A Song of Ice, Fire & the Dead
Chapter 25: Grim Tidings
It neared nightfall as Saeko and Aegon rode quietly back to the Kaer Trolde Harbour town. The Inn was lively with the sounds of the locals carousing and songs emanated from within in the establishment. And the smell of wood fire, pipe some and mead filled the air, followed by the cacophony of laughter and chatter.
"Sounds like a party is going on," Saeko remarked as she and Aegon rode past the tavern. Aegon nodded in agreement, but did not say anything as they guided their steeds towards the road leading up to Kaer Trolde. Not long after they reached the drawbridge leading into the keep, they were met by Saya, Alice and Cerys.
"There you two are! Where the hell have you been?!" Saya demanded.
"What? No 'hello, how are you?'" Aegon said mildly and he grinned at Saeko who then said to the irate pinkette.
"Finding the Jarl's sword took longer than expected, Saya," the Samurai explained. "But we found it nonetheless," she said with a smile.
"Really? Let me see," Cerys said. Aegon pulled out Kuliu from his saddlebags and offered it to Crach's daughter whose eyes lit up in recognition. "Aye, that'd be my father's sword alright." Cerys's eyes turned hard as she asked, "Did ye punish the ones responsible?"
"We did, Lady Cerys," Aegon said respectfully. "We also found something of interest that we hope Ermion might be able to understand," he added
"Good. That's good," Cerys said with a nod of her head as she handed Kuliu back to Aegon and added, "Let's bring the blade to my father. He'll reward you handsome for this. Ermion should be with him as well."
"Let's do that then," Saeko said with a nod of her head as she and Aegon dismounted their horses and let the servants take them to the stables.
Heading into the garrison where the warmth of the halls was a welcome change from the chilly outdoors, Saeko and Aegon were then greeted with the sight of a small feast happening in the banquet hall. The long oak tables were lined with men and women enjoying their evening meals and at the far end of the hall before the large hearth which was blazing with a roaring fire, sat Crach along with Yennefer and Ermion on either side of him.
Crach spotted Cerys enter the hall and called out, "Daughter! You've brought back Aegon and his companions, I see. Bring them forth!"
Cerys nodded at Saeko who nodded at her companions. They walked over to the head table and stood before it. "My lord, Lady Saeko and I took the contract to retrieve your family sword," Aegon then said in a clear polite voice.
"Aye, I had heard someone had taken the task of retrieving my family blade from those who had stolen it," Crach said with a nod of his head. "I take it you have retrieved Kuliu and punished those responsible?" he asked as he leaned back in his chair.
"We did, Lord Crach," Saeko replied as Aegon held out Kuliu flat in his hands. Crach rose from his seat and took the sword from Aegon's hands. A smile graced Crach's bearded face before he spoke slowly.
"This blade has been in my clan for generations, passed down from parent to child," the Jarl said slowly and he looked up at Aegon and Saeko with gratefulness in his eyes. "I thank ye both for retrieving Kuliu and restoring my clan's honour."
"We live to serve, Lord Crach," Aegon said politely and Crach nodded before saying.
"As you have done my family a good deed, suitable reward is needed," the Jarl said nobly. "I offer you a sack of gold as reward for your troubles," he added and he nodded at his steward who left the hall. "Come! Sit and eat at my table!" the Jarl then commanded.
Aegon and his companions then sat at the Jarl's table where they were served plates of roasted boar cooked in goose fat along with tankards of honeyed mead. Except for Alice who was served a cup of pomegranate juice instead of mead. Saya eyed the tankard of mead in front of her apprehensively.
"I don't have to drink it, do I?" the pinkette asked warily.
"It would be rude not to," Yennefer said to her. "But you need only take a sip of it to be polite," she added.
Saya nodded before taking up the tankard in one hand and took a cautious sip. She then coughed and spluttered as the thick honeyed booze went down her throat. "Eurgh! Throat… on… fire!" she spluttered out.
"It's alright, Saya, you don't have to drink anymore," Aegon said to her kindly. "Just eat some boar and you should be fine," he advised as he took a sip of his own mead.
Saeko smiled behind her own tankard as she took a conservative sip of the mead within it before digging into her plate of roasted boar.
"Can't hold your liquor, eh, Saya?" Cerys cackled before she took a gulp of her own mead.
"I can hold it just fine, Princess!" Saya blurted out angrily.
"Is that a challenge, Four-eyes?" Cerys taunted.
Aegon sighed as Saya then started to chug her down mead in front of Cerys who laughed and began to chug her own. Alice laughed hysterically while Saeko put a hand to her lips to stifle a giggle. A few of the nearby table occupants laughed and began to yell out encouragement to either Saya or Cerys.
"Should we let them do this?" Aegon asked Saeko who smiled and replied, "Saya needs to loosen up a little and maybe this will do that."
"Let's hope so, because I don't look forward to a hungover Saya Takagi in the morning," Aegon said mildly. He then looked over at Ermion who was watching the drinking competition between Saya and Cerys. "I think we should have that talk with Ermion now about that axe we found," Aegon then said to Saeko who nodded and picked Alice up in her arms.
Aegon approached the druid who noticed him approach. "Ah, young Aegon. What can I do for ye?" he asked.
"Saeko and I found something when we confronted the thieves who had stolen the Jarl's sword. We were hoping you might be able to ascertain it," Aegon as he pulled from his back the axe he found in the thieves' stash.
Ermion's eyes went wide with alarm as he said in a hushed voice. "That axe… where did you find it?" His grey eyes bored into Aegon's purple.
"The thieves had found it on shore and we took it from their stash," Saeko explained. "Aegon then picked it up and it did something to him," she then said.
"You picked up the axe?" Ermion looked at Aegon who said, "I did. Am I cursed?" he asked fearfully.
"Nay, but that axe is a terrible weapon in the wrong hands," Ermion said grimly. "Come with me," he ordered them as he turned around and left the banquet hall with Saeko, Alice and Aegon following after him.
After going down some passages, they soon reached a large wooden door where Ermion pushed them open and revealed a large library with bookshelves filled with books and assorted knick-knacks scattered about. Ermion then went over to a large tome resting on a desk and flipped some pages before he gave an "Aha! Found it!"
"What is it? What have you found?" Saeko asked.
"The axe you and Aegon found is a weapon created long ago," Ermion said as he read the age faded words on the yellowed parchment. "The axe was created by a pair of dwarven smiths for a war god from a far-off land. The axe was called Leviathan after the serpent itself and will be used to slay another god which will be the first sign of Rag Naar Roog."
"Rag Naar Roog? What is that?" Aegon asked.
"The End of the World," Ermion said ominously. "With the slaying of the Beloved God, then will come a terrible winter brought by the Wraiths of Moorhog" he added.
"Wraiths of Moorhog? Who are they?" Saeko asked.
"You've met them before you arrived on our world," Ermion said to her.
Saeko's eyes went wide as she said, "The Wild Hunt? They are the ones who will bring about the end of the world?" she asked.
"Aye, they bring with them the White Frost. First they shall on their ship, the Naglfr, a ship made of the nails of the dead and when they come, Rag Naar Roog shall be upon us," Ermion said despairingly.
Aegon looked at the axe in his hands fearfully. "Is there a way to stop it?" he asked desperately.
"I do not know, child," Ermion said regretfully. "I only know that the White Frost can only be stopped by the Elder Blood," he added.
"Ciri," Saeko said in realisation. "She's destined to stop the White Frost!" she declared.
"She is, but whether she will live to tell of it is another matter," Ermion said sadly. "Ithilinne's Prophecy does not say whether or not the Swallow will survive stopping the White Frost or not," he added.
"What is the White Frost?" Aegon asked.
"A terrible all consuming force that leaves barren frozen wastelands from wherever it reaches," Ermion said grimly. "Only the Elder Blood has a chance of stopping it," he added.
"I feel like I have heard similar things to this before," Aegon said. "The Long Night and the Others comes to mind," he added.
"Long Night?" Ermion repeated. "Would you care to explain that?" he asked.
Aegon then proceeded to tell the druid of the story of the White Walkers and the Long Night; of demons made of ice that could raise the dead and brought with them a terrible winter that left the land in darkness where men would be born, live and die in an endless night. Ermion's face grew grim as Aegon told him the story.
"I can certainly see similarities between your Long Night and Rag Naar Roog," the druid said when Aegon finished telling the story. "Perhaps the two are connected somehow," he added in thought.
"Perhaps," Aegon said. "But I don't know if the White Walkers and the Wild Hunt are even the same thing," he added before he looked at Leviathan in his hands and asked, "So, this axe did something to me when I picked it up. What does that mean?"
"It has bonded to you, boy," Ermion said simply.
"Bonded to me? What in Seven Hells does that mean?" Aegon asked in frustration.
"Legends say that the axe is somewhat sentient and that it chooses one worthy of wielding it," Ermion explained.
"Welll, is there a way it can be un-bonded to me?" Aegon asked. "I don't know if I like the idea of wielding an axe that will bring about the end of the world as we know it," he said grimly.
"There is one," Ermion said.
"What is it?" Saeko asked.
"Aegon will have to die or be killed," Ermion replied.
"Surely you jest," Aegon said weakly.
"Nay, I do not jest about these matters, stripling," Ermion said grimly. "Either you must die or be killed for the axe to be break the bond," he added. The druid's expression softened as he said, "I am sorry this has happened to you, lad. I can try to find another way that won't put your life in danger, but I cannot promise something I cannot deliver."
"It's… fine," Aegon said slowly, feeling tired. "It could be worse I suppose," he added cynically.
"It's okay, Aegon. We'll get through it," Saeko said to him kindly as she rested her head on his shoulder.
"I suppose we will," Aegon said with a smile at Saeko who smiled back and kissed him on the lips. Alice gave a bright smile before saying, "Can we go back now? I wanna see how Saya is doing."
"Oh Gods! I forgot about her!" Aegon cursed. "Thank you, Lord Ermion for your help," he said swiftly to the druid who nodded at him in response. Leaving Ermion's chambers, Aegon, Saeko and Alice rushed back to the banquet hall where they found a large crowd had gathered round a table. Pushing their way to the front, Saeko and Aegon found Saya and Cerys surrounded by horns and tankards of mead and ale. Saya looked very red in the face from the amount of alcohol she had consumed and she looked very unsteady in her seat. Cerys looked to be a little better, but her eyes were a little unfocussed and her cheeks were red as Saya's.
"Gods! How much did they drink?!" Aegon exclaimed in shock and disbelief. "Saya? Saya!" Aegon waved a hand in front of Saya's face. Saya gave a hiccup as she looked blearily up at Aegon and a wide drunken smile was on her lips.
"HeeEEeeYYYyyy, Eggy! Wanna, hic, join?" Saya giggled.
"How much did you drink?" Saeko asked the pinkette. Saya then tried to count how many drinks she had with her fingers, but fumbled and giggled before shrugging.
"I don't, hic, know~~~~~~," the pinkette giggled drunkenly and she looked up at Aegon with a look of blatant interest. "Hey~ Eggy, did I ever, hic, tell you, hic, that you have pretty eyes?" she asked as she wobbled to her feet. Aegon caught the pinkette before she could fall over and hurt herself.
"I think you've had enough, Saya," Aegon said firmly.
"But I'm not tired!" Saya whined like a little child before she gave a squeal as Aegon then carried her bridal style in his arms.
"Uncle Egg says it's time for bed, young lady," Aegon then said sternly and he tried not to show his discomfort as Saya began to paw at his face with her hands.
Saeko couldn't help but giggle as she and Alice followed Aegon out of the banquet hall with Saya still pawing at his face.
"You are, hic, the most handsomest, bravestest man I, hic, ever, hic, met!" Saya said in her drunken state. "Did I ever, hic, tell you that?" she asked as her glasses went askew on her face and she nearly dropped were it not for Aegon stopping them from falling down to the floor and smashing.
"Not lately no," Aegon then said in response to Saya's drunken question.
"If you, hic, and Saeko ever, hic, wanna have some, hic, fun, I'm up for it," Saya said with a giggle.
Aegon looked at Saya as though she had sprouted another head. Saeko gaped at Saya in surprise. "What… What kind of fun?" Aegon asked nervously.
A devious smile came over Saya's face as she said, "The crazy kinky kind!"
"You've definitely had enough to drink!" Saeko said with a stern glare at Saya. Reaching Saya's room, Aegon placed the drunken young woman on the large bed.
"Are we gonna have some fun~?" Saya asked as she looked at Aegon and Saeko with befuddled hopefulness.
"Maybe some other time," Aegon said placatingly.
"Awww, I wanted to get kinky!" Saya whined.
"Go to sleep, Takagi," Saeko said to her sternly.
"Okay~ momma," Saya said as she lay back on her bed and closed her eyes and soon she gave a snore and was asleep.
Aegon sighed before he looked at Saeko and said, "Well, that happened."
"Indeed," Saeko said in agreement. "Perhaps I should stay here and keep an eye on Saya?" she added as she looked at Saya with narrowed eyes.
"You're not going to smother Saya in her sleep, are you?" Aegon deadpanned.
"No, but the thought crossed my mind," Saeko said dryly. "Alice, do you mind sleeping in mine and Aegon's room tonight?" she asked looking at Alice who shook in her head in response.
"Come, little one, time for bed," Aegon said tiredly as he led Alice into his and Saeko's room. Aegon then bid Alice to take the bed while he would sleep on the large chair. After making sure Alice was warm in the bed, Aegon took a nearby book from the shelf and began to read it while Alice closed her eyes and went sleep.
Aegon quietly the read the book as the candles slowly melted down to stumps. As he read the tome in his lap, Aegon thought about what Saya had said to him in her drunken state; obviously they were just drunken words, but a man once said a drunk man's words are a sober man's thoughts. That, and the fact that Saya had something of a crush on him was telling to Aegon that Saya's feelings for him were growing. And the way she had offered to have him and Saeko both showed a side to her that was a little perverted. Snorting to himself in derision, Aegon closed the book in his hands with a sharp snap; the idea of him being shared by Saeko and Saya was as unlikely as pigs sprouting wings and breathing flame.
Yawning widely, Aegon lay back in his chair and prepared to go to sleep. It had been a long day, he needed some sleep. He could deal with what Saya had said to him in her cups in the morning.
TO BE CONTINUED…
A/N: There! The 25th chapter of this is done and dusted. For those of you asked, yes I did give Aegon the Leviathan axe from God of War 2018, but I'm hopeful I can put my own spin it plus blend the Norse mythology I read on Ragnarok with the Witcher version of Ragnarok with some influence from the God of War mythos. The bit about the Beloved God being slain is a reference to both God of War and Norse mythology of Baldur being killed that will be the start of the end of the world. A God will be slain, or at least one who likens themselves to a god and that will be the start of things to come, so have fun guessing who that would-be god is.
Anyways, not much more to say so I'll leave this here and see you all next time.
Happy New Year if I don't see you all before then.
Angry lil' elf.