Severus looked at the soldier infront of him, a wry smile was on his face as he battled away each and every strike that Severus tried to land on him with the blunted sword.
"You are entirely an amateur in this" the man commented as his sword hit Severus on the side of his stomach after a feint which he had failed to recognize.
"Did you ever thought that perhaps this was because I never learnt this unlike you all who have practise since childhood" he said as he got up from the ground earning a laugh from Martyn Cassel who just gave his usual wry smile afterwards.
"Well argued Lord Prince but it still doesn't mean that you can use a sword nicely" Martyn spoke up amusedly, the last four days had been quite fun with the soldiers and knights.
Robert wasn't lying about the difficulty in learning the martial arts, Robert and Ned had cautioned him against using the Goblin Steel Sword as he could be killed by eager Lords who would covet it because of its properties and see him just a bother. Severus had agreed and kept the sword's existence a secret and the two of them had also agreed to do so. Robert was more eager with him after he learned that Severus was from a noble family too which wasn't false as he indeed was the Heir to the Prince Family.
He was more amused and eager when on the first night after his sword practise Severus had took out a bottle of Ogden's new firewhisky to drink which Severus had already purchased in crates in his previous life and also learnt the recipe by legillimencing it out of Ogden's mind. The man really knew how to perfect alcoholic drinks as their entire family had developed techniques over their lives which took only five minutes in Severus part to steal. Legillimency indeed was not a fair method but honestly who cared, when you have so good alcohol to yourself. The new firewhisky of theirs was able to let the user release a burst of flame which was not entirely lethal and was just for show, Robert had been boasting about his ability to withstand wine so Severus had challenged him to a drinking contest. The swordpractise had given him aching muscles all over his body as he had not done any kind of practise like this earlier and Severus had brought out two bottles of strongest Ogden's firewhisky which don't caused flames to come out of his mouth. The Lord of Stormlands had laughed at his words and agreed on it, Ned had been the one to oversaw the challenge reluctantly but he too was curious at the same time. Severus had filled his cup and quitted by the end of fourth goblet and Robert had been entranced by the strength and taste of it and demanded a little more, by 12th goblet Robert was too dizzy to continue much to the astonishment of Stormland and North soldiers who too wanted to taste the drink, who all had bet against Severus about how many drinks Robert could take. It didn't helped that he was familiar and friendly with them as he was not someone who lorded his status so he had agreed and brought out five bottles which the soldiers thought he had brought with him to the camp. Everyone had sampled and the Northernmen had loudly proclaimed for more as the whiskey warmed their bodies instantly, Ned reluctantly too had a drink of firewhiskey and had choked slightly because of the sudden strong feeling of burning. Afterall it was much stronger than what they ever had.
After that he became more popular among soldiers and they started to hangout with him and started teaching him more about swordmanship at the cost of alcohol at the night. Severus had agreed because at the moment he had enough alcohol bottles which could last years besides he could always make more, the arbor gold was forgotten by everyone and even Robert joined during the first three days before he got his wake up call.
Severus remembered the incident very well, he had never seen Robert that much serious when the man had decided to come to him and ask a solution.
Flashback ...
Severus looked at the camp, it was his fourth day at the camp, it were one of the most exciting days in his life till now. There was something in the crude joking, the sharing of tales, listening to soldiers love lifes which made the camp more lively. He had even heard from the soldiers that Ned and Robert were one of the few lords who never lorded their station above people which gave them extra points in his opinion.
He saw a tired looking Robert which in itself was anomaly because the man was a ball of energy and optimism. Robert took a seat besides him as he entered inside the tent which Severus occupied. He had brought this tent from a nearby village as he had to share with others and he didn't wanted to use his magical talent.
"What happened Robert?" he asked slowly looking at the man who had invaded his tent at midnight.
"Ned thinks Lyanna will hate me for my ways" he said dejectedly with a sullen face. "He says that Lyanna had told him that love cannot change a man's nature" he said angrily as he looked at him for some kind of comforting words.
Severus found himself in a situation he never thought, he would find himself. He looked at the man infront of him with a shred of doubt in his mind, Robert had already fathered a bastard girl called Mya Stone and apparently from what he had seen a heavy drinker. He doubted the man honestly but then remember an old man dressed in ridiculous fashion who too gave him a second chance when he was angry at everything and bitter.
"Robert, can you please tell me the situations regarding the birth of your daughter" he asked gently looking at the man who looked like his favourite puppy had been killed.
"My parents died in a storm as they were returning from Essos, I received the news when I was in Vale and I turned to comfort to Mya's mother" he said as his voice wavered slightly remembering his father and mother.
"Oh so one could say that you were grieving at that time and turned to the woman to busy your mind elsewere" Severus spoke up calmly as he looked at Robert for confirmation.
"That still won't justify your visits to Brothel or you drinking yourself to early death Robert" he pointed out to the Lord of Stormlands whose face felt in shame once again.
"I am not judging you Robert but your betrothed was right when she said that love cannot change a person's nature but she never considered something" he said slowly looking at the hopeful look on the man's face which came up with his words.
"The only person who can change yourself is you alone, if you love someone, then it can cause you to change yourself for the better. It will take time but a start is better than not bothering at all. You are a man Robert and thereby you have some rights" he said sharply looking at Robert who looked at him strangely.
Severus didn't knew why but there was something inside him which urged him to help, he cursed Dumbledore who had made him soft.
"Think of this way Robert, how would you feel if you were in Lyanna's place and your bethroted went visitng brothels or drank like crazy people" he asked as he looked at the pale face of Robert.
"I would be angry and feel cheated for being disrespected" he said slowly, realisation dawning in his eyes.
"Now your actions are only yours to take not mine, I can help you with the drinking part but the rest will be upto you" he said as he looked at the guilty face of the Lord of Stormlands.
"Have you ever loved someone?" Robert asked curiously looking at him after some moments of silence.
"I have" he replied calmly, memories of a redhead and then another blonde coming into his mind. One owned his heart while the other his soul.
Robert sensed his hesitation and didn't pursued the subject anymore, instead he sat calmly as if he was thinking something.
"You said that you could help me in my drinking problem" Robert said curiously and eager as he looked at him.
Severus smirked dangerously, "I can and it will be quite an experience for you" he said grinning like a cheshire cat, Robert didn't knew but that smile didn't felt comfortable with him.
Severus looked at Robert's face which was squeezed as if he was being troubled by something. Severus knew the reason and chuckled inwardly at his reason, he had given a personal potion of his own which led the man to feel the beer or any alcoholic drink's taste like pee. It was an ingenous creation of his which he had sold much with an annonymous identity.
Besides him Ned was looking at Robert who never touched the goblet of wine in two days time. They were at two days distance from Harrenhall, Ned had asked him about Robert and Severus had briefed him about the potion. Ned had smiled in amusement and had told that perhaps it was a good chance for Robert to quit his overdrinking habits.
Severus would never admit it but he enjoyed Ned's silent company more as both of them were not much loud people. He had learned more about the seven kingdoms and was fascinated by North more as there were magical roots and stories and not to mention that North was pretty much segregrated from the rest of the kingdoms making it a nice place in his opinion, if he lived there then he would not be bothered much and left to himself. He had learned more about North's barbaric reputation but Severus could see what the others couldnot or didn't want to see. The North bred strong people who could not be understood by everyone, the people struggled there for survival as their lives were more difficult for the lack of food and resources.
Perhaps he could buy some land and be near wall, he had sensed that even the runic magic was weaker in this world and when he heard about the Wall from the soldiers and Ned tales about the wall, he had a suspicion that the wall was the reason for that. Besides he never was onto Politics and he doubted he would be dragged into it if he lived near the wall.
Moreover it was a sparsely populated area which was more than enough for him to use as his playground for experiments, as cold area were favourable for potions. This world season cycle confused him, winter lasted for years, which was kind of of odd as the planet was revolving and also rotating on its axis, so wouldn't the seasons should be on a monthly basis.
It baffled him but he had decided to search for it's reason. Besides it would be interesting to see a large wall of ice which was used to trap white walkers. The tales of White Walkers were similar to that of the inferis, he had encountered them many times during his service to the Dark Lord as well as his travels in Asia where he met many dark wizards. He had learnt from them sometimes whereas mostly taught them to practise it safely and giving them ways so that they won't fall into the allure of Dark Arts. The Dark Arts was not much practised but he still found people practising them illegally which was of no concern to him and just gave them tips regarding it. He was no hypocrite as he himself had been a practitioner of it in his teens so he wasn't going to defame them.
He had been amused when he learned that the Potter brat had named his son after him, he would be lying if he hadn't felt a little touched by the action. Draco too had a son with Astoria called Scorpius last when he heard of him, he had known about Astoria's condition as she was his student and had spent a year after which he had created a potion to erase the blood curse. The potion was something which he had created from mixing muggle science, alchemy and his potion and herbology knowledge and had decided to give it as a gift to the couple as a belated gift. Last he heard it was that they had twins after Astoria had miraculously recovered. Besides he had left the recipe and some batches stored and preserved in his vault in Gringotts which he had left to Draco and Astoria in his will along with one of his best students, Daphne Greengrass whose family suffered from it. In his recent years he had also managed to cure Lycanthropy but he hadn't relased it as it would mean coming infront of the world which frankly he didn't wanted at the moment. He nonetheless had written the details on a journal and placed it in his vault and had decided to released it after his death.
'Would the Goblins be alerted of my death?' he thought inwardly as he had practically disappeared from the planet. It still didn't mattered much as he was practically a dead man to most of them. Besides he was content and actually enjoyed his new world. Being a spy was something which put his life in danger but it also gave him a thrill. He would be lying if he said he didn't enjoyed or liked the thrill. Who knew that he was going to be joined by another two people from his previous world in search for him.