AN: Okay, here is Chapter 3. This is in honor of Elden Ring's release at the end of the month. I am shocked I am getting inquiries about this story. Some people asked who younger Ned and Robert were played by, so I added them to the cast list. I initially thought of doing this as a one-shot, but I have to continue with the popularity it has gained. So here it is, and I hope all the Soulsbourne fans enjoy Elden Ring. I know I will. First, some reviews, then onto the story.

Gianfranco Cembran: I have something for that, and I will explain in a later chapter.

Adryn Nighthunter: Here is more.

Young Ned Stark – Robert Aramayo

Young Robert Baratheon – Clive Standen

Dacey Mormont – Adelaide Kane

Maege Mormont – Elizabeth Barrett

Selene – Tamsin Egerton

Rowena – Gemma Arterton

Luther – Sam Clafin

Gwyain – Henry Cavill

The Doll (Evetta) – Katie Mcgrath

"Here we Stand" – Normal Dialogue

"Thou hast forgotten" – Other Language Dialogue

Chapter 3: Monsters Come Ashore

The Twins

Walder Frey stewed in his own anger. Ned Stark and King Robert had marched through his bridged and hardly paid for it. He wanted one of his sons to become a ward to Ned Stark or Ser Barristan Selmy. Walder had the ambition to have at least one family member in all the Great Houses of Westeros. He wanted his family to be feared and respected instead of mocked. He gained the moniker "The Late Lord Frey" when he arrived late after Robert had killed Rhaegar Targaryen at the Battle of the Trident. His plan had failed. He waited to see how the battle would sway. Walder wanted to pick the winner's side to gain favor. He hoped for the Dragons to win to prove his loyalty and be given more in the Riverlands. When it became clear it was the Stags and their loyalists, he tried to rally his soldiers to join them. However, he arrived late to victory cheers that turned to mockery on his behalf. The war left no honor or riches for him, only guilt.

His musings were cut short when his eldest son, Stevron, came stopping in. His son was the perfect reflection of him. Though Walder felt he was too soft to be one of his. Yet the man was a good son, he supposed. Most sons would have taken the throne from their fathers by now, but not him. "Father!" Stevron called out loudly. His voice reflected off the stone walls.

Walder grimaced at his son's voice, another headache. "What! You oaf?" Walder barked out. He didn't like his quiet time being disturbed. He wanted to calm himself before he went to bed and maybe empty his lust into his wife. Even in the twilight of his years, he could still give it to women, and he never heard of any of them complaining.

Stevron gulped down some air before answering his irate father. "M-men approach. They carry the banner from Bear Island," Stevron stuttered out. While he was a man himself, he felt like a small child when Walder barked at him.

Walder pursed his lips in thought. That was peculiar; he had thought all of the King's army was with them. He grinned a toothy grin at the opportunity that arrived on his doorstep. That meant a Lord or Lady was leading them.

He got up rather spryly and made it to the rampart that overlooked his bridge and the opposite side of the river that divided the land. Across the way was a battalion of about twenty warriors. If they disagreed with his demands, well, bandits have been hunting on these roads for decades. "Send a welcoming party, and see who leads them," Walder said while eying the small party. Maybe a daughter would be wed to one of his sons or grandsons. His smile nearly split his face in two.

Land Across From the Twins

Dacey sat on her horse as she waited for the Freys to lower their notorious bridge. After the feast, it was revealed that they were looking for a Greyjoy. Not just any Greyjoy, but the Crow's Eye himself, Euron Greyjoy. Her mother's words continued to play in her head, "These people could help us end the war. Aim them towards the Greyjoys, and we gain an ally." She felt she was betraying their trust, but her mother appointed her this duty.

Coming up next to her came Selene with her usual hood down. Her gaze lingered on the giant bridge that still hung up. "How long must we wait?" Selene questioned tiredly. She was annoyed that their journey was halted by this bridge.

"The Frays have noticed us," Dacey started as she eyed the Twins. She had no doubt the weasel-faced men of that family were already watching them. "They'll lower the bridge soon and demand we pay a toll," she assured her traveling companion. Selene groaned in annoyance as she watched.

The clopping of hooves from their left drew their attention. Luther sat in the saddle with Evetta sitting behind him. "Anything?" he questioned. It seemed they were all getting antsy.

Evetta cast a glance at the castle and stared blankly for several seconds before saying, "They are coming." Dacey found Evetta's words to be uncomforting. The bridge lowered on cue with her statement, and a handful of Frey men came across on horseback. The party eyed the welcoming party wearily.

The man leading them is a gruff, dour man with black hair. His face was shallow, and his chin pointed out. The common thought of the group was that he had the look of a weasel. Three men flanked him, one to his right, left, and rear. His deep raspy voice called out, "Who goes there?" He sat tall on his horse and puffed out his chest. He tried to demonstrate who was in charge.

Dacey glanced at her friends, giving them a nonverbal signal to let her do the talking. "We are a detachment of soldiers from Bear Island to assist the King at Seaguard," Dacey told the men as they maneuvered into a circle around them. They look at Selene, Luther, and Evetta, eyeing the females hungrily.

The man looked unimpressed and demanded more answers, "That doesn't answer my question. Who are you?" The man moved his hand towards the sword on his belt. His men mimicked his action. Dacey's eyes caught Luther's hand reaching for his thunder tube or pistol, as he called it.

Dacey reacted quickly before her friends caused a political incident. "I am Dacey Mormont, and these are my companions," she answered truthfully. She gestured to her friends, who all shot warning glances at the men surrounding them. With the tension rising, Dacey retorted back, "We introduced ourselves. Can we have your name?"

The man's eyes shot towards Luther and lingered on him. "Walder Rivers," the bastard son of the head of House Frey answered. Dacey bit back a curse as she realized who was blocking their path. It was Walder Frey's bastard son and one of their best warriors. She then realized that it wasn't Luther he was staring at, but the weapon on his back.

Dacey's thoughts were interrupted when one of the Frey soldiers spoke, "Hello there, pretty lady." Evetta eyed the man unemotionally, looking at him like he was an ant. Her breath hitched when Luther's gaze landed on the man. "Why not come over here and let me feel that pretty ivory skin?" the Frey pawed at the woman. It was a mistake as Luther grabbed the man's hand violently. Bones and tendons tore and popped as the man screamed his lungs out before falling from his horse

Luther gleamed at Walder Rivers, and his hollow voice seeped out, "That is the only warning you will get." Evetta looked over his shoulder, and her lifeless eyes narrowed at Walder.

Walder Rivers was slow to react as he watched his man cradle his shattered hand on the planks of the bridge. He shook himself self from his thoughts as he drew his sword. "You son of a whor…," was all he mustered to get out before he noticed the situation. Selene had her rapier pointed at the throat of the man closest to her. His other man had Luther's pistol pointed at his head, but they didn't know what it could do.

Selene spoke next and issued a warning, "Do not touch that woman. It will not end well for you and your men." She punctuated her point by digging her rapier into the soldier's throat to make it bleed.

Walder was not going to be embarrassed by some unknown upstart knights. "You little shits don't know who you're fucking with!" he spat out venomously. He pointed his sword at Luther in a threatening manner.

"What is happening!" a loud booming voice called from the Bear Island warriors. The thundering hooves of a pair of horses came onto them along with the largest man Walder had ever seen! His sword slightly trembled in his grip.

Gwyain saw the commotion, and he motioned for Rowena to follow his lead. Coming upon Luther, Selene, Evetta, and Dacey with the mystery group of men. He received the no answer and again called, "What happened!?" The men scrambled to join their leader's side. Their horses snorted and neighed in fear.

Walder pushed down his fear and spoke up boldly, "Your compatriot assaulted one of my men." He narrowed his eyes at the giant that was Gwyain, trying to intimidate the giant. His eyes landed on the wolf-helmeted knight by his side. While Gwyain gave him an intimidating aura due to his size, the Wolf Knight made him feel like he was in the presence of a ferocious wild animal.

Gwyain looked to Luther, and Luther glanced out of the corner of his eyes. "He tried to touch Evetta," was Luther's simple reply. He still defensively positioned his body in front of Evetta. His hand still wrapped firmly around the handle of his pistol.

Gwyain shot the men a challenging glare before saying, "My friend is very protective of his companion." The Frey men looked at the hunter and his compatriot before going back to the giant. "I would advise keeping your distance if you value your life." Gwyain wasn't in the mood to deal with the locals of this land. They were so close to gaining back what was theirs.

Walder gained back his courage and spoke up, "If you wish to pass our bridge, you will pay tribute." He then looked at his man with the broken who sauntered back over to him, whimpering like a beaten pup. "And it's doubled now for the attack on my soldier," Walder added. He would not let this shame tarnish his name. There answer all came when weapons started to get drawn. These people would draw blood on his family's land. They were all mad!

Dacey saw her friends beginning to lean towards violence and intervened, "We will pay it, but after the war." She knew the Freys would want something in return for passing their bridge. They always do.

Walder looked at the lone Mormont with an inspecting eye. She was a fine young woman, proper marrying and breeding age. Something that his father would want to see. "No, you will come back to the keep and discuss with my father a proper payment," Walder insisted. He would get back at the Mormonts for the insults their subordinates had done to them. To see the old She-Bear grovel at their feet when her daughter would need to marry a Frey. His leer made Dacey glare at the man in anger.

Gwyain grew tired of the man's squawking and stepped in. "We don't have time for this!" These distractions were not his problems. While he was grateful for Dacey and her family for their hospitality, their problems were their own.

Walder was taken aback by the man's outburst. "Your man speaks out of turn," he sneered. Walder was pointing out the difference in their birth standing. While he wasn't a trueborn son, he was still the son of a noble. He believed he was dealing with an upstart knight who was too big for his breeches.

Selene pulled her rapier from her hip and pointed it at Walder. "It is you who speaks out of turn," she would not take the disrespect the humans were showing her and her friends.

Walder was amused by the woman speaking up. "Oh? Where does this party hail from?" he asked mockingly. The only two mercenary groups he knew of merit: Gold Company and Second Sons. These people were obviously not from either of these groups.

Frustrated with Walder Rivers and her allies, Dacey forgot about subtlety and blurted out, "Shrine Cape!" The words were out of her before she could stop them. The reaction was instantaneous. The party from said place shot her a mixed look of disbelief and anger.

Walder Rivers looked skeptically at the group and then dismissed the woman. "Don't spread lies, girl. It sullies your family's name," he scolded Dacey. She chose the most significant lie out of everything she could say.

Dacey hissed at the man for dismissing her for telling the truth. However, her friends looked relieved. "Just let us cross already," she bemoaned.

Walder Rivers shook his head before pointing to the Twins. "You are to come meet with my father and discuss this with him," he insisted while motioning his men to corral the Mormont and the other knights. A loud bang made him jump, and all the horses whinny at the noise. Walder gained control of his horse but noticed his men fall from his horse. The young man was holding his throat as blood pooled out his mouth. A droplet rolled out of his mouth and left a trail down his cheek. The young soldier's eyes were filled with tears as death embraced him.

Luther held the smoking barrel of his gun in the direction where the soldier was once sitting. "The next one goes in between your eyes," Luther threatened in a growl. He was tired of the delays. The longer the Mensis Cage was out in the hands of these people, the more damage that would be done. Damage that couldn't be fixed.

Rowena took this as a signal to take action. In a flash, she was off her horse and stabbed her Dark Silver Tracer into Walder's horse's throat. The horse keeled over with a gurgling whinny, trapping Walder's leg under the beast. Walder started to let out a scream before shutting up when Rowena's Gold Tracer was poised right in front of his left eye. Walder peered past the knife's edge and looked at the helm the knight wore. Walder noted how it could easily be worn by someone of the Stark household. However, there were no reports of a Stark wearing such a helmet.

Gwyain was at Rowena's back as a gutsy Frey soldier pulled out a spear and tried to stab her in the back. Gwyain used his Sunlight Shield to deflect the spear away before cutting it in half with his Sunlight Straight Sword. The soldier didn't have time to be in shock as the sword was shoved through his throat. Selene quickly smashed the soldier's skull with the Hands of God on her left fist. The soldier fell hard to the planks below, spitting up teeth in the process.

Walder signaled behind him for a hidden archer to start firing. Then Luther raised his pistol again before firing it in a spot in the bushes. The archer slumped from his hiding spot, a hole in the front and a gory mess out the back. Walder watched Luther reload his pistol with hatred. "You won't get away with this!" Walder spat out, almost sounding mad.

Gwyain cleaned his sword with a quick flick of his wrist and sheathed it before coming over. Gwyain looked over at the pinned man and asked, "Oh?" Gwyain kneeled over him while putting on an inquisitive face. "Why do you say that?" he asked.

"Because my men will cut you down and leave your bodies to the crows," Walder smirked at his own wit. He sneered in victory as he thought ahead. However, he would be proved he wasn't so clever. Gwyain and Rowena looked at one another before he was roughly manhandled before being shoved into Gwyain.

Gwyain grasped Walder by the shoulders, spun him around, grabbed the back of Walder's neck with his large hands, and placed his sword at the Frey's throat. "I believe your men will let us walk right through," Gwyain said confidently with a smirk. Gwyain gripped his neck tighter and walked him forward. "Go get the rest of the men. Have them follow us," he ordered Dacey, who nodded at the order. She didn't look forward to telling her cousin the political fallout she had undoubtedly placed on his shoulders.

Walder whimpered like a small pup as he was paraded in front of his captures. His men were shocked and tried to come to his rescue, but he stopped them. "Stop! Stop you fucking idiots," he screamed. Gwyain's sword to his throat was an excellent motivator.

Selene walked by on her horse and gave him a compliment, "Good boy." Her eyes held only contempt as she shot them at him before riding by. Luther and Evetta trotted on by, the doll giving him a polite bow of her head. Dacey came next with her small platoon, all her soldiers on edge. Gwyain and Rowena stayed behind as they held the bastard son hostage.

Gwyain side-eyed Rowena and gave her a nod. She nodded back and ran to catch up with the party. Walder's men moved to go after her, but Gwyain pushed his blade closer to Walder's throat. The Frey men stopped in their tracks. Walder decided to speak again, "You won't get away with this!" He smiled wickedly. Gwayin couldn't get far with both him and the men coming after him. "You'll die before getting back that scrawny fuck and the whores," Walder chuckled at the end of his sentence. He would at least kill one of the people that shamed him and his family.

Gwyain narrowed his eyes at the group of men looking at him like he was a fat boar. Usually, he would simply kill these men with his sword and be done with it. However, he was short on time. Gwyain leaned in close to whisper in Walder's ear, "I'm going to give you a warning to deliver to your lead. Just remember you brought this upon yourselves." Gwyain did something he promised he wouldn't do in these lands. They left him no choice. What Walder witnessed was like something out of the old tales the old tutors used to tell of the gods. Or Shrine Cape!

As the horror unfolded in front of him as he whispered out, "The legends are true." He shut his eyes and clamped his hands over his ears to tone out the carnage. When he finally gained the courage to open his eyes again, he was all alone. He quickly ran to tell his father.

Seaguard

Robert and Ned had set up their war camps in the forest around the beaches of Seaguard. Ned sat in a private tent adjacent to Robert's. Ned wondered what these people from Shrine Cape came to their lands for. When the duo were younger, Robert boasted about how they would go there and conquer the land. However, Ned was no fool. He heard some sailors just sail close to those lands and face monsters of the seas that were out of nightmares.

When he was just a second son, a life of adventure with his brother in all but blood was enticing. However, he was now Lord of Winterfell, Lord Paramount, Warden to the North, a husband, and father. The time for adventuring had long passed. He was needed at Winterfell. He took a sip of water from a goblet and sat in a chair. The long day of entertaining Robert had wained on him. Ned's eyes began to flutter shut as he lolled to sleep.

A loud boom and shaking of the ground made his eye shoot open. He stood with such speed and force that his chair fell over. He dashed to his tent's flap and saw his soldiers and Robert's scrambling. Men shouted and gave orders to the passing soldiers. Through the commotion, his eye caught the green leather of Jorah and called out to him, "Jorah, what has happened!?" Had the Ironborn snuck up on them?

Jorah stopped in his tracks before going to his liege lord. "A ship landed on the beaches, Ned!" Jorah yelled over the men issuing commands.

Ned was perplexed. The Ironborn were the greatest sailors in all of Westeros. It was unlike them to ground a ship. Those were too valuable in a war like this, especially for them. The Iron Islands had no viable land to grow, and they had to buy wood to make such ships from the mainlands.

Ned left Jorah and sprinted over to Robert's tent. He swatted aside the flaps to the tent and called out, "Robert!" He was greeted with the King being suited in his armor by an attendant. Barristan Selmy was already dressed for combat and waiting by his King's side. The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard was tall and slender with very blue eyes. His hair had turned white, and he was clean-shaven. His solemn face glanced at Ned and offered a nod for a greeting. Ned returned the gesture.

Robert stood in a T-pose while the servant was attaching his armor. "I heard!" Robert shouted out jubilantly. A toothy smile and face-splitting smile decorated his face, "It's about bloody time!" Robert was always a man of action. He knew nothing about ruling, but he flourished when it came to battle. He could barely contain himself. Ned nodded in acceptance before going back to his own tent and donning his own armor.

Ned clasped his ancestral Valyrian sword, Ice, to his belt before walking out of the tent. He was met by Jorah, who was dressed in his armor, and they marched to Robert's tent just in time to see him come out. The man's armor looked slightly tight against his stomach and chest, but his war hammer still sat proudly across his shoulders. The trio headed towards the edge of the forest that met the beach.

Ned began dictating orders to the captains to get the other soldiers in order. "Get our archers into position near the edges of the forests." They were going to take the Ironborn by surprise if they decided to charge from the beach. The wide-open area was a perfect killing field. Ned found Robert, Barriston and Jorah hiding behind some trees. The spot they were hiding allowed them to be unseen from the beach, but they could see the beach clearly.

They found the large gallian beached and not a soul to be found. There was no man on the deck, no one on the beach, only a haunting silence. "Well! What the fuck are they waiting for!" Robert growled due to frustration. Where were the bloodthirsty squids?

Ned's eyes kept scanning the beach and going back to the ship. "I don't like this," Ned proclaimed. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.

"I agree with Lord Stark. This is…odd," Barriston agreed with the Northern Lord. In all the years he had fought, this had never happened before. An enemy landed on the shore and didn't attack? This wasn't right.

Jorah gave out his own opinion, "Send a scout." The two old friends gave the younger man an exasperated look. "See if they want to discuss terms?" he clarified. It was a fair assumption. Perhaps there were honorable Ironborn aboard the ship.

Robert snorted with a laugh before scolding the Bear Island lord, "The Ironborn? Discuss terms?" He laughed at the suggestion. "You are fucking stupid, Mormont," Robert rubbed salt in the wound. It was like his younger brother giving a proposal during a Small Council meeting. Robert found his younger brother to be lacking in being a man. His brother had never seen combat or laid with a woman, and Renly wanted Robert to take his advice.

Jorah was downtrodden by the King's remark. However, Ned agreed with Jorah's train of thought, "I agree with Jorah on this." He peered around the tree, still seeing no movement. "Send a scout. See what it is they wish," Ned suggested. If they could avoid bloodshed, it was all the better for him. War had claimed enough from him, he didn't want it to take any more time from him.

Robert stroked his beard in contemplation with a deep hum. Tactical combat was one of his strengths. Jonah's suggestion by itself was not great. It risked exposing them to Ironborn and their element of surprise. However, Ned had agreed with the Lord of Bear Island and agreed with Ned. "Fine, fine, send a group of five men," he relented with a wave the back of his hand at Ned to let him do what he wanted. Ned nodded and proceeded to find some men willing to take part in the mission. "Just remember," Robert called out his blood brother, making the man stop. "If this goes tits-up. It will be your responsibility, Ned," Robert warned. Ned nodded and continued his trek.

Five brave men in a mix of Bear Island, Baratheon, and Winterfell colors rode to the beached ship. The ship had run directly up on the beach like an arrow. The men rode to the boat's starboard side, each ready for an ambush to come. One of the Baratheon men called out, "In the name of King Robert and his allies, we are here to discuss terms!" Nothing was returned, and the men looked at one another with worry. The Baratheon soldier called out again, "In the name of…." The wood of the haul in front of the men was hit from the inside, making a loud bang. The wood slightly bent but went back into place. The horses snorted, and one reared back on its hind legs while whinnying. Something slammed against the haul again, but a crack formed from the impact this time. Swords were drawn from the men as another slam came along, with multiple echoing screams coming from the haul. The wood gave way with one more thump, and out of the ship came monsters! And they hungered for blood and madness.

The monsters were pale skin that weaved and stitched into itself like exposed muscles. The head of the beast was nothing but a giant mouth with no eyes, ears, or nose and no neck to speak of. The monsters had claws instead of fingers or toes. Lose and tattered clothing covered partial parts of their body. Long, almost tentacle-like tongues lulled out of their mouth and swished in the air. (1) Suddenly, all the monsters turned in the direction of the five men, and they pounced. The men's final moments were spent in agony. The claws tore into the armor and flesh underneath. Tounges punched through armor and flesh like a spear. Swords were swatted out of hands or cut in two. Teeth found throats, and other appendages were torn from the bodies of the men. The screaming came quick and died just as fast.

Ned, Robert, Jorah, and even Barriston watched in horror as the men were torn apart and eaten. "By the Old Gods," Ned whispered out. What the fuck did the Ironborn bring to their lands? They like monsters in the old stories from the times of magic.

"What the fuck are those things!?" Robert surmised all their thoughts. Their men saw the creatures causing them to murmur and pray out of fear. Robert gripped his war hammer in both hands. He was raring to do battle. "I don't give a fuck if they are monsters. My hammer will crush their skulls!" Robert bellowed. Seeing their king show courage made the men feel courage as they rallied. Barriston drew his sword, ready to defend his King and lands.

Ned nodded at his King's words and the confidence that rubbed off on the men. Ned saw Jorah standing, petrified by the turn of events, and roughly grabbed him. "Jorah!" Ned yelled. Jorah kept looking in the monsters' direction, but another rough shake caused him to look at Ned. "Go to the archers. Let three volleys fire before charging their flank. Do you understand?" Ned questioned the man. Only wide eyes and a gaping mouth were given. "Do you understand!?" Ned said with more force. Jorah blinked and pushed down his fear before nodding. "Go!" was Ned's final command to the man before he ran off.

Robert looked to Barriston and told his guard, "Go with him."

Barriston protested the idea, "My place is by your side." While Barriston didn't particularly care for Robert, he was still his King. It was his duty to be his shield and sword wherever he went. That was his duty.

Robert was not tolerating the man's protest, "Go where I fucking tell you to go!" Robert stared into his Kings Guard's eyes to get his point across. Barriston knew better than to argue with his King. Barriston nodded and went after Jorah.

Robert took a step out from the cover and stood on land that met the sands of the beach. Ned joined his side and drew Ice, the sword singing as it was removed from its sheath. The monsters were finished with the scouting party, and their tounges swished in the air before pointing in the direction of the army. One let out a high-pitched shriek before the other responded with the same shriek. On all fours, they charged at the human army. "Form up! Let none survive!" Robert rallied while raising his war hammer, making the soldiers roar out a battle cry.

Jorah and Barriston made it to the archers and had his captain get them all in line. Seeing them all in a row, he raised his hand and shouted, "Draw!" A chorus of rawhide being stretched and wood going taut. "Aim!" All the bows went upward in the direction of the monstrous horde. Chopping his hand down, he yelled out, "Loose!" The bowstrings snapped, and the arrows flew. They sailed upwards in the air for several seconds. The number of launched arrows came down like a steady rain onto the monsters. Some monsters were riddled with arrows, dying from the impacts near their throats or multiple impacts. Some monsters did notice the stray arrow that struck them as their hunger took priority. Some received none as their charge had no hindrance.

At the forest's edge, Robert and Ned stood side by side with their soldiers by their sides. Robert gave his war hammer a flourish before letting its heavy head fall to the sand. Robert's war hammer was the same one he had used to kill Rheagar Targaryen. Its black and golden metal still shined and was well maintained. The face of the hammer had a ball-peen shape that thinned when going to the handle, and the backend of the hammer was a six-inch spike. He let out a bellow as he charged, the head of the hammer dragging across the sand. When a monster came into reach, Robert placed his second hand on the hammer, and golf swung.

The underside of the monster's jaw was obliterated, and the rest of its head soon splashed apart like a watermelon. The blood splattered to the sand, and bone disappeared into the sand. Robert twisted the hammer in his hands before swinging the spike end into a leaping monster's chest. It screamed in agony while trying to reach for Robert with its claws, but the man kicked it off the spike. The creature writhed in pain in the sand before Robert stomped heavily on its chest and swung the hammer end down on its skull. Robert smirked at the dead monster before he bellowed out a battle cry and attacked more of them.

Ned's eyes darted side to side as a duo of monsters came upon him. His reflexes were still sharp even though he had been lax in his swordsmanship. One of the creatures shot its tongue out at him, but the tongue was severed with a quick flourish and swipe. The tongue flopped in the sand like a fish on dry land, and the monster screamed in agony. The fellow monster rose its clawed hand up high and brought it down to slash Ned across the chest. Ned knelt down and held the sword in a guarding posture. The monster cut off its own hand as the Valyrian blade sliced clean through like butter to a hot knife. Ned stood up and swung his sword around him while stepping backward. He took the monster's head clean from its shoulders in the process. He didn't have time to celebrate the monsters' defeat as another tackled him into the sand.

Ned braced Ice under the beast's neck as its teeth snapped inches from his face. Ned struggled to lift the monster's weight. The beast's desperations for a meal helped add to its savagery. To Ned's surprise, blood was coming from the blade. The beast was cutting its own throat to get to him! The beast reared its head back several times, and each time it got closer to Ned's face. The monster plunges forward with one final attempt, and its head slips from its shoulders. The head lands on Ned's chest along with blood that fountains out of the body. Ned didn't get a reprieve as the head started to snap at him while trying to hop at him. "Fuck!" Ned cursed out before smacking it aside.

A monster's maw clamped onto Ned's leg, making him scream in pain. He was roughly dragged across the sand as the monster was trying to get him alone, to eat him. Sand kicked up into his face as he was being pulled, making him sputter and groan. Ned was not going to die being eaten by a beast. With his untrapped leg, he began stoping on the monster's face. The monster let out some minor whining but refused to let go. Ned stabbed forward with Ice and struck its eye. The blade cut clean through the skull, and the monster went limp, but its jaw remained in his leg. His blood attracted another monster finishing off a Baratheon soldier, and shot its tongue at him. Ned saw it coming and slashed the tongue clean in two. The monster grabbed its mouth and cried in agony. Ned smirked victoriously at the monster before he was pulled to his feet. "Having fun, Ned?" it was Robert. He had come to Ned's rescue!

More monsters circled them, and the two warriors went back to back to cover each other. Robert let out a roar, and the beasts mimicked him, the action back at him. Robert swung his hammer and made contact with one's face making the body twist in the air and landing prone in the sand. Ned slashed his sword into a beast that got too brazen. "Isn't this the greatest, Ned?" Robert asked with a gigantic bloodthirsty smile on his face.

Ned couldn't disagree more. He was terrified! Beyond terrified! It was like the Tower of Joy all over again, him at Arthur Dayne's mercy until he was saved by Howland Reed all those years ago. He was lucky back then. Now it seemed he needed a miracle to get out of this alive. Nevertheless, he would put on a brave face. "Why did your voice sound shakey?" Ned joked to hide his own fear. Robert laughed from his belly as he readied for more monsters. Suddenly more arrows rained down, but this did little to thin out the herd. That was the second barrage, one more, and there would be more men to fight.

Screams and roars filled the battlefield. Monsters claimed the lives of more men as they seemed to keep coming! Ned slashed and slashed and slashed, but I did little to dwindle them. Robert swung in almost slow motion as another monster's skull was caved in by his hammer. Robert was panting, and his face was dripping with sweat. Robert was starting to get winded; his years of being out of practice were beginning to show. Robert kicked another monster away, but another jumped onto his back and sunk its teeth into his shoulder. Robert cried out in pain before gripping it by the scruff of his neck and throwing it down on the grown before stomping on its face.

Ned was starting to feel the pain in his leg from the bite wound. Blood sloshed around in his boot. It was not looking good for him. One more jumped at him, and he thrust his sword into the beast's belly. The circled started to close in on them, and the two men were. "It's been an honor, Robert," Ned said solemnly to his friend as it looked to be their final moment. He had many regrets and made so many mistakes. He just hoped he could face his sister in the afterlife. Hopefully, she wouldn't break his nose.

"Tell me that when we get back to camp!" Robert said back as he swung his hammer to keep the monsters at bay. Even with Robert's wild swinging, the monsters still enclosed in on them. The battle cries of multiple men coming from the woods drew everyone's attention. The monster's all craned their necks in that direction of the approaching meals.

Jorah's legs just moved on their own. He was frightened by the massacre on the beach. These weren't the raiding men of the Iron Islands, but monsters from gods know where. It was a nightmare he couldn't wake up from. Barriston saw his falter and led the charge himself. All men didn't follow him, their Lord. They followed one of the greatest knights in all the land. He wouldn't bring shame to his family, and before he knew it, he was in the charge.

The first monster in his path tried to charge right at him. He swung his sword in a chop, but he found his sword only making a shallow cut. The monster screeched at the minor pain of the sword cutting into it and swiped at Jorah's chest. The armor absorbed the claws but not the force of the hit. Jorah lost his grip on his sword and went spinning away. Still with the sword in its head, the monster charged at him. Jorah scrambled backward in the sand before his hand found something buried. He grasped it and swung it at the beast, which yelped at the contact and displaced the sword trapped in its head.

Jorah was relieved until he noticed what he had grabbed. It was a leg torn from the pelvis and bleeding slightly still. He yelled before throwing it away. He located his sword in the sand before charging at the monster that he had wounded. Jorah swiped upwards into the beast's side, making it flip over. Jorah pressed and repeatedly stabbed downward into its chest, screaming his lungs out. He was knocked off by another monster taking the opportunity with his back turned. Jorah righted himself up and sliced the monster's neck. It was the result, the blade bit into the monster's skin but didn't cut deep enough. He grits his teeth at his predicament but won't lose his weapon a second time.

Jorah drew his sword out of the beast's neck and chopped at the same spot again. His hunch proved right as he cut deeper and blood gushed from the gash. The monster noticed the heavy scent of blood close by and shot its tongue towards the blood from its neck. It fired its tongue multiple times into itself, making the wound open wider. The beast eventually stopped its self-assault, gurgled, and fell over, dead. Jorah watched in horror as the beast's own hunger led to its own death.

Barriston reached Jorah after swiping an ambushing tongue that struck at him. He grabbed the younger man by his shoulder. "Lord Mormont, we nee…." Barriston never got to finish as Jorah swung his at the knight. Barriston was lucky he honed his reflexes over the years. It was that experience that saved his life. Barriston brought his own blade up to block the wild strike. He was about to kill the little Lord, but seeing the panicked and horror-stricken face made all the anger die. "Lord Mormont!" Barriston called out, snapping the man out of his stupor.

Jorah realized what he had almost done and thanked the knight. "Forgive me, Sir Barriston," Jorah's words held total remorse. This wasn't the time for apologies as more men cried out as their lives were ended.

Barriston told him, "We must get to the King and Lord Stark!" He pointed at the congregating monsters that encircled both Robert and Ned. Jorah nodded and followed the knight into battle.

Robert and Ned were both exhausted from the endless onslaught of the beasts. Bodies lay scattered about, but for every monster slain, another took its place. Both men were now littered with bite marks, and their respective armors were torn apart by the monsters. Robert swung another tired swing, and one monster was escaped by leaping back. Ned took a tired swipe at one, but the swipe went off course and only swiped a sliver off the top of its head. The monster didn't notice or didn't care as it swiped at Ned. Tired and red-faced, Robert turned his head over his shoulder and shouted, "They're endless!" Robert hadn't felt like this since the war with the Targaryens. The confidence he felt in that war was long gone. Men got tired, beasts had endless stamina when compared to men.

As if given a signal, several monsters went to pounce. Both men saw the leaping monsters and went in position to counter. A loud thundering bang rang throughout the beach, and one of the monsters went limp as it came crashing to the men's feet. The moment of shock made the men lapse but not the monsters as they piled onto the King and Lord. Teeth and claws tore at the men as they tried their best to retaliate. The warriors swung and swung, fighting off the beasts. Ned was poised to stab a monster when another thunderous boom came, and the monster's head exploded from its shoulders. The monster dropped to the ground like a puppet that lost its strings. Ned looked in the direction he heard the boom and saw a man in the most peculiar out wielding an even more peculiar weapon in his hand. "Men! Charge!" a woman's voice called out. Ned scanned for the voice before finding a familiar face. It was Dacey Mormont, and she had brought reinforcements! The cavalry charge decimated the number of the monsters. Ned saw a warrior in silver armor dismount her horse and charge into the fray with a thin-bladed sword in hand.

Selene had seen creatures like these before and knew they were simple to kill. Selene stabbed her stiletto into the beast's chest before taking her Hand of God and smashing the beast's mouth. The crushed skull caused the beast to drop into the sand, lifeless. One monster shot its tongue at her, and she countered by stabbing the tongue with her stiletto. Selene wretched hard and pulled the creature towards her before smashing the beast with her Hand of God. The beast went flying back, blood spewing from its mouth. Selene ripped the tongue away from her blade before charging to another.

Luther had left Evetta with the horse as he used his Buriel Blade sword to cleave through the monsters. No harm would come to her by the monsters. He felt Eldritch Blood flowing through the monsters and yet had no clue what they were. He had studied all manner of beast and monster yet never came across something like this. Luther slashed clean through a monster from head to groin before kicking another charged right at him. One tried to land on his back, but he stabbed his sword towards himself. The blade pierced his coat, and the monster dived headfirst into the point. He pulled the blade out before spinning and slashing a monster across its middle. Dying screams came from its throat as entrails spilled to the sand. One tried to stealthily sneak up on Luther but was met with a gun barrel in its mouth. Luther blew the back of its skull out.

Evetta sat on her horse, humming to herself as she watched her friends kill the unnatural ones. Some approached her, but they backed away with a simple glance and resonance of her power. They saw her for what she truly was. She looked behind her expectingly back, waiting for her other two compatriots. So far, she has had a marvelous time in these lands.

Robert smashed the spiked end of his hammer into a monster's skull before pulling it out with heave. "Who the fuck are they?" Robert asked while swinging his hammer. Another satisfying crunch resonated on the beach.

Ned cleaved another head in two before answering, "I don't know, but I am glad they are helping." They were skilled warriors. That was all the motivation he needed to trust them for the moment. The monsters all but abandoned him and Robert, seeing the new arrivals as more of a threat.

Jorah and Barriston had made to their compatriots. Jorah recognized the one leading the cavalry charge. "That's my cousin!" Jorah proclaimed. He was wondering why the younger girl was on such a battlefield. She was a warrior since she could hold a weapon, but this wasn't a normal battle. They were dealing with something otherworldly.

Barriston's eyes landed on the specter of a man and the silver knight. "By the Seven," he muttered out. Only a handful of times did he ever see fighting done like this, and all of them were knights of legends and renown. He wondered who these people were and where they hailed. They were making quick work of the remaining beasts, and victory was assured.

Thunderous stomping came from the ship before something massive smashed through the haul. Wood, debris, and sand shot up before slowly descending down to reveal a monstrosity. That made the others look like something out of a child's imagination. "The Old Gods help us," Ned gasped out as the sand screen died down to fully reveal the beast. Ned could only compare to the giants from the old tales.

Selene saw what had appeared and yelled, "Luther!" This was his area of expertise, and she would need his help to kill it.

"I see it!" Luther called out. He put a hand on the wooden handle behind him before slamming his blade into a notch where it could be held. The two halves became whole as Burial Balde became one, once again. "The hunt comes again," Luther rasped out as he swung the fully formed scythe in front of him. He reeled it back to get ready as the monstriosty roared out a scream that shook to the very bone.

Iron Islands

Euron stroked the Mensis Cage beside his throne in the empty chamber. Hardly anyone was left on the Iron Islands, and no one was left in the Pike. The heavenly voice of his god danced into his mind. Suddenly the charming, calm voice became ferocious and violent. Euron gripped his head in pain as his god's panicked words came to him. "Who?" he whimpered out. Something had upset his god. More a violent whispering came to him. "Ohhhhh, I understand," he revealed in his god's words of warning. "The heirs have come to take you away," Euron said out loud to his god. His words were always heard no matter what. His god was always with him. "My family will make sure they die," he said whimsically. In the shadows of his hall, three mutated monstrousness

Up in a far chamber at the top of the tallest tower of the Pike, two siblings hid. One was a young boy of nine, and the other was an eleven-year-old girl. They were the last living children of Balon Greyjoy, being kept prisoner by their mad uncle. Outside the door of their room, a loud buzzing could be heard, and the little boy whimpers as he buries his head into his sister's chest.

The girl expresses fear herself while looking at the door. She instinctively pulls her brother closer. Affections and comforts were not something the siblings had done much of. They were Greyjoys, they didn't love, they competed. However, they were not dealing with sibling rivalry; they were at the mercy of monsters. "I'm scared, Asha," her brother whimpered into her chest.

Remembering how their mother would comfort them when they were younger, she rubs the back of his head. "I am too, Theon," she said in a false brave tone. No matter what, she would get herself and her brother out of here.

AN: Here you all go! I hope everyone liked it, and I hope to give you all a decent February and happy Elden Ring time! Seeing all the reviews makes me want to stay asleep for the next couple of days so I can play it! (1) Think of an eyeless Shogggoth from Lovecraft Country with arms like a human and the tongue of a Licker from Resident Evil for the monster.

Luther – Yharnam Hunter Set, Burial Blade, Hunter's Pistol.

Rowena – Helm of Artorias, Lord Blades Robe, Undead Legion Gauntlets, Undead Legion Leggings. Gold Tracer and Dark Silver Tracer.

Gwyain – Dragonscale Armor, Dragonscale Waistcloth with golden boots, Dragonslayer Gauntlets. Sunlight Straight Sword, Sunlight Shield.

Selene – Dark Silver Armor, Gauntlets, Boots, Maiden Astraea's hood. Geri's Stiletto, Hands of God.

Knox