Game of Thrones
The Moon's Child
Chapter 25
A New Player
304 AC- The North- Winterfell
The newly raised Lord Gendry Baratheon checks his saddle before mounting his horse, he brings the beast around and nods to the groom that had helped him. He looks around the courtyard, at the grizzled veterans going about their business. "Gendry" A voice called out.
"Your Grace… My Lord…"
"Jon" The voice corrected him, as The Warden of the North took the reigns of his horse and stroked the beast "I wanted to wish you good luck, I can only imagine how it feels, the first thing I ever wanted was to be a Stark."
"You already are." Gendry gave a hollow laugh "You've made your father proud… I didn't even know mine."
"He's proud." Jon nodded "I wish you were coming with us to King's Landing."
"I can't say I'm too unhappy about that." Gendry laughed slightly "I'll see to it our Queens banner flies over The Stormlands."
Jon paused for a moment "Sounds like the Stormlands are in good hands." He patted the horse again before looking across the courtyard to the open gate. Beyond the walls of Winterfell a group of horsemen wait just outside the King's Gate. Jon looked over at Ky and Albert at the head of this group of riders "Just take care of yourself. Be careful of them."
"They seem alright." Gendry shrugged
Jon didn't say anything he gave a half hearted smile "I hope we see each other soon Lord Gendry."
"And you Your Grac...Jon." The two shook hands and Jon watched as the New Lord of Storm's End trotted out of the gate.
"My Lord." Albert greeted him as Gendry's horse joined theirs.
"You ready to go?" Ky asked.
Gendry took a look back over his shoulder and nodded, Albert pointed towards the group of horsemen, one of which held a banner, a crowned black stag on a gold field. "One of the grooms managed to find one in an old store room, from King Robert's visit. I assume you'll take it as your own?"
"I hadn't thought of it." Gendry shook his head "My father's banner." He was almost choked as the proud stag flew in the breeze.
"We could only find the one." Albert continued "The rest of the banners are Stannis', your uncles."
"Aye we met once." Gendry said distantly "Didn't go to well."
"A stag is a stag." Ky spoke up "As the last Baratheon you're Stannis' heir as well."
"It's very strange being Highborn all of a sudden." Gendry cringed a little
"We wouldn't know." Albert smiled "Come on, there's a massive castle and load of swooning maidens waiting for you."
Gendry laughed slightly before following on, before he could get the horse up to a trot he stopped again, and turned back, he looked to the battlements above Winterfell's gate. A lone figure stood there, nestled between the snow covered ramparts she looked directly back at him. A slight woman, belying her power, a porcelain face with chestnut hair and wide eyes that looked sad, as she watched him. Gendry gave a wave from his horse, she waved back with a sad smile. "Arya" He half whispered
"Are you staying My Lord?" Ky asked from a respectful distance
Gendry let out a deep sigh as he took a long, lingering look at her. "She's made her choice" He said simply as he brought the horse to trot again. Arya Stark, the hero of Winterfell watched as her first and only rode off beneath waving banners. She swallowed hard as a single tear rolled down her cheek.
….
304 AC- The Riverlands- The Isle of Faces
A small branch like hand passes him a bowl, he accepts it and scoops the grey paste into his mouth. The man's eyes roll back into his head, as he collapses into a trance like state before the Weirwood. His hair is long, his beard full and unkempt, stripped to the waist he is covered in strange rune like tattoos, his body emaciated and starved, open wounds on his arms and chest allow blood to drip slowly onto the ground. As he lays on his back on the cold damp mud, the hungry weirwood above him smiled a greedy smile. As he lay on the ground looking up at the sky, his eyes blink in time with the flutter of ravens wings. He rolls onto his front and pushes himself up to his knees, the raven lands on a nearby rock and caws at him. The man closes his blood shot eyes and opens them again, he tries to focus on the raven, as the blurred vision focusses, a young man in black has taken the ravens place. Stood over him and looking down with a cold, vacant stare, the mans parched throat begins to crack "Brandon."
"Hello Howland" An empty voice replies as he walks from the rock to the shelter of the weirwood tree.
"You're alive Greenseer." Howland Reed croaks "The dead?"
"The dead have been stopped Howland." Bran placed a hand on his shoulder "The Long Night averted."
"Praise the Gods" Howland whispered "It's done."
"No." Bran corrected him "The Night King has been stopped… but there is still evil magic in the world. And it is coming for all of us."
"Where?" His voice was raspy
"In Ashaii and Carcosa, in the North and South… beneath the Sea." Bran placed a cold hand on Howlands shoulder "The Night King has lost the war…. But we have not won it."
"The Prince that was promised…." Reed began
"Howland" Bran spoke in a condescending tone "We agreed we wouldn't say those words."
"Forgive me Greenseer" He bowed
"Your last quest for me was less than successful." Bran sighed
"The Faceless Man…" Howland began "The shadow Priest…. The Fox King."
"Yes" He spoke coldly "You faced obstacles… but I needed you to bring me that child. You seem stronger."
"I have seen through the Weirwood, I can hear the Old Gods."
"Good" Bran nodded "I will have use for you again soon."
Still on his knees Howland Reed looked up at The Three Eyed Raven "I will be ready."
"Oh Howland." A soft childlike voice spoke to him as he felt a chill at his side. He turned his head slightly to see a young girl in a sleeveless white gown stood uncomfortably close to him, her hair fiery red, her eyes an unnatural shade of blue. "Why do you have such hatred for me." She kissed his cheek and stepped past him locking her haunting gaze on Brandon Stark "Hello dear Raven"
"You're not welcome here ancient one." Bran spoke coldly
"Good job I'm not really here then." She smiled playfully "Congratulations on your victory."
"There will be more to come." Bran gave a hollow smile "I am the living memory of this world, and you are a threat to it all."
"Is that why you're going to send Howland here to kill me." She smiled sweetly
"I'm not the monster in this." Bran told her sadly "You're still young to the world, you don't know how dangerous you are."
"You don't want to kill me do you Howland?" She asked with a pouting face "I'm just a baby."
"Howland is the champion of the Old Gods now." Bran answered her "He knows that sacrifices must be made."
"Like his son." Killed beyond the wall in your service "Or like his daughter… where is she exactly?" Howland looked up with tears in his eyes and began to sob.
"Get out of my head" He mumbled
"It doesn't matter what you've done to him." The girl spoke to Bran "Stronger have already tried to kill me."
"Get out of my head!" Howland muttered again
"I know how this ends" Bran told her honestly
"I look forward to the game dear Raven"
"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" Howland screamed again as he closed his eyes and buried his head in his hands. He slowly sat up again, the breeze blew gently, and he was alone beneath the smiling weirwood.
…..
304 AC- Ashaai by the Shadow
On his oily black throne, the Patriarch of Ashaai brings a hand to his chin. Hidden deep beneath his hood the Patriarch's eyes study the flames dancing in a nearby brazier, and the blood forming patterns on his palace floor. "The Night King is dead" He called to one of his servants lingering in the shadows "The living are victorious." He watched the embers in his brazier burn down "Send word to Carcosa, we'll begin our search for the child anew."
…
304 AC- The North- White Harbor
"Whose sails are they?" Gendry asked as he walked along the pier towards a waiting ship.
"Salladhor Saan's" Albert answered him "A pirate lord of Lys"
"Nice ship" Gendry nodded
As the party drew closer several men guarding the gang plank stepped out to meet them "Is one of you the Reeve?"
"I am." Ky answered from amongst the assembled men
"We were expecting there to be more of you." The man replied looking over at their numbers.
"We lost a lot." Ky nodded regretfully "Leave one ship here for my wounded men, the rest of us can probably squeeze on here."
"Very well Reeve." The man nodded "Will The Red Woman be joining us."
"She didn't make it." Ky Shook his head "But we are traveling The New Lord of Storm's End." Ky motioned towards Gendry
"Welcome aboard the Perfumed Sister My Lord." He bowed politely "I trust you will enjoy your stay."
"I'm sure I will." Gendry replied
"There is someone waiting for you in the Captain's Office Reeve."
"Who?" Ky asked nervously The man gave Ky a knowing look "Fair enough"
"Come on" Albert tapped Gendry on his arms "We'll play cards." The group of men beneath Baratheon banners ascended the gang plank into the waiting ship.
…..
"A Reeve enters" A strange voice greeted him as he was shown into the ornate captain's office. Sat behind a desk in a gilded cabin, a man in his forties, stroked his chin and gestured for the younger man to join him. His hair was red one half and white the other. "Do you know who a man is?"
"Can't say I do." Ky took a seat opposite him "Though if Saan has given you one of his ships, I'm assuming you are important."
"A man is Ryslik H'ghar" He bowed slightly "Harvest Prince of The Free City of Lorath… And your master."
Ky bowed slightly "You are one of The Nine?"
"Just so" He nodded
"How can I be of service?"
"Whispers." He spoke coldly "A man hears them. Whispers of the dead in the North? Are the whispers true."
"They were." Ky nodded "The battle is won."
"And The Dragon Queen?"
"Led the fight atop her dragon, and she is alive and well preparing to march on the south."
"Her dragons." He asked with a raised eyebrow
"Both fine."
"Both" H'ghar grinned slightly "A girl had three."
"Her army?"
"It's taken a pounding." Ky shrugged "But between The Unsullied, The Dothraki and the Northmen… still looking good."
"This is good to know." H'ghar nodded
"If I may speak freely Master H'ghar?" Ky waited for a response, he held out an open hand "You could have gotten this information from Varys."
"Perhaps" He nodded "Nine are unified in purpose, but do not always see eye to eye. The spider is not my man. Now tell me Reeve… A man hears whispers of a magic child."
"As you say" Ky answered "Whispers are not always reliable."
"Just so" He nodded "But my family has an appreciation for the ancient arts, that others do not. I've heard you ran afoul of a Faceless Man."
"We've run afoul of a few people."
"A man in The Iron Bank says the Faceless Man are essential to Braavos, that they have to be indulged. Ryslik H'ghar says I am not from Braavos and do not care. My family have been Princes in Lorath for generations. A forefather of mine, a Prince and a sorcerer fell afoul of them once…one of their number took his face and his name, they say he wears it to this day. Should the day come when you need assistance with them. Remember Ryslik H'Ghar."
"I'll keep it mind Master."
"Tell me about this new Baratheon."
"Seems alright." Ky nodded
"We thought The Dragon Queen would at least be on the Throne before making such appointments... no matter. Deliver him to Une, we'll keep him busy."
….
304 AC- Qarth
"The Dead no longer march on Westeros." Quaithe studied her cards and her stones from behind her lacquer mask. She cast a glance towards her host, sat dressed in cloth of gold upon a gilded throne. "Qarth will not have to join the fight Xaro Xohan Daxos."
He stroked his beard and smiled widely "And The Targaryen girl?"
"She lives" Quaithe looked back at the cards spread before her "Yet it appears the Dragon only has two heads now."
"Had she taken my offer, she would have three dragons and seven kingdoms to fly them in." He grinned to himself again "This is a cause for celebration."
"The Dead have fallen back into dust." Quaithe continued "But The Raven flies, The Prince who was Promised has answered the call, and The Child Wakes."
"You sound like the Warlocks." Daxos dismissed her
"It does not make it any less true." She cast a hand over some rune stones "And there are others that covet them."
"What do you advise?"
"Wait." Quaithe said simply "Allow the Raven to fly too close to the sun… allow the Prince to break their promise, allow the child to bleed. And allow your enemies to fight each other."
"And who are my enemies Quatih?"
"A Sorcerer in Asshai, A Yellow King in Carcosa, Many Faces in Braavos, A Kraken beneath the waves, and a Nine Headed Beast spanning the Narrow Sea. The Seastar shines, though where we do not know."
"And you Quaith?" He asked suspiciously "Are you my friend? I remember you telling me years ago The Dragon Queen would be mine."
"You may be King of Qarth, but you are not King of Time, my vision will come true. Remember to go West she must come East, to touch the light she must pass beneath The Shadow. She has not done this yet… but the Glass Candles burn now, it will be soon."
…
304 AC- The Stormlands- Storm's End
A great curtain wall rises high above Cape Wrath, surrounding the great Stone Drum that is Storm's End. Raised a millenia ago to ward off the The Storm God himself it has stood undefeated since then. The sanctuary of House Durandon and Baratheon, the Castle has laid empty since the demise of House Baratheon, with many pretenders trying to tame the storm. A Howling Banshee currently flies over the castle, a servant of The Nine installed to ensure the smooth running of the Stormlands until the Dragon Queen wins her war.
But the Baratheon line is not extinct, with a word from the Dragon Queen a bastard born in Flea Bottom now represents one of The Great Houses. Gendry of House Baratheon sits atop a war horse, a great war hammer slung across his back. Golden banners adorned with the black stag fly behind him as he brings the horse along a long winding path to the gates of Storm's End. "Who goes there?" A voice called from a watch tower.
"Gendry" He called back
"Gendry who?" The voice demanded
"He's not very good at this" Albert said under his breath
Ky walked his horse forward bringing it to a halt alongsideGendry "In the name of Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, The First of Her Name. Queen of the Andals and The First Men, Lord of The Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, I Kylon Wheelwright Reeve of The Marches present Gendry of House Baratheon, Rightful Heir of Robert Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End and Lord Paramount of The Stormlands."
"Thanks" Gendry said under his breath
There was a murmur of activity behind the castle gate, before the ancient hinges creeped to life and screamed open. A bearded man on a horse beneath a Banshee banner trots out to meet them. Ky brought his horse forward to meet him "I got your message." The man said under his breath "Do The Nine know about it?"
"They do now." Ky nodded
"What's he like?" He nodded towards Gendry
"Yeah he's alright." Ky shrugged "He wasn't raised Highborn so he's not a complete twat."
"Right leave him with me, I'll keep him busy. You should go back to The Marches and wait for the war."
"Will do." Ky nodded
"Lord Gendry" He called "I'm Une, Lord of The Howling Hill. A loyal servant of House Baratheon. We've kept the place warm for you."
Gendry turned to Ky and Albert "Thank you both for everything."
The new Lord Gendry took a deep breath and brought his horse forward, once again the Proud Stag flies in Storm's End.