Chapter Forty-Five
…
The North, Sea Dragon Point
"Jon slap me in the face and tell me what I am seeing is not a hallucination of mine,"
The words is followed by a smack with a rather indignant follow up of a protest from the Heir of Witnerfell. Ned however ignores the japes and the youthful banter of his sons as like his heir he struggles to understand what he is seeing right now.
Sea Dragon Point is never a place for good harbor due to the sheer cliffs with jagged eges on its sides. While ships can come and go on the bays, the trek across the raised landmasses would be tricky and hard. That is why no large army can invade the North via the open areas of Sea Dragon Point all wild and untouched. Plus the waters are full of those man eating fishes that usually travel the coast in numbers due to the large amount of seals that call this area home.
As he looks down however, all he can feel is bewilderment and no small amount of wonder and admiration. Last he checked here, Sea Dragon Point is simply full of workers being unloaded via Longships of Rivendell with a small palisade for protection. The terrain is still the same. Now however it looks like someone has taken the old version of Sea Dragon Point, gives it a little juggle and something else comes out.
The once rotund bay is gone with cement and white gravel going over mile upon mile. A large harbor stands ready with only a few ships currently at it. It is the giant city of light blue marble however overlooking the entirety of the bay that catches Ned's attention. Like Rivendell the city seemed to be perched on the giant jagged cliffs that are once unsightly and dangerous. Now said cliffs are full of domes, houses and towers that rise to the skies interconnected by elegant archways. While nothing like Rivendell as the young Domeric Bolton describes it, it has certainly its qualities especially with the thousand banners of the white swan flowing from the parapets. At its bay, a small islet far from the main city stands a single white tower that rises to the heavens. Its walls are open at the very top and a blue fire burns at its middle. The way Ned hears it from the herald, this is the lighthouse of Dol Amroth, a guide for ships approaching it. For the life of him though he has no idea what ships seeing that the seas are West of Westeros which are completely uncharted
With all that the Lady Delianah achieves, Ned might say that he is used to the rather impressive wonders that she spouts in quick succession. That is a flat lie. He can literally feel his own eyes falling from their sockets at the realization that she finished all this in two years. Where in the world is she getting the money? The people? The management for such work? When he fortified and have Moat Cailin repaired during the War of the Faith the second time, it has almost bankrupted the North's funding. Ned quietly murmurs a question to the Old Gods beneath his breathe.
Unfortunately air does not answer when you ask it a question.
…..
Dol Amroth
"I have to say Draco that you have done well finishing this place well within schedule. I have been putting at least an expectation that it would be late for a year at least," comments Delianah as Draco leads her to the wide open halls of Dol Amroth.
Unlike Rivendell or Osgiliath, its walls have shards of crystallized blue in them like living waters. According to the Green Men that he has managed to recruit on its creation, it is made in the same process as the Delianite is, only a lot less…..refined which diminishes its value by dividends. Still it is exquisite to look at and that is its original purpose.
For Draco though he can't help but feel both elated and a little bit insulted though the former trumps the latter in a great margin. He certainly revels on the praise bestowed to him by his goddess. As far as he is concerned, she has recognized his efforts and that gives meaning to this new life of freedom he is given a second chance to live. On the other hand a part of him feels hurt that his goddess doesn't believe that he can do it with the time table he is given. He has proven himself at Osgiliath hasn't he?
He banished such thoughts however as fast as they came. His goddess have higher priorities and surely does not expect much from lowlives such as he. It is a privilege and a pleasure to be of service to her. She has given him purpose other than whip and Draco would rather be damned before he fails her in any way.
"So have our guests arrived Draco?" Delianah asks now seated fully in the crystal like throneof Dol Amroth found at the center of the Hall of Waves as the welcoming hall is called here. Its design is like the Great Hall of Winterfell with long tables for visitors and a raised one for the Stewards and a smaller one for the Lady of Rivendell and whomever she might include in her company.
"Yes my lady," Draco bows. "The lords invited are starting to arrive though the Emperor of Yi Ti has invited himself to arrive early alongside his a hundred ships entourage again,"
"I see," Delianah nods in affirmation. "And the ships from the Iron Bank?" she asks.
"They are yet of afar off but they are sailing with the ship from Braavos my lady," answers Draco.
"Good," Delianah stands making Draco and the rest of the Black Guard bow at her rising. "Lead me to the entrance gates Lord Watcher. I believe that I would need to meet our dear Emperor from the East myself. Oh," she pauses from her stride looking back at him. "Make sure to prepare our special gift for our esteemed guest Draco,"
"Yes my lady," Draco bows before marching off at the front of the Black Guard leading his goddess. He smiles deviously inside though. Tonight would surely be entertaining,"
…
Dol Amroth Harbor
"Emperor Ling Tong, I thank you for making the long trip," Delianah greets with a small nod at the fresh faced twenty years old Emperor who looks a bit out of place despite his royal regalia of gold and red.
Unlike the former Emperor of Yi Ti this one does not have the fatness or the triple chin of the latter. Instead his face is still full and sharp with a kindness on his eyes. It is pathetically obvious however that he is no warrior.
"My condolences after the death of your father; it is such a shame that he died before his time,"
"Thank you my lady Delianah. Accidents do happen my lady I am afraid. My father is too overfond of food and drink and finally it gets the better of him. Dead at his own table, a shame. He might have preferred dying on a battlefield. He will be sorely missed. I have been remiss of his advice these past three years," the young Emperor replies with a nod back.
Delianah's eyebrows shot up at the gesture. As protocol dictates, being Emperor, Ling Tong should not bow to her, a minor Lady of the Realm of Westeros. Either the young man is being testy or he is simply overly naïve. She would rather put her eggs on the latter than the former.
"I am glad that you have deigned to come your majesty. I am uncertain whether you would make the trip due to the long distance between your country and mine. Will you walk with me?" says Delianah gesturing to the road heading to Dol Amroth. With a small movement of his head, he follows with the rest of his large retinue.
"Of course my lady I would come. I wanted to see with my very own eyes, the Lady of Rivendell who is rumored to be the Second Coming of Brandon the Builder, able to create cities with a wave of her hand according to my father. Though he is remiss about not mentioning your beauty," there's an odd gleam to his eye at that.
"Please your highness, it is nothing but an exaggeration of those who do not understand. All it takes to achieve something is the determination and the strength of will of a person, don't you agree?" she replies. "And I am not entertaining suitors of any kind at the moment your highness. I have plans that needed finishing and….a union would only be a distraction,"
Delianah has to admit that she rather likes this new Emperor, maybe a bit soft spoken but rather polite, someone she can work with. While she is happy dealing with the rather foolish former Emperor who can be swayed by words and flattery, she rather misses common sense when it comes to dealing with men (something that seems to be missing in a lot of lords at Westeros).
"Of course my lady; ever the brilliant you are according to my father. You have started with a ruined castle and with nothing to your name. Now you are one of the most powerful and influential people at your continent. Pray tell, how do you do that?"
Delianah simply smirks at him. "Magic of course, what else?" she replies honestly.
"Ahhh, magic. The principle of the making the impossible, possible," he replies making Delianah mentally snigger as she espies Amelia rolling her eyes at the back of the line.
The moment they reach the curve of the harbor though and finally seeing the great castle of Dol Amroth in all it's glory, the Emperor of Yi Ti stops as he gawks at the beautiful blue castle fortress perching at the side of the cliff look. With the blazing sun high above, the entirety of the architecture looks like rather giant icicles jutting out of the stony side.
"By the gods above and below, the tales back home do you no justice my lady. How in the world do you manage to complete that in two years only? This is a project that even with all my resources would take at least thirty to forty years, even a life time or two. My father has been truly remiss of his praises about your accomplishments if the castles of Rivendell and Osgiliath are anywhere as beautiful as this one,"
"High praise from you your highness. Maybe one day you will be able to visit my country's capital if the gods favor it,"
"I look forward to it Lady Delianah. I see that my father is wise for making tying our nation's futures together," he straightens up though before nodding at one of the eunuchs in his retinue who rushes to his aid and handing him a scroll (a very expensive looking one that Delianah is sure wuld make Tywin go green with envy with all the bling on it).
"This is one of the missives of my father my lady. It is his promise to you during the Tourney, an agreement of good faith to prove that the Empire of Yi Ti does honor its allies," he then hands the rather expensive item to Delianah who wastes no time reading it. She has to make sure to "act the part of a surprised lady" however since she perfectly knows already what is inside it (after shamelessly ripping apart the New Emperor's brain).
"Is this gift for real your highness?" she asks the Emperor who nods in affirmation.
"Every word my lady. BY Yi Ti's Royal Decree, the allotment of peasants numbering twenty-thousand men with all their families hereafter shall be signed unto the Lady Delianah to settle under her command. This will be a sign of good faith and years more of partnership to come between her territories of Rivendell and the Empire. Long live the Emperor,"
"Long live the Emperor," repeats Delianah smirking inwardly as she sees from the Canal of the North the bulky wooden ships from Yi Ti containing her new subjects.
Seriously, she wonders when she first started this project why no one ever asks how in the world is she going to fill up Dol Amroth and all it's territories here at Sea Dragon Point?
…..
Opening Ceremony, Dol Amroth Hall
Olenna Tyrell mingles with the rest of the crowd of visitors as she pushes through the throng of invited lords here at the Opening Ceremony ignoring their protest when she whacks one or two at their arse with her cane. She's an old woman for pity's sake and the prim and proper easily offended idiots in silk can give her an excuse for making sure her way forward is clear.
It has been hours already since the "welcome party" started and the invited lords (mostly Northmen) with a few important ones from the South like her. She can see though that the Lords of the Sandy Deserts of Dorne are absent making her snort in contempt. Good riddance, totally shameful their actions are at the Coliseum, especially that so-called Red Viper that would fuck anyone with tits and a cunt.
She brightens though as she reaches her objective.
"Lady Delianah," she greets the woman sitting alone at a table with four of her guards nearby drinking one of those new Rivendell drinks. "Butterbeer" she remembers the name.
"Lady Olenna, fancy seeing you here. I might have expected your son and not you," replies the younger woman. Already Olenna likes what she is seeing, the confident pose, the strong will upon those emerald eyes, this is a woman who is not like those mewling hens that she sees everyday at the Reach.
Pity the Lords of the Reach would rather revolt if she dares suggest a match between her and Willas. She after all "fed the souls of their sons to forest demons".
"My son, the buffoon he is trusts to remain in Highgarden with the rest of my family. The damage caused by the failed assassination attempt at your life has caused uproar and he is busy squashing any sort of malcontent and whisper of rebellion in our lands,"
"More like he's leeching off the success of his heir and son while claiming it as his," replies the other woman making Olenna smirk.
"Your spies tell you much Lady. You are more like me than I care to admit,"
"Knowledge is power Lady Olenna. Great Power," replies the younger woman.
"Yes, yes it is. You have turned a ruin into a power that bankrupts my lands. How did you do that I wonder?" Olenna leans in at Delianah who smirks at her after a sip.
"You seriously do not expect me to divulge an answer do you?"
"No of course not, you would be a fool if you do. You cannot however blame an old woman for trying," replies Olenna simply.
….
Dol Amroth Hall
Jon tries not to squirm too much as he runs his fingers down the neck of his throat where the thick garment of his doublet is biting him. This is probably the first time that he manages to use the damn thing ever since his father bought it for him at his nameday two years before.
When he gets a personal mention on the invitation letter alongside his father and Robb alongside Domeric Bolton and other Northern Lords, he has been so ecstatic. A bastard being invited by one of the most powerful and influential people in Westeros to a party of all things. It seems that despite his status, he is gaining a small recognition of his own. He personally wonders if Delianah still remembers him after that raid on White Harbor when he's still very young. It is even better since Theon is completely excluded from the invitation. He would milk this event by barbing it against the junior squid in a word contest where he insults his bastardry status again. His father's lady-wife is also a sight to behold almost foaming at the mouth as the realization sets in that Jon is invited and she is not.
He knows that the moment he return, he would be mucking the stables again.
Thirty minutes into the event later though and Jon is already regretting attending the party. His doublet itches and bites him everywhere and everyone is avoiding him like a plague due to his status. His lord father has gone off to prevent Greatjon from clobbering a Southern Knight to a grease who has insulted Lady Delianah by comparing her to a Northern whore. His brother on the other hand is stuck getting to know the other heirs of the North that is also present. This leaves Jon alone sitting at a corner where servants use to rest drinking a Butterbeer while nursing his injured pride.
Stable muck duty is better any day than public humiliation after all.
The sound of metal clinking a glass makes him and everyone else around the hall perk up as they see the Lady of Rivendell standing at the raised platform in all her beauty and glory. She is wearing that beautiful ceremonial outfit that she also wears during the Grand Tourney which simply displays her beauty and daring.
"My lords, my ladies! Today I welcome you the opening of Dol Amroth, the Independent City State of Rivendell on the North!"
Cheers come from the crowd at that though some of the Northeners look pained. "I am glad that you are enjoying the feast and I am glad that you have taken the time to attend this ceremony,"
More cheers come from everyone at that. Jon has to admit that the speech is good, plain and simple and everyone can get back to mingling.
"Let me also be the first to say thanks for the Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell, a good friend of House Tully and of mine personally who made this venture possible. Lord Stark, please stand and be recognized,"
Jon claps as his father looking slightly embarrassed stands up for a few seconds from his seat much to the cheering of the Northeners waving his hands a bit before sitting down.
"Now before I let you wonderful people go back to your conservations and meals. I want to say that no castle can stand without a Lord. I know many of you have been wondering this entire night who would be Lord of this castly by proxy as I return to my holdings South," everyone is silent at that as all hangs to her word.
"I have taken deliberate counsel with myself and I believe that a Northman should be my proxy here as Lord of Dol Amroth. The North after all belongs to the Northeners and a Blood of the First Man should be only right to rule here, Aye?"
"AYE?!" the happy Northeners now replies raising their mugs though many from the South are frowning at her words.
"As such, my proxy is a blood of House Stark, loyal to the bone, and loyal to his family. By decree of King Robert whom I have asked as favor, I therefore bestow Dol Amroth with all it's land and holdings to rule by proxy in my name…..JON SNOW, now JON STARK!"
The silence that follows is almost alike a graveyard and as every eye turns to where he is sitting, Jon Snow can only stare at disbelief and complete terror at the rather victorious smirk of the Lady of Rivendell through the veil covering her nose and lips.
…
Author's Note:
Hope you like this chapter fellow Westerosi. There, so Delianah is up to something again. Can anyone guess how?