A Son of Ice and Fire

A/N: Just a quick note, I'd like to thank everyone for their support and I hope you have all enjoyed the first 5 chapters for season 2 of thrones (including this one). I hope you all still continue to read on and I hope you will enjoy where I take the story in the future. All reviews will be responded to in PM, so if any of you have any questions or opinions you want to share, I would be happy to answer them all for you. Please follow to keep up to tabs with the story, as I hope i can continue to keep updating this as often as i possibly can.

Chapter 28: Destined to fail

Ruffnut

Curling up in the corner of the cell, I finally let my tears fall freely. I will not show him weakness. I will not give him that satisfaction. Starved, dehydrated and sore everywhere, but I know I can get through this. They will come for me. Tuff will come for me. I stretched out my bruised hands and rested the tips of my fingers against the wet rock. Trying to cup the droplets of water into my hand, as they trickled towards the ground. With all my energy, I pulled my arms back towards me, savouring every second as the meager beads of water trickled into my mouth. Someone must be looking out for me somewhere. Storms had hit the castle almost every other day since I've been here. I can only thank the lord that the downpour has somehow managed to find its way down to me here. I will not die here. That is not my fate. I closed my eyes, sitting back against the wall, my mind going back to the day I learned my destiny.

We were both ten, gallivanting through the meadows outside the castle. Tuff was smiling, his hair blowing back and flying like a kite behind him in the spring winds, as we sprinted through the long grass. Even as kids, we would spend every day together. Laughing, playing, pranking mum and dad. As the sun was slowly setting, we got carried away and ran and ran and ran. As darkness overtook and night fell, we were too far away to get back, especially with no light. We took cover in a valley between the two forests, such a beautiful place. From there it was such a perfect view of the stars above us. I found some wood and got a fire burning and we huddled around it. We talked dreams, futures and what we wanted to do when we could finally leave the castle. I said that all I ever wanted was to get married and have a family. He just smiled at me, chuckling that the little ones would have the best uncle in the world and how much trouble he'd show them how to cause. When I asked him what he wanted, all he said was that he wanted to be at my side. No matter where, no matter when, just that together we could conquer anything and everything. That nothing could break us apart. I just smiled at him, as he just looked at me with such a look of hope and trust it could melt your heart.

As the fire burnt low, we had both succumbed to the night, and were fast asleep. Yet, as the early hours of the morning hit, a violent breeze and the sound of a whisper jolted me awake. I pulled my dagger, darting my eyes to every direction, yet as the whispering continued there was only place it came from. I circled the fire, the flames burning brighter and higher than they ever had the night before. Staring closer, the flickers in the flame spat at me, as smoke billowed into the sky. In the chaos, an image formed in the fire. Clear as day, like an artist's finest sketch, or a singer's perfect tune. Two beating hearts, wound tightly together and almost spinning perfectly around each other in a fluid harmony. I stood there in shock, never for a moment taking my eyes off of the vision. Not even to blink. But as the flames continued to shine brightly, a third image appeared. A sword. A large sword, gold and silver. As it swept across the flames, I tracked it. In one sudden jolt, it cut sharply from left to right, tearing straight through both hearts. As the hearts stopped beating, the sword faded out, and the fire started to die. The hearts broke apart, holes forming in the centre of each, growing larger. The hearts were soon just an outline, the damage spreading through each, like greyscale, until eventually both images faded into nothing as well. I thought it was over, but just as the roaring fire calmed, a voice called out. "Love, is your destiny, and, it is your doom." With that, the fire died completely, leaving me stood there in silence. I looked over to Tuff, who was still snoring softly, then back to charred timbers. All I could think was, why me? Why has the lord of light chosen to speak to me? Is there such thing as a destiny?

The loud sound of metal clinking again my cell's door soon startled me out of the memory. I looked up slowly, first seeing the black and green boots up to knee height. Then to the long green tunic covered by the black chest plate from waist up. The signature golden dreadlocks almost reaching his waistband. At that point, I snapped my head full up, to see Tuff switching between ten to fifteen keys, as he tried to open the door. I staggered to my feet, swaying side to side as my knees buckled beneath me. I placed a palm on the side wall, levering myself back up. As I tried with all my might to limp forwards, the pain hit me hard, and I went toppling forward. As I braced for the impact, the door slammed open and Tuff charged in. I closed my eyes, as the floor approached, yet a strong arm stopped it just in time.

"Thanks Tuff, I knew you'd come…"

Snotlout

"You really are the worst Ironborn to ever live, aren't you brother?" Viggo sniggered, as I felt his sword prick into my lower back. "I mean, your first mission and you get captured. What shame you must feel." He applied more pressure to his blade, as he pushed me forward. Dagur was resisting, but the men forcing him forward held him firmly.

"Where is she, Viggo? The deal was for her to be released when I came home. Let her go." I grunted under my breath.

"If you believed any sort of negotiation was on the table, then you, Snotlout, are even less intelligent than I thought." He retorted coldly. "But don't you worry, brother, Lady Thorston was very well looked after. Me and my men took very good of her." Viggo laughed victoriously, as he withdrew his sword and shoved me into the cell, slamming the door closed behind me. Dagur turned, striking the first man with his forehead, knocking the unprepared man out cold. He attempted to repeat it on the man holding his other arm, but as he twisted, a blade was held out inches from his neck. "Now that wouldn't be smart would it, my lord." Viggo said with a wide smirk, as he curved the blade under brother's head. "You have only just come home, my lord, you should at least stay for your welcome home celebration."

"Who do you think you are?" Dagur growled, begrudgingly taking steps back slowly, until he too, was fully locked in his cell. As the door closed, brother stormed forward, eyes locked with the Grimborn heir, and only the steel of the cell bars separating them.

"Me?" Viggo replied with surprise, as he started to laugh hysterically. He stepped back a pace or two, so both me and Dagur in adjacent cells, could fully revel in all his greatness. He looked down at himself proudly, a sadistic smile across his lips. "You, my friends, are looking at the heir to the Stormfangs. Lord Jorgenson named me to follow him and take over the Jorgenson castle once he is no longer with us." He beamed with pride, savouring ever moment as he watched my world collapse. No. No. He hasn't... He couldn't have... Father wouldn't do that… Oh God he actually has… I could feel my stomach churning, and my heart tighten in my chest. As all my worst nightmares were coming true.

"You're lying." I forced out, hands grasped so tightly around the bars my knuckles turning white.

"Snotlout, brother, no need for jealousy. We're all family here." Viggo taunted.

"I AM NOT YOUR BROTHER!" I yelled as loudly as I could, my hands shaking the bars as if I were Viggo's neck. "Dagur is my brother. You are nothing to me. You never were, and you never will be." I looked across to see Dagur smile, but he had resigned himself to sitting down on the floor at the back of the cell.

"If that is how you want it Snotlout, I can only offer my condolences. Full co-operation would have made life a lot easier for you here. Just think about that, the next time I come to speak with you." He gloated, starting to head off.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I called out to him. He twisted on his heels, smugly looking back towards me.

"Your ignorance is truly something spectacular Snotlout," Viggo mocked. "What I'm saying is that under certain conditions being met, you may get to leave these cells sometime soon."

"What conditions?" I snarled at him. He just kept smiling, enjoying his success in how he has supplanted me in my own family.

"Now we're getting somewhere, brother." He chimed. "The first is that you return your father's valerian steel axe. In his words, 'Hookfang is a weapon of such prowess and should not be wielded by someone so unworthy'." He couldn't even help himself chuckling as he finished the sentence, but soon regained his composure. "The second is that you accept the changes to the succession situation within house Jorgenson." He said with such joy in his eyes. "Lastly, you will accept that both Lord Daglout and Lady Thorston are to remain here indefinitely. Only after all these are met, will you be permitted to reclaim your Jorgenson name. No matter what, your title as heir has been revoked. Permanently." I looked over to Dagur for advice, he just gave a single solemn nod. "You have two minutes to decide." Viggo stated firmly, before he headed off down the corridor.

"Are you sure Dag? You know what this means." I asked nervously.

"On my end, this was always a suicide mission brother." Dagur said with a smile, as he stood up and walked towards me, the metal bars now the only thing between us. "The plan was never for me to get out. I'm done running. I've spent years and years moving from place to place, I'm done fighting. If I am to die here, at least I got to be your brother again." A single tear trickled down his cheek as he spoke.

"I will get you out of here. I promise." I said softly, as I reached my arm through the bars.

"I trust you brother. As long as she is safe, I can take whatever Spitelout throws at me." He grinned, as he locked his arm with mine. "Until next time."

"Until next time." I replied confidently. "We got her out, we'll get you out as well." I exclaimed happily. Albeit just a bit too loudly. Dagur's face dropped into a deep scowl, as his eyes shot past me, to a figure standing outside of my cell.

"What you do you mean you got her out? YOU ARE NOT GETTING ANYONE OUT!" Viggo yelled, as he concealed his face behind the mask and turned and sprinted away down towards the holding cells where Ruff must have been. Dagur's gaze almost painfully slowly turned back towards me.

"I did. All this. FOR NOTHING!" Dagur yelled, releasing my arm, and curling his hand into a fist before striking at the metal bars. No Snotlout. No. No. No. Why I am such a fucking idiot. Viggo was right, I really am the worst Ironborn. If she dies he will never ever forgive me. Then I'll be truly alone. "If she dies. You will NEVER see my again." Dagur roared, before turning so his back was to me. "Were you working for them the whole time?" He asked but continued as if he already knew the answer. "You go Snotlout, you go and make your daddy proud."

Tuffnut

With one hand around her waist, I had to practically drag her out of the cell. With Macey strapped to my back, I pulled out a dagger as the only weapon I could use in one hand. Just looking at her made my very bones rattle with anger, my skin so hot it's as if my blood is pure wildfire. I should set this entire castle alight and leave the monsters to burn. I quickly shut that thought process down and focused back to her. Both her eyes, a mixture of black and red, she didn't even seem to be able to keep them open. The cuts and burns littered her bare body, only covered by her ripped jacket and torn leggings. I wanted to scream, to kill everyone, but she needed me to take her away. Take her home. I wrapped my coat around her, before her legs gave way and she collapsed at my side.

"I've got you sister. I've got you." I muttered quietly.

"I knew you'd come." She slurred. "That prophecy… it was right. Only love can kill me."

"I love you sister, I'm not gonna kill you any time soon." I tried to joke.

"Love you too, baby brother, what would I do without you?"

"We're not safe yet. Can you walk?" I asked gingerly. Twice she tried to stand, and twice she had barely placed her first foot down before she dropped again. As she fell the third time, not only her body, but her mind gave out. "RUFF! RUFF!" I yelled frantically, trying to wake her up, but to no avail.

"I don't think screaming is the best tactic for a stealth mission, my lord." A voice behind me sniggered. I turned, blade in hand, already pre-launching the strike. Yet as I was about to swing with full force, the glinting of the metal made me stop. I let out a deep breath, thanking the Lord that someone has come to help. "I told you I'd find another way." The knight said with a newfound sense of optimism. "Let's get you two out of here."

"What about the others? We need to get them out." I protested.

"That was never the plan. They knew the risks. So did we. If we don't go now, no-one is getting out." As the man spoke, a flurry of voices sounded in the distance, seeming to be converging on us. I carefully picked her up, holding her over my shoulder as we turned and ran. Me and Ruff behind him, as he held his sword out in front of him, scouring every pathway for an enemy. "This way!" He pointed to a set of stairs. "At the bottom of there, we take a left, then we're back at the sewage tunnel and we can get out and away from here." I nodded to him, as we rushed forward, but a loud voice boomed from behind us.

"You're a long way from home Lord Thorston. Maybe you can tell me about it, while I am cutting you up, piece by piece." The man threatened. Before I could turn to see who it was, a soft whimpering over my shoulder sounded out.

"Please don't let him take me again. Please brother. Please don't let him take me." Ruff pleaded. I turned to see the demon stood there in his black and red helmet and all black armour, sword already primed in his hand. I looked to the knight, who stepped forward protectively in front of us.

"Go. Get her to safety. I will deal with the vermin." The man said confidently, sliding the visor on his helmet down as he prepared for the duel. I thought about protesting, about staying to fight. I looked back one last time, but with Ruff all but defenseless, I took my chance and ran. I blocked out the sounds behind me and carried her all the way down to the tunnel entrance. I slowly lifted her down, embracing her in a hug as she wobbled on her feet. I pointed to the tube, and she reluctantly got on her knees and started to crawl. As the darkness obscured her from view, I reached to my back, pulling the mace from its straps, and holding the head of the weapon in my palm. I can't leave him here to die. I just can't. I promise I'll be back soon Ruff.

As I silently crept all the way back up, the sound of laughter reverberated through the walls around me. I reached the final step, cautiously poking my head out inch by inch so I could see what was going on. The knight was weaponless, being held up by three Ironborn men, while the demon in his black armour was holding his sword to the man's neck. For once, unmasked. He was just a boy, and yet the look of fear and betrayal on the knight's face was something I thought I would never see. I could see the devilish smirk on the younger man's face, as he pried the knight's helmet off. I wanted to rush in, to break him free, but four more men approached from the other direction towards. I quickly ducked, hiding for a minute to be sure, but I took the following silence as a good sign that they hadn't seen me. As I peered my head around the corner for a second time, I could see three large cut marks across the knight's cheek. The boy laughed, as he inflicted more and more pain upon the man. The now seven guards, all shared an uneasy look, as they had to watch the man deal out the sadistic treatment. I tried to close my eyes, to look away, but I couldn't stop watching. Praying for the slightest chance the knight could somehow fight free and escape with us. Out of the corner of his eyes, he must have noticed me. I saw him nod his head in resignation, before raising it up to stare down the demon who had his blood on his hands

"They are gone. There is nothing you can do now. I have done my duty and I will pay the price." He spoke defiantly. Each phrase seemingly aimed more at me, as I understood from his passing glances. I bowed my head to him, as I turned to leave and join Ruff, but one last sentence stung from the demon's mouth, halting me in my tracks.

"Pay the price you will, Ryker, for a brother, never forgets!"