17
Chapter 08 Pending Jobs
~~Author's notes~~
- the greyjoy rebellion is coming soon-
Winterfell, North, 289 AC, Harry POV
I have been putting of three things for far too long. One finding out the truth about what made my elves return with fear in that part of the world. The other is getting to know places where magic is still practiced in this world. Like Qarth and Shadow Lands. The last one is selling of some things from Valyria that are completely useless to me. And the one I have been doing always for the past 11 years finding Daphne.
Some of the artifacts are a bit dangerous at the times dragons was still there. But now that they are extinct, are useless. But I still would like to hold on to things like those. Some of the jewelries I thought Daphne, Elia, mom or Missandei will look good in were kept aside. Some of them because I thought could make good gifts later on.
Some were hideous, but were said to be the taste of some people. Who am I to judge people who want to give me their money. The overall cost of renovations was a bit out of our expectation even with all the main materials provided for free.
It went up 5 million more than we thought. So of the 64 million we already had and other money I made in the last five years we have now a number close to 25 million. Which is huge relief since after all the constructions are done and a waiting period of 1 year, all the Lords have to start paying back the money we lend them to build their keep, start their business, and build their own town. We did make close to 1 million with our business till now.
Which if we get all of it back including the money of materials, (yes I am kind but not that kind) is close to 31 million. The rest of the money went into Sea Dragon Point, Wolf's den, Moat Cailin and Cailin City, buying up shops all over Westeros and Essos, the arming standing army, navy, ship building. Where we didn't have to worry about material cost, so its reduced by more than half.
Our businesses has just started to take off and we will get all that money we spent on all of them soon enough. So if I want to make more money faster, and to not lose the any edge I have on the market by taking a partner, I have to get ride of some thing I have in my hand. So the hideous, ornaments, other many heirlooms of the Valyrian people and such useless stuff has to go. I didn't see many Targaryen stuff laying around. What ever I found I kept it aside for my brother.
First I will go to the north. Since the problem is the closest, I am doing that tomorrow. I didn't make any big preparations. Just kept some trunks just in case. I told mom and Elia I will be gone for a few days at best. Elia has started understanding things about me and she is very interested in finding out more about it. Every time I will tell her later and I think soon later won't be enough. So when Sirius turns 10 I think we will tell everything to the both of them.
I left at the middle of the night.
Beyond The Wall, Land of Always Winter, 289 AC, Harry POV
Apparated to the wall were I have been before while being invisible. From there a I landed down the wall to the other side. I made sure no one was there for miles using the analyzer. The range is much bigger for analyzer than me. It took up a big enough magic reading from the weirwood a few miles from me.
I decided to start there. Up until now Fawkes was not here so I had to travel on my own then he flew down and landed on my shoulder. "Hah Mr. Fawkes I have been expecting you. Please take a seat. Well you have already taken a seat. Where were you any way?" to answer that he chirped.
"All the way in Bravos? You say that you felt them somewhere I go check, I get embarrassed this is getting into a recurring thing for you. You know." he chirped again in reply. "Fine I'll check again later. Now we have work to do. I need to know, what the hell made you and the rest so scared."
I walked up to the weirwood that's been emitting more magic than the one in Winterfell. I looked at it. This seems to be the one the watch take their oaths on. So the oaths power up the magic of the tree. When I checked I deeper. That magic is coming from the wall not the tree itself.
"Who ever made it definitely didn't make it to block a bunch of wildlings. Well hear goes nothing." I touched the tree and something tried to invade it. But it struck my mental shield and fell down. It seemed to be the three-eyed raven himself.
"Well hello there, don't you know its rude to invade a man's mind without permission. I personally hate mind raping you know?" I smiled innocently at the raven with three eyes. It trembled at the pressure from my magic and burst in to feathers after giving me a message to find him and where directly through images.
"Fine I'll take you up on your invitation." then I returned to my body and asked Fawkes. "Don't tell me that's what scared you." he just chirped. "well even if its not might as well meet the guy. Lets go its a lot of distance away and I cant walk all the way to that cave."
And we flew for hours to our destination. We came upon the huge ancient weirwood tree and landed in front of it. I got down from Fawkes "Couldn't you just, I don't know flash to this place than fly?" he chirped. "The place forbid you from teleportating? Wow thats new. This world does have its surprises doesn't she?" I walked towards the cave and Fawkes flew over to my shoulder.
As I neared the cave someone came out. The size of an elf, colored almost the same but with human features and a lot of wood element radiated off of her.
"I am Harrold Stark. I was invited to come here?"
"Yes we were expecting you. Please come in. I am Leaf. You might have heard of my kind. We are called by humans as the children of the forest."
"I figured as much. Please lead me to the three eyed raven."
"Of course." Leaf led me inside the cave. We went through a lot of turns and reached the center of the cave. There was a lot of roots going into an old man. Or he is the tree. Either way I think I found the man I came here for.
"The Stark you mentioned has come." leaf introduced me shortly and went to the side and sat.
"Welcome to the real north Lord Paramount." he opened his eyes and looked at me and greeted.
"Yes nice to meet you too Lord Raven."
"Ha Ha I am not even a complete man let alone a Lord."
"Please give me a name then. I wore many names when I was quick, but even I had a mother, and the name she gave me at her breast was Brynden. Brynden Rivers."
"The Blood Raven. You are still alive? I thought you were dead."
"I am at the verge of it. I will leave this realm but not before the end of the others."
"He is barely alive. We found him at the brink of it after the fight with a white walker. We nursed him up. Now he is the three eyed raven."
"Excuse me back up a minute. The others? I've heard of them and I have been wishing its not true, but it is?" I shot the question demanding an answer.
"Sadly they are as much present in this world as you and I are."
"Excuse me can I use a few minutes with you tree?" I didn't wait for a reply. Putting Fawkes with my safety I touched the tree and warged.
Limbo
"Been expecting you. How have you been?" the ever charming Death asked me.
"Good. As good I can be. Is it true the others still exist?"
"Thats not my problem if they exist or not, now is it?"
"Please no riddles. Is this a small problem or a big one?"
"Harry, don't be too serious now. And yes they are real. And its a big problem. A very big problem. For you actually."
"By very big you mean something even I cant solve."
"By big I mean something you definitely cant solve by yourself, or with your mate, your elves and your phoenixes combined. The problem is big, and you can't solve or a better word survive this one alone. You have friends outside waiting for you. You should go. Oh and tell the raven he has no more than 16 more years before I come fore him. His time is near. And if the others are not stopped so is yours Harry, and your loved one. Too bad you used your one boon to make a canal." and I heard a giggle and I was back in the cave.
Beyond The Wall, Land of Always Winter, 289 AC, Harry POV
"Fuck. Fuck , bloody fuck. Stupid canal, moth…" then I was poked in the head by a beak.
"Ow stop it."
"What did you just do. You warged but I was not allowed there. Who are you." asked the raven.
"Well since we are telling tittles. I was Harry Potter. Now Harrold Stark, Lord of Winterfell, Lord Paramount and Warden of the North, oh and a major one I am the Master of Death. Oh and Death herself told me to tell you personally we all have close to 15 years to live. On your matter its only 15 years whether we all live or not. And this 15 years are probably for the last war to save the realm or something."
"No wonder I felt the presence so familiar. Its been calling for me for so long."
"Yeah just not hard enough. So please answer me if this is such a big problem how many are there to be such a huge issue. And how did they came into being."
"Touch the root once more." said the raven.
And I was standing with him facing a snowy mountain. Then he looked at me and turned. So did I, and I saw, something which will give night mares for as long as this problem will exist. I saw what looked like zombies, millions of them, all dead bodies, rotten to the core, I felt like I was in a resident evil movie without a gun.
And not just humans, and not just empty handed. With rusted weapons with just sticks and stones there where zombies of huge wolves, giants, crows and other birds, elephants or is it the fable mammoths, seems smaller tough, what looked like a group of spiders made of ice and what not. This army seems to move like a single organism and leading it was a white zombie with long hair on a horse, holding a ice spear. That cannot get more ugly. If it was a movie I would so enjoy this, this is bloody real life, my life.
"This is just a small part of the army he, the one in the horse, the white walker is leading them, the wights to his master the Night King in the border of the world. The last time he was sent back was 8000 years ago. Every living organism fought as one to make him go back. And you can count every single being ever to die in the north of the wall for the past 8000 years is part of his army. That includes all of the things you just saw and more. Much more. "
"Please elaborate."
"Some dragons have come this way before the doom. So there is a chance that… that they have died and …"
"There is a chance that they have died and now we have bone dragons to deal with right? Just great. How the hell did these things came into being in the first place. Then he showed me leaf making that thing called the Night King."
We were back in the cave. I was so angry my magic was like a flash of bright light in total darkness. I turned to Leaf.
"Give me one reason to let you live."
She was literally scared out of her mind. "We had to do something. Humans were cutting our sacred trees, killing our people, driving us all the way up here."
"That is an excuse to make a bloody zombie?" I yelled in all my fury.
"We all do things, thinking we know, what is best for everyone. I did, you have done it too, or almost did, they did it too. They have paid for it too. There is no more than a dozen of them remain. From what was hundreds of thousands." I remembered the canal incident and sighed.
"Fine. How do we kill these things, cutting of the head, stabbing what works? What of the big guy?"
The raven looked to Leaf. She sighed and went to pick some things and come back. She placed the things down and again stepped back this time with a bit of fear. I looked at the things she placed and picked it up.
One was a crudely made dragonglass dagger and the other a sword, actually its a Valyrian Sword famed for its name, the Dark Sister. "These two seemed to work on wights and white walkers. I have killed one with the Dark sister a few decades ago, my last fight. And fire too. But I don't know what will work on Night king. Because we have tried all three."
"What about magic fire?"
"Wights may be. But white walkers and the Night King are not so easily killed by fire." answered Leaf after a long time of silence.
I didn't look at anyone I just sat there with my eyes closed for a long time. After I opened my eyes I looked at Leaf.
"How many of the White walkers are there that you know of? How many special species like yours, giants and Direwolves are there?"
"White walkers we have seen almost a few dozen. Wights its possible to be there in millions. Other creatures who are alive, very few."
"Can you get all of them here. If its a yes then how many days do require to bring them here. Or any other safe place without alerting the dead. If they are willing to come. What sort of terrain do they require if we are to relocate them?"
She looked at me for a while and said with a little hope. "The giants and mammoths are easy to convince and bring here. The rest of the creatures he can manage. The giants can be hear in two weeks, the others…" looking to Raven.
"Two weeks. And forest, mountains and snowy places are preferable to all of them. Almost all of them are vegetarians except a few like Direwolves, bears and such."
"I will be back in two weeks after finding a place to relocate you people. Including you, even if I have to pull you root and stem. Get them all here in two weeks. Secretly. Leave some of the regular animals like deer and elks. But invite the rest. Leave the meat eating ones to me. Can you do this?"
"If you are offering help of course we are no idiotic to say no. Please help us."
"Good see you in 2 weeks. Oh and I am taking the sword." I walked fast outside climbed on top of Fawkes and left the place. On the way Fawkes had her fill with some deer like thingy. I had already packed mine. So I had that.
We flew over the whole Land of always north very high in order to avoid anythings eyes I saw several wildling groups living together. Then I saw the biggest yet. Over a few tens of thousands. That is not usually seen. I have to warn the Lord commander to stop rangers from going over into such a huge crowd. What is this all about anyway?
I landed near by them became invisible and apparated, nearby. They could have wargs and sense me. So I have to be quick. I caught one of them brought him to a safe place and questioned him. After that obliviated him and send him back safe. And I was on my way.
There is a guy named Mance Ryder, who once was a free folk, that's what they call themselves by the way, who is rounding up all the clans of free folks to march towards the wall to conquer it and then what? I have no idea. Lets say he conquered it. Then he will face Northern army's full force, if not the navy. If not the rest of the whole of Westeros. What the fuck is he thinking. Then it hit me they are running away from the dead too. What the hell am I going to do with these guys? They are humans too. They are fighting for survival. I need advice. Good advice. As much as I can get. I am more than a 100 years old and I am still inapt.
These idiots tried to kidnap Lord Umber's daughter. Good thing we have that army stationed near by, that no wildling to ever climb the wall left back. This was also the case here. Except the girl was saved with no harm very fast. What are they doing in the middle of the night out of the fortress I built for them anyway? They all will never agree for a relocation of wildlings to north. Problem for another day I guess. For now lets find them a home away from Westeros but still close.
Beyond The Wall, Land of Always Winter, 289 AC, Harry POV (after two weeks)
I went to many places near Westeros to find them a place and I think I found one. An island near Skagos a bit bigger than Driftmark but smaller than Bear Island or Tarth. But it will do. I hop. I looked and found a lot of unicorns and a very few peaceful giants there. The place except for the interior which is forest the rest is mountains so the cannibalistic morons have left the place alone for now. Now I am going to make it disappear. In its place will be a whirlpool which will make all ships or people circumvent it willingly or not.
Fishes can swim by it. But swimming or not no man will ever set foot on this place. And I have made this place as fertile as possible. And raised the mountains on all sides for natural defence. Planted almost all the weirwood tree seeds and many other plants which will grow here from other continents and islands. In short I made it as perfect as I can. And also put a big hole right in the middle to put the old man raven and the tree in it.
Now I am watching as the animals and creatures (including mammoths and children of the forest) went in one by one into the enlarged trunk. After it was done, I replaced the old man and the tree with another tree I found not far away from there. Not as big as the old one but enough to fool the Night king until I solve the wildling problem. After I relocated them and was settling them. Among the dozens of Direwolves 13 of the young ones came to me and bowed as a thank you. I think they are from two or three litters. Then placed themselves at my feet. I saw them and a smile formed on my face. Just when I bowed down to pet one of them, the very blackest one among them, a male, someone pecked my head again.
"Ow cut it out will you. Look at him he is so cute. Who's the good boy, who's the good boy. As I was playing with him. Fawkes landed next to him inspecting him or evaluating him. Just then the blacky liked Fawkes top to bottom. The mighty phoenix was mortified and flew away for a bit. But then came back ad admonished him like a father does his children. And the other one played the shameful guilty part really well. Well that is an approval if I ever saw one.
I went to the puppy and was about to touch it when he bit me. And there was a repeat process which happened with Fawkes happened there. Followed by my puppy becoming a bit more blacker if it was even possible and a bit more bigger than the rest of the puppies. Without a second thought I named him Padfoot. And the bond was finalized. I have a new familiar. At the same time a yellowish brown colored, maybe the most beautiful one among the wolves came in a bewitching way if at all its possible for a animal let alone a wolf to do it. I would have believed it if it was a cat. I think I get the theme here, when Padfoot went sniffing behind her. I really need to teach him some manners. Who am I kidding I will do the exact same thing if I saw her. I took all the little puppies and put them one by one inside the trunk.
I then faced the aw struck Leaf and told her. "As I said before to any one you have not told this place doesn't exist. This island is filled with the best wards and enchantments I can possibly fit in. For the rest of the world this place has disappeared from their maps and books. So live as safe as you can. Maybe the rest of the few who wants to will be able to come back to their home when the dead are gone for ever until then, stay safe. And the weirwoods take good care of them. Contact me with that thing I gave you. You should remember it how since I have shown you a dozen times. It will crumble itself into dust when I die so. Good luck in your new home."
And I left before she got a chance to say good bye or thank you.
Since one problem is diverted. Onto the next. Before that I have to give all these puppies new homes.
Winterfell, North, 289 AC, Harry POV
I went to Winterfell and wrote letters and called all the Starks to come to Winterfell. Also warned the Lord Commander of the watch about the number of people and the wargs in their group. I told him to make sure they don't cross the wall and leave the rest to me. I hope he doesn't do something stupid. I then went to master Vararro our castle blacksmith and gave him a very big weirwood tree branch, which is enough to make a bow. I gave him the pictures with accurate drawings of the runes I want and we discussed the design in detail and I left the very enthused master to do his work.
My uncles came as soon as possible with their children. Even the baby Arya and uncle Ben's son Rickard. After the arrival and meet and greet and dinner. We all came in my solar which is big enough for all the Starks and then some and closed the door. My uncles all three, and father was there with me.
I started talking to them about the raven, children, then came the night king and the others. I showed them a memory in the analyzer. Then I told them about Mance Ryder and his group of idiots. I also told them that I relocated the several types of creatures to a secured place. And I ended it with the deadline we have. And told them to tell me their opinions on all of it.
Arthur might be the the one struck by this the most. His prince was right about the doom that was approaching all of us.
But then my father asked for a bit of time, stood up and left and then all of them followed him. I was alone again. The next morning I put a color on all of the puppies. On them was a temperature regulating, and a locating enchantments. And also a notice me note charm which activates when someone thinks about harming them, then the said person will think about something else completely forgetting about them. On the ones which will belong to my father, sister and brothers there is a charm that will make everyone think its just a regular dog. So their disguise is not ruined.
Expect the three of them rest of the ten walked towards their master. Father, Elia and Cregan got the dark ones just like mine but with a bit pale gray and white patters mixed in there. Sirius got a complete white, with red eyes, a very quite wolf. Uncle Benjen and his child Rickard Stark got a pale gray colored ones closer to the white one Sirius got. Robb, uncle Ned, Sansa and baby Arya got very gray colored ones in different patterns and shade.
Uncle Ned named his wolf Lya after aunt Lyanna. Robb named his Grey wind. Sansa hers Lady. I named Arya's wolf for her, Nymeria. Uncle Benjen named his wolf Havoc since its the most restless one and he said he will name his son's wolf Shaggy dog, we all teased him over it. My father named his wolf Nyx, only god knows why. Elia named her wolf Moonlight and Cregan named his Dreamfyre. Of course its a dragon name. He is crazy about dragons. He will always make me tell him stories about dragons.
I made sure they all made a familiar bond with their wolves. Even the two babies.
Again my aunt Cat didn't like the new puppies and wrote a letter about this to Petyr Baelish, from my castle. This time I had had enough. This woman is pregnant with my next cousin and she is writing to some flesh peddler complaining about us and telling him about our secrets.
I called my uncle and gave him all the real letters she ever wrote littlefinger. To say my uncle was heartbroken was one thing. This is betrayal from the bottom of her mind. She placed this person above even him. Even her own children just now. Yes it might be because she never understood the north or its customs or its people. This just means this marriage was not even supposed to happen. I told him to stay here a few months but he declined and said we will see where this goes and told me to continue doing what I do and told to keep it between us. That's one weight of my chest.
My uncles and father told me that we can prepare all we want but if the other lords don't agree all is for naught. So I have to bring in the rock hard proof. That will take a lot out of me. May be we will just prepare and wait. When everything is more stable we all will take a walk out the wall and I will show them the truth.
Just so they can get used to the puppies I made them stay back for 5 weeks. That was a lie. I just made them stay because I miss my uncles and cousins. After that my uncles and their family left for their own keeps.
My most of the elves are still in several minor jobs like watching the potion ingredients or the gardens. Or monitoring Winterfell for new spies. That itself is a huge job. They are the ones that found me Petyr's spy. But Dobby is almost always with me as a shadow and Winky with my siblings and parents, or will share it with another elves.
Now its time to sell some things and make some money. There is an auction center in Bravos run by Iron bank themselves. I have to let the bank know how I got the money one way or another. Might as well make it this way and I have to again search there for my other half. Its the seventeenth time now.
But now I have to do so by ship not the magic way. And Elia and dad insisted on coming if its by sea. And I had to agree. And of course 4 wolves had to come with us. I think Elia already knows I am her real brother, but she has not put everything together. But either way she seems happy. The next day we rode to White Harbor with lots of goods to auction off.
Before leaving I got my bow made. I put in a solution I prepared. Its a very powerful ritual which makes an object to be capable of a certain thing I have in my mind. Something even Gryffindor was only able to do half way. It needs to stay in that solution for 333 days.
Before I had gone beyond the wall I made a pop in and pop out as an anonymous at the Iron bank and gave them a letter and proof. The letter asked them to send letters to all important customers and contacts of the bank all over the world to come for the auction and be ready to see some exciting thing. Especially the Lannisters and to tell in every letter that they have found several Valyrian artifacts, heirlooms jewelries and also Brightroar which belonged to the Lannisters. The proof was the Sword itself and it worked we received a letter not long ago. I am hoping that just in case they have other stuff to sell if not this will be really boring for me.
And now we are going with all the stuff to sell. We were on a frigate. I didn't want to take out the Black Wolf just yet. Elia got bored on the ship really fast. I was not getting my reading done. My sweet sister has decided that if she is not having fun no one will. It was a chore jus to make her go ti sleep. Never am I taking her on a trip. Its all dad or her future husband from now on.
Bravos, Essos, 290 AC, Harry POV
A we landed on the main port in Bravos. There seems to be too many ships in the ports. There are more than one port in Bravos. Its a big city. Its a good thing that Northern Navy has 12 spots in all the ports combined. And other than 2 of them the rest are rented out to others for big bucks. The port is too full. Elia is the ninth heaven or something. The moment she got of she sprints off to god knows where. With out a second thought father goes after her, with Jory and ten people right behind him to catch her, to no avail. I just send the puppies and Fawkes after her. Problem solved.
After father caught hold of her she was scolded for so long that even bystanders started to cry let alone little Elia. When dad stopped I went to her and picked her up in my arms and told her about the consequences of children who go out alone. And now she was crying because she was genuinely scared. Just as we were about to go into our usual hotel, my analyzer buzzed. Then I handed over the cried out Elia to father went to a corner to talk to who ever was on the other side. It was Jack and he confirmed some of the earlier reports about who all are going to attend the auction.
One report from Pyke angered me to the point of no return. I reigned it in gave him my orders and prepared to go into the inn my father likes so much. As I went in I see a lot of magisters, masters, rich merchants and Lords and Ladies there. We and the people among us are wearing Stark sigil. Many are trying to know who came for the auction with whom.
Some of the Lords and Ladies of Westeros was really sucking up to some rich magisters. I went with my father straight to the place where an employee of the establishment was working. I approached her and asked, "Good evening my lady would it be possible for me and my friends to get a few rooms to stay in this fine establishment."
After looking at my sigil her entire demeanor changed from a smile with slight contempt to reverence. Starks are not that great. Not that I know of. But why is she so friendly now. Just then my father came in "Its nice to see you Raaye can you send us to our room." oh so she knew dad, that's why.
Just then a fat Wise Master from Yunkai came in, the person with him announced, "You are in the presence of Heimdiz zo Yharoz the Wise Master of Yunkai, descendant of the once most noble Empire. Him and his men needs accommodation in this place and you will need to provide him with the best ones you have."
"I am sorry to inform you Wise Master, the best rooms were booked in advance when the auction was announced. And so was the best rooms. We do have rooms for you but not the best ones."
"You dare deny the noble family of Yharoz." Yes these people are rich. Not Lannister rich but a middle class wise Master. The real rich ones can buy the whole Westeros thrice over, before North became rich. Now even once is a doubtful thing. "This establishment will meet its end by nightfall if you follow this course of action."
Raaye was not in the slightest bit afraid. "This is the Arissa, the biggest chain of taverns and Inns in all of Essos. Many has tried to follow our route but none was able to. The only one to come close to the brilliance of our owner, the Golden Goddess, the who sits in the advisory position of the Iron bank itself and who's father is a Key holder is the Black Wolf of the North. Even I doubt that, but his demeanor alone proved me wrong just now. The best rooms were booked for him personally by my Mistress. None of the real rich Masters or Magisters has a problem with that just you. Understand your place Master. Its even below mine in Bravos we don't treat slave peddlers that kindly when annoyed. As a reminder you might want to find a new place of accommodation. Guards escort the master and his people out."
The master was scolding the servant for not knowing his place and embarrassing him.
"Black Wolf? That's a new one."
"It might be for your heart. The way you do business with the people who turns on you in Essos is a bit ruthless after all." commented my father.
"Its necessary. Unless I do so they will think its normal to just walk of after cheating us."
"Who is the Black Wolf Harry?"asked Elia.
"Its him sweat heart. Because his heart is really black." I quickly cover her ears.
"Would you stop misleading children. Miss can you show us to our rooms." I turned and asked the good lady.
"We will be showing you to your villa my lord." booking, villa, these words are not used in Essos that much, neither is it used in Westeros, and the one who made it is a golden goddess, she could be my ice queen. Only if I knew the age of the person and where to find them.
And then I saw it. The manse. It looked just like one of our vacation homes back in earth, the one in Lake Geneva. I almost lost my control and ran in expecting to find her in there. But father and Elia are near. So I remained calm.
We got inside. Elia was glad for her room. It was in the same way it was when I made for my daughter. Yes my better half is here in Bravos, Fawkes who was on my shoulder agreed.
After everyone was in their rooms. I entered mine. And then the world stopped for me. There she was the woman I loved more than life itself. Looked just as same as she did when she walked up and put that stupid hat on top of her in Hogwarts. My Daphne. The love of my life. I put a silencing charm and notice me not charm on my room and went to kiss her. Even if I look 14 years old I am still 11. Even she is 100 by her age she still look 11. so only a chaste kiss on the lips and then all over her face. Then I lifted her up twirled her around like I did when I heard I was to become a father.
I hugged her and she hugged me back for an eternity. After that I kissed her again and hugged her again.
"Oh I missed you so mush dear. So much." I cried myself just then.
Then she pulled away and removed my tears from my face. "My oh so romantic man. Always the one to cry first." then she cried.
We spent the whole day together. Talking laying in each other's arms. I made her, a new wand and an invisible holster, then and there. I just had to be sure that she had everything to keep herself safe. Then we talked what we did the past 11 years. I told her the events from my birth to the one with the Night king. It almost ruined our night.
Then she told me about her, her new identity Daenela Maegion, her new family and her business. Even in our old world she is the one to bring wizarding worlds hotel chains into existence. Before long we heard insistent scratching on the door and I went and opened it. Then came running two direwolves. My wife named it Pandora.
I made changes to the collar so it Pandora will look to others like a dog. I gave her a full size changeable analyzer like mine, a portkey to my bed room in Winterfell and a trunk filled with all the potion ingredients, and a fully functional lab in it to her. Which earned me another kiss. She is the better potion expert between us.
I also gave her some of the jewelries. "I knew you where the guy who brought us Brightroar. So you went to Valyria without me?" she was pouting.
"Trust me when I say this sweety, you missed nothing. Not even an adventure. In 15 years or so you can have the best adventure of a life time." I tried to placate her. Then I remembered something. "Hey you are literally related to the Iron Bank right?"
"Yes. What is that devious look you are giving me Potter, wait no Stark. I know that look, someone is going to apy when you make that look."
"Well I was planning something else and now that you are related to the bank I had to change that one. Now I am going to give you the thing to sell, I need you to give it to the bank can you do it? Make the commission as low as possible?"
"Now I cant let that happen. I am the bank sweetheart. I cant let us run at lose. 15% commission for the items we auction. The money will go directly to you Iron Bank account."
"Wow, I am feeling really inappropriate right now. Because you being that demanding is so sexy but in that small form of yours its so wrong. Too bad we don't have many of the aging potion ingredients." she giggled and I leaned in to kiss her. "Then as the lord Paramount of the North I have to decline that offer, how about 7%."
"My Lord we can give a news flash out to the world how the Starks got rich. Your king will be all too much interested in borrowing some coins. He is in negotiation with the iron bank and the Lannisters now, as I am sure you know. 14%" we kissed.
"The Iron bank has the best spies indeed. 8% but you are right, not as good as mine."
"The Maegion family has the best spies, under me, my father and the Bank just borrows them from time to time, is all. 13%."
"Then it will be too bad the Bank will ruin a very productive future venture that I had planned on making the Bank a part of. 9%"
"You will do that for me either way. 12%"
"Well for a wife who argues with her husband over a Bank for money, maybe not.? 10% final."
"Done. Oh and I would have done it for free depending on your so called future venture."
"Shit, fuck." and the mood was gone.
"Language Harry, what is this so called project anyway?"
"You remember the new islands that popped up after the earthquake?"
"The earthquake you made? Yes."
"Wait you sensed it. Of course I did."
"Will the night king have sensed it?"
"Probably dear but that's not something you can worry about now is it?"
"No. Anyway these islands. I am thinking about opening a Bank there, so why not a branch of the Iron Bank. The second one. These islands are very similar to the Bravosi archipelago. A city very similar to Venice can be made there. Not as big as that maybe, or the same kind, but all the islands interconnected, some which cannot people reach them by boats. A romantic vacation home, something like the Lys the Valyrian dynasty made.
Something no god is omnipotent on but every god is present. The place will be ruled by five people two of the choice of the bank. One a Stark and two will be the choice of the House Stark. But none will have the right to interfere in the Bank's business but they will have no right on the lands either.
I will invest 30 million Gold dragons into this projects. I will provide the materials and workers. Iron Bank will foot 30% of all the costs and will enjoy profits from the businesses and ports. With a condition that Starks become a Key holder of the iron bank and own 30% of the shares in the bank. But even if I have a say in the Bank's proceedings it will only be through my representative I choose from here" and I touched her nose.
"And it will be not so much control. You can also put forward a marriage proposal! And come with me to oversee the constructions in north. Your parents can officially move to the Chains which we are going to name Venice when its done. And manage both your business from there. Sweeten the pot with your father by saying that I will donate all my taverns and inn in North to your name. If the 30% goes down in the bank shares so does the profit in the island business and Ports."
"What is it with you Potters and you naming sense. Name it something new and original. Dear god. But the ideas that comes out of that brilliant head of yours is just." then we talked in detail about the deal and when the night came, she and Aurora left with the trunk of stuff to auction and to meet her dad and present the offer. If he is interested then we will meet. If not? Well my girl will make him interested.
The rest of the days I spent with Elia and dad. We roam the city buys her things, tells her stories and stuff about the tings we see. And at night me and Daphne no Daenela Maegion. Her new name just flows off of ones tongue. Daenela.
She told me her mom calls her Ella. Ella and Elia, it wont be confusing at all. I told her to somehow get into Elia's good grace. And since day one she will come by trying to win over Elia with tours, talks about the things she is interested in buying her whatever she wants and everything. They became best friends very fast.
The next day my guards informed me of a visitor and I came out. I was greeted by an old Lady, at my door. If my guess is right its the Queen of Thrones Olenna Tyrell herself. I expected a reply in person for my letter but not one this fast and big. I might come short a few straws here. Even to someone old like me, I am still inexperienced in the political arena. Well this is also a learning experience.
I smiled at her. "Well its a pleasant surprise to be greeted by the Queen of Thrones Lady Tyrell herself first thing in the morning."
"For the letter you wrote my son wanted to call his banner and march to your borders. If its either this or that."
"Well its a good thing then. I don't know if it will be the Florents or the Hightowers or the Tarlys, that are the better one fit for the position of Lord Paramount of Marches and Warden of South."
"Are you insulting me boy. I have seen more harvests than you have taken shits."
"Thats what your son did. Shit on that little letter he sent to me and insult me. And no I was telling you the facts. Florents or Tarlys will not come fight for a war for you that they know you will loose. And without lord Tarly to steal the win from I don't think your son will win a war."
"You are so sure of yourself. You should respect your elders. Everything you have built up can go down in a flash. And Reach is not an enemy you want to make."
"You know I am right about everything I just said. If not you will not be here in the first place."
"I could have easily come to get a measure of you."
"For that you should have waited a few more years, I would have been a lot more bigger then."
After that we both laugh a little. "Now for real my Lady what can I do for you?"
"The little stunt you pulled really hit the spot. All the Lords of Reach wanted to march for a war with the North. But you were right Tarly and Paxter said a war with north will not be under our best interest."
"It wont be. Neither of us wants that."
"Then why stop buying the food and stop all of a sudden."
"My Lady I don't know if you know how much north had bought your grains. Lets say you bought a hand full of grain for 1 silver stag for example. You people waste a 1000 hand full of this grain weekly. Now imagine you selling that to a realm in desperate need of one hand full of grains that we have to buy at a rate of 100 silver stag. That was north. And you guys made a lot of money over us. And then an idiot for a lord, that son of your's letter demanding that I give him his business. If you want to talk loyalty or gratitude. The fact that he still has all arms is a whole lot of gratitude. I bought a whole lot of food when I could have bought it from literally anywhere else where is mine? The letter?"
"All this grand standing for a letter?"
"My Lady what would have Tywin Lannister did? What would you have done?"
"Fine my old bones are shaking with fear. Now spit it out. What do you need to continue our trade?"
"The same rate as your smallfolks. We will buy food at the same rate of your smallfolks. That's all."
"Oh the Lords are not going to like that."
"Their other option would be to overthrow Tyrells and wait for the next Lord to find a solution. I can assure you, even if the king himself comes down after taking a break from his drinking games, even if the honorable Ned Stark, the person I respect above all asked me to, this condition is not going to change, let alone a new lord. You might not like to hear this from me but your bloodline has been ripping off mine for centuries. All I ask in return is for you guys to be fair. You don't need to come to north to deliver the goods we will come take it, if you are worried about delivery charges."
"I expected a boy who might have written what the grown ups told him to. I didn't expect a grown up in a boys clothing."
"I was a boy when you heard Ashara Stark and Brandon Stark died. Had to grow up faster after that."
"A doubt of mine if Tywin Lannister was the one who wrote that letter?"
"I owe Jamie Lannister a life. I owe Tywin Lannister shit. And I rule the north not him."
"One last question. You don't even have money. You are under the debt of the Iron Bank. Why did you even come here? Its not like you can buy the Brightroar."
"Oh we were all invited by the Iron Bank. And not many say no to them. And we have Ice there is no need for a sword that the Lannisters couldn't even keep it in their hands."
"Good luck kid. You have guts. Lets hope its for good and not over confidence that will ruin your realm."
"Thank you my Lady. Oh and my Lady, the Greyjoys are waiting at nearby somewhere Bravosi coast to raid Lords and Ladies of the Great houses when we go back I suggest you inform you house for a lot more protection for your sail back. They are after Lady Margery Tyrell and my sister, for hostages. I haven't told anyone else this yet."
"How do you know this?"
"My naval intelligence is far better than the one Varys has."
"Fine kid. I'll inform the Lords and we will inform you what we, when we decide it."
"It was nice meeting you mt lady." the food is not just for north. We will sell it in the west, or anywhere we can make profit. Or we will just store it. Either way I am not paying 10 or 100 times the money for the same thing.
Bravos, Essos, 290 AC, Margery Tyrell POV
The letter about the auction of things from Valyria was a big surprise. The auction house was a newly established by Iron Bank promising the authority and value of the object sold with their name behind it and the auction itself happens very rarely since it is said that getting objects good enough to invite that many people is a very tedious task. And its usually just used to buy such stuff.
This means someone went to Old Valyria and did the impossible.
Other than that there is no way that they will get the Brightroar, the ancestral sword of the Lannisters. Grandmother was laughing so hard when she got it, I asked her why she was laughing. She told me that Tywin Lannister is in for a rude awakening. That there are some magisters there that are more richer that Lannisters and the Tyrells combined, or even that twice over. That sword will be gone right in front of his eyes.
I was looking out the view. Coming from Highgarden almost nothing will ever surprise you with a view. Its the same here too. As I was looking out. I saw my grandmother coming back. She said she was going to try and correct one of dad's biggest mistake. But looking at her the trip didn't go well. When she came in she hurriedly wrote a letter and tolf one of our guard to make sure it reaches Highgarden as fast as it can.
Then she came in and sat beside me and Willas, the rest of our family is in Highgarden.
"How did it go with the child grandmother?" Willas asked her.
"No matter what Willas try not to go to war with the North ruled by Harrold Stark, ever. If you ever do go to war make sure to finish of the Starks root and stem especially him."
"That good huh?"
"That good."
"What did he want?"
"The food we are selling, he is willing to buy it but at the same price that we are selling to the smallfolk."
"Oh that is not going to go well with father or the Lords."
"He also told me we can try making the king order him, even then its not going to work."
"How much were we selling the food before." I intervened in their conversation
"More than anyone should have." answered Willas.
"He was respectful, highly confident, and but at the same time had a very low respect and opinion for you father. He also warned me the Ironborns are waiting for us to go back. Their target is Margery. So I asked for a bit more back up."
"How do you know about the Ironborns?" asked Willas.
"He warned me. He also has a better information network than us, if this information is right anyway."
"So in total the wolf wont make it his business to harm anyone but if push comes to shove, he wont be polite."
"He is not just any wolf Willas, he is a Direwolf."
I didn't under stand most of it but I got the gist of it. The new Lord of Winterfell is a dangerous man and needs to be careful and respectful when you deal with him.
Bravos, Essos, 290 AC, Tywin Lannister POV
Finally it was one of his foolish ancestors that lost Brightroar to us. Now its said that the sword is brought back out of Valyria and now I can do what no other Lannister before me could. Get it back. But whoever brought it didn't bring the sword to us directly. Why? Maybe the didn't know it belonged to us. Or because they did. May be its the bank playing from behind. My contact at the bank went up and died on a trip to Lys to a pirate attack. I wasn't able to get a new one ever since.
Maybe this trip will prove more useful than I thought.
Its that ugly thing coming along that rubs me in the wrong way. Why cant it stay at the Rock and drink and whore itself to death. And my useless brother Gerion is here too. He had been talking on about going to the smoking Seas to get Brightroar back. But now there is no need for that. Sometimes I wish he did, just like the dwarf he is also a dead weight to the house. And that bastard he bore with a commoner of all things. Atleast unlike Tyrion he had the brains to not marry that thing.
Now that I am here and staying in the inn called Arissa, some thing Valyrian or Ghiscari I guess. This inn is in all the ports in Bravos and all the cities in Essos. A very brilliant idea if you ask me. Who thought of it is the thing that amazed me the most. A network of information and money that flows through this must be huge. Now that I think about it. The Starks introduced something similar in almost all of North and almost all places in Westeros.
Like minded people. There is a rumor that both of them and another child has been seen together in Bravos a lot and she even gives him special treatment. I have to make sure a union doesn't happen there. The so called Golden Goddess is as far as I know the only daughter to one of the riches man alive, even more than me and a key holder to the iron bank Darrik Maegion. She needs to be tied to the Lannister family at any cost. It wont be bad to have the new Lord of new Winterfell wed one of the Lannisters either, but I don't think we have a prospective bride he will even give a glance.
I tried talking to the girl, no woman, she was not intimidated, scared or tempted in the least to be Queen or the Lady of the Casterly Rock. She didn't want to be a part of the House who solely depends on a mining business. That was her reply to not becoming the Lady of Rock and she said she has to marry at 18 to a man not a child. Thinking at her stand point she was completely looking out for her interests and that's not wrong. But a lion was insulted here and she will pay for that.
But lets just finish the business I came here for done. I had manage to acquire myself a informant in the bank here. That's one job done. Now my family sword is the only thing that's left. My monster of a son has gone god knows where and my useless brother is drinking there somewhere. One hell of a family I have got here.
Bravos, Essos, 290 AC, Harry POV
The auction is in the evening and we were at the auction house. Daphne was with Elia and dad while I was talking with some Lords from Westeros and a few Magisters that are attending the auction. Its been 3 weeks here and its taken them this long to find the history of all the items and catalogue them, price them and make them look more shiny and beautiful. Now that that's all done. The people are all lining in to enter. I am sitting with my dad and sister, in a private booth with Daphne and her parents. Her father has been giving me the stink eye ever since she introduced me. But her mother is a lovely women who keeps her husband at bay.
I was told the leadership of the Bank has been met and they are willing to consider my offer and conditions. The only problem is more than 10% Iron bank's shares cannot be held by someone else. And they are not satisfied with just 10% of mine. Seems like we will go over this for years. Then I'll just increase the value of my land gradually. But I have made a few head weight, into my other motive. Daphne's mother Sereya Maegion agreed to our union. Two kids who are as mature and good at what we do, there will not be a more perfect match, which her father agrees too. He is just reluctant to send her baby girl all the way across the sea and continent.
So when I mentioned him being stationed there, along with his family in the new branch. He was more receptive to the idea. And he liked my gift to his daughter. The new dog who is very well behaved and the inns I own in Westeros is to be in her name as a betrothal gift. So he agreed. The stink eye, is because his baby is now sitting next to me and holding my hand.
My idiot father on the other hand when heard all my complete plan. Put his hands on my shoulder and almost cried saying he is proud on his son catching a good looking and sensible future lady of Winterfell. Then I reminded him that his daughter is also growing up, that put his smile away. My sister is happy Daphne will be coming to live with us too. Yes after 2 years she will come live with us to get to know the land, culture, her new business, and if all things go as planned to oversee the construction.
Then my sight drifted to the asshole Tywin. I heard the conversation he had with my wife, the problem is I don't want him to die, but I want him to suffer. But when he suffers he will make the people with him suffer along. I thought of steeling from him every coin that he has. But that too is not that useful. All his coins are in the iron Bank. For easier transactions. But the future of his house can be demolished. I was going to let them go because of Jamie Lannister. But I changed my mind. Its not that much of a big debt.
And I heard the Ironborns changed their plans when they heard the movement of the added security to the Tyrells. Now they are going for the Lannisport as fast as they can before Tywin gets back. I have to make sure they don't hurt the women and children as much as I can. This land is not my responsibility to begin with. But I don't want a big guilt swinging over my head.
The auction went on the Valyrian, Ghiscari, and other artifacts, sculpture, jewelries all got sold away for a huge amount. Then they had a few Valyrian weapons of their own to sell. So nothing for me to buy. Then came Brightroar. It kept on going like the rest. All the way upto 3 million gold dragons. Then many started to back out. It only came down to some Wise master from Astapor, a Magister from Pentos, a Spice master of Qarth and our very own Tywin. I made all of them bid not one. Tywin was fuming with rage, but kept on bidding I was not near him but I could literally see the red color on his face. The bid went to 4.5 million and the last to bid was Tywin himself. I thought the fun of steeling the sword should be more than enough, and stopped my play. When I turned my head I saw Daphne look at me with narrow eyed.
"What he really wanted the sword."
"Of course thats the reason the the bid went 3 times that of the last weapon."
"Well its a good sword. And it was worth it."