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Chapter 45: It's Better Served Cold


Winterfell

Arthur and Edric thrashed against one another, testing out how the Lord of House Dayne had recovered since his injuries against that attempted assassination by Gerold Dayne.

The King pushed his cousin back, smirking sheepishly so. "You're getting stronger," Pausing for a moment, the Dread Wolf then knocked Lord Dayne on his arse, both laughed and Arthur helped Edric back up. "You want your sword back?" He asked and Edric pondered a moment.

"I'm not sure it'll even be useful in the coming war, Jon said only dragonglass and valyrian steel affect the dead and White Walkers." That might be true, Arthur turned back to the emptied kennels which held the creature that hasn't stopped thrashing about, and it's been well over a month and a half.

"I'd say we can try it out for sure, but we need the monster to show the rest of Westeros about the threat." He mentioned and Edric nodded in agreement, both warriors then resumed sparring in silence as he thought about the last few weeks.

The Skagosi have been reluctant in mining their obsidian, but upon hearing and seeing the dead creature they changed their tune and promised as many arrowheads and spear tips for the war. He's also sent messengers to the Vale, and Edmure Tully to inform them of the threat and if they don't believe the words of his people then they are welcome to come and see for themselves.

As for the South, he's had some conflictions about sending word to King's Landing. Mainly because from the looks of things, another war is bound to erupt against the Lannister's over the Wildfire implosion within the Sept of Baelor that killed many nobles and smallfolk, mostly the Tyrells.

Some, mostly Lord Manderly and Glover still advised sending ravens to every Lord in the South just as Stannis had done when he made his claim to the seat of Kings, even to Dorne which has been quiet with the fleeing of House Dayne.

Her mother and Lord Reed asked about Jon, his heritage becoming a close conversation on the daily basis. He hasn't decided whether to tell Jon, although he might not have a choice as Jon himself made him swear to speak when he had returned from the Vale.

Sure enough, the Riverlands and Vale will at least take heed of the threat. He had sent Jon and Tormund to the Eyrie, and Arya and Jon Umber to Riverrun and each guarded by one hundred men.

"So... " Edric began to speak, stopping for the moment. "How has the Queen been?" A smirk ran across Arthur's face, looking above and surprising Edric who saw Val watching them and a free hand on her stomach.

It wasn't long before she began showing signs of pregnancy, then again, they rarely left the bed for the first several days except for supper and a bath.

She cursed him for putting a child in her with these uncertain times, slapped him when he thought of names, and when asked, she said that because the mortality of infants is so high in the North that it is bad luck to name a child before he or she reaches two years of age.

His wife spoke of temporary names, Milk Names for an infant so as to not simply call the child boy or girl.

The nickname is something you see in the child when it is born, she made him swear not to name it until it was time.

The oath still caused him to think of some names, he refuses to think about Eddard as that name belongs to his child who was ripped from this world before it could live.

Other Northern names such as Brandon, Edwyle, Astrid, or even his own name can work for his son or daughter that may come into the world in these next several months.

What worries me is if the child will know his or her parents. The coming war that is looming makes him nervous, and Jon's insistence on the threat not helping his confidence.

"She is well, thank you for wondering. Now, prepare yourself." Edric smirked and came at him fiercely, he wouldn't slouch.

A raven flew over them and across the small sept, Sansa Stark and Ashara Dayne watched and then exited the place of prayer then started walking back to the great hall, both were eager to get a raven from Jon or Arya on their mission.

It has been more than a month since the wedding, and since the emissaries were sent out to meet with the Tully's and Arryn's over the incoming threat of White Walkers and Wights- A threat that made her seek the comforts of family.

Her sister Allyria had departed for White Harbor, Edric had said that she didn't feel comfortable being alone at the Dreadfort and was still angry with her for taking Dawn then faking her death.

Entering the hall, Ashara's eyes caught sight of the Maester descending from the hallway stairs.

"Ahh, we were just coming to see you. Any news from the Vale or Riverlands?" She asked and Sansa stood silently at her side, the girl's become something of a student in these last few months.

Even her martial skills were improving, albeit Arya is slightly better considering the younger sister has seen battle and has the experience.

Maester Wolkan grimaced and handed her a raven, "Not from the South, from the Wall... His grace should know." Know? Know what? Ashara only needed a glance to know what Wolkan was speaking about.

"... Bran Stark is at Castle Black."

Both women and Maester shared a singular expression, worry, then the three quickly exited the hall in search of the King.

The Eyrie

For the better part of a month, she's suffered the abuses of Lyonel Corbray and his lackey, her forceful bed companion... Harrold Hardying.

But she would not simper and cry, she took Harrold as her lover and made him believe he was the master, gaining his trust which gave her the best chances to take power for herself.

In the shadows, she and the Brotherhood silently bought over the castle guard, bringing them in on a coup that will soon take place... then the unexpected happened the night before her scheme went into action.

Robert Arryn fell sick, his illness getting worse by the hour and Maester Colemen said that the young Lord of the Eyrie wouldn't survive the night.

Mya then came at a crossroads of risk or reward, she could light the signal for the coup to happen or use her second 'husband's' passing to ensure that both Lyonel and Harrold are in the same place at the same time.

Beric thought the latter choice wicked but offered no assurance of success if she did it before Robert dies, Thoros said he'd follow her decision along with Sandor, Tobho, and Anguy. Donnel Waynwood and his men agreed using Robert's death as if they did it before, the rest of the Vale wouldn't stand behind her.

So, despite her conscience stepping in the way, she allowed the House of Arryn to die so she can take the Vale.

The procession escorting Robert's body to the Gates of the Moon was barely outside of the gates before they caught sight of five-hundred men marching up the road, a battle being fought at the Gates of the Moon by men of House Royce and Corbray.

"Retreat back inside! Seal the doors!" Lyonel screamed and rushing inside.

She personally drove the dagger into Harrold Hardying gut, his pained face of betrayal giving her great satisfaction as Beric and Sandor led the loyal guards against those of Lyonel's men. "Why?... " Harrold asked and she didn't want him to ask, she slashed his throat and let him fall to the ground.

Taking the false knight's sword, she joined her allies in fighting against the ancient fury of her Baratheon blood slaying many of the men who thought killing the bastard in a skirt would be an easy task.

Eventually, it would be Lyonel and a dozen others, surrounded by her and her men and his look of loathing was clear.

"You whore of a mutt! I should have thrown you from the Moon Door!" He screamed and she could only show a ghost of a smile, remembering the pain from each night she's had to embrace Harrold and force the tears to bear the abuse.

Today she'd gotten her justice, these great many nights forcing herself to and the justice of House Arryn for which she'll repay when she sees Lord Jon Arryn in the next life.

For brisk steps and a short fight against Lady Forlorn brought her to victory, the blade of her weapon sliding through Lyonel's velvet tunic and his blood spitting out of his mouth. She looked down, seeing the Valyrian steel sword and grasping it from the ground, claiming it for herself.

The other twelve warriors were spared and sent to the sky cells to wait, Mya took a few steps before taking a glance at the crowd that has assembled since the fighting was put to an end.

"I know many of you did this out of loyalty... But I did not, Robert Arryn was a weak Lord- A puppet held by Petyr Baelish and Lyonel Corbray and would have met a worse end than was given to him." She said and knew some disagreed with her words. "The Arryns are gone, its last great leader dying by the hands of the woman who killed my father, your King." She paused once more before continuing.

"If you align yourself with me, I won't terrorize you or kill you as Lyonel and Baelish had done... Follow me and the Vale won't ever be weak again. Jon Arryn will be avenged, King Robert of the House Baratheon will be avenged!" She offered, the silence welcoming her until Beric stepped forward and knelt, then Thoros and Sandor and Tobho.

All of the few nobles gathered followed suit with the castle guards and servants kneeling with them, she smiled with a tear falling from the right eye and down her cheek then dropping to the ground which had finally started getting covered in snow.

The whole of the Vale will benefit from this day, and more in the days yet to come. Mya's free hand trembled greatly, she was surprised by the pure authority that she was feeling, coursing through her veins at this moment. The last child of Robert Baratheon looked to the sky above, smiling and thinking to herself. Is this how you felt after taking Gulltown... Father.

The Vale was hers, and soon enough the Crownlands will be too.

Far down the path from the Eyrie, arriving at the Gates of the Moon were several soldiers and two men leading them... One of the leaders approached and looked up at the man standing atop the gatehouse and cleared his throat to speak.

"I am Jon Snow! Brother to the King of the North, Arthur Stark! I demand an audience with the Lord of the Vale, it is most urgent!"

Arthur's sent them nearly a month ago, and now they've arrived. Jon watched as the Gate opened, "May the Old Gods bless our luck... Or the war to come will become even more impossible." The White Wolf said to himself, pushing ahead.


AN: Apologies for the super long wait, (And for how short this chapter was). I had some familial events occur as some of you know from my update on Within the Blood is the Fire.

Now to that Guest who seems to be upset with my work.

Guest, I am sorry that you only read for sunshine and rainbows where the bad always lose and the good guys never feel any pain. I write this the way I want it to and no amount of hate reviews calling me names isn't going to stand in the way of how I write them, I will continue writing this to the end not just out of spite but to stand up for myself and my creations. Thanks to everyone for your kind words.

NO AMOUNT OF HATE WILL STOP 'Hour of the Wolf' FROM BEING COMPLETED!