REVELATION
MERWYN THE MAGE
Merwyn was an orphan, his father died of the wasting disease and his mother dropped him off at the orphanage in Old Town and left for parts unknown. Merwyn was found to have a keen mind and the keeper of the orphanage sent him to the citidel to become a Maester. At the age of nine his education started. The acolytes were free to start with any subject they wished. When they mastered that subject , the acolyte would recieve a loink in his chain for that subject.
Merwyn started with math and after two years of study, he took on healing, medicine and potions. That took five years of study. When a subject was mastered the acolyte had to take a test before he was given his link. Each link was a different color and represented a field of study. While studying Merwyn became friends with Atkyns, Luwin, Aemon, and many others.
It takes Merwyn 43 years to get fourteen links in his chain. Usually after an acolyte has gained his chain, he is assigned to a House to be Maester to that family. Unless the acolyte wishes to earn a Valyrian steel link in his chain. Only those who had an interest in magic studied the mystic arts. Merwyn gained an interest through his friendship with Maester Aemon.
Studying the secrets of magic rarely meant that one could actually use magic. Most of the time it just means that one has the gift to use enchanted objects, like glass candles, Dragon horns, amulets, commune with heart trees and such. Although there are those who can drink the waters from a heart tree and eat the sap to gain the powers of a warg or a greenseer. Drinking fire water or shade of the evening may also grant magical abilities.
Merwyn in his studies drank water from a heart tree and ate the sap. He became sick for three days and when he was better had gained the greensight. All green visions came as symbols which had to be interpreted. Merwyn's first vision was off a Stag, a wolf, a trout, and a falcon attacking a three headed Dragon.
It didn't take him long to figure out the symbolic meaning, he just found it hard to believe that Houses Stark, Tully, Arryn, and Baratheon would unite and rise up against House Targaryen, until the war broke out. Then there was the prophecy of the long night and the prince that was promised.
Like most who discovered the prophecy, Merwyn became obsessed with finding the Prince and helping him fulfill his destiny. Many years later Merwyn receives a letter from Atkyns about the heir of Horn Hill. The boy has a clever mind and his ability to learn was second to none. Samwell was one of those rare gifted young men and his intelligence shined through his inventions. The boy had invented a weapon called a bolt caster.
He also made a cure for grey scale. Many at the citidel wanted the young lord to study with the Maesters, but his father wouldn't allow it. It was after news came that Randyll Tarly died, that Merwyn had a vision. His visions usually came when he was staring into a reflective surface, like a mirror or body of water.
He had undressed to bathe, when his eyes turned white and he saw his vision. In his vision, he saw a key fly out of a horn on a hill and open a door made of fire and ice. "Samwell Tarly is the key to finding the Prince." So Merwyn would wait for Samwell Tarly to come to him.
SAMWELL
After Tyrion left Sam makes plans to travel to Old Town and spend time with the Maesters and make use of their archives. He would explore their archives to find books of interest to be transcribed and sent to Horn Hill. In the east construction had begun on the factory in Braavos, in the meantime Horn Hill's factory was working on its first order for the military forces of Braavos. They wanted eighteen thousand bolt casters at 200 gold pieces per caster and 180,000 bolt clips at 50 gold pieces per clip. Half of the twelve million six hundred thousand was paid and the balance would be deposited with the Iron Bank on delivery.
With completion of this order House Tarly is well on its way, to becoming the richest House in all of Westeros. Two weeks pass and Sam is ready to depart for Old Town. As usual Evan accompanies him with a guard of fifty men and a few servants. All of his guards are wearing, Amorite amor in the colors of House Tarly and carrying amorite weapons.
Melessa, Dickon, Tala, and Atkyns see him off. They head west towards the rose road and turn south. Travel is much easier in the south, because of the roads. Sam is so excited about going to the citidel, that he foregoes stopping at any castles and camps in the wilds. Stopping at Honeyholt would take them way out of the way.
After a week of travel they finally reach Old Town. Old Town is ruled by House Hightower. Their home is the tower of Hightower, a thousand feet tall. They are also known for their wealth as the Hightowers are just as rich as the Lannisters. Or they were just as rich. The Lannisters now richer, because Castamere had been reopened. And soon their wealth will be surpassed by the Tarly's.
Out of protocol, Sam heads to Hightower to pay his respects to Lord Leyton Hightower. He sends a few guards and servants to the citidel to announce his arrival and prepare a room in the citidel for him. When he arrives at Hightower, the entire family is present and ready to greet him.
His family includes his fourth wife Lady Rhea formerly of House Florent. His eldest son and heir Baelor Hightower, Baelor's wife Rhonda Hightower nee' Rowan, his daughters Alerie, Denyse, Leyla, Alyssane, his sons, Garth Gunther, and Humfrey. His daughter Melora is a septon and his daughter Lynesse is married to Ser Jorah Mormont of Bear Island.
"Welcome Lord Tarly, welcome to Hightower."
"Thank you, my lord." After introductions Sam is taken to the main hall to be feasted. After the feast he goes with Lord Leyton to his solar to discuss, investing in any of Sam's future projects that will yield a profit. He also tries to push his daughter Alyssane on him, but Sam reveals his love for Lady Margaery.
After their meeting Sam heads to the citidel. He is met by Archmaester Theobald. "Welcome to the Citidel Lord Tarly, we have heard so much about you from Maester Atkyns."
"Thank yo,u for your welcome Archmaester, Atkyns is like a father to me."
"The archives, the rare and restricted works are all open to you. This is Maester Farthaul. He has agreed to take a list of any books you wish to have transcribed."
"Thank you."
"Also, we were wondering if you would address the general assembly in two days."
"I would be honored."
After unpacking Sam immediately heads to the archives. He starts with the history of the Ghiscari Empire. He takes the first age of Ghiscar to read now. He also wants it transcribed along with the second the civil war, and third ages. He sits at the table and reads the entire book in two hours.
Then Sam eats dinner and heads to his room. The next morning, he bathes, breaks his fast, and then writes a letter to his family. Then he sits in his room writing a speech for the assembly. With his speech done, Sam heads back to the archives and reads the explorations and Odessey of Maester Veer Harlaw. Veer was the only Iron born man to study at the citidel. He is known for his maritime maps of the seas.
Sam walks from isle to isle like a child in a castle full of toys, not knowing what to play with first. Then he stops and spots a man, who is not a man, but a woman. "Maester Farthaul."
"Yes."
"Who is that?"
He looks at the dark-skinned man, "Oh that is Alleras. Very brilliant young man, secretive as well."
Sam sends Farthaul on a mission and then he approaches the woman pretending to be a man. "Hello."
Alleras looks at him, "Hello."
"I am told your name is Alleras...It wouldn't happen to be Sarella would it?"
He or rather she whips her head in his direction. She grabs his arm and drags him to a study room in the archives. "Who are you? You're not dressed like an acolyte."
"Samwell Tarly at your service."
"Oh...you. He said you would come."
Sam frowns, "Who said I would come?"
"Merwyn. Merwyn the Mage. How did you know that I am not a man?"
"I saw it in your eyes and in the way you stand. You try to hard not to stand like a woman."
She smiles, "Women have a way of standing, do they?"
He smiles, "Most anyway. I find that when people try pretending to be something they are not, they exaggerate in that what they are pretending to be."
"You're not going to expose me, are you?"
Sam smiles, "No. In fact, I think it is appalling the way the Maesters do not allow women to study. You are from Dorne aren't you."
"Sarella Sand, daughter of Prince Oberyn at your service."
The two become quick friends and Sam invites Sarella or Alleras to his room and reads his speech to her. "Wow. Did you add the part about women studying or was it already in there?"
"It was already in there." Sam rests the next day to prepare to address the assembly. He goes over his speech again, makes corrections and reads it to both Sarella and Evan. The hopefuls, novices, acolytes, Keepers, Maesters all gather in the amphitheater to hear Sam speak.
Archmaester Theobald steps to the podium, "My fellow knowledge seekers, learners, and men of wisdom...It is my privilege and honor to introduce a young man, who was gifted with a brilliant mind. A man who was tutored by Maester Atkyns of Horn Hill...This young man has invented cures for grey scale, come up with a weapon that will change warfare forever. He has even created a new metal that can go up against Valyrian steel.
Please welcome Samwell Tarly, Lord of Horn Hill."
Everyone claps as Sam leaves his seat and stands at the podium. "Thank you Archmaester Theobald. I find myself humbled as I stand before you all. Knowledge is power. The power to change the world. Make life easier, for our fellow man. We educate, inspire, and shape the lives of those we share knowledge with. On the darkside knowledge can be destructive in the wrong hands.
It can be used to do great evil. But when good men do nothing, evil wins. When people are allowed to go hungry, they steal. When we allow men and women to be ignorant, we breed jealousy, and acolytes to people who lead men, women, and children to chaos for their own personal gain. The ability to read should not be taught, just to the privileged or those with money. We should share this knowledge with all people. No matter what their social standing in life is."
He pauses as some people clap. "Ignorance breeds cruelty. Exclusion of anyone, be it man or woman, exclusion breeds all forms of ignorance, hate, jealousy, malice, and other things that lead to downfall of society in general. If a woman is left behind by her husband who goes off to war. That woman if she does not know how to defend herself from bandits or others who would take advantage of her husband's absence, will be raped. But if she has skill with a weapon, the chances of her being raped decreases.
The same can be said of ignorance and a lack of knowledge. Knowledge, certain knowledge should be shared with the masses. Thank you for listening." They give Sam a standing ovation, and then he is asked questions, about his studies, inventions, and theories in science. After his speech, Sam returns to his room to find an elderly looking, but muscular man.
"Lord Samwell Tarly. I enjoyed your speech."
"Thank you..." He drags out, you to get a name.
"Merwyn the Mage...I am known as."
"Ah yes...Alleras speaks very highly of you."
They enter his room and Sam pours him some arbor gold. "So, My Lord. Have you considered the higher mysteries of magic?"
Sam smiles, "Ah magic. Some call it the key to understanding the science and world of the beyond."
"You don't believe?"
He takes a drink from his goblet, before answering, "Dragons...The Targaryens used them to rule Westeros, until the Dance of Dragons and the Blackfyre rebellions. Now all that is left of them are skulls and bones."
Merwyn smiles and takes a book out of his robe, "I bought this here for you to read."
Sam takes the book, "Propehicies of the world, by Maester Amoar Targaryen."
"Good reading, I leave you to it."
Sam opens the book and reads from the first page. He reads prophecy after prophecy, then he comes to the Doom of Valyria, which was predicted by Daenys Targaryen. "In my research I have discovered evidence that the Doom may not have been an accident. My ancestors, the Targaryens were the least among the Dragon Lords of Valyria, but what if Lord Thoryn Tagaryen sent his granddaughter Daenys visions of the doom and caused the eruption of Mount Vulcan.
The eruption that caused, the other volcanoes to erupt and destroyed Valyria." Sam pauses in his reading, "Could such a thing be possible?" He reads on and then reads Daenys' prediction of the Doom. Three more prophecies are read before Sam comes to the Song of Fire and Ice.
He stops to eat in is room, after ordering some food. Then he opens to the page he left off and reads. "In the days of darkness, the Night King shall come again. He shall come and cast the world into the long night once again. But take heart, for Azor Ahai shall be born again. Born of Fire and Ice, he shall come forth amongst smoke and salt.
He shall come, the Prince that was Promised. The Prince, shall bring the dawn and save us from the long night." It takes another hour for Sam to finish reading the book. But the Song of Fire and Ice echoes in his mind over and over again. That night Sam lies in his bed staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep.
He huffs and gets up. His guards walk with him to archives. he goes to the miscellaneous section. The miscellaneous section are works that have yet to be catalogued and organized. He walks among the tables and stops at a table marked journals. One journal written by Septon Maynard catches his eye.
He grunts, "What in the world could a Septon have to write about?" He opens the journal and reads the first entry. He skips over boring entries and then comes across an entry that says, Prince Rhaegar.
Prince Rhaegar
Entry 1
The crown Prince came to me in secret and asked if I would annul his marriage to Princess Elia. At first, I was afraid that this was some type of test, but I quickly dismissed that idea. Prince Rhaegar is not the type to play tricks or test people that way. The prince is a straightforward young man.
But still I am afraid and points out that if his father learned of this, I would lose my head or be burned at the stake. The prince vowed to me, that he would protect me, so I draw up the document. But I had to ask, why he wanted to annul his marriage? His response was that he and Elia loved one another but were not in love with each other.
Prince Rhaegar
Entry 2
Prince Rhaegar came to me today and asked me to be his guest at the tourney of Harrenhal. So of course, I will go. The prince's special guest. But I get the feeling that he wants something from me. I have this feeling as we travel to Harrenhal, but that feeling vanishes as I see all the banners from all over Westeros.
The largest gathering for a tourney in the history of Westeros. Even the Iron Born have come. May the seven help me, I may dress as a knight and compete. A hundred thousand gold Dragons for the winner of the mounted joust. The same for the winners of the horse race, the archery contest, and the melee.
By the father I wish I was a knight. Sers Arthur Dayne and Barristan Selmy are participating.
Prince Rhaegar
Entry 3
The tourney is over, and I am just as shocked as everyone else. First the King shows up and questions me. My heart races, but Rhaegar comes to my aid. The archery contest was won by Rodrik Greyjoy of all people. The horse race was won by the Knight of the Laughing Tree, whoever she may be...
The melee was won by the Sword of the Morning, Ser Arthur Dayne. The joust was won by Prince Rhaegar himself, after the most epic match, I or anyone has ever seen. They call it the day the smiles died...Prince Rhaegar crowned Lyanna Stark the Queen of Beauty and Love.
I am just as shocked as everyone else. Well Rhaegar did annul his marriage, but Lyanna Stark is betrothed to the Heir of Storm's End and Robert Baratheon did not look happy.
Prince Rhaegar
Entry four
The prince has come to think of me as a friend. He even asked me to call him Rhaegar. I want to,but did not. He is my Prince, and he will make a great king. He even told me of his plan to depose his father. As I believed Prince Rhaegar asked me here because he wants something...
The tourney is over and we lingered at Harrenhal for a week. Then on the morning of the eighth day we go to the god's eye lake and wait by the shore. An hour passes by before a hooded woman shows up. It is Lyanna Stark. We board a rowboat, Lyanna Stark, Prince Rhaegar, Princess Elia, Ser Arthur, Ser Oswell Whent and myself. (Side note - I see the same movements in Lyanna Stark that I saw in the Knight of the Laughing Tree...
I knew the Knight was a woman and after some round about questions I have confirmed that Lady Lyanna Stark is or was the Knight of the Laughing Tree)
As we travel, Lady Lyanna, Prince Rhaegar, and Princess Elia laugh and talk like the best of friends. When we reach the island Lady Stark teaches me the northern ritual of marriage before the heart tree. Then Prince Rhaegar asks me to marry them. After marrying them we go back to shore and part ways. Princess Elia leaves for Dorne, though why she doesn't wait for the Prince and his new wife is beyond me...
A second wedding in the Sept at Harrenhal is conducted by myself for the Prince and Princess. Many hours later after they have consummated their marriage in a room at the castle, I draw up announcement papers for a boy and a girl..."
Sam is dumbfounded, "Wow...all this time." He says thinking about how everyone believed that Rhaegar had kidnapped and raped Lyanna Stark. When in fact they fell in love and married in secret. Then Sam remembers his father telling him and Dickon that he never believed that Rhaegar kidnapped Lyanna and here is the proof.
As Sam sits there, he frowns as the prophecy of fire and ice comes to mind, several thoughts click together. He jumps up and runs as fast as he can to the main archives. He stops to catch his breath. Then he heads straight to the section on the Great Houses of Westeros. They are in alphabetical order; he plucks the book of House Stark.
There are books with all the Houses in it, but not as detailed. The book Sam chose is a detailed record of every person born to House Stark. From Bran the builder to present. He skips over the Kings and most of the wardens. He stops at Eddard Stark and reads, "Eddard Stark born a second son to Lord Rickard Stark and Lady Lyarra Stark.
And Eddard Stark warded with Lord Jon Arryn of the Vale at the age of ten and one. At the age of ten and eight, his father Lord Rickard Stark and Elder brother Lord Brandon Stark are killed in King's Landing on the orders of Aerys Targaryen, the Mad King. And thus by the will of the gods and the laws of titleship, Eddard Stark became Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North.
Eddard Stark marries Lady Catelyn Tully of Riverrun during Robert's Rebellion. The consummation of their marriage produced a son. Robb Stark, red and brown of hair, blue of eyes. In the year 286 Sansa Stark was born to Lord Eddard Stark and his wife Lady Catelyn Stark..." He reads through all children and then comes to the Bastard of Winterfell.
Bastards that are acknowledged by Noble Lords, are mentioned after all the legitimate children. "Jon Snow born 283 - Father Lord Eddard Stark - Mother Unknown, place of birth unknown..."
Sam closes the book and thinks in silence. "It has to be him. Prince Rhaegar and Lyanna marry in secret. He is not seen for three months. Lord Stark goes to relieve the siege at Storm's End. Then he goes on a quest with nine companions to find his sister. He returns home with her dead body and a baby he claims as his own.
House Targaryen's sigil is that of a Dragon. Dragons are the living embodiment of fire. House Stark's words are Winter is Coming, and with winter comes ice, snow, and the cold. Born of Fire and Ice, Jon Snow is not a bastard. He is the legitimate son of Prince Rhaegar and Princess Lyanna Stark. The crown prince and heir to the Iron Throne." Sam stands up and returns the book to the shelf. Then he returns to his room in a trance. He climbs into bed and dreams.
Sam sits up and sees his father siting at the edge of his bed, "Father."
"You must help him. Rhaegar's son...Sam you must help him."
"How can you...ask anything of me? You who treated me like trash. Garbage, unfit and unworthy to be your son."
That is when Randyl Tarly turns into Merwyn the Mage. "Your destiny is tied to the prince's destiny."
Sam awakens in a cold sweat. His dream had felt so real. After breaking his fast, he goes looking for Merwyn. "Rough night last night?"
"I dreamed of my father. When I scolded him for his treatment of me, he turned into you."
"It was just a dream."
"Was it?"
"When Atkyns wrote me about you I had a vision. The visions only come when I am looking into a reflective surface. Mirror or water...I saw a horn on a hill. A key flew out of the horn and came to the citidel. There was a door made of fire and ice. The key opened the door of fire and ice. From that vision I deduced that you would come to the citidel and learn the identity of the prince. You know who he is don't you?"
"Why?"
"Because I want to help the prince become the man he is meant to be."
Sam sighs, "Then let us go north together." Sam asks Sarella to accompany them as she too had been searching for clues about the prince that was Promised. "Chanee pack my things." He orders to his servant.
"Yes m'lord."
"Evan take ten men and ride to the docks. Tell Captain Barkon to get my ship ready."
"Yes my Lord." He pauses, "Where are we going?"
"North to White Harbor."
Before leaving Sam writes a letter to his family explaining a few things, but not all. He sends the letter by Raven. By sunset the Centaur is setting sail for White Harbor.
