I know you all have been waiting a long while for this one, and being that it is the New Year, I wanted to be generous so here you go, Chapter 31 of The Hour of the Wolf. Let's jump right in!
Hard to believe I've been an author for five years going on six, now. I want to thank you all for your support in my stories, even though I am horrendously slow at completing them.
Anywho, I hope you all enjoy this update.
Chapter 31: A Thousand Eyes in One
Castle Black
The last of the Wildling captives exited Castle Blacks gates, Arthur saw disgust and distrust on the faces of the Northmen and Watchmen that made a path for them.
Jon saw him and began climbing the steps to speak to him, a grin appeared as he greeted his brother openly- Embracing the true heir to the Iron Throne. He also grinned as he remembered telling Stannis and his men that they can enter the North through Eastwatch, miles from him and his people.
Some might say it is a terrible way to treat an ally, especially since both armies will be very close until Stannis goes South for his throne.
His Throne? He scoffed at the notion that the Iron Throne belongs to Stannis, a man who has no territory to defend, no advantage and just a few thousand men and horses to make a fruitless invasion of the Southern kingdoms.
Stannis Baratheon, Lord of Nothing and King With No Land. He'd have me quiver as if he was the Demon of the Trident, he's just an old man carrying on a tired fight. Arthur thought scornfully, his eyes brimming with hate for the Iron Throne.
The creation of that ugly chair might have unified the Realm, but it was a crippled unification with corruption and treachery. The power of controlling the Seven Kingdoms took away freedoms and wills, killed all of the Targaryen dragons and fielded the lands with blood from the many rebellions and civil wars, all to sit where a silver-haired dragonlord once sat.
Now, there's one last dragonlord in Westeros, and it is the man he called brother for these many years.
"Thank you, brother, for letting the Free Folk settle in the Gift." Arthur's smile faded after Jon mentioned the people he had been so fond of.
"These stories better be true, Jon, otherwise my army will have to remove them." It hurt Jon to say that but Arthur could not play favorites, not even for him.
"I am telling the truth, the dead are rising and the White Walker's are leading them." Arthur wanted to scoff but knew it would only cause a scene.
It's just that, Jon's story won't sit well with the rest of the Northern Lords and just letting the Wildling's pass the Wall has already angered them. Jon looked at him and sighed before looking back out on the courtyard, meeting the glares of several watchmen, including Alliser Thorne.
"The Night's Watch will be naming a new Lord Commander, soon, Jon. Alliser might be the man to win it." It wasn't a pleasant thought, both of them knew it and that he allowed the Wildlings South hadn't made the Watchers on the Wall too fond of the new King in the North. "Perhaps you should run for it, the Night's Watch seems to respect you immensely." He added and his brother laughed a little at the proposition.
"They'll choose a veteran, Sam said that Ser Denys Mallister will be our next Lord Commander... " Jon doesn't sound all too sure, Arthur sensed it in his brother's voice.
Not thinking, the King of the North stepped up, "Perhaps you could leave the Wall." Jon looked at him like he was insane, "It is written that a member of the Kingsguard could leave fulfill certain duties, the same can possibly be done for a man of the Watch?" He wanted to help Jon, not just because of the potential for Alliser to abuse him but because Jon shouldn't be an exiled bastard sentenced to the Wall for the rest of his life.
He always thought the Watch was unworthy of Jon, his brothers- Cousins skill and leadership is something to be at the head of an army... Or on a Throne.
"The vows are for life, a man of the Night's Watch forsakes lands and titles to defend the Realm- " He snapped at Jon for saying that.
"But you aren't no ordinary man, Jon!" His brother looked at him with confusion, Arthur's eyes widened the moment he realized what he said.
Damn it, I can't keep a secret to save my life. It's the Wolf's Blood in him, and he has never been the most patient of men, even as a boy playing in Winterfell's godswood.
"What do you mean, Arthur? I am Ned Starks, son, just as you are." Jon told him and he shook his head in a dismissive manner.
It doesn't make sense to keep it from Jon, he needs to know who he is to go down the path that his blood should demand he tread. And I'll be beside him, we might not be brothers by blood, but we are stills sons of House Stark. Arthur thought as he gestured for Jon to follow him somewhere more discreet and walked into the empty hall.
"There's something you need to know, Jon... Our father was- " The halls door opened and Lord Karstark entered with a raven scroll in his hand.
"Your grace, we received word, from the Twins." The Twins? He glanced at Jon then reluctantly took the scroll from Rickard.
He didn't like what the scroll said and nearly buckled to the floor, his eyes flashed angrily as he roared and flipped over a table then fell to his knees.
... His wife, his Mya, she is dead.
The letter read that Mya passed into the night, the servants went to feed her water and found her cold and sheer white, hair was thin and breathing was gone. He had hoped to see her wake and come back to his arms again, now, now he'll be burying her instead of welcoming her to their new home.
Eastwatch
Axell Florent wished his King had butchered both of Ned Starks pups and placed their heads on pikes, talking to the rightful King in such a lowly manner.
Bastards, too. He thought, both boys were Snows and no usurper can change that but the King. Axell's black steed neighed heavily as the rest of their army marched back through Eastwatch's tunnel, another slight the 'King of the North' placed upon them.
Arthur Snow had given the King 'permission' to seat their army at House Bolton's empty seat of the Dreadfort, Axell all but gasped at the young man's arrogance when he said that. His hand twitched to his sword, would have struck the usurper down if not for GreatJon Umber seeing it.
"This is insulting." He whispered and his comment was heard by another, he twitched at seeing Davos's horse taking a place beside his own.
"Aye, though, it could have gotten far worse if you hadn't raised your hand to your sword, Lord Florent." How dare the Crabber's Son speak to him that way, just because he is the Hand of the King.
Bah! He is the Hand of the Queen, the Queen's Hand as Selyse promoted him in secret though noticed by Lady Melisandre and King Stannis thought the King more or less scoffed at the idea of two Hands.
He believes there should be only one, him, let the Onion Knight go back to being an upstart and keep his small and crummy castle while he oversees the Kingdoms for the King of Westeros when his Grace does not want to.
"Watch yourself! Onion Knight." He seethed and commented further, "His grace should have cut down the usurper and his Wildling King ally." Davos shook his head and rode on ahead to the King, he glared at the back of the peasant with hatred and other such feelings.
The army camped for the night, manning three castles to keep themselves warm. He was sat down and had a bottle of ale in his hand when he heard a knock on his door, he quickly opened it and embraced his niece who came to visit him.
"I had heard how that bastard treated my husband, my blood boils at the thought of how Stannis had to march all the way back here rather than taking a position in Castle Black." Aye, a feeling heard and felt by many in their circle or worshippers to the Lord of Light, "Lady Melisandre doesn't trust Arthur Snow to keep his word to a truce, she's seen it in the flames." Truly? Axell wanted to curse the Starks for their treachery.
"What do you propose we do, sister, fight them in the field?" Selyse shook her head at his question.
"No, as much as I hate it, we don't stand much of a chance without help from Rh'llor. No, we must cripple their leadership." She should take this to the King, tell him of their plans.
"What about the King, niece, you're his wife- " Selyse again shakes her head no.
"Stannis is too honorable to move against Arthur unless the boy strikes first, I have a plan, but... " But what? Why is this so dangerous. "Gather our swiftest followers, we will need them, uncle." He can do that.
Soon the wolf will be outmatched by the stag and fox, he might see Arthur's head on a pike just yet.
In the Riverlands
Mya woke up sweating, she heard the howling of wolves in her dreams again for the second night.
The old her would have written it off as nothing, just her own stress at dealing with the task at hand. Yet, with what she's seen in the fires or what she's seen Thoros do, she can't help but worry if Arthur is in trouble or in pain.
She dreams of him, of their night writhing in the bedsheets and making love both in the encampments and within Riverrun.
The old feelings aren't so dead, even when he believes that she has died. Perhaps that is why I wake in the middle of the night, he knows about what happened to me. She thought as she brought a hand to her heart, closing her eyes to fight back the tears that threaten to break from her.
"Another bad dream, Princess?" She turned and saw Ser Beric was still up.
When they started this journey together, she had been curious as to why Ser Beric hardly slept. It wasn't until Thoros and Anguy told him about how many times Beric died, how many times Thoros brought him back.
Beric described it to her as a small piece of him, being torn piece by piece, each time making him less like himself. She pitied the man, felt sorry for what he had gone through since the War of the Five Kings began.
"Yes, I fear Arthur knows what became of me, err, I mean what became of the one that has taken my place." She corrected herself when she caught what she had uttered out, it hurt to say so as she played with the last piece of Arthur she took with her.
A band of iron, a sapphire at its center. Arthur gave it to her a few days after they married, she couldn't bear to leave it behind when Beric came to retrieve her from the Twins.
"If you inquire to know where he is, you need but look into the fires, Princess." Enough with the Princess shite, she isn't a Princess and she isn't a Queen, she's the Bastard of Robert Baratheon and nothing more.
But, she did do as Beric suggested and gazed into the campfire.
She saw nothing for several minutes, nothing but the flickering of flame dancing and the shadows it created around them. Her blue eyes widened as she finally saw something...
It was an old fort covered in snow, she immediately noticed Wall and thoughts turned to Castle Black. She was then given sight of blood seeping in the snow, the sounds of fighting and the horns blowing in the night sky.
Then it was over, Ser Beric looked to her and spoke, "What did you see, Mya?" She knows exactly what she saw and it didn't quiet her heart.
"A battle at Castle Black, or some sort of fight." She wanted to know why she can see these things, what makes her so special in the eyes of the Red God.
Arthur, she thought, she prayed for him to be safe and sound.
Standing upright, she told everyone they should keep moving, the capital is still a ways away.
Dorne
High Hermitage was in flames, a great host of soldiers from House Uller scaled the walls and killed men, women, and children. The small village below the castle was all but destroyed, many people were massacred and left to burn and rot, a feast for the crows.
Leading the force was Lord Uller's son and heir, then his grandaughters, the Sand Snakes.
This retaliation was for the death of Oberyn Martell, the Red Viper who was killed by Gerold Dayne, the Darkstar. Ellaria Sand's blood boiled as she hated the fact she doesn't have the bastard on his knees, she wanted to also destroy House Dayne of Starfall as well but the keep was emptied of all people.
It is reasonable that Lady Allyria Dayne has her own spies, the Daynes of High Hermitage didn't have such a luxury and her father's army caught them off guard.
It helped that half of their strength was off in the North, fighting for Edric Dayne.
She blames all the Dayne's for taking her Oberyn, taking the father of her four children away from her. The rest of Dorne agrees with her, well, not all but the ones that matter in avenging Oberyn, Doran no doubt knows so she will face those consequences when she returns to Sunspear.
"Mother they are dead, all of them," Obara said riding up to her from the passage, her spear was covered in blood and her armor was stained in red.
Ellaria Sand shook her head, confusing the Sand Snake, "No, not all of them. Edric is in the North and Gerold is missing, they need to face our wrath just as the others will." The Lannisters too, it was Cersei who enlisted Gerold in fighting for the crown.
"Allyria had also scattered to the winds, no use in finding her right now." She continued and gripped the reins of her horse, "I must return to Sunspear and pay for what I've done... But I want you, Nym and Tyene to go North, look for Gerold Dayne." She ordered her daughter.
"Why North? Why would he go there?" She was asked and she explained her reasons toward the girl.
"It is no secret that Gerold coveted that sword of Starfall, he will surely go in search of Edric Dayne so that's where you shall go." The Dread Wolf is half-Dayne, it's the only place where the others will scatter to.
Tyene cried and didn't want her to go to Sunspear, they both knew what awaited her but she wouldn't let her children or Oberyn's eldest suffer for her choices.
"Know that I love you all, and Sarella, too... Wherever she is right now." She said and wiped a tear from Tyene's cheeks, she then turned her horse to join her father and a handful of soldiers to travel for Sunspear.
High Hermitage burned across the Red Mountains and what appeared as a thousand crows waited to feast upon the slain, the news wouldn't reach the ears of Edric, Ashara, and Gerold for some time.
But it would reach the ears of their second enemy, Cersei Lannister, and her ill born son.
King's Landing
The court was gathering to convene over the news from the South of Dorne, Jaime sighed as he took a place beside his son and the new Queen of Westeros, Margaery Tyrell.
His father was laid to rest a fortnight prior to the royal wedding, he grieved over the loss and held all the hatred toward his brother but more for himself because he had released Tyrion from his cell.
Cersei hasn't so much as spoke to him since then, she blamed him as well and to be honest he would rather she avoided him altogether after what she had done the night their father was murdered. She lit the Tower of the Hand aflame with Wildfyre, she looked so much like 'him', so much like the Mad King. Jaime thought as he watched his sister.
She looks a lot more different since her imprisonment, another thing that has divided his House since Tyrion killed their father. Her hair is shorter, she is more reclusive and seems to only be taking company with Qyburn.
He has begun to feel alone in the city, the only comfort being when he's amongst his men, the strength of the Westerlands are less than strong since the War with House Stark. He still has 9,500 men and it's enough to make him a symbol of strength.
Nothing close to the Reach who had bolstered the capital with 14,000 men while the other half of the Tyrell army had retreated back to defend the Reach from the Greyjoys, now under the control of Euron as the Small Council confirmed.
Small problems for him, the Greyjoys had always been a nuisance and will always be a nuisance. It's the Faith Militant, there the problem at the moment. He thought as he took a deep breath.
The Sparrows as they are called had tricked his sister into reigniting the Faith Militant, he had been away fighting a fruitless fight trying to retake a foothold within the Riverlands after his equally fruitless attempt at trying to not only release his sister but the new Queen and her brother, Loras.
His nephew seems to be completely under the thumb of the new High Septon, the man's influence got him disbarred from the Kingsguard and took away his ability to fight for Cersei who is set to stand trial for several crimes.
Tommen had even rescinded the law to a trial by combat, not that he'd be any use, his absent hand twitched a little he looked down to the gilded monstrosity his sister had made to make having no sword-hand less annoying.
"The King and I are equally distressed by the actions of the insurrectionists that attacked High Hermitage and Starfall, Prince Doran Martell has assured to everyone that justice will be served to those breaking the King's peace." She certainly knows how to play a crowd, Jaime thought as he eyed Queen Margaery, dressed in her new royal gown that, if he was a more lecherous man would say that is too much clothing.
His sister is plotting something, he knows it and is damned sure that the Tyrell's and the Sparrows know as well. If they don't... He fears that his House won't even see another generation.
With Arthur and Stannis in the North, Dornish Insurrectionists in the South, then a Targaryen Queen in Slaver's Bay? The Kingdoms aren't exactly in a shape to defend against their enemies and he would rather not worry about Braavos hammering them about the debt owed to the Iron Bank.
Jaime pulled back his growing hair, thinking about Brienne and Podrick, he hopes the two are well. Most of House Stark is in the North, that's where they should go if Arthur is willing to keep them around.
Word is that the Vale lost their acting Regent, Petyr Baelish sailed North and hadn't returned. Jaime chuckled lightly, the flesh peddler got what was coming to him and he hoped that it was Arthur who laid the final blow.
Thinking of his student brought a frown to his lips, he still remembered his last talk with Arthur when he was still a prisoner of Robb's. So much hate was in Arthur's eyes but he couldn't ever return the hate, he respects the lad too much to hate him. Was a bastard of Winterfell and now he's King in the North, a leader that men should follow. He thought with a proud smile on his face.
The Dread Wolf is on many lips throughout the Realm, he's sure to have renown within other lands as well.
Meereen
A tear fell from Daenerys as she walked away from the crypt her children were placed, she remembered how they roared at her with their eyes full of resentment. It clawed at her heart for doing that to them, but it was so they wouldn't hurt her subjects and the people she had freed.
It was the best option at the time, she had just taken the city and didn't want her dragons making the people she now rules over to turn against her.
"Your grace, are you well?" Missandei saw her crying and she wiped them off her cheeks, standing straight and regal.
She never wants to be seen as weak, in this world of men who cannot see a woman in power, she can't be seen crying or emotional.
A small part of her wished she had taken Jorah's advice, leave here and finally go home to Westeros. Perhaps if she had, then she wouldn't need to chain her children, she wouldn't have found out about Jorah's history of spying for House Baratheon.
And Ser Barristan, since he was killed she had to deal with blades in the dark looking to take her life. The Sons of the Harpy don't appreciate what she's trying to do with freeing the slaves and brokering a new age in Slaver's Bay.
"What's the matter, Missandei?" She ignored her friend's concern, Missandei cleared her throat and folded her hands.
"Daario is waiting for you in your chambers, my Queen." She wasn't in the mood for that, she sighed and attempted to keep walking but Missandei continued. "He has someone else with him, a Westerosi sailer." Westeros? She nodded at understanding what she said and made her way back to the pyramid.
It was Daario, Missandei and Grey Worm who all remain close to her, since Jorah's betrayal and Barristan's death. She had been used too much and betrayed a number of times already, it's lost most impact on her but she won't be betrayed again... Never.
She won't allow it.
It was as Missandei said to her at the pit, Daario awaited her in her chambers with a man long in years, he had a scraggly white and brown beard and a long scar down his right eye, he was bald.
"My Queen, this man is Garel of Gulltown. He had come under the intention of selling slaves but it's not why I brought him to you." The man refused to speak and simply held out his hand, she sighed and nodded for Daario to give him some coin for his information.
"You'll want to know about your enemies, Silver Queen. The lions are weak with Tywin dead, the Greyjoys invade the Reach, a boy of young age sits the throne and- " Daario whacked the man in the head, saying to get to the best part. "The Starks. The Freys betrayed'em at the Twins, they didn't succeed and the Dread Wolf now wears the crown of the North and Trident." Dread Wolf? She pursed her lips and folded her arms.
"I thought Ned Starks children were all dead, Jorah said so before I... " She didn't finish, this man doesn't need to know.
"All of his trueborn sons are dead, aye. Stark had a pair of bastard pups during the Rebellion. Arthur is the only one I recall, he defeated many of Tywin's kin and killed his mad dog, Gregor Clegane." Gregor killed her good-sister and nephew and niece, she was very glad that the monster was dead.
"What about my other enemies? There were five Kings in Westeros, as I recall." She questioned further and the man bristled from the air, she did notice it was a little cooler tonight than most other nights.
"Stannis was at Dragonstone as I remember, he got defeated at the Blackwater. A man named Euron is the new King Pirate after Balon was killed." She pondered on the weakened state of Westeros, it was the perfect time to go and reclaim her families throne.
She just needs ships and many of them, "You are welcome to the finest cell we have, stranger. Slavery is illegal in Slaver's Bay. Tomorrow you will leave and never return." The old man struggled as her guards took him away, she turned and also ordered for the man's ship to be checked and all slaves freed.
Daario smiled and sat beside her on the bed as she thought about what she might be facing in the near future, "This Dread Wolf is fighting back against the powerful Lannister's, he's someone that will be a valuable ally... Or a terrible enemy." She said with a sigh.
"It doesn't matter how mighty that man made it seem, no army will be able to defeat your dragons." She scoffed, that's if her dragons even want to be with her when the time comes that she truly sets herself to take back what is hers by rights.
Even Drogon is distant, and he hasn't been seen since that night he came to visit her.
"We need more ships, and these murderers must be taken down. I refuse to leave unless I know the people of the Bay of Dragons are safe and protected." Daario gave her a facial expression.
"Bay of Dragons?" He said with his usual humor but she let it slide, this time.
"I think it's a good name, let the past die and with it, slavery." She asked Daario to leave after saying this, he reluctantly bid her good night and left her alone and only then did she let her emotions out and cried for her children and the stress she's been put under.
Winterfell
Arthur entombed his wife, holding back the tears he was fighting to keep inside of him.
Sansa and Arya also stood with him, his mother was a way back looking at the statue of his father. She also looked back at him every now and again, her arms crossed as his sisters gave him comfort.
He thought about having all of House Frey executed, he accused them of killing her and would have killed the men who brought his wife if not for his mother and sisters talking him down.
Traditionally, none Starks were buried elsewhere or sent back to their families, Mya didn't have any family besides Stannis and Storm's End is a long way from Winterfell. He thought, damn it all and decided to rest her within the crypts because she was his wife, and she was Stark.
He noticed the ring he had made for her was missing, it's possible that one of the men who brought her had taken it off her body and pocketed. He'll be getting it back very soon, even if he has to break all of the twelve men who brought her home.
I wish Jon was here, I wish I didn't have to leave so soon before the next Lord Commander was named. He thought about his cousin who was left at the Wall, he did, however, speak to him and what he had asked the Watch to do.
Jon is to gather some of the Wildlings and send them out to get proof of Mance's claims before his next visit, if not then he will be forced to choose between his people or the people Jon had come to trust so much.
"I want the statue to be the perfect image of her, she deserves that much for not being there to care for her." He whispered and Sansa nodded to his request.
"I did not know her much, Arthur. I was still that naive child who held too much prejudice against those that weren't of noble station. I am sorry I treated you and Jon so unkindly." He forgave her for that a long time ago, they were all children and unprepared to how cold the world really was.
Smiling, he reached over and kissed Sansa on the forehead, "You two go on ahead, I need to speak to my mother." He said to them, Sansa went right away and Arya huffed before following her sister out of the crypts. Alone, he cleared the air, "I couldn't tell him, I came close but with Stannis and this talk of White Walkers, it doesn't seem like the right time." He said coldly and yet his mother saw through his coldness.
"Come here." She said soothingly, he didn't at first but eventually, he crumbled and embraced her while letting the tears fall from his face. She cooed to him, "It'll be alright, Arthur." He hopes she is right because right now, he wished he had died with Mya at the Twins, the pain of living without her is too much for him right at this moment when tensions are too high with their enemies.
Gods, he wished his father was here to give him some sort of guidance, or even Robb and Lady Catelyn.
AN: Super late for the New Years' update, sorry about all that. This chapter took a long time to get around to, don't fret because I intend to see all these stories to their finishing chapters.
Anywho, let's get to these reviews.
Silverwingzz, Oh Arya absolutely had a lot to say about it but I felt it wasn't necessary to write the scene, it wasn't going to change the direction there. I didn't kill too many, I take responsibility for Gendry and Gregor's along with a couple of other Lannister cousins who died anyways. Roose and Walder weren't getting away with their crimes and neither was Ramsey. Rickon and Osha's deaths were necessary.
Silver Crow, A tempting idea but Mance and the other chiefs were never going to agree to that, even if it meant the destruction of the Wildling lifestyle. Darkstar is still a ways away, but who will fight him? (Wink wink).
Antianti12, Thank you, I try my best.
Liveoninmemory, Here you go, hope you enjoyed it!
PrinceTanix, I do too, maybe I might do what DannyBlack70 had done and make one-shots with different roads where Mya and Arthur stay together.
246vili, I hope you enjoyed the update.
X7 Marine, Indeed I am glad as well, I won't be going anywhere although a temporary break is always needed.
Alphapaladin, Stannis is the Mannis who is the Baddest, although his wife and Axel Florent are planning on making things tenser.
Sloksingh45, I hope you enjoyed it!
Abeboabdu, Here you go, hope you enjoyed it!
Tony McNucklz, I hope I cleared that plothole, Thoros had put a glimmer on someone else and made sure they died in place of Mya. As Jon once told Arya in the first book, all roads lead to the same place, Mya's destiny lies North is all I can say. Beric and Thoros snuck in to get her passing the guards which were small in garrison.
This story will be my priority after Within the Blood is the Fire is updated. I am also chooosing two new stories to put with my collection but Hour of the Wolf will be my primary story to write.