An1: Sorry for the long hiatus! I don't know how many of you will read this I finished the second chapter of Age of Heralds (it is currently edited) and third way down on the rewrite with my Star Wars/Hp fic. If everything work out I can publish that one next week.

An2: This isn't canon so those who don't like Au stories should stay away from this.

The Second Son

Awakenning

When he woke up he didn't know where he was. He searched his mind, searched for the answers he needed. Who was he? What happened with him? What was his purpose? He had to do something, something important. Someone entrusted him with a quest. A mission. But what was it?

Then he remembered. How he arrived on a planet, Avalon, with thick, dark forests and high castles. How he was found by one of the lord, the Stag, who raised as his own son and named him Aries.

He matured faster than anyone they had ever known. Whatever he learned he was better than any other, even the Stag's trueborn son Gwaine who himself was a genius. Be it his prowess in fight, tactics, strategies he was without equal. Soon young Aries was their champion, their protector, their guardian. He was the one who stood against the beasts of the forests, the raiders and the armies of the other lords.

But Avalona's greatest enemy were the wraiths of the night. They came with the dark, sleek forms in black armor killing the fortunate and take the others. What happened to those none knew, but all guessed that death was a better fate than being a prisoner of them.

The Stag always stood against them, yet couldn't save his people. The soldiers fought valiantly, but against those monsters their courage was not enough. One night, when they were still young Aries and Gwaine joined the defenders without the Stag knowing.

Gwaine was better than anyone in the kingdom at fighting striking down his enemies with sure stabs from his longsword. He killed more than a dozen of the wraiths before one of them attacked him. While Gwaine was more than good, the wraith was faster and older. But before the killing blow could be delivered to the young man Aries joined the fight.

Gwaine was a talent appearing only once in a lifetime. Despite of this Aries was better at anything they did. Aries had only passed his teenage years yet stood taller than anyone. He defeated the champions of the kingdom one after another. When he saw his best friend, maybe his only friend in danger he moved between them. The wraith didn't hesitated. In his arrogance he thought the young man couldn't be harder opponent than the one before. The wraith only managed to scratch Aries's armor before the young titan's sword beheaded him.

After that day the wraiths started to stay away of the Stag's dominion. Under Aries and Gwaine's command the soldiers and knights brought an era of peace to their lands, not seen in living memory. That was when the Dragonknights of the kingdom asked the two to join them.

As Avalon had a great number of beasts, but none were as feared or honored as the dragons. These great reptilian beast laid waste to many towns and villages, killing people and livestock. Yet, a few esceptional knights were able to tame these beasts and ride them into battles.

With their lord's leave they joined, both able to gain one dragon's trust and partnership. But when Aries returned from the mountains on gthe back of his dragon the Order was in surprised awe. For he rode the legendary Ancalagon the Black, said to be the greatest dragon to ever lived. Not even the oldest of the old remembered a time when Ancalagon wasn't already a legend. Some said that he was the son of the god Indraugnir himself. With that Aries got his second name Draugnir as only someone with Indraugnir blessing or blood could ride the Great Dragon.

The Stag was content, glad that he could leave his kingdom in capable hands. He was old when Gwaine was born and his wife died just after naming their son. He was ready to meet her in the after life.

After Lord Janus, his father in all but blood died, he was entrusted with the well being of his land and all other. He vowed to archive the old lord dream. He will stop the needless bloodshed that plagued the world. Every lord fought for the smallest piece of land, leaving it in a near constant war.

Under his command the armies of the late Lord Stag conquered many minor kingdoms, similar that of the Stag's. A few even shared his dream and gladly joined as their allies. Soon after his numerous win other lesser lords started to send a courier to parley with the Pride of the Stag. He was glad to welcome them with open arm.

But others didn't see the wisdom in bending to the knee. United under the most powerful lord, they marched against them. The battle was one like the planet haven't seen in ages. Thousands upon thousands fought on either side. But none could stand against him, none could best him. While his plan was far better than the Lord Drake, he was better than anyone, they were severely outnumbered as the Drake was the greatest lord in the lands and many joined him. All hope for the Stag's dream seemed lost.

That was when he unleashed his greatest and most dreaded weapon: his sorcery. From a young age he could make things happens, levitate a horse, snap a man's neck... And his powers had grown with him, they still did even after maturing fully. Now, he brought the full might of it upon his foes. Earth shattered, the heavens trembled, men and women fallen in an instant. And from certain defeat it transformed into certain victory.

All knew, none more so than Lord Drake. He was a proud man, but rightly so. He was a great warlord just as his ancestors. And as it stood he would never yield. He darted forward, ready to meet the Pride of the Stag in simple combat. His only hope for victory to kill the younger man.

He was meet with the eager Aries. For all his experience and talent the lord was no match for the young hero. They clashed, but Aries always thrown him back. Three times was Lord Drake asked to surrender and three times he refused. Seeing no other way Aries attacked the older man with such ferocity that his defense was broken. With a move so fast, none could follow he stabbed him through his stomach.

As Lord Drake's army surrendered, Aries removed his helmet, showing his handsome face. Lord Drake could feel the mere presence of his foe in their dual, but now seeing the long back hair and brilliant emerald eyes with more wisdom than any greybeards he seen in his life he finally understood. This being in front of him was beyond him, beyond any mere human to truly comprehend. With his last breath he grabbed his sword and held it out for Aries in surrender.

After he united Avalon, for there was only one known continent, Albion to conquer with a few islands here and there, Aries started to govern it with the help of his most trusted confidant Gwaine. The beasts and mutants in the forest were still a threat, even if the newly organized regiments defending the people of his world with courage and honor.

Then they searched for the second continent only known by legends and songs. It was across the globe, a huge piece of land nearly as large as Albion itself. It had a great mountain range the Dragonspine Mountains with peaks reaching the sky, its caves filled with the largest population of dragons on the planet.

So Aries made an Order for the best of his warriors, experienced veterans from the war and young talents, all bonded to a dragon. Aries could only entrust leading them to one person: Gwaine. He was second only to him and everyone knew it. Only he could command them as many were proud and would follow only Aries or Gwaine. This Order would them take residence at the northest and greatest peak of the Dragonspine Mountains, building the great fortress of White Spire.

Aries would gladly lead this Order, but governing the planet even with the Grand Council was a monumental task, leaving him with no time to speak of. Without the fighting it was discovered that some fragments of ancient technology remained in the vaults of various lords. Nothing that would change their lives overnight, but they could build on it under Aries guidance. With this a new and bright age seemed in the future of Avalon. But Aries with his power felt that this wasn't his destiny. And then He came.

The Emperor of Mankind, his father. Some of his brothers fought the Emperor upon meeting him. Aries did not. He understood, looking beneath the physical plane, that while he was above other humans, the Emperor was also above him just as much. He was unlike anything he ever seen. A bright star in the warp, so bright he felt as if he would go blind by looking into it too much, even as it was impossible. He swore fealty to the Emperor himself and Mankind. The Emperor was most pleased by meeting another of his sons and what he accomplished while away from him.

The Emperor came with shocking news. He came from Terra, the mystical homeworld of their race, to unite the galaxy under his rule. Aries may have laughed at the idea if somebody else said it. Coming from the Emperor he couldn't help but believe that he could do it.

Thus, Aries joined the Great Crusade and the Second Legion, his legion, his sons. Many from his Order and other hopefuls joined the legion boasting it's number nearly to the double of when it left Terra. Gwaine joined and with his skill became one of the most powerful warrior within the legion. He was asked to lead the primarch's guard, the Dragonknights.

But there were also regiments of regular humans which happily followed him to the stars. Tens of thousands joined them on their crusade in reclaiming the galaxy for humanity. No army able to withstand the legions and imperial army. The Second Legion was led to numerous victory which earned them much fame and the name of Emerald Dragons.

Aries was glad to be able to meet others like him. While he was beloved by his people and a few he could call friend as well he knew that he was different from them. He knew it was unintentional on either part, but there was a distance between him and them.

He was two heads taller than the tallest knights. His body was stronger and faster than others'. He didn't received any wounds in a decade but when he was younger he healed from wound fatal for anyone else. He could easily understand and learn everything a greybeard knew in a year.

But what truly set him apart was something he didn't notice until he started to rule Avalon. One day he looked in a mirror while Gwaine stood beside him reporting news of another successful strike against the beasts of the forest. There was only two year difference in their age, yet looking in the mirror everyone would sworn that Gwaine was a decade older than him. Aries face looked as someone's from his late twenties early thirties. He haven't aged since the unification of Avalon.

The Emperor only found two of his sons by the time he discovered Aries. He was eager to see them. He hoped that he finally found those who could understand him. In a way he did, thought his brothers were much different both from him and from each other, yet alike. Just as Aries they were awe inspiring figures of legends.

Horus Lupercal was the first the Emperor found and it showed. Not only that he had a somewhat special place among even the Primarch, but the Emperor teachings seemed to be deeply absorbed by him. He was calm and collected, yet an impressive warrior and brilliant tactician. His charisma and talent in strategy seemed second only to the Emperor. and thus served as his Second-in-command.

Leman Russ came from the feral world of Fenris. The Wolf King was every bit of the wild barbarian warrior king he looked like. He was quick to howl either in joy or anger. He sometimes forgot slights as soon as it happened, but remembered others even decades later as if it happened just the day before. Yet none could deny his or his sons' ability as warriors. The Vlka Fenryka as they called themselves was a fearsome enemy to anyone to have.

One by one the Primarchs has been found and just the first two all were different from each other. Aries tried to approach all of them, to see them as the brothers they were. With Horus and Russ it was easy. Horus welcomed him with open arms, genuinely happy to meet him, which he reciprocated. Russ was quick to bond with him after a few sparring session, even if he was somewhat troubled by his use of sorcery.

Some of the Primarchs wanted to keep their distance like Rogal Dorn while other were too different in soul for Aries to truly bond with even if he had a rather warm relationship with all of them, similar to Horus. Yet there were three cases where it was very different for several reasons.

Vulkan, the Primarch of the eighteen legion, the Salamanders. While he was an intimidating figure Aries soon found out that his brother might be the most caring among them for the well-being of the citizens of the Imperium.

Sanguinius, the Angel was also someone Aries looked up, yet for a different reason. The Angel wasn't only an awe inspiring figure, but noble and pure. He was a symbol of what humanity could reach, even to the Primarchs.

Magnus the Red was the only other Primarch who could connect to the Astral Plane by his own will. It should have formed a special bond between them. It happened, yet not in the form either of them wanted. The Emperor warned them against using their powers without caution. Aries felt that it was well founded. He was weaker than his father or even Magnus, yet could easily bend several dozen battle hardened men's will to his own. It was a power that frightened him.

Magnus was stronger and more knowledgeable than him. At first he tried to teach his brother, but after a few months it became clear that Aries used far greater restrain on himself than Magnus. After a decade their clash of ideals on how someone should learn about the Immaterium escalated into a full-blown argument. After that their relationship changed and Magnus warm advice lost it warmth and more and more of the Crimson King's arrogance was revealed in them.

After the Ullanor Crusade the Emperor summoned him and the Primarch of the Eleventh, Vlad. The two had been given an important mission: destroy an enemy that could destroy Mankind. The two brothers were confused. After the Ullanor Crusade most of the galaxy was under the command of the Emperor. The Emperor explained them that what he sensed was in the future. An alien race, composed of trillions upon trillions being that was part of the whole. A hive which consumed what was in it's path. It needed to be destroyed in infancy or they could become something mankind wasn't ready to face.

The two brothers mustered their legions and other forces for their cause before they started their journey. When they went to Avalon to start their crusade a warp storm enclosed them. Aries didn't fully know what happened there, his memory of that time was foggy at best.

He remembered living a life of a normal human, well as normal as he could get. He as Harry Potter, was a proto-psyker in the dawn of the second millenium. The "wizards and witches" of that time were quite interesting, even if sometimes shamefully coward or stupid. But he was awed by the freedom, the possibilities of that era. It was foreign for him, Aries Cernunnos even if his mortal self never found out who he was in reality. He never know freedom, only duty. Even in that age he had his duty, but after he had done it... He finally experienced peace. He always fought, for his father, for Mankind, for his friends. But now, the next several decades he lived like any other man. He died in bed, surrounded by family and friends.

And now he woke in a chamber, very similar in both style and size to his personal chamber on his home world or flagship the Emperor's Will. He sat up cautiously, inspecting the medical equipment on the other side of the bed. It was the same he saw the Legion's apothecary use. He didn't know where he was, who else, what else could be there with him, though from the equipment and the fact that he wasn't restrained he guessed he was in the care of his legion. He was bare-chested, with only a dark trousers on his giant form. He tried his movements, arms, legs, fingers, neck all seemed to be in perfect condition. He easily stood up and started searching the desk near his bed to get all the information he desperately needed.

But before he could find anything relevant to his questions the doors of the chamber were opened and a group of astartes came inside just to halt in shock seeing the Primarch on his feet. They wore the color of his legion: emerald green with raven black. Four of them were members of his honour guard, three of the apothecary, one being the chief of it and a captain from the first company. His black hair was closely cropped for easy maintance, green eyes a shade paler than his own looking in awe at his form. Even among these superhumans, champions of humanity he would be a giant. Their presence, while awe inspiring for mere mortal was but the fraction of his. Then, as one the group knelled before him.

"My lord, a honor to finally be able to speak with you." the first man who entered, the captain, spoke in awe filled voice.

"Stand when you speak with me." Aries ordered in a firm tone. Not even regular human soldiers were required to kneel before him. Why would his sons do so then?

At once the giants stood, their proud face full of emotions: awe, happiness at being in the presence of their primarch.

"I would guess that you are member of my legion. Is that correct?" he asked more gently this time around. They nodded at this "I see that you are the captain of the first company, yet I don't remember ever seeing you..."

"Yes, my lord." the leader stepped forward stoicaly "I'm Grandmaster Cullen..."

"Grandmaster?" he asked surprised, as the the Grandmaster was the leader of the elite Deathguard company his personal praetorians, while the First captain served as the Legion Master as well and those two ranks were separate "How long was I away? What happened to the legion?"

"Avalon was engulfed in a warp storm, my lord." the legion master explained to which Aries nodded. He was there when it happened he was the one who along with many of the legion's psykers put up a psychic ward to defend their world " It not only disposed us in time but place as well. We are in the Eastern fringe of the galaxy in the year 230.M39."

"And the legion?" he asked, fearing for his men, he wasn't there to lead them for nearly nine thousand years!"What happened with Zael and Gwaine?"

"Lord Gwaine had died in a crusade against an ork Waaagh in 789.M36. Lord Zael is with us... in a sense." Cullen answered hesitantly.

"What do you mean by that?" Areis asked dreading the answer.

"He was... his body was too damaged my lord to save. He is in a dreadnaught now." Cullen said with respect to the first master of the legion.

"And the Imperium? What happened in it?" he asked, concentrating on the matter at hand. His father spoke of a danger threatening the Imperium and nine millenia passed on. Could it be that the Imperium was no more?

The astartes in front of him looked at each other, before Cullen started on explaining the Imperium current state for his primarch. In a way he was right with that question.

The Imperium was in ruin. The countless battle and death was meaningless. All the work of his and his brothers was destroyed, perhaps beyond hope. The prosperity they all imagianed on humanity was nowhere. The Imperium stood in one place if not even walking backwards in every aspect of civilization but religion. Truly how could his brothers let this happen to their father's dream? His father, who was nothing more than a rotting corpse in his throne, was worshiped by the masses. He, who once burned entire planets for simply being too devote in their religious belief was now worshiped as a god. He, who once humiliated his son Lorgar and his entire legion for this very reason... For mankind to be this far apart from the envisioned future. Now he had to fight, not just for his brothers but for the dream he shared with the other Primarchs. He hated this. He hated how his blood pumped at the thoughts of battles, how he loved the brotherhood forged in the flames of war, how his bloodlust spiked again. He hated war. Yet he was unmatched in it.

His sons were betrayed by their dearest friends. Mankind, which they bleed for, suffered for, died for turned their back on them. Their brothers, which who they fought with back-to-back did the same and now hunted them. For they had been deceived greatly and his scions paid for his mistake.

But not all was lost. While the Imperium became corrupt and decadent, their realm prospered. They had the might to fight back the Imperium, They had the will to do so. He will lead them on a final crusade. Because that was his duty. For both his father and the memory of his dream.

He will conquer the Imperium.