Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Game of Thrones.
AN 1: The following takes place during the same timeframe as "The Ghost of Harrenhal" A good number of Tyrion's scenes were cut from this chapter, namely because they unfolded the same way they did in the TV show. As for the other scenes cut (Harrenhal), without a Builder POV character there, the audience can't see what is happening.
AN 2: Tonks mentions in this chapter that the Builders are currently fighting in 'three and a half wars.' For clarity sake, they are
The War against the White Walkers (The Fist is directly engaged)
The War against the Thenn (The Fist is directly engaged)
The War against The Lannisters (The Fist is providing military advisors and intelligence support)
3.5 Daenerys Targaryen's Conquest (currently on hold)
AN3: Appropriate musical parings for the Duel in the Fist would be "Duel of the Fates" from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Soundtrack
The Song of Builders
By Jojobevco
Chapter 8
Darkness in the Stormlands
Near Renly Baratheon's Camp
Off the Coast of Storm's End, The Stormlands, Westeros
Harry slowly turned back toward Renly's camp. The hair on the back of his neck was standing up, a sign that, after 8,000 years, still rang true to imminent danger. As he turned back, he cast a magic detection spell. The results shocked him, Harry headed for Renly's command tent and poured on the speed. He drew the Sword of Godric Gryffindor as he went, punching through the canvas of the command tent and stabbing the shadow baby just as it stabbed Renly Baratheon, a man who was now, quite lethally, out of contention for the Iron Throne. The shadow baby howled and turned to dust. Talisa, Robb, and Brienne of Tarth were shocked.
Harry had just removed a small velvet pouch just as he heard someone scream a loud "NO!" and start charging at him with a sword. He blocked the first few swings without looking before turning to face Brienne of Tarth.
"You dumb idiot! What did you see with your own eyes. I didn't kill your precious Renly. It was the shadow, a shadow with the face of Stannis Baratheon."
This stayed Brienne's hand. As she stopped, two more of Renly's guards charged into the tent. Harry waved his hand, sending two stun bolts at the guards and then drawing his wand to modify their memories, showing that the assassin had been someone dressed in Stannis's colors, who had promptly fled. Harry then waved his hand, gathering the black dust that remained of the shadow.
Harry then turned back to the rest of the gathered group, "Get out of here, return to the Stark Host right now and take Brienne of Tarth with you."
Talisa nodded and quickly led the large woman out of the tent's rear exit, Robb following closely behind. Harry turned on his heel and apparated.
The Small Conference Room
The Fist of the First Men
Tonks walked into the room, waving her hand and changing from her scullery clothes into the professional robes indicating she was a Builder of the Wall.
"Got the patronus. You really want to start a war? Another one? Given the three and a half that we're already fighting?"
Harry looked at her, "We are only directly engaged in two of them."
Tonks shook her head, "That is not going to last. We are severely overextending ourselves."
Oddly, their voices were not raised. This conversation had played itself out dozens of times before.
"Do we have a choice? Also, I have a plan, a damn good one."
"Of course you do."
Harry pointed to a book on the bookshelf, "Literally wrote the book." He was pointing at The Art of War by Lord Harry Potter.
Tonks chuckled, "You plagiarized that from Sun Tzu, Patton, and Merlin."
Harry shook his head, "I got the basics from them, but I have more experience and have fought in more battles than all of them. Combined."
Tonks merely gave him a "hmmph." Followed by, "So tell me about this plan of yours."
"Well, first, we're going to need a bit of backup." Harry looked knowingly at the tapestry covering the wall of the room, focusing in on a certain figure portrayed on it. The figure was sitting outside of a tavern while lazily levitating an ice block into position.
Tonks facepalmed, "Oh hell."
The Golden Lilly
Near Horn Hill, The Reach, Westeros
Dickon Tarly was rather enjoying himself, as he buried his face in the large breasts of the prostitute he had hired.
That was until his trousers started beeping. Even the usually consummate professional prostitute was distracted by the strange noise. Dickon groaned and reached for his trousers, fishing out a mirror. He tapped it with his finger and groaned, "I'm in the middle of something."
"You're needed back at the Fist."
Dickon turned the mirror to show the people watching it the prostitute he was with. "As I said I'm in the middle of something.
The male in the mirror quirked an eyebrow and then narrowed his eyes when he saw the prostitute's curly brown mane. The woman licked her lips and wagged her eyebrows. The prostitute fainted.
Dickon turned the mirror back around, "Bloody medieval savages, the lot of them. I'll be there in an hour."
"Make it thirty minutes, Cormac."
Cormac McLaggen, Builder of the Wall sighed, "Acknowledged." Cormac hung up the mirror and sighed, not for the first time did he curse the fate that brought them all here.
October 31, 20XX
Entrance Hall
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Hogsmeade, Scotland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Cormac McLaggen, Flight Instructor and Quidditch Referee was having an enormously bad day. Not only was his rival, Harry Potter (although Harry certainly didn't think of him as anything remotely close to a rival) in the building, but it was also Halloween.
Which provided a perfectly good explanation for how a bloody fucking dragon had gotten into the building. Cormac had been in his office with the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain and Head Boy, who had been in the middle of scheduling practice times when the Headmistress's announcement came through. In traditional Gryffindor fashion, they ran back from the Quidditch Pitch to the Entrance Hall, carrying a satchel of shrunken brooms they could use to evacuate students from the Great Hall to the roof through the owl hatch.
As they entered the Entrance Hall, they were hit full in the face by the largest explosion of magical energy they had ever seen. When they came to it was night, the moor they were on was covered in a foot of snow, and Hogwarts was nowhere to be seen. Cormac turned to his so-called rival, "Potter, what the hell did you do?"
Arrivals Room
The Fist of the First Men
The Lands Beyond the Wall
Colonel Ygritte was taking a last tour through the complex before she headed out with the Snow Foxes. Soon, they would intercept the members of the Night's Watch, Jon Snow in particular, and bring them back to the Fist. Her walk was interrupted as she approached the arrivals room where a fight was taking place. The guards in the room were all engaging one man, who was very clearly holding his own. After watching for a few seconds, she determined he was very, very good. As the last guard was thrown against the wall and knocked out, Ygritte drew her sword and walked into the room, just as the man turned to face her, sword held facing the ground. He smirked as he saw her, before grinning as he saw the small fox stitched on the arm of her Wildling gear.
"Ah, a Snow Fox, this will prove…amusing."
Ygritte felt panic, but hid it. If he considers a Snow Fox amusing, that was very disturbing. First this man knew what the Snow Foxes were. Secondly, he didn't consider them a threat.
"You should know who you face, Colonel Ygritte, commander of the Snow Fox Unit."
The man smirked, "Very well then, I accept your challenge." He pulled his sword up to be perpendicular with her, "At your ready."
Ygritte was good, very good, one of the best sword masters currently with the Army of the Fist. She lasted all of forty-five seconds before finding herself slammed into a wall, groaning in pain. Then Harry arrived and after drawing a Valyrian Steel sword, he charged at the man.
Battle was joined and in her delirious state Ygritte could not keep up with the action. She saw their blades moving so fast that they were a blur of sparks. Harry and the man almost seemed to predict the other's movements. Finally, Harry got the upper hand for a moment, drawing first blood from the torso before the other man just grinned and charged back, matching Harry's strike a moment later. As Ygritte struggled to stand the fight left the arrivals room and entered into the hallway. Ygritte dragged herself to the doorway and into the hallway, to see the man calmly falling back to the main training room with Harry in pursuit. As they did, Ygritte realized that over the years she had trained with Lord Harry, he had been clearly holding back. Ygritte also realized that the unknown man had been holding back as well.
As the entered the main training room the cadets training inside scrambled into the bleachers and gave the combatants plenty of room. The fighting grew more and more intense until, in a flurry of shoves, leg sweeps and kicks, Harry had his sword pointed at the man's throat.
"Why must you always be so uncivilized?"
"Auditing your security is just good practice, Potter. By the way it sucks, I knocked out your arrivals room guard inside of two minutes."
Harry rolled his eyes, "It's not designed to stop you."
The man's eyes narrowed, "Frankly, it should be."
Harry shook his head, "You know he was never very talented with a sword."
Ygritte had enough, "Lord Harry, what is (groan) happening?"
Harry helped the man up, "Colonel Ygritte, members of the Army of the Fist, I'd like for you to meet Cormac McLaggen, Builder of the Wall, and the founder of the Snow Fox Unit."
Ygritte's eyes widened, as Cormac turned and looked at her, smirking, "Hello, love."
Harry facepalmed.
The Street of Flour
Kings Landing, the Crownlands, Westeros
"I really need to get out more."
Karsi smiled as she walked alongside Tyrion, dressed in noblewoman's clothes, her sword concealed within her dress, "Problems with your sister?"
"She fails to realize the gravity of the situation she is in."
"Hmm and how do you see the Lannisters getting out of this fine mess."
"I don't. King's Landing, is, by its nature, not a good place for siege defense. The lack of trained soldiers makes it worse. The City Watch is useless and Joffrey is making the city's morale rot."
"Yes, a couple streets back I think I heard him described as a, 'dancing King, prancing down his bloodstained halls to the tune of a twisted demon monkey.'"
"A protester with a very active imagination."
"Why don't you stand up for yourself Lord Tyrion, tell them that you are just here to protect them? To save them?"
"Because, the world doesn't work that way, not under my double nephew and sister it doesn't."
They continued to walk in silence.
The Small Conference Room
Command Level, The Fist of the First Men, The Lands Beyond the Wall
"Here they come."
Harry nodded at Tonks's statement, "Mmmhmm."
The group watched as the men of the Nights Watch struggled up the hill, toward the path leading up to the Fist's roof.
Cormac asked, "The disguise will hold, right?"
Harry nodded, "It's not the first time we've played host, just usually not to a group so big. The dragon glass has been buried on the roof." Harry then turned to Ygritte, "Colonel, I think it's time that you and your unit got moving."
Ygritte snapped to attention, nodded and left as the rest turned back to watching the new neighbors move in.
The Roof (AKA, the Summit)
The Fist of The First Men, The Lands Beyond the Wall.
As far as the Night's Watch was concerned, they were standing at the summit of one of the most ancient forts in the history of man. Little did they know that they were standing on a roof. Albeit a very well disguised one.
Sam was rather excited. "Here we are, at the Fist of the First Men! Think of how old this place is! Before the Targaryens defeated the Andals, before the Andals took Westeros from the First Men."
Several Nights Watchmen promptly told Sam to shut up.
Sam continued though, "Thousands and thousands of years ago, the First Men stood here, where we are standing, all through The Long Night. Why would they come here?"
Jon responded, "I think they were afraid, I think they came here to get away from something. But, I don't think it worked."
As the ranger returning horn sounded, Sam looked around having the odd feeling he was being watched. Little did he know, he was. Two floors beneath him, his 'younger brother' was watching on a magic mirror, sipping hot chocolate as he did.
As he was watching, Harry came in and turned to the mirror. With a quick, "Sorry, Cormac," he waved his hand and changed the mirror over to Tyrion Lannister.
"Say that again Tyrion, very slowly."
"We have Wildfire, 7,811 jars of the stuff."
"Shit. Where is it?"
"In a basement in King's Landing."
Cormac was cottoning on rather quickly, "You mean to tell me that someone is storing weapons capable of destroying the city within the city?"
"No one ever said pyromancers were smart."
Harry, who had seen the great forge workers who the pyromancers weakly attempted to copy, agreed, "Quite true. For the moment, leaving the Wildfire at its current location is probably for the best. However, make it clear to the pyromancers that you are the only one with release authority over it."
"And what am I supposed to do with 7,811 jars of this pig shit?"
Harry's answer was simple, "Show Stannis Baratheon that fire is not his friend."
The Manse of Xaro Xhoan Daxos
Qarth, Essos
Ser Jorah Mormont, Senior Agent of the Builders of the Wall for Essos stood around enjoying the party as much as your random Westerosi knight could. It's times like this that he missed his wife. She would have hated the party almost as much as he did and misery loves company.
Jorah was worried, it was clear that the Builders had done something to their host, the glassy unfocused eyes were a clear sign of the manipulative magic that the Builders used, rarely, as a last resort. It had only been briefly touched upon in his final trainings with Lord Harry.
As Jorah was about to take another turn about the garden he was stopped by a woman in an intricate mask that completely covered her face. She looked at him and said, "Ser Jorah, the Bear that guides, guards, and observes the Mother of Dragons."
Jorah looked at her, "Do I know you?"
"No, but I bring greetings from the Fist," The woman motioned for Jorah to follow her. She led him out of the Manse and down the street to a small house. After the entered, she handed him a leather billfold. Inside was as bronze phoenix in flight, with the words "Serving those who Serve" carried in its talons. On the opposite side of the billfold, there was a preserved piece of parchment,
"This certifies that Quaithe is an Asset of the Builders of the Wall. All Agents and Officers may seek the assistance of this asset in the areas of: Magic and Intelligence.
Signed,
Lady Nymphadora Tonks
Commander of the Agents of the Builder of the Wall"
"Well, Quaithe, what do you know?"
"Someone, one of The Thirteen, wants to steal the Mother of Dragons's Dragons."
"And Xaro?"
"Placed under the direct control of the honorable Builders. I am monitoring that control. Given his ambitions, it seemed appropriate."
"Direct Control, doesn't sound like the Builders."
"I am sure they have their reasons, reasons that are not mine to question."
"But they are mine to," Jorah shook his head and concluded, "Continue to monitor and report."
Quaithe bowed low, "Of course, Ser."
The Great Hall
Winterfell, The North, Westeros
Lady Nymphadora Tonks, in her Osha disguise, listened from the shadows as Bran Stark, acting Lord of Winterfell held court. With Ned, Robb, Sansa and Arya gone, the Stark presence at Winterfell was extremely thin. Just as he was about to conclude, Ser Rodrik Cassel entered and reported that Torrhen's Square was under siege.
Maester Luwin was shocked, "Torrhen's Square is barely forty leagues away." Tonks did the math, less than 120 miles from Winterfell. No one should have been able to penetrate that far into The North without warning. Possibly it was brigands or some sort of local hires.
Bran spoke, "We must help our bannermen, how can we justify them fighting for my father if we can't fight for them."
Bran was correct, in part. In truth the fighting force that could be called on was minimal at best.
Ser Rodrik answered, "I can gather two hundred decent men."
Tonks started, 200 men would take the overwhelming majority of Winterfell's remaining garrison and leave the castle perilously undefended. She wished she could say something.
Luwin did, "Do you need so many?"
Bran was resolved though, "Go, Ser Rodrick and take the men you need."
After Ser Rodrik left, Bran went for his daily carry with Hodor and Osha. As he did he reported dreams of a three-eyed raven.
Tonks was shocked although she didn't show it, "A three-eyed raven, are you sure?"
"Yes, what does it mean?"
"A great many things, a great many things," As they headed for a ride through the Godswood she asked, "What else have you dreamed of recently?"
"I dreamed of the sea coming to Winterfell and downing everyone."
"The sea is-" Tonks stopped herself as the meaning of Bran's dreams suddenly sunk in. Suddenly, Tonks found herself wondering how fast she could get a unit down here from The Fist.
The Small Conference Room
Command Level, The Fist of the First Men, The Lands Beyond the Wall
Cormac McLaggen was enjoying the comforts of home for the first time in years. He was known as the Traveling Builder for a reason. Since the time of the founding of Braavos, Cormac had traveled the world. He memory charmed his way into the great houses, or just randomly showed up in town, married and impregnated a few folk, and the left again, spreading the gift of the Builder's Genes to the world. Thanks to the biggest crisis since Robert's Rebellion, however, he was home.
The Builders were honestly not that involved in Robert's Rebellion. Caught between their special relationships to both the Starks and the Targaryens, they were immobilized. What they had thought would be an easy issue to resolve (really all someone had to do was make a statement about how consensual their relationship was and all would be over) turned into an unmitigated disaster of atrocious war crimes.
As a result, The Builders became a lot more involved in Westerosi politics. Hence why they worked to undermine Balon Greyjoy's rebellion just nine short years ago. Amazing what sticking charms on anchors and blasting charms on salt-worn forts does to an island nation, because what is dead should really stay dead.
Cormac waved his hand, activating the mirror which showed what was happening up on the roof. As it turned out, their guests had noticed Colonel Ygritte's bonfire. The Halfhand, Jon Snow, and three others were dispatched to investigate the situation. Cormac smirked, that should be fun.
The Manse of Xaro Xhoan Daxos
Qarth, Essos
Daenerys Targaryen, Builder-Endorsed Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, had found Qarth to be a very strange place. From the so-called warlocks to her rather wooden host, it was really the strangest city that ever was or will be.
"What do you want, Daenerys?"
Dany thought it was obvious, "To cross the Narrow Sea and take back the Iron Throne."
"Why?"
"Because they are mine by right and birth. Also, because I promised safety and victory to my Khalasar."
"Safety through invasion, that is interesting. Or a conqueror searching for a reason."
Dany asked, "How did you get all this?"
"I washed up on the docks of Qarth and after years of hard work, I got this." Xaro led her to a vault door.
"This door is made of Valyrian Stone. I offered the greatest locksmiths and thieves a substantial reward to open it. They went home empty-handed. I can give you everything behind it. All you have to do is marry me."
Dany scoffed, "That's romantic."
"Not romantic, just business. Marry me and our children will be princes and princesses."
Dany looked at him, "I have an heir already." She then turned and returned to her bedchamber.
A short time later found Dany herself nursing her son and talking to Agent Ser Jorah Mormont.
"You want to buy an army to invade Westeros, with money you got by marrying a man you barely know?"
"It does seem to be the most expedient way?"
Jorah shook his head, "You will sell your crown before you get it. Besides, this is not the time to invade, let them weaken themselves first. Why do you think the Builders sent you hear, to the end of the world?"
Dany remembered what Jorah had said about how the Builders work, about how they only give you enough information, but expect you to solve the problem, "They expect me to stay, to not invade yet."
Jorah nodded, "Exactly, the Builders have enough to worry about at the moment."
The Wolfswood, Southwest of Crofter's Village
The North, Westeros
'Princess' Yara Greyjoy and her group of 300 men moved silently through the Wolfswood toward Winterfell. She smirked earlier as they had watched the men heading for Torrhen's Square from their concealed position within the Wolfswood. The feint has worked perfectly and now her men would be headed back to their ships. Yara and her other 300 men were on their way to a very special mission, one that would save her brother's life.
AN: Please Review, Thanks to those who have
AN 2: Who is Dickon Tarly? Dickon is the younger brother of Samwell Tarly who is now Randall Tarly's heir. Dickon will be showing up in the 6th season, portrayed by Freddie Stroma.
How many Builders are there?- At the moment, three of them have been revealed:
Harry Potter- Lord of the Fist and Ruler of the Lands of Always Winter, Supreme Commander of the Builders of the Wall.
Nymphadora Tonks- Lady of the Fist, Commander of the Agents of the Builders, Deputy Commander of the Builders of the Wall.
Dickon Tarly- The Travelling Builder of the Wall, Founder of the Snow Fox Unit.
I will say that so far, plans have been made for the reveal of three more current and former Builders of the Wall.