Disclaimer: A song of Ice and Fire belongs to George R.R Martin. Dark Souls belongs to FROM Software.
A song of Darkness and Souls
Artorias II
Today was a being a tiresome day for the knight of Gwyn, the pressure on his lungs after being seen with a dragon egg by the two new arrivals made his head feel heavy like his helmet weights the entire blue ocean that covers the world and the burden didn't seem to ease after the helmet was removed so he could see both boys in the eyes for his honesty to be seen and believed by the two.
Artorias didn't want to lie, but the truth was out of the equation since Lordran didn't exist in this world. He thinks about Lys, from what he studied the people there were the descendants of Old Valyria and his physical traits were more common there, but that was also out of question, he already told Daenerys Targaryen that he had never heard of the place when they met on that strange world, and even if she never tells anyone about it only a fool would tell a lie when another person already knows the truth.
Artorias looks at both Jon and Rickon in the eyes, purple meets gray and blue and he could tell without even looking at their souls the anxiety both kids were feeling.
"Well.". A soft sigh comes out of his nose while Artorias closes his eyes only to open again and see the anxiety on the boys' faces. "Let's start from the beginning.".
Giving the two boys one last look before he explains himself Artorias tries to imagine what to say that couldn't be considered a lie but not the truth either.
"I came from a place beyond the Sunset Sea.". Artorias' voice was firm, he wasn't lying since Lordran was beyond the Sunset Sea, so his body didn't show any signs.
"No one has ever crossed the Sunset Sea to learn what lies on the other side.". Jon said with determination in an attempt to make Artorias relent in case he was lying, something the knight took notice of.
"Wrong, many people crossed the Sunset Sea, like Brandon the Shipwright, your ancestor. I'm just the first one that probably made it out alive.".
Artorias looks a Rickon in the eyes, he was still trying to avoid eye contact with the knight but there were roots of a smile on his small lips when learning about his ancestor.
'Ah! to be young and dream again.'. The knight thinks while holding a snort directed at himself.
Looking at Jon Artorias sees that his reaction was a little different from Rickon's, there was a smile on his face, but Artorias saw sorrow on his brow. 'Poor kid, still think he is the shame of his family.'.
Before Artorias continues with his story, he looks at the two and tries to read their souls, Rickon's was like a wild lake on the storm whose waves would destroy any boat like a toy with the power of its waters. Jon's was like a block of ice, but this ice was different, it wasn't like the refreshing breezes of a calm night in winter who would make the world feel at peace, this ice burned, somehow it was so hot that anyone who touches it would be burned like the hottest summer in the desert and no water in the whole ocean would be able to calm this heat.
'I guess the lake represents his Tully side. The wild waters his Stark's wolf-blood I keep hearing about.'. Moving his head unnoticed by the two he stops looking at the three-year-old and looks at Jon to make his assessment. 'The ice is obviously the Stark in you, but why does it burn? Who are you, Jon Snow?'.
Every second Artorias looked at Jon Snow there was fascination and curiosity since the moment Artorias arrived in Winterfell, he kept hearing how Eddard Stark was the most honorable man in the 7 kingdoms and how he was just and right. 'If those words were true then why would such a man stain his honor and break his vows by laying with another woman and father a bastard?' The knight asked himself.
Looking at Jon Snow Artorias starts to wonder. 'Is he really Ned Stark's son? If half the things said about the lord paramount of the North are true then it's very unlikely that he would break his vows with his wife, and even if he did, he wouldn't take a baby off a mother's breast nor deny them the knowledge of each other.'.
Artorias remembers for a moment when he talked with lord Stark in this same room. When they talk about Jon the lord's soul had nothing but love for the boy, and that would make the reason for not telling him about his mother even less sense.
'How can a man love someone so much and not see how he is hurting that person?'. He thinks.
Artorias decides to shake off these thoughts, he already had a job to do, and as much as he wanted to help Jon, he couldn't risk just making things worse and destroying a whole family.
"When I decided to come to Westeros, I've met a… Stranger,who took notice of me and for some reason gave me the egg, he thought that I would be able to hatch it, why and how I don't know and if he did, he didn't tell me.". Artorias voice was hoarse when he talked about the Stranger, he wanted them to notice and point it out but they didn't, maybe for the better, but that wasn't really what the knight thought. "Maybe he thought I had Valyrian blood because of my physical traits, maybe he thought my magic would allow me to do so. I honestly don't know.".
"And then we met, I found the direwolves, sat on the bench waiting for someone to guide me in this new land, and you found about the dragon egg." Artorias voice was in total disinterest, it was an attempt to make it sound boring so the two would have no interest at all, but since he doesn't know how kids think it comes back to bite him.
"Is that it?". Rickon's said like he was robbed. "It has to be more, you can't just have a dragon egg, comes to the north and just be it.".
"But it is.". Artorias said in a neutral voice looking at Rickon deep in the eyes. "As I told Jon little Rickon, there is no fancy knight story, no great battle, no incredible tale. Any question you have I will answer, but heed me when I say they will be as boring as seeing the leaves fall in autumn and waiting for each one of them to grow again in spring.".
"But, but, you are a knight, you have magic, you have a dragon egg, how come you're not on a huge adventure ready to fight evil and become a hero." Rickon's voice was of disbelief, Artorias could see in his eyes the shiny disappear from them.
'Poor child, to have his hopes and dreams squashed at such a young age.' Artorias shakes his head in disappointment at himself for what he is doing and thinking of such things. 'Well, he isn't wrong, I am on a huge adventure to fight evil and could be considered a hero if I succeed, from a certain point of view, but I lived long enough to know these stories are not as innocent as the bards make them be.'.
Artorias turns his head towards his bottomless box and opens it, taking back the egg and gives to Rickon so he can hold it.
"Careful not to cut yourself." The knight says while Rickon approaches his tiny hands slowly and carefully to the egg, Artorias watches it and smiles when the young boy hugs it like a toy, even Jon loses his brooding mood and chuckles at his small brother.
Artorias approaches Rickon and pets his head like a father would do to his son and look him in the eyes, happy with himself for not having made the kid cry. "I'm not a hero Rickon, maybe I was once, or maybe I will be, but right now, I'm not.".
Before continuing to speak with Rickon, Artorias looks at Jon to take one more look at his soul. When the knight had taken the egg back from the bottomless box both had changed again, but while Rickon's was that of a wolf aware of the danger, Jon's was a wolf growling but it didn't sound like a howl that any wolf was capable of doing it, it sounded like a roar, louder than the drums of war and more powerful than that of the mightiest beasts that lived in the deeps of the abyss he could imagine.
"Do you want to touch it too?". Artorias asks wanting to know how Jon's soul will react to the touch of the egg.
Jon hesitates at first, just like Rickon he approaches his hand towards the egg carefully and slowly. When he touches the dragon egg his eyes are closed and his breath is as long as if the contact with the egg was giving him enlightenment, he moves his hand on the egg and Artorias notices the small frown on his temples, undoubtedly causes by the rough scale-lizard-like shell of the egg.
When Jon opens his eyes, Artorias looks at him trying to figure out something, anything about the boy. When Jon had touched the dragon egg his soul had become a colossal direwolf made of an inferno of blazes that would make the mightiest of Vulcans looks like pathetic campfires whose howl would shake the core of the lands and scare the masses who would flee in the hope they could never incur its fury.
Artorias goes back to his position on his chair, with his back straight and his eyes showing a serious look, he starts to clear his throat to take their attention off the dragon egg and back to him and start talking back to them.
"As I said. I am not a Targaryen, I'm nothing but a foreigner who came in possession of a dragon egg because a Stranger believed I could hatch it. Do you accept it as the truth? Do you believe me?". Artorias asks and sees in their souls that both of them believe it, they still had doubts, but they believe him and assent their heads to him in response. "Good, I thank you for your trust, now, I have something to ask you.".
"What is it?". Rickon says before his brother could, still hugging the dragon egg like a puppy.
"I want you to keep this between us, don't tell anyone about the dragon egg.". Artorias's voice was in a serious tone, he gives a deadly silent pause before giving an invisible smirk to them and continue his talk. "If you do that… I will let you ride in the dragon if I manage to hatch it.".
Jon and Rickon's face had gone beyond white by the shock, not believing what they had just heard, if Artorias could hatch a dragon, something probably impossible, he would let them fly on it, it was just a matter of seconds before the shock and paleness wore off and a smile and hope replace it and showed on both of their faces. Jon and Rickon look at each other and see the grim they have on their lips and nod in agreement.
"YES! / Deal." The brothers said at the same time.
"Good.". Artorias responds with a genuine smile and turns his head towards the two direwolves, Shaggydog and the albino whose name he still doesn't know.
"Can I count on you two to keep an eye on them and make them fulfill their part of the deal?" The knight asks both direwolves making Shaggydog stand on his rear paws and shaking his front paws while barking in agreement while the albino just gives a quick and shy nod almost like he was submitting himself to Artorias authority.
Turning his head back towards the two brothers Artorias return their talk trying to end it for the night.
"Well, looks like we have an understanding. Now I think it's time for you to go back to your rooms."
"Wait, they are still something missing.". Said Rickon in anxiety making the knight scratch on the inside of his brain trying to figure out what could have he missed.
"What is it young Rickon?". Artorias asks with doubt flooding his words trying to understand what could it be.
"You said that there is no story, that you are no great hero but I know it is not right, you are a knight and knows magic, there has to be an adventure, I want to know, please tell me.". Rickon answers like he was totally wronged and demanded justice.
Artorias sighs with a tired face and looks at Jon looking for support but the boy just smiles and shakes his head as if he was saying 'he can't be defeated only appeased'.
Artorias looks back at Rickon and sees his face frows, and lips curl while the hold in the dragon egg change from hugging a puppy to its mine you can't take it.
Artorias shakes his head and smiles at the prospect of having to play the nan for these two, not having a childhood or children meant that he wasn't prepared to fight on this battlefield, but he was a soldier, trained to fight in all types of war and his pride and honor as one of the four knights of Gwyn wouldn't allow him to lose this war.
"Very well.". Artorias said determined.
The knight didn't need to lie, but he didn't need to tell them it was the truth either and decided to tell them the story of how he discovered the ability of abysswalking and how it allowed him to enter The Abyss, the home of the Dark wraiths and the Four Kings themselves, Rickon would probably believe it while Jon would think it was just a children's story, but everyone would be satisfied and no harm would be made.
"It all started when I was in a place called New Londo...".
On the next morning, Artorias founds himself training in the yard with Ser Rodrik and Jory, in the last night after long hours telling Jon and Rickon about his first travel into the abyss he had gone to sleep only to be disturbed by a strange dream, unlike the one he had with Daenerys this one felt strange, uncomfortable and curious, he couldn't speak, whenever he tried only the faintest of growls came out of his mouth like when he just wakes up, whenever he tried to move he felt like something was restricting his body, and everywhere he looked there was nothing but darkness, but the most strange part was the feeling of touch, it felt like it was there but at the same time it was not, like if someone or something touches you your body wouldn't feel, but since you know how the sensation is, your brain forces you to feel even though your body can't.
Feeling his mind tired because of this strange dream, sparing with these two was an escape from the exhausting thought that probably would get him nowhere.
Jory attacks Artorias from above while Rodrik tries to hit his legs but the giant knight easily defends Jory's attack by parring it with his sword while Rodrik's only by lifting his foot making him miss. Quickly Artorias pushes Jory back with his sword making back away a few feet and immediately strikes Ser Rodrik who manages to defend the attack, Artorias strikes again trying to hit his waist but the knight evades taking a step back, Artorias then tries a more critical strike, this time on the hand Rodrik is holding his sword while he was recovering his balance from the previous attack and managed to land a hit, making Rodrik drop his sword, Jory after recovers runs towards Artorias and tries to attack him from above again following by a middle slash and another attack from above.
Artorias parries the first attack with his sword, avoids the second with a step back, and parries the third one again with his sword, he counterattacks Jory by dragging his sword down with the blade of his own, Jory tries to stop him but Artorias strength was too great for him to do anything, he is saved from Artorias when Ser Rodrik separates them with an attack directed at Artorias hand which was evaded by both, Jory with a step back and Artorias with a jump that all present judged impossible due to the huge weight of the armor he was wearing might have.
"You're good Ser Artorias!" Jory wasn't just saying out of flattery, it was a statement. "How long have you trained to achieve this level of mastery?".
"Five and ten years, Ser Jory.". Said Artorias completely focused on his spar partners.
"I'm not a knight.".
"Less talk more fight.". Said Ser Rodrik with a smile feeling like he was two decades younger by the way he was craving for this fight to continue and how his blood was boiling from delight.
They both attack Artorias with a swing from above and the knight parries Jory's sword first and immediately turns to Ser Rodrik and redirects his attack making him hit the ground. Artorias counterattacks Jory swinging his sword from above, from fellow and seeing an opening with Jory's evasions he thrust it on Jory's stomach but he managed to block it, only for Artorias to drag both blades making them spin clockwise, and when both swords are pointing to the sky Artorias pushes his hand making Jory lose his grip on his weapon and the sword fly well above him and landing behind Artorias who grabs it with his other hand and point it towards Ser Rodrik throat who was going for a sneak attack but stops when Artorias has him cornered.
"Thou yield?". Asked Artorias with a sword inches away from both men's throats.
"I yield.". Said Jory.
"Aye.". Said Rodrik with a smile.
Everyone who was watching started clapping and cheering for the Knight of Gwyn, young Rickon and Bran being the loudest of all, showing great interest in their blue eyes and smiles that showed more teeth than an open mouth.
"Seven hells.". Said Ser Rodrik trying to catch a breath while talking to Artorias as if the knight had made Rodrik's whole life being shown in his eyes. "You can dual wield too? The only person I've known able to do that was Ser Arthur Dayne.".
"Then it saddens me so for I am afraid to sayeth all knights in Westeros are lacking." Said Artorias giving back the training swords to Jory and Ser Rodrik while shaking his head showing the disapproval tone is his voice was not a fluke. "Lord Gwyn trained his soldiers to be the very best, everything that could be useful in a war he made us learn and master it. I don't mean as an offense, but if dual wielding is something you can't do, then you should train yourself to become able.".
"Can you teach us?". Asked Bran with Rickon by his side looking at Artorias almost begging for him to train them.
"*sigh*. Very well. Grab a training sword you two and I shall teach you how to begin.". Said Artorias getting on his knees and watching the two kids running as fast as they can with their direwolves behind them.
"What about us?". Asked a voice that Artorias identify as being Theon Greyjoy's, when he turns his head to see he was not alone, with Robb and Jon at his side. "Can you teach us anything or do you just like to play knight with brats?".
Theon was cocky or stupid considering that even on his knee Artorias was still on his eye level, maybe even a palm or two taller.
"Thou art nine and ten. Robb and Jon art four and ten. Thou all are late to do the training I had done. Mine own advice shall be; don't begin anything new, improve in that what thou art already praiseworthy. Thou and Robb have no talent for the sword, from what I hath heard, thou talent rests with a bow and arrow, practice with that you should. Change the bow's hand, shot arrows with one eye closed, use thy mouth to pull the string of the bow. Give your person any disadvantage thou can imagine and overcome it, this way, thou shall never be unprepared for the unexpected.". Said Artorias as if what he said was a lesson the three of them should have already learned. "Robb, from what Ser Rodrik told me thou art good with a lance, have thee trained with it while mounted? with your other hand? how to use not only the tip but the staff as well?".
"No Ser.". Robb's voice was a mix of shame and disappointment, maybe from learning that he has no talent from a sword from someone that was probably even better than his father.
"The truth hurts, the earlier you learn that the less life will disappoint thee.". Said Artorias like a maester lecturing a student. "Saying you can't improve I am not, but thou will never be the best. Do as I have told Theon, train mounted spear, train you throwing, learn how to have any advantage you can against every type of opponent".
"What about me?" Asked Jon which Artorias notices the boy was feeling left out of their conversation.
"What about thee?".
"What can I do to improve?" Asks Jon, attentive and eager to hear what the experienced knight will say that can help him improve.
"Pick two training swords and wait for both who shall be sparring against thee with me." The knight says getting off his knee when he notices Bran and Rickon coming back carrying a training sword each.
'I hope the metal isn't too heavy for those two.' Thinks the Knight not wanting the image of two boys getting hurt in his consciousness.
"You're making me have the same training you have for children?" Asked Jon with his cheeks red with the words he heard from the knight and the small chuckles and smirks of Theon and Robb.
"I'm making you train with your brothers.". Artorias said with a serious voice, Robb and Theon stop smiling after the knight looks at them, the three felt like the knight had grown even bigger than he already was and can't stop themselves from feeling a little scared. "You have talent with a sword Jon, but to me and the world, that means nothing, if you can be stopped from pitiful things like pride, then you are a waste of my time. You can either train with your brothers or not, it is your choice. I have high hopes for you boy, so don't let me down. If you do, I'll be sorry for losing such a potential disciple, but there's more out there.".
Artorias couldn't understand why he had such high hopes for Jon, he barely knew the kid, but for some reason, he wanted to train him and see him succeed, he knew that the kid reminded him of himself in some parts, and the fact that both of them had never met their mothers also made the knight feel more like a kindred spirit with Jon, whatever the real reason was, these were the only explanation the knight could come up with.
"Lord Stark, do tell me, has thou regret all the times your brother Benjen wanted to spar with thee and Brandon and you said no?" Asked Artorias looking at Eddard Stark who was approaching him with an emotionless expression with Arya by his side.
"Yes." Said Eddard showing little but visible wrinkles of regret and sadness on his forehead, and his eyes, quickly recovering and looking a Jon. "Don't make the same mistake I have Jon. I don't want you to have the same regrets.".
Artorias looks at the kids and sees they all have fallen into an uncomfortable silence, with their heads and eyes down. Robb and Theon leave probably going to do the training as Artorias had counseled them. Bran and Rickon go towards Jon and push him by his trousers as a sign for them to leave as well, but Artorias stops them.
"Wait.". Artorias says, he rips off the blue cloth of the scarf he uses under his helmet to help cover his face and ties in Jon's face covering his eyes. "If thou art so confident against your brothers thou ought to fight them with nothing but thee hearing, smell, touch, and intuition.".
Jon was about to protest but he is stopped by Artorias who just extends his palm gesturing Jon to not talk back to him. Arya, Bran, and Rickon look nervous but lord Stark on the other hand appears to agree with the knight and slightly nods with his head.
"Both of you.". Artorias says looking at Bran and Rickon who pay close attention to the knight. "Thou shall swing the swords a hundred times with each hand while attacking Jon so the instinct of using both hands can be reached by both when in combat. Jon will not be allowed to attack, only defend himself and dodge so don't be afraid of him attacking you, he otherwise will probably have a few bruises when training is over. Your training will not stop until the dining is ready or Your father decided you had enough.".
Jon looks uncomfortable but the three children and their father give small chuckles as if they were looking at his brother being punished for some naughty thing he might have done.
"Bran, Rickon, guide you blind brother to the godswood where you will train, I think Jon's will learn enough humility without people seeing him like this." Said Artorias with a smile that nobody could see because of his face being hidden by his helmet and scarf after completely blinding Jon with the cloth.
While seeing Bran and Rickon leave with Jon, Artorias hears a throat being clean as a way to catch his attention and he turns his face back towards lord Stark and his daughter.
"Thank you for that. You've been doing good for my house.". Said Ned with utmost sincerity and respect. "I know we had a heated talk last day, but I want you to know it was only because I was worried about my family.".
"Of course you do. You are a good man.". Said Artorias with a neutral voice and probably neutral expression on his hidden face while moving his head towards the little girl on Ned Stark's arms who wears a shiny smile like the stars who decorate the skies on cloudless nights.
"And what about thee little wolf. What are you doing here?". Asked the knight getting once again on his knees and lowering his head so his face could be on a more equal level with the girl.
"I also want to train. I want to be a knight just like you.". The excitement in her eyes was only equal to the determination on her soul which has the form of a direwolf of ice who howl to the moon with a strong passion, just like Jon and Rickon the night before.
"Shouldn't you be on your sewing lessons right now?". Asked Artorias wanting to see with his eyes how will the girl react and responds to his words.
Ned Starks gives a small glee that only Artorias notices and seeing the soul of both father and daughter he knows the Lord knows what the girl will do or say.
"I don't want to sew, it's boring, I want to have a sword in my hands and swing it on my enemies, not a needle to swing in a piece of cloth.". Said Arya with a face red as blood. The knight didn't need to watch her soul with the frustration being shown on her face.
Arya was a warrior, Artorias could see it, but she was impulsive, immature, imprudent, if she doesn't realize nor change it, she would only get herself in danger in the best case or death in the worse.
"Tell me, lady…".
"I'M NOT A LADY.".
"Tell me, lady Arya. In a battlefield who fixes the soldiers' clothes when the battles are finished?". Asked the knight unfazed by her sudden scream who managed to do nothing to Artorias except enter from one ear to exit from the other.
The knight notices the silence both in their mouth and stares that Arya and Lord Stark were giving him. Artorias doesn't know how Westeros knights are trained, but knowing that they can't do dual-wielding shows that in a war they either throw their damaged clothes away and buy new ones, or they wear them without fixing the damage caused by swords, arrows, and maces.
'What a waste'. Thinks the knight slowly shaking his head.
"You may think sewing is not a knightly thing…". Artorias says trying to get the sole attention of Arya. "But let me tell you. It is. When I was in training Lord Gwyn once ordered us to sew a blanket.".
Artorias gets on his feet again. he wants to look imposing and immovable for Arya so that his words would sink into her soul and never take her beliefs for granted ever again. Even Lord Stark was more attentive to him now that Artorias made them look up to him in the very sense of the word.
"And so we did. Every day, for three months. He ordered us to sew blankets.". Artorias said having to fight hard the feeling of nostalgia that could make his words feel empty to Arya, someone he was trying to teach the real way of the world. "Every time we finished sewing, he took it from us and told us to sew a new one.
The blankets he took from us he gave it to the poor who were either homeless or lived in the slums so they could have at least one piece of cloth to protect them against winter.".
Artorias notices the look of respect Ned Stark was giving. Artorias had the same every time he thought about his former Lord. Lord Gywn was someone all nobles should aspire to be. He treated all as equals, rich and poor, nobility or common folk. Loved and respected by all, that's the kind of man the Lord of Lordran was.
"After three months of sewing blanket after blanket, he told us we have one week, to sew the best blanket we could, and so we did." Said Artorias with a cold and dark voice to make his words be engraved in stone on Arya's mind. "After one week when the time he gave us had run out, Lord Gwyn started our next test. He threw us in the forest with no clothes at all and the only thing we had with us was the blankets we had sewed.
Our test was to survive an entire day in the forest against the cold. Tell me, Lady Arya, what do you think happened to those who didn't take their sewing lessons seriously.".
The silence of the girl was Artorias' answer, she didn't even need to make the useless question of how he passed his test. Truth be told Artorias was horrible on that lesson, unlike fighting with weapons he had no talent with the needle, and like many other things such as mounting war tents or building siege weapons, sewing was one of the abilities he became good at due to study, hard work and training, not talent.
The only reason Artorias didn't die was because of Ciaran, day and night she helped him, taught him so he could do well like her. And on the final week of their test, she showed how much trust she had in him and his abilities by changing her blanket with his without his consent and knowledge, and only told him after the test was complete.
Ciaran. just remembering the name of the Lord's Blade made Artorias sad, she was a good friend, every time he needed help she was there, she listened to him, offer her opinions to solve any problems he had and never did they have a conflict between them.
'It's over now, I decided to put duty above my feelings and will have to live with the consequences.'. Thought the knight, undecided if he made the right choice.
"If you really want to be a knight Lady Arya, you will go back to your lessons and seek me after you finish them, and only after you finish them, for a knight is honorable, responsible, and dutiful, if you can do you duties that your parents give you what makes you think you deserve to be a knight.". Said Artorias with a tone fit for an officer disciplining a soldier, not for educating a child.
"Yes, Ser Artorias.". Said Arya with a low bow of her head and leaving the knight alone with her father.
Lord Stark's face was a mix of anger and understanding, no father like to see their child being scolded by another person, but the lord inside of him knew his children need discipline and learn how the world works.
"I have to admit, only I and Jon ever managed that, and even then we need to bribe her with sweets.". Ned says with a small smile trying to vent over the tense humor the knight had created
"It is not a problem.".
"I would like to speak to you Ser.". Said Ned with his Lord of Winterfell voice not asking but ordering Artorias.
"I also need to speak with you, Lord Stark.". Said Artorias not moved by the Lord's words with indifference on his voice. "Is there a place where we will not be listened nor interrupted now that you children are occupying the godswood?".
"Follow me.".
Artorias followed the lord of Winterfell, there was a deadly silence in the air but the knight didn't feel uncomfortable, he always like the quiet, as long as there wasn't darkness covering everything around him.
They arrived in a place where the silence was even quieter than before, but just like the abyss, the darkness in this place concerned the abysswalker who had nothing but a torch of his own and Lord Stark's one to illuminate the place.
The place was full of statues, all of them but one were men posing with their hands on the crossguard of the sword they had and a direwolf at their side.
"A crypt.". Said Artorias devoid of emotion, he saw enough crypts on Lordran and had read enough about the North and Winterfell to know what this place is. "Where all the lords of Winterfell and Kings of the North whose name were Stark are buried.".
Ned simply nods and signs with his head for the knight to accompany him.
They walk together for a few seconds before they reach three specific statues.
"My father Rickard.". Said Eddard with a weak sadness in his voice that doesn't go unnoticed by the knight while closing his torch towards the face of the statue. "My Brother Brandon… My sister Lyanna.".
When approaching the torch towards the statue of Lyanna the lord of Winterfell leaves a blue rose on the feet of the statue and gives a quick sigh and sad look, almost as if he wanted to cry until his eyes dried.
Artorias looks at Ned's soul, but just as a formality, he saw enough of what lord Stark was showing to know what he is feeling in this moment.
"Do you know what hurts more than dragon fire?". Asked Artorias with a neutral voice and face, he knew Ned understand exactly what the knight was feeling right now just as the knight knew what Ned was feeling.
"No.". Ned Stark lied.
"Regret.". Artorias said to Ned, still maintaining his neutral behavior, he stops looking at the lord of Winterfell and looks at the statues of Rickard, Brandon, and stops at Lyanna. "A man suffering from regret can never feel the pain by the cut of a blade.".
"Do you have regrets, Ser Artorias?". Asked Ned with a sympathetic voice and look.
"I tried not to.". The knight responds not taking his eyes off the statue, there was something about it that was really making him scratch the insides of his head. "Life is short and you only live once. A life without regrets is a good life, so I try not to have them.".
"And what is the secret? please do tell.". Said Ned with a sad chuckle almost as if he was begging to a quick end to finish his misery.
"Don't try to think what could've been.". Said the knight moving his head to look at Ned in the eyes. "Accept the consequences of your choices, and never deny your actions for none but you, are responsible for them.".
For a whole minute, both men stay in the silence of the crypts, as if they wanted the statues to come to life and talk to them or the wind to be able to enter and extinguish the fire of their torches as a sign that the gods wanted this exchange to be over, anything would suffice.
"Why did you bring me here Lord Stark?". Asked Artorias finally being able to break the silence.
"I want you to stop looking for answers. It will bring nothing more than pain and suffering.". Said Ned Stark completely recomposed with a serious voice and frowning.
"For who?". Artorias asked with the same expression as the lord who tries to answer but Artorias is faster. "I told you secrets have consequences. If you want me to stop I will, but at this point, it doesn't matter anymore, I read all the books there are about the rebellion. Now is the part where I just need to use my head.".
"And what if I told you everything?". Asked Ned growing pale by the second and starting to sweat even with all the snow that has been falling outside and the frozen air the crypts have.
"I refuse.". Said Artorias with a sharp as steel voice. "If you tell me I would be honor-bound to keep this secret for it belongs to you and you only. If I find out by myself I won't be limited by oaths to keep it.".
Eddard was defeated, Artorias didn't need to look at his soul to see this.
The lord of Winterfell starts to walk with his head looking straight but his eyes were looking at nothing and he only recovers his senses when he stumbles on the stairs that lead to the exit, but before he walks away he gives Artorias one last look.
"I didn't lie when I told the truth would bring pain…". Said Ned with a tired voice. "Not only for me but for everyone. You said that you try to live without regrets, so I appeal to your honor that should you find your answers you keep them to yourself, if you don't all the pain will be on your head, and you won't be able to blame anyone but yourself for it was your decision, your action, and your responsibility.".
This time it was Artorias whose face had grown pale, more than already is. Ned Stark just made his own words turn back on him.
Artorias sunk on his thoughts. 'Why do care? It's not of my business, it has nothing to do with me, so why can't I ignore it and just let it go?'.
Artorias starts to think about the boy Jon Snow, both of them have never met their mothers but that's where their similarities ended. And even then, Artorias couldn't find answers to why he cared about the boy. He didn't want him to commit the same mistakes the knight did and Artorias knew that and even then, he wanted to help the boy even more and he doesn't know why.
Artorias starts to walk but suddenly stops after feeling something behind him. He turns around and sees a weak aura coming from one of the statues, like the dragon egg did the knight felt something pulling him towards it.
The statue was rusty and ugly, the face barely recognizable but like other it carries with it a sword and a direwolf, making Artorias wonder which Stark did have a direwolf and which didn't.
In front of the statue, he sees it belonged to Cregan Stark and that the weak aura was coming from inside of it. Looking at his left, right, and behind and seeing that no one is watching the knight opens the tomb and almost gasps at what he sees.
For some reason, Cregan Stark, the former lord of Winterfell, the Wolf of the North, and one of the main figures of the Dance decided to take this to his grave and with reason.
Artorias picks it up and put it on his bottomless box, he decided to ignore it for now and act as this had never happened. He closes the tomb carefully and walks away trying to maintain a calm and composed behavior, it would do no good to him for people to discover that not only he opened the tomb of one of the greatest figures in the history of Westeros, but also that he took something that was inside of it, and the last thing he needed was to talk with Eddard Stark why he had two dragon eggs with him.
Author notes: So, another chapter done, hope you enjoy it, only one more chapter before Robert's arrival, there Artorias will interact with Sansa and Arya more, to the displeasure of Catelyn.
I made Artorias dialogue a little close to the way the npcs' speak on the game, contact me via inbox if you want me to keep it or make him talk normaly.
If you are wondering what is missing for Artorias to figure it out the truth there are two things, one was shown in this chapter, the other will be shown in the next.
This story will also be published on AO3 when the next chapter comes out.
The poll on my profile about whether Jon should be a Targaryen or Blackfyre is closed, I will now create a new poll where you will decide Jon's name, so if you want to vote just go to my profile.
Thank you for reading, leave a review (please be polite if you didn't like it), follow, and favorite if you want, all support and feedback is appreciated.
English is not my first language.
Response to the reviews;
Gianfranco Cembran: Yes, Artorias has a big dragon egg.
Bobainox: I didn't put that option on my poll, my bad man.
Jack1nTheBox: Thank you for your vote. I mean, on the books I felt Rickon was smart for a three-year-old.
Emoryjmorrill: thank you for reading.
Kukuhimanpr: Well, all children want to do something that looks funny.
Binaryrecord274: Thank you for the feedback, I will try to increase the dialogue.
Jebest4781: Thank you for reading it.
Tankuser32: Yeah, but in the books, he kind of looked smart for his age, at least that's how I saw him.