Valyrian Steel
Chapter 18
Aegon VI
Aegon was waiting for the host from the Vale to arrive with Daenerys. The Whispers were a ruin overtaken by forest sitting over a cliff. The locals believed it to be haunted and Aegon could see why. The fog would roll in during the early morning holding strong till the sun was high, until it rolled back after sunset. The wind would howl through the trees and abandoned buildings, occasionally it sounded as a cacophony of whispers all around him. Some Crabb lord had beheaded hundreds of enemies, his sorceress wife would revive the heads to give him counsel. The Dothraki set up camp before their arrival and used the crumble remains of the keep as a base. When Aegon wondered by the wierwood trees last night he found his horse, Mirage, tied to the base of the tree with a note attached. Cat thanked him with her messy hand writing and told him that she would soon return to fulfill her promise.
Aegon had hoped that the strange girl would return sooner, Daenerys had assured him that Cat would help immensely with Rhaegal, he was getting impatient to ride his dragon. All talk of his legitimacy would cease and he would be Daenerys' equal. She had already begun to open up to him in light of the moot and agreed to present a united front. Houses from the Riverlands and the North had been arriving for a little over a week, each waiting for the appearance of the Stark girls and all in awe of dragons. House Frey had sent a missive offering to bend the knee in return for full control of the Riverlands. Daenerys eyes had gone cold, she told the messengers to leave before she decided to feed them to Drogon. House Frey would burn, on that she would not budge.
Brynden Tully arrived a few days ago accompanied by the Brotherhood without Banners, a knight with a bull head helm, and a veiled woman. None bended the knee but Daenerys had seemed unaffected, greeting them all kindly and offering them safety and friendship. When Aegon asked why she was not offended, as he was, when they did not show deference she responded calmly.
"After the Red Wedding they are slow to trust, they bowed their heads and this is enough. The Northern lords will not even do this. They were slow to trust before, they will be belligerent, prepare yourself and still any rage that may arise. They will follow the Starks and the Starks will follow us. This is all that matters."
Brynden Tully was amiable, at least more so than his companions who spoke little or not at all. The veiled lady only whispered to other members of their party and the knight scowled and scanned the faces in the crowd. Jon Connington told Aegon to keep his distance from the knight and glared at him during their meals together. Selmy said it was because the man looked like a young Robert Baratheon and Connington had never liked the man. Ser Gendry Waters of Horn Hill was undoubtedly one of the few remaining bastards of the usurper. Connington wanted to have him removed but Daenerys rejected this request when Brynden told her that he was a friend of Arya Stark.
A horn sounded alerting him to the arrival of the Arryns and drawing Aegons thoughts from the past to the present. Brynden Tully was there awaiting his nieces arrival, along with ser Gendry, Willas, Tyrion, and ser Barristan Selmy. Sansa Arryn arrived with her husband Harrold Arryn and a host of knights. The Lady Arryn was a beauty, long auburn hair and blue eyes set on a fine face with high cheekbones. Her husband was handsome with sandy blonde hair, deep blue eyes, strong jaw and straight nose. For a moment Aegon was reminded of one of his favorite childhood books. Wylla would sit him on her lap and read from a book of Knightly tales, the Arryns looked as if they had stepped forth from the pages of that book.
Lord Arryn helped his wife dismount and it was obvious that the couple was in love, a luxury rarely afforded to the noble class. They approached the dais and bowed. Brynden Tully rushed them lifted Sansa up in the air and spun her about with a great laugh. "You have your mother's look about you girl." He grinned shaking Harrold Arryns hand and pulling him in for a bear hug. The couple looked surprised until the man introduced himself and the Lady Arryn smiled sweetly at her uncle.
"I was supposed to marry her, years ago." Willas said softly behind him. Aegon turned and saw a far off look in his eyes. "My loss."
"I did marry her." Tyrion said with a smile and walked forward "Sweet Sansa, it's a pleasure to see you again."
Sansa smiled genuinely and rushed towards Tyrion, "Lord Tyrion, the pleasure is mine." She said sweetly as she gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek.
Tyrion laughed, "Sorry our marriage did not work out, would you like to meet my wife later."
"You have married again?" Sansa asked in confusion.
"No, my first wife. Your sister helped me find her." This comment made Sansa clutch at his hands. "She is well? Is she here?"
Daenerys stood from her seat and walked forward. "Your sister will join us as soon as the Lords of the North have arrived, she is hunting with Nymeria. For now we ask that you and your husband join us to feast your arrival."
"Of course, first we must see to our men. My wife is weary from the ride, we took few breaks." Harrold answered on behalf of his wife.
"My wife and child will be present, they hope to meet you. Especially my daughter Lanna, she met your sister in Braavos many years ago and they have stayed friends." Tyrion added.
"I pray to meet her soon." Sansa bowed gracefully to the court and left on the arm of her husband.
"At least they bowed," Willas said beside Aegon. Daenerys shook her head, "Sansa will not yield until her sister arrives, she uses her courtesies to disarm us." Daenerys left to ride her dragon and Aegon walked the camp. He noticed Ser Gendry going towards the forge which had been recently fed and asking one of the smiths for something. Aegon approached wondering what the son of the Usurper was like. The son of the man who killed Aegons father and drove him from his home. Connington would not like it, but Aegon was curious.
"New armor?" he asked congenially.
Ser Gendry looked up and bowed stiffly, "No, something else." Aegon raised his eyebrow but Gendry offered nothing else.
"That is a fine helm, may I ask who made it." Aegon said admiring the craftsmanship and ignoring the man's silence.
"I made it."
"A smith" Aegon said in surprise. "A skilled smith, I would not expect that of a Baratheon."
"I am no Baratheon?" He said gruffly.
"I could make you one if you wanted." Aegon added gauging his face for his reaction.
"I am no lord, and I don't want to be one. Excuse me." He said gruffly clutching his fist and storming off.
"Ours is the Fury indeed." Aegon said as he walked away.
)O(
During that week several more houses arrived to pledge their fealty or to await the arrival of Arya. House Manderly, Glover, Forrester and Mormont arrived and greeted the Lady Arryn. In the early morning the Skagossi arrived with a call of their unicorn horn. They descended dressed in furs and painted in blood with a boy of ten or twelve leading them astride a giant black direwolf. Rickon Stark was alive and approached them without a hint of fear in his young eyes his hands on his hatchet. Daenerys was the first to step forward with a bright smile.
"Your sisters will be pleased to see you." She said gently to the boy who looked at everyone with suspicion.
Sansa burst through the crowd crying out for her brother and plucking him from his wolfs' back. She clutched to him sobbing and kissing his cheeks. The lady Arryn had been cordial but restrained for weeks, had devolved into a sobbing girl who had just recovered a shard of the family she had lost. The boy seemed confused at first but he gripped his sister and his wolf approached licking her face.
House Stane and Magnar bowed their heads but treated everyone with suspicion when Arya could not be produced. Sansa greeted them all politely and kissed each man on the cheek thanking them for looking after her brother. Harrold greeted Rickon with an overly serious handshake and introduced himself as her husband. The boy looked towards his sister and asked her if she wanted him to kill her husband. The whole court looked on in shock as his sister tried to convince him that she married her husband willingly, that she loved him and that she did not wish him dead. After Rickon was convinced he slashed at his hand and held it out to a still shocked Harrold Arryn.
"Blood bond." He stated simply and a tall woman beside him motioned for Lord Arryn to copy the boy. They shook hands and Rickon greeted his brother-in-law as family.
"The boy is obviously wild," Tyrion observed. "The Northerners will see that he is little more than a wildling. They will not like this. Sansa is too Southern and Rickon is too wild. Arya should hurry."
Willas and the rest agreed. Later on that night Aegon observed ser Gendry and Blackfish Tully leading Sansa and Rickon to the Tully tent. He watched curiously as they entered, the wolf lingered for a moment and turned towards them, his green eyes glowed in the darkness and he growled. Aegon was reminded of Rhaegal and wondered at how a child could control such a beast. The Direwolf entered and a scream came from the tent. Aegon and Duck rushed forwards but Ser Gendry blocked their path.
"Stand aside," Aegon commanded, but the knight would not budge. "Family matter, not your concern." He muttered.
Aegon felt his rage rise and reached for his blade when Sansa appeared, "Apologies prince Aegon, Shaggy-dog just got a little excited." She said pale faced. "My uncle instructed ser Gendry to guard the entrance, he is just following orders."
Gendry seemed to clench his jaw at the last comment but nodded his head stiffly. Aegon did not wish to leave the Lady Arryn when she looked so distressed but he backed away once Black Fish and Rickon appeared to wave him off. Nevertheless Aegon waited across the way and watched the tent until Lady Arryn rushed out in obvious distress. When Aegon approached she curtsied towards him and mumbled the same weak excuse as before. Her husband approached and led his wife away thanking Aegon for his concern once Sansa assured Harrold that she was fine.
Aegon stationed a few of his own men to guard the tent and report back to him once Rickon exited. They did not report his exit until late into the morning stating that the boy seemed happy and not at all disturbed by whatever scared his sister. They also reported seeing Missandei and Grey Worm leave camp with a large pack. Aegon would have investigated the matter further but he was told that Jon Snow had arrived and he soon forgot about what was in the tent.
Aegon rushed towards the docks hoping that he would find his brother before Daenerys. He did, but not before Tyrion greeted Jon Snow like an old friend. Jon did not look a bit like a Targaryen, fortunate for him since the Usurper would have had him killed. He looked every bit like a stark with his dark brown hair and grey eyes, there were scars across his eyes and he had a solemn face.
"Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, big accomplishment for a bastard from the North."
"And Lord Paramount of the West isn't for a dwarf?" Jon said with a small smile
"We'll have to wait till the dragons take their throne." Tyrion replied waving away any concern.
Aegon nervously stepped forward to greet him but stopped when a direwolf silently sniffed his hands.
"Ghost here," Jon called and the monstrously large wolf obeyed.
Jon bowed awkwardly towards Aegon who greeted him with a smile. "Lord Commander we we're not sure if you would come."
"My sister is here, I would not miss this for the world. I do have some things to discuss with you in private."
Aegon felt some hope that perhaps Jon already knew of his lineage, but then why would he call Sansa his sister? Out of nowhere Rickon Stark launched himself at Jon with a happy cry while his wolf rolled around on the floor with Ghost.
"Jon! I'm a man now" Rickon exclaimed proudly as Jon mussed his hair with a bright smile.
"Are you now?"
"Yes, I killed my first man in combat and gave him to the gods! I also killed a unicorn." Rickon said happily as he slammed his fist into his chest in salute. "Shaggy didn't even help, I killed him with my axe all on my own." Rickon said with such strong pride that Aegon forgot that the boy was not even twelve.
Jon seemed non-pulsed about his brothers Skagossi upbringing. "I'm proud of you Rickon, so is Bran."
"Did you see him in the green-dreams?" Rickon asked and Jon nodded. "Meera helped, she went to join her father with Summer."
"Good, I'm not as good as Bran with the green-dreams but he still talks to me when I drink the tea Osha makes me."
"Will Brandon Stark be joining us?" Aegon asked and Jon shook his head.
"He is north of the Wall fulfilling his duty to the realm."
Sansa appeared and embraced Jon with broad smile. "It is sweet to see you again brother." There were tears in her eyes again and Jon hugged her awkwardly back.
"Are you alright, is your husband good to you?"
"He is very kind, I am happy." Sansa said holding his hand. Harrold soon joined them and greeted Jon.
"Is Arya here yet?" he asked looking around.
"Your sister keeps to her own schedule, she should arrive in a day or two." Daenerys said as she joined them. "She still has that needle you gave her."
"Thank you for looking after her." Jon said with a bow.
"I assure you she looked after me."
"I was hoping to show you and Prince Aegon something aboard my ship, if you are willing to join us."
"Of course."
BlackFish Tully, Harrold, Willas, Tyrion, and ser Selmy joined them and the descended into the ship. Sansa shivered and Jon offered her his cloak.
"Sorry, they give off cold."
Shaggy-dog seemed on edge and the rest of the party gave him a wide berth. Two guards stood outside the doors, one wildling the other a member of the Watch. The opened the door and as they walked in Aegon noticed chains and bars. Three men and a child were chained to the wall, one of the men was missing and arm that looked as if it had been ripped from its socket, the other had a gash across his throat and dried blood, the third had been bisected and his chained legs kicked when he caught sight of them. The child had a gaping would on his chest, all four were pale with bright blue eyes and seemed set on attacking them.
Sansa covered her mouth and clutched her husband's arm in horror. "Nan told us about them, I used to have nightmares until father told me that they were gone from this world." Harrold drew his wife behind him and stared in equal horror at the dead things before them.
"An army of these things is not far from the wall, a horde approached the coastline and the rest will either climb over or tear the wall down. Then it won't matter who is King or Queen, just who is living or dead." Jon said as Daenerys peered closer at the things inside the cage. She did not seem surprised.
"Kill it" Rickon growled alongside his wolf
"They only die by flame, not even Valyrian steel can kill them." Jon calmly placed a hand on Rickons shoulder to calm him.
"I can give you fire." Daenerys said with certainty as she looked sadly at the dead girl.
Jon proceeded to tell them about the threat from the North. Everyone present agreed that the true threat lay North an all other enemies would wait.
"I had hoped to kill my sweet sister sooner, but this seems more important Tyrion said as Willas aimed a crossbow at the head of one of the wights to test its resilience.
"A blow to the brain should kills anything, it makes no sense that they are even able to move since the brain controls the rest of the body."
"Marwyn will want to see." Daenerys said calmly.
"I want to leave." Sansa said and her husband guided her out "You have our support and our men." He called out as they left. As the rest of the party left the boat they all saw Lady Arryn vomit over the boats edge. Jon called for water while Daenerys called for a maester. Several people fussed over the Lady of the Vale guiding her towards Marwyns tent.
Later Ser Gendry approached Jon and spoke closely to the man about Arya Stark. Jon greeted the Usurpers bastard happily enough when the man began his tale of his travels with Arya. Aegon watched bitterly as Gendry held his brothers attention above all others for the simple fact that he was the last to see Arya alive before her journey east.
For the rest of the day lords and knights were led below decks to see the true enemy. Aegon suddenly felt the weight of their cause on his shoulder with each face of terror that exited. They would want to protect their homes, not march off to fight an enemy that was already dead.
That night Aegon supped with Daenerys and Jon who was eager for dragon-glass arrows and daggers. Aegon told him that all the dragon-glass he would need was his and promised pitch and oil from all his supporters.
"I also need a dragon." He said causing Daenerys to look at him with suspicion.
"Eddard Stark will always be my father, though he did not make me. My mother was Lyanna Stark and my father was Rhaegar Targaryen, Lord Stark kept my parentage secret in order to protect my from Roberts wrath."
Daenerys stared incredulously at him until Aegon spoke up, "It's true, he is my brother. Connington told me about him a few months ago."
"And you say I keep secrets," Daenerys said with a sideways glance as she sipped her tea.
"I don't care about the Iron Throne or the South, the Others are my main concern. If you want the dragon back afterwards I'll release it."
Daenerys slammed her hand on the table and glared at Jon. "Would you release your wolf as if it were some kind of pet or horse. Dragons are not pets, slaves or cattle. When you become a dragon rider you are linked until your soul leaves this earth. Drogon returns to me each night because we are bonded, Aegon will soon be bonded to Rhaegal. Would your wolf leave your side? Neither will Viserion, even if she is the gentlest of my children. " Jon seemed taken aback and apologized.
"It was not my intention to offend, I just don't want to be drawn into any Targaryen struggles for power."
"There is no struggle, I am fond of Aegon and when he tames Rhaegal we will be married. If you want to be legitimized as a son of Rhaegar, that is up to Aegon." Daenerys said with a wave of her hand that surprised Aegon. She was blunt in her affections and trusted him to make this momentous decision.
"I was a bastard before I knew about how I came into this world, the past changes nothing."
Aegon felt hurt that his brother would turn away from his heritage so easily, but he bolstered himself. His brother would accept him.
"Would you like to be Warden of the North?" Aegon asked hoping to draw Jons attention.
"That honor belongs to Bran or Rickon." Jon said stiffly.
"Bran is not here. Tyrion thinks Rickon is too much like a wildling for the North to accept him. Sansa is too southern and a woman. Arya is also a woman and has not proven herself."
"She will. Once the threat is dealt with we can concentrate on titles, till then there is no point. If possible I would like to hold my mother's name, I already know what it is to be a Stark."
"Of course." Aegon said feeling slightly dejected. "I do hope you will call me brother, if possible."
Jon's posture stiffened but he agreed with a cautious nod. Aegon smiled, northerners were slow to trust, but blood is blood.
The rest of the meal ended pleasantly enough with both he and Daenerys agreeing to send as many men to the wall as soon as possible to help with the war effort. Marwyn entered during the meal to tell them that the Lady Arryn was pregnant and Jon excused himself to congratulate his siter. Before going to bed Aegon spoke to Jon asking him to join him for lunch tomorrow after dragon training, Jon agreed stating that he was eager to start with Viserion.
That night Aegon could not sleep, everytime he closed his eyes all her saw were the haunting blue eyes of the wights. When he finally managed to doze off a howl woke him. The howl was answered by a closer one and it seemed that the forest had come alive with the cry of wolves instead of the whispers of ghosts.
Aegon left his tent, Duck following closely behind, the whole camp seemed to be waking as everyone looked towards the gods wood. Jon, Rickon and Gendry were running alongside their wolves towards the howls. Sansa joined them along with several other Lords and Ladies. Aegon rushed to join them ignoring Conningtons admonitions.
At the wierwood the wolves stopped and stared into the forest, Daenerys was already there standing beside the tree looking into the forest. Eyes glowed in the shadows as more than a hundred wolves stared out at them from behind the trees. A massive grey direwolf stepped forward with a girl riding astride her. He heard a northerner murmur that the beast was the Stark sigil come to life. The girl sat up glaring at everyone and Aegon was surprised to realize that he recognized that face. Cat, Arya, was wearing a grey blue dress with snowflakes stitched along the edges an armored leather vest over her chest with the dire wolf sigil emblazoned on it, and a white fur cloak. Her hair was wild and loose with a crown of winter roses sitting prettily upon her head and she was armed with the same Bravossi blade and Valyrian steel dagger from before. Where Sansa was a perfect lady suited to the court this girl was something wild from a time when men still held the Old Gods throughout Westeros. She reminded him of Jenny Oldstones, and looked like she would be more comfortable in leathers than silk. When she descended from her wolf it began to snow lightly.
She spotted Jon and they rushed towards eachother, he lifted her up into the air laughing and crying clutching her to his arms. Rickon joined them jumping into the fray with a hoot as his wolf greeted hers. Sansa approached slowly and stood aside until her sister saw her. They were both still for a moment till Arya held her hand out and Sansa rushed in to join her family crying happily. Ghost, Shaggy-dog and Arya's wolf danced about each other howling under the moon and snow.
Aegon noticed Ser Gendry standing closer to the three than the others smiling happily while the northern lords were happily cheering "The North Remembers". The Starks stood together and Daenerys motioned for Aegon to join her beside the wierwood.
Arya stepped forward and lay her crown of roses on Daenerys head with a grin and a wink. He would have to talk to her later about her little deception. Rickon sliced his hand and lay his bloodied axe at their feet, he turned towards the Skagossi and let out a wild cry in the Old Tongue that they followed. Sansa knelt before them and kissed Daenerys' hand swearing fealty. Jon bowed and thanked them both, although Aegon knew the thanks was directed towards Daenerys. All of the lords, ladies and knights present bent the knee to the Targaryens as wolves howled around them and a cry of dragons answered.