*The following chapter was written by reader sensfan90. Thank you sensfan90, for adding to this little world!
(Dragonstone 296) Maege II (by sensfan90)
"Cadets, Dragon South!" Knees bent, body laid low and let the heat blaze along the stone floor.
"Huah!"
"Cadets, Dragon East" Push low and straight, flame at their feet arching into the air.
"Huah!"
"Cadets Dragon North!" Focused in front, a single vibrant flame pushed to the limit.
"Huah!"
"Cadets Dragon West!" Body straight, arms out and arch the blaze into from the sky to the earth.
"And stand down. Most of you did well though on the whole your stamina needs to improve. Fear not for at your age a good deal of your will burn brighter as you get older." Lieutenant Chi-Ha had pushed them harshly in their stances, more so than usual. The four dragons or four directions were the most basic exercises after breathing yet just as difficult to master. She saw her students go rigid as the instructor approached them, their auras swirling in fear. It was almost comical how quickly a group of young men and women shriveled into frightened girls and boys. Then again even without her aura Chi-Ha had a presence that put the weak and the lazy on edge.
"Cadet Azula your east was sloppy. You have to rise like the sun not sputter like a fish on land."
"I…I understand Lieutenant. I will strive to improve." Chi-Ha looked to continue but moved on, Azula's form was flawed but not exactly poor by her experience. She just did not put the effort in her workouts to build her inner spark. At least she was not alone, the woman seemed to find fault in most of the students. Really what did she expect? Half of them were not even men or women, simply children learning to live. Of course they were going to fail at times.
Azula turned to her with a few tears dripping, it was clear she did not want the other students to see. "What's wrong sister?"
"Lieutenant Chi-Ha was so mean. Not like back home, there learning was fun. I mean it was still tiring and hard work but we had everyone to help us. Not here, now the other boys and girls laugh and sneer when we bend poorly."
"It's just how she was taught sister, we have way more people in Dragonstone to teach. It would be impossible Azula to continue like we were among the Scorching Bears. Unlike with father and his soldiers there are too many students to keep an eye on at all times. They have to be strict or there could be accidents. Remember what father said when we sat before the Heart Tree?"
"Always mind your flame, the spark can end life as much as embrace it."
"Right. Now imagine fifty benders and their flames all flowing at the same time. The spark is that much greater and the danger to others that much worse." Wiping her eyes Azula nodded, accepting the explanation even if she clearly did not like it.
"Still she did not have to yell. She could have told me nicely to change my form. Or said so in private, you know not in front of everybody."
"Better her than Commander Chang or Zha Leng. I've seen the detention they gave the unruly students. No thanks." Azula shuddered as she rolled her eyes, sometime she wondered why they were so different. Of the two of them she was the most mature, not that she wished for it but a consequence of her combustion. When father sent her here she knew enough that it was because whatever needed to be done could not be trusted with her blood. Her teachers never stuck her or wished her ill but the pain and work was more than she believed her parents could ever stomach. Azula bless her only dealt with a harsher group of teachers. Judging by her flames they may very well have a point. Hers were better still but at least there was improvement to her eye.
"Come on then, its time for lunch and so help me I will not be the last to grab the stew. All the good meat is gone by then." Putting a spring in her step she laughed as Azula took up the unspoken challenge as they raced towards the dining hall. Just as quickly she slowed down as they both noticed several new banners along the hall. One of the few traditions common between the Westeros and the Fire Nation was the tapestries of famous warriors and battles; The Burning of Harrenhal, The Battle of the Trident, The Siege of Storm's End. Naturally the largest and most opulent detailed the sinking of the Redwyne Fleet by the Firelord herself.
"Oh is that?" She turned and nodded to her sister. A bleeding stag surrounded by dragons, a griffin circling overhead. From the north a tide of Wolves, Falcons and Trouts came to the their rescue. Every boy and girl in the North knew of this day and she gathered so did most of the realm.
"Yes the Battle of the Bells where Grandmother and Uncle Jorah fought among the Northmen who rescued the King."
"Why no bears?"
"Why no merman, lizard lions, eagles or moose? Or a white sun, a dragon of black or green, a flayed man….some horses and a trio red hearts?" She could not help herself, the giggles came through as she pictured a banner where every house looked like its sigil in the battle.
"Well alright I get it. Did Grandmother ever tell you anything more about the fighting?"
"Well…I heard mother talking about how Aunt Lyra was born because of the victory but not much else." Ugh she chose to have left the bawdy tale before it barely got started thank you very much. "Why do you ask?"
"Well Aunt Lyanna always speaks of our history and I wanted to talk about it for once." Of course she did, then again she was just as proud of Bear Island as she was of Lyanna's Bay. Feeling good for what seemed to the first time in days they finally reached the hall. Cadets from all ages and backgrounds would gather here. Though it did remind her of the harvest feasts back home, there were different classes and levels if you looked at the tables. Instead of birth status it was of leaders and followers. You had the Reds and the Golds of course, the groups that openly supported Lady Ursa and Ser Steffon as the future Firelord. You had the Young Dragons; a rather large group who followed Takkar but were just as often found mingling with others when he was not around. The Blacks stood out if only because most if not all were the children of Narrow Sea Houses or if not from their respective domains. A few cliques of future cobblers, engineers and sailors were present but only two other groups stood out. First was the group of Acolytes who were devout servants of the Red God, all of which either were slaves or the children of freedmen. Something about their attitude rubbed her the wrong way but individually she could admit they were like everyone else. As for the final group the Greens….
"Nieces, come sit with us!." Smiling she waved back and joined the table of young cadets with her favorite aunt patting their open spots. Lyanna had come to Dragonstone half a year before her and had quickly gained a following. Smart, charismatic and possessing something father called "presence" it did not take long for her to rise in the class rankings. She may not have been a bender or have Fire Nation blood but word had gotten out the women of Bear Island did not dilute the flame one bit. The group of boys and girls around her no doubt expected to follow her into whatever holdfast or position her namesake came up with. Bear Island and Lyanna's Bay were by no means rich but they were what Lady Mai referred to as a land of opportunity for the Fire Nation. The Mormonts could be the new Manderlys, though much much slimmer. And with a much cooler sigil, and better looking, less Andal too.
"Hello Aunt Lyanna, how are you?" She chuckled at the looks of a few of the cadets, her mother was pregnant with her and Azula while her grandmother was carrying her last child. They even shared the same nursery for a while. A few of their aura's flickered and she wondered if some of them thought their family barbaric, really her namesake simply found a man she fancied who cared not for age. Probably did not help Lyanna treated them as siblings in all but name.
"Good, good I was telling them of the Battle of Long Lake."
"When our great-great grandfather fought against Raymun Redbeard?" Tales of wildlings were common on Bear Island, after the Umbers and the Mountain Clans they fought with them the most often. The tides from the Bay of Ice meant even the flimsiest vessel would eventually find their way to Mormont Keep eventually.
"Aye he took down a dozen wildlings himself before the Umbers took the rest in the rear."
Rina looked skeptical, "Lady Maege did he really say to his men here we stand for the North as the wildlings charged?" Lyanna must be more popular than she thought, Rina's family was well off within Dragonstone. Her eldest sister Tima was even the official historian of the Fire Nation and wrote many of textbooks with the academy. To choose to sit beside her when so many of the purebloods avoided them said a lot of House Mormont's place in the future.
"He did though that part is not as impressive as it sounds. Wildlings are often numerous but undisciplined, a small group of trained warriors can rout them if they choose a good spot. Its much the same for Ironborn, the men and women of Bear Island learned long ago how to face these foes." Mother always used the two ancient enemies of the Mormonts in drills, always nagging to her about the importance of discipline.
"Oh come on Maege you're ruining the story!"
"I did not, Robett Mormont fought in a dozen battles and never wavered. In the days of Dagon Greyjoy he made Ironborn flee with just his presence! And the Ironborn of Dagon were not the pathetic jokes of Balon!"
"Or maybe they heard a bear growl and ran away." The ward, Margeary Tyrell giggled at her own joke while the other cadets broke into laughter.
"If you start singing a Bear and the Maiden Fair….." She covered her mouth to hide the smile as Azula jumped to her defence, everyone in Westeros from the Wall to Dorne made that joke to the Mormonts. Best to get in front of it as father would say. Just as quickly the laughter stopped as the group rose and placed their fists in their palms. Before she could do the same a bright star of a flame joined them from behind. It did not take a genius to realize who had arrived.
"Hello Lady Baratheon, how are you this day?"
"Wonderful Lady Mormont, I was just listening to your tale. It sounds so exciting, someday I wish to see the North myself. Mother speaks rather fondly of Winterfell in particular."
"What of your sister, she is a ward of the Starks is she not?"
"She…she speaks well of it but I gather she has more important duties than sightseeing. But enough about me, can I join you all for lunch?"
"If your feet are tired you can take my seat my lady."
"Oh its alright Lady Maege, while were in the academy I am just another student. Margaery did you get tosee the new flowers from Norvos?"
"They were beautiful Ty Lee, I worried they would not bloom."
"Wanting them for a certain someone?" The light mood returned as the Tyrell blushed as red as a Tully before the group returned to their fun. She mostly tuned it out as she found comfort in their auras, everyone was just a little different big or small. Even those without the warmth of the Fire Nation like her aunt still flicked the edge of her mind. Lyanna as confident as she appeared, Margaery a rose afraid of its' own thorns even as it bloomed. None however were like Lady Baratheon, her flame seemed to have something more, something she could not place. Come to think of it Chang had something similar but for the life of her she did not know what it was only that it seemed to be more prominent in the back of her mind.
"Lady Maege, I have to ask how does it feel to combust? Father speaks of one of my ancestors having the gift but otherwise his words are sparse. Xai Bau has several books but it is not the same as watching you."
"Well Rina it is rather difficult to….actually for the benders among us the first part of it is easy to explain. It all comes down to the spark, the inner flame we all have. Tell me how many of you have ever choked on the fire?" Confusion and the shaking of a dozen heads greeted to her to no surprise. "That is because our bodies were born with a form of internal protection to prevent us from cooking ourselves, at worst a sneeze will spit fire unexpectedly."
"Alright but combustion?"
"Combustion creates that spark outside of the body, where we push and grow the flame in the air without any of the body to fuel it further, hence why it disappears as quick as it is unleashed. You can guess the problem with that."
"The lack of natural protection, you mean it can…kill you?" Lyanna and Azula were horrified, as were a few of the students. The older ones knew it to be dangerous but the younger benders and the less experienced cadets only now appreciated the threat.
"Yes, all firebenders can do so but their own souls and skin are born with the instinct to avoid this at all costs. Commander Chang and Officer Bau both stressed to me this is for good reason, most do not have the discipline or will to wield such a power. Even many Firelords in history avoided the skill as the power of lightning is considered more reliable. The training is referred to as opening the third eye."
"Oh is that why you got the tattoo sister?"
"Yes, in my case I was born with my third eye already open. A rarity among even historic bloodlines but not unheard of either. It is why father sent me here a year or so ahead of schedule. It helps me focus and visualize what I already feel in my bones.
"Your tattoo is really pretty, who had it done?" She froze for a moment bewildered at the question. How could the daughter of the Firelord not know what she had? Despite wishing to tell her off her mother would be incensed if she insulted a Lady of House Baratheon over such a inane question.
"No, one of Xai Bau's students Cao Jie did the work. My mother had nothing to do with it I'm afraid. When a firebender learns combustion one finds it easier to have a point of the body to focus, even subconsciously. It was supposed to be white and red but I felt green and silver were more appropriate don't you think? I felt the the red, black and gold was a little overdone."
"Finally someone has the guts to say it!" Bewildered she turned to the blacks at another table, scandalized she did not realize they could hear her.
"I know right, would it kill Lord Stannis and Lady Azula to change things up a little. Wearing the house colors gets so boring after a while." She turned to hide her growing smirk at the debate and had to leave or explain the laughter at Rina fiercely defending the beauty of the Fire Nation. Before she could finally make her way to the stew Ty Lee caught up with her.
"I think the tattoo fits you perfectly."
"Excuse me my lady?
"You asked if it seemed more appropriate. I do, it matches your aura." Eyes wide open she started to truly pay attention to the young Baratheon.
"Your flame, like your sisters. You are both so proud of your family that I can practically feel the she-bear roaring. Father is the same, he rarely smiles but I can feel when his warmth even in silence. A mighty stag watching over his doe. Mother, mother is an inferno but her love is almost blinding when she is near."
"I thought my sister and I….we were the only ones."
"Well I could not always do it so clearly but were both of the First Men are we not?" She nodded, the blood of House Durrandon flowed into House Baratheon through Argella the Defiant. Come to think of it if not for a few Yi Tish features she recognized from the people in Lyanna's Bay she could be the spitting image of the picture she saw in books.
"Yes, yes we are. Do you think?"
"Maybe? Maybe it's a talent all firebenders have but they do not realize it? Lady Mai says my namesake could see people clearly but at the same time I know enough to realize she and mother never speak ill of their friend. I just know, I just feel and see how other's feel. When Maester Cresson spoke of the history of magic and spirits in Westeros the legends of the First Men seemed to make sense."
"We may not share the skin of others but we can see what lies beneath."
"Exactly, it's always why I wanted to talk to you. Your brave even when your scared….." Scratching her head awkwardly Ty Lee continued, "…..most of the cadets at the academy do not talk to me. And when they do I can feel their fear and uncertainty. It only got worse after I visited the tree of Officer Bau. But not you…I hope. I mean people are really nice to me but finding those who like me for me…well you understand." She was lonely and an outsider, just like her. Except she did not have bright home to go back to if things did not improve. Smiling she placed her hand in hers, she still may not like it here but at least she found a friend.
