Hi everyone.
Sorry for the long wait but i was unfortunately away for awhile and the stories i had posted on here to work on weren't updated as those I have now in the computer. on top of that I will once again be a way for a week but i'll have them uploaded to work on during that period.
For those of you waiting for my stories such as Westeros movie night. expect it soon.
Along with Star Union and star wars.
Hope you enjoy this chapter.
Dance Of Serpents Ch. 7
Days of silence went by in both the seven kingdoms and Castle Peverall.
Letter's exchanged between the two princesses and their families had ceased, leaving many from their council to worry about the silence of three days' worth of Intel and updates of their time there.
Many were wary about man with magic. Especially concerning the dark tales of those who were rumoured to possess such powers as to use them to ensnare the minds and hearts of their victims. Turning them into puppets of their will, with such tales involving wood witches or sorceress's using their black arts and blood magic to ascend to nobility through seducing noble men.
With three days of silence from Rheanyra to the blacks, and Helaena to the Green.
Both factions decided enough with the silent communication and sent their best representatives to ensure that their princess's weren't harmed.
-inside Castle Slytherin. One of the many halls-
Three days of silence within Castle Peverall.
Three days of crippling shame and self-disgust after the revelations of Harry's life.
In that one day of living a life time through the eye's the man who they had hoped to seduce. They had learned the true meaning of suffering, they had seen the worst of humanity brought out and directed all of its ill-intent on a child before he could even walk.
And then continued to try and control him even as he broke free from their control… only to end up losing what he loved with all of his heart.
Rheanyra was walking the halls like a silent spectre.
Her head dipped down to the ground as she wandered aimlessly through the castle with her eye's kept down on the laid out pathway that she walked.
She dared not seek out Harry after seeing what she saw. She dared not to go back into that office again in hopes of finding answers and what other wonders Lord Hadrian had, as that place now was a den of nightmares.
She walked past it many times before, and was hit with a heart crushing weight of guilt and self-loathing.
She saw herself as no different than those whose intent for Harry was similar if not the same.
They tried to use him for their own ends, and then discard him afterwards.
She wanted harry to secure a strong alliance for her throne but then…. What happens after that?
She hadn't really given any after thought about the future should she succeed and accomplish her desires.
Lord Hadrian… no Harry. Was strong man, a perfect specimen of power, prestige, wealth and the definition of a true noble lord.
Any woman would be lucky enough to be married to him as he likely was as wealthy as the Lannisters, as Noble as the Arryns, Honourable as the Starks and powerful as the Targaryens.
He was all these things combined and yet… he was perhaps the most scarred man in the entire world.
He had suffered like no one had suffered.
His family taken from him when he was but an infant, and then again as he grew into manhood, only to start a new family and once more have them ripped away by the cruel hands of fate.
Rheanyra thought to herself, was she just like those people who sought after Harry for their own agenda's?
Was she like that sick heiress Ginny? Only after him for what he has and then once she gets it discard him afterwards.
Granted she was not one who believed herself capable of holding a relationship with anyone. But not because she had the confidence or the will to do so, but rather in their society, Marriages and betrothals were a necessity of political and militaristic alliances.
Noble ladies and lords married out of necessity not love.
Houses united for the cause of survival and strong alliances against a common enemy.
Some marriages do work out but only at least a small percent of the time but the rest were just loveless marriages where both marital partners tolerate each other to the grave or hate the other with full spite.
If Rheanyra was to marry, she'd do it as part of keeping or strengthening her power without diminishing her authority and grip on the throne.
People she knew she could trust were at the top of her list to wed to.
Her first cousin from her Aunt Rhaenys was Laenor Velaryon, the heir of Driftmark and a fellow dragon rider. The young heir was…. A strutting peacock if she had to describe him in both appearance and nature.
Laenor was…. a man who preferred the sword rather than the sheath when putting it mildly. She had seen him surround himself with young handsome men rather than women as all noble heirs do, and never once has he sired a bastard or penetrated a woman in his life.
Laenor was not as ambitious as every lord or heir was, dreaming of bringing greatness to their house for generations to speak of. Nay he was a man who desired only one thing in his life, and that was to spend it in peace and pleasures. So he was pretty easily to control for her… maybe a bit too easy and free spirited to be under her sway, as given by his… less then notorious but certainly rumour filled sexuality that he is more repulsed by women then actually liking them.
Her second choice would be her uncle Deamon Targaryen.
A powerful man, fierce warrior and cunning general. He was everything a king should be and he was her personal favourite out of everyone in her entire family.
She would not deny that he was attractive in his own right with the presence and the authority to rule a kingdom, which he did as he transformed the city's watch into a police force that reduced crime and corruption in the streets of kingslanding. Conquered and ruled the small island kingdoms of the stepping stones for a while till he gave it up to be a part of the family once more.
He was loyal to her, and often advised her in her own council like many of her supporters.
After that, it was really no one whom she desired as a partner to rule with her.
Everyone really followed the old traditions of male's first in succession and title holding, or were far too ambitious to not take the chance to become kings of the seven kingdoms.
Dorne was a blank in her plans.
The last of the kingdoms yet to fold would not follow the rules and laws set by the Conqueror and the rest of the westerosi. Like their motto, they were unyielding to outside occupation and rule, and were just as cutthroat as the rest of their southern brothers and sisters.
Every Targaryen king has dreamt of finishing their great ancestor's work by Conquering Dorne, but the Dornish have proven before that they refuse to bend to the will of an outsider.
Rheanyra had dreamed of becoming the first ruling queen of the seven kingdoms ever since her father had told her that she would rule once he passed. Since then, she has done everything in her power to keep that promise and inheritance hers.
Made deals, forged alliances, created promises that in the end may or may not be filled at the end depending on both parties switch of new interests.
But now… as her mind was opened to the twisted and cruel nature of humanity… she wondered if she can continue to go on with this.
A resounding Pop drew her attention as she looked directly in front of her to see Harry's loyal house elf Dobby, standing right before her. "Princess. Your family is here to see you and princess Helaena." The little elf informed her that her family had come for her.
No doubt in part due to the fact that she hadn't written to them in a few days, and they were here to make sure she was alright.
"Thank you dobby. I will see them immediately." Rheanyra said in a downed tone.
"The master as bidden you and Princess Heleana the living room and the lounge to talk while he attends to other matters." Dobby informed her that she and her half-sister had the two large rooms to conduct their separate and personal businesses.
-A minute ago. Front entrance.-
At the front doors of castle Peverall, stood two men of equal skin tone, hair and eye's yet a big age gap difference as well as colour variations of their clothes.
Both were sent by the respective branches of their family after absence of letters and continuous reports had ceased. Worried about the state of health and safety of their representatives and agents to acquire the new lord's allegiance both had sent their most skilled warriors in case things were as they feared.
For the Blacks, Deamon Targaryen had come by himself to ensure that his niece and future queen was safe. He had every confidence in his martial prowess, however when it came to battling against the unknown powers of magic. He had little to no chance in knowing the full extent of Lord Peverall control and power over the forces of magic.
Having travelled around the known world, Prince Deamon had seen many spectacular sights and learned much culture and religion. Yet when it came to magic, he had seen only the illusionary parlour tricks of the Warlocks of Qarth and the blood sacrifices of witches and priest of the followers of the lord of Light.
He only knew what he did about Lord's Hadrian from the stories he heard from his niece and sister, and knew that if worse comes to worse; he'd be fighting an uphill battle of a life time.
Standing in for the Greens was their own strong warrior.
The youngest son of Allison Targaryen nee Hightower and brother to the future king of Westeros as the Green's choice in sending Aemond Targaryen.
A handsome and young boy of the age of 6 and 10, his valyrian white hair grew out to passing his chin from the back of his head.
Both men were armed with their swords and chain mail under their respective coloured clothes.
And both men, accomplice by their dragons that stood proud and imposing behind their riders.
Vhagar stood as the larger of the two dragons present here. She was aware of her rider's intent here given his commands to ensure his kin's safety prior to their taking off. While she may have wanted to be here under the pretence of peace since she was as interested in the new dragons as well as their master.
The elder dragon much like her kindred had no one else besides themselves to communicate with, but here comes this new human. With the ability to not only speak to them, but also with him three new wingless dragons she had come to like.
These serpent like one's amused her with tales of their old land, much like how she reconciled of tales of her kind's birth place in what is now a desolate and forsaken land.
Opposite her and standing over his own rider was Caraxes, half the size of his elder Vhagar but the less fearsome and a veteran of battles. This dragon had heard the tales concerning the new lord and other dragons he had yet to meet these new dragons and their rider, only going on by what he had heard from both his kin and stray gossip from his rider's kin.
All in all, the dragons were just about as mixed about their opinions on Harry as any other sentient creature.
The main doors to the castle opened, and there, the eyes of all that stood within the grounds, stared down at the odd little creature that stood before them.
It was dobby, one of Harry's house elf's that served their master.
The little elf stood before the small company of house Targaryen.
Deamon was perplexed the sight of such a creature that he now saw for the first time after hearing the description of such creature's from his brother, sister and niece. "Greetings my lords. To what do I owe the pleasure of your presence in my master's home?" he asked as to their reasons for being here.
It was Deamon who stepped forward to address the house elf "We are here to see our princesses." He said, straightforward and blunt, not revealing the true intentions of their presence least they risk further harm to their respective family member's.
Dobby nodded "Just wait here for one minute. I will alert them to your appearance." And with that, the elf disappeared from their sight in a pop.
They then waited there.
Not a word was sent, aside from the corner eye glares they were sending at the other.
But soon enough, they came.
It was Rheanyra who was the first to appear from around the corner of one of the many halls.
Deamon relax and breathed a sigh of relief as he saw that she was okay as she approached.
And no sooner had she appeared then Helaena who came from the other hall, opposite the one Rheanyra took.
Although he did not show it. Aemon was pleased to see his sister otherwise unharmed.
Yet as they drew near, both men saw that not all was fine.
The air about them and the expression they bore told the two men that much had changed since they left.
Deamon stepped forward and comforted his niece "Are you alright?" he asked her directly, though at the same time kept his eye on her half-sister Helaena to see if she was the exact same.
Rheanyra just nodded "Yeah… I'm okay." She said.
Helaena was in the same boat as her sister as she was confronted by her brother "Are you faring well?" he asked.
"Yes…" she simply said, her face looking lacking the same energy and fire that they previously had, the same with her sister as Helaena appeared less vibrant then before.
There was something off about them.
The two men feared that magic had done something to them, but the way they were acting proved that it was something more then what foul spell might've been conjured upon them. There was an air of misery and sorrow that hung on the two as they kept their eyes down to the ground.
However before both men could push to ask what was wrong.
A cry caught not only their attention, but the attention of everyone including the dragons.
From out of the hall, and letting out mad squeaks of panic was Syrax.
The miniaturised dragon rounded through the halls, running as fast as its little stubby legs could carry it, and straight past the confounded men who watched as it ran right outside the door and to the equally surprised and stunned dragons.
S"SYRAX!?"S Caraxes and Vhagar stared in absolute shock of the once large and adult dragon, now reduced to a size not seen since she was a hatchling.
S"HELP ME!"S The shrunken dragon pleaded out to her imposing kin for help S"They won't leave me alone!"S she cried out.
It wasn't before long that her tormentors appeared, their hissings easily heard before they appeared and chased after the fleeing dragon that took shelter behind the leg of the monstrous Vhagar.
Deamon now saw the sea dragons everyone's been talking about for some time. He can honestly say that he had seen all manner of exotic and mysterious creatures imported from far and beyond the shadowlands.
But! Nothing could compare the creatures that he watch slither past him and out the doors towards the dragons where Syrax now currently cowered behind his nephew's dragon.
The three soon stopped as they saw who it was that stood before them S"Hi Vhagar! How's it going?"S Typhoon asked the large she-dragon as she and her sister's stopped dead before the two larger dragons.
S"Very good. But may I ask why is Syrax like this?"S Vhagar inquired to the stout short appearance of her younger kin that now retained a size not seen since she was recently hatched.
Deamon and Aemond were just as bewildered as the other, as they saw with their own eye's their dragons conversing with the sea dragons.
And to Deamon's greater awe and bewilderment as he watched as they grew to full size to match with Vhagar right before them.
As Lernaean stayed to talk to the two Targaryen dragons, Landon and Typhon slithered around the group like sharking circling their prey "We've been playing with our new friend~." They hissed out in unison with merriment in their tune that the two dragons heard and watched as Landon and Typhon circled around them.
S"And the dayssss have been never dull with her around."S Landon eye's fixed on the tiny dragon that tried to hide and shield herself behind Vhagar's leg. Trying to keep as far away from the circling serpents that made her unconditional stay here a nightmare from day one.
S"Yesss. We were just on our way to playing a new game when she ran~"S Landon hissed out as she fixed her eye's upon the tiny dragon before they all stopped and stood around the two large Targaryen dragons.
S"Would you like to play as well?"S Vhagar and Caraxes never got a chance to reply as from Typhon serpent lips a small wooden stick pointed at the edge of her mouth before a visible light breezed from the tip and washed over the two. Consuming them in a vortex that shrunk and then dissipated to reveal the once Great and mighty Dragons…now fun size like Syrax.
Such an act did not go unwarranted "Vhagar!?/ Caraxes!?" both Deamon and Aemon cried out in shock over their mounts and treasured companions. Seeing with awe struck wide eye's the disbelieving sight of two of the mightiest dragons that once occupied the courtyard now standing no bigger than a dog in the centre of three large serpentine dragons of Lord Peverall.
S"There now. We can all play together."S Typhoon mused, ignoring the squeaks and cries of protest and shock from the now downsized dragons.
Deamon looked like he was about to intervene until a soft hand landed on his shoulder and he looked back to see his niece Rheanyra "Relax uncle. No harm will come to them." She tried to assure him that Vhagar would be safe despite the circumstance of the sea dragons' power that made them weak and vulnerable.
"Can we talk inside… in private?" Deamon looked at her…then to his dragon, and finally back to her and nodded.
The same with Aemon as the two were led inside, taking different routes in the castle from the other to the rooms made available for their privacy.
-With Rheanyra. Living room-
Rheanyra led her uncle to the empty room they were given, and immediately after Rheanyra had closed and locked the door, her uncle Deamon went out and just asked what was concerning him.
"Rheanyra. Before we start, I just want to know. Are you in any danger? Are you being held hostage?" he threw out those questions, ready to unsheathe his sword and fight his way out of this castle with his niece in tow at the first sign of his fear being true.
Rheanyra just sighed, expecting this from her uncle who was like a 2nd father to her and always worried about her safety "No uncle. I am not." She simply said as she walked past him and towards the couch.
Only for her uncles hands to grip her by the arm and halt her in her movements "are you sure!?" he asked in all seriousness.
…but that was a big mistake on his part, as Deamon had unknowingly stirred the dragon that was his niece when he grabbed her.
With fire and fury as her head snapped towards him with a face to make even a dragon flinch in fear, Rheanyra roared at him "I swear it upon my Targaryen Blood I am not under his control!" Deamon immediately let go.
Seeing the honest emotions in her since he got here.
That same drive and raw emotion that was Rheanyra reared at him but he wasn't concerned about her anger towards him then she was with his relief that she was alright and not bewitched in any manner.
His face remained strongly composed after that and he followed after her. Taking a seat opposite from her "Alright. I believe you. Now tell me, why are you like this? Why have you been silent all this time?" Deamon stared at her hard; looking for any sign or even a hint that if she was being control.
"I've… I don't know where to start." She honestly did not know how to start this all off. How to describe the journey's that led to her being like this.
"Start from the beginning." Deamon instructed, asking of her to begin at the very roots that made her and her sister act like shells of their former selves.
Rheanyra took a deep inhale and prepared herself to relieve those terrible memories she had to live through"… I… saw things that shook… my views on the world." She began how the events that made her feel this low happened.
"Tell me what you can." Deamon gently urged her, seeing the stress upon her as she tried to find the will to continue.
"…It was three days ago. It was like… any other day here as I tried my best to plan and execute my will in trying to coax Lord Peverall to my cause. I arrived at his private Lab, along with Heleana who had the same idea as to where to find him." She told him of how it all played out.
-With Heleana. Lounge-
With the youngest Targaryen princesses, Heleana sat with her brother Aemond who listened to his sister's tale as they sat within the living room.
"Go on. Tell me what happened in there, after you and Rheanyra entered." He urged his sister to continue when they entered into Harry's lab.
Heleana was much like her older half-sister. Trying to find the will to continue on as he recalled those painful moments she had to live through with Harry "… we didn't see him there. And it was obvious that the both of us wouldn't be able to find him in this maze of a castle without the other finding him first, so we stayed. We browsed his collection of wondrous and unique objects that no one else in the world possesses. He even has dragon eggs, containing different species of dragons, far more different then our family's stock." She told him of where they were and what they were doing prior to the dipping of the pensive.
Aemond just nodded "yes we know about that. Along with that book that pertains to the knowledge and other species of dragons one can create." He was aware just like everyone on his mother side and half-sister's side of the book of Dragons that if Deciphered would yield to creating an army of dragons the mind can only imagen.
"Anyway… there I was, looking at the protected shelf of eggs; a big as our heads while Rheanyra tried to decipher the book. It was there, that we were caught."
Aemond nearly jumped to his feet when he heard that "Lord Hadrian Caught you!?" already he began to think of ways to somehow salvage this mess his sister had caused as she was caught snooping in an otherwise private area.
Heleana however, remained seated and just shook her head at him "Not lord Hadrian… his wife." He voice cracked and broke as she recalled that horrifying image forever burned into her mind of the Late Lady Potter hanging outside her family's estate and gutted like pig.
Aemond just frown at this "His wife is dead." There was no way that a dead woman could catch them.
His belief in the powers of magic had been renewed and wrapped with the appearance of Lord Hadrian who proved that magic wasn't simply conjure tricks and wood witch blood magic.
That magic was in fact a high power then even the dragons they tamed. That such feats of miracles and powers that only the gods were thought to possess can in fact be performed by mere mortals.
He had been a witness to many of Lord Hadrian's magical feats, from speaking to their dragons, teleportation and the animation of the portraits within this castle "Yes… she is. It was her portrait. It was alive…." She felt creep out more than embarrassed by living portrait of the dead woman talking to them.
Watching them as they tried to seduce her husband.
Heleana couldn't help but feel like those muggle call a homewrecker. How she blatantly tried to seduce wife's own husband before her, there was a sense of self-disappointment and shame that came with it.
Aemon however was enthralled by this revelation. His mind began to percolate with the idea of what magic is capable of if the image of the lord's deceased wife was animated….or alive. He wondered if her soul wasn't preserved within the framed art of herself.
But as much as he would like to know about the mysterious ways of the arcane…he knew he needed to hear about what his sister had to say about Lord Hadrian's life "…continue." Directing all of his attention to her tale that he will relay to his mother and grandfather.
"She caught us, looking through his things and warned us about him." She began, remembering clearly the warning Daphne Peverall parted to them of how dangerous Harry could be to them if they became his enemy "She warned us what our ambitions and desires would bring to us were we to take them further then they already were."
"She wanted us to see, who he was. She wanted us to know, who Lord Peverall is. She wanted us to grasp what true hardship and suffering is." And they didn't just see but lived through the tragedy and Hardship to survive in the cutthroat game of politics and betrayals that make the Game of Throne all of her Relatives and friends play seem tame compared to the bastardy of a corrupt system and government.
"She directed us at a pool of water where we saw the memories of his lordship for ourselves."
Aemon jumped up with startle "You saw his memories!?" he cried out in shock…a little bit of excitement as this meant that they got an inside look at the man and his dirty little secrets.
…little did he realise that the sordid and mysterious past of host lord…was better left undisturbed.
-Back with Rheanyra-
In another part of the castle, Rheanyra continued to inform her uncle of her findings "We didn't just see them. We lived them!" she stressed out, the terrible memories and emotional wounds once more resurfacing as he recollects the first tragedy that befell Harry "From the day his life changed as an infant. When a rival lord, rising to power through fear and murder came for him in the night."
The Memory of Voldemort was burned into her soul as she watched helplessly as Harry's parents tried desperately in vein to fend off against the titled Dark Lord "That man… no! That Monster! Slew his parents without any hesitation nor remorse. He then turned his ire to the 1 year old Harry and went to cast the same killing curse that had taken his parents."
"…what happened?" Deamon urged her to continue, becoming in enthralled with the tale of this man that has his family's full interest.
"The curse rebounded… back onto the wizard. Destroying him but… a piece of his soul latched onto the newly formed scar on Harry's head."
-Harry's Private Office-
As the princesses told their tale.
In the secluded office of Harry Peverall.
Harry leaned back in his lounge chair, his eye's staring deep into the fire place while on the small round table next to him was another uncorked bottle and his hand, hanging by his fingers was a glass cup swirling with half-filled substance of whisky.
Harry often found himself here. When not working or doing anything, he would come here and drink away his sorrows.
The strong alcohol helped to dull the pain as he reminisced about his life.
"You should be taking better care of yourself." A voice. A familiar voice that in the past was music to his ears, but now it is only a reminder of what he had lost.
Harry didn't need to look up to address the memory of the one woman in his life, he truly cherish more than his own life.
Harry brought the glass of whiskey to his face and stared at the dark substance "Basilisk constitution now added by master of death. Not everything is an upside." He then threw it all back in one gulp; his eye's seeing through the shaped glass the blurred vision of Daphne hanging over him before he slammed the cup down on the table.
"Anyway, you have nothing to worry about. I apparently can't die." He remarked about the con that some would consider a pro as being the master of death itself.
His body can destroyed, but he can't die.
Stabbed, shot, clubbed, strangled and burnt. He can take anything that would kill an ordinary man and spit in the faces of his would be killers were they to try any of those methods to kill him.
"It's not your physical death I'm worried about." Daphne narrowed her eyes to the sorry state of her husband who was drinking himself into a ditch "you should let go of the past. Focus on the future. You came here to escape those pains and horrors, not bring them with you!"
"…you know… in all honesty I had considered it. I had this idea to go back into the past and change history but…." He craned his head up, and stared at her with bloodshot eyes and a face on the verge of breaking "That would mean… that I'd have to let you go." Harry was not prepared to say farewell to the love of his life.
He had not the strength to push his troubles away.
To let go of his past that forever haunted him.
He had not the convictions to go back in time and prevent Voldemort from ever being conceived.
A different harry might've done that.
One who put aside his personal fears and pains for the life of peace of prosperity…but… the age of wizards then would be straining for this harry. And he had neither the patience nor the constitution to put a smile on and shake hands with Dumbledore.
He would burst into a furious fit of murder if he touched the slightest bit of the man's skin.
"But you have to." Daphne cooed tenderly as she looked upon him with equal sorrow and hardship he was facing with this decision he made "I don't like it either. But it's better than spending the rest of eternity or however long your lordship pertains, wallowing in self-pity."
"… Do you think they'll leave?" he asked about his guests.
He knew of the arrival of the two men from both crown factions.
Nothing goes about in this castle without his knowledge, though he cannot listen to them… granted he didn't have the energy to want to. Harry originally came to start a new life…. But that was proving harder then he imagined.
He had been putting on plastered smiles before his guests, in order to hide the damage done to him.
But now with past revealed, he no longer had to put a veil to keep them happy.
Daphne hummed as she looked out the closed doorway "Hmmm… hard to say." She sounded "that Rheanyra certainly has the drive. There's of look of destiny in her eyes that I've only seen once on another."
"And Helaena?" Harry mused about the 2nd sister that was a polar opposite of the first.
"That meek and timid nature clouds the same fire and determination she possesses like her sister. They won't leave. Either forced out of duty or the need of survival, neither would give up the chase."
Harry exasperated heavily "Guess I'm gonna have to get used to them." What little choice did he have other than hosting the royals of this land. True he could force them out, and if they come back with an army he had every confidence in his abilities to wipe them from the face of the earth…but then that would leave a big power vacuum to fill.
Unintentionally Harry knew he would plunge the kingdoms into all-out war for the right to rule all others, with some if not all trying to rally the other kingdoms against him.
So he had no choice but to accept his position as the most wanted man in the seven kingdoms….not so different then when he was back home, the only difference is that people want his power and not his head.
"It might not be that bad. Now they know what their thoughts and actions cause, and will be more open minded after getting to know you."
"Getting to know me indeed. They spent my entire life learning everything there is to know about me." Almost everything they saw was his entire life…granted there were some censored bits cut out such as the fact that he was from another world and not this one. His acquisition and bestowment of being the Master of Death itself or in their world The Master of Their God of Death the Stranger.
Such information would bring about heaps of trouble for him down the road. Especially since this world was still in its medieval period…meaning a lot of backwards thinking, superstition and overzealous religions and cults that would explode into utter fanaticism when they learn that Harry Pretty hold power over a god.
Something that he was already regretting as while some would consider the perks of being an immortal with command over the Grim Reaper himself….the downside is that such a position was on a very thin hair trigger as Harry knew for a fact that no god likes to be bound to the service of a mortal.
"Not everything." Daphne stated as she knew of what the pensive contained and what it lacked "They saw only the land that you came from. Not the world that you left. They have seen only the worst that you've kept, and not the terror that you have buried." She turned her gaze and saw his head held down, his hands clinching deeply into empty glass cup and the arms of the sofa.
She knew he was hurting. The terrors and evils of the past still haunted him now, but none far more damaging…then her death.
"….I wish I could've saved you." Harry started, slowly lifting his head to look up at her with puffy red eyes that were on the verge of break into tears. His tone and voice in soft whispers "I would've traded everything to bring you back. I would've let the entire world burn under Voldemort and Dumbledore's struggles if only it meant to preserve you." Terrifying part about it all was that Daphne knew he would do it.
She knew for a fact that if given the chance he would let not just Hogwarts, the Ministry or Great Britain Burn. But the entirety of the world if it meant she would live.
He would let it the whole world that had shunned him and made him a pariah when it was suited Die and to be honest….she wouldn't have stopped him. As she had shared in the pain of being not just friends but wife to great or despicable Harry Potter.
She could not recount the number of letters or random people all hurling slander and insults to her, to even a few foolish enough to try and take down the wife of Harry. Naturally she was far better than them…that is…until Voldemort came along.
That day that saw to her end was the Day that Voldemort learned that she was pregnant with Harry child.
Being the scared and paranoid megalomaniac that he was, Voldemort would not suffer a child born from his rival nor one that could potentially be more powerful than either of them. He took it upon himself to hurt Harry in a way that he could not do before and to draw him out of hiding…it worked a little too well for the self-proclaimed Dark Lord.
Voldemort soon regretted his action's as he unleashed the terrible power kept buried by Harry to not attract too much attention from Dumbledore and the entire world who were slowly cursing his name despite what he was doing.
But…despite all of that…Daphne wouldn't let him do it. On the part of those who truly fought for and knew Harry…their friends. "But. You know I wouldn't have let you. You would be forsaking everyone else if you had chosen to save me." Neville, Luna, Fred and George, Hannah, Susan, Remus, Tonks, Hagrid. All of these people who genuinely had Harry's back without an ounce of doubt from the first day they all met him.
These were the people who fought at his side…many of whom now rest within marked graves and are mourned by those who truly knew them.
Daphne knew Harry could not dwell here any longer. He was needed to entertain the new guests who had come to check upon their princesses, she would not have him waste away here upon her memory as she slowly released the magic that let her talk and move freely.
"Find peace Harry. I know that you will. You may never forget me, or cry out for me, but I know that one day you will find someone to help you carry those pains." Were the parting words as the portrait of his beloved wife once more became inanimate.
Harry had no power force her otherwise…well he did but her wouldn't. Daphne was stubborn that way…a charm he found in her as once she set her mind to something she keep's to it.
"But until such a day comes. I'll never forget about you." with those parting words Harry just sat there…alone in that quiet room with the flickers of the burning flame lighting that room.
Seeing there was little else he could get from the memory and the fact that he was hosting for royalty…Harry resigned to his fate as he exasperated heavily "Whelp… might as well go and say hello to my guests." Brushing his hand through his messy hair, he combed it all back into place before standing up and moving to one the cabinets, he pulled out a small glass bottle that read fresh mint before uncorking it and taking a small swig form its contents.
He swished it around his mouth and gargled before spitting all into a small bowl that he materialised. Normal mouthwash wouldn't have been able to hide the strong Oder of Alcohol in his breath, but this particular brew was made through the alchemical arts and magic to not hide but wash away the stench of the strong liquor.
Once all that was
-With Rheanyra and Deamon-
To say that Deamon was in awe…. Was an understatement.
The story he had been told would easily be scoffed at if not admired for the well-structured back story and events described to him had he not heard it from the lips of his own niece.
The Rogue Targaryen had new found genuine respect for this man that his niece is set on acquiring.
Yet…. He could see the conflict within her as she had recounted on his adventures that were purposely orchestrated by those whom he thought were his friends. She remembered the tragedies of the betrayals he had suffered by those who only used him to gain what he had.
And at this, Rheanyra was reminded that she was not so different from them as she only wanted Lord Peverall for his power to deter any sign of treason or opposition to her rule.
Deamon was quick to understand and saw the pain she was going through.
"What I should do?" she finally asked for advice.
She looked up at her uncle with pain in her eye's as tears once more threatened to fall from them "What should I do uncle?" this was no longer the fire and fury crown princess Rheanyra sitting before him.
Now in her place for the first time was a scared little girl looking to others for answer.
Deamon smiled as warmly as he could as she comforted her as best as he can.
His hand upon hers as he stroked her knuckles "Nothing…" he said to her "I have seen you take charge since you were young. Always confident in your choices. Always so sure in your decisions. You've never needed anyone to second guess you let alone yourself. My advice to you is to do what you think is right and what is needed."
-Heleana and Aemon-
Meanwhile with the younger princess Heleana, she too had just finished describing Harry's life to her brother, and had not the heart to continue to game of seduction on a man who had suffered so much.
"I don't think I can anymore." Heleana relented as she didn't have the strength or conviction to go along with this anymore "I think we should leave these matters alone." Her heart could not bare the guilt that she was robbing a man of his chance for a fresh new start in life after escaping from a world of torment and misery.
But her words fell on deaf ears as even though prince Aemon had heard the tale and equally as shocked and in awe of the accomplishments the man had committed.
But He was far more determined than his sibling in these matters.
"What are you talking about?" he asked her as to her change in heart.
Before Heleana would've wanted the chance to woo a man such as Hadrian into marriage, but now… she wanted out.
Many of their southern kin. Related or otherwise would not pass up the opportunity to step up from meagre positions or other chose able candidates to marry.
Their mother could've married another lord instead of a king but thank the gods and her dedication to wooing their father paid off and now they are princes and princesses, and not heirs and heiresses.
"You can't just get up and leave after we've invest so much into this!" Aemon stressed out the importance of their time and energy spent into aiding Heleana with her mission.
"But-but Brother." Heleana weakly started, trying to plead her case "Lord Hadrian has suffered enough. More than any man in the kingdom. Surely he deserves peace then pulling him into our troubles?" she pleaded for him to see that what they were doing, was hurting him more then he already was.
No man in in their kingdom.
No knight in their service could hold the strength or merit that Harry had.
But all of that…fell on deaf ears.
"And what about us!" he Aemond yelled out, right in her face and scarring her as she had never been on the receiving end of her brother's temper "What about your family!? Have you forgotten why we are doing this? Have you forgotten that if we don't stake our brother's claim to the throne then your head, my head, our mother's head and all of the heads of entire family will be put to the Pike!?"
Aemon went over why they were doing this.
Why they needed to do this evil!
They could not bank on Rheanyra sparing their lives out of kinship as being half siblings of their father would not save them from Death, Exile or worse…
Family members have been killed off, directly or discreetly to avoid future claims to the throne.
Their ancestor King Meagor the Cruel had no qualms in killing his nephew and bedding his own niece as he claimed the throne through force.
Their brother's ascent to the throne was their only chance for safety in what might happen.
Despite there being no bad blood between them when they were children growing up till now. The ever present question of Aegon's right to claim the throne over his sister's due to the primogeniture laws of the kingdom save Dorne that saw male children despite the age and line of being born as the last child in a generation of females will always take precedent of owning title's and land no matter what when coming of age.
And Aegon was of age and while he vocally states that he wishes not to take his sister's throne from her many times over, his wish is not so easily followed as many who swore to support Rheanyra and even bent the knee to her would never accept a lone female monarch upon the throne.
To do so would upset and upheave the old traditions that saw sons and husbands into positions of power and land instead of daughters and wives.
And while… a little part of her was happy with such an idea…unfortunately she had no say in such matters. She was the 2nd daughter of the 2nd queen, she was taught not warfare, politics or ways of court affairs like her older half-sister who was dubbed the Meagor with Tits from her familiar fiery temper and no tolerance attitude to anyone questioning against her.
"I haven't forgotten!" Heleana let out, showing for once that Targaryen Dragon within her that she keeps hidden. Surprising her own brother with her outburst "I know what I'm here for!…. I know what we're trying to do… I know of the struggles we're making to ensure that Aegon right to the throne. But… there must be another way to this? I can't go back to seducing Lord Hadrian after seeing what I saw. I can't!"
Aemon was quick to recover after his sister calmed back down "You have to!" now he was the aroused dragon "Our entire family rests upon you securing a strong alliance with Lord Hadrian. You are to employ every method you have it, even if that means using your body to achieve the ends!"
"I won't!"
Aemon just stare at her…as though she had grown a second head "What did you say…?" his eye's narrowing in a challenging glare that would've wilted her resolve had the dragon inside of her not been awoken and challenged in such a way.
Heleana stood up and stared defiantly at her brother, her once sweet and full face now twisted into a furious snarl with her amethyst eye's burning with that Targaryen fire she kept welled up inside of her "I said I won't! I will not subject myself to using deployable means of turning myself into whore just to bring him into our Mother's schemes!"
The reaction was expected but none the less Heleana was shocked.
Her face twisted to the side with eye's wide and welling with tears.
A large red mark on her once far pale moonlit skin.
And opposite her body. Standing as tall as a tree with his arm thrown at the side was Aemon.
Face hard and red as he glared with an expression that rivalled that of his Dragon Vhagar when angered.
It took Heleana 10 seconds to register the pain as she turned her head back and looked at her brother with complete shock.
…never….never before in her life had she ever been slapped.
Not by her mother as she grew up.
Not by her father as she attended court.
Not by her grandfather as she was subject to his court politics.
And not by her own brother's as she grew up with them.
Never in her life had she ever been attacked, assaulted or punished in her life.
Her eye's fixed upon the man whom she once looked at with compassion but now….there was nothing but a deep sense of betrayal as she now stared at Aemond whom she no longer saw as her brother.
"Now you listen here!" he seethed through his teeth that bared at her as he fixed upon her the most scathing heated look as though he was talking to a servant that spilled his food "WE. NEED. THIS ALLIANCE!" he hissed out as slow and as clear so she understood that this wasn't a request, an appeal or plead for her to sell herself for the good of their family.
This!...was a Command!
"If WE don't have the full support of this Sorcerer, Witch or whatever the Seven Hells he is. Then we risk becoming his enemies!" "If our sister gains him, her enemies and rivals will become HIS! And we're a TOP of that list!" he spat out each of the key words help her realise how in danger they were and how important this mission to seduce Lord Hadrian onto their side.
But despite how loud and vocal Aemon was being.
All Heleana could hear…was ringing.
She wasn't deafened by the strike her brother gave her, but by the pain and sheer shock that rattled her mind as she processed what he did.
When she did come out of her stupor she could barely utter a word "B-But…But-" she tried to speak out but Aemon was once more upon her with a threat far more terrifying to the young princess then any Physical torture he could put her through.
"If you don't do what we say. And continue in this pitiful rebellion then I'll tell mother about their refusal to fall in line."
Heleana felt the blow that she had been dreading for much of her life.
If it was one thing she had feared above all else it was disappointment.
Her feared disappointing father but this was not a problem as he dotted on her with the same love and affection he gives to all of his children.
It was her mother whom she feared above all else.
Where her father was a man with a gentler soul, her mother was the one with a heart as hard and cold as steel.
She was constantly reminded of her figure but she could not help it as eating has been a source of comfort for her, and while she did not have the ideal figure of beauty other ladies strive to maintain she none the less was beautiful in her own her and not as fat as her mother and other ladies claim she is.
Her Mother pressured her and pushed her to achieve some measure of achievement in her life.
Before Harry came, her mother had plotted to marry her off to own Brother Aemon so that when he takes the throne she would be named queen. And while the idea of queen was the appealing part of this idea…unfortunately that meant that she'd have to marry her brother.
Don't get her wrong she loved Aegon but only as sibling and nothing more. They grew up together and played together, she bet that even he would find it weird sleeping together, having sex together and children after that.
It would be awkward to act like husband and wife instead of brother and sister.
After seeing the life of the man she wished no more ill upon, she saw the result of what keeping the blood lines pure had done to those born of this incestuous relationship between cousins no matter the distances.
How inbred the children were from their closely related their parents were to produce such weak, misshapen, ill-tempered and stupid children that wasn't isolated between magical family's but even the non-magical muggles as well.
Heleana could not help but think back to much of her families own history of marrying brother to sister and produce both great…and terrible kings in their reign. Many of whom showed clear signs of their family's curse of madness that people they ruled have come up with saying that is now popular.
*Every time a Targaryen is born. The gods Flip a coin.* If the coin landed on one way, then the realm is blessed with perfectly normal and great Targaryen. But should the coin land on the reserve….then years of suffering and madness upon the realm.
Heleana knew that she had no power here.
She had no power in the control of her own fate.
Refuse as much as she wanted. Go back to Kingslanding all by herself and she would just be sent back or worse married out to whatever man her mother chooses to both keep her in line and strengthen their blood relations.
So….with heavy heart and great reluctance in this scheme…she accepted her fate as being the pawn in her family's plot to overtake the throne.
"….Alright…" she mumbled out as she cradled her cheek.
Aemon looked satisfied with the answer till she lifted her head and stared him dead in the eyes with a cold glare that sent a chill up his spine "But know This Brother….I shall not forget about this." She warned him that she will remember to her last breath about this and all that her family are forcing her to do.
But Aemon was quick to assume his cold and collected demeanour as he took her challenge and got right in her face "Be sure that you do. I do not make it a habit to of repeating myself twice." He hissed at her.
As he stood back up from her, never once looking away from those eye's that saw him as less of her brother and more of a stranger "I will relay this information to mother and grandfather. They will use this to plan our next steps. I won't speak a word of this to them unless you keep this talk about forgoing your duty."
"Good bye and Good Luck." and with that he stormed out of the room, not once looking back as he felt satisfied in delivering the message.
Heleana just stood there….all alone now. More alone then she ever realised she was as her own brother could not…no! Did not want to help her out of their family's plot to secure themselves in a greater advantage.
Something…inside of Heleana broke.
The once sweet, pleasant and kind young woman had learned the horrible truth of what her place was in this grand scheme of her Mother and grandfather.
She was a Pawn.
A mere chess piece to be used despite the royal Dragon blood coursing through her veins, she was still a bargaining piece to be used and then cast aside once she's proved to be no more.
Her mother could not care if she was happily married to Lord Hadrian…only that she is able to grant them the power to raise an army of dragons and monsters to combat Rheanyra's forces and all those that stood against them.
In the end Heleana had learned that in this world she….was just like Harry.
She now knew of her importance and expendability to those who would use her for their own ends.
-Meanwhile at Living room.-
In another part of the castle, after her uncle Prince Deamon had left.
Rheanyra now sat all alone.
For once in her life she had confided her fears and doubts to someone she considered close to her.
She had opened her heart and showed them the fragile girl weeping and looking for help in this scary time for her.
She thought she knew the worst humanity had to offer in the form of snakes, traitors and schemers all vying for power in this cutthroat world of political intrigue and plots.
But…after living through the life of Harry…did she truly know the depths of such evil and malice, all centred towards one boy who lived through the worst of what evil men are capable of achieving.
She had seen the wicked intentions of those who would a young boy for their own twisted ends, and care not for who gets in their way or how much damage their goals do to him. All that mattered was that he played out his part like a good little pawn.
And Rheanyra…often wondered how far she was from them.
Though her intentions weren't as vile or sick as theirs, as all she had done and continue to do is to secure her right to rule.
There was no ulterior motive or grand design that comes with establishing her rule.
All she wanted was to have that which was promised to her.
To rule as the first named Queen in the history of the seven kingdoms.
And continue to do so till she passes the crown to her heirs.
That is all.
She had no intention of breaking off deals or cutting contact with her supports and…allies unless needed as half of her power base was filled with sycophants and ass kissers that only supported her in exchange for their own choice in rewards.
…some of them hoping to have her in the end or some land that belonged to one of their rivals now on Aegon's side.
After all of this.
All of the plotting and scheming on her part, and now knowing to true depths of depravity and evil those that oppose her are capable of achieving…made her want to just give it all up.
The Crown.
The Throne.
The name Targaryen all together and do what Harry did.
Leave it all behind and start fresh with no one knowing who she was and none of her enemies chasing after her in the far parts of the world.
…but then…she would be leaving her family.
Those that stood by her and fought for her right out of honour and respect rather than gain and glory.
Rheanyra had no idea on what to do.
For the first time in her life….Rheanyra was unsure on what to do with her life.
Can she continue to try and win Lord Hadrian's support?
She might be able to make him see that she was a more fitted ruler then her brother over trying to seduce him given what happened.
If nothing else…she can ensure that her step mother Alicent does not get her greedy claws into him.
And she knew that this was not going to be easy….for them all.
-At the Foyer of the castle.-
Sometime later out in the front yard where Deamon and Aemon joined up to leave this castle behind, they were entertained by the sight of their dragons who have yet to return to normal playing an odd game of tag as Vhagar chased after Landon nipped her tail before running as Landon chased after another one of her sisters who slithered as quickly as she could.
This was a perplexing and strangely intriguing site to the two Dragon riders to see their precious mounts and companions play like little children in this odd game of tag.
"odd, wouldn't you say?" both men jumped and turned to see lord Hadrian standing behind them, looking at the scene of his Basilisks playing with their new friends like children…it was amusing to him as a small smile graced his lips.
Deamon was the first to get over his shock at how Harry crept up on him before remembering that was no normal man. He straightened himself up and spoke to the man for the first time "Lord Hadrian." Harry turned to look at him as Deamon bowed with his back bending forward slightly "I am Prince Deamon Targaryen. I thank you for taking care of my Niece Princess Rheanyra."
Harry smiled and bowed back to him with one arm behind him "The pleasure is all mine my lord. It is not every day one hosts for royalty. Much less the treasured princesses of the kingdom." He said, doing his best to be respectful and courteous to a member of the ruling family…especially one he knew to be dangerous.
Deamon's presence warned Harry that he was no simple man, and he was far from being some strutting peacock flashing his title around. The air and body language he got from him foretold that he was dangerous man, His stance and the way he held himself spoke of his power as a warrior.
In a fight Harry knew he would win…but it would be a hard battle for him. Especially with the younger of the two men who although may not be as experienced as the Man before him was none the less younger and more agile with youth on his side as he may join in.
Harry knew he had to tread carefully around not these men but the royal host who hounds him to marry one side or the other in this civil dispute for the throne.
"Would the two of you like to stay for dinner? My house elves can accommodate for two more guests this evening." He would be a poor host if not to invite these two men to eat in his castle after coming such a long way from the capital.
Deamon and Aemon glanced at each other from the corner of their eyes.
The subtle narrowing of heated suspicion directed towards each other as the each believed the other would use this to their advantage.
"I'm terrible afraid not my lord." Both said at the exact same time as they stepped forward.
"A shame…still let me help you with your companions." "Alright girls it's time to say good bye to your friends."
S"AAAAAWWW!"S Landon, Typhon and Lernaean all cried out in dismay after spending such fun times with their new dragon friends.
With a wave of his hand, Vhagar and Caraxes returned to their original and imposing size before the two men who were in awe of the wonders and powers of the Magic Harry and his familiar's possessed.
Behind the two men, a new being walked up to send her farewells "Leaving already Uncle?"
Deamon turned to see his niece… Rheanyra now looking a bit better as she put on a small smile for her uncle.
Not far behind, Princess Helaena joined in but kept her eyes downcast from her brother "Farewell Brother…" was all she had said.
But when Harry turned…and his eye's landed upon the darkening mark on her cheek.
Quick as a flash, Harry pushed passed the men and gently touched the wounded spot on her skin "What happened!?" he asked with a concern expression mixed with sharp seriousness in his tone of voice.
Heleana glance over his shoulder to see her brother standing ridged behind Harry.
Helaena knew she had her brother's life in her hands and so did Aemon for that matter.
She knew that he feared Harry and his powers after the last time he had accompanied them to visit Lord Hadrian for the first time when her father brought up the idea of marriage.
There was a sense of…gratification as she wondered to what extent Harry would deliver his swift and brutal punishment upon her brother whom had marked her.
…but…she didn't "I slipped and fell…" was all she said.
She didn't spare her brother from what little ounce of respect and sibling love she held for him.
She didn't spare him out of pity or mercy of what Harry might do to him.
No…she spared him to deliver just one silent message. That as long as she remains here…she is untouchable.
Her eye's for the first time locked onto his with sharp gaze, Aemon seemed to relax but understood the message his sister gave him.
But Harry was not stupid "…is that so…?" he glanced behind him to see Aemon who gulped down his fear as he saw the narrowed glare being sent his way by Harry who then turned back to look at Heleana and dropped whatever crushing grip of terror he threw at the young prince.
"Well, we can't have you looking so unsightly. Anyone would think that I am a poor host." He graced his hand over her cheek. Causing such light and sweet sensations to chill down her spine.
Heleana didn't know if that was his gentle touch…or the magic he was using as the bruise was wiped away when he brushed over it but her body shivered in delight to the sensations she felt on her cheek "there. You shouldn't let an unsightly mark ruin that beauty of yours." A new colour flooded her cheeks when she heard that complement.
Ignoring the otherwise jealous glare being sent to her by her sister "Still…" Harry breathed as he turned back to look at the two men "I thank you for your visit and hope you all had a wonderful time here."
"The pleasure was ours my lord. And it is our gratitude for welcoming my nieces into your home."
"Thank you for your generous words. Please send the king my heartfelt thanks for welcoming me into his Kingdom."
Harry, Rheanyra, Heleana, Landon, Typhon, Lernaean and Syrax all bid Deamon and Aemon their goodbyes…well all of them except one as the miniaturised Dragon Syrax chased and cried out after the dragons that flew away.
S"Take me with you! PLEASE TAKE ME AWAY FROM HERE!"S she yelped and wailed out in despair, trying to flap her wings desperately as she tried in vain to escape from this hell she found herself in.
Harry moved to walk away when Rheanyra halted him "Lord Hadrian?.." he stopped and looked back to see Rheanyra. The princess stood with her hands clasped together and rubbing over each other knuckles, her body shifted with her shoulders dropping, her eye's down cast with teeth biting into her lips.
She was nervous…a sight very rarely seen upon the strong woman who burned with great passions before but now…looked like a little girl who was ashamed of herself "I…I…want to apologise." She murmured out, but Harry heard her.
He now turned and directed his entire attention to the crown princess as she began to humble herself before the man who had suffered so much "I…beg you forgiveness for my actions as of late. I know I do not deserve your mercy nor your forgiving nature in my rudeness of trespassing into your offices, and throwing myself so casually at your feet after you had suffered greatly." She began to shake, her quivering and shaking movements of her shoulders and body increased with each sentence as the horrific memories of his past flashed before her eyes.
Her voice trembling as it tried to break "I know I should not have intruded upon your domain….and not into your memories either." Harry just watched. Baring no emotion as he stared impassively at the princess who was getting closer and closer to breaking down in tears as her eye's began to well up "I do not deserve your Pardons on my intents to previously seduce after losing so much!...If…you'll let me. I will see myself out from your household and never appear before you again." Heleana was shocked to hear that out of her sister.
While she too would like nothing more to leave this place in shame of what she herself have done….this was the first time she had ever seen Rheanyra lay down her arms in defeat.
"I…will even tell my father to give up on the idea of marriage to you…"
Harry just stared.
…and impending silence that raised such pressured tensions in the hall as the two princesses kept their eye's to the ground…and awaited his judgement.
Harry exhaled roughly. His hand combing through his hair as he released the pent up well of frustrations and tiredness he had been keeping within him as of late "I...bare no ill will toward you both." Rheanyra and Heleana looked up to see him with his hand scratching into his scalp as he looked at them with exhausted eye's that spoke of his defeat in the wars he fought.
"I…I understand how your curiosities have led you to reliving my entire life, and my treasure trove of artefacts I have collected before Coming here. Were I in your shoes…I would've done the same." He relented; he honestly couldn't fault them as their human curiosity compelled them to doing what they did.
….and a long time ago…it made him make the decisions he made.
"I…harbour no hatred to your or your sister. In fact…I don't think I can hate anything anymore."
"War takes its toll on any man….I am proof of that. I have suffered like no other man has suffered." The memories of his life hit the sister's hard as they recalled the events that played out before them.
How their hearts felt the crushing grip of shame and remorse "but…. I try not to let that all bother me." He sighed out, peering at them with tired eye's as he tried to force a smile "I cannot carry this weight around me forever. I did not come here with the intent of wallowing in my sorrow for the rest of my natural life. So whether I like it or not…I am to stay."
"We…got off on the foot. You may not be able to forget about the things you saw…but that doesn't mean we can't start over and try anew."
Rheanyra and Heleana were shocked to say the least.
Here was their host…the man whose privacy was violated by the both of them in their attempts to seduce him was offering them a second chance to make amends by starting fresh.
Something that did not exist in their culture as the entirety of their world would hold such grudges to their graves…but they knew in their hearts that Harry was honest about it.
Having spent nearly his complete life with him in his memories, they saw and knew the man he was.
Honourable and compassionate like the Starks of the North.
Noble and Righteous as the great Lords of House Arryn.
Honest and blunt as the Baratheon's of the Stormlands.
Cunning and resourceful as the Lannister's of the Westerlands.
Generous and Kind as the Tyrells of the Reach.
Ferocious and ambitious as the Greyjoy's of the Iron Islands.
Skilled and unbending to those who would use him like the Martells of Dorne.
Commanding and with an air of Authority as the Targaryen's.
Harry was the greatest example of what humanity should be.
What young lords, heirs and aspiring knights should stride to become as he embodies the virtues that would make the gods themselves humble.
Had Harry been born amongst the many houses under the rule of Iron Throne….he would have led them to Great prosperity. And had he been born into the house of Targaryen…Then he may be perceived as the 2nd incarnation of the Conqueror himself.
Harry had such potential to take the world by storm if he wanted…but he didn't. He could but he won't.
He didn't want to, and honestly any man who had been through what he's survived against would do the same.
All of that power and notoriety came with the curse of being a huge target for everyone. Whether they be ally or foe, all would fear Harry and with fear comes paranoia and hatred that would force even his most trusted generals, champions and allies to stab him in the back when the time was right.
…something that has happened many times in the past to aspiring kings and generals who would've conquered much more or whose reign would've changed the face of the world as they know it but only to fall to the blade of treachery.
Still, they were given an opportunity that many would kill to have the offered mercy of wiping away the ill's and woes they wrought upon him. They wouldn't be returning home anytime soon so they took the offered olive branch "My thanks' my lord/ Thank you Lord Hadrian." The both of them gave the deepest curtsey bow they could give towards him.
"Please…just call me Harry." He hated the formality of being referred by a title (Despite marrying a woman who came from a prestigious family and instilled such high customs and expectations within him.) he did not like being addressed as a lord nor by his proper name as it often reminded of the sycophants and snakes he fought tooth and nail against in the corrupt bureaucrat politics of the ministry.
He wanted to leave everything that reminded him of the pain and sufferings of his world behind.
"Now I do believe that Kreacher has lunch prepared inside." Harry led them to the dining room, intent on starting a new with the 2 princesses.
-Later on.-
That night both princesses slept a bit more easily since that night that traumatised them.
Though they would never forget the events that transpired, they felt a bit more at ease knowing that from then on their stay wouldn't feel like a fragile glass of wild fire hanging on a thin rope over a fire pit.
The two of them felt some closure and…a little touched by the noble nature of their host. IN a way they were sort've beginning to understand the attraction those witches back in harry home had towards him….though the majority of it was based on his power, status and wealth rather his personality which only made more appealing.
In a way…Rheanyra and Helaena had a life time to see and know Harry better than anyone else…and so they knew what kind of man he was and the kind, and chivalrous nature of the boy who lived.
And in the days to come…they knew it certainly was going to different and maybe a little difficult but in end it may all be worth it.
Finished.
