Chapter 6: The Maiden
…
Reviews
ZFighter18: This was a really awesome combination.
If that is his final form, then perhaps.
Ragnarshadow: Catelyn Stark would be mad after this. She thinks Jon had returned to kill her. People in the North imagine this a punishment of the old gods because Jon kills the sept and try to kill Catelyn.
That and more. Chaos is a ladder all one can do is to climb it.
Dragonbluejay1: Is Daenerys going to be involved in the story? Will it be flavor full?
Yes, but she will not appear in quite a long while. Jon is currently 10 and growing up in other planes. It will be as much flavor as any crossover when a low-fantasy is crashed with a high-fantasy. A true dragon doesn't bow to a drake.
Guest: Card Name: Unexpected Inquisition, Flavor Text: nobody expects the Spanish inquisition.
That's much better than "How do you plead?". Thanks.
Percy: … coerced servitude to an all-powerful vampire planeswalker that he can't escape forever. It's a pretty well-meaning pf slavery in my book.
Well. If only there is a way for a magical binding, that is created by a pre-mending planeswalker, can be cheated through a loophole... *Wink* Ravnica's Guildpact and Liliana's contract. *Wink*
Also, Percy: He is a part dragon in Valyrian sense. Don't know you will make a magical side of that.
I have a plan. It will be able to explain not only Jon's power, but also the world of ice and fire itself: Oldgods, Weirwood tree, Doom of Valyria, The others, and DRAKE taming.
Let's say Jon's spark had awakened some dormant power…
…
Previously
"Little pup. What's wrong?"
"I almost killed my own brother."
…
The North, a kingdom that as large as the other six kingdoms of Westeros combined, is normally a boring place. It's cold. It's bleak. It's boring. Rarely do little birds sing a good song from there. Alas, today is not a normal day.
Today is the day everything goes to shit which is an exceptional feat considering the mess that is King's Landing. Westeros is in upheaval. The faith wants to launch the invasion to the North to bring the 'Heathens in the North' to heel. Northmen want to burn down all the septs above the Neck. The Tullys demands the answer from the Starks. Crown owes millions of gold dragon in debt. Everything had gone to hells, all the seven of them.
And for Varys, everything is according to the plan. War will soon erupt, and other great houses will be too spent to resist the return of the Targaryens. His birds whisper a tale so ridiculous it must be true. He hears how the old gods seek to punish the Starks for allowing the faith of the seven to flourish under their rule. He also hears about the vengeance from the grave of Eddard Stark's bastard for all his mistreatment from the Lady of Winterfell.
He initially brushes off those rumors as preposterous. But there is no harm in preparing for a mass riot, but he has to do that later.
…
It is indeed rare for King Robert Baratheon to attend the small council's meeting. But when one considers the fact that his best friend's family has almost been slaughtered the few nights before, one could understand the reason. It's all everyone has been talking about since the raven reaches King's Landing. As uninterest as the king is, he will not sit still until the matter is resolved. Why shouldn't he, he is a king. He holds all the power in Westeros.
"Anyone has any ideas what in the seven hells is going on in the North?" commanded the king. Robert is sitting on his own chair which lies empty for most of the past decade. Not only it has not seen the use for many years, but it also isn't designed to support a hunk of fat that is the king.
Around the table are a member of the small councils. Grandmeaster Pycelle, Lord Renly Baratheon, Lord Stanis Baratheon, Lord Petyr Baelish, Lord Varys, and Lord Jon Aryn.
"Your grace. My little birds tell me that there is an explosion of a sept in Wintertown. People say they saw a large white wolf walking on two legs, killing the septons. They also say that the same wolf tries to attack Lady Catelyn Stark right in the middle of castle Winterfell, before running away. However, Lord Eddard's family is saved. Lady Catelyn claims that it was Lord Eddard's bastard, Jon Snow, coming back from his grave to take her life." Said Varys. He is uncomfortable about how ridiculous this sound. But his little birds never lie. If it was a rumor, they would tell him it was so.
"Bah. Stop talking bullshit, Varys." Yelled the king. "If this is the sort of shit your little bird told you, you should get a new one. Anyone else?"
"People can see things what they want to see, brother. They probably let their imagination run wild. You know how the Northerner is like." Said Lord Renly.
Varys might want to agree with him, but he knows when more than dozen of his little birds, two of which see the incident with their own eyes, confirm the same thing, it was not an imagination gone wild.
"Majority of the North still worship the old gods, and the faith always wants to expand their influence up north. They probably burn down the sept to send a message and scare Lady Stark, since she was the reason why. The story is just that, a story. Maybe they used the fact that the bastard who had been dead for two years and Lady Stark never get along as a cover." Rationalized Lord Stannis. The king seems to agree with his brother and nods. "I'm sure that Lord Stark could handle the situation on his own."
"Finally, something good comes out of your mouth Stannis." Said the king. "Shame though. The bastard had died, and those fools still blame him from even beyond the grave. Do you know that when Ned brought him here all those years ago, I carried him in my arm? The boy even grabbed my beard and gave it a mighty yank. He would be a fine lad too. What a waste, he could have been squiring for me."
…
As Westeros is in turmoil, so does Innistrad. So, it's a very calm and peaceful day in Innistrad.
Jon is, for the lack of a better word, excited. He had been moping around for months, even with a caring mother that trying her best to cheer him up. She even tried to take him to others province of Innistrad, "for a walk". Even though it was nice, especially in Nephalia where he met a female inquisitor trainee named Thalia, he couldn't let go of the regret of almost killing Robb.
The mass murdering of the septons and septas didn't bother him that much since they already preach that he was a monster since birth.
Anyway, Thalia is a nice girl and only a few years older than Jon. She was selected to be his challenge by his mother. It was the same challenge he did with Henrietta but was much harder due to her being in a Cathar. Not only that, she was one of the most promising students of Elgaud Grounds. They had met when she was on a mission to be stationed at Dranau port. And, by the old gods, she knew how to fight. They fought against vampires attack together one time, of which she noticed his skills and style of fighting. They bonded after he told her a cover story with a slight change. Oh, and yes, she kissed him, a lot of time in fact, after their multitude of secret meeting over a month or so.
…
A few weeks ago
Fuck my life! Internally screamed Thalia. The mission she is assigned on supposed to be safe. She just needed to follow the more experienced members of the Cathar to see how they patrol. She even got the simplest task: ask the locals about the news.
Then why, in Avacyn burning glory, did she fight vampires on her own? Granted, they are merely a fledgling teenager that has been recently turned, but their number is overwhelming.
Thalia grips her sword tight. The blade is made from moon silver, thrice blessed by a priest she might add. Its might is potent enough to kill a vampire of this caliber when she strikes true.
She is surrounded. Five is the number of enemies that she sees. They have cornered her after one of them disguised as an injured citizen asking for help and lead her here.
At this moment, Thalia realized how stupid she could be.
There is no talk, not even intimidation. The vampires just go for the kill. Of course, Thalia would not let them kill her that easy. She swings her sword to parry the first and dodges the second. Seeing that there is an opening, she decapitates the second attacker. The headless vampire turns into dust in an instant. With the confusion the disintegration caused the newly turned vampire, Thalia able to thrust her sword into her first attacker's heart, killing it too.
Two down, three to go.
As she turned to face the rest, she got kicked in the back. The attack launches her ten meters away and she crashes into a cold stone wall. Strong for a human she might be, she couldn't match the strength of a vampire. Blood splattered on her lips. The wind is knocked out of her.
Just as the vampires are going for a kill, he comes to her rescues. A boy named Jon. A boy that she somehow found herself take a liking to when she asked around for news. A sweet and gentle boy that even younger than her by two to three years. She didn't ask.
In his hand is a spear. The blade is also moon silver. And its guard is in a style that of the church. Where did he get that spear? Why did he have it on him? There are so many questions she wants to ask had the vampires weren't here.
She sees Jon jumps down from the roof and lands right between her and the 3 vampires. He takes a boar tusk stance and, within moments, dashes toward the nearest vampire. He then backsteps as he successfully baits an attack. With his advantage of reach, he thrusts at an unprotected belly of his enemy. His spear drives through the vampire body. As he retracts the spear, he tilts it upward, the blade cuts the vampire in two from the belly up. He then switches hands into a full iron gate stance to block an incoming attack, uses the butt of the spear to disrupt his attacker movement, headbutt it and sweep it legs. The vampire falls down and he slammed the tip on its heart, killing it.
Four down, one to go.
Jon then picks his spear up and throws it at the last vampire. He is fast, very fast. And it is fast enough that the vampire couldn't react in time.
All five are down.
"Jon!" Thalia calls his name. Jon turns to her but doesn't answer. He moves quickly as if he is running himself at her. Does he want a hug? No, it shouldn't be. This is far quicker run for just a hug.
Thaila then finds the answer she is looking for when Jon slams the sixth vampire that about to snap her neck into the wall. He can barely hold it off. Lucky for them both, Thalia is conscious enough to use her weapon. She thrusts it right into the vampire's mouth, killing it instantly.
Well. All six are down. Time to get answers.
"Jon." She calls his name again. She doesn't realize that she is currently looking into his eyes. Nor she finds that he is also looking into hers.
"Lady Thalia." He replies. Their face is only a few centimeters apart.
"How do you are so good with a spear? And your style … those are the church technique."
"It's a long story. Milady." He answers.
"Well then. Tell me a short version right now." She smiles. Then she winks. "Tell me a long one later."
"As you wish." He smiles back. "My mother was an archmage of the Goldnight. She broke the vows of chastity and … well, had me. She got excommunicated until she could do something of note to redeem herself. The church wants the Matriarch of Ulvenwald dead, but that monster can fight a hundred man, let alone just the two of us. So, we travel around finding our opportunities and she is training me along the way."
Impressive. Thalia thought. "Is that so …" She pauses. "I don't believe you. You have to tell me in detail until I'm satisfied. Same place, same time, don't be late."
She flicks his forehead and walks away. Not seeing a smirk that Jon gives when she turned around.
…
It sucks that he had to leave, but Thalia had been recalled back to Havengul to further her training, and he needs to, as his mother told him, further mastering his power elsewhere.
"So. This is probably the last time we will meet in a long while, Jon." Said Thalia. "Shame, though. I think you will do well in the academy, being the second-best after me of course."
Jon smiles at her notion. If only she knows. If I go to her academy, they will not only burn me but probably skin me alive.
"Aye. Milady. But my mother is still excommunicated. It will take some time before she becomes an archmage again. Maybe I will be one too. Then we can meet as much as we like." Said Jon. He looks longingly into her eyes.
And that makes Thalia giggles. "Oh Jon, you silly, silly boy." She lightly punches his arm. "Is that a promise?"
"Yes, milady." Jon answered. "I swear in the name of Avacyn."
"I like that." Thalia smiles. To her, Jon is not like other boys who want to befriend her because of her looks or her reputation. Jon just wants to be her friend and, maybe, sometimes a kissing partner. Not to speaks about his impressive use of his spear.
"Like what milady?" He teased.
"I like the way you address me as my-lady."
"I'm glad you like it milady." Jon smiles. Oh, she is adorable. He thought, then moves closer.
"Okay, you are overdoing it too much now." She gently hits him again. Still, their body is almost touching.
"If you say so, milady." Yes, Jon knows he is taking a piss. But he loves this side of Thalia, she smiles and plays along even he is intentionally annoying her.
"Thalia! Where are you?" They heard some older Cathar calling her. Both jerk back and separate.
"It seems this is a goodbye, milady. If Avacyn willing, we may meet again soon." Said Jon as he gets on one knee. He takes her hand and kisses it, before darting away into shadows and disappear. Unbeknownst to Thalia, he stays close and eavesdrops on her conversation.
All the while, Young Thalia could only blush. Seeing that her comrade is coming for her, she tidies up and act like nothing happening.
"Oi. Thalia. Who's that boy? Your lover?" The older Cathar teased. "Why don't you … introduce him to me."
Jon senses that Thalia heart rate spikes when the question was asked.
Oh! WOW! That was all he could think.
"I'm not telling you anything!" Yelled Thalia, before she runs away.
…
"Feeling any better? Jon." Asked Arlinn. She is happy for her son. At least he doesn't brood anymore. But she also knows that getting close to a militant member of the church is akin to playing with fire. One small mistake and both of them will be burnt alive if they could not planswalk away in time.
"It's better. Mother. The mission is successful. The Cathar is too busy dealing with Stormkirk vampire to care about the rising number of werewolves near its border. The howlpack could expand three-fold and they would still don't bat an eye."
Arlinn nods but she doesn't say anything. It doesn't matter what the situation is. Her territory is in Ulvenwald. The mission she sent Jon to do was only to get his mind out of the depression. However, Jon, as the best pup he always been, took on this task very seriously.
"So. What's next?" Asked her son. He doesn't sound excited, at least not as much as he should. Parting from a girl he is close with probably affect him.
"We're heading to Tarkir." Answered Arlinn.
"Tarkir." Jon thinks out loud. "I recognize that name. It's the place Lord Sorin talks about. But mother, I never see that name on a map. Does this mean I need to planswalk?"
Oh, He's smart.
"Yes, little pup. Now, hold my hand and never let go. I will guide you there." Arlinn smiles.
When Jon does what he was told, they planeswalk away.
…
Unlike Innistrad where horrors lurk in every corner so much that it hardened Innistradian. Tarkir is a plane that is shaped by war. Once there were five clans and five dragon broods that wage war upon each other. Now, only five clan remains not because the dragons are gone but because the dragons were the victor. Now, the clans and the dragons are one. Abzan, Jeskai, Sultai, Mardu, and Temur, five names of the clan long defeated and absorbed into the dragon broods. Once there was a timeline that the dragons are extinct and the clans fight among themselves, but with the interference from a certain planeswalker, the fate had been reforged.
Still, some legend endures. One such legend like Surrak of the Atarka. In the Unwritten, he was the leader of the Temur frontier, their Dragonclaw. Now, he is Dragonlord Atarka's Hunt Caller, the chief feeder of Atarka herself. He is the greatest member of the clan apart from the dragons, for he answers only to Atarka alone. If the dragon interferes with his life, he just punches them to the smithereens without any consequence for Atarka values strength above all else.
And he did indeed punch a dragon, even it is a sick one. It was an epic confrontation during one of his missions. Atarka even praised him for that. His feat had become legends among the Atarka clan and a thing to be strived for.
With his importance, he never found himself alone, there are always people accompanying him after the missions, whether a powerful brothers-and-sisters-in-arms or willing maidens. Then … why? Why does he still feel so lonely?
Surrak was dragged away from his own thought by a call for the feast from his overlord. Once the time for her feast was near, which was almost all the time that he didn't spend hunting. He gathered his men and head out to look for some mammoth. He hoped the hunt would be quick enough for him to have some more rest.
Sure, sex is good, but when you are out constantly hunting for a dragon overlord that can breathe a green flame and can kill you with her voice alone, long sleep and just resting is much better. Maybe he will build a snowman. He hears that the clan's younglings love to do it and want to try it himself. Considering that Atarka's land is under a blanket of snow all year round, he always has time.
Imagine how surprised he has been when he found a barely ten-winters-old child killing 5 yetis by himself with only a spear in his hand. He doesn't know this child. His appearance along could pass for being his fellow clan members, but who in the right mind bring a boy this age to a hunt. Moreover, who thought it was a good idea to leave him alone in a yeti's territory.
And why does this boy look fairer than most of Artaka girls his age? How is that even possible?
The boy is good. Really good. His spear darts left and right, overcoming the defend of the bipedal beasts. His trust is strong and true. The protection of a dense fur and a thick fat of the yetis doesn't even affect his attacks. One by one, the beasts fall. The boy shows a mastery of his weapon and his awareness of the surroundings too. The last two of the yetis realized it was a good idea to attack at the same time. The boy dodged the attack from his front, sidestepped and plunged his spear into his enemy arm pit stabbing through its heart. He then let go of his spear and dashed back to get inside the effective range of the attack from his back. He crashed into his other enemy, leading with his elbow. The crash staggered the last yeti and left an opening. He then turned his palm into a fist and slammed it right on his target chin. The punch was so fierce it snapped the yeti neck right away.
Then the boy turned and bore his fangs at them. His radiated an aura that was akin to a wolf than a man.
Surrak has to say he is pleased with the boy's performance. It's quite a feat to impress the dragon puncher.
"Oi. Boy. What's your name?" Asked Surrak.
"My name is Jon Snow." The boy answered. This Jon Snow even smirks the same way he is.
Damn. Thought Surrak. It's as if I'm looking into my own past.
"Jon? What a weird name. And what do you do here alone? Where are your parents?" Surrak asks again. He knows the hunt is delayed, but he knows he couldn't lefts this boy here. Sure, he might be young, but he already proves himself when he slaughtered five yetis by himself. Some adults from his clan couldn't even do that.
"My father is no longer here. I'm with my mother." Jon answers.
"Your mother takes you here to hunt!" Surrak surprises. This is mad. What kind of mother would be that reckless?
"No. My mother takes me here for a walk. We found a mammoth herd, so she is now hunting them."
"And she leaves you here, alone, in a yeti territory?" Surrak concludes that Jon mother must either be mad or an absolute legend.
"No. She asked me to take care of these things, so they don't try to steal our kills."
Surrak's eyes widened when he hears the answer. If someone else told him this story, he would punch him in the face. He has to meet this boy's mother.
*Rumble*
Everyone scatters as they hear a stampede. A mammoth stampede. It is getting louder and louder. Everyone knows that mean their preys are nearby.
"And there she is." Jon points at the largest mammoth's head. Surrak sees some figure on top of it.
And then that mammoth collapses. Its dead body slides toward them and stops right in front of him. One woman jumps down from it. And damn, she is beautiful. She is not like a fair maiden back at the camp. This one is a warrior through and through. Black hairs that gradually become white at the tip. Brown eyes. A scar on her forehead as a sign of battle experiences. She looks battle-hardened, but she also looks young enough to be around his age.
Yes. Surrak is smitten. By a woman almost twice his age, be he doesn't know that.
…
Arlinn just has one of the best hunts of her life. A mammoth is a worthy prey. Larger than any beast found on Innistrad, it is a thrilling hunt to have. She killed it alone, of course. She tasked Jon to deal with possible interuptions from the yetis. Still, they have no idea where they were on Tarkir. She had never been here before.
Damn you, Sorin. Seek Ulgin out … and where the fuck is Ulgin exactly?
For months they had been wandering around in the snow. Too much snow. Had it not been for their binding with the wolf spirit, they would be frozen to death a long time ago.
After killing the largest mammoth in the heard, she looks around for her son. His scent is nearby, but he is surrounded by others. Men and women, she assumed. It doesn't take long for her to find Jon in the white field of snow. The other people are strong built. They are clearly a hunter of the sort. Then her eyes move to one figure, possibly the leader of this hunting group.
Arlinn soon finds herself cannot move her eyes away from the man.
That dark hair and well-sculpted body. That antler puldrons and curve swords. Oh. He will do.
"Jon. My little pup. Who's your friend?" She asked. "Tell me about the one with two blades. The rest … you don't need to bother mentioning them." She points at him.
"I don't know, mother. I'm just about to ask them when you drop in." Said Jon as he plucks his spear from the yeti's corpse and launches at a smaller mammoth faraway. The spear strikes through in its eyes and it crashes down. Dead.
Arlinn is impressed. Any respectable mother would congratulate her son. But she has to do that later for she has found another worthy prey.
"Well then. Why don't you tell me?" Asked Arlinn. She intentionally sways her hips more than she usually does. She looks into her prey's eyes "Tell me about everything."
…
Custom Card of the Chapter
Card Name: Puppy Love.
Mana Cost: 1WG
Types: Instant
Card Text: Exile all attacking creatures, return them to the battlefield under their owner's control at the beginning of their owner's next upkeep.
Flavor Text: Contrary to a common belief, love indeed can bloom on a battlefield. If you are on the same side, or you decided he is worth the hunt.
Rarity: Rare
