Dragons and Thrones: A Dark Shadow Looms
Chapter 37 of my crossover story, end of the Temple of Mythal incident, hope you enjoy it :)
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Now onto the story.
Disclaimer: Game of Thrones belongs to George R.R. Martin. Dragon Age belongs to Bioware.
Arya
Arya almost gasped out loud at what she saw in that final chamber; it wasn't the ruin the other chambers were. The place almost looked like it was mixed with nature, a stunning beauty, even to her jaded eye. But she did not focus on the scenery, on the trees and such around them for too long.
Her eyes went to the large circular pool in the middle of the room, a strange mirror at the opposite end. Around her, she felt Robb, Gendry, Meera and Cullen all tense; she couldn't blame them, she did too.
For standing there, on the edge of the pool, facing them, a smug grin on his face, was Corypheus. She could see her captured siblings, all helplessly, bound and gagged now, it seemed they no longer needed Bran's wisdom; he must have read the final inscription by the pool.
'No!' She thought in dismay, they were too late.
For Calpernia stood in the centre of the pool which was glowing and seeming to feed into her in waves of energy.
"I see our pursuers have finally arrived." Corypheus remarked mockingly. "But too late as usual...how very...cliché."
Arya grit her teeth; tightening her grip on Needle; the others all stood ready; but they couldn't risk it, they could move, not with Bran, Sansa and Rickon still in danger. They could only watch as Calpernia, now looking more smug than ever, stepped out of the now empty well.
"Ah, good...A chance to test my new power." She remarked. "Master, allow me to deal with them."
Corypheus nodded slowly; a strange expression on his face, his hand inside his robe. "As you wish, Calpernia, it will indeed be...interesting."
Something wasn't right here; but Arya sensed they were now in serious trouble.
Before either Corypheus or Calpernia could react however, they heard a loud deafening roar.
"Dragon!" Cullen yelled; just as the creature itself landed, right in the empty pool.
As it let out another roar, Arya found herself frozen; staring in awe at the magnificent creature. It was massive, with golden and white scales, two large horns that jutted backwards and curved upwards, it had large yellow eyes and razor sharp, gleaming white fangs and claws.
It's wingspan was huge and it was clearly very, very powerful.
The force of it's landing had jolted them, now Arya saw a chance, but it was far too risky, her captive siblings had been knocked away from their captors, to the side of the room.
Calpernia and Corypheus were both forced to move, as the Dragon suddenly attacked, it did not seem to care who it hit, simply attacking everyone and everything in sight. It then unleashed a torrent of flame from its mouth, right towards her.
"Shit!"
Before she could react, Cullen was in front of her, in front of all of them, raising his shield. To her amazement, the shield held and the flames curved around them.
Seeing her expression as he struggled to hold his shield Cullen smirked. "Shield's made from Dragon bone...C'mon, before it's too late."
Arya nodded and, with Cullen trying to defend them, they tried to make their way to Sansa, Bran and Rickon.
As they moved, Arya noticed that Calpernia seemed to be struggling, it was clear these new powers weren't what she expected and she was trying to gain control of them.
Corypheus meanwhile held out the orb Bran had told her about and that Dragon, that Red Dragon that had flown over Westeros had appeared and was now fighting the Golden one.
'Now it makes sense, it's his Dragon, he's controlling it, but...' Arya realized before shaking her head. 'Focus, focus on what matters just now.'
In the midst of the chaos of Calpernia trying to harness her new magical powers, Corypheus' fury and the two dragons fighting each other, Arya and her companions had reached the captives and quickly set them free.
"Bran, Gods, I can't believe they..." Arya gasped as she watched the carnage.
Bran had a grim smirk. "I...may have forgot to mention about the Guardian of Mythal, that dragon."
Arya almost wanted to laugh at that; but she couldn't they were trapped, unable to do anything but watch as the Dragon battle ended and all attention turned to them again.
They were even more trapped; Calpernia had harnessed her new power and now controlled the Guardian, they now had two Dragons to contend with.
It was then Arya remembered something.
"Wait! She cried as she pulled the memory crystal from her pocket. "Calpernia, you...you have to see this!"
Calpernia scoffed. "Foolish girl, nothing you do will work, this is the end for you..."
Arya cut across her. "Corypheus is using you, he doesn't intend what you think he does! Just look at this...ask...Erasthenes."
Calpernia froze as she said that; Corypheus glared.
"How, how do you know that name?"
Arya threw the crystal to Calpernia who caught it, suddenly activating it, allowing her to see the memories, the last will and testament of her former master Erasthenes; who had been bound by Corypheus with a powerful spell.
The same spell he planned to now use on Calpernia to acquire her powers, completing her purpose as the vessel, allowing to acquire the power, without any of the trappings it entailed.
It was indeed the last will and testament of the man, for he had been killed shortly after making it, with Solas only acquiring it from Corypheus during the attack on Winterfell by pure chance. Deathly silence followed as the crystal's light faded.
Suddenly Calpernia started as it shattered in her hands, destroyed by Corypheus.
"Enough delays, kill them."
She remained frozen, until she turned her master, hatred and rage burning in her eyes.
She raised her staff and suddenly, without warning, the Guardian of Mythal, turned and attacked the Red Dragon again and attempted to attack Corypheus too.
"You dare, you lied to me, used me...murdered him!" She screamed. "This is not why I joined you, this is not what you promised!"
Corypheus glowered. "You never comprehend what I envision Calpernia; this petty sudden defiance shows only weakness, you..."
"Silence, you will not get what you seek!" She bellowed back at him.
With that, so many things happened at once, Calpernia appeared to gather all her magical power; she gave Corypheus one hate filled glare and let out a yell.
At the same time, a bright flash consumed Arya and her companions, at the same time as a massive explosion, centring on Calpernia, overtook the entire Temple of Mythal.
By the time Arya regained her equilibrium she was surprised to find herself outside the temple; with her siblings, Gendry, Meera and Cullen, with the Northern army and the imprisoned Samson.
"What, where…?" She gasped.
Robb shook his head. "It looks like, like we..."
They finally surveyed their surroundings, they were outside, the temple was utterly destroyed, so much so they could see the Well, now exposed to the outside. The Guardian of Mythal lay, unmoving, more than likely dead.
The Red Dragon was flying away, blood visibly dripping from it as it flew. Corypheus and Calpernia were gone. It was clear now the explosion had been Calpernia, using all her magic in a suicidal attack, while also warping Arya and the others to safety.
'She's dead, taking the powers of the Well with her, Corypheus is gone too...but something tells me, not for good.' She mused. 'Even so, this is a major setback for him, he has been dealt a serious blow, he will need time to recover.'
She smiled; it wasn't what they pictured but it was a victory nonetheless.
So, agreeing to share the story while on the road, the now liberated hostages, Arya and her companions and Robb all joined the army and mounted up. Taking Samson with them they began to head home, back to Winterfell.
End of chapter and the Temple of Mythal incident, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.