Chapter 23: The Ancient Beast.
Old Valyria
It had been a few hours since Aenar had left. They were sitting and waiting for his return. She had a strange feeling that something was going to happen, but maybe it was just the pregnancy that was making her anxious.
As she caressed her dragons, Daenerys was looking at her rejuvenated mother. She was so beautiful, and she looked so like her. Even though she was only a little bit older.
"Mother, how do you feel?" Daenerys asked, curiously. She felt stronger than before and a great connection with Syrax, her black dragon, but with Silverwing the connection was minor. But he always wanted to stay close to her belly, and she didn't know why.
"Well, I fell the same and fell that I'm stronger than before. I don't know how to explain. And of course, I'm younger," said her mother, as she caressed Rhaegal. "I also feel a stronger connection with Rhaegal than before."
"Like me. I have a great connection with Syrax."
"What about Silverwing?"
"Not so strong, but I can still feel what he is feeling. More or less."
"I know why. And so do you," said her mother, whispering and looking into her eyes, putting her hand on her belly.
After some silence, her mother said, "Aenar told me to stop taking the Moon tea, after our nights of sex, because he wants a child."
But Daenerys didn't answer, placing her hand on her belly. She should tell him, but she doesn't want to disappoint him if she loses the baby. She knows that if she loses him, she'll feel horrible and Jon will hate her and blame her for the loss.
"Tell him, Daenerys. I know how you feel, because I felt the same every time, I got pregnant by your father. But Aenar isn't Aery. You need to tell him." Her mother said, but Daenerys shook her head to say no.
Her mother, standing up and kneeling beside her, took her hand and said, "Daughter, you'll make things worse if you don't tell him. If you lose the baby and find out in that way, he'll be even angrier, and he won't trust you anymore."
Sighing, she nodded, and her mother hugged her.
Standing up, her mother walked away, and asked Arthur, "Where did he go all alone?" and Daenerys could hear the worry in her voice.
"He went into the heart of the island a few hours ago. But..."
At that instant, they heard a loud roar coming from the heart of Old Valyria, and Caraxes immediately flew into the air and headed in that direction at great speed.
Daenerys immediately stood up in panic, and ran to Arthur, "Aenar is in danger, Ser Arthur. You need to gather the men and go to him."
"No. My orders are to protect you, and to take you back to the ship if there is any danger."
"Did you hear that roar, Ser?" she said angrily, with one hand on her hips and the other pointing in that direction. Caraxes flew to his rescue. He will defend him against anything, man or beast."
"No!" said Daenerys angrily, and added, "If you must protect me, then then maybe I should take one of your swords, and go help Aenar, so maybe that way you'll follow me too." And she grabbed one of the swords that Arthur carried on his hips.
But at that very moment, they heard the screams of a man, and when they all turned around, they saw him burning, and some small species of worms, coming from underground spitting fire.
"Fire worms!" shouted Arthur and all the soldiers accompanying them ran to defend them.
"Ser Barristan! To the ship. NOW!" And the old knight took her mother by the hand, leading her towards the ship, and her mother took her by the hand, while their men tried to defend the retreat, killing the little Fire Worms, though they were burning too.
The great beast was very giant, much bigger than Caraxes, and it roared mighty roars, but Caraxes was no less. Despite his young age, he was firm in his right to challenge the beast with his roars, which were not at the same level as the other beast. Aenar, on the other hand, with his shield open and Blackfire unsheathed, was in position, ready to help his dragon.
In that moment Aenar was also attacked by small Fire worms coming from the cracks of the ground when he saw a fire and roaring coming at him, and so he started to fight, while Caraxes rose up in the air and drew the attention of the great beast away, who had started to spit fire towards him.
While he was killing the little Fire Worms that were attacking him, Aenar never lost sight of the Great Beast, who was casting after Caraxes, who keep flying, to avoid the flame of the beast, and for sure to keep him away from Aenar because he could feel Caraxes mood.
Once the little fire worms were killed, Aenar turned his attention to the Great Beast and charged at it trying to cut through his skin, but it was almost impossible. The beast's skin was very hard, and that only drew the beast's attention, and after giving him a look, he hit Aenar with his tail, making him fly backwards for a few yards, and losing Blackfire from his grip.
Before he lost his senses for a moment Aenar heard the cry of Caraxes, and how from the sky, he attacked the beast's head, and Aenar closed his eyes, losing consciousness.
"This is your end young dragonlord," Aenar heard a mighty voice say, while all around him was dark. "The beast has killed Aerion's dragon. He destroyed his army. He infected your little princess and wounded Balerion the Black Dread, the mightiest of the dragons in your lineage. Do you really think you and your wretched dragon can stand against him?"
"'Who are you?" shouted Aenar into the darkness, but the voice did not answer. After a moment he said, "Your beast is about to get the fate he deserves. The mighty Fire Worm is about to devour him as you lie on the ground. Your dragon is about to die just because you were foolish enough to venture into the heart of the doomed island and reclaim the ancient city, just like the fool Aerion."
"You underestimate my power!" shouted Aenar to the voice in the darkness. "You underestimate my bond with Caraxes!"
"It's you the one that overestimates your dragon's power, young Dragonlord!" replied the voice laughing.
And in that moment, he started to recover, seeing Caraxes on the ground, with the beast's fangs stuck in his neck, as he tried to tear him apart, and Caraxes trying to scratch him on the body, attempting to free himself, but in vain.
Aenar stood up and looked around to see where his sword was, and when his gaze settled on it he knew it was too far away.
He looked around and saw that there were some old arrows of Aerion's army on the ground; he did not know whether to use them, because they were close or whether to try to run and get his sword, but hearing the agonizing roars of Caraxes, Aenar took the bow that was around his body and picked up the arrows from the ground.
Then pointed them at the eye of the beast. Only one precise shot was needed, and remembering the teachings of Balaq, Aenar took a breath, and drawing his bow, with the arrow nocked he aimed at the beast's head, specifically at the eye.
Releasing it in an instant the arrow reached its target, and the screaming beast left Caraxes'neck while lifting his head up, roaring powerfully and painfully.
Taking advantage of this distraction, Aenar ran to get his sword.
Once in his hand, he looked towards his dragon, seeing that it was still on the ground, but was slowly creeping away. So Aenar, trying to buy him some time when he saw that the beast was recovering, he opened his shield and started to hit on it, drawing the beast's attention his way, with the loud sound.
The yellow beast was enraged, it could be seen by the look on his snout. And he charged at Aenar, who tried to avoid it almost in vain, because the beast always took him in full, and he started to feel the hits on his body, which was weakening.
After a while, Aenar found himself again on the ground, and now he no longer had the strength to fight the beast, and when he saw that the beast was about to spit fire, Aenar was ready to welcome his end that had come.
So he got up with difficulty from the ground, on his knees, and opened his arms, while closing his eyes to welcome the flame that would cause his end.
But when he closed his eyes inadvertently, warged in Caraxes, who somehow, found the strength to stand up, and immediately flying to put himself between the beast and Aenar. In that moment, inside Caraxes, despite how weakened his dragon was, he felt a mighty cold come out of the dragon.
And When he opened his eyes immediately again, breaking that way the warging with Caraxes, he saw him spit what seemed to be ice against the fire of the beast, and whose head freezes for a moment.
Taking advantage of that, his dragon looked towards him, and Aenar standing up, with difficulty, climbed on his back, and then flew away towards their ships.
Now that they were on the ship, they were leaving the island, and Arthur was checking to see if there were any wounded, as they had left the dead bodies behind and didn't have time to take them.
When she heard a roar from the sky, Rhaella looked in that direction and saw Aenar's dragon heading towards their ship, which was the largest in the fleet, lowering herself more and more, and then falling to the dock. She ran immediately to him and saw, that Caraxes was wounded because blood was coming from his neck. Rhaella then saw Aenar who was on his back, who falls from the dragon.
"Arthur!" she shouted, and the knight ran immediately at them, with some men. "Let's take him to the cabin. Quickly!"
At that very moment, they heard that powerful roar again from Valyria, but they didn't see anything.
Once they were inside the cabin, in which also Ser Barristan and Daenerys arrived, who had a very worried look on her face, Arthur, helped by Rhaella, began to take off Aenar's armour. She placed the sword by the bed along with the strange bow.
Now that he was left with only his trousers, Rhaella saw that Aenar's top body was full of bruises.
"He'll be all right, my queen. He just needs to rest a bit, and to heal those bruises that are almost nothing for him," said Arthur as he was checking him.
Rhaella sighed. When he wakes up Rhaella will give him a real head wash regarding his recklessness that he will remember it for the rest of his life. Now she must go to the dragon, and looking toward Ser Barristan she said, "Keep an eye on the king and on my daughter. If he wakes up, don't let him leave the cabin until my return."
He nodded and after taking one look at his daughter who was sitting on the bed next to Aenar holding his hand, she headed towards the docks, accompanied by Arthur.
When she went to Caraxes, she saw that he lost a lot of blood, and for a moment didn't know what to do.
"Ser Arthur, bring me some fresh wipes and very long. And bring also some ropes."
Back in the cabin where Aenar was after some hours and after had cured Caraxes, Rhaella saw that he was awake, "Aenar. Have you recovered already?" she asked, approaching him, and then kissed him on the lips.
"Sore, but yes. How is Caraxes?"
"Injured," she answered. "It's hard to heal a dragon... and especially not having a Master on the ship." She poured some water into a cup and gave one to Aenar and Dany.
"Tell me Aenar. Why the fuck did you go into the heart of Valyria?" she said angrily. She was furious with him now that he was awake. He could have died just because he likes to do the most dangerous things, and without thinking.
"Careful, grandmother. That language doesn't suit a queen," he replied, chuckling and coughing, mocking her, which made her even more angry.
"I don't give a damn shit if it suits a queen or not," Rhaella said, raising her voice, "You behaved like an irresponsible fool. If you and Caraxes had died, it would have been the end of us. Do you really think the Golden Company would follow us to Westeros?"
"Of course they would. And you have dragons too," he responded calmly, sipping from his cup, "Shit, I need wine and not water," he added, trying to get up, but she pushed him back down on the bed, crossing her hands in front of her chest, and caught a glimpse that Daenerys was about to laugh when Aenar said, "My love..."
"No!" she said, pushing his hands away. "It's time to have a good talk with you!"
And he rolled his eyes, lying on the bed with his hands behind his head, surely thinking of distracting her with his appearances, considering that he was shirtless, wearing only his pants, so his muscles and abs were highlighted but so were the few bruises on his body. He was wrong. She has lived longer than him, had more experience, and as a result, she easily resists these... moments, not like young virgins maiden who gets wet and forget of everything else at the mere sight of a shirtless and muscular man.
"As the future king of Westeros, you must be more careful and risk your life less in this useless kind of expeditions. Our house will end if you die, nephew, do you understand me?"
"Yes, yes..." he said, sighing and in a bored way.
"Agh. Aenar, stop being like this!" she said.
"Like what?" he asked with a smirk on his lips, rising on his elbows. She sighed, and angrily left the cabin, to head for the dock. This conversation didn't really go as she had hoped.
When her mother left their cabin, Daenerys kept looking towards Aenar and bit her lips so as not to jump on him at that very moment. But now remembering the conversation she had with her mother earlier on the island, she decided to tell Aenar about her condition.
"I'm surprised you haven't yelled at me yet," he said, looking towards her with his beautiful gray eyes, and she hoped that her child would have the same eyes as Aenar.
Shaking her head, she said, "Oh, I'm very angry with you Aenar, but I'm using all my will not to yell at you. My mother said that getting upset is not very good for my condition."
"Condition?" Aenar asked, raising himself immediately, and taking her hand. "What do you mean?"
"What happened there, Aenar?" she asked instead.
"That beast is still alive, Dany. "
"The big Fire Worm?" she asked, and he nodded. "But I thought he was extinct?"
He shook his head, and said, " He lived inside the Great Mines of Valyria, for thousands of years, and survived to the Doom. And he's thirsty for dragon blood, Dany. he slew Aerion's dragon and his army, he mortally wounded Balerion the Black Dread." And Daenerys felt how her breath grew at the thought that Aenar and Caraxes had faced that beast.
"We were only lucky because Caraxes spat ice on the beast at the last moment or we would have been doomed." She immediately threw her hands around Aenar's neck hugging him. She could have lost him because of his recklessness, and he returned it.
"You mentioned your condition," he said, breaking the hug. "What do you have?"
She looked first at their intertwined hands, then in his eyes, and said, "I didn't want to tell you now, I thought I'd do it in more months from now because I didn't want to disappoint you, but Rhaella advised me that I should tell you."
"Daenerys, you're making me worry," he said in a voice that was indeed very worrying.
"Aenar...I'm...I'm pregnant," she said, looking down, not having the courage to look him in the eye. She was afraid to see the anger and disappointment in his eyes for not telling him, not trusting him with the outcome.
What?" he asked, letting go of her hand, and she dared to look at him.
"After the battle of Myr, Gregory told my mother that I was almost four weeks pregnant," she replied, looking down again, but then she felt his hand under her chin lift it up and making it hard not to look at him in the eyes.
" Four weeks and you didn't tell me?"
Well, if I do better the maths now, I should be about eight and a half weeks," she chuckled, trying to warm up the moment if he was angry with her. "But the reason I didn't tell you was because I didn't want to disappoint you in case, I lost the baby."
At that moment she heard him chuckling, and caressing the cheek with his thumb, he said, "My dear little Dany. Don't ever be afraid to tell me anything. It doesn't matter if you had lost the baby. I would never have held you responsible for that, like Aerys did with Rhaella." She kisses the palm of his hand, turning his face for a moment.
"A child," he smiled. Soon I will become a father." He laughed, and so did Daenerys. They were laughing like a couple of madmen, and if anyone came through that door, they'd really think they were a couple that.
Stopping for a while, but continuing to smile, they looked him in the eye for a moment, and then, Aenar attacked her lips kissing her, and deepening the kiss, making her fall on her back. It felt so good to kiss him, to touch him, to have him in her arms, and Daenerys started to feel the heat between her legs and her pussy getting wet when he started to touch her thigh, even though she was wearing breeches.
"We'll have to stop. You just fought, and you've got bruises."
"Nothing your kisses can't heal," he replied as he kept kissing her.
"Jon," she moaned his second name as she dipped her hands in his hair, "I don't want to hurt you."
"There's nothing better than a..."
"A fuck after a fight," she added, "I know. That's what you've always said since we met." And he chuckled.
Daenerys moaned, feeling his hand getting into her breeches while he kept kissing her. "You're already wet," he said, touching her pussy, and she moaned, chuckling.
As he stopped touching her pussy, Jon opened her dress and threw it on the floor, exposing her slightly grown tits. And he immediately attacked them, squeezing them, biting them, sucking on them, and she moaned at that, closing her eyes, and feeling a little pain, because she was also very sensitive now, "Easy!"
But he glanced at her and then started to go down, giving her lots of kisses on the belly, and then got up to remove her boots and breeches.
Then he began to kiss the inside of her thighs slowly and teasingly, which made her insane, especially because his beard was tickling her.
"Aenar, stop teasing me and... Oh..." she felt his lips settling on her cunt.
"So wet," he whispered, giving her kisses, and then started stroking her, slowly, with his thumb.
With one hand to spread her slick folds, and starting to lick her pussy, while she arched up and called out his name, "Aenar..." as her hands were finding their way to his black curly hair. She could feel her toes curl at the sensation, as she spread more her legs.
His lips found her clit, making her moan loudly when he sucked and nipped at the sensitive nub of nerves. Her hands were clutching on his curls, so hard, that she fears that she is going to tear them from his head.
Then he pushes two fingers inside her, easily finding that sweet spot inside her walls that made her melt for him and her walls clenched around his fingers. She left his hair when he started to thrust his finger fast, and she arched even more her back, as she was gripping her pillow, or whatever she could. He sucked on her clit again, and she could feel her release.
"Aenar, Aenar," she moaned, squeezing her eyes.
Then after cleaning up, he started, to kiss his way up, and stopping again on her breasts, "Now I know why there are bigger, he whispers, squeezing them, then claiming her lips. Dany could taste herself on his lips, and the hardness from his breeches.
As he was over her, but still holding on his arms, she started to push his breeches down, and she gasped in the moment his cock touched her pussy.
Then she felt him bring his hand between their body and aligning his cock with her entrance. With one slow thrust, he entered her, making her full.
"All Gods. You so warm, so tight, so welcome," he said starting to move his hips, as she was caressing him.
Then he started to increase the speed of his thrust, and harder, and Daenerys could see the stars on how good he was fucking her.
And they continued to fuck in almost every position, he could take her, and almost in every corner of the cabin, despite the ship's movement.
While Arthur was on the ship's dock with the captain, he saw Queen Rhaella emerge from under the deck, heading towards the dragon, and she did not have a good face. And Arthur was sure they had a fight. Or rather, she shouted at him while Aenar was indifferent. That boy no matter how much he and Ashara teached him, he was still the same way. Hothead. Like his mother, and father in some ways
"He's always like that," Arthur said, leaning against the edge of the ship, beside Queen Rhaella, and of course where was also Caraxes who was sleeping.
"Yes. I tried to give him the speech, but he didn't want to listen," she said, looking toward the sea.
"He is his parents' son after all," replied Arthur sighing.
Rhaella, chuckling, said, "Rhaegar wasn't like that at all."
"No, Your Grace. He was just like that. And that is exactly what led him to his death." Arthur remembered his old friend as a great dreamer, and a great man despite how the realm now sees him. Aenar, in his own way, was also a dreamer, but his dreams are towards the conquests rather than the past like Rhaegar had obsessed with the White Walker and the Prince who was Promised.
"It is love that brought him to his death, Ser Arthur," she replied, turning towards him, and in this way bringing him back from his thoughts. "And Aerys' madness turned the old lion against us."
And Arthur nodded.
"What was she like, Arthur? I never met her because I wasn't at the Tournament, but she must have been very special for capturing my son's heart."
" She was your grace. A rarity. And Aenar's recklessness comes from her. It was what attracted Rhaegar," he replied, remembering the young lady at the tournament of Harrhenal, who challenged three knights for what their squires did against Lord Reed, one of her father's Bannerman.
"The knight of the Weirwood tree?" she asked, looking towards him, again.
And Arthur nodded.
"Aerys thought he was there to destroy his kingdom," laughed Rhaella. "And how right he was," she added, but keep laughing, and Arthur chuckled. "That girl was the ruin of his kingdom. Is it true that young Arya Stark looks like her?"
" She's still young, but yes. She looks a lot like her."
"Let's hope she doesn't have the same fate," said Rhaella in all seriousness.
Suddenly they heard moans, and screams, from under the deck, and Arthur became a little embarrassed about that, especially because he was also standing next to Queen Rhaella, who had also been lying with Aenar a few days earlier.
"Poor Barristan," she said, looking towards the sea. " He has to listen to how Aenar and Daenerys are fucking because he needs to protect them."
"At least he is not guarding a rapist," commented Arthur, still remembering those nights when he stood guard at the Queen's door while the King raped her.
After some silence, she said, "You remember my cries in that nights when Aerys raped me, don't you?"
"Yes. And I so wanted to go into that room and beat him," Artur replied, feeling the anger and regret for allowing that, and for listening to the oaths and Ser Gerold.
"You were a Kingsguard, Ser Arthur. There was nothing you could do anyway. Your vows forbade it," she replied, surprising him.
"There have always been great Kingsguard, Ser Arthur, but at the end of the day, they still protected the shit of a King that was sitting on the Throne. And sometimes they paid with their lives."
"The Dragon Knight," he said, recalling the great and noble Knight, who lost his life defending that whoremonger of a king. But that is the job of the Kingsguard. To defend the king, no matter how he was.
He saw her approaching, and placing her hand on his cheek, she said, "I'm glad you survived and protected my nephew all this time, Arthur."
And she walked away, but Arthur was able to say, "And I'll do it until my dying day."
Rhaella smiled and then went below the deck. "I will do it forever," whispered Arthur to himself.
After three days of travel, they reached Volantis.
"We won't stay long," Aenar said to those who accompanied them. "Don't lose sight of the cargo. Nor of my dragon." The soldiers nodded.
Turning to Dany and Rhaella he said, "Go to a tavern. Eat, drink. Get some rest. I have somewhere to go. Ser Barristan, don't let them out of your sight."
And he left without further addition, heading towards the forgery, with Arthur with him.
Once there, the blacksmith said, "Ah the young commander. Are you here for a new sword? Or a new armour?"
"No. I'm here to offer you a job!" replied Aenar, taking him by surprise, and it could have been seen on his face by the look he had.
"I already have a job, Commander. In one of the best cities in Essos."
"But you had it limited. When I return to Westeros, I will need the best blacksmith in the world, and you are one of the best.
"Westeros is full of blacksmiths."
"But no one as good as you. You are also the only one who knows how to reforge the Valyrian steel, for what I know," said Aenar trying to be more persuasive. He really needed this blacksmith because he will be put aware regarding how to forge the Valyrian steel.
"I'll have to think," said the blacksmith as he crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Of course, it's a very exciting offer, and I'd have a lot to gain from it, but this place has a lot to offer too, especially considering that I've been offered to do a very important work, which will guarantee me a lot of income."
"You have until sundown to decide when my ship will sail," Jon said, leaving the Forge.
As they passed through the crowded market of Volantis, Arthur said, "Do you think he'll accept the offer?"
"Yes," replied Aenar, looking ahead as he kept walking.
"Volantis is a great power to have against," noted Arthur, as they kept walking through the crowd and looking around Aenar nodded. Indeed, Volantis was the second most powerful city in Essos, after Braavos with a strong fleet and a considerable army, though mostly made up of slavers. Who were loyal to R'hollor.
"As long as I have the Red Priestess on my side, Volantis won't move a finger against me, Arthur."
"And tell me, Your Grace, do you trust this Red Priestess? Because I don't."
"Neither I trust them, Arthur. I'm only using what they are offering," responded Aenar. He knew why the Red Priestess are helping him, and the moment he won the Great war they will tun against him.
"So if we take back Westeros and Kinvara asks to burn all the other gods or the Weirwoods, what will you do?"
"We'll think about that when the time comes, Arthur. For now, my plans are aimed at Lys and Tyrosh. They must pay for the attack and almost the death of Daenerys."
"Yes. After all, our men are thirsting for battle and blood."
Aenar chuckled, and said, "They'll have plenty when we get back to Westeros." And they headed for the inn where Dany and Rhaella surely were.
After having rested a couple of hours in the inn, and seeing that the sun was almost setting, they went down to eat.
While they were eating and drinking in the inn, Aenar asked Dany and Rhaella, "What did you saw in the temple of Valyria?".
"Visions of the future, I think," said Daenerys. "The first was the one where I was on a ford full of rubies, riding a dragon and fighting an army of men in ice armour, then a mighty titan with a broken sword kneeling before a great horned dragon. But the last one I didn't understand. She was a strange winged woman with claws, holding a dragon's eye between them."
"The harpy," he said, sipping from the cup. That's what he saw in one of the visions, too, and he knew what he had to do in that moment, and Daenerys' vision did nothing else than confirm it.
"And you Rhaella?" he asked when he saw her looking down into her plate, and after some hesitation, she said, "I saw the battle on the Trident between a Dragon and a Stag. A young pregnant woman with curly, silvery-blonde hair standing in front of a pyre, crying. An old lion spitting fire in a red castle with several animals kneeling around him." Now Aenar was confused because he did not understand what they were or to whom they referred, but he believed that Rhaella knew and didn't want to share the thoughts, because they are scaring her.
"I also saw a dragon, tortured and burning in the middle of a shadowy temple with a bloody moon in the sky," she added, then drinking all the wine that was in her cup as Aenar looked at her. These visions really shocked her deeply, it could be seen on her face.
"So another war will be fought on that bloody trident?" Barristan asked, who was sitting there with them.
"I don't know. But I intend to stop the White Walkers at the Wall," said Aenar as he finished the cup. He knew that if the North falls so the other six Kingdoms will fall with it, and he has no desire to see Westeros succumb to death.
After some silence, Aenar asked something that had popped in his head since the moment the old Knight joined them, "Ser Barristan, I never asked you, what has the usurper done to my father's body? Did he give him a proper burial after his fall? Or did the usurper butchered the body and marched with the head on King's Landing?"
"I don't know, Your Grace," replied the knight, "Some say his body was burned along with all the fallen, others say the rivers of the trident took him away. A few years later there were madmen claiming that they saw Rhaegar Targaryen alive rooming around the Riverlands. But they were killed for saying such things. Anyway, I was wounded that day, when your father died, and apart from the rumors, Your Grace I don't know what else to say."
Aenar nodded. He swore to give this same fate to the usurper and his heirs and to drag that damn Stag to the trident and kill him in the same fork where his honourable father died.
After they had finished eating, they headed toward the ships to start their journey back to Myr and hopping that there will not be a sea attack.
Myr
Aenar and his company, have been gone for almost three weeks, and Arya was missing him. Or rather, missing the training with the sword, and the flights with Caraxes. Although to her disappointment only twice.
His cousin said he was still too young to carry two people for a long ride. But she was optimistic that very soon Caraxes would be able to carry two people for a longer time because he was growing up very fast.
Other times she tried occasionally to train with Alyssa, but her mood swings bored Arya even more, and she tired herself quite fast. But if she wanted to train with soldiers or the recruits, Ashara would always stop her, saying that it wasn't good for her to spend time with soldiers.
But despite the flights and the training, she missed her family very much, especially her father.
As she was wandering around the Palace with needle at her side, Arya decided to finally go and meet Seara's brother, Eric. He hasn't left his room since Aenar brought him, and Arya has also been busy with training to get to know him. But now it was time, and she was very curious to meet this boy because his sister talked a lot about him.
Knocking at the room, Arya heard no answer, so without hesitation, she opened the door and went inside. The bedroom was empty, and she looked around, and it wasn't very big as a room. Not like her or the ones where Aenar and his queens sleep. The bed was already made, but there was no sign of them. Hearing voices coming from the second room, the one where the bath was usually done and other things, Arya went there.
"Eric, hurry up and bathe, I want to go outside..." but Seara stopped when she saw her enter.
"Arya!" Seara exclaimed, running straight to hug her. She hugged her back and turned her attention to the brother.
"So you are Eric."
"Yes," he replied, looking towards her. He had golden hair like the Lannisters, or at least like someone from that region, and long, reaching up to his shoulders, but now wet, they were all tucked back.
As she approached the bathtub, Arya saw how he immediately brought his hands into it, and she realized that he must be feeling uncomfortable and stopped.
When she was about to ask him something, she heard Seara ask, "Now that Eric is recovered, do you think the king will send us away from the palace, Arya?"
"Of course he's going to send us away. What will he need two peasants and slaves," commented Eric. And Arya gave him a deadly glare.
"Of course not, Seara. You're my friend, and when we return to Westeros, I'll ask him to send you with me to Winterfell," replied Arya, believing every word and she will ask Aenar that when he returns. Seara's face lit up when she heard that and smiled.
"Why are you here, my lady?" Eric asked her, bringing her back to the present, and she annoyed by the title, snap in a ruddy way, "Never call me that way, bastard." Then, feeling horrible, when she saw the boy lower his head and say sincerely, "I'm sorry if I insulted you."
Sighing, knowing she was the one who was wrong, said, approaching the bathtub, and with her hands on it, she said, "Listen, Eric. We started it in the wrong way. Let's start this all over again. "
He nodded.
"I am Arya Stark, but you never call me lady, do you understand? I hate that title." The boy nodded and Arya added, "The reason I'm here is I don't have anyone with whom I can train. Aenar and Daenerys are away, as well as Arthur and Ser Barristan. Torrhen is busy with whatever Aenar has asked him to do, and Alyssa has her mood swings that infuriate me sometimes. So, I was wondering if you'd like to spar with me?"
" Train with me? But I don't know how to use the sword, only a wooden stick. "
"That's enough. And I'll teach you," replied Arya with a smile and the boy after a while, though hesitant, accepted. "Now get dressed," she said, coming out of the room.
"Can I learn it too?" Seara asked.
"When you're older. You're only six years old. Wait a few years." Seara nodded and lowered her head with disappointment.
After Eric got dressed, they headed to the room where they could train.
When they arrived there, they saw that it was already occupied, as there were Alyssa and some of her men training, using a sword and a knife in her hand.
"Alyssa. Are you here to train?" asked Arya as she approached the woman, once she had finished, to drink some water
"Yes," she answered, smiling. "Would you like to practice with me, Arya?"
"Of course. But I hope your changes of mood are over." Said Arya, and Alyssa chuckled, getting into position.
As they watched Arya training with Alyssa, Ashara said, "I would love to have a baby," drawing Torrhen's attention to her, which wrapped her in an embrace. "I want to feel the baby inside me growing, and moving, just like I did with my little one that I lost." feeling her tears coming every time she remembers the child she lost before she could even hold him in her arms.
"When you're ready, I'm ready. But it's you who must want it, my love."
Ashara nodded, kissing him and bringing her hands on her belly that a long time ago carried a life, and that she had lost it.
"Lady Ashara, Torrhen. There are visitors," said one of the soldiers, and Ashara glanced at Torrhen, who shook his head, and followed the guard.
Entering the great throne room set up by order of Aenar, she saw that Ethenaine was already there, with some soldiers sitting on the right side of the throne.
"My lady," he greeted her, while the man who was standing bowed.
"Don't bow to me, Ser. I'm not a king or a queen." And he nodded. "Who are you, knights?" she asked.
"My name is Ser Jorah of House Mormont. I come here to offer my services to the rightful king of the Seven Kingdoms and to join his Kingsguard and the Golden Company."
"Commander Aenar, who is also the King of the Seven Kingdoms, is not in the city at the moment, but we will consider your offer, knight," replied Ethenaine.
Instead Ashara, sure that the Knight was hiding something and that his intentions were not so noble, because she knew part of his recent history, so approaching him, she asked, "What is the real reason why you are here, Ser?".
"I don't understand, my lady," he said, trying to avoid her eyes, and that only confirmed her suspicions.
"You see, Ser. During my time with the Company, I have heard many stories circulating here and there, and King Aenar was very curious about the stories of the Westerosi who were exiled."
She saw how the Knight was getting worried, and his breathing increased.
"Your spies informed us how six months ago you were hired by the spider to join the Company, win his loyalty and inform the spider and the usurper of our plans."
"My lady..."
"Are you or are you not at the service of the spider, Ser!?" she asked in an angry tone while raising her voice, and his silence alerted the men inside the room, and she, turning to Ethenaine, gave him a look.
"We don't need spies from the usurper in the Golden Company," Ethenaine said.
"You are mercenaries. What do you care about a man's story or his intentions. It only matters how good a man is, doesn't it?"
"Yes. But that was before. Now we are a regular army, pledge to a future king, and we don't need spies of the usurper to inform him of our plans and our movements," replied Ethenaine, surprising her greatly. "Take him away."
"Wait!" said Ser Jorah as they pushed him away.
"Leave him," said Ethenaine.
"It's true. That was my reason at first. I wanted to return to Westeros and to the North as soon as possible, and the Spider promised me a royal pardon if I were to spy on you. But after the battle of Myr, I heard the King wants to take Lys, and I intend to help him."
"What do you have to gain, Ser?" Ashara asked as she approached Mormont, and the guards left him.
"My wife," he answered, in a sad voice and looking down. "After I was exiled from the North by Ned Stark for selling slaves, Lynesse and I went to Essos. In order to keep up with my wife's demands of wealth and luxury, I sold my service as a sellsword." Ashara could see the contempt with which Mormont pronounced the name of the Lord of Winterfell. But he was wrong in being angry with Eddard. Selling slaves is an act that must be punished by death or exile, and he is lucky to be alive.
"When I returned to Lys, after the fight with the Braavosi, Tregar Ormollen, a merchant prince of Lys informed me that I would be enslaved for my debts unless I gave up Lynesse and leave Lys."
Now Ashara remembered the stories circulating in the free cities of Essos, how a Lady of an imported House of Westeros became head concubine of an important merchant prince. It is now clear who the woman in question was but the rumours circulating about her say that even the prince's wife fears her.
"Tell me, Ser, why do you want her back? A woman like her who wants more wealth and position than anything else. And she is of a cruelty beyond belief."
"I do not want her, my lady, but my revenge on the prince and his death. I no longer care what happens to Lynesse."
"Hmm. In that case, you'll have to wait for the return of the Commander and King, Aenar."
The knight nodded and left the room.
"Don't let him out of your sight Ethenaine. I don't trust him, and until proven otherwise, he's to stay away from the palace."
"Of course. But the fact is, he's not entirely wrong in what he said. Anyone who is a good warrior and knight is welcome in the company."
"Yes. But..." at that moment they were interrupted by armed guards escorting soldiers.
"What is the meaning of this?" Ethenaine asked, raising his voice as she looked towards the men who entered, and with them was Blackbourn.
"They are Stark soldiers, Ethenaine. They say they were sent here to bring Arya Stark home."
"Do you think we'll give you Arya Stark?" Ashara asked the men dressed as Stark, approaching him before Ethenaine could say something. She was sure that these were not Starks, for Aenar said that he had already sent them back some time ago and that he had also informed Eddard with the travel book that Arya would return with them. Surely they must be impostors who want to take Arya hostage.
"Woman. These are Lord Stark's orders. Deliver the girl to us, to be taken back to her father."
"Tell Lord Stark that if he wants her then he needs to come himself," she said.
"How dare you, Woman. Do you want a war with the North," said the soldier, drawing his sword.
"Guards!" shouted Ethenaine, drawing his sword out. "Take them to the dungeons of the palace."
When the guards escorted them away, Ethenaine said, "His Grace will not be happy about this. If I am not mistaken, he said that the North will be our ally in the conquest of Westeros. We shouldn't attack their envoys and soldiers."
"There are not Stark soldiers."
"Then who's soldier, are they?" Ethenaine asked confusedly.
"That's for you to find out, Commander. With every means, if you understand me," she replied and saw the second in command of the company laughing as she left the room to return to where Arya and Alyssa were training.
Yronwood
Anders Yronwood stood in the Great Hall, looking out of the window at this magnificent land of his ancestors'. It was fertile, rich with forests and deposits of iron, tin, and silver, making them the most powerful House of Dorne, despite the fact that those damn Martell hold the title of ruler. And now, with this alliance, his family will finally have the rightful place it deserves, as ruler of Dorne.
Hearing the door open, Anders saw his daughter, Gwyneth Yronwood, enter. She was an 11-year-old girl, beautiful, but different from the other members of his family. In fact, she was a skinny little girl of short stature, with dark eyes and brown hair, unlike the other members who were blond with blue eyes. But what Anders liked most about his second daughter was her intelligence and speed of hands and words. He was sure that she would make a very good wife for a Prince, even though he is a bit younger than she was. And when the time comes, they will rule from Sunspear, after the extinction of the Martell, under House Yronwood.
"You wanted to see me, Father?" she asked in her beautiful voice.
"Yes, daughter. Soon your future husband, Prince Tommen, will come, and I want you to be present when he is welcomed, and to behave well with him."
"Of course, Father. "I'll be the diligent daughter that you deserve as a father. And Cletus? Will he also be present at the welcoming?"
"No. He's not in Yronwood at the moment, as I'm sure you already know. Only you, your mother and the court, will be present alongside me at his arrival."
"And may I know when the marriage between me and Prince Tommen will take place, Father?" she asked as she stood before him.
"When the boy turns 14 and you 16," he answered, seeing his daughter sighing and lowering her head. "I know you dreamed of marrying Quentyn Martell, but he is already married to someone else, by proxy," he added, lying of course, to make the crush pass to his daughter.
"And may I know with whom, Father?" she asked, and Anders tried to figure out whether she was angry, disappointed, indifferent, or just curious.
"Daenerys Targaryen," he replied, recalling the information provided by Lord Tywin, and by his spies too. Indeed, the news of the alliance between the Martell and the Targaryen of Pentos reported only the marriage by proxy between Viserys Targaryen and Princess Arianne, but this was enough to brand the Martell as traitors of the Crown, and of the Seven Kingdoms, and therefore an opportunity for House Yronwood to seize the power.
"I'm not surprised by this," she replied almost indifferently. "However, Father, if you have revealed this because you thought I would be angry or jealous, for being rejected as the future wife of the Prince of Dorne, you will be disappointed. In fact, I am indifferent to his union with the young Targaryen girl. Of course, I won't deny that once I was infatuated with the Prince, because of how he talked with me, but no longer. And it's not like I'm losing my Prince. I won't have a prince with brown hair and the blood of the Viper, but I'll have a golden prince with the blood of the Lion. And who knows that I won't bend him to my will."
"Remember daughter. He's very young, so before you take steps on that kind of union, make him your friend."
"Of course, Father. I know my role in this family, and what I need to do with the prince."
Anders smiled, and his daughter left the room to retire and perhaps prepare to welcome the prince.
After a few hours, it was announced that Prince Tommen entered the city escorted by two hundred men, and a Kingsguard, and Anders and his family were waiting for him in the great hall.
When the doors opened, he saw the Kingsguard enter, followed by five men wearing the emblem of the Crowned Stag on their chests and shields, and then a young boy of about nine years old, escorted by 10 other guards, who this time had the emblem of the Golden Lion. The Lannister.
The master of Yronwood said, stepping forward, "I have the pleasure to present to you, Lord Anders of House Yronwood, and his family."
The Kingsguard stepped forward, bowed, and taking off his helmet, said, "My name is Arys Oakheart, Kingsguard of King Robert of House Baratheon, and swornshield of Prince Tommen." Then the boy came forward and the Kingsguard said, "May I present you, Prince Tommen of House Baratheon and Lannister."
"Welcome to Yronwood, Prince Tommen," said Anders, rising from the Lord's seat. "This is my youngest daughter, Lady Gwyneth Yronwood, your future bride." Then, holding out his hand to her daughter, he added, "Come, daughter."
And his daughter approached the Prince making a reverence, and said, "It's a pleasure to meet Prince Tommen.". So much confidence in her gaze for a young lady of only eleven.
"M-My l-lady," he said, stammering and bowing. "It's a pleasure." Anders could see on the boy's face that he was embarrassed, but it was normal for his age and didn't miss his daughter's smirk.
"Good. Tonight, we will have a feast to celebrate the arrival of Prince Tommen, and his company, and the future union of House Yronwood and the crown." Anders said to his court who started to applaud. This alliance will put him one step ahead of the damn Martell, who will soon have the end they deserve.
Ghardaq
"Your empress. The dragons must remain in the temple for the next three months. A dragon's will is very strong and it takes a long time and many dark spells to break it. They have been bonded to you, to your blood and your lineage, but they will always be drawn towards the ancient Valyria, and its direct descendants. The Targaryen."
Gagdara nodded lowering herself to caress one. He was red and black with yellow eyes and looked towards her curious. She giggled as she caressed him. Then she looked at the other little dragons too.
"This is mine," Grazdan said, bending over to a little dragon. "Or rather one of my three dragons."
"My Emperor the dragons are..."
"Silence, sorcerer!" Grazdan said, grabbing his dragon by the neck. He was a dragon full of little spikes, and horns on his face. Two horns growing on the sides of his mouth and two on his head. He was the most different of all because none of the other four dragons looked like him visually.
"And how do you want to name him, dear brother?" she asked smiling as she looked at him.
"Shruikan the Horned," he answered, holding him in his arms and looking at him. Then there was a red dragon with green eyes. "This one will be called Thornzdon the Red."
"And the third one?" asked Gagdara. He was green with yellow eyes.
"Fírneniss," he said, petting him. Then turning to her he asked "Yours?"
And she was excited to tell him. But when she was ready to say the names, he said, "Wait. I don't care how your dragons are named." And this made her angry. He was still upset with what she did during the ritual.
Standing up, he said to the sorcerer, "Break them. Let them have no will of their own. They must do only what I command." And left the ritual room.
"What are the names of the other two, my empress?" asked the sorcerer.
"This one is Glaedorn," she said, referring to the red and black dragon in her arms. The other was a purple dragon, like the sapphires of Essos, with the same purple eyes. "Saphirex."
"Good. My empress, the emperor did not let me finish, but I want to inform you that although dragons are connected with your lineage now, you can only ride one because a dragon can only have one rider."
Gagdara nodded, and said, "Begin the rituals to break them," and then left the temple to return to the Great Pyramid.
When she arrived at what was to be their bedroom, Gagdara saw that the slaves were taking away the armour, and other clothes of Grazdan and Gagdara asked, "What is the meaning of this?"
"The Emperor has asked us to take all his stuff to another room, my empress."
"Where is he?" Gagdara churches.
"In the training area," replied the slave, and she headed there.
When she got there, she saw the soldiers training, and Grazdan was speaking with Izmahr zo Murruq.
"Brother, the slaves are taking your stuff out of our room. Why?"
"I thought I was clear before at the temple. Our union is over, and consequently any other relationship with you," he replied, continuing to observe the soldiers.
"Do you think I'll accept this, brother?" she asked, angry at his behavior.
"I don't give a shit what you accept or not, sister," he replied. "Izmahr, prepare everything for our plan," and the tall man left.
"What plan?"
"My journey to Myr or wherever the Targaryen is."
"I thought you'd given up?"
"Never said that. Now leave."
"What did you mean by doing what you command, when we were in the temple, brother?" but he didn't answer ignoring her, and she, picking up a shield that was there, hit her brother on the back, knocking him to the ground.
"What the fuck are you doing, bitch," he said, from the ground.
She grabbed a sword and pointed it at him. "If you think I'm gonna step aside while you fuck someone else, or take her as your wife, you wrong. You belong to me and to none else. Let's fight now, and if you win, you'll leave for Myr, but if you lose your things will go back to where they belong, and we'll fuck till the end of our days."
He began to laugh loudly, drawing the attention of some soldiers, "You bitch," he commented, rising from the ground and taking a sword.
They started to fight, and Grazdan was attacking her almost without thinking. It wasn't his custom to fight like this, and it was almost as if he wanted to lose. Maybe he didn't really want to end their relationship.
But this was only to tire her out because his powerful attacks made her arms tired and hurt, by her defending, and all of a sudden, he knocked her to the ground with a stunt, and then he pointed his sword at her as he was pinning her down.
Instinctively, she kissed him, distracting him, then she gave him a kick-knee to the balls, making him fall to the ground, and then pointing the sword at him, while he was holding his cock and balls.
"Bitch!" he said in pain.
"You lost brother. I'm waiting for your things to go back to our room, and you to my bed," and putting the sword in place, she headed back to the pyramid, with a smirk on her lips for winning. Unfairly, but winning.
King's Landing
His father was furious for Lord Tully's escape and was preparing to make a journey to the Valley to make sure the Lords are still loyal, despite the Council's protests. He is due to leave at dawn tomorrow.
His grandfather instead was preparing his journey to Castely Rock, for his uncle Jaime's marriage to Lady Frey, and consequently charged him to rule the city in their name, since the plans were that both the king and the queen, his mother, would go to Castely Rock.
Orys would have had other plans, like leaving for Storm's End with Margery to introduce her to his children, but he would have to delay them until his father's return.
"You're very thoughtful, my love," Margery said, as she approached him, and began to rub his shoulders while he was sitting on a chair by the table.
"Only thoughtful about recent events. Lord Tully's escape, a kingdom on the foot of war, my father who keeps fucking and drinking despite the fact that there are those who are plotting against him, and now he plans to go to the Vale despite the fact that they may already be our enemies."
She didn't respond. Ever since he married Margery, Orys has tried to keep going straight as Jon wanted, despite the constant temptations of life he has. Like his father, Orys loves wine, hunting, and women, but he was trying to change, giving up on the last part.
"Any word from your brother? Is he returning to Westeros?" he asked instead.
"No. And he didn't even reply to the letter that I sent him. I have a bad feeling he's going to the Targaryen's in Myr," she replied in a worried voice as she headed for the balcony.
"Willas is not a hothead. I'm sure he'll come straight back to King's Landing," replied Orys, though he wasn't sure. And to be honest, he didn't know Willas Tyrell well because he wasn't a great warrior or drinking-buddy like his brothers were, especially Garlan, who also knew how to deal with women. And Loras preferred different kinds of companies in that situation. Willas Tyrell instead preferred books and his hawks. Something he found so boring.
"What do you think he's like?"
"Who?" Orys asked confusedly and got up from where he was sitting to head to the balcony. The air was so stinking in this city. It should be the jewel of Westeros instead it looked like the trash of Westeros.
"This young Targaryen," she said, leaning against the parapet of their balcony.
"I don't know. But he's for sure a madman who has nothing special except his name."
"There are many rumours circulating about him and his victories in Essos. It is said that his army has never seen defeat so far, and that he is a fearsome warrior," she replied in an exciting way, ignoring even his response, and he felt a fit of certain jealousy regarding that.
"The Golden Company is one of the most famous sellsword companies in the world. Famous for their loyalty to the contract given and to the Blackfire' s blood. It's true, in Essos they have never lost a war, but every time they try to invade Westeros they are defeated. You don't have to worry about them, my dear," said Orys, remembering the stories that the Masters told him about the Blackfire rebellions, and that's what Ser Barristan told when his father remembered his battles and asked the Old Ser about his own. In fact, he missed the old knight a little.
"But never before have they been led by a Targaryen," she said, looking towards him.
"The stories aren't true, Margery. The Golden Company hates the Targaryens deathly, they'd never back them up. After all, they were founded by Aegor Rivers."
"What if the Targaryen in question had a dragon."
"Dragons don't exist. They're children's stories now. The only dragons that exist are the ones under the Red Keep, or rather their skulls, and one day maybe I'll show them to you."
After some silence, she asked, "Are you afraid of him?"
Orys rolled his eyes and started to laugh, " Of a simple Sellsword? Of course not. I'm a stronger warrior than this Targaryen. I defeated Vogadhor The Strong in a duel, wielding a hammer made of Valyrian steel, a rarity in this world. And more importantly, I am the son of the Demon of the Trident."
"But he has fought more wars than you, and has already killed two Khals, including the mighty Drogo, the most powerful of the Khals. Doesn't that scare you a little bit?"
"Of course not. And according to Lord Varys, it wasn't him who confronted the two Khals, as rumour has spread, but a certain Arthur Dayne."
"The sword of the Morning?"
"No. That knight died 16 years ago at the Tower of Joy. Lord Stark killed him."
"And who told you he's dead, and the Essos Dayne isn't really him?"
"Lord Varys."
"Orys, Orys," she chuckled, "you trust the spider too much."
"Woman, enough of this conversation. I'm tired and I have a lot to do tomorrow."
"Orys!"
"What?" he snapped, in an angry way.
"We both know that when this Targaryen lands in Westeros he will defeat your father. His hatred is for..."
"I'll stop you there, woman," he said, knowing what Margery wanted to say. "There is only one way he will have that throne if my father dies. And that's through me. Until I'm alive that Targaryen bastard will not sit on that throne."
And with that, he made his way to the bed, without any other argument, throwing himself on it, and falling asleep.
Moat Cailin
Benjen was in their room, thoughtful looking out of the window. The night had fallen and foretold a stormy night, caused by rain and who knows what else.
"Why are you so thoughtful, Ben?" he heard his wife Alysanne, say, as she combed her hair for the night.
"Tomorrow morning, we leave for Winterfell, and the night is restless. It is always a bad sign a restless night before a journey," he responded as he returned to her, and hugging her.
Then they lay on the bed together while they kissed. Suddenly, in this beautiful, intimate moment, Benjen heard as the fall of an iron or a sword and that made him worry. As he got up, he took his sword and started heading for the door.
"Ben?" she called him Alysanne, and he waved to her to be quiet, and in that moment, she grabbed a knife.
Stay here, and lock the door," he said, kissing her on the lips, "Do not open to anyone and stay away from the window."
"Ben. Maybe I'd better if I come with you," she said in a worried voice and look.
"No. I wouldn't forgive myself if anything happened to you," and giving her one last kiss, he left the room.
Once outside in the hallway, Benjen looked around and noticed that there were no guards patrolling it, and seeing the wet steps on the ground panic took over his as he rushed to his children's room, which was a little further away. When he reached their room, he saw that they were two men ready to enter through the door, and he immediately hurried towards them, with a shout, to draw their attention from his children's room.
"Well, well, well. It seems that the Lord of Moat Cailin has awakened. We would have come to you as soon as we had finished with the brats, my lord," said one of the assailants, untying his sword, while he held a dagger with the other, and making a mocking bow.
"Who sent you?" asked Benjen, pointing his sword.
"Kill the brats. I'll take care of this," replied the other one charging at him, and Benjen immediately managed to parry, hearing the other one says, "Damn, the door is locked!" and he started hitting it with his shoulder, while Benjen was fighting with the second one.
He realized that these were not just throat-cutters, or bandits looking for money or whatever else, but skilled warriors. In fact, he could hardly stand up to them. However, when he found the right opportunity, parrying with his sword, he threw a powerful fist at him and knocked the man down to the ground and then he stabbed him, who made a painful sound. This drew the attention of his companion, who stopped hitting the door and turned his attention to him. "You bastard!"
Benjen was quite tired, but he will not give up, because a trapped wolf is even more dangerous.
At that moment he heard the guards' voices coming in his direction and smirking, he said, " You are a finished assassin. Tell me who sent you, and I could grace your life."
The murderer started laughing, "Do you really think your miserable guards will stop me from doing my job?"
"The whole garrison is on alert," replied Benjen, as in that moment he heard the bells ringing.
The assassin charged at him, fighting fiercely, with sword and dagger, causing Benjen to retreat. If he was not very good with his feet, he would be doomed.
He immediately parried the killer' s slash from above and then disarmed him, but at the same time, the man cut him on the side with the knife, causing him to fall to the ground.
"It seems your end has come, Lord of Moat Caillin," and he was preparing to stab him with the knife, but at that very moment, an arrow hit the assassin in the throat, causing him to fall to the ground. And Benjen, taking advantage of the situation, pierced him through the heart with his sword, to finish him off, then he too falls to the ground, holding his side, and losing consciousness because of the wound, and the blood that he had lost.
Winterfell
"Is everything ready for the arrival of the lords, Robb?"
"Yes," he answered. When Robb returned from Essos, his father informed him that he intended to summon all the Lords of the North to Winterfell, to inform them of his plan to form an alliance with the Wildlings, the building of the defence of the North, the signalling tower and to inform them of his cousin and that he intend to pledge his allegiance to him.
As they walked down the corridor, they met Rodrik, who said, "Lord Stark, some Lords are already on their way to Winterfell."
"Already!?" exclaimed Robb, surprised.
"Did you see who they were?" his father asked.
"House Umber, House Bolton, House Manderly, and House Cerwyn."
"Good. Let's go greet them then."
Once they were on the great balcony, they saw the Northern Lords, with their escort enter through the main gates, and his father descended the stairs to go and greet them, followed by him and Rodrik.
"Jon."
"Ned," said Lord Umber laughing, grabbing his father in a bear hug. He knows that he was the GreatJon because of how big he was. In fact, Lord Umber was bigger and taller than his father. Almost like a big bear, and he had a powerful voice.
"I thought it would take you longer to arrive here," said his father.
"Naha, I got bored and didn't want to wait for all the preparations. I gathered my folks, and I rode off as soon as I got your raven." He said, then starting to laugh again.
"You know that we'll still need to wait for the other Northern Lords to arrive before we start the Great Meeting."
And Lord Umber nodded.
Then Robb saw Lord Roose Bolton, the Lord of Dreadfort, get off his horse. He is known as the Leech Lord. A cold, calculating, opportunistic man. Ready to seize the perfect moment to betray his Lord and become Warden of the North or more. His cousin warned him that he might be working with the Lannisters and the crown because his spies informed him there were Traitors in the North. There is no proof of that, but Lord Bolton is the only one whose loyalty might be questionable.
"Lord Bolton, I did not expect you so soon."
"I decided to leave while the weather was still favorable, my lord. The skies of the North announce a storm approaching," replied Bolton with his low, and calm voice.
His father nodded, and said, "Your rooms have been prepared."
Lord Bolton headed for the castle, with Lord Umber, followed closely by another young man, perhaps of the same age as Robb, and who looked very much like Lord Bolton. But you could see he was more bloody, psychopathic and cruel than Lord Bolton. He must have been the famous Ramsey Snow, the Lord's bastard son, and who was rumoured to have killed his brother Domeric. That was all the more reason to keep an eye on him.
"Lord Manderly," greeted him his Father. He was a very fat man and had great difficulty getting on and off the horse and resisting long journeys. But nevertheless, he was one of the most powerful lords in the North, and also very loyal to his father. Robb, however, expected that he would send his son, Willys in his stead, but now seeing who was stepping out of the carriage, he understood why the old lord came personally. He would surely want to try to make a betrothal between his daughter, Winifred, and Robb.
But as beautiful and pretty as she was, Robb wasn't interested in her. However, right now it didn't matter whether he liked the Lady or not, he had to perform his duties as heir of House Stark and welcome her, as well as the other Lords.
As he sighed, he approached the lord's daughter and kissed her hand, "Welcome to Winterfell, Lady Winifred."
"Thank you, Lord Robb," she replied with a smile.
"Robb. Escort Lady Winifred to her chambers while I talk to the Lords," and he nodded.
As they walked to the castle in silence, Winifred said, "We both know why I'm really here, don't we, my lord?"
"Yes. Your father wants to ask my father to unite our Houses in marriage."
"That's right. How do you feel about that?"
"You are a direct woman, my lady," replied Robb, quite impressed with the Lady's boldness, but he was sure she is only that way when her father was not here or the other lords. "I'm sure that's what you'd like too, and that would be quite advantageous considering your father has a great army and many ships. But even if this union should happen, you will never have my heart, for it belongs to another woman."
"You're very honest, Robb, a rare trait among the Lords of this realm," she said, stopping and looking towards him, "But let me give you an advice. Be wise in using your honesty and honour with the right people, my lord."
"Thank you, my lady. I'll," he responded smiling.
"The woman who holds your heart is a very lucky one, and I hope she knows that."
Robb chuckled and they resumed walking.
When they got to the room where Lady Winifred was staying, Robb heard her ask, "What's her name?"
"Alyssa," replied Robb, and at the mere mention of her name his heart was beating fast, and his dick almost got hard, remembering that burning night, and how she whispered his name with pleasure, as he had fucked her.
"Just Alyssa?"
"Alyssa Snow, Commander of the Golden Spears."
"A bastard and a sellsword, has conquered the heart of the heir of the Warden of the North?" she asked with a smirk on her lips and raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. But it was her spirit and her heart that won me, my lady, not her bastard status. She could be the poorest of the peasants if she was the same," he replied, defending his beloved.
"Forgive me, my lord. I did not mean to offend or insult you. It's just that, after only a few months, you fell in love with a young sellsword girl?"
"Yes. And from the first moment I saw her, I was sure she was the right woman for me, the love of my life."
"What if you're wrong? If you fall in love with someone else, or if she already found someone else? After all, she is a sellsword. What will you do next, my lord?"
"Good day, my lady," Robb said, upset by her words, "We will see each other at the party." And after he kissed her hand, he headed back to his room, furious.
When the time of the feast came, Robb did not have a great desire to feast, but being the heir of Winterfell, by protocol he couldn't miss it since it would be considered a disrespect to the Lords present.
Even though he did not drink much tonight, he kept a careful eye on all who were present, while his father spoke and laughed with the Lords, or at least tried to.
Roose Bolton, on the other hand, was a man who spoke very little, did not laugh very much, and drank even less, although he was always by the Lords' side. While his bastard was not allowed access to the feast, because of his status, but he was sure that Ramsey Snow was doing some foolishness as he was used to do, according to his information.
After dancing with Lady Winifred, and her apologizing so many times for the way she behaved this afternoon, he was ready to retire but was stopped by his father.
"Go to the Lord's room. I'll meet you there," he whispered to him, and Robb hurried there.
When he got to the Lord's room, Robb knocked, "Come in!" and as he entered, he saw his mother in a very upset state.
"Mother, what's going on?" he asked, but she didn't answer, just handed him a scroll.
My dear daughter,
The king has accused me of treason and of plotting against the crown, and now he wants my head. I fear for the fate of the Riverlands, and for your sister's, who are surrounded by enemies, who want to take advantage of it.
I' m now on a merchant ship, in disguise, heading North.
Your beloved father
"Mother, we can't..." at that moment his father walked in and Robb stopped.
"Did you read it, Robb?"
"Yes. Father, we can't go to war yet. We're not ready, and Aenar hasn't even sailed yet," Robb said and saw his father thinking about it while he was scratching his chin, and then he put his hands on his hips.
"You want to side with your bastard nephew but not with my father, Ned?" his mother asked, with her hands on her hips.
"Ned!" his mother raised her voice when his father didn't answer.
"Lord Tully's coming here, we'll see what he has to say and what we're going to do.
"But Ned..."
"Robb, leave us."
What a situation Robb thought once he left his parent's chambers. An enemy on all sides and an ally in trouble. He would like Aenar to set sail as soon as possible, but he knows he has other plans before then. Conquer Lys and Tyrosh, thus having supplies for the coming winter and troops to reinforce them for the Great War.
When Robb arrived at his room, opening the door, he was immediately knocked over by Grey Wind, who rushed down the corridor heading outside. Robb found this odd, considering that in the late night, the cold came down and he preferred to stay in a nice warm room. So taking his sword, he left the room, heading in the direction where Grey Wind had gone.
Since Robb left the room, he and Catelyn had been arguing for nearly half an hour about this situation, but suddenly Ned heard the wolves howling outside, and looking out of the window he saw that parts of Winterfell were on fire.
"There's a fire!" exclaimed Ned, taking his sword, and heading for the exit, at great speed, followed by several guards, and once outside, he saw that the people were trying to extinguish it, and horse running around. Seeing Robb helping them, he stopped him, asking, "What happened, Robb?"
"I don't know. Grey Wind was weird. He ran outside, I followed him, and then suddenly the stables and the houses caught fire," he said, quite frightened. So they all started to help with the extinguish.
Suddenly, they heard the wolves howling again, but this time it came from inside the Palace, and Ned, turning to Robb, said, "Robb, it's a distraction. Sansa, Rickon, and your mother are in danger!"
And with several guards, they headed inside. "Robb go to your mother. I'm going to Sansa and Rickon chambers."
When he reached Rickon's chambers, Ned saw that the doors of the rooms were opened wide, and out of it, came a man, with Rickon's young black direwolf at his throat, tearing him apart, with the man crying, and swords clashing. And he immediately entered the room and throwing himself at the man who was about to drag his son from under the bed, losing his sword.
Ned immediately started hitting the man hard and fast with his fist in the face, and then pulled out the dagger and stabbed him in the neck.
Looking towards the soldiers who were fighting, he saw that they were dying, for there were enough of them, and Ned without wasting time, grabbed his sword and began to cut through them, hitting them on the legs or in the other places that were uncovered. When the attackers were killed, he shouted, "Rickon!"
And his son came from under the bed with red eyes, and tears coming down again. He lowered himself and hugged him tightly. "It's all right, boy. It's all over. You're safe now," Ned whispered to him. "Now I need to go to Sansa, so stay here with the guards and your direwolf. All right?"
The boy nodded, stroking his eyes and Ned taking the sword, said, "Make sure everyone is dead, or they can no longer walk and use the sword." And he ran to his daughter's room. On the way there he found a slaughter. Dead guards on the doorway, and inside. The direwolf was wounded as well as his daughter, in a pool of blood.
"No! No!" and he ran to the bed to examine her, dropping the sword. "Call the master. Now!" shouted Ned, to the guard who was at the door.
"Please don't die," Ned whispered to Sansa, kissing her on the forehead. "Don't die, Sansa. Old gods, don't take her away."