A/N Welcome, to Dawn.
My little universe that draws upon A Song of Ice And Fire, the Witcher and genuine Medieval era stuff. I can not promise I will finish this, nor that I will update so oft, In this I shall channel my inner George R.R Martin. A few things will be changed from the books, certain things stolen from the show and many things totally removed through my own lack of research, entwining stories and utter contempt for certain plots. Blackfyre fans will be upset, much as I enjoy the plot I find it would end up as only a footnote in this tale, I do not want to disrespect the plot so I shall instead ignore it.
Anyway, here is a little introduction, as to where our characters are.
BRAN
He looked east, and saw a galley racing across the waters of the Bite. He saw his mother sitting alone in a cabin, looking at a bloodstained knife on a table in front of her, as the rowers pulled at their oars and Ser Rodrik leaned across a rail, shaking and heaving . A storm was gathering ahead of them, a vast dark roaring lashed by lightning, but somehow they could not see it. A wolf glaring with hatred, blood dripping both from his maw and eyes.
He looked south, and saw the great blue-green rush of the Trident. He saw his father pleading with the king, his face etched with grief. He saw Sansa crying herself to sleep at night, and he saw Arya watching in silence and holding her secrets hard in her heart. There were shadows all around them. One shadow was dark as ash, with the terrible face of a hound. Another was armored like the sun, golden and beautiful. Over them both loomed a giant in armor made of stone, but when he opened his visor, there was nothing inside but darkness and thick black blood.
He lifted his eyes and saw clear across the narrow sea, to the Free Cities and the green Dothraki sea and beyond, to Vaes Dothrak under its mountain, to the fabled lands of the Jade Sea, to Asshai by the Shadow, where dragons stirred beneath the sunrise. A cloud of spears, a swarm of eyes filled with hatred and in front of them a gaping maw that threatened to swallow him whole.
Finally he looked north. He saw the Wall shining like blue crystal, and his bastard brother Jon sleeping alone in a cold bed, his skin growing pale and hard as the memory of all warmth fled from him. And he looked past the Wall, past endless forests cloaked in snow, past the frozen shore and the great blue-white rivers of ice and the dead plains where nothing grew or lived. North and north and north he looked, to the curtain of light at the end of the world, and then beyond that curtain. He looked deep into the heart of winter, and then he cried out, afraid, and the heat of his tears burned on his cheeks.
VALON
Queen Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaeryan, First of her Name blessed the black sands of Dragonstone with her presence, once a babe the first time and now back once more as a Conqueror. I could not help but smile and feel a rush within my chest as she turned to the rest of us with sand in her hand still, an impish grin upon her graceful features. The momentous occasion forced my own feelings for her away, I was awash with the preparations that would soon come, I had never thought in a thousand moons I would be in a War campaign, let alone as Queen Daenerys' Lord Commander. It was even harder to comprehend that the Imp of Casterly Rock was waddling besides I upon these black sands.
"I was expecting a garrison here, yet I see no men nor banners. I definitely do not expect there to be an abundance of wine within Stannis' chambers."
Tyrion Lannister grinned up at I, he was overly joyful with the dream of being the lord of Casterly Rock within sight, I would not begrudge him of the sensation. I too now wished to be safe within my own families keep with ever flowing indulgences. I smirked remembering our last dice game, of Tyrion's wine fountain idea. I was far too nonplussed to mention that his idea was eerily similar to the Wine fountain I had to drag him away from in Lys, a marvelous construction left over from the days the Dragonlords of Valyria would flock to Lys for pleasure. I had a few dragons on Tyrion selling Casterly Rock and all the gold in her mines to buy the whole damned island of depravity, it was certainly his play ground.
Behind the wine breath and often vomit stained tunic there lay a cunning mind, containing the knowledge of the small yet bountiful library of the Rock and more. I am confident that by the time I had escaped the Rock the little dwarf had read through half of that darkly lit room, if there was wine he would drink it, if there was a woman he would lust for her and if there was a book to be read he would have done so twice for fun.
I did not share in this lust for letters, I knew how to read and write of course yet the dancing swordsmen I had seen in the Red Keep had fascinated me more. I had the grace not many in the world could claim to, I had witnessed the likes of Prince Rhaegar, The Sword of The Morning, Ser Barristan the Bold and many more wielding the sword as if they were mythical beings upon this mortal plane. And now they are lost to the myths, Ser Barristan outlived them all only dying soon after I arrived in Mereen.
The dastardly Imp forced my hand in this, this account begins now from this important day in history. Tyrion wants my hand to write of our adventures prior yet I can swear I feel the pain in my writing hand already just at the thought. I doubt any would believe what we all had gone through. The Queen becoming Khaleesi, The Harpy being unveiled, the Slave Masters vanquished for now, Ser Barristan dying for his Queen, Our funding from Lys, Our battles with the Golden Company in the disputed lands, our treasure hunt in the ruins of Valyria awakening the Stone Dragon.
We had come a long way, as I stepped into the room Aegon the Conqueror once planned in I knew then Peace would be a long way away. The banners had been torn down, the dust had been cleared and all those of import in the coming campaign stood at attention in this room.
Daenerys turned to us with a small hand upon the table of Westeros.
"Let us begin."
THE BLOODY WOLF
Davos had seen many a few sights, only recently he had bore witness to the shaggy worn Giants that were for most just imaginary. less legendary and rare to witness were Skagosii, and here he was, a witness to what the Captain of the northern cog that took them here had called "Hairy Skaggs". Said Captain was most likely dead, their Cog had been swept into the rocks of Skagos by the harsh winds that were making the seas more dangerous every passing day, Winter was coming. So too was Davos for a Stark, the youngest pup, as his King commands. That task now seemed impossible, as he was running for his life. Harsh breaths from Willem besides him pierced the darkness that threatened to envelop him whole, Beware the night is dark and full of terrors, Too fucking right, Davos thought. He had awoken too many times after being shipwrecked, that terrible feeling of coughing up saltwater, fluid stinging and burning his nostrils and the feeling of not knowing where the fuck you were never became easier. To top it all off he was not even allowed time to get his bearings before the shouts of the Skaggs chased them from the rocky beach. A deckhand Davos hadn't even seen had ran too slow, his screams were quick and sudden, a small pittance, it would be quick at least Davos thought.
"Hurry, to the hill!" Willem pointed at what Davos would call a mountain instead of a hill, he was getting too old for this.
"You don't think I'm hurrying you little bugger" Davos gritted his teeth not unlike his King, chest feeling tight as his legs ran on. Keeping pace with the slim boy was a feat in itself for the Onion Knight, now Onion Lord. Lord Manderley had kept him well fed for his troubles, now it seemed as if those were his last meals. The first Hand of the King slaughtered by wild Skagosii.
"You aren't running fast if you can talk mi'lord" That cheeky little cunt, thought Davos. He couldn't see beyond the wild dark locks but he knew there was a mischievous grin upon the lads face. He was the son of the Northern Captain, in sooth Davos hadn't even learned the name of the seafarer under the service of Lord Manderly. Lord Davos Seaworth was becoming a Lordly cunt it seemed. He had told him his boy was named after a southern Hedge Knight he had befriended before Robert's Rebellion. Little Willem was no Knight yet he held onto a thick waterlogged branch as if it were Dark Sister and not a piece of rotting driftwood.
Not too far away a set of eyes watched this mad chase, those closer to him smelt familiar unlike the harsh sour smells of the hairy ones. He smelt more of the hairy ones mixed with the scent of ironwood. They had seen enough, with a great huff he turned away from the warmth and stalked back into the cold dark night, not unseen by the wildlife that made way for him.
"There! I see light!" They had reached the top of the hill, the wind was harsher here. Davos allowed himself a brief respite, turning to see the figures chasing him and Willem. In the darkness he could see several figures making their way up the hill, they grasped the rocks on all fours taking a more direct route than the one Willem had taken. Davos had turned to instruct Willem when his heart leapt into his mouth. Two of the dark figures he had just seen behind him stood at a short distance from him, Willem must have not seen them focused as he was on the distant light. They stalked him unseen, Davos saw the glint of metal in the palest of moons. Davos let out a hoarse shout. Breathless as he was it was enough for Willem to turn, raising his driftwood against the hack of his attacker. The wood splintered at the same time Willem fell away, the other Skagg made his way menacingly towards Davos. He could hear bones scratching together in the night, similar to his pouch around his neck yet Davos knew there to be more bones on his assailant's neck, probably bigger ones too by the sounds of it.
As soon as the Skaggs eyes became clearer, Willem had begun loudly cursing and swearing underneath the Skagg with the blade. Davos reached down to clutch a small rock on the ground, he may be the first Hand of the King to die on this cursed island but he damn well knew he wouldn't go out without a fight. He could see the meat between the Skaggs teeth as he smiled at his resistance, he was that close.
A whistle of force passed Davos head, he had blinked, opening his eyes he saw the Skagg without an eye, a gaping red maw was all there was. Davos saw blood and large pieces of skull fly out from the back of the Skaggs head, he saw an arrow soar in the sky towards the other Skagg atop Willem. The arrow hit him in the top of the shoulder just disappearing inside his body, he instantly stilled rolling off of Willem who drew in large ragged breaths.
Two Skagosii on small thin horses were behind him, Davos could see the beginnings of a small trail behind them. They were large, hairy and all too similar to those who were still chasing them. They hadn't shot him, their bows were ready in their arms yet not primed to fire.
The one closest to Davos spoke in a harsh voice, crackling like a flame.
"You Fools, the Skaggs will tear you, limb from limb!" The other laughed before ambling his horse closer to the bodies, gazing at his handiwork. Davos tried to interpret the situation, the world was spinning and he was motionless amongst the overriding feeling. Could these be one of the few Skaggs that swore fealty to House Stark? They gloated to each other over their kills, wistfully unbothered by the rest of the climbing Skaggs closing in on them all, there had to be more than three or four of them, their shouts becoming clearer in the silence of the hills. The winds had left them in the eye of the storm, the only reminder of their existence was the crashing waves he could see only from the white salt the waters carried.
"My name is Davos Seaworth, Lord Hand of the one true King Stannis Baratheon, I am here on his command."
The Skaggs shared a glance stop their frail steeds, the one who spoke before crooked his elbow leaning towards him.
"Lord Hand Davos, your king sends you and a small boy? Is he a gift for my stomach, does your King think we cannibal savages?"
There was no malice in his words, his yellowed teeth may bore fruit to his savagery however. Davos spoke truly and hurriedly, the other Skaggs on his mind.
"My King respects the Skagosii and their customs, I am here not for your people, I am here for a boy, a Stark boy is told to be here on this island."
The Skaggs face turned expressionless, eyes hardening to the stone of the very island itself. Unbothered by the rest of the Skaggs he steered his horse back towards the trail.
"Follow Davos Seaworth, the Magnar will want words with you."
The Skaggs reached the top of the mountainous rock to see Ravens pecking upon two dead friends of theirs, inching closer fearfully towards them. A raven had noticed them and began crying out, in the darkness many eyes were watching. The Skaggs turned back. They would bring nothing to their young Magnar for all their troubles.
A set of eyes opened, pale milk making way for sharp brown eyes filled with anger. Almost motherly were the eyes in his gaze, he hated her pity yet he missed the other eyes that he had not seen in years. He didn't want to anymore, those eyes were unfocused in his dreams.