A Son of Ice and Fire
A/N: Every storyline this season incorporates the game of thrones characters a lot more, and this chapter is just the start of that :)
Eye: Sorry I didn't see your review until I'd already posted the last chapter, so I'll just reply here. I left quite a bit of the castle design up to the imagination, but I used Dragonstone as a basis for the look of it.
Guest: Honestly, with the addition of Gothi, I'm running out of characters that I haven't included yet. I've got plans for Mala and Throk very soon but apart from maybe Gustav and Krogan and a few very small characters, I've got a full sweep.
Guest: A lot more HTTYD/GOT interactions will take place this season than the previous two, I can promise you that.
Guest: Dany will learn a bit more about the Haddocks this season, but I've already got a scene planned where she fully finds out, and I think that will be at the start of season 4.
Guest: I haven't really thought too much about the Hofferson lore yet, but what you suggested is a good start. House Haddock lore will be written in the break between S3 and S4, and then I'll do House Hofferson after S4.
Guest: I think a Gobber/Jaime conversation would be hilarious to write, but getting both characters in the same place will be difficult. Maybe it'll have to wait until S8 – we all know Jaime is heading North.
Guest: Yeah the hound is a quality character. I don't know the age gap between Arya and Gendry but I'd guess at 5-6 years. Arya is 11 in S1, and Gendry looks to be 16-18.
Guest: Game of thrones POVs will be on the way later this season :)
Guest: Where we are in the plot should become clearer in the next few chapters, but for now we're still on episode 1/2 of S3 of the show.
Sam Hill: Ingermans are in the Stormlands, whereas the Thorstons are on the Stormlands/Dorne border.
Fire Beard: The Grimborn sigil isn't a red fist, and there is a good reason for that, that will be shown later in the story. There is still a long way to go, so enemies may become friends, and friends may become enemies. Either way, you'll just have to wait and see ;)
Chapter 53: Three months later
Ruffnut
I allowed my head to rest back against the headboard, as I pulled the sheets up to cover my bare skin. One braid tickled my neck and ran down the length of my back, whilst the other hung freely down the centre of my chest. I looked across, as his gentle wheezing mirrored the rippling of the waves against the side of the ship. What a pair we are. I couldn't help chuckling as Dagur went from cradling the pillow like a new-born child one moment, to choking the life from it the next. As soft rays of sunlight began to trickle into the room, bathing the wood in a bright glow, I could almost forget everything that led up to this point. Almost.
Dagur was lying face down on the bed, the paper thin sheet barely extending above his waist. His head was tilted towards me, as he clasped the pillow tightly. Even when he's asleep, I could watch him tense like that any day. By the time I had stopped staring, I was almost drooling, but the murmur of a woman's name on his lips snapped me back to reality. That same name again! And it isn't mine! Wait, why does that bother me? It doesn't mean anything, it's not like our relationship is hardly serious. But it did bother me, and as much as I wanted to shove it far away, my blood was already boiling. In a swift motion, I ripped the sheet away, leaving him exposed, whilst I swamped myself in layer after layer of linen.
A single, acid green eye popped open, squinting at me. If he felt the cold breeze he didn't show it, as he just cocked an eyebrow and gave me a lopsided grin. You can't win me over that easily. I pulled the pillow from behind my back and struck him across the face, nearly knocking him off the bed completely. I tried to repeat the process, but he reached out and caught it, pulling it from my hold.
"Not that I don't like an early morning pillow fight, but what are you doing Ruff?" He chuckled, whilst scooching over and sliding under the edge of the sheets.
"What am I doing?" I asked cynically. "We've been on this damn ship for three months, and in the same bed for only a third of that, and yet that's the fourth time I've heard you call out for another girl." I pulled the sheets away from him again, wrapping myself up in them, with my knees to my chest, until only my head could be seen above the mountain of white.
"Other girl? Ruff, c'mon, I don't know wh…" He protested, inching closer and laying a hand on my knee.
"…Don't play dumb with me. Who is she? Former lover? Ex-wife? Prostitute? I don't want to be just a name on your list. I'm not your whore, Dagur!" I snapped, attempting to drag myself to my feet. But just as I pushed myself up, he rushed over and clutched my wrist strongly.
"Ruff, listen, I never wanted to make you feel like that. Honestly I didn't," he said slowly, "you've suffered more than most, I would never want to make it worse for you. I've been where you've been. Young, broken, vulnerable. After my brother died, I lost everything. They were not good time for me and I came with you here, because I didn't want you to go down that path alone. Believe me when I say I don't intend to hurt you." He stated sincerely, his face visibly softening. I wanted to scream, to yell, but the honesty in his voice was enough to calm me.
"Then who is Heather? Don't lie to me," I said firmly. His eyes seemed to almost double in size, before he let out a relieved sigh and fell back so his head rested on the pillow.
"Heather, she's my sister," he answered with a light chuckle. Sister. Oh God I'm an idiot. I quickly threw as many layers of sheets away from my body, blaming them for my immediate surge of warmth and the bright redness in my cheeks. I really am an idiot. I tried to look away as I unburdened myself of all but the final layer of linen. That would have one too, but I caught it just before it dropped below my stomach. What's wrong with me? I'm comfortable him seeing the twins, Barf and Belch (I still can't believe that name stuck), but not my scars. Come on, Ruff, get a grip.
Dagur suddenly shifted across and leapt out of the far side of the bed. I just watched, as he slowly began to dress, and then with only his lower half covered, he wandered back towards me. Casually strolling around to sit on the edge of the bed, he laid a reassuring hand on my outstretched legs, as he extended his arm towards me. "You see this?" He asked firmly, pointing to the initials VG carved crudely into his skin. "For what he has done to you and my brother, Viggo will pay. I promise you that." He then reached into the pocket of his black cloth trousers and pulled a small locket out. He held it out on his palm, gesturing for me to take it.
The casing was finely decorated, but what stood out was the large green gem in the centre. An emerald, how much must that be worth? I pushed that thought aside, as I slowly prized it open. Inside was a small folded sheet of paper. I looked to him for assurance and he just nodded. Carefully unfolding it, the beautifully drawn image of a young girl was painted in bright colours. He went to speak, but he seemed to clog up momentarily, and no sound came from his lips. A few seconds later, he eventually started, as quiet as I'd ever heard him, "My baby sister. Last time I saw her she was fourteen. When that family took me in, I felt it was my duty to protect her. I taught her how to fight, how to defend herself. I promised I'd always look out for her. I failed to keep my promise," he said sorrowfully, as a tear trickled down his cheek. "I could have sold the locket; it could have brought me a decent sum, but it's all I've got left of that life. It's priceless."
"Why are you telling me this?" I asked slowly.
"We're the same, you and I, and where we're going, we need to trust each other. We can only help each other if we are honest. You don't need to hide from me," he smiled, pointing to the hand I was covering my stomach with. "At the very least, it should be comforting to know you're travelling with someone who's more messed up than you are." His cheeky smile brought a sly smile to my lips, and that only made him grin wider. He tapped three times on the bed, before he stood up and announced, "It's about time you get ready, my Lady, we've still got a lot to get sorted, and we'll be in Yunkai by noon."
Tuffnut
Miserable. Wet. Cold. Life as a single adventurer sure has been a lot of fun so far. With no money, and no maps to follow, I wandered aimlessly in the supposed direction of east for a month. I already sold my outer layers, as well as the scraps of armour I had, just to keep me going, but all I had left was my threadbare shirt, trousers and my boots. If I still didn't have hundreds of miles left to walk, maybe I would have been walking barefoot the next morning. All I could think about was home, and Ruff. I just had to keep going. Keep fighting. But after that first month, my luck only grew worse and worse.
I'd walked two full days without as much as a grain of flour to sustain me. My stomach was twisting in a thousand different directions, and rumbling so loud it was as if there was a thunderstorm. The sun was setting, and I thought that I was that was going to be the end. I didn't know how much longer I could go on like that. But just as all seemed lost, the smoke rising from beyond the hill infront of me instantly brought me to a sprint, and I clambered as fast I could up to the peak to get a better view. I almost broke into tears of joy seeing he settlement in the distance, and I believed at that moment, that someone, somewhere, was looking out for me. Even as I let out a huge sigh of relief, my insides let out another chorus of grumbling. Right. Food. Got it. It took me another hour, but I stumbled into the village, my legs growing weaker by the step. The smell of freshly-baked bread was making my mouth water, but as I made my way towards it, I couldn't push down the feeling of guilt. May the Lord forgive me.
With darkness as my cover, and with the sack on my shoulder, I bolted as fast as I could, and I didn't stop running until I was miles away from the scene of the crime. I found refuge in a small wood; the trees provided decent cover. I knelt on the ground and quickly started a fire, allowing myself the small luxury of savouring the warmth on my palms. It couldn't be enjoyed for long, however, as my body let out an angry growl and forced me to reach into the sack and view the small selection of food - two loaves of bread, a half-dozen slices of meat and a wedge of cheese. It wasn't much, but it would last me a week, maybe two. I carved myself off a small slice of cheese and the first bite filled me with an unparalleled sense of bliss. It was vile, totally vile, but it was food, and the first I'd tasted in so long. I eagerly munched the rest of the slice down, and followed it with some bread and ham. I closed my eyes and allowed the smile to cross my lips, but little did I know that was a big mistake. If only I'd known.
The crackling of fire had obscured the sound of rustling, and before I could react two men were on me. I slipped through their grasp, and turned to run in the opposite direction, but another two blocked my path. I looked for my sword, only to remember that it was one of the first things I sold for food. Great idea Tuff, no really, what a great idea that was. I swivelled on the spot, pulling the small dagger from my waist, as three more surrounded me. My eyes frantically darted between them, but the circle around me only grew tighter. I slashed wildly, forcing them to temporarily back off, but I knew it wouldn't last. A heavy boot to the back of my knee knocked me off my feet, and then the hilt of a sword slammed against my skull, knocking me from reality into a half-unconscious state.
"Dirty thief, vermin like you should be executed," one of the men spat, as I was hauled up by my shoulders and dragged back towards the village. I tried to speak, but before I could even say a word, another strike to my head knocked me out completely.
After that, every decision I made only sent me further away from home. I woke up hours later, and I was given an ultimatum by the person running the village. I chose the option that didn't involve me losing a limb. At least this choice has food, and safety. At least I won't die alone. I was dragged from cell to cell as I was moved constantly across the Westerlands. Eventually I was handed off to a night's watch recruiter, who shoved me into the cage on the back of a cart, and that was that. Two months later and I'm still sat here, watching the world pass by, as the distance between me and home only grows larger. In that time, a dozen men must have made the same choice I did to join the watch, and they now marched alongside my mobile prison. Another man had been pushed into the cage with me. That was a few weeks back, but in the time since he hasn't even spoken a word. He has dark olive skin and his sharp, narrow face just looks threatening, even when his expression is blank. His eyes display no emotion, but fill you with a sense of dread all the same. Wearing a green tunic, and what seems to be a red snakeskin shawl around his upper chest and neck, he looked vastly out of place compared to the group of peasants surrounding him. I wonder what he did to get pushed in here with me. Nothing good I assume.
We stopped in a clearing in the heart of the Riverlands, and the view of the Red Fork river was breath-taking. Everything was calm. Too calm. Everything was completely silent. No birds whistling in the trees, no rabbits scuttling through the bushes. Not a sound. There's something wrong. I can feel it in my gut. This is bad. I span around and locked my hands around the bars.
"Let us out," I hissed at the man leading the convoy, as I stuck my head as far between the bars as I could possibly manage, "we're not safe here."
"Be quiet!" Came a deep growl in response, as he struck my knuckles with the piece of firewood he was holding.
I shook my head, but before I got a chance to repeat my warning, our makeshift camp was swarmed by twenty men, all clothed in anonymous makeshift clothing. They emerged from the bushes like a swarm, and enveloped us all before one person could pull out there weapon. One of them stepped ahead of the rest, waving his flaming sword in our direction. The unruly group we had scattered quickly, and suddenly everyone was either fleeing as fast as they could, or they were hiding behind the carts for cover.
However, the night's watch recruiter, dressed head to toe in black, didn't hide. He marched forward to meet the man, with his sword out in his hand. He looked scornfully at the people who had surrounded us, and then momentarily at those of us that remained, before he returned to meet the eyes of their leader. "What is the meaning of this? These criminals are to be taken to pay for their crimes at the Wall. Just go on you way. Leave us!"
"We can't do that. You have someone we need," the man replied strongly, as he swept his eyes over our convoy. "Hand him over to me, and you can be on your way."
"Who are you, and why should I even listen to you? The man in black shot back, with a permanent scowl was etched on his face.
"I am Lord Beric Dondarrion, and we are the brotherhood without banners," the man proclaimed proudly, waving his flaming sword in the sky. "The Lord needs this man, and he cannot be allowed to reach the Wall. Hand him over, and then you are free to pass." The man of the night's watch failed to reply, and so Beric's men started to begin to loot the convoy for any scraps of gold or items of value.
"You're nothing but bandits. No honour in the slightest. You will pay for this."
"We can't protect the countryside without food and weapons. We can't buy food and weapons without gold. But we are not here for gold alone, we're here for him," Beric stated, whilst his finger pointed in the direction of his target. And it only led to one person. Me. Me? Why me? Why is it always me? Can't I just have some good luck for once. What have I done to deserve this? Why would the Lord want me anyway? I'm nothing but a failure.
Outnumbered and without any support, the man responsible for locking me up reluctantly sheaved his sword. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the iron key, and flicked it in the air towards Lord Beric. Catching it mid-air, Beric tipped his head in thanks to the man, before he plunged his sword into the ground, extinguishing the fire in an instant. With his men finishing up collecting the loot, Beric strolled over towards the cage and in two quick clinks the cage was open. He stepped away, allowing me to climb down and stretch out fully for the first time in months. My back made an loud cracking sound as I reached up to the sky, but I didn't take my eyes off of him for one second.
"Come with us," Beric said firmly, "we serve the same God, and for whatever reason, you can't go North. Not yet." He nodded to me once before he headed back over and retrieved his sword.
"Why me? I have nothing to give you," I said wistfully, "I can't offer you anything."
Beric simply turned to me with a wide grin, "I do not know the Lord's will, but whatever it is, he has plans for you…"
Ruffnut
The rough road swept the dirt up around my legs as I walked, coating my boots in a thick layer of dust, as we walked towards the gates of Yunkai. After leaving Tuff behind, I felt lost, but Dagur said that there could be a new life I could start here, where I could try to forget all that I lost. If only that could ever be possible. I kept my head up, as we drew ever closer to the outer walls of the city, but Dagur's gaze was focused on the military encampment just outside the city. I kept walking, but he suddenly stopped. I turned to see him just stood still, seemingly admiring he landscape.
"Incredible, isn't it?" He beamed, rubbing his chin. "I never thought I'd be back here."
"More so than Meereen," I admitted, "but I did spend all of my time there fighting in the pits instead of admiring the scenery, so I may be a bit biased."
"There's no more fighting in the pits for either of us, I can promise you that. But if I'm right, the time I spent fighting may have not all been for nothing. I just hope he's still here," he said pensively.
"Who?" I asked, as he started walking again towards me.
He caught up, and placed a firm hand on my shoulder, "Just a… an old friend."
Eyes scanned us like hawks, as we took our first steps towards the sellsword company's base. Four men guarded the entrance, all with fingers coiled tightly around the hilt of their swords.
"What is your business here?" One asked loudly.
Dagur gave me a reassuring nod, before he took a step forward towards them, "Take us to your commanders, tell them Dagur the Deranged has arrived."
One of the men backed away, and vanished in the maze of tents, whilst the other three slowly began to lead us through the base. The banners of the Second Sons hung haphazardly, and the encampment looked more like a warzone than any actual battle. Fights were taking place, and horses were allowed to roam freely. Glad to know we're planning on joining an elite organisation. We followed for a few minutes, until the men infront of us stopped and parted to either side. We continued moving forward, and entered the large black tent, to find a man lounging casually inside. Upon seeing us enter, he stopped spinning the blade in his hand, and got up and greeted us - or more specifically, Dagur - with a wide smile.
Dagur walked forward towards him, and in seconds they had embraced each other in a tight hug. The man was looking over Dagur's shoulder at me, offering me a slanted smile. He was handsome, for sure, with his wavy jet-black hair and rugged beard. His black and brown armour far overshadowing Dagur's, and I could see the shape of the curved blade on his back as they turned sideways on. They shared a few whispers that I couldn't make out, and after a few seconds they let go. The man then headed towards me, taking my hand. He's not going to do that, oh God, he is. He leaned over and kissed it, just above my knuckles.
"My lady, allow me to introduce myself. I am Daario Naharis, and an acquaintance of Dagur's, so to say," he said smoothly, while I took the opportunity to move my hand back to my side.
"I think he used to term friend," I chuckled, looking over at Dagur.
"For people constantly trying to kill each other, I'd use the term loosely," Daario laughed.
Dagur pointed to the blade at the man's hip – a long dagger with the form of a naked woman carved into the handle. "You nearly got me with knife, on more than one occasion. Think I've got a good half three or four scars from it."
Daario flicked the knife into his hand and leisurely span the metal between his fingers. "I do love this blade," he said passionately, whilst kissing the weapon. "I see you've got some new steel as well."
"You could say that," Dagur laughed nervously, whilst removing the Jorgenson family axe from his back and laying it across his palms. "The old man no longer had need of it, so I took it, as compensation."
Daario eyed the blade of the axe with wonder, "that's Valerian steel," he mumbled. "Incredible. Maybe now you'd stand a chance against me," he teased, and Dagur's lips twisted into an amused grin.
"Those were the days, eh, the two of us fighting together, or against each other," Dagur laughed, "I thought you'd be dead by now, but when I heard you became a commander of a mercenary company, I couldn't believe it. You were a boy last time I saw you."
"That boy has had to fight to get where he is. It hasn't been easy, but when you've got skill ,there's always a chance. Some people identify talent when they see it," Daario smirked. "So, tell me why you're here."
"We both needed a fresh start," Dagur started, flicking his eyes across to meet mine, before he turned back to Daario. "We'd like to join, and I know you'd at least give us a chance. I don't have to prove myself to you, we've been through that before. As well as that, I am a second son already , so it sorta fits."
Daario seemed to ponder the decision, and turned away from us to think. He began to throw his knife in the air, each time catching it perfectly, despite it spinning furiously on its way down. After catching it the final time, he swiftly turned around and faced us. "Usually, I'd have to get the other commanders to agree, but because of our history, you're in, Dagur," Daario stated, but didn't say anything further.
Dagur smiled, before his look became more serious. "She's in with me. It's both, or none," he proclaimed firmly. "If you need fighters, then you should take her over me. She's better than I ever was."
Daario arched a brow at me, "Really, is this true?"
"Every word. Me and my brother beat Dagur and his partner in the pits of Meereen. I beat Dagur in single combat and only me needing to save my brother stopped me from killing him," I said proudly.
"Gee thanks Ruff, that totally helps my confidence," Dagur laughed.
"And your brother, is he here as well?" Daario enquired.
I looked ashamedly down at the floor, "He's not with us anymore."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Daario said softly, before he walked back over and sat down in the chair. "Very well, I'll give you both a chance. Take a few days to settle in, and then report to me. Welcome to the Second Sons!"
