A Song of Ice, Fire & the Dead
Chapter 19: Berries Tart & Lilac Sweet
Saeko woke up to the low sound of a heart beating in her ear. Rubbing her eyes tiredly, she sat up slightly, leaning on her left arm and looked to see Aegon fast asleep, completely naked save for the bedsheets of the bed they were on. Saeko smiled and bit her lip as she gazed upon her nude lover. God, he looked so yummy like this. She felt a dull yet pleasant ache in her groin and chuckled; she could still feel the aftereffects of their nocturnal activities and sighed dreamily. She had gotten lucky in finding someone who could do such wonderful things to her body.
Lowering herself down to lay her head on Aegon's chest, Saeko closed her eyes in contentment, listening to her lover's steady heartbeat. She counted herself extraordinarily lucky that she had found someone who accepted her darkness and herself while having a darkness of his own to battle. While Saeko was not sure if what she felt for Aegon was the fabled True Love, she felt happy with Aegon. It was Saeko's belief that to feel love for someone, one must first feel happiness with them in order to achieve it and she felt happy with Aegon. She did wonder if Aegon felt the same happiness with her as she did with him.
Smiling to herself and snuggling closer into Aegon's side, Saeko brushed the thought from her mind. Aegon had been nothing but honest with her and he certainly seemed to be enamoured with her. She too was enamoured with him if she were being honest. Then Aegon woke up with a yawn and Saeko looked up at him and softly said, "Good morning, Egg." She then pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.
Aegon's soft smile made Saeko's heart thump in her chest as he replied with, "It certainly is, Saeko." He then pressed a sweet, gentle kiss to Saeko's lips before pulling away despite her little noise of protest.
"What time do you think it is?" Aegon then asked as he stared up at the ceiling.
"Not sure," Saeko said listlessly as she settled herself by Aegon's side, resting her head on his chest. "Morning? Night? I don't know to be honest."
"Well, we certainly did a lot in the time before that," Aegon said with a chuckle.
"That we did," Saeko replied as she leaned up to kiss Aegon on the lips while her hand drifted down under the sheets to grasp at something. Aegon tensed up and gave a little sigh as he felt Saeko's soft yet firm hand grasp his manhood and start to gently stroke it in her palm. "Never enough for you, is it?" he asked as his own hand reached around to grasp Saeko's buttocks, giving a gentle but firm squeeze.
A blush spread across Saeko's cheeks as she felt Aegon's calloused fingers dig into her flesh as she replied, "How can it ever be enough when I have someone as wonderful as you?" Saeko then rolled on top of Aegon gazing down at him with an almost predatory smile on her lips. Aegon gave a little laugh at how forward Saeko was being with him.
"Direct, aren't you?" he said to her jestingly before he moved to nuzzle her breasts, pressing soft kisses to the globes of female flesh.
"I blame you for that," Saeko said as she felt her lover's lips on her breasts, her breathing getting heavier as little jolts of electricity coursed through her body. Aegon then started pressing kisses up along her collarbone and neck before she grasped his face and plundered his mouth with hers, thrusting her tongue inside. After a few minutes, they both pulled away from each other, breathing hard and resting their foreheads against each other.
"That… was quite something," Aegon said after a moment when he regained his breath.
"I'd say so," Saeko agreed as she wrapped her arms around Aegon's neck and pulled him closer to her so that their bodies were melted into each other. "I'd certainly like that again and again," she added.
"I'm in favour," Aegon said with a smile. "But I imagine others won't be," he added.
"Why is that?" Saeko asked him with a raised eyebrow.
"We've made a bit of noise last night, despite our best efforts to remain quiet," Aegon replied.
"Of course," Saeko said with a sheepish smile. "But I don't regret it," she added proudly.
"Nor I," Aegon agreed with a smile before he sighed and said, "We should get dressed."
Saeko reluctantly pulled away from Aegon and began to pick up and put on her discarded clothing that lay scattered about the cabin. She made sure to dress slowly so that Aegon would still see her nude form. Aegon smiled as he watched his lover dress herself slowly before putting on his own clothing. After putting on their clothes and buckling their swords to their waists, the pair then left the cabin and were immediately greeted with Saya and Alice. Saya was glaring at them while Alice just smiled.
"Good morning, Lady Saya and Alice," Aegon greeted them chipperly. "How did you both sleep?" he asked them kindly.
Saya's glare deepened as she replied with, "Fine." She glared at Aegon and Saeko heatedly before saying, "I was going to up to the deck of the ship and ask the helmsman when we're due to arrive at our destination," she said.
"It would be good to ask when we'll make port," Saeko said sagely. "I wonder if Hjalmar is awake?" she wondered.
"Well, I suppose we'll find out soon enough," Aegon said as they began to make their way to the stairs that led up to the deck of the ship. The sound of waves ebbing and crashing against each other could be heard as the ship cut its way through the ocean. The smell of the salty air filled Saeko's nose as she stepped out onto the deck of the ship. Some of the ship's crew members were tending to their duties aboard the ship. Some were tending to the rigging while others scrubbed the deck of the ship. Saeko also took the time to observe the crew members, specifically what they wore. They wore a mixture of chainmail and metal helmets fitted with curling ram horns and tunics and sashes coloured red & black. The helmets were the stereotype of Viking helmets although Saeko knew that real life Vikings did not wear horned helmets for practical reasons as an opponent could grab onto the horns and throw you or pull you in for a killing blow. So why these men had horned helmets was beyond Saeko's understanding, unless it was for intimidation purposes when catching opponents off guard.
Then walking up to them was Hjalmar. "Ah, g'morning to ye all. How was yer sleep? Ship didn't rock too much did it?" he asked them conversationally.
"No, but it could've been quieter," Saya groused as she glared at Saeko and Aegon. Saeko smiled serenely while Aegon had the grace to look a little embarrassed at that. Hjalmar simply laughed loudly.
"Aye, the whole ship heard what was going on last night. I could barely sleep!" Hjalmar laughed and some of the crew hooted with laughter and a few even made some catcalls.
"I deeply apologise for the noise, Ser Hjalmar," Aegon said apologetically.
"Ah, think nothing of it, laddie," Hjalmar waved it off. "You and your lass are young, it's natural ye'd want to plough each other senseless into Paradise," he said.
"We'll endeavour to keep the volume down next time," Saeko said with a smile. "But no promises," she added as she winked at Aegon who blushed at that.
"How far away are we from making port?" Saya asked, looking to change the subject.
"We've made good time. We should reach the Kaer Trolde Harbour in the next hour, provided we don't run into any trouble out on the water," Hjalmar said.
"Trouble? Can we expect pirates out here?" Aegon asked.
"Sometimes, but mostly we have to watch for Sirens and Drowners lurking in the waters, plus we have to be wary of Nilfgaardian warships," Hjalmar replied.
"Sirens? Drowners?" Saya echoed. "What are they?" she enquired.
"Monsters," Hjalmar said grimly. "Sirens are creatures who take the form of beautiful women and lure in sailors with their voices only to eat. And drowners are corpse-eaters, but they will eat live prey as readily as they would eat a corpse or carrion," he explained.
"What do they look like? These sirens and drowners?" Saeko asked.
"Sirens have the upper half of beautiful nude women, but their lower halves are a serpent's tail, and they possess wings with which to fly through the air with," Hjalmar said. "Drowners look like some kind of fish-men and swim through the water, pulling those who have fallen overboard deeper into the depths of the ocean to tear apart," he added.
"What are their weaknesses?" Aegon asked.
"Well, it's common knowledge that most monsters are weak to silver like drowners, but some monsters like Sirens and trolls aren't affected by silver. Ye can kill them with good steel. All monsters can be killed by powerful magic," Hjalmar said.
"What about Valyrian steel?" Aegon then asked.
"Eh?" Hjalmar looked confused. "Valyrian steel? What's that?" he asked.
Aegon then drew Blackfyre from his waist and showed the blade to Hjalmar. "Valyrian steel, also known as Dragon-steel or sometimes called True-steel," he told Hjalmar.
Hjalmar looked at the dark smoky blade of Aegon's sword in fascination. "By the Goddess, where di you get such a blade?" he asked in awe.
"It's a family heirloom. Forged in the Valyrian Freehold at the height of its power. This sword was used by my ancestor Aegon the Conqueror in his conquest of the Seven Kingdoms," Aegon replied.
"Fascinating. How was it forged?" Hjalmar asked.
"No-one is too certain how Valyrian steel was forged," Aegon admitted. "The secret to forging it was lost in the Doom and less than a handful of smiths can reshape existing Valyrian steel. The only remaining Valyrian steel is in the shape of heirloom swords of the houses of Westeros."
"Ah, shame, would like a blade for meself," Hjalmar said. "As for it being able to kill monsters, I wouldn't know," he added.
"What about those Ghouls you killed?" Saeko asked Aegon. "They're from this world aren't they? And you killed them with your sword," she pointed.
"Aye, I did," Aegon said nodding his head in realisation. "Well, at least I won't have to worry about having to acquire a silver weapon to kill monsters with," he added.
"Land ho! Kaer Trolde Harbour inbound!" cried out one of the crewmen.
"Ah, home at last!" Hjalmar said in relief and he then began issuing orders to his crew but not before saying to Aegon, Saeko, Saya and Alice, "If ye want to help with the crew, just ask around and they'll let ye know what needs done."
Aegon and Saeko then set about helping the crew members prepare to dock in the Kaer Trolde Harbour. Saya took Alice below deck to keep out of the way of the crew. As Saeko helped with the locks, she then cast her gaze onto the encroaching harbour. Her gaze then swept onto a large castle set high on a rocky island, connected to the larger island by a stone bridge. Focussing on her work, Saeko then helped a pair of crew members with the anchor.
Soon the ship docked in the harbour, a few of the dock workers and local villager cheered as Hjalmar stepped off the ship and he was soon greeted by an older man wearing more ornate clothes with a long black fur cloak streaming from his shoulders and a circlet of silver and gold on his brow. Walking beside the older man was a young woman with red hair and freckles on her face wearing armour.
"Hjalmar, my son! Good of ye to come back!" the older man roared out joyously enveloping Hjalmar in a hug.
"Good to be back, Da," Hjalmar replied after embracing his father before turning to the young woman. "Good to see ye, little sis," he said to her.
The young woman smiled and replied to him, "Good to see ye as well, Hjalmar. Back in time to see the Konung's body before its preparation into paradise."
"Aye, but I'll soon be sailing for Undvik to slay the giant there," Hjalmar said.
"Aye, of course ye will," Hjalmar's father said before he set eyes on Aegon, Saeko, Saya and Alice. "And who are these young 'uns?" he asked as his bushy eyebrows furrowed in thought.
"Another reason I came back, Da," Hjalmar replied. "These are Aegon Targaryen, Saeko Busujima, Saya Takagi and Alice Maresato," he said introducing them to his father and sister. "Aegon, these are my father Jarl Crach an Craite and my little sister Cerys an Craite."
"How do you do?" Aegon greeted Crach sticking out a hand to shake. Crach smiled and clasped hands with him. Aegon tried not to wince as he felt the strong iron grip Crach had.
"Good to meet ye, laddie," Crach said to Aegon before shaking hands with Saeko and Saya and gently ruffling Alice's hair. "How is it ye came to our isles?" he asked.
"It's a long story, and it involves an old friend of yours," Aegon replied.
"And who might that be?" Crach asked.
"Ciri," Aegon said bluntly.
"C…Ciri? She's come back?" Crach's eyes widened in surprise and alarm. "Where is she? Is she hurt? Why isn't she with ye?" he demanded.
"Perhaps this ought to be moved to a more formal setting?" Cerys suggested helpfully. "And Yennefer ought to be present as well," she then added.
"Aye, you're right," Crach said with a nod of his head. "Come, we'll head for Kaer Trolde and we'll send for Yennefer to join us," he added.
…
An hour later, Aegon, Saeko, Saya and Alice were in the banquet hall of Kaer Trolde. Crach, Hjalmar, Cerys and a grey-bearded man wielding a wooden staff sat at a table before them.
"So, how is it ye came to know Ciri?" the grey-bearded man who introduced himself as Ermion asked.
"She came to our world and travelled with us for a time," Saya replied.
"Your world? You are all from another world?" Crach asked.
"We are," Saeko answered. "Our world had fallen into ruin when They appeared and started attacking and infecting the living," she said.
"They? Who are They?" Ermion asked.
"They or Them were once living people who had somehow become undead," Saeko replied. "If you are bitten by one of Them, you would become one," she said.
Saeko then told Crach, his family and Ermion the story of how their world had fallen into ruin when the dead rose to life and began to attack and infect the living and how society had fallen into chaos as the living turned on each other or tried to flee to safety. Saeko also told of how she and Aegon met Ciri who had arrived on their world and travelled with them for a time before the Wild Hunt came looking for her. In her escape, she had brought them with her but they had all gotten separated in doing so.
"These Them, what caused them?" Ermion asked.
"We don't know," Saya admitted in a frustrated voice. "They just appeared one day. Everything was fine but then it went downhill when They showed up," she said.
"Hmmm, strange, very strange," Ermion said with a nod of his head. "I've heard of curses being able to raise the dead from their rightful rest, and there is also the foul art of necromancy, but I've not heard of such undead beings who are able to create more of their kind by infecting the living," he added thoughtfully. "I may need to consult my grimoires and tomes in case I missed something."
"Aye, if we do face such creatures, we will need all the information we can get to fight Them," Crach said and he was about to ask another question, the doors to the hall opened and striding through was a beautiful woman wearing black and white. Saeko couldn't help but stare at the woman as she strode in with an frigid imperious air about her.
She was breathtakingly beautiful, with long black curls of hair cascading down her shoulders and reaching the middle of her back. Deep purple eyes that danced with fierce intelligence. Her face was a tad triangular but still lovely to behold with a small black beauty spot on her left cheek. Her pink lips that looked slightly contorted but looked full and sweet were curled into a slight sneer. She then gazed at Saeko and Saeko felt herself freeze solid as she held her gaze with the woman.
The woman stared at Saeko in a cold assessing manner before she broke off her gaze and spoke in a haughty accented voice, "So, what is it you brought me here for, Crach?" she asked. "I have many demands of my time and I don't like wasting it," she said.
"And we've not brought ye here to waste your precious time, Yennefer," Ermion replied gruffly. "These four have knowledge of Cirilla," he said.
Yennefer turned her gaze back to Saeko and the others, walking towards to stand within a foot of them and she asked, "Is this true? Do you know where Ciri is?" Her voice had become less haughty and more concerned.
"We travelled with her for a time when she found herself on our world, but the Wild Hunt came looking for her," Saeko replied respectfully and truthfully, not seeing any reason to lie. "In her haste, Ciri brought us and the rest of our companions, but we were separated in the act," she then said.
"Hmm, unfortunate," Yennefer muttered casting her eyes down at the ground. "Perhaps you can come to my lodgings and we can discuss it in further detail," she said in a way that sounded more like a command than a request.
"Gladly, Lady Yennefer," Saeko said speaking for her friends. "And perhaps you can help us? We're new to this world and we need knowledge of it if we're to survive in it," she added.
A small smile graced Yennefer's lips as she replied with, "Of course. It can't have been easy to find yourselves on a new world unfamiliar to you."
"Some things feel a little familiar," Aegon spoke up. "But it is different as well," he then said quickly.
"I'm sure," Yennefer said dryly. "If that is all, may I take my leave?" she asked and without waiting for an answer, she left the hall.
Once she left, Ermion grunted in annoyance. "Wretched sorceress!" he cursed.
"Calm yourself, Ermion. Yennefer is a guest here," Crach reminded him.
"She could learn to be more courteous and well-mannered as a guest here," Ermion retorted before walking off.
Crach sighed before he looked at Saeko and her friends, saying, "Apologies. Ermion and Yennefer don't see eye to eye on many subjects."
"I'm surprised they haven't come to blows just yet," Cerys stated bluntly.
"I'd wager it's their mutual love of Ciri that keeps them from outright attacking each other," Crach said before he sighed and looked at Saeko and her friends.
"Regardless, ye have our thanks for giving us what ye know of Ciri," the Jarl said to them. "I can give ye lodgings in Kaer Trolde as thanks for keeping Ciri out of the Wild Hunt's clutches," he offered.
"Thank you, your grace," Aegon replied respectfully. "We appreciate it very much," he said. Crach nodded at this before turning to his steward and giving him some orders.
Hjalmar then spoke to them. "Well, now that that's done, time I set sail for Undvik," he told them.
"Will we see you again?" Saeko asked him.
"Depends. If I slay the giant, I'll come with its head. If I don't, it means I've failed and I shan't rest until I've killed whoreson," Hjalmar replied. "it was nice meeting ye. When we next meet, I'll have a story for you all." With a wink, Hjalmar then left the hall.
Cerys then walked up Saeko and Aegon and said to them, "You two have the look of warriors, or those blade for show?" she asked.
"We've respectively trained our wholes lives to fight, my lady," Aegon replied respectfully. "You have the look of a warrior too, I see," he then said.
"Aye, most lasses in Skellige gladly take up a sword or axe if it means they'll earn glory and passage into paradise," Cerys replied. "Perhaps ye'd like to challenge me to a duel?" she asked.
"I'd be willing, so long as Saeko is," Aegon said looking at Saeko.
Saeko smiled and said to Cerys, "Gladly. Perhaps we can learn from each other?" she asked.
"I'd be curious to see what two foreigners known about fighting with swords," Cerys smiled. "Meet out in the courtyard tomorrow, we'll settle things there," she told them before leaving.
Saya then asked Saeko, "Are you about this? If you kill her, we could end up offending someone," she said.
"Who said anything about killing?" Saeko replied. "besides, it's just a friendly match to compare fighting styles," she said with a smile.
"Alright, but don't say I didn't warn you if you do end up offending someone and get us kicked out," Saya groused when the steward came up to them and told their rooms were ready.
TO BE CONTINUED…
A/N: There! The nineteenth chapter of this story is done and dusted. I hope you all enjoyed it. Haven't got too much to say, so I should just leave this here and see you all in the next one.
But I do have one small thing to add; I'm working on a Game of Thrones/Disney AU crossover and I'm trying to decide what kind of AU it should be. With that in mind, I've set up a voting poll on my profile of a list of AUs the story could be such as Fantasy/Witcher AU, a sci-fi/Star Wars AU, a Fallout AU, a Mafia AU and so on. So feel free to vote which one you want to be the AU for my GoT/Disney crossover and that's about it from me, so I'll see you all in the next one.
Be kind to one another,
Angry lil' elf.