Disclaimer: A song of Ice and Fire belongs to George R.R Martin, Dark Souls belongs to From Software. Based on Legends and Fabrications by Gamingnerd23.
A song of Darkness and Souls
Chapter 1
Artorias POV
My name is Artorias, I was one of the Four Knights of Gwyn, Lord Gwyn's most accomplished warriors, along with me there were Dragonslayer Ornstein whose spear was powerful enough to cut a giant boulder in two, Lord's Blade Ciaran known for her unique porcelain mask and for annihilating Gwyn's enemies, and Hawkeye Gough the only giant among us and leader of the Dragonslayers, archers that fought the dragons in the Age of Ancients. I was knwown for my unbreakable will of steel, unmatched skills with the greatsword and for being the first mortal to traverse the abyss. Many considered me the strongest of Gwyn'n knights, but to me, the honor of serving such leader was enough, titles and glory means nothing to me but now, now I lay corrputed after being swallowed by the Dark, seeing that my end will be soon, for I have been defeated for a warrior whose abilities surpasses my own, I will not let pride and arrogance stain this warrior victory, yes I fought with a broken arm, yes I fought using a greatsword with only one arm, but those are no excuses, I challenged the warrior and lost, if blame should fall upon someone, it should be me and only me.
Sitting here looking at this warrior I have only three regrets, letting Sif, my companion and best friend alone in this world. Failing in destroying Manus as Lord Gwyn commanded. And failing to not have meet this warrior earlier in my life so he could become one of us.
"I am Artorias, the Abysswalker, one of the Four Knights of Gwyn, What is you name warrior? for I would like to known the one who bested me.".
"I have no name." said the warrior whose voice showed no emotion but whose air showed respect. "I am known only as the Chosen Undead. For I was chosen to rekindles the First Flame.".
That cought me by surprise, I knew the flame was always destined to extinguish and the Age of Dark would come, but didn't knew it's ending was so near.
It pained me to gain this knowledge, not only I knew now that Manus was still out there, but know I was told that the Age of Fire is ending and I can't do nothing about both problems that surround this world.
My eye were starting to feel heavy, hearing the warrior speaks about the flame almost make me feel tired to continue, and why shouldn't I, I was defeated twice already, first by Manus and now by this 'Chosen Undead', but my honor makes me refuse to just accept my end and do nothing even if I can't do anything anymore except accept my death.
I look at the warrior, my breath is deep and sound but I can sense he feels no ill intent or disgust while watching me. It shames me for what I'm about to say may disgrace me now and for the ages to come should this chapter in my life become known throught the lands.
"I ask thee as a fellow warrior. I was sent by Lord Gwyn to get rid of Manus, Father of the Abyss, but he was too much of a challenge for even me to handle. Would you find a place in your heart and honor to complete my quest. I can't promisse you rewards, lands, titles, and anything of the likes, I can only give you what is already yours, my sword, my armor, my ring, and my respect.".
I wait for the warrior response, I couldn't read his emotions and body thanks to the armor, or maybe my end is just making me too tired to do so, I almost laugh at it, even in death we mortals find new reasons to complain despite the fact that all the problems will not matter in moments.
"I have no need Artorias, the Abysswalker and Knight of Gwyn, your sword should rest along with it's wielder, your armor should be clad by it's owner even in death, you ring it's too important for you for I can sense in your voice the emotions you feel towards it, but your respect I can accept, for it, and only it, is reason enough, payment enough to accept your final wish, I, the Chosen Undead, promise on my life and my honor that Manus will be rid off, and that your soul will find peace when the deed is completed.".
"Thank you warrior, I hope to meet and cross swords with you again in another life, know that I will remember you now and always, I promisse.".
The last thing I see before my eyes close is the warrior bowing in respect, I don't know why, but deep inside my heart I knew he would complete my mission for me and his own mission of rekindle the first flame. I wanted to smile but my mouth was too tired to move, I wanted to cry but my eyes where to weak to produce tears, now the only thing I could do was wait for my final rest.
I open my eyes and have no words for what's surrounds me, just a infinite black emptiness, many questions flow throught my mind, the main ones being where am I, why am I here, how am I here, what is here.
"Those are good questions." I heard a voice saying.
I turn arround and see a figure who can only be describe as, peculiar, his whole body is covered by a half black half white hooded mantle, and the only feature I describe is his face while it touches the hood that covers it, it's not entirely human, but I can describe what else it is.
"I am The Stanger" the figure says to me with a neutral tone is his voice, but something tells me he knows what I want to asks and what I want to know. "Yes I do Artorias the Abysswalker. Answering your questions, you are in the void, a place of infinite nothingness that I use to talk to those who I deem worth of my time and my plans. You are here because I have a proposal for you, for I think you are one that could change fate. You came here because one of my names is Death and when you died you were brought before me.".
I look around once more, my stomach feels churned for I wasn't expect this when I was laid to rest, even after answering me my mind only got more questions that needed awnser.
"And you will have them Artorias, but not all of them at the same time." The Stranger says, obviously knowing what's on my mind, I shouldn't be surprise, I died and if he truly is Death of course he would know everything.
"What propose do you have?." I asked, if I was still alive I would probably sweat, I face death many times while serving Lord Gwyn but all those times it was never in this shape and form.
"First I ask you to just listen. Any question you will have I will decide which one I will answer, the ones I don't you will have to aks others for they too will known the awnser as well, meaning I won't need to waste the precious little time that we both have." The Stranger says with utmost politeness despite his harsh words. "I want to sent you on a quest, a quest in a world, a world different but very like yours, a world that like yours face an upcoming Age of Dark but one that it's not being brought by the end of the Age of Fire, your quest will be to stop this Age of Dark to come, Should you accept and succeed in this quest I will reward you with life, a life in this new world, a life with peace, a life with your friend Sif again.".
Standing speechless my mind races in a speed I didn't think it was possible or that I was capable.
If this Stranger really tells the truth I want to really believe in every word he says, but my mind and heart also tells me that his words are at the same time too good to be truth. The worst of all, I can't and probably won't find or be given any proof of the words he speaks to me, and if his words are false then I will have to accept and be content with only the chance of a new life I will be given by him, either way I'll have to accept any deceptions for he isn't obliging me to make a choice but letting me decide.
"If time is really precary then only three questions I will make. How do you want me to stop this Age of Dark from coming?. Will I be alone in this journey?. Will I be enough to complete this quest?."
I asked, under my helmet my face shows anxiety, there was too many questions to make and I knew I would not gain all the awnsers. I feel like things are happening to quickly, maybe because I didn't expect this to happen after my death, or maybe because I thought this is something I should be made aware since the day I was born. But I made my decision, I accpeted the quest given to me by The Stranger and he knows already, I wouldn't aks this questions to him otherwise, so I steel my will and wait for his awnser.
"You are free to use whatever means you deem necessary to complete your quest. You will not be alone for I will send another from your world to help you. You won't be enough to complete your quest for even though I have decided to let you keep all your belongings, knowledge and abilities you won't be able to make a difference in the end of all, you will need help, help for all the realms that you're about to go for the enemy is the enemy of life itself so all the living should be fighting against it."
Once again more questions flows throught my mind. Here I was about to go to a new world, with a new land whose landscape, laws, traditions, religions, customs I didn't knew but for some reason I feel the need to go, why, I couldn't find the answer, but even if I could, should I find it?. The reason could be egoistic, malicious, evil. I fear for I could lose my honor in this quest whose reigns given to me by The Strangers where none for stories where people did hideous things to achieve victory where not scarce and the fear of becoming one of them could be consume me in this instant.
"Before I go I have one last question. You said someone from my word is going to come with me. Who is it?."
I asked while steeling my resolve once more so fear could not overrule me body and mind. With a fierce look in my eyes and a determination burning in my soul I watch The Stranger extending both his arms to me, on his right hand is a bottomless box, no surprises there for I seen one of those in my former life even if never possessed one, on his left hand a intriguing vision fall on my eyes, an egg, doubt once again runs in my mind, but this time I don't let it advance, with deep breaths I close my eyes hoping that once open again The Stranger would tell me everything about it.
"This is a dragon egg. I know in your world the dragons were the everlasting rulers and that changed when the Lords rose to challenge them, but in this world their history with these creatures were different, but I can't deny few similarities that you will find between both worlds history with these creatures. This egg have a dragon from your world, which one I won't tell for you will know when it hatches. The reason a dragon is necessery in this quest is because one of the allies you will need for the battles to come will need to see it at your side for you to gain their total confidence, and dragons will be necessary to fight this enemy. When the time comes you will know when and how to hatch it but until them guard it with your life and don't allow it to be taken from you or to be known to those who would do everything in their power to gain such and ally.".
Knowing that the time to go was upon me I take the egg from The Stanger hand and bottomless box from the other.
Saying that my greatsword and egg should be keep hidden for a situation where I will be disarmed and surrounded would be a understatement for I'm sure it will be bound too happen more than once.
So without making hast I put both of them in the bottomless box, hoping that I won't have to take any of then the moment I arrive in the new land.
Looking at my left I see a big sphere of light approaching and increasing its size, I look at The Stanger one last time and nod to him in respect for this opportunity for a new life that he has given to me and to show that I will devote myself to fullfil this quest.
Bran I
It was a normal day for young Bran, he woke up and got dressed to break his fast in the morning with his family, sitting on the center of the table was his father Eddard Stark with his mother Catelyn Stark at his side, in front of them was his older brother and sister Robb and Sansa, while Bran was sitting at his brother side and his sister Arya next to her older sister, the only one that wasn't present was the youngest Rickon who hadn't waken yet.
Bran looked at his family their smiles and small laughs make him happy, but his smile leaved his face when he looked behind his shoulder, eating alone in a distant table in the corner of the dinning hall was his brother Jon Snow, he was looking at the joy of young Bran family with sad eyes on his face. When his eyes meet those of Bran his brother smile to him and the younger boy smile to him in return.
Turning back to the food on his plane Bran notice the stare his father was giving to him and his half-brother and smile to his young son.
"Why Jon doesn't eat with us father?." asked young Bran without any intent except curiosity.
"Bran, only the truborn children eats with the lord of the castle" said his mother with a calm voice but any adult would notice the little anger in it. "Don't ask about it anymore. Never.".
Catelyn never liked his half-brother and Bran never knew why. Bran liked Jon, he was always a good brother and always tried to help Bran, so he wanted to do the same for him one day.
Giving up on his thoughts Bran goes back to eat his food to continue his day. Today he would have target practice with his brothers and thinking about it make the smile comes back to the young boys mouth and a shining to his eyes.
After the training started Bran shooted and missed every arrow, anger was begining to show on his face while his brow was showing a slight furrow on it.
"Go on, father is watching." Jon said to him with a calm voice while putting his hands on Bran's shoulder to calm him. "And your mother.".
Bran shots another time and misses the target again, this time his brothers all laugh, including Rickon who have waken and come to watch his older brother practice.
"And witch one of you was a master archer at 7?. Go on Bran" he heard his father saying and see his brothers stopping laughing.
"Don't think to much Bran." he hears Jon speaking back to his calm face.
"Relax you bow arm." Robb says to him to also help in his practice.
Bran follow his brothers advices but before he could fire his arrow another one hits the mark. Bran looks behind him and see his sister Arya with a bow her own, she smiles and bow in reverence to him and his brothers, Bran feeling a little angry runs after her while his brothers laugh at the scene being displayed in front of them.
Bran chase of Arya is stopped by Winterfell master-at-arms Rodrik Cassel who tells him that he will come with his father, the boy saw the serious look on his face and for the child the thought on his mind was fear of having done something to anger his father.
It was still morning, cold, with a crispness that suggested that the summer has ended. Bran had rode among his father and brothers with the guards of Winterfell, he was deemed old enough to watch the king's justice being made, many emotions were flowing throught his body with fear and anxiety being the strongest ones.
Robb thought the man was a wildling while Jon said it could be a killer. Both scary the young Bran, he remember the old stories that his old nam would tell him about both types, about how they would kill him and eat his meat to fill his stomach while using his skin to make their clothes for the winters to come, how they wouldn't care if he was just a child and cry and implore would only make them more eager to continue with their horrible acts.
The wind blowing in Bran's face makes him come back to his senses, he looks aound and notice the man that was about to be delivered to The Stranger, he was using dirt rags for clothes and his face where visible traces of frostbite and pieces of his skin missing.
He turnd his face from the man and looks to the banner of house Stark being blowed by the wind, a white direwolf across a ice-white field, seeing his house sigil made the little boy calm himselft, he could even smile if it wasn't for the situation he was facing now.
Bran looks at his father from his pony and think about the man, his was sitting on his horse, looking like one of the men he told him about the age of heroes, he knew that in this moment he wasn't just Eddard Stark anymore but Lord Stark of Winterfell, he was saying words that Bran didn't make out and see he asking for his men to bring foward the prisioner.
Bran looks at the face of the man that it's about to be executed and see the fear in his face and eyes, he turns back to his father as he calls his ward Theon Greyjoy as the he brings forth the sword of Stark family; Ice. It was wide as a man's hand and taller than even his brothers. It was made of Valyrian steel, a special steel that would never rust or lose it's sharpness no matter how long time passes.
Bran sees his father muttering the world's of the king's justice with a serious tone on his face and a cold air in his eyes.
"Hold the pony still, and don't look away. Father will know if you do" He hears Jon saying in a calm voice and he feels his stomach wrap up while his whole body freeze.
The justice is delivered, the man loose his head which falls next to the feet of Theon who kicks it with his foot like it was a ball. Bran didn't look away and sees his father coming to him after getting off his horse, Bran follows his footsteps and does the same and walks to him until they meet face to face.
"Do you know why I did it?." His father asks with a calm voice.
"Because he's a wildling." He answers slowly.
"No, his clothes are not those of a wildling.".
"Because he is a killer.".
"He could've been, but he was not one. I did it because he was an oathbreaker, he broke his oath to the Knight's Watch and for that he had to be executed.".
"Why it was you who had to do it?. King Robert has a headsman.".
"Yes, he has, just like the Targaryen had before him. But in the north we follow the old ways. The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword.".
"Will Robb and Jon one day have to do the same.".
"Robb is the heir of Winterfell and future warden of the north. One day he will be the one to swing the sword and you will do the same when you have your own lands and lords at your service.".
Bran looks at his brothers talking about the man whose life had just ended, he looks at Jon with doubt for his father hadn't said nothing about him, he then looks back at his father.".
"Why would someone break their vows if they know they would be killed for it father?.".
"Many reasons my son, but when a man is about to die he would say and believe in anything if it could save his life.".
"And what if the king's justice is delivered to a innocent?.".
That question make Ned Stark's eyes close like he haven't sleep in days, his son was but a child, pure and innocent, his question is not without merit and logic but it got him by surprise. Ned knows his son doesn't belive the man that was killed was innocent, but also knows that his question have to be answered for it was something that would really be important and make a difference in adult life.
"When one is innocent and the king's justice fall upon them it's something that should never happen Bran, it's not right and all involved should've done everything in their power to avoid it, but even them it could happen, and when it does the only thing a person can do about it is remember, everything, the name, the face, the family, the person they were, it won't make they come back, it won't made up for the mistake, it won't easy the pain, but is the minimal a person should do, and when they die they can ask the old gods and the person who they wronged if they can be forgiving. It's the ideal answer, but to things like this, there is no right or ideal one.".
Bran get back on his pony thinking about the words spoken by his father, time appeared to have slow down while he was doing it for he doesn't notice Theon poking at his arm while he was looking at the horse mane with a blank expression on his face.
"You did good kid." said Theon with a smug grin on his face. "Snow looked away the first time but you didn't. This already proves you got balls bigger than him.".
"Did Jon really looked away when he first came?." Bran asks not beliving his half-brother failed in something he was able to accomplish.
"Aye lad, why do you think he told you to not look away because your father would've known?!.".
Theon said nothing more and speed up his horse so he could catch up with his liege lord and let Bran staring at Jon thinking why his brother wasn't able to look at the first time he saw the king's justice delivered.
Bran notice the angry look Jon gives to Theon and goes to Robb side and asks him for a race and his brother just give a small smile to him.
"You're on Snow.".
"See you in Winterfell Stark.".
Bran and his father laugh in a whispered volume seeing the two brothers racing, Bran feel relivied for getting those thoughts about Jon out of his head and try to catch up to his father looking his brothers vanish in the horizon.
"Who do you think will win?.".
"Robb" He listen to his father and Theon saying at the same time.
"Why.".
"Because Jon is coming back for some reason." His father looks at the concern face of Jon and begin to show seriousness in his face for not seeing Robb with him.
"Fa- Lord Stark, you must see this." Jon says trying to not call the Lord of Winterfell father when they are in the presence of others.
Whithout a second thought all of them starting to gallop at full speed following Jon to where Ronn probably is.
Arriving at where his older brother was waiting them, Bran was like everyone else, stunned and silent.
Close to the road was a man, the biggest man Bran had seen in his entire short life. With the man were 7 wolves, no, not wolves, direwolves, the sigil of house Stark, the biggest one was probably the mother of the other six who were just cubs probably in their first month of life, all the direwolves were sit looking at the giant man as if wainting for him like soldier waiting for their orders.
The man was siting on a bench, or rather, just a piece of log, he was cutting meat from a dead stag with a giant sword, the sword, just like the man were enormous, it made Ice looking like a dagger when compared to it.
The man after cutting six pieces of meat of equal size throws each piece to the direwolves that lands in from of each one of them in perfection, but they still didn't move.
"You can eat now." Says the man and without a second the direwolves obey.
The man finally looks at Bran and the others, he seems calm, even if he was wearing a helmet they could feel his eyes and when his eyes meet those of his lord father his air was still the same one he was using with the direwolves.
When the man had moved his face towards Bran's group he could feel the tension building up on their part, Bran had uncounsciously try to grab the handle of a sword he never had, but the others on the other hand had done the same, and unlike him they did have swords.
Bran sees his father getting off his horse, he takes three steps in front of their party and hold his hand high ordering his men to don't do anything until his say so.
The man then get up and eveyone but his lord father gasps out loud with open mouths, he already looked big just sitting but now that he was on his feet the man could make even Jon Umber looks like Tyrion Lannister the imp of Casterly Rock.
"This man makes the mountain looks like a child" Bran listen Sir Rodrik whispers to his nephew.
Bran look at the old man and think about his words, he never met the mountain before but heard of the man, many people of Winterfell call the man a vicious beast that shouldn've been putted down at the end of Robert's Rebellion, his father being one of them.
Bran looks at the man, no, the giant before them and starts to wonder if this same person is like the mentioned mountain.
"I am Eddard Stark, Warden of the North and Lord of Winterfell" says Eddard with a rigid voice and conviction on his face to the man who was now standing in front of him.
"Greetings lord Stark" Says the man giving a respectful nod with his head.
Bran was so schocked by the man's height that he didn't noticed his armor, he was clad had to toe in a full gray armor, but it's design was nothing like Bran had ever seen, the gauntlets had some kind of curling making them look like they were retractable, his helmet looked like the head of a strange creature and had a strange thing on top of it's head that make it look like a pony tail and on the bottom of it a blue cloth which the man used like a scarf that covered most of the upper part of the chest piece which had a strange white symbol that Bran could not see for it was covered by said blue cloth. The legs of the armor were also barely visible for the armor had some kind of chainmail skirt covering it's sides which Bran could only assume it was to give the man more protection against swords and arrows, but the little he could see along the boots they too had na appearance that make then look retractable just like the gauntlets.
"I presented you my name, may your present yours now?."
Bran tried to look better at the man's sword but was interrupted by his father that had continued his talk to the man.
Bran noticed that now his father had to rise his head to talk but in no way he looked inferior to the giant man before him, even less so when one could see his face and eyes that showed no sign of fear, intimidation or hesitation.
"I am Artorias, one of the Four Knights of Gwyn" Said the man in response with the same determination on his voice as his father.
Bran felt his heart warth even if a little, the giant man before them was a knight, no matter how scarry he looked like, a knight was a warrior who fight for the good and the innocents. Bran immediately remembers of the stories of old his nam told him about the knights of old like Sir Duncan the Tall and Sir Aemon the Dragonknight.
"Forgive me Sir Artorias but I never heard of the Four Knights of Gwyn." His father responds the man making Bran focus again on the talk happening in front of him.
"It surprises me not for I'm the last one.".
Bran felt sadness in the man's voice and is the only one besides his father to notice the little turn the man does with his head before looking lord Stark in the eyes again.
"I am not one to ask about a man's past which he does not want to speak about. But you are a strange man in lands which I am warden. I hope you can tell me which business you have here.".
"I'm looking for something. Something which I cannot say for I have no way to proof the truth in my words and for the fact many would deem me mad for I am the only one who has seen it and know of it.".
"And you hope to find this in the North.".
"I hope to find nothing for I know only what I'm looking for, not where it is.".
All men starts to look at each other after hearing the giant's words, Bran is no exception as he look at his brothers looking for answers they don't have.
"And what about them?." Asks Eddard Stark pointing his finger to the direwolves making the giant man turns his body.
"They are waiting" Is the only thing Artorias says while turning back to look at lord Stark.
"Waiting?.".
"Yes. Waiting.".
"For who?.".
"You.".
That caught everyone even Ned Stark by surprise, the man have spoken those words like they were the only natural answer to his question.
"What makes you say or think they were wainting for me?." Asks Ned quickly recomposing himself.
"They are not waiting just for you, but for you children as well. And if you don't believe me, see for yourself" Artorias says calmly while he steps to the side and let the direwolves approach them. "You don't need to draw your weapons for they means you no harm".
While three of the seven direwolves stay close to Artorias feet, their mother stands in front of Eddard sitting like she was waiting to be ordered by him.
Bran notices one of the cubs coming at him and his brothers, he get off his pony and quickly run to the animal ignoring his brothers and father warnings.
The silvery grey furred and yellow eyed cub goes to Bran which hugs him and lugh while it licks his cheeks. The boy waste no time and pet his head while all the men around look between the boy and Artorias in shock.
Ned look at Bran playing with the little cub and then move his head to Jon and Robb who also get down of their horses to take the direwolves that had come to then just like the one Bran was petting. Jon's one was of pure white fur with red eyes and a bushy tail, an albino problably, while Robb's had a smoke grey fur and yellow eyes.
"Can we take them father, please?." Bran asks with a shiny in his eyes that make Eddard looks back at the wolf in front of him.
"A direwolf is not a pet Bran, is a noble animal that deserve freedom and respect, not a leash.". Answers Ned Stark with a soft but serious tone in his voice.
"Lord Stark." Jon speaks making Ned look at his bastard son who doesn't call him father in front of others or try not to. "The direwolf is the sigil of your house. There are seven of them, and seven people in Winterfell who have the stark blood on their bodies and Sir Artorias even said they were waiting for us. Maybe these direwolves were sent to you and those who have you blood by the old gods as a sign.".
Ned Stark didn't believe in signs of the gods and knew Jon was just trying to spoil his younger brother so he could keep the little cub he has in his hands. He looks at the cubs mother and turned again to his sons with a serious look on his eyes.
"I will take care of him father." Robb said. "I won't let nothing happen to him.".
"Me too." Bran echoed.
"A man have to keep his promises, this creatures when they form a bond with you are loyal to death, I saw from myself. If you are true to your words then when your lifes are in danger it is when your promisses will be proven true or not, for they will not protect you if they are not. Not only you have to take care of them, you will have to protect and love them, you will have to live and die for them, for any less and they will not hesitate to feast on your flesh when you lie dead on the ground." Said Artorias which capture the attention of eveyone with total focus on himself and his words.
"You must train them as well," their father said. "You must train them. The kennelmaster will have nothing to do with these monsters, I promise you that. And the gods help you if you neglect them, or brutalize them, or train them badly. These are not dogs to beg for treats and slink off at a kick. A direwolf will rip a man's arm off his shoulder as easily as a dog will kill a rat. Are you sure you want this?.".
"Yes" Bran, Jon and Robb said in unison.
"The pups may die anyway, despite all you do even if their mother comes with us".
"They won't die." Robb said.
"We won't let them die." Jon said.
"Keep them then. Jory, Rodrik, gather up the other three. It's time we head back to Winterfell."
"May I speak Lord Stark?".
Ned was already forgetting the giant men that was with them the whole time. He looks at him and move his chin as a sign to the man to speak his mind.
"As you said before I am a Strange man. And I am in a strange land, may I ask you to come with your party, I will give my sword, armor as a show of trust and gratitude if you concede my wish." Said Artorias with a calm voice.
"When a man makes a promisse he has to look at the other person in the eyes." Said Ned once again with the steel in his voice but with politeness in the air around him.
"Very well.".
Artorias removes his helmet and once again he silences everone.
"TARGARYEN FILTH" Screams Theon Greyjoy with fire in his eyes.
"WE HAVE TO CAPTURE HIM MY LORD" Screams Jory unsheathing his sword.
"STAND DOWN, ALL OF YOU" Unlike his men Ned Stark didn't screamed and only had raised his voice, he looks at the man again and continue their conversation. "Where are you from Artorias?.".
"A doomed place.".
His response made Bran think of only one place, Valyria, it's the place anyone in Westeros and Essos would think the the words doom and place were put together.
"Would you mind tell us where?.".
"I don't want to. Too much memories of pain and misery. I sense that even if I did talk you would make questions, questions that I have no proof to deny your claims and to prove mine.".
"You have the Targaryen silver hair and violet eyes, what's to prove?! if you're not, you are either a Blackfyre or from a family of Old Valyria" Spoke Theon with a tone lower than before but still rage in his eyes.
"A man can make his own decisions and only him can make them. People see what they want to see, listen to what the want to listen, believe in what they want to believe. When something is show before you and no explanation is give you create them in your mind so the blank space that was there is fulfilled, but just because it's filled doesn't mean that what's in there is right. Here I am, a man with silver hair and purple eyes, but whose origins you don't know and yet you assumed they are from a Targaryen, a Blackfyre or Old Valyria, so I ask of you to prove your words true for I don't have to defend myself of just your words for yours are not more important than mine own." Artorias said with a still calm voice and a soft glare on his eyes before he puts his helmet back on his head and look at Ned Stark.
"Lord Stark, I ask of you this favor once more, whatever you decide I will respect you decision.".
Bran watches as his father gives a long breath, then a second, then a third while he closes his eyes for a brief moment before open them again.
"Very Well, you can come with us Sir Artorias, I will agree to your conditions but know that if you brings danger to Winterfell, my people and my family you will be delivered to the king's justice with your own sword.".
Artorias nod to Eddard Stark and all of them starts to marching back to Winterfell. At that moment Bran new that things would be very agitated for the next days.
Author's Note: Hi, welcome to my second attempt into a fanfic, first of all, A Dragonborn in the New World is not cancelled or dropped. After read it and receive some very constructive critics and valid points in my inbox I realized that it was pure shit, something I did out of an idea with no planing or course so I'm remaking it from scratch and starting the story from the very begining (in the Overlord part) and giving the Dovahkiin a decent backstory, personality and motivation (and name, how could I be so stupid to give him that one).
About this story, Artorias POV was the first and only one First Person Narrative that will be on this story, I did so people could have a glimpse on how his personality will be, since much of the dark souls lore is left for the player's interpretation and many information is ambiguous at it's peak you will see a lot of things that will probably feel and be OOC so feel free to complain and correct me.
Ok then, leave you review (and please in you don't like be polite), any constructive criticism is welcome and feel free to give your opinions in the inbox.
And remember, english is not my first language so take it easy on me with the grammar.