Dawn of the whiskered Dayne
Chapter Eleven
The Gravity of Lies Part One-
The Rebirth by fire
By mushy guillotine
AN:
I had many who bitched and moaned about Stannis. My dear readers, the previous chapter can be divided into three parts. If the narrators of two parts lied utterly to save their own skin...Then don't you think even the third can?
The succeeding chapters would be based on the consequences of these lies. After which the first part of the story would end.
Hope it rests your doubts...
Note that this chapter happens before the first part of the previous chapter.
Chapter start
Sunspear, Dorne
The Prince of Dorne met his father, the dying Prince of Dorne. The gout that had afflicted Doran's foot for almost a decade had progressively grown worse. To avoid gangrene, the foot was cut.
But the accumulated poisonous phlegm in the foot didn't forgive this slight on its existence. It had settled over many years in the leg. It had been the Prince's sole and ever present companion. There were differences between the two but who hasn't?
Jilted and heart broken, the gout struck back. And now Prince Doran Martell was on his deathbed. He was sixty five at the moment. A long and full life did he have. His only regret was that he wouldn't be there for his family in the treacherous times ahead. Winter was coming but power was all in the hands of summerlings.
"Father why have you summoned me here?" His faithful son enquired from beyond the doors. He was a good son and a man. His virtue attracted a lot of men to his service. Though he looked craven he was actually brave. Though he looked dim, he was actually fairly bright. Lastly, only He was capable of handling the job.
"Quentyn, my son come sit beside me. I have things to say to you."
"Father what is it? You are making me tensed."
Doran gave a rasping cough and wiped the blood off his mouth, "This illness has broken my body. I won't live for much long. You as my eldest son will inherit everything. Let me ask you how will you rule your subjects?"
Quentyn took a moment to digest it in. It looked like his father had lost all will to live. Maybe the pain was too much. He killed his pangs and decided to let his father die on his own terms.
"With Virtue and benevolence. For a ruler who starts his reign in Winter, nothing else should be attempted. Otherwise the people will be oppressed and all the Ruler can do in Summer would be to suppress the rebellions."
"Spoken well. You shall be a champion of the cause of small folk. Let me ask you how will you handle the nobles and the courtiers?"
"Be strict with them when the time is good and be benevolent when they are on the down. The Nobility of Dorne isn't like the Boltons or the Florents. They are here to assist not to resist. The hard conditions have brought us all closer."
"Good. If you do that, they won't resent you much. Let me ask you what will you do about the biggest problem facing us. What will you do when we have to war? Tyrrell, Lannister, Targaryen and Baratheon all want us to be either at the receiving end of their spear or at the handle. Choosing a side to fight is even more important now than fighting."
"I would implore the Targaryens to consider our common ancestry. I would wed the Dragon mother and together we shall attempt for the Throne. In the meanwhile, we shall ally with Lannister when he is weak to repel Baratheon ambitions. And when Baratheon is weak, ally with him to attack Lannister. This will give us sufficient time to build up a power base."
"Good plan. But it's not your plan, is it?" Lord Martell asked his son.
Quentyn stiffened for it was undeniably true. He was loathe to admit that he had to ask others on how to rule and govern. To do his own job.
"Yes Father. It's not my own plan. It was suggested to by Naruto Dayne of LeafHaven and seconded by Uncle Oberyn and Lord Yronwood, my foster father."
"Hasn't he become the Lord of Starfall yet?" Due to the relapse of his illness, Doran had been confined to the bed. Quentyn hadn't even told of him of the Reach's recent attack. So it was a miracle that he had been able to predict the future.
"How Father? How did you know?" The heir was positively boggled. That his father had been having an eye out on his friend was totally unknown to him.
"There is a reason why I am dying without regrets, my son. Only with you as the Prince of Dorne and that particular Dayne as your right hand man can you hope to match the other powers on this continent. Of that I am quite sure. But Quentyn, always keep an eye over your shoulders on that Dayne. Always keep him close and upfront. For Naruto Dayne would never be content, to die a simple servant."
"Father he is a friend. Never has he spoken ill of us. Never has he spoken ill of sister's advances or when he was nearly bankrupted recently because of sister, he refused to let me pay for his debt. And then when the Reach attacked he was on the front lines to thwart them back."
"The Reach attacked? When did this happen?"
"This month itself. Naruto routed an army that was almost twice our numbers."
"Then you have even more cause for concern. And in future inform your father. He is not so weak that he can't handle alarming news." Doran clutched his leg painfully. The stress had gotten to him and his leg. "The reason why I asked my first question was because it was me, who had asked Alaric to exile Naruto from Starfall. As I wanted to test his character. If he was just a brutish military man like your Uncle and how he portrayed himself, he would come running here. If rather he bought out some lands and asked us to proclaim it his fiefdom, I would know he is just a courtier, a governor, a master of civil matters who hides behind a false veneer of strength. I would have nothing to be scared of him in either cases."
"And he did do the second father. But his strength is real."
"That's because he didn't just do the second option. He befriended my offsprings before he bought his fief. His vision is longer than I can fathom. His deviousness too developed to be seen any longer on the surface. Then I knew Alaric's days were numbered. Naruto is a snake who will strike, when you are at the weakest point."
"What do you want me to do, Father? He is my only friend. I daresay we consider each other brothers. He even calls me his elder brother."
"That would be your only shield. For all things considered, Naruto is still driven by his passions. He will never betray someone he considers family. On the day he was born, I had a nightmare. A golden star rose in the sky, outshining even the Sun. It grew in size till it rivaled the sun. Three times the Sun rose and fell. After the third time, the Sun never rose again. Only the Golden star was left."
"Father it's just a dream." Quentyn dismissed it off.
"No. My father was a Summer Islander seer. He used to get the same type of dreams. Dreams that come true overnight. That dream was warning me that Dayne would usurp power after the third Martell ends his reign. Now you get it? Why I want him to wed Arianne?"
"I don't understand. You told me to be wary of him and keep him at a safe distance." Whatever was his father insinuating he didn't know. "And if what you say is true, he should be kept away from our family."
"I think I made my point. Hasn't he always desired your sister? And she him? Marry them both to each other before I die. I would have one last test for him. If he fails, execute him. If he passes... " Doran trailed off to address the phlegm that had built up in his throat. This was a delicate mission he had to entrust to his daughter. He will tell his son later, much later about it.
Quentyn looked on with a sad countenance. He knew what cane next was probably worse.
"Exile him for kinslaying." Doran finally finished.
***Dawn of the whiskered Dayne ***
An army on the march is a sight to behold. Like forming colonimbus clouds they swarm around in a black smoke. It could be said that victory could be ascertained in how it marches. If it's laggard all it can achieve is a quicker death. If it's too quick, it may be like an arrow at the end of its journey.
It should be disciplined and in full morale. Anything to the contrary should be avoided. For instance, crazy tales of men of magic, healing the sick should have ideally been disregarded.
"I heard there is a man here. A learned man capable of working wonders. Where is he?" General Flint asked a peasant.
"Old man Water mirror took up residence in the Sept. If you sleep on its stairs you will be cured overnight. My daughter even got healed of the cowpox."
Generals Flint and Reed. Two Lords who were passed over to Naruto Dayne by his father as payment for the draining of the Neck. The payment was received wholeheartedly but the work was never done. And neither were the Lords eager to go back. For personal reasons.
Flint wheeled his horse backwards to meet in person the Grand Commander at the back of the van. The Grand commander as a person was suspicious by nature. That is to say even now the two of them hadn't won the entirety of his trust.
Every small thing was to be done to gain his support. Both Reed and Flint had a totality of zero family members who wanted to go back to the North. There they were minor Lords at the anus of the Seven Kingdoms. Here they were minor Lords of Nature's bounty.
Which man wants to live in a shit hole?
Flint passed by the scores of 'newcomers'. So named due to the nature of the Lords that led them. Lords of Dondarrion, Estermont and Tarth had switched sides. The Grand commander had made a rousing speech, praising the bravery of the Reach Lords and admonishing the Ruler of the Reach in equal measures.
"The Reach didn't lose because the men lacked courage. Not because they were sheep led to a slaughter. But because they were tigers led by sheep." was what the Dayne had coaxed them to believe. "How can sheep lead tigers? Come lead sheep with me."
The Lord of the Reach had only failures in his military career to speak of. So the above accusation was lapped up delectably by all the captured ones.
"What is it Flint? Why do you trouble your old feeble horse so?" Reed asked his former rival. Living in the North only enmity existed between their houses. Now in the South, old habits did die hard. But a fast friendship bloomed out between the two heads.
"I found the miracle worker. He is at the Sept nearby."
"Grand Commander Dayne would be happy at this. Gaining a man like him is like gaining a thousand men. Godspeed ahead!" Reed encouraged his fellow Northerner.
The man Water Mirror for that was the only name he offered, was said to be an old man of sixty. Matured to a ripe age, but still strong as an ox was he. His hair was hoary but long. Magnificent but fully white with age. An old man but as healthy as a youth. A container of paradoxes was this man called Water Mirror.
Flint much like a possessed man, stormed towards his present Lord. Sitting upon his Dornish bay, Bavieca and clad in the Golden-purple armour of his house the Dayne did look resplendent in his glory. That he was surrounded by the Lords Oberyn Martell, Gerris Merryweather, Yronwood and Tarth made you forget that this was once upon a time just a Snow.
"Grand Commander I found the man called Water Mirror. Please try to recruit him. Winter is coming, this will only increase the diseases in the camps."
The motley group of Lords looked down upon him. If not for the Dayne, the number of people actually welcoming his and Reed's arrival would be zero.
"I placed you here in charge of the reserves. Is there an epidemic among them?" The Dayne asked him. Flint answered in the negative.
"But I think it will happen. We are Dornishmen. This is the Reach. The new climate sooner or later will take a toll on our health."
"We are Dornishmen?" Naruto asked again. And this time Flint spent a moment to consider his answer.
"I have ever since I entered your service considered myself Dornish."
"Good. That's good. From today I too consider you Dornish. Take me to this medicine man."
Along the way, Flint continued to regale the Dayne with the many second person stories he had heard about this medicine man. With the power of suggestion he sought to establish a firm hold on the good books of the Dayne.
Meanwhile Naruto was pondering in this strange man. Acquiring a healer would be very beneficial to the war effort. But it would also mean more people would be injured. The men may become careless or worse indisciplined. It would be better if this man joins him in secret.
They rode on through the wheat fields. Through the potato and pumpkin patches held up for autumn as well through the carrots and onion ones.
All ripe for the taking.
"Flint, when we get back send some men to harvest these lands. I want the Tyrrells to burn the lands ahead of us in fear." That way retaliation would be all the more difficult in winter.
The scorched earth policy. A desperate measure of a defeated defending enemy in retreat. Highly effective but also highly unpopular.
The Dornishmen had no intention of ruling these lands. The only objective for now was loot and raid. Stock up and pile up for winter. For a sack of your enemy's grain in your possession was worth a hundred sacks of your own make. Simultaneously, weakening the enemy and improving your own position was what it did.
The Sept before the duo's eyes was a usual affair. Plain white marble exterior. Fluted columns numbering a whole number of twelve. One each for the First Men's deities.
"I will go and bring him out. Please wait here." The Northman suggested to his superior.
"Don't. I am the one who is demanding. I want something from him. It's my prerogative to be courteous." So explaining his intentions, the Dayne rode on through the gates.
The gates men seeing who it was ahorse, let him through. No need to invoke the anger of their new conquerors.
Naruto sneered at the guards as he galloped full stride inside the Sept compounds. Now it was a straight stretch of beaten path to the medicine man's hut. As Flint was dutifully following him, the blonde charged towards his destination. The sooner he gets it over, the sooner he could return. He didn't know why but the whole story stunk like rotten eggs in his opinion.
The inside of the hut was drab. An ascetic was most likely the resident of this since it's inception. One after the other, it was inhabited by spiritual people least concerned with the material world. It surely did take a toll on its appearance.
"Who's there?" A seasoned old man voice enquired. By the heavily nasal tone of it, you could guess the owner was past hus sixties.
The Grand commander cleared his throat and announced his arrival, "Naruto Dayne. Lord of Starfall and Leafhaven. Grand commander of Dorne. I humbly kneel in your presence and request an audience." The aforementioned Commander waxed slightly when he heard all his titles. Success was such a potent aphrodisiac.
A man did spring out from beyond a hidden room. As he matched the general description of the healer, Naruto cut down his surprise. Besides, people who performed miracles were usually eccentric. And if not eccentric ambitious. Of the two, the blonde preferred the former. Call it selfish if you will, but he didn't like any one else to have ambitions as lofty as his.
On seeing the man Naruto immediately requested to have the healer under his own service.
"Naruto Dayne ain't you? Are you sure about that?" The question jolted the Dayne from his thoughts.
"I was legitimized." Naruto ground out.
The Healer only shook his head side to side. That was not what he meant. It was something far more sinister, "Not that. I was told that you are no star or a dragon slaying Knight. You are a dragon. A water dragon to be exact." The healer softly muttered.
Naruto grew angry by the second. What right did this man have to accuse him of harboring vile intentions like a dragon? When a man is said to be a dragon, does it not also say he is just one step above a slithering snake?
"Nonsense. I came to call a healer, not a lunatic. Sorry for wasting your time." And Naruto wanted to storm out of the hovel. Or he would contemplate murder.
"But I am not finished ,my son. As regards to hiring me you have two options. You can hire me now and be reborn in fire in three days. Or you can hire me later, then you will never face a problem or obstacles in your life again. Decisions! Which one will you take?"
"To be reborn in fire, I would have to die right?" Naruto fired back a question.
"Yes and afterwards you will live again. Common sense dictates that it is likely. But these are what I was whispered to by the spirits. You are blessed by the Gods. Why do you suspect them so?" the ascetic enquired.
"Never have I been comfortable in placing my life in others' hands. To have one person have complete control over you is suicide."
"All I have is but two options. Which one will you choose?"
"The first. Obstacles stop knocking on your doorstep only after death. Such is life. Your second choice seems like a death sentence to me." Naruto decided and stuck firm to his decision.
A silent qualm fell over the both of them. A decision was taken. It's consequences whether good or bad would now have to be borne.
"You shall be reborn in fire indeed Naruto Uzumaki. You shall indeed. And after this no one shall call you anything other than Naruto Dayne."
"What!" Naruto exclaimed in fear. He was now just one step away from killing this man. He knew simply too much!
"That's what the spirits call you. They say that's what you are called by our Maker. Though I am a man of few virtues and fewer talents, they consider me worthy."
"Do not ever repeat that name to anyone. Got it!" Naruto simply demanded. And all of a sudden the healer was the venom as well as the priest. That Grim understanding was Grim as death itself.
"I never intended to. I have grown limbs are weak and my teeth rotten. Even my member is weak and rotten. " Water mirror laughed at that slight on himself. "Curiousity is the only thing enjoyable to me nowadays."
"Fine. I will be seeing you again, good sir." Naruto fled from that man's presence. The doctor didn't feel like a 'shinobi' to him but you can't ever be sure. The farther he was away from here the better it was.
Linking up with Flint he galloped away. He fled from this doctor. He fled away from the man who knew his name without knowing his history. He fled away from the thing he created and was ashamed of the most.
He fled from his past.
"I am following you right after, General!"
The doctor called Water mirror gazed over his retreating worldly master. He shook his head as a sigh of a groan escaped from his lips. "There are far vicious things to be scared of, Young Dragon. It's not easy for a star to shine as bright as the Sun . I am just a water mirror. I am here to reflect and make you ponder. To boil beans, the stalks are burned. Lying in the Kettle, the two undoubtedly yearned. We two from the same root did grow. Why the rush to me fry me so? Why the rush to fry me Naruto? When all I want to see is the day when the whole world is in your hands?"
***Dawn of the whiskered Dayne ***
"Report!" Came the joyous cries of the messenger-soldier. It had been weeks now, that the Dornish company had rolled into the Reach. Till now their stride ahead was like that of a river in summer. Full of energy and unstoppable in its flow. The Reach Lords seeing no other alternative surrendered to the Grand commander's clemency. There was a mad rush among the commoners for food, jobs and grooms for their daughters.
The Reach was at its breaking point. It was cornered from all sides.
And as the saying goes never confront a cornered animal.
"What is it?" General Merryweather, in charge of all agile units- spies, scouts, cavalry and otherwise gruffly asked.
"Three granaries of the enemy has been found. They are lightly guarded."
"Sure of this?"
"I saw it with my own eyes. One is in the Horse ravine pass, the other in the Hardwick valley and the last is at the ramparts just outside Glevum village. All have flags of Tyrrell flying on them. The entire countryside is moving south Ser, abandoning everything in its way."
"Good. Make way to the quarters and have your rations. If this proves correct, expect a promotion to lieutenant."
The General turned his back to the still prostrate scout as he quickly found his steps to the Grand Commander. And he relayed what he had found.
The Dayne stood up from his desk inside the officer's tent. Turning back he poured his attention on the map on the wall. All except the last was an ideal place to stage an ambush. Horse ravine and Hardwick Valley was surrounded by tall rocky hills on both sides. A contingent of archers could easily assault an assailant with rocks and arrows from above.
The last one was confusing. It was a place he would never expect anyone to place military rations. Flat hard ground, easy to conquer hard to defend.
The blonde racked his brains to understand the meaning of this. The tactics of the Tyrrell army had changed recently. Now they only retreated back.
As if a snake recoiling its whole body to strike at an opportune moment.
"I suspected it but now I am sure of it. Whoever is leading their army has changed. It's not Mace or any of his sons. It's someone else entirely." The Dayne remarked to his remaining officers. All had gathered to receive their orders.
Of what had they to fear? The Tyrrell had not even lifted a single finger against them until now. And didn't look like they were ever going to. So they rejoiced and thirsted for glory.
Which made Naruto suspicious at the same time. The enemy was retreating sure. But there were no deserters. None of his spies could seem to infiltrate the enemy. Everything seemed suspicious.
"It is maybe Tarly then. But he had always fought openly on the field. Grand commander should have nothing to fear." Oberyn as was his usual blood-thirsty nature egged everybody on.
"I am suspicious by nature. I suspect when I win. I suspect when I lose." Naruto explained, "Hear are my orders. General Gerris scout again. This time try to gleam who is guarding the supplies. I don't trust any of the Tyrrell to lay on such an elaborate trap for me."
"Yes Ser." And Gerris stormed away to fulfill his task.
"Colonel Flint shall scout Horse ravine pass and Colonel Reed, you shall scout Hardwick Valley. Promise the rank of a sergeant to anyone who scouts this time."
Shouting their acceptance, the two Northerners too left the tent.
"Rest of you hold the camp. I myself shall scout Glevum granary. I know it's an ambush. But I want to know where they have staged it." the Blond Dayne explained his intentions.
"Then I will storm the backsides of theirs. My spear up their fat arses will teach them how to do a good fucking." Oberyn sniped and all present laughed at the jest.
"Of that you are free to do so." It had been more than a month since they had come here. That they had not even suffered one assault was suspicious to the Dayne. "Now all you return to your camps and prepare for an assault. Sergeant Vardley shall stay."
Naruto gazed at his confidant of many years. Who had been with him through all thick and thin. Only to this man could he reveal his inner most fears.
"What rank are you now Vardley?" He asked almost as if reminiscing.
"Sergeant under Colonel Flint. Bowmen division of the Central army. What do you want to say to me but? I know it's not to ask my rank."
"To tell you the truth I am scared Janus. Till now I haven't faced defeat. I think today is the day I do. That man Water mirror is of the opinion that I would be reborn in fire today. Isn't that an old expression for losing?"
"I thought you only feared the winter." Janus quipped.
Naruto too laughed at that. "Thank you Janus. I didn't even realize how weak and indecisive that sounded. You shall accompany me to Glevum granary."
"It would be an honor."
***Dawn of the whiskered Dayne ***
"Naruto Dayne. O Naruto Dayne! How much pain have you taken to steal me of my supplies and army? Only to fall into your grave. Bastard Sand, you won't go back alive today." Embittered was the voice. Grim were the words. The intent was both bitter and grim. Doom and Gloom in each a Splendid pair, required no effort to paint this voice's premise.
"Father, he hasn't entered yet. Though he did take care of the ambush by Lord Redwyne. Lady Redwyne has been made a window today." A voice of caution reminded the angered gruff voice from before.
Father and son were gazing from higher ground at the army below. With painstaking effort they had laid an elaborate trap for the Dornish Grand commander. In their opinion if the Dayne was killed the Martells would submit. To make matters worst, Renly had withdrawn support.
The Father advanced in years but stronger than his offspring. The offspring though young of age, wise beyond his years, peers and sire. Together they too made a splendid pair.
Willas ever since being crippled had spent day and night into honing his mind. What if he waited till now to strike his blow of vengeance on the Dayne? He had been honing his blade for over ten years now.
"He's hesitating. He is a wily wolf indeed. Even now he suspects an ambush. Even now he calculates every step. After all the lures and baits we laid out for him, he still refuses to fall into the trap."
"Silence Willas! I know he will fall today. The Gods are with us. Even the Targaryens. Isn't it Aramis?" Mace asked of the third member of their queer clique.
Aramis was their newest ally's Advisor. A scholar from the island of Lys, he had spent his entire youth in understanding and digesting military strategy. Varys had left no stone unturned in his bid to install a Targaryen back on the throne.
A slight man with a goatee was Aramis. Overall there was only a look of frailty over the entirety of his body. But from his eyes you could claim that he was shrewd.
"Give the signal and my Lord will be here atop Drogon. Setting ablaze with one sureshot flame from the beast he would circle high above for intimidating. After that he will fly away to give the fright of distance. Then you have to seal all the exits. The granary would be in flames and the Dayne in ashes."
The plan laid bare in simple words for all to hear.
"The young commander Dayne is suspicious by nature. So it is hard to trap him. Therefore we dangled tasty baits for him. He has not failed to take even one of them. I too am sure he will fall to his grave today." Aramis gave his opinion to the nobles seeking his advice.
"No retreat for the Targaryens. No respite for the traitors." Aramis repeated the motto of his cause.
"No retreat for the Targaryens. No respite for the traitors." Repeated Father and son. Bolstered by mere words the trio peered once more into the graveyard below. Eagerly waiting for their harasser to finally meet his doom.
A Sally from the left and right of theirs was beaten back by the Dorne army. Even the surprise attack from the rear was repelled. Striking victory after victory the invading army crept closer to the granary.
At long last when each of the distractions were removed, they stormed into the granary.
"Look that Dayne has finally entered. Call out for your Lord. Call out for Jon Targaryen." Mace almost begged.
"Let it be done then." And a flare was sent into the skies. Blood red smoke mushroomed into the sky. And a black cloud came closer.
Closer and closer did the cloud come until it sprouted wings on either sides. Features became clearer and the cloud transformed into a dragon. Black as Black dread. Colossal as Balor the Black Dread was. Staring the reptilian eyes of the mythical beast, the hearts of mere Dornish men trembled.
For the grains in the granary was soaked with oil. Explosives hidden beneath gunny sacks. The head ground wouldn't hold any resistance to fire.
And more importantly, Lord Tarly had now entered and sealed the exits.
They had nowhere to go.
They were trapped.
They were done for.
Then the dragon opened his maw and let loose unending flames. Scorching man and grain alike.
**Dawn of the whiskered Dayne***
"The life here is silent. The enemy is nearby." Brienne of Emerald isles muttered out to her new leader. The Dayne had offered asylum to her family after the rout at the plains of the Scourge. Ever since she dutifully served her new master. As he was a tenfold better than her previous one.
"Scout ahead Brienne. Let us see us if they are desperate enough to hurt a lone woman."
"Respectfully Ser. I am a Knight too. I am not a weak woman." Brienne retorted.
"That's why I said lone not weak. As for that Knight thingy we still have to have that bout to change my mind." Dayne said with a smile.
The face of the 'Beauty' lit up with cheerfulness. This man didn't dismiss her off like the others. He at the least entertained the thought that maybe she can hold her own in a battle. It was all that she needed.
"The real reason why I said it was because you are the only rider from the Reach here. Godspeed my Nymeria. Godspeed!"Commander Dayne nudged her ahead.
All was done in a few minutes.
"There is a company under Lord Redwyne ahead, hiding under green cover." The report was given.
"The there will be a support party at their flanks to envelop us. Brienne can I trust you to outflank the right. Reed you take the left."
"Yes sir." The orders were given and duly followed.
"The rest follow me ahead. Let's teach this Redwyne what happens when he dares to ambush a Dornishman."
All said and done an ambush was a gamble. When you ambush you are likely to get ambushed as well. But credit was due to Lord Redwyne. Not one Reach man under him did flee. All fought on till their last breaths.
After overwhelming their foes, all three parties coalesced in the granary. Before their eyes was their final prize.
The first one to enter was Vardley who promptly reconned the area for any stragglers. Seeing none he called everyone inside. The small force of three thousand rolled inside the enclosure.
Great was the Reach's fields. It's bounty fed most of the Westeros mouths. It was a pity that their hands were not strong enough to rule hearts.
"Grand commander please inspect the supplies." Vardley said before piercing a sack with his sword. Grains fell like diamonds from the opening. Naruto extended his hand to catch some of it in his palms.
His heart soared to the skies. Now he could retreat to the Dornish swamps with his head held high.
"Mace Tyrrell. My fat foolish Lord. What pains have you taken to reap such a bounty! Only to fall into my hands. Without food, I don't think you can even venture outside your plains. Or can you?" Naruto Dayne muttered to himself.
"Quick steal everything." Naruto ordered. Then he combed his long mane of golden yellow spikes. It was slick. Too slick.
He quickly ingested some grains. And promptly spat it out. It was soaked in oil.
"Oh Gods of mine! He exclaimed.
"Sire there is nitre beneath the sacks."
"What is that? A bird?" Someone pointed out to the clouds where a black mass was fast approaching. The black mass approached and sprouted wings on its sides. Two much thin appendages that looked like the tail of the prehensile monkey on such a big mass flapped in the air.
And then like the Thunder that tries to warn you of lightning but ultimately loses out in iis bid, came the dragon's roar. Before the outstretched maw of the dragon even the bravest of men couldn't be bbased for being craven.
But being craven is also another word for being cautious.
"Run for your lives. That's a dragon!" Naruto shouted out in alarm to his comrades. His shouts were in vain as the exits was now blocked by Tarly of all people. Even the dragon spat fire at them.
Morale plummeted down to the gully. All men lost their will to fight when they saw the dragon. The Targaryens were back. The rightful rulers of Westeros was back. For who else could ride a dragon as if it was their stable horse?
Flames of despair were they as they consumed lives for its sustenance. Fear was what the man felt in an all-numbing fashion.
Amidst the carnage, Naruto sat down on the hard ground and pondered. This was the end of his life's journey. Death by fire indeed it was. Maybe that old rascal Water Mirror had some truth in him? He had done all he could till now yet the two things he craved the most was still away from him.
So much away from him.
Fame.
Achievement.
The two he thirsted for every day and dreamed of in the night. Never did he place anything above them in his life. What for? All was a waste of time now!
He was going to die.
Never had a single sentence pierced his heart more. Never ever was he more unready to give up his life.
"Naruto give us our orders. What are you thinking?" Janus asked him concerned. At death's throes both of them forgot the veneer of formality.
"You as well as myself know that we won't get out alive. Forces are rushing in at the exits. The dragon is still circling above. As long as the both of them are there none will even pick up their spears. Order all the men to surrender and give up their arms."
"No! No. No. No! I won't. Not after all that we have achieved and done." Janus sobbed and kowtowed in front of his Grand commander. Naruto Dayne with a broken heart got up again.
"Men, hear my orders. You have done the best you could. This is my fault. I hereby give everyone the option of surrendering. You can forfeit your arms and surrender to Tarly at the pass.
"But what about you?" This was asked by Brienne.
"I am the First Grand Commander of Dorne. If I am captured, I would bring shame upon the whole Kingdom. The only option for me is death." Saying that he unsheathed his sword to cut his own neck.
Arrows kept on raining on them. Even as Naruto spoke, his men were dying. The footmen lacking the plate armor of the nobility were easy prey to the projectiles. He was thoroughly beaten today.
"I will fight with you till my last breath." Brienne declared kneeling on the ground. This broke everyone out of their reverie. The Lords now refused to be seen as more craven than a maid.
"Me too." One announced. Then the other and then even officers followed suit. Seeing this Naruto teared up. If it was even possible in such a smoldering cauldron.
"You men are the best soldiers. Thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart." He said in tears. For even then there was no hope for him.
"But I won't change my mind." Naruto quickly raised his blade to his neck. The now hot blade slightly singing his mane. But he was surprised to hear the sound of Iron being quenched.
How could hot iron be quenched without water? How could it happen without rain?
The blonde Dayne fell to his knees and raised his head skywars. Tears now freely rolled along his cheeks.
Glorious rain. Glorious rain.
Glorious life-saving rain fell down from the heavens.
His life was saved.
His ambition was given wings once more.
"Reborn in fire in three days huh...! Water Mirror you are a man of your word. There is more to you than it meets the eye." Naruto muttered to himself. There was no other explanation for the events that just happened.
Rain rarely fell so late into summer. When winter was so near and had already grasped the North and the River lands.
Was this a sign sent from Above?
"The Gods are with Dayne not Tyrell or Targaryen." Janus shouted and galvanized the troops. "Storm that Tarly bastard!"
The End
Gonna end in this cliffhanger because I feel like it. The dragons of GOT have always been a mystery to me. What the fuck can they do if it rains? Living in the west coast of India where it rains torrentially this reality had never escaped my notice.
A dragon is a magnificent beast true, but it's not a force of nature say like a bijuu. So it can't overpower the natural course of nature. Nor can it continue to act as a flamethrower. There must be a limit. In my story it is three shots. In line with the Targaryen fixation of three I am fixing that as the limit.
As for Naruto's character itself... I have not changed much. Even in canon, he placed fame and achievement over love, friendship or even family.
Proof No.1 : His dream of Hokage. His initial explanation for that was that he wanted people to remember him. As it was a kiddy Manga, the writer didn't much delve into the intricacies of that statement. But here I have the liberty to do so.
Proof No2: His Training trip. If Konoha wanted they could have just hid him somewhere and as the dominant force on the planet faced Akatsuki. But Naruto wanted to fight the Akatsuki. He wanted to achieve success and fame through their deaths.
Time and again, Naruto Uzumaki demonstrated that his humble Origins notwithstanding he would never be content to die a simple servant.
Picture this,
"I won't die until I am Hokage."
It's a concept alien to most. But to me it strikes a sonorous chord deep within.
I rest my case.
Next chapter will be out in 21 days.
Mushy signing ou