, watching her eyes widen with surprise at the sight of the blade.
"This is Valyrian steel." She spoke with wonder. Granted it couldn't quite compare to Lightbringer but it was still an exceptionally rare, and magical blade.
"And the knuckles bones of a dragon that make the hilt." Robert replied proudly.
"When did you get this?" Selene asked. She was fairly sure that she would have known if her father had a Valyrian steel blade in his possession.
"Won it off Littlefinger in a bet not long ago." He answered with triumph. Littlefinger had certainly not that ever so arrogant smirk of his when he lost his dagger. Granted a dagger wasn't in the same league as a sword but it was still Valyrian steel.
"Thank you."
"You remind me of your mother." Immediately Selene fought the urge to let her smile turn into a grimace. That was not the compliment that her father thought it was. "She was determined, fearless and fought for what she believed. And I'm proud of how much I see her in you. But I am glad that I don't see all of her in you." He added to her confusion.
"What do mean?" She asked causing her father to sigh.
"Lyanna, wasn't perfect." Robert admitted after a few moments. "She had her faults just as everyone else. She could be arrogant, spoilt even, and often acted before thinking which often landed her into trouble. I loved her more then anything, but she wasn't perfect, had no desire to be a lady, though that was one of things that I loved about her in the first place. What I'm saying is that while I'm glad you have her best qualities, I'm also glad that you don't take completely after her." Robert admitted.
"Thank you father." She spoke pulling him into a hug, all the while resolving to keep what she knew about her mlother a secret, better to leave her memory rest in peace.
- Line Break -
Selene took a deep breath as she put her armour on. It was happening, she was fighting the Mountain and would be doing so in a matter of minutes. She wasn't scared, nervous perhaps but not scared. She did not fear the likes of Gregor Clegane.
Selene strapped the knife her father had given her to her waist and did the same with her sword, feeling the same rush of magic that she always did when she it, a bit like when she first got her wand in her last life. She wasn't sure what Lightbringer actually did, besides glow when she was holding it, and it would be ridiculous to try casting spells with it.
"Are you ready?" Brienne asked her, standing in the corner of the room.
"I am." She answered on the two of them walked to the training grounds where the fight was to take place. The two of them walked in silence, neither of them really being able to bring up a conversation knowing what was about to happen.
"Good luck." Brienne said when they neared arena.
"I don't luck Brienne." She spoke, flashing her friend a smile though it did little to help with the older woman's nerves.
Selene's eyes immediately landed on the Mountain, looking directly at him she paid no mind to the spectates, only moving her gaze when the new Grandmaester, an odd man named Marwyn who she had yet to have the opportunity to properly interact with, walked in between the two of them. "In the sight of gods and men, we are here to ascertain who the rightful heir to the Iron Throne is. Do the the combatants wish to speak any last words?" Selene looked towards her family, her father, along with Tommen and Myrcella all looked terrified. Cersei, the bitch honestly looked aroused by what was happening, but her gaze was for her brother Joffrey. Selene resisted the urge to smirk when the sadistic grin on his face was faded and replaced by a look of worry.
"At least I have the courage to face my enemies, can you say the same my darling brother?" This time Selene didn't bother to fight the urge to grin as flushed with embarrassment and the nobles all started whispering among themselves.
"Begin." Immediately Selene drew Lightbringer from its scabbard, it's white glow imediatly filling the area around it, causing a hushed gasp to fall among the crowd before hushed whispers starting emerging.
"Ser Gregor, are you just going to stand their like a dumb ox are we going to fight." Whether it was her words, the laughter from the Dornish Prince that followed she didn't know but the Mountain let out a bellow of range and charged at her with a speed that was honestly shocking.
Ducking under the blade, Selene launched her own attack which the Mountain raised his own blade to block.
With that the fight began. Selene danced around the Mountain, staying close enough to attack the man but not to close that she was unable to dodge his attacks. This unfortunately limited the effectiveness of her attacks, but still every little helped.
"Come on dog, is that really the best you can do?" She asked as she dodged yet another attack, causing the Mountain to scream in rage and frustration, charging at her
Selene dropped to her knees to avoid being decapitated, providing her with the perfect opportunity. While Clegane raised his great sword above his head to cut her in half, Selene withdrew the knife her father had given her from its scabbard and with all her strength rammed it between Gregor Clegane's legs.
The Mountain let out a scream of pure pain, which only intensified when she removed the dagger as painfully as possible. "After all the women you have raped I can think of a no better fate." She spoke loudly so that everyone heard and the implication wasn't lost on anyone. Gregor Clegane, the Mountain that Rides and one of the most feared men in Westeros was no a eunuch.
And though no one realised it, in that moment Clegane's fate was sealed. In preparation for the fight Selene had coated her dagger with poison, it was simply a matter of time before he died.
"YOU BITCH." Clegane bellowed as he charged at her, swinging his great sword with one hand like a mad man. It was honestly all Selene could do to stay out of his reach, especially as she was slowly losing ground to the Mountain, causing her to silently pray for the poison to act faster.
With no chance to dodge Selene swung Lightbringer at the Mountain, their swords connecting and the next event baffled everyone, including her. The Mountain's great sword completely shattered into a thousand different pieces.
Both she and Clegane stared at the remains of his sword in shock, unfortunately for her the Mountain recovered from his shock first, and kicked her in the chest. The intensity of the kick sent her flying, easily five whole meters backwards as she landed painfully on the floor, Lightbringer slipping from her grasp.
Selene groaned painfully, her chest in complete agony and she had no doubt that she had more then a few broken ribs.
Then Selene felt fear, fear greater then anything she had ever felt as the Mountain climbed on top of her, his weight feeling like it was crushing her as he wrapped his hands around her throat and began choking the life out of her.
Selene did the only thing she could have done, used her magic as she said the words, barely a whisper with the way the Mountain was choking the life out of her. "Avada Kedavra." With the way the Mountain's body was completely covering hers no one noticed the small green flash as the Mountain collapsed dead on top of her.
End of chapter 11. Please review.
Trying to introduce more magic in this story after a review made a very good point that Selene was more of an OC rather then femHP so I've decided to include more magic in this story, but I am only saying this once. Magic is not invincible or infallible, it won't be an easy fix and able to solve every single problem that turns up so I would appreciate no reviews bitching about the problems Selene will face, saying that since she has magic then she should be able to solve it.
Also I don't think the Children have ever been the reason for reincarnation in a HP/GOT crossover which is why I used them, a far different reason then death, or the vail being responsible.
Also hope everyone enjoyed Selene vs Clegane, I'm not the best at writing fight scenes so hope you all liked it.