Chapter 24: The Howling
Winterfell
Master Luwin had just arrived and immediately started to treat Sansa. Ned left the room, while his men were taking away the dead from the keep, and the wounded into another room.
Ned did not understand what happened, who they were, and why the guards had not intervened sooner. But most of all, who sent these assassins.
At that very moment, he saw Robb coming with Great Jon behind him, and Theon stumbling, too, because of the too much wine he had drunk at the feast, for sure.
"Father. I didn't get there in time, and Mother was wounded," Robb said, and he saw that he had a worried expression on his face.
"Stay here with your sister, Robb," said Ned, placing a hand on his shoulder, before heading toward the room where his wife should be.
As they walked along the hall, he heard The Great Jon ask, "Ned, what the hell happened?"
"I don't know, Jon. There was a fire outside, and then an attack inside the keep."
"We need to find out who sent those bastards. This cannot go unpunished," said Great Jon.
"It won't," said Ned, stopping and turning to him. "Whoever did this will pay."
"You can bet on it, Ned. You have my support in all of this, no matter the ways you use," replied Great John with his loud voice.
Ned nodded and then entered the room where his wife was. The men were finishing taking the bodies away, and there was a smell of death and blood inside. Ned saw his wife lying on the bed, also full of blood, but not as much as Sansa.
A servant girl was cleaning her, and putting a clean cloth on the wounds, waiting for the arrival of the Master, who was taking care of Sansa.
As he lowered himself, Ned saw that she was awake, even though she was clenching her teeth and eyes for the pain, and so he took her hand, "Cat..."
"Are our children all right?" she asked, painfully.
"Yes. Sansa is only a bit injured, but she will be all right. The master is with her at the moment," Ned said, trying to reassure her and caressing her forehead.
"I must go to my daughter," she said, trying to get up, but in vain. The pain from the wounds was too great and Ned could see it on her face. At that very moment, he saw Master Luwin enter.
"My lord," and he began to look at Catelyn's wounds.
"Master Luwin. How is Sansa?" Ned asked, worried since the Master didn't have a good expression.
"If she makes it through the night she will live, but her life will change forever," he said, and Ned was confused.
"What do you mean?" Ned asked.
"Tomorrow, my lord. Now I must take care of your wife, and of those who are wounded. There are many and it will be a long night," Ned nodded, and let him work, but what he said kept going on in his head. What he meant by her life will change completely.
"Guards!" Ned called.
"Yes, my lord."
"Stay and protect this room. No one except family members and Master Luwin can enter or leave," Ned said, and they nodded, as he headed back to his daughter's room.
As he entered, he saw that Robb was sitting next to her, with his hands under his chin and elbows on his legs, looking at his sister's face.
He reached over and put his hand on his shoulder as a reassurance, although there was not much to reassure him. Two of his family may not make it through the night, Rickon was surely shocked or frightened, and Robb blamed himself for not getting to his mother in time.
"Robb. Go get a bath and change. Then go and stay with Rickon. I'll stay here for the night," Ned said.
Robb sighing nodded, and kissing Sansa on the forehead, left the room, while Ned sat in the chair with tears in his eyes.
Tonight, in addition to these tragedies, brought back many old memories. He found his sister in a pool of blood like this in the Tower of Joy after defeating the two Kingsguards. And he reached her just as she drew her last breath. The maids that were there said it was because of complications during childbirth.
And now he may lose his wife and daughter. Thankfully Arya was in Myr with Ashara and her cousin, while Bran was Beyond the Wall, even though Ned didn't know if he should be tranquil or worried.
He sighs as he waits for dawn to come and find out if his family will survive.
When dawn came, Ned saw Master Luwin enter, with some servants to check on Sansa. Ned never left her alone for the whole night, nor did he sleep a wink, listening to every weak breath of his daughter.
And almost all night the two Direwolves howled at the loss of their sister. Lady, Sansa's Direwolf, who's who died because of the bad wounds she received from the assassins.
Ned saw that Luwin was also very tired since he had spent the whole night treating the wounded, and as he was examining her Ned asked, "How is Sansa?"
"She has made it through the night and that is a good sign, my lord," replied Luwin as he started to change the bandage, and Ned finally saw the wounds on her belly and shoulder. "The body heat has diminished, but she will still need plenty of rest and time for the wounds to heal."
Ned nodded caressing her cheek.
Remembering what Luwin told him, Ned asked, "Master Luwin, when you came to treat my wife, you told me that if Sansa made it through the night, her life would change forever. What did you mean with that?"
The Maester hesitantly, sighing, stepped away from the bed and said, "Sansa's wounds on her belly and a little further down have taken away her ability to have children in the future.
"What?" Ned asked, feeling the tears coming down. "She will never be able to have children?"
And master nodded, sadly and lowering his head. Sansa's greatest dream was to marry a great Lord or a Prince, and have many children, but if from now on she will no longer be able to have children, no young Lord will want to marry her. Why the Old Gods want to punish him, Ned thought. Biting his fist in anger.
"Master Luwin. I'll tell Catelyn regarding this. And when the time comes, I will tell it to Sansa too," said Ned, and Master nodded, returning to the bed, to threat Sansa.
And Ned left, heading to another room. He needed to clean himself up and cry over this pain in silence and alone.
After washing, changing, and clearing his head, Ned left the room and headed for the dungeon.
In the hallway, he met Ser Rodrik, "Lord Stark. A raven came from Moat Cailin," said the Master of Arms, handing him a scroll.
Ned opened it and read it.
'Dear Lord Stark,
I am writing to inform you that Moat Cailin was attacked by assassins. According to the guards, there were only about a dozen or so, but they were intended to kill the Lord's family.
Your brother, Benjen, was wounded while facing two of them trying to enter our sons' chambers. But the master assured me he'll be all right.
Alysanne Stark, Lady of Moat Cailin.'
"It seems Winterfell wasn't the only aim of these attackers, Ser Rodrik," Ned said as he resumed walking. "So was Benjen's family."
"Who are they, Lord Stark? Who sent them?"
"I don't know, but I'm sure we'll find out soon enough."
When they reached the dungeon, Ned saw that only three of the attackers were there and still alive inside, even though there were a lot of them the night before.
"Have they already spoken?" Ned asked those who were guarding them.
"No, my lord," replied one of the guards, opening the cell gate.
One of the assassins began to laugh when he saw him, surely thinking he would do nothing to him because he was an honourable man. But they're wrong. They attacked his house. His little girl lies in a bed, wounded and denied a great future full of happiness. His wife lies wounded, in a bed, unaware of their daughter's fate. They attacked his brother, and Ned was ready to discover the truth through any means. He will be very ashamed of himself tomorrow and the actions he will take at this moment, but there is no other choice.
"Take the first one to the interrogation cell," Ned said on his way there. That cell was very old and was used by the ancient Kings of Winter to torture their enemies and traitors. The last king of terror was tortured here.
The prisoner started laughing when he was taken there and put on the torturer. His hands and legs were tied and leaning closer Ned asked, "Who sent you?"
But he kept laughing and said, "I know your character. I know your honour. You don't have the balls to torture a man, Stark. Your honour forbids it."
"Honour is the knight's code. Do you think I'm a knight?"
The prisoner laughed at him and said, "No. You're just a gutless man who can't protect his family."
"You're right," said Ned, and looking towards the guard, nodded.
He began to turn the crank, and in this way, the prisoner was drawn by his legs and arms, and started screaming and swearing, while Ned looked at him with anger and hatred.
"More!"
And the more the wheel turned the more the man was drawn until he heard a crack, along with a scream.
"Enough," Ned said to the guard. "So will you talk?"
"Fuck you, cunt! Ah!" he said.
Ned now knew he had to use more heavy things, "Take off the ropes, and then put him on the crown pole. And bring in another one!"
While the other was being drawn, Ned stood in front of the first prisoner, who was tied to the post and tortured with the nailed crown, which was piercing his skull at every squeeze.
It was after several moments of torture and torment that the man almost in tears said, "Lannister. Cersei Lannister." Starting to cry. He knew it. The Lannisters tried to destroy his family and will suffer the rage of the Wolf that brings the wrath of winter.
But at the same time the second tortured man screamed, "Bolton!" and that caught Ned's attention.
"What did you say?" Ned asked, approaching him quickly.
With flickering lips and tears in his eyes, he said, "It was Lord Bolton who hired us. He wanted us to kill all the Starks." Apparently, the skinned man is a traitor like his nephew said, and he made his move. Well, when all the Lords will be here, Ned will expose the deed and kill that bloody Bolton.
"Keep them alive," said Ned, as he was leaving the dungeon, "and treat them."
Then he headed for the Keep and his studio with Rodrik following him.
When he got there, he saw Robb waiting for him, " What is it?"
"Have you questioned the prisoners?"
"Yes."
"So?"
"Lannister and Bolton," said Ned, sitting on the chair.
"I knew it. Let's imprison Roose Bolton, gather the Banners, and march on Dreadfort," Robb said with his hands on the table, looking towards him.
"Not yet. I intend to expose him before the lords, first," said Ned. "But we need to make sure that the prisoners are alive until the meeting."
"Father. If we wait, we risk a lot. The armies of the Lords are much further away from us while the Bolton could come upon us in a day or two."
"We can hold out for a long time Robb. And we can hold the city against any army."
"Good. Then we wait. But I hope this isn't a mistake, Father," Robb said as he left the room.
And that's what Ned hoped too, even though he wasn't completely sure. He could rise three thousand men, maybe even more, in a short time.
But now it was better if he went to see his wife, to see if she was awake, and inform her the truth about Sansa.
Kings Landing
Robert woke up before the sun even rose. In fact, it was still dark outside, but he was tired of waiting for the traitor rats to come out and attack him or wait for Tywin Lannister's plans for Dorne to succeed.
"Kingsguard!" Robert called and he saw Meryn fucking Trant enter from the door. One of the worst bastards in his Kingsguard, but very loyal.
"Your Grace?"
"Wake up my squires and summon the Lannister Dwarf," Robert said, getting up. "Then summon also the captain of King's Landing's royal army."
"Yes, Your Grace," and left the room.
After a while, Robert saw his squires enter. Two wretched Lannisters. Lancel Lannister and the other who couldn't remember while the servants prepared him. Followed by the Dwarf and the Captain of the Stormlands army company in King's Landing.
"Captain prepares 50 knights ready to leave from the harbour heading for Gulltown."
"Are we leaving, Your Grace?" asked the dwarf.
"Yes. We have to meet Royce and appoint Hardyng as the new Lord of the Valley."
"But Your Grace, I don't know why I should accompany you. I am the master of Coin..."
"For your gabbing, dwarf. Your father praised your qualities when you got that position. Now we'll see if you're good with words or not."
Sighing, the dwarf replied, "Yes, Your Grace. I'm going to prepare."
"I want you at the docks in half an hour, dwarf."
And the dwarf left, while Robert, turning to his squires, said, "You two will come with me," and after drinking four goblets of wine he headed for the harbour.
Orys awoke early in the morning. For a moment he thought she had gone to sleep in another room, but as he turned around, he saw her, his wife sleeping beside him, and Orys smiled at that.
They didn't have a very pleasant conversation yesterday regarding the damn Targaryen, and he didn't respond very well to her, and he had had a few too many cups, so it's not as if he really remembered everything they talked about, but what is certain is that Orys felt a certain jealousy when Margaery talked about Aenar Targaryen.
He couldn't wait to confront that impostor and show the whole world that his stories, his victories are all lies.
But now it was time to prepare for the council meeting. His father will leave for the Valley today, and his grandfather and mother for Castely Rock.
Once ready, he made his way to the council room, although he saw the palace was in a bit of a state of chaos during his walk through the fireplace.
As he entered, he saw that almost all the members were present. Or rather, except the advisors from the other regions, who had not yet arrived for various reasons, and his uncle Tyrion, who was the master of Coin, was absent.
"Good morning, my lords," Orys greeted them with a smile.
"You're late," replied his grandfather, the Hand of the King, with his serious expression.
"I beg your pardon," said Orys sitting in his seat. From the moment the great Tywin Lannister took his seat on the council, he requested a larger table and the addition of advisors to the small council, from the different regions.
"What's happening. I've seen the palace is rather restless," Orys asked the council, "and why is the Master of Coin absent?"
"The king left this night for the Valle with the Master of Coin, his two squires, and 50 knights," replied his uncle Renly, the Master of Law.
"What?"
"Yes. He acted on his own mind, even though the council advised him to wait," replied Tywin, and Orys could see his grandfather's discontent about it. He didn't like it when things are done not in his way, and Orys knew that the Lord Hand's plan regarding what to do and how to proceed was excellent. But as usual, his father did as he liked. "Why did Lord Tyrion accompany him?"
"For his great communication skills," replied his mother with a smirk on her lips, and Orys knew that it was more a mockery for his uncle than a compliment. There was no great relationship between the queen and the dwarf, her brother.
"But now let's put aside the king's impulsive issue. We need to focus on the Realm. Lord Varys."
"Prince Tommen has arrived safely at Yronwood and has already met his betrothed and Lord Ander Yronwood. My little birds have also informed me that thanks to this alliance with the crown, all the houses in the mountains will join us against the Martell. Or rather give them a high hand against any opposition, and we also had an open for any invasion toward Dorne."
His mother had a smirk on her lips. At first, she wasn't happy that her youngest son was sent to Dorne, and he was sure that she wasn't either now, but maybe this news will ease her fears.
Now that half of Dorne will be their ally, Orys is curious to know what his grandfather's next step is. He was aware that he hired mercenaries companies through an agreement with the Iron Bank, and that a merchant ship full of Wildfire, that green and flammable substance, unknown to him, left King's Landing with unknown direction.
"Good."
"What else?"
"Tyrosh and Lys have asked us for help in the war against the Targaryen boy," said Varys.
"We cannot send aid outside Westeros, Lord Varys," said Renly, the master of the law. "If we lose, we have less resources for when he invades us."
And Orys agreed with Renly on this. They will need all their resources to face a probable invasion, and furthermore there are internal rebellions ready to burst because the war with the Riverlands and consequently the North will soon happen.
"No. We will not help them, for now. Perhaps in the future, if the bastard will not sail towards Westeros, yet," replied his grandfather. "First we secure Westeros. Build a strong and efficient army and especially the scorpions in every city that is loyal to us. If the dragon dies, we will be able to slaughter his army in an instant."
"I would not worry about the Dragon, Lord Hand," said Lord Varys.
"What do you mean?" asked Orys, confusedly.
"Witnesses at Volantis have confirmed to me that the Dragon is dead. They saw his lifeless body on the dock of the young Targaryen's ship."
"Is he dead?" asked Orys in disbelief. He couldn't believe that someone had managed to bring down the beast. This brought relief to him.
"Good. One less enemy," said the Hand of the King. Today Queen Cersei and I leave for Castely Rock. In my absence and the King's absence, Prince Orys Baratheon will preside the council."
And they all nodded with their heads while Orys was overwhelmed by a sense of pressure about it. "This will be your first challenge regarding the rule of the Seven Kingdoms. Don't disappoint us."
"I won't, Lord Hand," Orys said with a great confidence.
"Good. Now if there's nothing else, you can leave," said the Hand of the King, but as Lord Varys was about to leave, his grandfather called out to him.
"Lord Varys. One moment."
"My lord."
"Dorne."
"Some sellsword are already inside the city, as is Wildfire, awaiting the arrival of the ships, with the remaining companies."
"Give me numbers."
"7,000 sellsword left for Sunspear with about 70 ships a week ago, and my little birds tell me they should be landing on the coast in a few days."
"Good. If there are going to be a lot of deaths better them than our soldiers," his grandfather said. "The sellsword will show no mercy and have orders to slaughter the entire population of that city and take the spoils of war."
"I'm sure it was difficult to get all those companies together, Lord Varys," commented Orys, chuckling.
"Oh, indeed, my Prince. It was a difficult task, but it was done for the good of the realm."
"You may leave Lord Varys," said his grandfather.
Orys was very surprised that all this time his mother hadn't opened her mouth and only listened.
Now that only the three of them were left, he and his grandfather looked at each other for a while, which was very difficult, because Tywin Lannister was a scary man just looking at him because he never smiled and always had a serious face. You never know what his next move is. He looked like a king and not his father, Robert Baratheon, although Orys loves him very much.
Taking a breath Orys said, "To hire all these sellswords certainly cost a lot. How did you do it? The crown is in debt for who knows how many millions of golden dragons."
"It costed enough. Where the money comes from is not of your concern," his grandfather replied, and this made him a little suspicious. Apart from the gold from the mines in Westerland, and the bank in Braavos, the Crown was without a single coin thanks to his father.
"However, only half has been paid so far."
"What about the other half?" Orys asked, leaning against the back of the chair, with his hands crossed on his belly.
But when his grandfather didn't answer the question, it was Orys himself, who answered, "You're not going to pay the sellsword, are you?"
"No. They will destroy Sunspear, kill the Martell family, and then they will be slaughtered by Yronwood and the other Dornish when Sunspear asks for help, and of course, if they will still be there."
"So this way you will cement House Yronwood's rule and therefore Tommen as Prince," said Orys, to which his grandfather didn't respond, but seeing the smirk on his mother's lips again, she must have always been aware on this regard.
"How are things with the Tyrell girl going?" his grandfather asked, looking towards him, and so did his mother.
"Good."
"Is she pregnant?"
"What?"
"I asked you if she's already pregnant," said his grandfather, and Orys wanted to burst out laughing.
"Of course she's not, yet. It's not like we've been married for..."
"You've been married long enough to conceive a child," said his grandfather. As he stood up from the seat and walked toward the exit, his grandfather stopped beside him and said, "A son is now what the crown needs. If the Targaryen girl were to give birth to a boy in the near future, and especially before you do, he would be more dangerous than all the armies of the bastard because he will always have a claim to the Iron Throne. Regarding the bastard, we can say he is not a Targaryen. But the girl is, and her child will be Targaryen. So hurry up and sire an heir before the Targaryen does."
And he left the room with his mother who followed him to prepare for the trip, leaving Orys a little puzzled about it, especially since he didn't understand anything about what he was referring to.
Beyond the wall
Bran suddenly woke up with a scream, waking everyone else too, and for a moment this made Howland worry. At this moment they were camped beyond the wall in a cave on a hill, and the Three-Eyed Raven cave, on the other hand, was a few weeks away. They were also forced to take different roads and waste time hiding because of the Wildings army that was marching on the Wall.
"Bran. What happened?" Howland asked as Bran's direwolf began howling in a lamentuos way.
" I... I saw the death of my family. A lion came to Winterfell. A skinned man holding my father's head in a burned city," replied a frightened Bran, as the direwolf continued howling.
Visions thought Howland. But now it was time to set out again. Beyond the wall was a very dangerous place, and you never know when the undead will come crashing down on them.
"Men. Prepare yourselves. Eat, and at sunrise, we leave," Howland said to the soldiers.
"Do you think what I saw will happen or has already happened?" Bran asked, and Howland had no answer for that. But trying to reassure the boy, with a smile he said, "I'm sure your family is all right." And the baby smiles back.
"Brandon, now that we're over the wall, your powers might be more powerful here. So try not to use them too much," Howland said, trying not to be harsh on him about it because he knew that was something you couldn't control easily. And the little boy nodded.
" Good," Howland gave him a smile. "Now let's eat something because we have to leave soon."
"I've already eaten," he answered.
Sighing, Howland said, "Brandon, if you're in Summer's body, it's not you who's eating but him. If you don't eat, you'll die of hunger."
"I don't want it."
"Brandon. I promised your father I'd protect you during this trip at all cost and bring you back safe and sound."
Bran did not answer and kept looking down, and when Howland handed him the meat, this time he took it and began to eat.
Howland sat down beside him, while Hodor was on the other side, and Summer came too, while they were eating, and he was looking at the men who were talking and laughing with each other.
"Do you think the three-eyed raven has the answers to my powers?" Bran asked.
"I don't know," replied Howland. "But I know that he has the answers to defeat the Others."
"Are there many wargs?" asked Brandon, and Howland nodded. He himself was one, but not so strong as Brandon, and so was his son, Jojen. "Have you ever seen them? The real enemy?"
"No. I only know what was written in the ancient scriptures at the Greywater. As descendants of the Children of the Forest, I have a great connection with the old magic of the North. And with the Weirwood tree."
"Do you have visions too? Regarding other events?"
"Yes. But not like you. Not so detailed," replied Howland, and Brandon pleased with the answer returned to eat.
After some silence, while his men were finishing eating, Bran asked, "Have you ever heard about a "forest within a forest"?"
"No, what is it?" asked Howland, now that he too had finished eating the meat.
"I don't know. But one day when I was in the Godswood, I accidentally fell onto a Weirwood tree, and when my eyes went white, I saw a snow-covered forest, and inside her, there was another forest. The only difference that the forest inside was a spring forest, or even summer, because I could feel the hate and the sun. Since that day on I feel drawn towards that place."
Interesting thought Howland. He has never heard of this place, let alone the scriptures of the Children of the Forest said something about it, but if Bran saw it, it would surely be something very important.
"Well, it's definitely on this side of the..." but he stopped when he saw that Summer rushed straight towards the entrance of the cave, growling.
"What's going on?" Brandon asked, seeing that he drew his sword at once.
"Men, ready yourselves," said Howland as he headed toward the entrance of the cave, which was on a hill, so they would have the advantage of the hill against every enemy.
Once there he couldn't believe what he saw, and when his men reached him, one said, "We're fucked!"
Myr
While Ashara and Torrhen were making love, they heard a wolf howling, and stopped for a moment.
"It's the young Stark's direwolf. Don't worry," Torrhen said as he continued to kiss her. But Ashara stopped when the howl continued without stopping, and she pulled him away.
"I must go and see what's going on. Maybe Arya's in danger," said Ashara, getting out of bed and putting something on.
Torrhen made a frustrating sigh, and lay on the bed, cursing in a low voice.
"There are the guards in every corner of this palace. Do you really think that they will try to kill her?"
She ignored him, picked up a candle, walked toward the door, and when she opened it, she saw that the soldiers were guarding the hall.
"Did you see or hear anything strange?" Ashara asked.
"You mean apart from the howling of the damn wolf? No," replied the man.
Suddenly they heard a scream coming from Arya's room, and she ran straight there, followed by Torrhen and some guards, with drawn swords.
As she entered the dark room, she saw her sitting on the bed, struggling to breathe, and the wolf was with her, on the bed. Ashara ran up to her, and sitting on the bed, she asked, " What is it, little one?"
"I have seen death. Wolves in blood, and..." she began to weep as Ashara hugged her. She didn't understand what she was saying, but it could mean that the Starks were in danger, that must be the reason why she dreamt that, and the wolf started howling.
"Torrhen. Send a message through the travel book. See if the Starks are all right," she said as she looked towards Torrhen, hugging Arya in the meantime, and he left at once.
When she started to calm herself, Arya asked, looking towards her with red tear-filled eyes, and in her soft and innocent voice, "Do you think my family is in danger?"
"I'm sure they're fine," she said. It was just a wild dream."
After a while, Ashara saw Torrhen waving at her door to come out, and as she got out of bed after she had kissed the head of the sleepy girl, she headed for the exit.
Once in the hallway, Ashara asked, "So?"
"There was an attack on Winterfell tonight. Catelyn Stark and Sansa Stark are wounded," he said.
"Oh Gods," she said, putting her hand over her mouth. She really hopes that they are all right because Jon needs their help against the true enemy.
"One of the direwolf died protecting the girl."
"That's why Nymeria howled," said Ashara with her hands crossed in front of her chest. "She must have heard the death of a sister or brother. "
"Maybe. But that doesn't explain why the little girl dreamed that," said Torrhen.
"She must have felt what Nymeria was feeling. Jon told me how he has a great bond with Ghost, how he can feel what he feels when he is inside him and how the Starks have the so-called wolf's dreams."
"I see. Well, we can't do anything but go back to our room and continue what we have interrupted," said Torrhen, wrapping her in a hug. "The little girl is alright."
And they headed for the room despite Ashara being very thoughtful.
"Any news about Tyrosh and Lys? Are they plotting something?" asked Ashara during the meeting of the captains of the Golden Company, which was held every two days, and to which she attended in Jon's stead, and sometimes also Torrhen when he was not busy building the defensive weapons for Myr, as Jon instructed him.
"They have hired mercenaries companies," replied Lysono Maar the Spy-master. "Tyrosh has hired the Company of the Roses and the Stormcrows. While Lys, The Wolfpack, and Ragged Standard."
"Why did they hire Northern mercenaries' companies which were made of former enemies of the Targaryen?" Ashara asked, knowing full well the story of three of the four companies, thanks to the moment that she spent with Jon when reading the books, and listening to Arthur and Torrhen's tales.
"They may think that this way the Commander won't attack them," replied Ethenaine.
Ashara nodded. "How's the building of our fleet going?"
"Good. We've built 20 warships, so far, thanks in part to the help of the Ironborns that the Commander defeated at Old Valyria. And this is added to the number of ships that bend the need to Aenar, which were 40, and the ship from Euron's fleet."
"What about the men?"
"Restless. They're eager to fight. They want blood and battles," said Ethenaine. "Which they will have once the Commander returns. Then we'll march for Tyrosh."
"What will stop Lys from sending reinforcements to Tyrosh?"
"The fear of the dragon and our fleet that will block their island, my lady," replied Ethenaine.
"Good," he said even though she didn't have a lot of military or strategic knowledge, so she was agreed at everything Ethenaine proposed. "Commander. Did you find who sent the Northern?"
"Yes, a certain Ramsey Snow."
Ramsey Snow, she thought. Who was this man? For sure a bastard from the North, and he must be a High-born one. But for whom he works?
"Thank you, commander."
"My lady. Can the woman named Dorhea be trusted?" Ethenaine asked, and she was a little confused not remembering who she was. But thinking a little more, she remembered who he was talking about. She was the woman who accompanied Daenerys from Illyrio's house.
"Why? What's going on with her?"
"She's hanging out with my captains. I know she was a whore in the past, but I wouldn't want her to be a spy for the enemy," he said, and Ashara agreed with him.
"I'll talk to her," she said, and they saw a guard come in.
"A Lord from Westeros has come to Myr."
And she looked confusedly at the members of the meeting who shook her head. They certainly didn't know any lord of Westeros, but apparently, they didn't even receive a scroll regarding his arrival.
"Who is he?" Ethenaine asked.
"A certain Willas Tyrell," replied the guard.
Very interesting. Apparently, the rose has arrived in the jaws of the dragon unannounced. Ashara was really curious regarding what brought him to Myr, considering that his family, former Targaryen loyalist, is now allied with the Usurper, and his sister Margery is married to Orys Baratheon.
"Then we' shall go and meet this Willas Tyrell," said Ashara, rising up, and with all who were there, she headed for the throne room.
A few moments before...
Willas finally managed to reach Myr and it was a beautiful city. Full of markets, joyful, and full of Targaryen sympathizers. Almost every house bore their coat of arms, and what caught his attention were the slaves without their collars. Apparently, they were freed. The city was also well-defended because on the walls Willas saw strange crossbows, and of course, men guarding.
"Magnificent. Look at the defensive machines, they have built on the walls," Willas excitedly said. He had never seen this type, and this impressed him even more.
" I don't think it was a great idea to come here, my lord," said one of his companions, taking his attention from the defensive machines.
"I need answers, Gareth. I want to find out whether he destroyed my family or not," Willas said, feeling the anger growing as he remembered his dead family. Now the only dear person he had left in this world was his sister Margery. "Let's go."
When they reached the central palace, they were stopped by the guards, and after being unarmed, they were taken to the throne room, and Willas couldn't wait to meet the young Targaryen.
When they entered the throne room, it was almost empty and big. But very simple and more different from the Red Keep or any lord's hall in Westeros. There was a table, on the side, a large open balcony, from which one could surely see the city, and at the end, there were three wooden thrones, and on them, there were carved figures of dragons. Or rather, heads of dragons. Behind them a large black banner, with the red three-headed dragon, and a grey direwolf head, inside a circle.
After a while, the doors opened again and saw a beautiful woman, with long dark hair and beautiful purple eyes that could hunt you, enter. She had a fairly narrow waist, but wide hips, not to mention the large breasts she had behind her purple Essosi dress. Willas did everything to avoid getting an erection at seeing her, but the comment that one of his companions whispered to him, "I'd love to fuck her," didn't help.
"Welcome Lord Willas, my name is Lady Ashara Dayne, and this is the temporary commander of the Golden Company, Ser Falco Ethenaine," said the woman pointing out to the blond man with long hair and hard expressions, who was next to her. So this was the famous Ashara Dayne. The rumours about her great beauty were not false, apparently.
"What brings you here?" she asked, bringing him back from his thoughts.
"I came here to find answers regarding the murder of my family," he said, and this once again reignited the anger within him, which for an instant was suppressed by the beauty of this city and of the woman who was standing before them.
"And tell me, what do we have to do with the murder of your family?" she asked.
"My sister wrote to me in a letter that witnesses saw Aenar Targaryen come down from the night sky with his dragon and destroyed Highgarden," he replied, raising his voice and hearing how his heart was beating rapidly and his breathing increased.
"Tell me, Lord Willas. What color was the dragon in the sky?" the woman asked.
"I do not know. The letter did not say."
"And what color was the fire that destroyed your city?"
"Green," he said, remembering that's what the rumors said, and that's what his sister said in her own way.
"Our dragon has a yellow-red flame," replied the man next to Ashara Dayne. "Aenar Targaryen has never left this place and his dragon hasn't flown for a long time."
"I want to talk to him."
"You can't. He's not here," the man said, then headed toward the door, with the same harsh expression, and whispering a good day.
Only his companions remained, the woman and some soldiers, who never left the woman's side.
"You have been deceived, Lord Tyrell. Those who wanted you out of the game used that excuse to blame us."
"Deceived? By whom?" Willas asked confusedly.
"Who do you think?" she said, giving him a smirk she headed towards the door. Before leaving, she said, "The King will soon return to Myr, and you can discuss it with him. But be careful how you approach this matter."
Once she left, Gareth chuckled, "What a woman."
In that instant, a man with a beard, long hair, and armor came up and said, "I'll give you an advice, kid. If you don't want to be dragon' food, don't look at her like that and don't try anything stupid."
"I am a knight and..."
"The dragon doesn't give a shit." And they left the room, leaving them puzzled.
"What the hell does that mean?" Gareth asked, and Willas shook his head.
"Come. Let's find an inn and wait for the Targaryen to return."
Moat Cailin
Ben was starting to wake up, very sore on his side, and he felt like someone was holding his hand.
He opened his eyes and saw it was Alysanne and said, "What happened?"
"You were wounded in the collision with the murderer, my love," she said, caressing his face, then kissing him on the lips, "I thought I'd lost you."
Ben began to remember the events that led to this state. The fall of an iron, and the clash with two assassins as they were trying to enter in their' son's chambers and he immediately asked, "The children?"
"They're fine. The guards are protecting them now. You saved them, Ben," she said, smiling as he tried to get up despite the pain in his side.
"Ben, don't tire yourself. I sent a raven to Winterfell to your brother, to inform him of what happened," she said, bringing him some water.
"Thank you, my love," he said, as he drank the water and felt the burning from inside his throat die out.
"Who do you think sent them?" she asked in a worried voice.
"I don't know," replied Ben. It could be the Lannisters or the crown. Though that didn't sound like a move befitting of the great and powerful Tywin Lannister." and she nodded, looking down at their joined hands.
Start the preparations for the journey. Tomorrow we leave for Winterfell."
"But Ben. You're still hurt and weak. We should not leave in this condition."
"No, Aly. I'm fine," He said, taking stroking her hand with his thumb, to reassure her. "Anyway, I'll travel in a carriage with you and the children."
She nodded, leaning forward and kissing him on the lips. They stayed for a moment with their forehead one against the other than she, moving away and getting up said, "I'm going to go check on the children, then I'll be back."
He smiled as she left the room, and once she was out. He sighed painfully, placing his hand on the side. Surely it wasn't a serious injury, but it still hurt.
Anyway, this wound will not stop him from traveling. He needs to go to Winterfell and see Ned.
Ship
He was seeing images pass quickly and that he didn't even understand. Blood, death, dozens of dead bodies, wolves in blood and wounded on the ground. But when he felt the pain and sadness of his direwolf Aenar knew that he was inside Ghost and that he surely felt that another direwolf died.
When he heard Ghost howling in a lamentuos way, he woke up immediately, breathing hard enough. In that same moment his two lovers also woke up, and Ghost climbed on the bed.
Stroking him, Aenar said, "You've felt the loss of a family member isn't it, boy?" And Ghost was looking him in the eye with those red eyes of his.
"What's going on, Aenar?" asked Dany, sleepy and getting up.
"I don't know, but I think the Starks are in danger," he replied, still stroking Ghost.
"Did you see that in a dream or while you were inside him?" asked Rhaella, who had been awake by the howling, as she rose.
"Both. Even if it was something fast. Images that pass quickly, but not of human beings but of animals. Or rather direwolves."
"Soon we will reach Myr. If the wind is in our favour, we should be there in a day or two. I'll find out if it's true or not then."
Aenar nodded and giving Daenerys a kiss on the forehead, and after placing the hand on her belly said, "Go back to sleep now. I'm going to go outside to get some fresh air and clear my head." And after he got dressed, he headed for the deck.
The night was quiet, and the sky was clear, as in his previous sea voyages. The stars could be seen in the sky and the moonlight up their journey. Such a wonderful sight, he thought.
Aenar then heard a little whining roar and knew it was Caraxes. When he approached him, and the dragon lifted his head, which was resting on his front paws, with difficulty, surely still sore from the wound, which will take time to heal. He looked so sad and Aenar knew it was his fault.
Caressing him on his snout and looking into his eyes, he said, "Forgive me, my son. My curiosity awakened the beast from the depths of Old Valyria, and you had to defend me."
Caraxes made a verse and Aenar knew that it was not to criticize him but to console him. "As your namesake, you have faced a beast greater and more powerful than you, but you stood up to it," he said, sitting beside him, and Caraxes approached his head. It was big, but he could still caress it just enough.
"The next time we face the beast we'll be stronger, but know that I'm proud of you. The way you fought."
Sighing, he hugged Caraxes for a moment, feeling the strong connection with him. Then he stood up and leaned against the edge of the ship.
" These quiet nights are very pleasant, aren't they, Commander?" Aenar heard a voice say, and turning around he saw that there was the blacksmith from Volantis, followed by Asher, Lord Gregor's son of House Forester, a northern house and who joined the Golden Company time behind.
"Yes, they are," replied Aenar, returning his gaze towards the sky.
"Are the nights in the North as clear as these, Asher?"
"Depends on the nights. But it's fucking cold up there," replied Asher, leaning with his back and elbows to the edge of the ship.
"The north? What region?" the blacksmith asked.
"Ironrath. Our wood is one of the best and strongest in the world."
"Ah, yes. I worked that kind of wood for some shields," said the blacksmith.
"And how did you get that wood?" asked Asher with an eyebrow raised, intrigued.
"I never ask questions about the material I'm given."
"You create all kinds of weapons and armour, don't you?" Aenar asked, interrupting the bickering between them.
"Yes."
"I want you to create a suit of armour for my dragon for the conquest."
The blacksmith started to approach Caraxes, and examine him growling, and Aenar smirked.
"Yes, it can be done, but your dragon is still young if I'm not mistaken. So he'll grow up. His armour will be small in time."
"You'll resupply it whenever it's small. But there aren't many parts I want you to do," said Aenar, "chest and neck." Those were the parts that were weakest, and he remembered the bad dream in which he saw Caraxes collapsed on the houses of Kings Landing with hundreds of spears frozen in his chest.
"Doesn't the dragons have a hard skin?"
"Yes. But not yet. So, can it be done
"It can be done. But it'll cost a lot more than regular armour. And I'm not only talking about the money."
"It doesn't matter," said Aenar. "Who taught you to reforge Valyrian steel?"
"The blacksmith of Qohor. That's where I'm from. But you seem to be the only one who knows how to make it for real. "
"Yes. It is composed of the Union of three materials. And when the time comes, I will reveal it to you," replied Aenar. And after patting him on the shoulder, Aenar made his way to his cabin.
They were approaching Myr and started to prepare.
Taking advantage of this moment when it was only the three of them, and since her daughter revealed to him about her condition, they had to have a serious talk about the future of the House.
"Aenar. Now that you know Daenerys is with child, so you will soon have an heir, those Lords of Westeros will throw themselves like vultures upon you and him. Especially since we have dragons."
"I know," he replied almost unconcerned of what she said, as he was finishing putting on the dragon's armour.
"Nephew. I don't want another dance of dragons to happen and destroy our family."
"Don't worry. It's not going to happen," he said as he attached his sword to his hips.
But that wasn't enough for Rhaella. She wants to know what he meant when he said that.
"You and Daenerys need to marry as soon as possible and..." she began, but was stopped by Aenar who put his finger on her lips and said, "I intend to create a document, which will be signed by the lords who side with us, and which will forbid them any union, marriage or other, with House Targaryen."
"And what if they oppose this?" asked Daenerys, once dressed and with her arms crossed in front of her chest.
"Oh, but that's exactly what they're going to do, my dear Dany," he replied, looking towards her daughter. "And I want them to try. I'm not afraid to face them. After all, someone has to put them in their place so everyone will know what fate awaits those who rebels against the dragons," he then tied his hair in a bun, adding, "Anyway, they'll have Valyrian swords, lands, or titles for their loyalty. If they are loyal, of course."
"You know they're going to plot against you for this," said Rhaella, drawing his attention back to her. And it was true the lords only cared about more wealth, power, and influence in the kingdom. Losing such a great opportunity as having their daughter Queen, or having a dragon in their family, will not please them. Rhaella spent so much time in Kings Landing as queen that she saw how the nobles worked and how they sought every way to conquer the king's favour.
"Yes, I know," he sighed and approaching her, putting his hand on her chin added, "I know what they want and that they will use every way to achieve it. Arthur taught me what honour is, but don't think I'm not ready to play dirty with the Lords. If they will strike once, I will strike twice. I'll separate them because alone, they're not worth shit."
"I know. But..." He stopped her by putting his thumb on her lips.
"My destiny may be to be king, but I was raised a sellsword. My life is war, and that life has taught me to always expect a hidden blade ready to attack me, from my future lords or my captains, should they wish to betray me."
"What about the soldiers?" Daenerys asked.
"Soldiers follow those who pay them. Me. Loy
alty to me. Fear of me. Friendship with me."
Then they heard Arthur say from the door, "Your graces. We are approaching Myr."
"One day or another I'll kick him in the ass if he keeps calling me that," said Aenar, leaning down and giving her a kiss, then wrapping his arm around Daenerys' neck, and giving her a passionate kiss, they headed for the exit, whispering and giggling intriguingly.
But Rhaella stood there for a moment, thinking about what they had just spoken about. They will have to have this conversation again when it is time to leave. But first, her goal was to prepare a wedding, her daughter's wedding. And she will do it with Ashara's help. After had put on the cape, Rhaella's gaze felt on a crown, near there. It was a very beautiful one with descriptions on it, and she realized that although it had the colour of gold, it was not of that material, because she knew how the gold was.
Then shaking her head, she headed for the exit with the crown in her hand.
Yronwood
Gwyneth stood on the balcony of her room overlooking the courtyard and was watching the young Prince Tommen train, or rather try to train, with the Master of Arms of Yronwood, and her father, Lord Anders, was watching him.
Gwyneth didn't know what to think of the little prince because they didn't interact very much. But for what little they did, she understood three important things about him: he is shy; he speaks rarely, and if he does, he only does so with those he knows and not with her; and he misses his mother very much.
So basically, her betrothed was the opposite of her.
Gwyneth would have preferred so much that her betrothed was the brave and charming Prince Quentyn. But it couldn't be because he preferred a dragon girl rather than her. It was better that way anyway. Now it was time to go out and spend more time with Tommen.
When she arrived in the courtyard, she saw that he had already finished training, and smiling, she said, "Good morning, Prince Tommen."
"Go-Good morning, m-my lady," he replied shyly, bowing, and she almost rolled her eyes.
"Would you like to spend the day with me?"
"O-Of course, my lady," he replied, always shyly, and he was very red.
"Good. Come, let me show you some of my favourite parts of the castle." And he shyly followed her.
All the time they were visiting the various parts of the castle, almost always it was Gwyneth that spoke, and this started to irritate her because he answered only when she asked him some questions. And because of this, he knew so many things about her, but not she about him. Gwyneth knew how marriages worked, her father and mother taught her well, despite her young age, but despite that Gwyneth didn't want to have an unhappy marriage and who knows what else. So she wanted to find a common ground for both of them, find out if there was something they could have in common, despite the fact that until now everything put them on opposite sides.
Stopping in the small garden of the castle and sitting on a bench with him, Gwyneth said, not looking towards him, so as not to make him feel uncomfortable, "I know you would never have wanted our union, Prince Tommen, and anyway, there is still plenty of time until then. But I would like us to at least become friends before that happens. So would you like to be my friend?"
"Of course, my lady," he replied, and to her great surprise without a stammer of shyness, and when she looked towards him, she saw that he had a smile on his face.
She, smiling back, asked, "So, Prince Tommen."
"Just Tommen. If we're going to be friends, maybe it's better if we call each other by our first names," he said, surprising her again.
"All right. So Tommen, what do you like?"
"Well, I like apple cakes, dance and I enjoy the readings."
"Dance? You like to dance?"
He nodded, but immediately looked down, red, for sure, maybe ashamed because of that, "Don't be ashamed of that, Tommen. I too like a lot the dance."
"You are a girl," he said, and this made here infuriate a bit.
"And what that was supposed to mean?" she asked angrily, with her hands on her hips, which for sure scared the Prince because he runs away in that instant without even looking back.
"Wonderful," she said, sitting on the bench. Now he will hate her or be scared of her. One step forward two, back, she thought, rising up, and heading for the keep. She will have to find him and apologise.
Sunspear
Arianne was on her way to the Great Hall as it seems her father has important news to communicate to the family regarding the future of the House and Dorne.
When she arrived there, along with her brothers and her uncle, no doubt interrupted by his pleasures, her father was already waiting for them, with Areo Hotha always behind him, vigilant as a hawk.
"Good morning, Father," she said, sitting on one of the couches there.
"Father," her brothers greeted him, sitting on the opposite side, facing her, and Quentyn had a smirk on his lips, and she rolled her eyes.
"So brother. This time, what do you have to tell us that is so important to interrupt my pleasures of the flesh?" her uncle asked, pouring some wine into a goblet, and then sitting next to her, leaning against the back, with his legs crossed, and one hand on the back of it.
"Viserys Targaryen and Illyrio Mophassi have disappeared, and that makes our alliance and consequently, the marriage to Arianne invalid," her father said, looking towards his uncle, and hearing that Arianne was screaming for joy inside herself, while a smile appeared on her lips.
"And tell me, brother. How will we avenge Elia if Viserys Targaryen has disappeared?" her uncle asked, sipping from his goblet, with the Dornish wine.
"By forming an alliance with Rhaegar Targaryen's bastard," his father replied calmly, " And before you get angry, or start to object, I'm not happy about that either, but we need it for Dorne's safety and greatness. "
"And tell me, Father, how do you intend to create this alliance?" she asked, intrigued, although she already knew, she will be used as a bargaining chip.
"Well, dear daughter, this is where you come into the game again. You will marry the bastard, and when your first child is born, we will kill the bastard and your child will claim the great dragon. After that, your son will marry Quentin and Daenerys' daughter, putting even more Martell blood on the throne. So Dorne will become powerful and rule over the Seven Kingdoms, with you as regent." Puppet Arianne wanted to say, but she decided to keep her mouth shut.
"When will I marry Daenerys?" Quentyn asked in an eager way. She knew he couldn't wait to ride a dragon, but Arianne was sure the girl will not want him.
"Well, the bastard doesn't know she wasn't part of the deal, so we'd say you and her, were already married, by proxy and he will be forced to give her to us. So I'd say, soon."
"And tell me, brother, what part will the old Queen Rhaella play in all this?"
"Considering that my sources have informed me of the great bond between her and her daughter, Rhaella Targaryen will become my second wife."
Oberyn began to laugh, and after finishing the goblet in one mug, he said, "Do you really think he will accept this union? We all know how the Targaryens are. You may have Rhaella Targaryen, but you certainly won't have the girl."
"If he wants Dorne's help, he'll have no choice."
"One dragon and thirty thousand men plus the Dotrakhi of Khal Drogo, brother. Do you really think he needs Dorne?" Oberyn was right about that. The young Targaryen won't accept this alliance like that, she's sure of it.
"Then we shall demand it as repayment for our sister's humiliation," her father replied.
"And tell me, brother, Dorne is behind you?" asked Oberyn, and she was very confused by it. As far as she knew, her father was very much loved. Is that a lie?
Looking at her brothers, she saw that they too were confused and were moving their eyes between their father and their uncle, but it was Arianne who gave voice to what surely everyone was thinking, "What do you mean, Uncle?"
"House Yronwood has made an alliance with the Crown. Gwyneth Yronwood will marry Tommen Baratheon who is currently at Yronwood Castle."
"That doesn't mean anything, Oberyn," replied her father calmly.
"They fought against us in three of the five Blackfire rebellions. Do you think they won't take this opportunity?"
"Yes. They did, but now it's up to you to make sure that this alliance doesn't succeed."
"What do you mean, brother?" Oberyn asked confusedly, and so was Arianne.
"You'll go to Yronwood to poison Tommen Baratheon, making sure that the blame falls on Anders."
"I thought we don't kill children in Dorne," Oberyn said.
"We don't if that's convenient for us. But this alliance will unite all the Houses of the North, so we'd better kill him."
"And Cletus, Father?" Quentin asked. "I'm sure he'll stay..."
"He will remain loyal to his house, Quentin. Just as you will do when you marry Daenerys, and you will help Arianne to sit on the Iron Throne, with the Targaryen bastard," said her father, and Arianne thought, 'if I want it."
"Anyway. You Oberyn will leave as I said for Yronwood, while you, Quentyn, will leave for Myr, as Dorne's envoy to negotiate."
Arianne chuckled. If there was one thing Quentyn didn't know, it was to negotiate. He will surely make a mess that will get him killed.
"Is there something to laugh about, Arianne?"
"You're sending an inexperienced young man into the jaws of the dragon."
"Who are you calling inexperienced young man, dear sister?" he asked, getting up angry, which only made him look more ridiculous. "I'm older than the Targaryen bastard. Stronger and even more handsome." She saw the pride in his face and the way he expressed himself. Poor fool.
Shaking her head, she said with a sneer, "You may be older, brother, but tell me: how many battles have you fought? And how many victories have you won? How many terrible enemies have you faced and how many dragons have you tamed?" and with that, she earned her Uncle Oberyn's laugh.
"Enough," said her father calmly. "Sit down, Quentin." And her brother sat down angry, taking the goblet of wine that was there on the small table and drinking it all in one sip.
"I'm glad you admire the young Targaryen man so much because you' re also going to Myr and in disguise you're going to seduce him, take him to bed and hope to get pregnant quickly."
" What?" she asked seriously, thinking she'd misheard.
"I know you heard me clearly, so don't try to play the fool."
"But Father..."
"Your mother is there too. "
"What?" asked Arianne surprised. She was so happy to know that her mother was alive enough to cover up the sadness she felt for what her father was asking her.
"Mellario is alive?" Oberyn asked seriously.
"Yes. When the Golden Company defeated Khal Moro and his Khalassar, they freed the prisoners," replied her father, and this lifted the joy in Arianne's heart. Apparently, she will have to thank the young Targaryen. "And it is to her that I have written to praise Arianne's qualities, and thus create the alliance."
"And did she succeed?"
"No," her father answered, and in that instant, she realized he was hiding something from them. "But now go and start the preparations."
Arianne got up and without saying goodbye to anyone, headed for the exit and then to her room. She needed to think.