EDDARD WAS BROUGHT TO TOL-IN-GAURHOTH OR KNOWN IN THE COMMON TONGUE AS THE ISLE OF WEREWOLVES. The ancient fortress was Sauron's first stronghold in Middle-earth, holding his armies and legions of werewolves Deep in the bowels of the citadel, Eddard was brought before Melkor. The fallen Vala towered over the human despite Eddard standing nearly six foot two. He wore a crown of iron around his head that was missing three jewels and was clad in a black robe. Eddard could sense the dark magical power that radiated from the first Dark Lord. It was something that he wanted and craved. Eddard lusted after the strength that he needed to slay the Dragonborn and avenge his father. Melkor looked at his newest servant, the Witch-King attending to a fell beast nearby.
"Welcome young Eddard. Sauron has told me that you are a student of the Voice" Melkor said to his newest servant.
"Aye, but I never finished my training. The Dragonborn never completed my education" Eddard answered.
"The Dovahkiin knows but a fraction of the power of the Thu'um. I will teach you the true nature of the Voice. Akatosh taught a perverted version to man. The high Elves knew the power of the Voice and feared it. That is why Felagund lost to Sauron in his battle" Melkor explained to Eddard. "Do you wish to have this power. Do you crave the ancient black magic of Arda?"
"Aye" Eddard answered his eyes turning yellow "grant me the power to avenge my father."
Melkor smiled "But first my young servant you need to know a truth that your family hid from you."
"What truth is that" Eddard asked confused.
"What dost thou know of your lineage" Melkor asked.
"I know that I am of the Ainur bloodline. That I am a direct descendant of Queen Melian and King Thingol making me an heir to the throne of the fallen kingdom of Doriath" Eddard answered.
"Aye, but I now see that you were never told that nobody deigned to inform you that are the only heir to the throne of Westeros. Your parents feared that your uncle, Bran Stark would have you killed. Your aunt rightly suspected the dwarf Tyrion was a spy. He was sent to watch you grow up and reported your every move. How would you like to take your rightful place as king of Westeros" Melkor asked, omitting the fact that Westeros was a lost piece of Beleriand.
"I would like that my Lord" Eddard answered, angry that his parents denied his birthright. "Like the Dragonborn, Bran Stark and all of his kin will fall to my blade."
"Does that include thy mother" Melkor wanted to know.
"She will pay with her life for denying me the throne" Eddard snarled, his corruption complete.
"First, you must be schooled in the ancient magic of Arda. You have the potential to surpass your aunt. The Last Servant of the Secret Fire she may be, but she is no Gandalf" Melkor mocked. "And from here, we will take Arda and you Eddard will be my champion."
"Thank you, my Lord" Eddard answered, his eyes yellow.
TYRION FOUND DAENERYS STARING BLANKLY INTO A CUP OF WINE FOLLOWING HER STEPSON'S FUNERAL AT SOLITUDE. Shortly after Kellian's body was found, her husband had to restrain her for the grief was great. The dwarf knew that Daenerys loved Kellian as if he were her own flesh and blood. At Kellian's funeral pyre the Dragonborn stood in silence, but his eyes betrayed the pain and storm of raw emotions that brewed inside him. Kellian's sister Brianna wept and sobbed uncontrollably nearly passing out when the torches lit her brother's body ablaze. Arya, had temporarily fallen into catatonic state coming out of the coma before the funeral. However, Daenerys took his death the hardest, openly saying she would gladly trade places with her adopted son. Tyrion had never seen the former queen so broken and wondered if she would ever recover. Yet Eddard's defection to the Enemy was the most troublesome news of all. Many refused to believe it, but Eldarion and his Rangers confirmed Arya's son's treason spotting the former Akaviri with Sauron. Then came the news of the College of Winterhold's fall, the single survivor reporting Brelyna's murder at Eddard's hand. Tyrion knew he had to share this information with Bran Stark, for the king's nephew was now a threat to the throne of Westeros. The spy also understood that contacting the Dark Brotherhood was out of the question. No assassin would accept this contract knowing the target was now in league with two Dark Lords. Tyrion's thoughts were interrupted when Daenerys began quietly crying again. Looking up, the wife of the Dragonborn didn't even bother to wipe the tears falling like a steady rain from her bloodshot eyes.
"I came to offer my condolences Daenerys" Tyrion said sympathetically.
"I brought this tragedy on my family Tyrion. Kellian's death is my punishment for the actions at Kings Landing. For years I arrogantly believed that the Valar would not punish me, but all of the death I caused had a price" Daenerys answered. "And that price was my husband's firstborn son."
"Kellian's death was not of your making. The blame resides solely on Morgoth and Sauron" Tyrion replied, trying to reason with Daenerys.
"Tyrion is right Daenerys" a feminine voice joined them. It was Arya. "What we have to focus on is liberating my son."
"Your son murdered the Arch-Mage, my fiancé" an angry male voice shouted. Talion walked in the room looking for his mother. He was clad in armor and girt with katana and bow, the young Dragonborn's intention clear. "Next, he slaughters nearly everyone in the college, then of his own free will joins Sauron. Nay Arya, Eddard has signed his death warrant and I intend to execute it."
"Talion, your cousin is not the Enemy. Eddard is an Akaviri Knight and will answer for his crimes" Arya answered. "My son will not be harmed" she continued her voice raising and hand dropping to the hilt of Needle.
"When Eddard killed Brelyna, he chose his fate" Talion snarled noticing Arya preparing to draw her weapon. "If you draw your blade, you better intend to use it" he told his sister-in-law unsheathing his own sword and readying for combat.
"Talion Targaryen Dovahkiir, stay your blade" Brianna ordered. "This is what Morgoth and Sauron want, us turning on each other. Talion I understand your grief over Brelyna, but Arya just lost her husband and her only son is in league with the Enemy. How do you think she feels right now?
"Your sister is right young Dovahkiin" Tyrion said trying to deescalate the situation. "We must focus on rescuing Eddard." Tyrion knew that if Arya was harmed, any treaty that the Dragonborn had with Bran would be null and void.
"Unfortunately, the Rangers and Nightingales lost their trail" Talion growled sheathing his katana.
"How does a six hundred thousand orc army disappear" Tyrion asked in complete shock. "And the Nilfgaardian survivors?"
"Wereworm dug a tunnel giving the Enemy an exit" Brianna explained. "When I confronted Sauron on the battlefield, he told me that Solitude was not their objective. I suspect that Eddard was the Enemy's target all along."
Daenerys looked at her stepdaughter and the realization struck her like a lance from a ballista. Eru Illuvatar had warned her and the Dragonborn that the time of Three Dark Lords was near. He had told them that the betrayal would be close, but the wife of the Dragonborn had no idea it would be one of her husband's own blood. Daenerys knew that her grandson's Maiar lineage would be a powerful asset to the Enemy for magic ran strongly in him. She feared that the ring of the Gravewalker would corrupt him and he would be beyond redemption. Arya noticed the expression change on Daenerys's face.
"What is it" Arya questioned.
"Arya, I fear that Eddard is destined to become Tamriel's second Dark Lord" Daenerys told her daughter-in-law. "Like Talion, he is a child of destiny."
"Why do you say that Daenerys? What makes you believe my son will become a servant of evil" Arya shouted refusing to believe that her son could be turned.
"The Psijic's prophesied that Talion would ascend to the throne in the time of Three Dark Lords" Daenerys answered careful to omit that her boy would also rule over Westeros. "The blood of the Ainur flows strongly in his veins, something that Ulfric Stormcloak lacked. Eddard fits the profile of the third Dark Lord perfectly."
"I know my son is a descendant of Queen Melian, but I refuse to accept he will become like either Morgoth or Sauron" Arya responded. "I will not allow my son to become corrupted."
"It may be too late Arya" Tyrion told Bran Stark sister, her face falling. "Before he sacked the College of Winterhold, he took the ring of the Bright Lord."
"I know that is a ring of power, but what exactly does it do" Arya asked.
"That ring should have been destroyed the moment it came off my hand. I curse the day I ever wore it. Trust me Arya, that ring is nearly as insidious as Isildur's Bane" Daenerys answered. "The spirit of the Elf lord Celebrimbor took the ring betraying the Gravewalker, for his hatred of Sauron blinded him. As a result, Talion became a Nazgul until Sauron's defeat."
"I should have been more vocal to papa. I did not want Eddard being taught the Thu'um" Brianna interrupted. "During his training, he was prone to anger and some of his comments we disturbing. Now all of those skills he learned will be used against my knights."
"Our primary objective changed from defeating Morgoth to securing Eddard. We cannot allow him to become Tamriel's second Dark Lord" Daenerys said standing up. "The power that runs in his veins is unmatched and that is what the Enemy wants."
Brianna understood the challenges in attempting to extricate her nephew and knew that she had to use her best and most experienced knights in the operation. And that included herself and her only remaining brother. Talion was the wild card for he was consumed with grief over the death of Brelyna. She worried that the young Dragonborn would give in to his desire for revenge and any chance of rescuing Eddard would be lost. But first finding her nephew would be the hard part.