Yo everybody, another commission here from that boy Aerylyx/Ragnarok. This time it's going to be a story with this chapter primarily acting as a prologue. Now I want to explain that while this is primarily a Game of Thrones story it is crossed with Naruto for the main character, Lord of the Rings for a multitude of elements, a character or two from Fate, and lastly World of Warcraft for a few characters and elements.
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Now that all being said, let's get started on the story, what do you say?
Prologue
Dragon Dreams
Riverlands
Westeros
283 AC
Even now it was a challenge for Rhaegar to focus on the task at hand. His mind repeatedly wandered to his family. Most of his family, more specifically his two wives and his children by them. It had taken much doing but rather than separate Elia and Lyanna as had been suggested by some of his closest friends, the crown prince had instead had them quietly removed to Dragonstone along with his mother.
He had no doubt that his father would be furious when he realized that Elia was not in fact in the capital within reach to threaten their staunchest allies with. Truth be told his father was making this rebellion far worse than it should have been. If he had simply allowed Rhaegar to speak with the Starks, or at the least not murdered them…even Rhaegar knew that what his father had done was no execution.
His greatest enemies it seemed were on both sides of the conflict. Robert Baratheon's crude brash actions and his own father's sadistic madness were making the whole realm bleed. Rhaegar knew he wasn't blameless. He also knew plenty would claim him mad for allowing dreams to decide his actions…they weren't Targaryens though. How could they imagine let alone understand a dragon dream? Most of his family didn't even have them.
"My Prince…" Barristan's voice broke the man from his thoughts.
"Ah, forgive me Barristan. You were saying?" Rhaegar asked, a little embarrassed he so easily was lost in thought yet again.
Barristan seemed to easily catch on to what bothered his liege and sent a small understanding smile toward the younger man. The majority of the King's Guard were all of the mind that Prince took far too much onto his own shoulders, not that there was much of an alternative. Afterall, Aerys was…unstable and while the whole of the royal court remarked about how wistful and melancholic Rhaegar often looked, they remained simply interested in the fact that it made him more attractive to the ladies than the fact he looked so tired and distraught because he was plagued by terrible visions and responsibilities.
"You need not worry for Princess Elia and Lady Lyanna. Your wives are in excellent care under Arthur's watch. They also have each other." Barristan said.
"Yes, yes…you're right. Still I worry. Thankfully since Elia and Lyanna actually met they seem almost like sisters now. I was worried." The prince said as a small amused grin played on his lips.
"Had Lyanna been like any other lady in the realm I don't think they would have. You were lucky to fall for such a…" Barristan sought for a word to use without speaking ill of the woman.
Thankfully Rhaegar took mercy on him and cleared his throat to speak. "Unique Barristan. The word is unique."
The Ivory cloaked knight nodded his head deeply so as not to show too much of his grin. While he suspected that the Prince was not quite as enamored with his wives as many believed, he had no illusions that the man didn't care for them. Rhaegar was nothing if not passionate. Both Princess Elia and Lyanna had quickly made it clear they had fallen for the Prince and while Barristan knew better than most the reasoning for Rhaegar's brash decision to take both as wives, he also knew the prince was a compassionate individual as if to compensate for his father's cruelty.
"I must focus on the battle to come though. Report." Rhaegar said, choosing to focus on the task laid out before them.
"As you say." Barristan nodded. "The majority of our forces have already crossed the river. Our northern flank is led by Lewyn and he's already had the men under his command readying defenses for the rebels."
"And the Rebel forces?" Rhaegar asked.
"They initially rushed here. I think they hoped to catch us before we crossed the river, but with most of our troops already crossed they decided to let their men rest for a time and have been arranging themselves along the slopes of hills across from Lewyn's forces." Barristan explained.
"The hills are not steep enough to give them any real advantage. The far side is steep enough to prevent flanking attacks so they have that against us." The elder knight said.
"What of the men under Jonothor?" The Prince questioned.
"He's moved with most of our forces and has taken the opposite flank to Lewyn." Barristan explained.
"I see, then when we have all our troops across we will rest as long as we can. We aren't sleeping out here though. We advance before midday." Rhaegar ordered.
"Yes my Prince." Barristan said before heading off to ensure that the Prince's wishes were followed.
They didn't have long though as the rebel host decided it disliked it's odds against the full royalist force. Advancing quickly across the flat ground between their armies, the vanguard of the rebel troops was led by none other than Robert Baratheon himself.
"Impatient bastard." Rhaegar cursed as he had his helmet fitted onto his head and climbed atop his horse. He rushed forward along with the last of his men still crossing the river just as the rebel cavalry smashed into the spears and shields of the Dornishmen, buying time for the rest of the force to cross over.
Within moments the field of battle had fallen into a mess of bodies and screaming animals that once claimed to be men. The earth was torn up under the boots and shoes of soldiers and hooves of horses alike and rapidly became a pit of mud.
As the last of both forces joined the fray Rhaegar realized with some relief that the Baratheon's impatience had played into his favor. Even though some of his troops were out of position, the charge against the spears and hastily crafted defenses had bled the rebels badly and blunted the attack they made considerably.
With the Dornish troops Rhaegar could pick out the glistening white of Prince Lewyn as he slew what was likely Lord Corbray and taking up the dead man's own Valyrian blade set upon the remainder of the Corbray's household slaughtering several, to include likely the man's son.
Yes, the battle had turned decidedly into the crown prince's favor. Now what remained was breaking the rebel army's waning spirit. At once it seemed Rhaegar was presented with just the opportunity to do that.
Robert burst from a mesh of men and horses. His armor was dented and scratched but clearly holding up finely and his hammer was drenched in the gore of an untold number of Rhaegar's men. Rhaegar himself looked similar, his black armor encrusted with rubies in the shape of his house was splattered by the blood of a great many rebels and his sword was dripping with even more.
As if the climax to some tale told to them as children, the two men, cousins, enemies, began to circle one another, gauging the best opportunity to strike. They didn't speak. Each had reason to hate the other and even if one's reasoning was built upon a falsehood, any chance they might have had to negotiate had passed long ago. So they remained silent and let their weapons speak for them.
The fight was as brutal as the carnage surrounding them but also uniquely beautiful. The difference in abilities and preferences when in combat was fully on display.
Robert, a beast of a man, swung his hammer with ease. One handed when it would take any other man two. He was nothing but rage and power. The embodiment of his house's words.
Rhaegar moved with agility and grace unseen among any but the best of swordsmen. He danced around the rebel leader and narrowly avoided any strike the other man launched.
For a time they seemed stalemated. Rhaegar untouchable and Robert unbreakable. That is until Rhaegar did something completely unexpected and slammed himself into the larger man. Caught off guard and off balance, Robert stumbled, only for Rhaegar to do it again and tackle the Baratheon to the ground.
Perhaps due to his shock at the move or exhaustion from the battle, Robert had little chance to defend himself as he felt the sharp point of Rhaegar's sword stab up under his arm through the weak point in his armor. He could only widen his eyes in shock and pain as his last breath left his body in a choked gargle of blood and spit.
Rhaegar ripped his blade free but ensured the rebel's death by tearing off the man's helmet and swiftly running the sharp edge across his throat. Robert, already dead, didn't struggle. As the Prince stood over his slain foe he could hear the word of Robert's death quickly spread across the battlefield through rebel and loyalist alike.
Within minutes the fighting came to an end as the rebels surrendered or fled. The army settled in to collect the dead and treat the wounded in the aftermath of the fighting. Rhaegar had ordered Robert's body not to be desecrated. He hoped to bring an end to that ridiculous siege of Storm's End by returning the corpse to his ancestral home.
He'd also sent his own healers to care for Eddard Stark. If there was any house truly wronged in this mess it was the Starks. He was married to one of them now and hoped to make them at least see he was not his father. Perhaps treating Ned and showing him that his sister was not in fact kidnapped would mend the damage caused by Aerys if only slightly.
For right now though he wished to rest. The battle had been exhausting and now, a few hours after the end of it all he was finally clean of the blood and grime from the fighting. Maybe he would be exhausted enough to avoid any dreams as he slept.
The Crown Prince would be right but it would be one of the last dreamless nights he would experience in his life.
Red Keep
King's Landing
291 AC
Rhaegar stared down over the courtyard as he watched his wives and mother interacting with the children. He couldn't stop his soft smile as he watched his son Aegon dragging Rhaenys and Visenya along after him.
Rhaenys, his eldest child and his daughter by Elia was the spitting image of her mother. Olive skin and dark hair and eyes he knew his own father disliked her appearance and Rhaegar did his best to keep them apart to shield her from Aerys' cruelty.
Aegon, the middle child and only son was his own spitting image. Violet eyes and curly silver hair, he was an excitable child and often drug his sisters along after him.
The youngest of the trio was Visenya. A blending of her mother Lyanna and himself, he already knew she would grow into a beauty just like her elder sister. The unique mixing of Stark and Targaryen features she possessed made even Aerys hold his tongue. Her hair ran from the dark Stark brown into a blonde and finally the Targaryen white at its ends.
All three were adorable and precious in his eyes but just as the soft smile on his face had come it quickly faded as his thoughts drifted to their future and the recent changes to his dreams over the years.
Once he had dreamt of a three headed dragon or three dragons seeming to rule over this land together peacefully. They were powerful and just and he had no doubt in his mind that the dragon or dragons as the case might be were his own children. He was sure of it.
That was of course why the recent dreams had affected him so dramatically. Both Elia and Lyanna had often tried to coax him into more rest as dark circles began to collect under bloodshot eyes. It was no use though as his dreams made sure there was no peaceful rest to be found.
At least not yet. Not until he could ensure that everything would be safe for his children's future. It was the most important task for a parent, even one that was to be king.
Thankfully he had met with his father on one of his better days recently and they had sent someone to find what he had dreamt of. That was one thing, even with his madness Aerys had never once doubted his son's dreams. They had saved their house twice before and none of the household was intent on spitting in the face of such a gift.
Or so Rhaegar hoped. As days passed and the word from their men set to Essos remained silent, he grew tense. What other than a Blackfyre could the dark dragon he dreamt of mean? As it grew and devoured Essos simply watching the three smaller dragons in the west curiously as they tested on the roof of the Red Keep.
Curiously.
It wasn't hostile, not like Blackfyres had been in the past. That was his hope. Perhaps to come to some sort of agreement with this distant relative destined for greatness. Maybe even marrying his own younger sister to them to tie the houses together. His own three children would be wedded in the future after all. Just like his parents. Well hopefully not just like his parents.
Only time would tell. He needed patience. He needed rest.
Maybe he could sleep peacefully for a moment. Maybe a brief time of no dreams or visions.
He almost prayed for it.
Nurn
Lands of the Long Summer
Essos
291 AC
Naruto enjoyed his little free time playing with his friends. His parents were strict task masters in his training and studying but they were still his loving mother and father. They didn't wish for him to miss out on all chances to play with other children and simply be a child. No good parent wanted that.
That didn't mean that Naruto's free time was anything other than rare though. His mother and father were the rulers of their people, the leaders of Nurn and the head priest and priestess of their faith. It was a lot to live up to, but they and everyone in their community had reminded him time and again that he was blessed by the true god.
"We must be getting home, Naruto." One of his friends called out as they began to disperse back through the town's gates.
"Oh, okay, well tomorrow then?" He asked.
"Don't be silly everyone knows you have studies and training. We can play together again in a few days." Another of the group said before running off.
"Ugh, yeah." The young boy groaned. He wasn't terribly upset, though it was a bit annoying. He'd seen the others all out playing everyday but he couldn't participate. He understood why of course. His father said they were meant for something more. He was meant for something more. The others knew their place was to serve at his leisure but that meant he had to be powerful and knowledgeable enough to command them.
Slowly he made his own way back into the town of Nurn. He could still recall snippets of their time before coming here. Days traveling and fighting off raiders. He remembered them taking the old fort as well. It was an ancient Valyrian outpost, with one wall crumbling toward the shore having been replaced with a wooden palisade that expanded to a small town. He mostly remembered the fires and screams though as they took their new home.
Now, the town of Nurn was the home of the 'true faith' as his father referred to them. Naruto was still uncertain of the differences between themselves and the ones his parents referred to as the misguided but he knew that it had much to do with the nature of their god. R'hllor. Melkor. Two halves of the whole.
His father often preached to the townsfolk about how their brothers and sisters had been misled into believing the one they considered the other was not in fact a part of their one true god. The darker, portion. Melkor was the shadow to R'hllor's light. The darkness to the flame.
"Naruto!" His mother called, causing Naruto to turn his thoughts away from his repetitive studies.
"Mother!" He grinned as he raced up the steps past the two men dressed in black and red that stood at guard for the thick stone building's door.
"Have a good day with your friends?" Artoria asked her child.
"Yes." Naruto replied.
Most of the boy's appearance came from his mother. She was two generations away from pure Blackfyre blood but her pale blonde hair and elegant or perhaps more aptly, regal features were the only real surviving traits of that lineage. That and her complete resistance to heat and flame.
Her child was much the same, though he had his father's pale blue eyes and slightly warmer skin tone.
"I'm glad." She said as she leaned down to muss up his pale locks. "Now go get ready for your dinner. Your father will be home soon."
The boy nodded and did as told as Artoria awaited her husband. He was a good man, as far as someone in her position could ask for. Rather more manipulative and a bit colder than she would like despite his charismatic exterior, but there was nothing in the world he cared for more than her child with him and their goals as a group.
"Off in a dream?" A voice called to her from far closer than she expected.
"Thauron." She said simply, though a small smile played across her lips.
"Yes, love?" He asked as he stepped up to walk into the old holdfast with her against his side.
"I had another dream last night. It was confusing though." She said, causing the man to stop.
Thauron was once a high ranking Red Priest before he led a collection of his followers on what he believed to be the right path. Branded a heretic, it was largely through his gifts with mysticism and magics from their lord and his wife's dreams that they survived for so long as a group. Ready for their former brothers and sisters to try to stamp out the heresy they supposedly spread wherever they roamed.
"Another premonition then. What of it this time?" He asked seriously.
"Something vile and twisted with madness watching us. Watching Naruto and then fire. I woke but knew there was little to go on so I tried to sleep and recapture it but everytime the dream seemed just as confusing. Madness and fire. Nothing else. I couldn't even make our family out after the first time." The woman worried.
Thauron frowned, his eyes glittered ominously as the dream, like all her dreams, likely spelled an attack on them. It didn't give him details though. Usually her visions were far clearer and more specific.
"Perhaps another night will allow you to capture the vision again? Besides getting the guards ready there isn't much else we can do." He said as he guided her back to the table where they both smiled at the patiently waiting boy inside.
"My son, how was your day?" He asked with a loving smile on his face. One reserved only for those in his family.
The family enjoyed their evening meal catching up from a relatively lazy day. Thauron had primarily overseen the digging of a new well on the far side of town while Artoria had led a few sermons among the mothers and wives in the village. Of course Naruto was the most excited about sharing his day. His parents often felt refreshed at his remaining innocence. While they wanted him ready for the burdens that awaited him, they were not excited at ending his childhood in the slightest.
Before long the sun had begun to drift into the horizon and long shadows stretched across Nurn. Naruto was sent to bed and Thauron and Artoria likewise retired following their prayers to their God of Light and Shadow.
Sleep came quickly but for Artoria it did not come peacefully. No sooner had she drifted off then her dreams came back to her. This time though they were different, far more like when she had dreamt in the past and helped to prevent the many surprise attacks on their travelling group. She saw riders, a hundred or more cresting a hill and staring down at what was undoubtedly Nurn. The riders were then joined by many more men. Mercenaries, by now the town came alive as the people saw them and sprang to the defenses.
Then it changed she could see men, no…women five of them scaling the walls of the holdfast until they were at her own window. Silently they slipped in, approaching herself and Thauron as they quickly readied. She watched herself blink in shock and suddenly turn to face what could only be assassins.
With that the dream ended and Artoria awoke gasping. She turned to see Thauron awake suddenly as well with worry for her in his eyes.
"Another dream?" He asked.
"Yes, and-" She began to explain only for the village alarm bells to begin ringing and cries of warning to quickly spread throughout the town.
"It came too late then." Thauron frowned as he sprang up and began to dress in his red and black tunic and armor.
Artoria was just behind him, doing the same until she froze and turned to face the same assassin's as before, thankfully even before her dream self had realized they were coming. The first was only halfway through the window before Artoria hurled herself at the woman and sent her tumbling back through the opening.
Unless she fell on her head, Artoria doubted the assassin would die from such a fall but broken limbs were hopefully enough to take the woman out of the fight.
"Assassin's Thauron!" She cried as she abandoned her attempt to dress in her armor and instead grasped for her blade on its stand nearby.
The weapon was believed to be lost and had as much if not more of a history than Artoria's bloodline. It carved through the next two assassin's as they desperately tried to force their way into the holdfast. Thankfully by this point Thauron was ready and he engaged them himself.
"Artoria, go to Naruto. I'll end them and join the defense." He commanded. She was gone before he finished speaking.
Naruto awoke with a start. He'd had a nightmare. Men were attacking the town and while it seemed they weren't able to beat the people of Nurn something was wrong. It was like it was a distraction. His dream ended almost as quickly as it had come though as he awoke to the sounds of the bells across the village clanging to warn of an impending attack.
Confused and frightened the young boy had gotten out of bed and made his way to his window to see what he could. Having one of the rooms that looked out over the town, he was shocked to see exactly what his dream had shown him. A mass of men roared as they charged across the fields surrounding the town toward the walls that defended his home.
Soon the clanging of bells could only barely be heard over the clashing of men as hastily built ladders were put into place and the defenders battled their invaders along the short walls. Still, somehow he heard the sounds of fighting just below him and he turned his eyes down to look at the immediate courtyard of his home finding the last of his family's guards falling to a small collection of menacing figures that has somehow slipped around the rest of the town and into the holdfast's walls.
"I have to tell mother and father!" He thought aloud as he turned away from the window only to freeze as his door slowly swung open.
Before him stood a figure dressed darkly, just as those in the courtyard had been. The man, as he seemed too tall and broad to be a woman, simply stared at Naruto as the flickering fires and moonlight through the window reflected off of the steel of his sword.
"I'd hoped you would be asleep little one. I take no pleasure in ending a child. I'll make it painless o-" He said to Naruto only to twist and block a strike from Naruto's mother as she arrived on the scene.
Much to his shock though her blade shattered his own and quickly cleaved its way through him as well, taking his life. She was already racing into the room and taking Naruto's hand and dragging him after her.
"They killed the guards and there's dozens inside, mother." He stammered out. The thought of the dead assassin was forced from his mind as he followed after her.
"I know, there's a way out through here." She said as calmly as she could.
"What about father?" He asked worriedly.
Artoria grit her teeth faintly as her own worried thoughts went to her husband. She knew him to be powerful though, inhumanly powerful and gifted with dark abilities that would give him an edge over their attackers.
"Your father will meet up with us after he leads our people to repel the attackers. I'm going to take you and get to the refuge." She explained as the descended a set of stairs leading underground.
"W-what is this?" He asked as they descended into a series of decrepit tunnels.
"Ancient dungeons dating back to the Valyrian Freehold. We've had no use for them but these old catacombs are still sturdy and extend out to the shoreline. Just stay close to me alright?" She instructed.
"Alright." The boy quietly responded as they slowed down so as not to trip in the darkness.
Artoria stopped beside an old shelf and managed to light a small set of candles holding one in her free hand as she gripped the hilt of her sword tightly. It wasn't much but compared to the inky blackness the candle's light was a great help.
"We should be close to the refuge now." Artoria whispered before stopping as she saw the movement of figures ahead and heard the whimpering of children.
"My lady?" An elderly voice whispered out hesitantly.
"Lyssario?" She asked.
"Yes, I got the town children to the refuge as we practiced in the past. I could find all of them in the confusion I'm afraid." The elderly man said as his face became illuminated in the darkness.
"I see. Here take Naruto with you. The attack will fail. It's a distraction for a silent attempt on my family. Protect my son with your life. Do you understand?" She commanded, eyes narrowed and dark to ensure his obedience.
"Of course my lady. I swear to our lord that I will do all I can to protect him and the other children." The old man said.
Artoria glanced at the silhouettes of the other children in the group. She didn't care all that much for them. They were common children. Their kind died in droves across the world everyday. Her child though was different.
"Naruto lives or no one lives Lyssario." Artoria hissed surprising the man. He bowed after a moment though. Artoria's and Thauron's commands were absolute.
"Take this candle and go. There is a buried door near the beach. Simply force it open and wait in the grove of trees there. We'll retrieve you after this is over." She explained before turning to her son.
"Be brave my boy." She kissed him lovingly on the brow. "We'll see you again soon."
"Yes mother." Naruto replied, forcing back the tears from the situation. He was raised better than that and it was expected that he would not cry. After all she would return soon to collect him there was no reason to cry.
"Good boy." Artoria said before she turned and disappeared into the darkness back toward the path she and Naruto had taken earlier.
He tried to stare after her but there simply was not enough light to keep his eyes on his mother as she disappeared into the darkness.
Artoria quietly crept up the stairs back into the holdfast, careful not to give herself away. She heard the few servants in the household putting up a meager fight against the assassins and felt her blood boil as her people died to the enemy. She was not heartless. She cared for the people her family led, but the choice was easy, and so she ignored the screams and cries of her servants as they were either killed or brutalized and sought out her husband.
It was not that hard to find Thauron as unlike in the other parts of the old fortress the screams and cries for mercy around him were all unfamiliar. They belonged only to those who thought themselves capable of killing their family. They were quickly learning that was a far more difficult take than initially anticipated.
Coming finally to the hall just within the main doors of the holdfast she paused at the sight before her. Thauron held the man before him with one hand as he slowly sank to his knees. All the while his free hand hovered before the defeated opponent's face and seemed to pull a whisp-like energy from the man. Before long the figure's eyes had turned glassy and his cheeks had hollowed out as if he had been drained of life itself and Thauron allowed him to collapse to the floor in a heap.
"You are already needing to replenish yourself?" She asked, causing him to turn and face her.
Artoria didn't flinch at the inhumanly pale eyes that stared back at her. She had been witness to him claiming the lives of sacrifices for his power before.
"There are more than I expected. I wasn't quite as conservative with my energy as I should have been." Thauron replied as his features filled out to their normal healthy appearance, though his eyes remained eerie and haunting.
"Well, it seems I returned at the perfect time then to help remove these scum from our home." She said cooly while fully entering into the room.
"You look a mess dear." Thauron teased as he kicked the most recent corpse on the floor over and snatched up the dead man's dagger for his own use.
"Hmm…" Artoria said as she looked down at the bloodstained nightgown that she realized exposed far too much of her attractive figure.
"Well, I hope it was too dark for Lyssario and the children to see much." She replied, causing Thauron to sigh.
"You are far too calm." He said as they both approached the door leading back into the holdfast corridors.
"It's all an act." She said with a strained tone causing her husband to reach out and grip her free hand lightly.
"I know." He said sadly.
"You need more energy don't you. That one isn't near enough." The woman said as she removed hand from his and ran it across his cheek.
Thauron smiled tiredly at his wife. His partner in everything. She could always tell when he pushed himself too far.
"The town will be safe but I'm honestly worried. I can sense them. Too many of them, and our men are either dead or too far to help in time." Thauron said sadly.
"Naruto is safe though." Artoria reminded him.
"Yes. Our boy is safe." Thauron replied wistfully.
The pair turned as one as a door at the far end of the corridor slammed open and the bloody and clearly abused maid fell into the hall. She wept openly as one of the men chuckled, following after her in the door.
He stopped and drove a sword through the poor woman's back and put out her chest as he entered the hall. He smiled at the sight of the two standing across from him while the rest of his men spilled around him through the doorway.
"You aren't from the faith are you. No followers of R'hllor among your number as far as I've seen." Thauron said as the numbers of killers facing off against him grew and grew till he and his wife were outnumbered more than ten to one.
"Does that matter to you? Think only a holy blade from your fire god can end you?" The man asked.
"Actually you have it backwards. Were you from the faith we would have nothing to fear at all. No you're just mercenaries I imagine." Artoria spoke up.
The man's eyes flicked over to her and took in her appearance. He licked his lips and frowned unhappily at the sight before him.
"Were that I had time to play with you. I wasted it on her I'm afraid." The man said as he spit on the corpse off the maid at his feet.
"Filth." Artoria hissed.
The man just shrugged. He had no false sense of morality. He followed no real faith and he had no one to answer to buy his employer. An employer that paid remarkably well.
"I really wish there was time." He sighed out, looking the woman over once again.
Thauron had enough of the pointless banter. He didn't know precisely who had sent them, but it didn't matter. He'd kill as many as he could and should he and Artoria somehow win, he could always find out afterward.
With a sputtering start an eerie dark flame came to life within his grasp and leapt from his fingertips toward the stunned murderers nearby. Two were engulfed in a ghostly flame immediately and the corridor fell to chaos as the couple moved forward into the mass of enemies to kill.
Lyssario and the children watched as another attempt was made by the attackers to breach the walls of Nurn. A few fires had broken out but over all the townsfolk had begun to steadily turn back the mercenaries.
While the old man remained worried, especially with the knowledge that the attack was a mere distraction, the boys and girls began to chatter happily about their families defeating the attackers.
Lyssario had repeatedly reminded them that they had to be quiet but it didn't matter. Their enemies seemed to be broken and ready to flee now. Their final attack was more one of desperation than anything.
"We'll be able to go back to the town soon everyone." Lyssario said with some relief.
"Wait, someone's coming." Naruto harshly whispered, trying to quiet everyone.
"I bet it's our parents coming to bring us home." A girl suggested.
"No, wait." Lyssario said, too late as the girl and a handful of other children stepped out of their hidden place and into the path of dozens of rough looking men headed away from the town.
"Well what do we have here?" One of the men said as he quickly reached out to snatch hold of the girl causing her to scream. The other children backed away but they were easy to catch for the men.
"We're already getting paid for making an opening for those assassin's the dragon's hired right? Maybe a bit of bonus pay from these ones here could add to it?" One of the men suggested.
"Bah it's just a handful of kids, I mean she's the oldest and I bet she hasn't even bled yet." Another commented.
"I heard that up in Mantarys they prefer buying them young and…unspoilt." Another piped up.
"N-no" The girl whimpered.
"N-no…" The man holding her mocked.
"Well, still too bad there aren't that many." Another sighed sadly.
"There are!" The girl said, causing the hidden children's eyes to widen in shock.
"Let me go home and I'll show you where!" She cried out. She was the eldest in the group and she'd heard of the markets, especially in Mantarys. The things they did to children especially girls was inhuman. That is if you weren't fed to the monstrosities the city possessed.
One of the men on a horse rode to the front of the group and roughly pulled the young girl up onto the horse with him. He pulled her tightly against himself and grinned disgustingly down at her as she shivered in his grasp.
"Fine, tell me where the rest are and I won't sell you to the cannibal markets in Mantarys." He rasped with a small laugh.
"There, over there in that grove! There is a door to the town's catacombs!" She cried pointing the other children and Lyssario out.
Lyssario grit his teeth but turned to the children. He couldn't hope to save them. Killing even one of the men would be a miracle but perhaps if they ran.
"Run children. Run to the catacombs!" He shouted, eyeing Naruto in particular before turning and flinging himself at the nearest of the mercenaries.
Unsurprisingly it went poorly and Lyssario crumpled to the ground with a simple blow to the side of his head. The mercenaries simply moved past him as they quickly encircled the children. Even as some raced toward the door back into the tunnels the men closed in.
Naruto stood still. A handful, maybe ten in total managed to make it back into the catacombs and disappeared into the darkness, but Naruto knew that they could very well end up dying there. The old caves were a maze and without something to light the way they were a death trap.
It didn't matter anyway. He was one of the furthest from the hatch and by the time he had torn his gaze away from Lyssario, presumably dead on the ground, he realized he couldn't escape. He didn't even struggle as they bound him and the others. The youngest they quickly killed as they would struggle to keep up but Naruto and the majority were drug away their last look at Nurn being the glowing flames that were beginning to be put out and a loud cheer of victory as the people of Nurn relished their victory, not realizing what they had lost in the midst of the confusion.
Red Keep
King's Landing
291 AC
Rhaegar struggled in his sleep as a dream troubled his mind. Where once he dreamed of a golden era of dragons ruling Westeros and hopefully coming to form ties with the growing dragon in the east. Tonight the black and purple beast shattered chains that had been placed upon it and flew into a rage.
It burned across Essos and crafted a whole new land from the ashes and roared in rage and pain. Rhaegar felt pain and regret staring at the beast, not that he could understand why. Those feelings died away as the monstrous dragon turned its eyes west and glared at the much smaller and more timid dragons that Rhaegar knew to represent his own house.
"No, what changed?" He asked as he saw the curious look the beast once looked at them which was long gone and replaced with one of hate and hunger.
The prince watched as the titanic monster lifted itself to its full height before launching off of the ground with a burst of speed that seemed impossible. The creature made directly for Rhaegar and the dragons he knew to be his own children. Its great maw split open and the ominous purple glow of it's unique flames began to spill out of its mouth as it closed in upon them.
"Why?" He cried before suddenly rising up from his bed in the keep waking his bedmate for the night, Lyanna tonight.
"Rhaegar? What happened?" She asked tiredly as she gently clutched his arm.
The man stared at her as reality crashed back in around him and he. Slowly laid back beside her. He pulled the woman closely against his body and pressed his lips against her shoulder as he calmed down.
"Rhaegar?" She asked tentatively.
"A dream." He admitted causing her to go rigid in his arms. By now Lyanna, like Elia, was fully aware of his dreams and their nature. She had been disbelieving at one time but now she was too cautious and perhaps even paranoid herself to completely discount the possible visions Rhaegar possessed.
"What happened?" She asked.
"Nothing." He said simply only to frown as she twisted around in the bed to stare into his eyes.
"It doesn't matter. A mistake I will handle in time." He reassured her, causing her to lose the heat in her eyes.
"When you need my help, you have it." She replied before rolling back over and giving him the cold shoulder.
"Of course. Thank you, Lyanna." Rhaegar said quietly as he stared at his second wife's slender back.
By morning the conversation they'd had the night before had fallen to the back of Luann's mind as she and Elia looked in on the children with Queen Rhaella. The royal children were beginning a new stage of education under a new Grand Maester sent by the Citadel. Pycelle had simply grown too old and so Rhaegar had convinced his father to retire the man.
The fact that Rody, the new Maester, was financially supported in his education by Rhaegar was carefully avoided in conversation. After all such Aerys was known to be paranoid and it wouldn't due to have him seeing threats even among his own household. At least it wouldn't due to have him seeing more enemies among them.
Just as Rody was praising the children for their memorization of the Crownlands nob le house, something important as they answered directly to the crown unlike most houses on the continent, Ser Arthur burst into the room.
"Maester Rody, come with me. The King is having chest pains again." Arthur demanded and Rody followed him without a word. Rhaella followed along as well while Lyanna and Elia stayed with the children.
The trio made quick time, first to Rody's quarters to retrieve his medicines and tonics and then to the King's bedchamber.
"All of you besides my mother and Rody get out, now." Rhaegar demanded.
"Rhae-" Arthur began to argue but Barristan gripped him by the shoulder.
"Go on." Rhaegar instructed. Slowly the White cloaks filtered out of the room and closed the door behind them leaving only the King, Queen, Prince, and Maester.
The Maester rushed to mix the proper combination of items before approaching the unconscious man. He made to pour the fluid into the old man's mouth but instead his wrist was caught by Rhaegar.
Rhaella watched silently in surprise as her son pried the small flask free from the maester's hand. None spoke as he walked over to the balcony and emptied the bottle out over the ledge.
"I see." Rody quietly said as he realized what his master wanted of him. "I will formulate a tonic to ease his majesty's passing."
Rhaella narrowed her eyes before stepping over to her unconscious husband. She stared down at her brother and her violet eyes darkened with hatred toward him.
"Is he in pain now, Maester?" She asked.
"Yes, your grace. Enough that it rendered him unconscious. Normally I would give him his tonic and he would awaken in a few hours. It would stop the pain and make it easier for his heart to work." The young man honestly answered his Queen.
"Save your tinctures then Maester. It's nowhere near the pain he deserves but Aerys should suffer as he passes." Rhaella said with a hiss.
Rody turned to his master but Rhaegar simply nodded.
"Very well your Grace." Rody agreed.
"Ensure he does not wake up, Rody." Rhaegar ordered.
"Of course…your Majesty." The Maester replied as he turned back to his materials.
"Come mother. We need to inform the family and begin preparations for a funeral." Rhaegar said.
"Finally." She coldly replied with a final look at her lifelong abuser.
Rody quickly mixed together a new mix. A poison, one that would ensure Aerys never awoke and suffered silently for many more hours. The young Maester adored the royal family. Especially the Queen and the little children. The knowledge of what this monster in a man's skin has done not only to the realm but his own wife and children disturbed him.
He didn't speak as he drained the poisonous mixture into the king's mouth. With this the ascension of a good king was confirmed.
Mantarys
Essos
295 AC
The sound of Naruto's fist connecting with the older boy's jaw would have been sickening if it hadn't been drowned out by the sound of the audience roaring from above them. The following series of blows to the boy's chest and face as he stumbled back were silenced in the same manner.
He drove his opponent until they neared a wall and then changed tactics. Leaving the much larger teen tottering on his feet dizzily for a moment, Naruto dropped back just out of his opponent's reach. Just as planned the larger of the two lunged forward, opening himself up completely to Naruto's brutal finishing blow to the inside of his knee.
This time the crowd wasn't quite loud enough to keep the sickening wet pop from Naruto's ears and he couldn't stop the grimace that came to his face. The other boy collapsed screaming in pain, but Naruto's disgust at what he had done wasn't enough to stop his instincts to win and survive. The matches in the fighting pits of Mantarys were all fought to the death. No exceptions. By now Naruto was used to the situation. He'd been here for years after all.
Naruto climbed on top of his victim as the larger child struggled to stop him while blubbering for mercy and begging for help. He got nothing but the roar of the crowd and Naruto's deceptively strong hands around his neck. The crowd grew only louder as they watched the conclusion to the fight. Naruto shook with strain as he killed the older boy with his bare hands.
The moment became surreal. Like he was retreating from his own actions in his mind, it wandered to random thoughts. Like the fact that he disliked fighting with just his hands. Usually they gave them weapons. Naruto had found himself especially gifted with the sword and after some training was confident enough to call himself decent with the blade. That didn't mean that he was a master with the weapon by any stretch of the imagination but he had received some lessons in the basics back before he had been made into a slave.
"And yet again, Naruto wins!" The host of the fight bellowed out getting several cheers and just as many if not more boos. He had been the underdog in the fight despite his record of punching above his age and size frequently.
Naruto looked down and saw that his opponent was in fact dead. He still felt disconnected. When he took a life in the pits he usually did. Slowly he climbed to his feet and exited the pit, receiving the money meant for his master and heading off into the merchant quarter. He didn't bother counting it. The masters at the pits were extremely brutal but they were also extremely honest. Had they not been, people knew better than to try and get one over on his master.
A few other slaves and even other people greeted Naruto as he passed by. He was well known in this part of the city now. The only boy among the large batch of children brought in together to still be among the living. Naruto had to kill a few of them himself.
"Another win, little one?" A harsh woman's voice asked, causing Naruto to return to the present form his thoughts and stop in the street to see a pair he had come to know rather well.
Naruto smiled softly. "Yes, I beat all three of my opponents easily enough. The pit masters will probably make me fight some of the creatures again."
The scarred woman approached him and gently mussed his hair. She and the man both chuckled as Naruto ducked out of her range. They knew he wasn't fond of people touching him like that. Though they couldn't know it was because it reminded him of his mother and father.
"What are you two doing here anyway? I thought you both were leaving the city for work soon." Naruto said as he eyed the older pair. Though they weren't much older than him.
"Asher managed to piss off our client so we're stuck here looking for more work again." The woman said shooting a look over at the man.
"Beskha, that's not fair. The man was trying to…" Asher said with a disgusted look.
"I know what he was doing. I don't actually blame you for breaking his nose. Doesn't change the fact we're stuck here in Mantarys until we find something else." Beskha said with a sigh.
The man nodded with a disappointed look on his face. No-one truly wanted to stay in Mantarys, but still people were seemingly drawn to it. Or in Naruto's case dragged to it.
"So have you been learning any more of that mystical stuff from that old master of yours?" Beskha asked turning to look at Naruto again.
"Yes…well lately he seemed different. I think he is starting to get sick again. He's too old to power through it too." Naruto said somewhat sadly. The man might have been his master but he had been very kind to Naruto and trained him to use the same abilities his father had used. Not near to that level yet but still, he taught him something few in the world believed existed. Then again things like that were common here in Mantarys.
"Wait, can't he use his magic to keep himself healthy or something?" Asher asked.
"I doubt it works like that." Beskha commented with a roll of her eyes.
"Actually, Master has already been doing it. But he's started to grow weaker. He said we needed more money for medicine so that was why he set up three fights for me today. He says he has faith in my ability to save him like he saved me." Naruto said with a small smile.
Beskha and Asher both frowned at that. They disagreed with that sentiment. Naruto did more for his old master than he had done for Naruto. Still, they weren't about to step into the middle of it when Naruto's master was one of the few not looking to torture or abuse his slave.
"I really should be getting back to the shop. Master will want me back before time for dinner. He has Merena making a big meal tonight. I think it's to celebrate my win. It's like he doesn't think I can lose." Naruto said happily.
"Well, you haven't given him a reason to doubt. I always bet on you when I am around." Asher said before flinching when Beskha slugged his shoulder for betting on slave fights. As a former pit slave herself she defintiely didn't appreciate that.
"See you later little one." Beskha said as she mussed up his hair again. She laughed as the boy batted her hand away and took off toward his master's shop and home.
The pair of mercenaries watched him go with a small frown on their faces. They often felt something was wrong around his master, and had both come to like Naruto quite a lot in their time with him. They couldn't figure out why they disliked the boy's master though. THey suspected perhaps they were just bigoted toward the use of magic at times. It was unnatural, especially the old man's. They'd seen a couple of his kind here in Mantarys, each worse than the last. But this man appeared as a kind and caring grandfather figure, even to his own slaves. It didn't match with the sickening feeling he put off to the pair of experienced survivalists every time they met.
"Beskha…" Asher began.
"I'm with you. Maybe just peeking in on them." She said.
"Yeah." Asher agreed before they both followed after Naruto, clearly out of sight of the boy.
Naruto entered the small shop with a loud call of being back. Rather than his master answering it was the man's other slave. A massive woman, perhaps of Dothraki descent that doubled both as their master's maid and bodyguard. She was extremely committed to the old man, though she was cordial to Naruto too, it was clear she was more concerned with their master's interests than Naruto's well-being.
"Wash the blood and dirt off of yourself before dinner boy. Master wants you to be clean for the meal." She commanded flatly, taking the coins from his grasp and disappearing back into the small kitchen area.
"Right." Naruto sighed out as he headed through the ground floor and into the small yard area in the back. A basin of water was already there as his master liked both Naruto and Merena to be clean.
Naruto hurriedly scrubbed himself clean as he felt his stomach grumble in hunger. He could smell the meal from outside even out here and it wasn't helping his hunger in the slightest. Thankfully he was able to clean himself up and change quickly.
Once back inside he found his master sitting at the table just as Merena was setting it for the meal. It smelled wonderful, and Naruto could tell whatever it was it had a large helping of meat in it.
"Ah, Naruto my boy! I had total faith you would be victorious. Though tell me, are you tired?" The old master asked with a grandfatherly smile.
"Thank you master. I'm far less tired than I am hungry." Naruto replied.
"Oh, I'm sure lad. Well. Help yourself, this is for you after all." The man said with a weak chuckle.
"Thank you Master. Thank you as well Merena." Naruto said shooting his fellow slave a grin, the woman simply set the boy's overflowing plate before him and sat down to her own meal. It was clear that the master had instructed to give Naruto a sizable amount of both his and her portions. At least it seemed that way to Naruto as their meals were smaller than his own.
The boy dug in quickly and the conversation at the table was sparse as the older pair watched the boy devour his meal until nothing remained on his plate. A few moments later and he had begun to grow sleepy.
"Naruto, stay awake now. I'm sure you feel tired after a long day with so many fights and such a big meal, but I have one more gift to give you." The Master explained as he stood from the table.
"Really?" Naruto asked while fighting back a yawn.
"Of course my boy. Really it's two gifts, come with me." He instructed as he led Naruto up to the second floor of their small shop.
They entered one of the three rooms on the second floor of the building. The first two were the bedrooms, one which Naruto shared with Merena and the other for the master. This room though was where the old man did his work. Mystical writing and items covered practically every corner and wall of the room while at the center a large work table sat.
"I have to say you have continued to impress me, Naruto. Not only have you grown into a strong young lad though all your trials and troubles, and become quite strong, you have surpassed my every expectation when learning of our shared ability. That is why today I will be imparting on you my final lesson. A spell that requires a bit of preparation, but one that I have been readying for quite some time now." The master explained as he retrieved an old worn looking tome.
"A final spell? That can't be, there has to be so much more that I can learn from you!" Naruto proclaimed.
Neither Master or slave-apprentice noticed the figures watching from just outside on the lower rooftop.
"Sadly my boy, this old body is deteriorating far too quickly. I would have preferred teaching you for much longer but sadly our time together will come to a close soon. So that is why I am granting you two gifts. The first is this grant." The old man presented a page to Naruto.
Naruto quickly read it over. His eyes widened as he did so. The paper granted him his freedom from bondage. He was free to go as he pleased now. His mind immediately thought of returning home, back to Nurn. If it was still there.
"Naruto. There is one more thing, like I said. A spell." The old master said.
"Er, yes Master." Naruto said.
"It's easy to impart. Easy enough. All you have to do my boy is clasp your hand with mine and open your mind as I had taught you." He said holding out the gnarled and wretched limb he called a hand.
Naruto blinked. He recalled reading some of his Master's…no Brachys' tomes when he wasn't paying attention. It had often warned of opening your mind to another magister while making physical contact. He trusted the old man. He had been like a grandfather to him more than a master…but he felt concerned. He felt the hair on the back of his neck raise on end as he stared at the offered hand.
"Come now boy. I'm not growing any younger while waiting for you over here." Brachys hissed.
"Right." Naruto said as he slowly extended his hand.
Brachys surprised him by roughly snatching Naruto's hand into his and suddenly grinning broadly as a sickly green crawled up across Naruto's skin from where the two hands gripped one another. A moment later and an agonizing pain raced across his being and most especially his head.
However, through either natural instinct or some subconscious awareness of his former master's ploy, Naruto's mind was not open as Brachys had asked.
"Foolish child! You try to resist me after everything I have done for you?" He demanded as Naruto found himself facing against a much younger and monstrous looking man than the old master he had known.
"M-Brachys?" He asked.
"Open your mind to me!" He commanded, pulsing with power and causing a wave of pain and nausea to sweep across Naruto's form.
"What is this?" Naruto demanded.
"Silence! Open your mind and surrender your being to me! You belong to me!" Brachys screamed meantally.
Finally things made sense to Naruto. Brachys was attempting to possess him. No, it was more than a simple possession. He wanted to assimilate Naruto's being into his own and take his body. That was the only real reason he had been freed. Brachys wouldn't like to be a slave.
"What is this?" Brachys asked in confusion as he found himself unable to break through Naruto's mental defenses. "How is this possible?"
"You always meant for this?" Naruto asked sadly.
"Oh, be silent child. I treated you well and made sure you lived happily when all the other children you came with here have either been made into meals, corpses, or breeding stock. I gave you this happy life and the price of that has come due!" Brachys snarled.
"No! No! You have been kinder to me than any other master but still you and all these other slavers know nothing but to take and take. I'm free. You freed me! You can't take anything else from me!" Naruto roared out in sudden explosive rage.
Brachys was stunned. He had known the boy had incredible amounts of untapped power. He knew of the child's bloodline and his connection to the god of flame. Still he couldn't have predicted such enormous power and such strength of will. It shouldn't have been possible he was a docile slave. He never showed any sign of rebellion but suddenly he revealed the will to resist. It didn't make sense.
While he tried to understand how this was possible, Naruto only needed to understand that he did not wish to be devoured in such a way. In any way actually. He refused to submit to Brachys. That meant, like all his pit fights, he needed to fight back.
Asher and Beskha had climbed through the window the moment Naruto began to scream in pain, but they weren't sure what to do. Suddenly the green lines of energy crawling across the boy's body receded and purple and black veins seemed to spread rapidly across the old man's body instead.
"Beskha…what the fuck is happenign right now?" Asher asked his partner.
"I haven't got the foggiest idea." She replied staring at the scene before them.
"What the hell are you two doing in here?" A thick voice asked, causing both to turn to the amazonian woman in the doorway. She glared at teh two and began to reach for the black Dothraki Arakh handing at her hip.
Asher and Beskha were upon her in an instant and she was soon fighting a losing battle against two very skilled mercenaries. While they battled one another physically, the battle between Naruto and Brachys had picked up in intensity as well.
"Cease this instant!" Brachys demanded.
"Shut up." Naruto growled as he drove the mental construct of Brachys to his knees and began to absorb his knowledge. The ability to do so seemed to come naturally. Almost like a pulling sensation as he began ripping knowledge and power from Brachy's form until only a small sliver remained.
"No…No! Do you have any idea what you've done to me?" The older man questioned as his emotions began to fade and a blank expression slowly came to his physical body's face.
"I have an idea." Naruto said as he captured the very soul of Brachys within his own mind and caged him deep within.
"Naruto, please. Death is better than this!" Brachys turned to begging as Naruto began to leave his mindscape.
"You have no idea how many slaves feel the same way, Brachys. I've seen your memories now. Hundreds of boys and girls like me. Taken again and again. Enslaved and then devoured. No more. Now it's your turn. Your spirit and body will serve me as long as I desire." Naruto said darkly as he left Brachys to scream in rage within his new prison.
Suddenly Naruto was back in the small shop. Staring back at him were the lifeless eyes of the body that had once been his master. It simply stood there and stared. With a thought, Naruto sent the puppet walking backward until it leaned against the wall.
"That's unnatural." Asher said, bringing Naruto's attention to him as he turned to take in the appearance of his two friends as they cleaned Merena's blood off of their blades.
"Yeah, try experiencing it first hand." Naruto said simply as he turned to look at the corpse puppet before him. Though he supposed it wasn't truly a corpse. Still it was a puppet, an extension of himself and nothing more.
"This is weird." The body rasped as Naruto thought of speaking through its mouth.
Asher and Beskha shared uncomfortable looks, but at least their friend was alright…even if he was proving to be a little bit terrifying. As it was right now they had a lot they needed to discuss with one another. First though.
"So you're free now." Beskha asked.
Naruto blinked before grinning. He was free now. Free and even more than that.
"What are you going to do?" Asher asked.
"I don't know. Maybe go home? It's been years but…" Naruto mumbled.
"Home is home." Asher said knowingly."
"Yeah." Naruto commented.
The trio was silent for a moment all staring at the odd puppet across from them. Slowly a smirk spread onto Naruto's face though.
"You two want to make some money?" Naruto asked, looking over at them.
Once more Beskha and Asher shared a look. This time it was a little less troubled. There was nothing wrong with earning a bit of coin from someone you considered a friend after all. It was better actually because you could trust them to make good on the agreement.
"What's the job?" Beskha asked.
And that is that. Ran a little longer than i wanted it to but that's fine. I hope you guys reading this enjoyed, the commissioner actually already commissioned the next chapter as well so be ready for more to come soon. There are more changes coming and more elements to be introduced beyond the horizon.
So
Till Next Time.