Rhaegar Targaryen, the silver prince, for the first time in his short life, was in a state of genuine and pure confusion; how could a Northman be capable of forging Valyrian Steel? They had no Valyrian blood. Some believed dragon fire was needed in the process of creating Valyrian steel.
"How?" Said Rhaegar, his eyes were still open wide, showing his surprises
" That is for me to know and for you to wonder. It's my family's secret. Only I and my successors will ever know." Ragnar replied as he made a sign to a servant for more wine. " But don't worry, I don't plan on selling Valyrian Steel armors to anyone. There will be only one in Westeros, mine."
" What of the King Demands one of you?" Rhaegar asked; he didn't have a challenging tone to his voice, just mere curiosity.
" Then I would refuse him as is my right as a free man. I'm a Lord, not a Slave," Replied Ragnar.
"The king could strip you of your lands and titles and charge you for treason …" replied Rhaegar.
"Aye, he could… but I'm sure a trial by combat would restore my lands and titles to me," Ragnar said, and Rhaegar chuckled.
" You don't fear death, do you?" Rhaegar asked.
" No, why would I? Death is not to be feared; your grace but welcomed as the old friend it is. When the time comes when I'm old and weak, and an enemy's blade kisses my heart, I won't shit myself." Ragnar said as he let his eyes go from Rhaegar and looked at the spectating Lords, " Which is all I can hope for you, good Lords. At your final breath, a shitless death" Ragnar raised his mug, and the lords cheered loudly. This made the tavern get back to its talkative and celebrative mood. " But I doubt," Ragnar said loudly enough for just Rhaegar to hear.
"Death is coming for us all, my Lord, and this death should not be welcomed but fought. This is why I became a warrior," Rhaegar said, probably thinking it would confuse Ragnar
/ Just so you know, Ragnar doesn't remember the show, just the book, which is what I'm basing this fanfic on. So he doesn't know about Jon's parentage, he has theories, and the one he believes the most is Ned Ashara= Jon. I'm doing this just so the plot can happen. Sorry if this makes you drop this. But otherwise, this fanfic wouldn't last long.
"One often finds his destiny in the road he takes to avoid it, not in the one he takes to fulfill it." Ragnar sagely said, and Rhaegar's eyes widened once more. Before he could ask Ragnar what he meant, Ragnar said
"But I must ask you my leave. I have much to celebrate and so little time. Today is not the day for serious talks. Mayhaps we could meet in DragonStone to discuss a few serious things, but not today." Rhaegar just nodded, and Ragnar stood up
" Ser Barristan, Ser Arthur" Ragnar slightly bowed his head and walked into Jorah and his household's direction. Davos chose to leave Ragnar's side to drink with the rest of Ragnar's household
" Jorah, how are you surviving this awful southern wine, my friend?" Ragnar asked. Jorah, who was talking to Ser Gerion Lannister, looked at Ragnar and laughed.
"Ragnar, my giant of a friend. I see you suffer from the same afflictions as I do. I'm barely holding up. Wine is a woman's drink. Soft and sweet." Jorah managed to say between waves of laughter
" This is no woman's drink! This is a weak people's drink. I can hold my mead as good as you, cousin," said a woman, and for the first time since he got to Westeros, Ragnar found himself attracted to a woman. She was tall, almost as tall as Jorah himself, making her taller than most men. She held herself with grace and steadiness, which could only mean she was a shield-maiden. She had long raven locks, the bluest eyes Ragnar had ever seen, and her skin was as fair as Mara herself; she wore an emerald green dress and looked comfortable with it, which was rare. Most shield-maiden felt somewhat uncomfortable in dresses. Ragnar laughed at her jape at Jorah.
" And who are you shield-maiden? it is rare to see a woman who can hold her drink these days." Ragnar asked as he looked into her eyes. Dacey, like any other person in Westeros, had never heard someone with a voice like Ragnar's. It seemed to hold contained power, it was like a strong thunder, but at same time it was smooth.
" I'm Lady Dacey Mormont of Bear Island. You must be Lord Dovahkiin, the dragon of the North. Tell me, how did you know I was a warrior woman" replied Dacey without taking her eyes from his. It was a challenge, and women from Bear Island don't back down on challenges
"Every good warrior could've guessed. The way you stand in a steady yet graceful manner gave you away. It's not a swordswoman's stance but more like a heavy weapon, where you must be sure on your feet. Warhammer?" Ragnar asked; Jorah seeing this was an opportunity for his family, went back to talk to Gerion, who had a curious expression. Dacey was surprised by Ragnar's accurate analysis of her.
" No, Morningstar. You are surprisingly good at guessing, my lord. I wouldn't be able to guess your favorite weapon with such accuracy," Dacey Replied
" No one can guess my favorite weapon, for I like them all the same. I'm good with them all the same. Tell me, Shield-maiden, how good are you? Have you bested many men?" Asked Ragnar, his eyes still on Dacey's blue ones.
" You doubt my prowess because I'm a woman? I will have you know that I have bested Jorah more than once," Dacey said. She looked offended by Ragnar's question
"You have misunderstood my intentions. I never meant to offend. I don't doubt you because you are a woman. One of the greatest fighters I knew was a woman, Lydia the Shield-maiden. Gods, she was strong. I once saw her fight three men simultaneously while she was protecting a child. She won the fight without a scratch on her armor." Ragnar said, his eyes full of nostalgia and overall happiness
"Impressive, Lydia the shield-maiden, never heard of her, but if you, the greatest warrior alive, says she's good, then it must be true," Dacey replied
Ragnar and Dacey talked the whole night and only stopped because Jorah decided to leave the tavern to rest for the Joust the next day. Ragnar and Dacey reluctantly said their goodbyes and went their ways.
Ragnar and Davos went back to Casterly Rock. Ragnar instructed Davos not to disturb him that night, for he now wanted to win the joust even more. Davos didn't ask why and just nodded before he went to sleep.
Ragnar woke up the next day feeling motivated. He was going to become the first man in the history of Westeros to win all three events of the tourney. His name would become more of a legend than it already was. It would make people respect him, which would help him close new trade agreements with the rest of the realm. The stigma of barbarism was still held high against skagos in the south, but with Ragnar's fame, it would eventually disappear.
The joust day was even more expected than the melee and archery day; the number of people that came to see the Silver Prince first joust was huge, as was the number of people who came to see how the greatest warrior of the realm fared on the joust. It would be a grand event, regardless of its winner.
The joust was a long event. Ragnar had to unhorse 12 competitors to get to the final, which was against Arthur Dayne. Ragnar and Arthur broke 12 lances before Ragnar unhorsed Arthur.
The moment a Lannister squire got the crown of love and beauty on the point of Ragnar's lance, the crowd went silent. All wanted to know who he would choose. EVERY lord wished to have Ragnar as a Goodson; he was probably the most desired bachelor after the Silver Prince. The news of his abilities in Valyrian steel forging made him invaluable. Ragnar rode all way to the corner of the bleachers where Dacey Mormont was seated. He placed the crown on her lap and smiled at her. She returned the smile and put the crown on her head. This brought some sour feelings for some lords and ladies; Dacey Mormont wasn't betrothed to anyone and could snatch the Valyrian Steel forger out of their grasp. She, like Ragnar, was of the north, which probably would have a considerable appeal for them both. The only people smiling were Rhaegar Targaryen, Jorah Mormont, and curiously Arthur Dayne.
The smile on Dacey's face was just a bonus of winning the joust and gifting her with the crown of love and beauty, in Ragnar's opinion. The greatest thing about it all was the sour face of the greedy lords, quite similar to Ulfric's face when he destroyed Whindhelm's doors with his shout.
Arthur, Rhaegar, and Jorah were smiling; Ragnar didn't know why the first two were happy, but he did not comment on that. Ragnar wanted nothing but to leave the field; the king seemed to want to say something, but Ragnar used his strongest calm magic (pacify) to make him lose the will to create conflict. The magic was invisible and worked just fine. Ragnar then left the field and went to get changed. There would be a ball at night to celebrate the tournament's conclusion, and Ragnar intended to participate
The ball was held in Casterly Rock's halls, all Lords of the Westerlands were present, as were the ladies. The King sat at the high table with Rhaegar on his right side and Tywin on his left, Jamie Lannister sat at Tywin's left. The Kingsguard stood behind the king and Rhaegar. The hall was beautifully decorated, with Targaryen and Lannister banners hanging in every corner and wall. Servants walked around offering food and drinks for the Lords. The King was enjoying the party by boasting and claiming Tywin's accomplishments as his. Rhaegar Targaryen was eating quietly, and his face had a sorrowful look to it. Once Ragnar walked into the hall, all eyes were on him; Ragnar wore a midnight blue tunic dress with runes craved on its sleeves and hem, black trousers, and had his hair braided in a top knot variation, to the many ladies of the realm he looked EXTREMELY handsome.
" There he is, The Great champion of this Tournament," Said the King, who was already drunk, the calm spell still working on him.
Ragnar chose the silence and just inclined his head slightly to the King. The king raised his mug at Ragnar and returned to talk to the unimportant lord, who seemed quite interested in the King's gabble.
Ragnar looked for Jorah and found the man having a drinking contest with a very drunk Gerion Lannister, they seemed to be striking quite the friendship, if Ragnar could guess. Jorah saw Ragnar coming his way and said
"Come, Ragnar, you must defend the north's pride with me. Lord Lannister managed to get us some mead, Gerion here said he could hold his drink agains any man of the north, he said he could outdrink Greatjon Umber himself! Ha not even Greatjon Umber can out-drink Greatjon Umber… and he is Greatjon Umber!!" Ragnar could only laugh at the situation.
" The audacity of this golden cat, come on, Lannister, I will show you the greatest of the Nord arts, drinking. MEAD!" Ragnar shouted, and the whole hall heard his voice. Some Lords even got scared for a second. Gerion just laughed nonstop
" Where's your faithful servant Davos, by the way?" Asked Jorah
" He's finishing up some stuff for our trip back north; unlike you, I will not be able to get a boat. I will have to ride back home." Ragnar said as someone handed him his drink.
"Where's your cousin?" Asked Ragnar as he drank the whole cup in one go. "another," he said to the servant nearby
" She's talking to some ladies. Her mother, my aunt, told her to do that; according to Maege, if she does her job right, it could help to close a food agreement with the Westerlands. Winter is coming, after all. This autumn will not last one more year."
Replied Jorah.
" Aye, Skagos is more than ready for this winter. This will probably be the easiest winter in the history of Skagos." Ragnar replied, satisfied with Skagos progress so far, and unlike past winters, this one Skagos would not only survive but thrive, grow. Skyrim's winter was harsher than Westeros, of that he was sure, and even in those conditions, some vegetables would still grow. Ragnar would also use magic, lots and lots of magic, to help.
" We in Bear Island are ready as well, but another food source is always welcome," Jorah said, and Ragnar nodded.
" Good Queen Alysanne, they call her, good for the Reach that is, took all the fertile land on the north and have it to the nightswatch," Ragnar said; Jorah said nothing but nodded.
" And you Lannisters? How are your preparations for the Winter? I know most of your lands are fertile but not in winter, right?" Ragnar asked as he was handed another mead mug, which he drank in one go again " ANOTHER, please bring me a bottle next time, love." Ragnar said as he smiled at a servant, which made her go as red as the Lannister's cloaks
" Tywin said we have food for a 10 years-long winter. I guess it's true. He's been doing a lot of business with the Reach lately." Gerion Replied.
" One can say many things about Tywin Lannister, but a bad Lord he is not. Ruthless man? Obviously, but a very effective administrator. No wonder the Westerlands is so well nowadays," Replied Ragnar.
"Careful, my lord; one would think you admire Tywin Lannister." Said a feminine voice. Ragnar turned his head to see Dacey; she wore an emerald green dress; she was elegant; her deep blue eyes were highlighted by the crown of blue roses she still wore. Ragnar stood up, and she offered him her right hand; he took it and gave a slow kiss on her knuckles. She smiled and him but said nothing.
" My lady, you look stunning; the crown of roses suits you, as does the dress, but I confess I'm curious to see you in armor; a woman who can be this elegant in a dress must be irresistible on plate armor," Ragnar said; Dacey didn't blush, but she smiled.
" Well my lord, one can only wonder. They said you looked like a hero of old on your Valyrian steel armor. If you let me it, then I can think about wearing armor for you," Dacey said, and Ragnar smiled
" For me, you say? I shall think about it." Ragnar said, and for the first time, Dacey blushed.
Dacey and Ragnar kept their flirting with each other to the point of making Jorah and Gerion leave. During the feast, Ragnar danced with Dacey 2 times; he danced with two random ladies and surprisingly with an 11 years old Cersei. It was weird; she was just a little girl, spoiled to the core little girl but a little girl nonetheless. She didn't look at Ragnar with disdain but with confusion, as if he was someone who she couldn't understand. He OBVIOUSLY didn't ask and tried to get as far away from her as possible. The emo prince played one of his melancholic songs, which killed the feast mood and as good Nord Ragnar couldn't let the party die when he was in it, so he asked Rhaegar for his harp; this brought all attention to Ragnar
" This song is about a girl I met in Volantis ( lie)" he said as he began to play a happy tune, and then he began:
Sera was never quite an agreeable girl;
Her tongue tells tales of rebellion.
But she was so fast,
And quick with her bow,
No one quite knew where she came from.
Sera was never quite the quietest girl;
Her attacks are loud and they're joyful.
But she knew the ways of nobler men,
And she knew how to enrage them.
She would always like to say,
"Why change the past,
when you can own this day?"
Today she will fight,
To keep her way.
She's a rogue and a thief,
And she'll tempt your fate….
Ragnar's voice made the song unforgettable for everyone present; the song would become a hit in all of Westeros in a few moons, of that Ragnar was sure. The song brought the excellent mood back to the feast. Later that night, in private quarters, the King would offend Tywin Lannister by denying to betroth Rhaegar to Cersei.