Chapter 3 - Meeting a king
It's cold. That is the best way to describe the north. Initially I had flown much too far, before learning (by visiting various taverns), that King Stark was in a city called Riverrun. It was easy to find, I just had to follow the Redfork river until it split in two. I was there before two days had passed, and wondered how I might best contact this King in the north. It was still dark when I arrived, but thanks to my ability to look through Ragni's eyes, it might as well have been daylight.
This was the first castle I had ever seen. I read about them before of course, and frowned my nose and laughed at the concept at the time, but now seeing one, although it looked shabby, I couldn't help but acknowledge the pride and might it signified. It was useless against an airborn attack though, no wonder Aegon I had little trouble conquering this place. Still, against men on the ground it was pretty effective.
I had Ragni fly over the castle as quietly as possible, and right over one of the prominent roofs, I jumped of and cast a floating spell on myself. I slowly drifted down and landed outside what I presumed to be the kings room. Looking through the window I saw a young man, not much older than myself, brooding over a stack of papers by several candle lights.
From what I could gather, the war that had once been very successful for him, was turning rather sour. Marrying a commoner didn't go well for him. Though it is hard to judge, based on rumor alone. I watch for few minutes deciding what to do, before he suddenly stands up, blows out the candles, and walks to a bed in the room. A woman is sleeping in the bed, that would presumably be said wife of his.
A plan forms in my head, and I mumble a few magic words under my breath. I cast a spell at the window, turning the lock to fine dust, then I silence everything within feet of myself, and I draw the nearby darkness to me. Slowly I open the now "unlocked" window and step into the room, closing it behind me. I walk up to his desk slowly and take his quill and paper and write a note:
Please do not see this as a threat, I assure you that I have no malicious intentions. I merely wish that we could have a meeting in private. Tomorrow evening at sunset I request you would take a walk in the forest to the north, whereas we might talk. I think I can assist your cause greatly, though I would advise you to keep this a secret for now.
Satisfied, I very gently suspended the note in the air a few inches above his head, and left the way I came in. Ragni landed in a meadow in the forest, as gently as possible but he still made a loud "thump". I set up a makeshift camp using stuff I had in my bag and Ragni's wing as a roof. Here we both slept for the night and most of the following day.
Since I would have to reveal my origin anyway, I might as well drop the disguise. I put on my finest spellforged armor, my beautifully ornamented, enchanted sword and my other various pretty magical artifacts. I had learned that our spellforged steel was referred to as Valyrian steel, however, I had not heard of anyone finding a true enchanted sword. I held my vectium in my right hand, and released the dimming spell on my eyes, finally I was ready to go.
I had not read anything about the existence of a vectium either. A vectium might be what myth refers to as a wizards staff. It is a tool that amplifies magical energy and transforms it into a frequency and type that suit the spell you are casting. An example would be if I should attempt to cast a simple illumination spell. I would need to convert the magic energy into a very low and stable frequency, while also changing it into the lux element. If it was a fireball I would want a very high and volatile frequency, while using the igni element. These however, where well-kept Valyrian secrets so it was no wonder, the world had no knowledge of it.
The exact meeting point would have to be up to my guest, I would follow him from the air until I saw a suitable stop in his path, then I would draw him in. I flew over the edge of the forest as it was about time, and as if on queue, young king Robb stood at the edge arguing with a red headed, slightly older woman… his mother? "I see" I said to myself, "it seems he didn't take my advice to remain discreet". After a while though he released himself from her, and started trotting into the forest.
It didn't take long for me to pick a spot. I landed Ragni and drew on the darkness around to cover him. Now he looked like an enormous smudge of shadows behind me. You could see that there was something but definitely not what it was. I marveled at how useful journeyman magic was. These small tricks I once thought beneath me, proved remarkably helpful. As I figured he was drawing closer, I started sending out small flashes of light. Not overly bright, but sharp enough to be seen. And not long after, a figure stepped through the bushes.
He didn't seem startled when he approached, but he did look rather unnerved by the object in my hand and my general attire.
In an annoyed tone and northern accent, he started the conversation: "So, I got your message. Who are you, and what do you want?"
I tilted my head slightly, as I answered: "My name is Aerios Batorian, and I want to help you."
The king clicked his tongue: "In the north, we call words like that horseshit. If you can help me tell me how, and what you want in return, but first I want to know who you are!"
It seemed the young king didn't mince his words. Good.
"I doubt I could convince you to believe me, even should I tell the truth, so for simplicities sake, let us say this. I am a man like Aegon Targaryan. I want to rule this continent and everyone in it. I think you can help with that."
Anger burning in his voice the king replied. "You are crazy. I don't know how you got into the castle, and did those things in my chamber, but I am tired and have wasted enough time. Say what you have to say sorcerer, and be on your way"
I changed the tone of my voice to a more neutral version an asked:
"Alright, let me ask you a few questions then. How come you are king in the north? Just because Joffery killed your father, doesn't make you king. What gave you that right to suddenly declare yourself a monarch?"
He answered with disdain at the accusation: "I am king because the south no longer has a say in what happens in the north. Why should we listen to what some boy born of incest tells us to do, when he has nothing to do with us down here. We bowed in the past only to the dragons and they are gone now. I am king, because I am already at war with those that say I am not."
I gave him an amused look, "I agree, so why can't I be king. I think I would be a better ruler than Joffery, and I think the crown would consider me an enemy no matter what I did. If you can be king can't I?"
He looked at me utterly irritated and as if he was wondering to himself why he bothered answering
"Because you don't have a claim and I do! Because you don't have an army and I do! You don't even have any land of your own, or I would know of you. Everything it takes to be a king, you have none of it. Did you think you could show up with your fancy clothes and your fancy tricks and the people would just make you a king! "
I answered with a neutral tone: "True, I do not have a claim, true, I do not have an army, but Aegon had no claim and hardly an army either. He was a foreigner like myself and he conquered seven kingdoms, so why can I-"
"BUT!" The young king interrupted me, raising his voice, "Aegon Targaryan had dragons! So unless you can make a dragon appear with one of your tricks, then this discussion has no purpose, now say something of use otherwise I will leave. Do not think because I was desperate enough to meet you, that I have any time to waste." Exasperated the king shook his head, as if having argued with a child.
A very uncomfortable silence descended into the clearing as I answered in a low tone "I am sorry, I cannot make a dragon with magic. But… " I said, stopping mid-sentence.
The shadows behind me slowly started lifting. The king slowly looked up, and found a massive black head, with two glowing orange eyes staring at him in the dark. A stare that could cause a weaker man to faint on the spot. Slowly the brave king in the north started trembling as he realized what was standing in front of him. A low but very deep growl could be heard from the beast, as he staggered backwards.
"I don't think I need to". I finished.
The proud young king from before was gone, left was a trembling young man in his stead.
"What do you want?" He asked, fear dripping from every word.
I tilted my head in puzzlement "I told you, I want to rule the seven kingdoms. I want to sit on the iron throne, as you call it".
He looked at me, hopelessness growing in his eyes.
"What does that have to do with us? I cannot give you the throne."
"It has everything to do with you."
I walked over and put a hand on his shoulder.
"I promise you, he will not do anything I do not command him to." I looked at my dragon and said firmly "Ragni, lay down".
The massive beast folded its wings and curled around itself.
"See? No need to worry. I am not your enemy. I merely have a proposition I think you might be interested in. "
Ragni laying down seemed to have visibly calmed him down, and he spoke:
"With that thing, I imagine the world is in your yours for the taking anyway, what do you need me for?"
"You are wrong. I am one man, even if a dragon lord, how am I supposed to conquer anything if I do now have men on the ground to help me? Even if a turned an opposing army to ash, what good would it do me if I didn't have troops to help me hold the land? That is why I need you Robb Stark. I want you to be that army. You said you bowed to the dragons before, could you not do it again?"
I waited for a while for the boy to answer. Obviously he was overwhelmed by what had happened, and I certainly did not blame him. After a long while, he cleared his throat and said:
"Might I ask you, when you say you want the iron throne, does that include all seven kingdoms?"
I narrowed my eyes and answered:
"If I said yes, would that pose a problem?"
He sighed and looked down on his feet.
"Aye, it would. Although I am king, it was my men that declared it so, not me. I doubt they will accept these news lightly. But I will do what I must to avoid facing destruction. I know I have asked you already, but could you tell me who you are… please".
"Alright", I answered lightly, smiling at the implication. "Do you know of a place called Valyria."
"I do."
"Good. Then do you know what happened there?"
"Aye, the doom of Valyria. But that was a long time ago"
"It seems so. Nothing survived the eruption of the 14 flames, but I managed to react before the doom took place and I was hidden away. Although more than 400 years have passed out here, I woke up no more than a week ago, finding myself in the ruins of what was once my home."
He looked at me with disbelief and muttered to himself "that makes no sense" not expecting me to hear it. I answered it though.
"What do you know, of what does and doesn't make sense? You have no clue as to the limitations of magic. I find it hard to understand, that you would believe a city the size of a country was destroyed by magic over night, but that I cannot have survived it with magic?"
He started as he straightened his back unknowingly "I apologize. Might I ask, what will you do next?"
"Tomorrow I would like you to arrange for a private meeting with you and all your lords. You will convince them to break camp and get the men ready. We will then march south with the entire army in one unit, to meet the Lannister army in the open. They seem to have a massive numerical advantage, so they will surely welcome the direct confrontation. You will have to be pervasive because, the existence of Ragnirion will remain a secret. Find a huge, open field for the battle. It doesn't matter if they have the advantage of the terrain, so long that they cannot easily retreat into a tree line. At the moment everyone is ready to charge, I will unleash the might of a true Valyrian dragon and crush them so soundly that any notion of resistance will disappear. I think by far, that would be the most effective method, don't you agree?"
The young king hesitated before answering me "Yes." Reluctance staining the word.
I gave him a well-practiced disapproving look; one I had given to my subordinates many times in the past.
"If this is not to your liking then simply say so and it will be as if I was never here. A pact like this has to be mutual and you seem very reluctant. If you say no then I shall simply visit the next candidate for my campaign, which would be the Tyrell family. I am sure they would be more than happy to give me the men. I understand your misgivings about this. Thousands will burn alive but this is war, boy. Men die. After I soften up the troops you will attack. This will end the war quickly and secure the grip of my rule long term. Now, do you accept the task before you?"
"As you wish… Your grace."