273 AC

Chapter VII

Future. Present. Past.

Sharra

Sharra had always been fascinated by the geography and places of the known world. She had gotten to a point where she could recite every castle, town, and region in the Seven Kingdoms and beyond. Although, it disheartened her that she had never even visited any of the places her books described. She had been to Runestone, the seat of her family on her Royce side. She's even been to Gulltown once during her father's almost yearly visits to the Vale's only city. She remembered the sights of the streets flooded with merchants, peasants, and even minor noblemen. She took in the sounds of the handcarts being pushed, artisans plying their trade, and smiths molding both precious metals or strong metals. But not once did she stand on the molten seas and savage divides of Old Valyria. The Empire of Yi-Ti in Far Essos' golden lights and thousand year palaces didn't grace her eyes. And no matter how hard she imagined, Runestone could never hold a candle to the gloom of Asshai. One day, perhaps.

Sharra sat in her usual spot next to a window in the Eyrie's library. Since it was early in the afternoon, the natural light saved her the trouble of the lighting and upkeep of a candle. Sharra read about a region in the Vale known as the Fingers. It was a coast of peninsulas, extending into both the Narrow and Shivering seas. Two prominent castles in the region included Snakewood and Heart's Home. They both belonged to House Lynderly and House Corbray, respectively. The book she read mentioned one of the newer noble houses in the Fingers, with their seat at Midlor Point. It was named as such, because it was situated on the highest point on the middle most 'fingers'. The description of the castle made it seem less like a castle and more of just a singular tower. There were no mentions of intricate masonry for its defenses or surrounding infrastructure that served as the castle's income. The name of this House was House Baelish. She recognized the name, because her brother had befriended a boy bearing it, named Petyr. There was no mention of a House Baelish in Archmaester Arnel's chronicle Mountain and Vale. She assumed her brother's friend's house was established, although the newer chronicle of the Vale didn't expand upon the House's origins.

Sharra shut the book when she got to the parts that she had already read previously in other books. Namely, the sections about the Worthless War. She had read about the conflict between the Kings of Winter and the Kings of the Mountain over the three sisters countless times in other books. She didn't need another refresher on an utterly pointless conflict over an insignificant region. Sharra sighed. The new Maester Colemon had been more eager to provide her new books to read, but even those had begun to run out. She had already read most of the books in the library two times over. Her mother teased that she should study at the citadel with the amount of time she spent lost in the written word.

She got up from her seat and tried to look at the shelves for a book she may have missed. It took a little bit and some of the high shelves required her to use a contraption Colemon made to climb the shelves. She wasn't short for a girl of fourteen, but she certainly wasn't tall either. She needed all the help she could get to reach books on the taller shelves.

After scouring the shelves for what seemed like an eternity, there was a red book that seemed to have escaped her notice. She never noticed it on the shelves before, so she assumed it was brought there by Maester Colemon sometime. That or it escaped her notice. She preferred to think that was not the case.

She climbed up the contraption Maester Colemon created so she could reach the red book. The red book was light and not very large. It could have been mistaken for someone's journal with how small it was. She climbed down the contraption and took the book back to her usual spot in the library. When she sat down, she looked at the front cover of the book for its name or who the book had been written by. She was disappointed to find no such markings indicating this. Strange given that almost all of the books she found in the library. The last time this happened, she had accidentally stumbled across Ned Stark's journal. She had in fact managed to accidentally stumbled across both her father's wards journals, finding Ned's tucked inside a book about hunting and Robert's lying around in the Great Hall.

While Ned's journal had musings, thoughts and feelings about his current life, Robert's devolved into detailed records about the 'beauty' of 'young ladies of the Eyrie'. This included servants, serving girls, her mother's ladies in waiting, and much to her dismay, her. She left that journal where she had found it and never brought it up to Robert. She didn't know whether to feel flattered about being called 'the greatest prize of the Eyrie'. But Robert was a young man now, he had the reason to feel that way about girls her age. It didn't make her any less uncomfortable about the vivid descriptions he made about her and several others. Robert had a surprisingly good vocabulary when it came to describing them, however. It would have impressed her if the subject material hadn't been what it was.

Removing the thoughts of Robert's journal from her mind, Sharra opened up the small book and began reading from it.

Legends tell of a hero, sent to save us from Darkness. Born upon a bleeding star. He would be born amongst salt and smoke. He will be the last hero to banish the forces of the night back. For when the sun is blocked by winter's clouds and the Others reave the land as a blight, he will rise to shine bright. For his is the song of ice and fire, he is the prince that was promised. He will take the mantle of a warrior, a sword to bring the light. And when he arrives as he soon shall, he forever banishes the threat of the Long Night.

Those words were then followed by illustrations, all drawn in red. The words were also written in red. The illustrations were varied. They were various animals. The one's Sharra recognized were a dragon, a stag, a falcon, and a wolf. They were eerily similar to illustrations to the major noble houses. The dragon especially had three heads like one of the current royals House Targaryen. The stag stood tall on its hindlegs like her friend, Robert's house. The falcon stood proudly like her own house, while the wolf was probably as large enough to be a direwolf. Interestingly, there was also an illustration of a sun and a rose, as she continued flipping through the small book. Then there were more words written in red on the final pages.

But before the time of the prince there shall be war amongst the powerful. A great storm will rage with all its fury against a great fire in the mountains for its fairest flower. From this comes a secret kept between the falcon and one with fiery eyes. As rivals given common cause from an unlikely love. It will be a song of falcons, wolves, lions, and a great fish. But whether they triumph over the drowned kraken and the sun over a rosy garden…

The writing became illegible after that line. Sharra searched for whether the book continued further. She was ashamed that it didn't and the book just ended there. She had vaguely remembered both Maester Corwyn, may the gods rest his soul, and Maester Colemon mention something about the prince that was promised. It was a common prophecy that was often told to many. Sharra had recently picked up an interest in such prophecies, trying to learn as much as she can from them. However, she did not know why this one seemed to interest her as much as it did. The illustrations also fascinated her, making her want to know who wrote the book.

The illustrations and the prophecy about the Prince that was Promised are not the most intriguing about the book, however. Her attention turned to the last words she had read from the book. A war amongst the powerful sounded like a civil war. Especially with the young stag and young dragon line that preceded it. A secret kept between the falcon and one with fiery eyes also intrigued her. She could take this literally like a civil war was brewing, but the realm seemed relatively peaceful. Or it could be a figurative battle. These types of prophecy usually didn't specify making it hard to truly decipher. She never yielded in regards to solving these things however, though she would have no way of knowing. She just had to let time pass, and watch for the signs of the prophecies' fruits.

"I knew I'd find you here, Sharra," a loud voice declared, startling her from the red book. Robert Baratheon, her fathers ward and one of the few people she called friend. He had grown much taller now, since the time they had met. He had black hair and blue eyes like the drops of rain in a storm. Sharra admitted her friend's well muscled physique was also quite pleasing to see, even when wearing what amounted to daily garb. It was hard to imagine that the tall heir of House Baratheon is actually a year her junior.

"Gods Robert, you startled me," Sharra said looking at him.

"I didn't mean to interrupt whatever you were reading, but you promised we'd walk the gardens today," She had almost forgotten she promised to do that when he invited her for a walk to the gardens passing her on her way to one of her stitching lessons.

"Pardon me, I lost track of time. Shall we be off then?" Robert nodded, eager to leave the library. Sharra looked back and tried to bring the book with her. But it was nowhere to be found where she had left it. Had she imagined the book and its contents? Nonsense. It must have just fallen somewhere and I just can't find it.


The gardens of the Eyrie were a familiar place for Sharra. It was where they used to play when they were much younger. Not that Sharra had an aptitude for play to begin with, but memories of the silly games still played in her head as she walked past. All those days they would pretend they were knights, ladies, and heroes. Most of them now thought they were men and women fully grown, no more room left for silly games. They now walked the gardens with servants looking on, because there was now concern that they would play other games now that they were older.

"I envy your brother, Jonos. I hear of his exploits in squiring for Ser Brynden. No offense, but tournaments in the Vale, or at least the ones I've been to with your father, are not as grand as the one's in the south, " Robert said as they continued down a stone path in the garden.

"No offense taken, Robert," Sharra told him smiling, "But it's true, I hope he may visit us soon."

"Part of me wants to be there with him. I haven't seen him in five years, I was barely eight when I last saw him," Robert began, "Not that I don't enjoy your company, Sharra. But Ned, Denys and Elbert, while enjoyable company, aren't exactly the most exciting people to be around." Robert had been a squire for her father, along with the others he mentioned. Interestingly enough, Ned was also one of the only people outside her family she was relatively close to. At least ones she wasn't forced to interact with such as her mother's ladies in waiting, who she kept cordial relations with. However, she didn't interact with him as much as she did Robert. Although it was probably because Robert was more bold.

They reached one of the overlooks to one of the other parts of the garden. There were no children running around, but the groundskeepers were hard at work tending to the garden.

"I remember we used to play here when we were younger," Robert reminisced, "I would say nothing changed much, but we've grown. You've grown. It seemed like only yesterday you were that skinny girl I would carry around to try to save from bandits." Sharra knew he was referencing her growth in other areas as well. Although she still had a relatively slim frame, she wasn't as skinny as she was as a child. Her body had begun to fill in other areas, not to mention her further developing facial features. She need only remember the comments Robert made about it in his 'journal' to find out about 'her blossoming into a fair mountain flower' as he described it.

"And it seemed like only yesterday you were a lumbering oaf that ran into me when I was visiting my father," Robert smiled.

"Maybe, I wanted to run into you. Seven hells it took almost four years before you would even walk with me like this. I had to make an impression somehow," There was an awkward silence exchanged by the two. But Robert being Robert eventually spoke up to break it.

"You know it is not too long till we both come of age. We have to look toward the future,`` he declared. Robert didn't seem like the person to plan far into the future. It was a trait he shared with Jonos. The two lived in the here and now. It could be seen as shortsightedness or simply a focus unrivaled between the two.

"Indeed. But you of all people are the last I would think of that would think too far ahead," Sharra replied.

"I was just thinking about it. You know time will come when we both have to do our duty to our house," Robert explained. Sharra immediately knew what he meant. Of all the things Robert would think about in the future, that was certainly one of them.

"You refer to marriage then? It is true that we are not far off from part of our lives," It was something nobles had to do. In the end, Sharra knew she was a tool used for maneuvering in the political landscape. Marriage wasn't exactly a tool for love. It was a tool to secure profitable alliances among houses. Bound together in blood.

"It got me pondering, if our paths cross in such a way. I mean have you at least thought about that?" This question came out of nowhere for Sharra. She had known Robert for a while now, and they were good friends. But what he was suggesting seemed to be marriage between them. Though it was a possibility now that Sharra thought about it deeper. Robert was heir to Storm's End and the Stormlands. It was certainly far from the Vale, and while Sharra thought it would be more pragmatic to marry her to a bannerman if she were father, an alliance between two established bloodlines would be powerful.

"As in you and I in marriage? Who knows what the future may hold for us, Robert," Sharra started. She couldn't really read the expression on his face, which was odd given how forward Robert was most of the time, "Though it would be nice to marry someone I knew and trusted. I would prefer not to marry a stranger. I could do a lot worse than you," Although in that regard I may have doubts on whether Robert would stay true to my bed, but we all have our shortcomings. He was a man after all.

"My thoughts were the same. If I were to marry someone, I'd rather be close to her and her family. But let's not trouble ourselves with that, sorry I brought it up," Robert returned to his normal self, albeit with a hint of a smile on his face. Sharra just shrugged it off, but it was indeed indicative of the part of life they both lived in now.

"Robert. I'd hate to interrupt, but Lord Jon has returned from Gulltown." Sharra had not even noticed Ned Stark. They nodded to each other to acknowledge each other's presence. The other thing that surprised her was her fathers return.

"By the Seven, I haven't been upkeeping the stables like I should have been. Pardons, Sharra I must leave to do that," Robert managed to say.

"I must see my father anyway, I quite enjoyed the walk however, Robert,"

"We shall do it again soon, however duty calls," Robert and Ned excused themselves and they went their separate ways. Robert looked back at her as he left, and muttered something to Ned as he left.


Sharra quickly arrived at Crescent chamber, where she knew her father would be arriving. She was joined by her mother with her younger brother, Darnold in tow. He was seven and was at the age of fosterage. Darnold was often seen with his mother, but performed his duties as well. If he was not seen with his mother, Sharra usually watched over him. Unlike her twin, Jonos, Darnold wasn't exactly a playful child. He preferred to keep to himself than the others in the Eyrie his age. When Sharra watched over him, Darnold would try to keep conversation with her, but she could tell it was because he had nothing else to do. But Sharra cherished her time with him, as she knew he would be fostered somewhere soon. However, she doubted he would adjust to wherever he would go as well as Jonos did to Riverrun.

"Enjoy your walk with Robert, dear?" Her mother asked her. Sharra flushed a little, but she wasn't surprised her mother knew of more frequent interactions with Robert.

"Yes mother, I did."

"It's good that you at least talk to others outside the family now. When you were younger, you wouldn't even do that," Sharra was still incredibly suspicious of those unfamiliar to her. But she had learned to at least try to get to know other people outside of her family, evidenced by her interactions with her fathers wards. She still preferred the solitude of her place in the library, however. Darnold wedged himself in between the two of them. Sharra simply ruffled the young boy's hair. Darnold, while still possessing the eyes that Jon Arryn's children have become known for, borrowed more features from their mother, Jeyne. His features reassembled the bronze kings of old, even his hair colour was more of a darker shade of blond than her own. The strong jawline, his rugged profile much less aquiline than his siblings.

Eventually, Jon and his brother, Ronnel arrived with their retinue. Surprisingly, they were clad in chainmail riding garb, which meant that they must have experienced resistance or at least a threat of resistance on their way to the Eyrie.

"You are all a welcome sight," Her father declared, kissing her mother and giving her a firm hug. He bent down to greet his younger brother, Darnold who seemed pleased his father had returned.

"How was Gulltown father," Her father's face immediately dropped at the mention of the city.

"Oh don't get your father started, dear niece," Her uncle, Ronnel replied.

"The Black ears and the Stone Crows are massing to threaten Gulltown. Their warriors have assembled into a horde, and Gulltown is preparing for the worst," Her father explained. Those were two of the biggest mountain clans in the Vale. According to Archmaester Arnel, these Vale clansmen were barbarous savages, who pillaged and refused to accept the ways of civility in the Vale. They were the remnants of the First Men that inhabited the Vale before her ancestors the Andals and Artys Arryn defeated them at Seven Stars. Unlike the mountain clans of the North, these clansmen acted more like the wildlings beyond the wall than any other entity in Westeros.

"Will you be leaving us again, husband?" Her mother asked her father. Jon shook his head.

"They number close to two thousand, Ronnel will be leaving with some the some three thousand retinue we have in the Eyrie, the Gates of the Moon and its surrounding area. He will take care of it," Her father explained, "Besides, I'm far too old now to be getting into petty skirmishes with mountain clans." Sharra couldn't deny her father was aging. He was pragmatic and knew his presence in such a skirmish wasn't necessary.

"I'm sure you are tired from all of it, husband. Shall I get the cooks to prepare you a meal?" Her mother suggested.

"Unfortunately, dear. I might have some more work to do first," He began to say, "There's going to be an anniversary tournament later on in the year to celebrate our king's tenth year. I have to get affairs in the Vale in order, as we prepare to travel. Once these mountain clansmen are dealt with, I must make sure the Vale continues to prosper while we are away in King's Landing."

Sharra hadn't been to King's Landing or anywhere outside the Vale for that matter. It sort of made her perk up at the thought of finally leaving the familiar sights of the Vale and the Eyrie.

"You work hard, my love. The Vale is in good hands," Her mother declared. Her father nodded.

"I promised my father on his deathbed that I would not let his hard work go to waste. Expanding upon what he built has always been my goal," Her father excused himself but turned to Sharra before he and her uncle started for his study, "My ward, Robert, has been asking of you of late. I've heard you've been spending more time with him."

Sharra nodded to her father. Though she couldn't quite understand what 'asking of you' meant. It could mean many things, and now that she thought about it, Robert bringing up the topic of betrothal and marriage made more sense.

"I received my first suitors at your age, Sharra. Much to the annoyance of your father," Her mother stated, "Girls far younger than you are even formally betrothed by now." The same thing could be said about Jonos, but Sharra felt her father kept them free to make the best decision about their future. Their father wasn't one to make those kinds of commitments on a whim or impulsive.

"I promised your mother to not ignore your feelings in these matters. Though I know the value of alliances, I will not force you into something you are unhappy with. That being said, multiple Lords have written to me about your hand for themselves or for a member of their family. I fear I cannot delay the inevitable for long," Sharra simply nodded and her father excused herself. Her mother invited Sharra to join them in the dining hall for a meal, and Sharra accepted. She wanted to go back to the library, but her brother eventually pulled her to join her mother in a meal. She realized it was almost dusk, wondering how long she actually spent talking with Robert in the garden.

Throughout the meal, thoughts swirled around in her head about her future. She was not going to be a child for much longer as she would come of age in the coming years. As much as she wanted to lock herself in the company of her books, she had to fulfill her duty as a member of her House as her siblings would eventually do as well. As she ate, she saw Darnold, and still pondered about the man he would become. She's always had these thoughts about him even when she was a young girl and he was a babe. And all the prophecies she read in the red book only fed her hunger for what lay ahead. Things were so quickly changing around Sharra, and in truth she knew nothing ever stayed the same. The only thing certain was the inevitably of change and the march of time that fueled it.


A/N: Hello everyone. Thank you all for reading the previous chapters and all the reviews have been read. This chapter is Sharra's second POV with her last one being six years ago. Like I said, this is one of the first female OCs I have written and her story arc is very complex, especially since she has ties and bonds with many important characters. I hope that I portrayed her in a positive light and you enjoy her chapter. Keep in mind, I framed their conversation in a way that makes it realistic to like a high school age sepak, and other things. However, I hope Sharra's POV doesnt sound to unrealistic as I have never been a fourteen year old girl. I hope the polish and the grammar is good too as I did not have much time to type this weekend. I wanted to make sure to get a chapter out. However, I also had a few things I had in the chapter such as the prophecy and the Prince that Was Promised with a Red Book plot device. I tried to not make it this way, but I really was strapped for time so I hope it isnt too immersion breaking. The next chapter will come Friday and it will be shown in Roberts POV, when he fights the Vale Mountain Clans man. Thank you and Enjoy. I will see you on Friday.