Season One-First Arc-Episode Six
Act One
When I was able to see once more; I found my-self in a strange harbor, the sights and sounds was quiet overwhelming. I wondered the place until I came across an inn/tavern called the Sailor's Delight; I entered to drunk rowdiness and reveries that made me blush slightly.
Yet it didn't dis-way me from approaching the bar as I removed my hood; I rolled my eyes at the wolf whistles as the barkeep said: "Quiet; return to your business! What do you want, lass?"
"A room, a bath and a meal;" I said as I laid three gold dragons down.
The barkeep picked a gold dragon up, bit it and asked: "What kind of coin is this and where did you get them?"
"These coins are called gold dragons and I earned them through singing, and barmaiding;" I answered simply. "Though my Uncle gave me an allowance on my name days and that's all you're getting in answer!"
"Room and bath I'll provide as for a meal, we could use a good song or two;" said the barkeep as he took the money and I replied with a smile: "I know of two bawdy songs; but first a bath and a change of clothes!"
The barkeep led me to the second floor and a door marked with a wolf; the room was semi-clean and medium size, and a bed big enough to hold two. A tub was brought as I unpacked the Dragon Harp and a dress as the tub was filled with water; one of the women stayed to help wash my hair.
"Such lovely dark brown hair, Miss, it's almost like silk;" cooed the woman as she lathered some soap I brought in her hands and worked it through my hair even messaging my scalp as she asked: "What's in the soap it smells divine?"
"Blue winter roses, they were my late Mother's favorite and mine too;" I answered as I relaxed a bit and the woman said a bit teasingly: "You'll have sailors buzzing around you like bees!"
After drying I slipped on my blue dress embroidered by Weirwood leaves, I buckled on Dark Sister and grabbed my Dragon Harp as I locked my room. Once downstairs the barkeep nodded as he asked: "What are you called?"
"Aerea Stark the Winter Rose of the North or the She-Wolf;" I answered as I was led toward the stage.
"Alright silence now;" cried the barkeep and getting everyone's attention as he added: "Welcome Aerea Stark the Winter Rose of the North as she sings for us!"
There was much whistling as I took the stage and sat on the chair that was present; I began playing a tune on the Dragon Harp as I began singingThe Dornishman's Wife...
"The Dornishman's wife was as fair as the sun,
and her kisses were warmer than spring.
But the Dornishman's blade was made of black steel,
and its kiss was a terrible thing.
The Dornishman's wife would sing as she bathed,
in a voice that was sweet as a peach,
But the Dornishman's blade had a song of its own,
and a bite sharp and cold as a leech.
As he lay on the ground with the darkness around,
and the taste of his blood on his tongue,
His brothers knelt by him and prayed him a prayer,
and he smiled and he laughed and he sung,
"Brothers, oh brothers, my days here are done,
the Dornishman's taken my life,
But what does it matter, for all men must die,
and I've tasted the Dornishman's wife!"
The clapping, stumping and banging of cups on tables showed how the patrons enjoyed the song. I was given a mug of cider to drink before I sang the next song;The Bear and the Maiden Fair.
"A bear there was
A bear, a bear
All black and brown
And covered in hair
Three boys, a goat
And a dancing bear
They danced and spun
Up to the fair
How sweet she was
And pure and fair
The maid with honey
Up in her hair
He smelled her all
On the summer air
The maid with honey
Up in her hair
From there, to here. From here! To there!
All black and brown and covered in hair!
He smelled that girl on the summer air!
The bear! The bear!
The maiden fair!
Oh, I'm a maid, and I'm pure and fair!
I'll never dance with a hairy bear!
I called a knight, but you're a bear!
All black and brown and covered in hair!
He lifted her high in the air!
He sniffed and roared and he smelled her there!
She kicked and wailed, the maid so fair!
He licked the honey all up in her hair!
From there to here. From here! To there!
All black and brown and covered in hair!
He smelled that girl on the summer air!
The bear! The bear!
The maiden fair!
And the bear, the bear!
The maiden fair!
And the bear, the bear!
She sighed and she squealed and she kicked the air!
Then she sang: My bear! My bear so fair!
And off they went into the summer air!
The bear, the bear,
And the maiden fair!
From there to here. From here! To there!
All black and brown and covered in hair!
He smelled that girl on the summer air!
The bear! The bear!
The maiden fair!
And the bear, the bear!
The maiden fair!
And the bear, the bear!
The maiden fair!
And the bear, the bear!"
Act Two
Though there was calls for more; barmaids took to the stage and began their own song, and dance as I escaped to a table in the corner next to the fireplace. The barkeep brought a bowl of stew, bread and refilled my mug with cider, and he looked very pleased.
"My girls aren't the jealous types but they gave you a moment to eat before the patrons are calling you back;" he said as he stroked his beard for a moment and then he added: "I could use a songbird like you and my place can use more business with a proper singer!"
I sat for a moment thinking as I nibbled on a piece of bread dipped into stew; the woman I saw in my vision needed time to get here, this place I'll find her and I could use the job while I wait.
:Sure I'll sing for this place;" I said with a nod. "But I have a duty to fulfill and when the time comes; I expect to part as friends with no arguments!"
"Deal;" said the barkeep as we shook hands on our agreement.
I finished my meal when I heard the chanting: "Winter Rose...Winter Rose...Winter Rose!"
"Alright folks, I have one more song in me;" I said as I took to the stage once more.
I strummed a tune upon the Dragon; set the melody to haunting as I sangJenny of Oldstone…
"High in the halls of thekings who are gone
Jennywould dance with her ghosts
The ones she had lost and the ones she had found
And the ones who had loved her the most
The ones who'd been gone for so very long
She couldn't remember their names
They spun her around on the dampold stones
Spun away all her sorrow and pain
And she never wanted to leave
Never wanted to leave
Never wanted to leave
Never wanted to leave
They danced through the day and into the night
Through the snow that swept through the hall
From winter to summer then winter again
Til the walls did crumble and fall
And she never wanted to leave
Never wanted to leave
Never wanted to leave
Never wanted to leave
And she never wanted to leave
Never wanted to leave
Never wanted to leave
Never wanted to leave
High in the halls of the kings who are gone
Jenny would dance with her ghosts
The ones she had lost and the ones she had found
And the ones who had loved her the most"
When I finished singing there wasn't a dry eye even the women were drying their eyes on their aprons; then a patron stood up and he said: "Winter Rose; sing another song, a cheerful bawdy one!"
"Alright I have such a song;" I said as I started up a jaunty tune to sing a bawdy song I learned from a traveling bard.
"As I went home on Dé Luain night as drunk as drunk could be
I saw a horse outside the door where my old horse should be
Well, I called me wife and I said to her: Will you kindly tell to me
Who owns that horse outside the door where my old horse should be?
Ah, you're drunk,
you're drunk you silly old fool,
still you can not see
That's a lovely sow that me mother sent to me
Well, it's many a day I've travelled a hundred miles or more
But a saddle on a sow sure I never saw before
And as I went home on Dé Máirt night as drunk as drunk could be
I saw a coat behind the door where my old coat should be
Well, I called me wife and I said to her: Will you kindly tell to me
Who owns that coat behind the door where my old coat should be
Ah, you're drunk,
you're drunk you silly old fool,
still you can not see
That's a woollen blanket that me mother sent to me
Well, it's many a day I've travelled a hundred miles or more
But buttons in a blanket sure I never saw before
And as I went home on Dé Céadaoin night as drunk as drunk could be
I saw a pipe up on the chair where my old pipe should be
Well, I called me wife and I said to her: Will you kindly tell to me
Who owns that pipe up on the chair where my old pipe should be
Ah, you're drunk,
you're drunk you silly old fool,
still you can not see
That's a lovely tin whistle that me mother sent to me
Well, it's many a day I've travelled a hundred miles or more
But tobacco in a tin whistle sure I never saw before
And as I went home on Déardaoin night as drunk as drunk could be
I saw two boots beneath the bed where my old boots should be
Well, I called me wife and I said to her: Will you kindly tell to me
Who owns them boots beneath the bed where my old boots should be
Ah, you're drunk,
you're drunk you silly old fool,
still you can not see
They're two lovely Geranium pots me mother sent to me
Well, it's many a day I've travelled a hundred miles or more
But laces in Geranium pots I never saw before
And as I went home on Dé hAoine night as drunk as drunk could be
I saw a head upon the bed where my old head should be
Well, I called me wife and I said to her: Will you kindly tell to me
Who owns that head upon the bed where my old head should be
Ah, you're drunk,
you're drunk you silly old fool,
still you can not see
That's a baby boy that me mother sent to me
Well, it's many a day I've travelled a hundred miles or more
But a baby boy with his whiskers on sure I never saw before
And as I went home on Dé Sathairn night as drunk as drunk could be
I saw two hands upon her breasts where my old hands should be
Well, I called me wife and I said to her: Will you kindly tell to me
Who owns them hands upon your breasts where my old hands should be
Ah, you're drunk,
you're drunk you silly old fool,
still you can not see
That's a lovely night gown that me mother sent to me
Well, it's many a day I've travelled a hundred miles or more
But fingers in a night gown sure I never saw before
As I went home on Dé Domhnaigh night as drunk as drunk could be
I saw a thing in her thing where my old thing should be
Well, I called me wife and I said to her: Will you kindly tell to me
Who owns that thing in your thing where my old thing should be
Ah, you're drunk,
you're drunk you silly old fool,
still you can not see
That's a lovely tin whistle that me mother sent to me
Well, it's many a day I've travelled a hundred miles or more
But hair on a tin whistle sure I never saw before"
The song had many clapping and stumping in rhythm to the music; by the time I finished singing I was tired. I took my bow and escaped to my rented room where I locked the door once I was inside with a lamp in hand that I managed to get from the barkeep when I headed up the stairs.
I laid out my bear pelt over the bed and sleeping pelt out; undressed, got into bed, blew out the lamp and I was asleep.
Act Three
As I slept I had a vision of home; Lord Stark finding and reading the letter I left, and the look of pure panic to my leaving. Search parties were sent out but no one could find a trace and soon word came from White Harbor.
I had been noticed in entering the Godswood and vanishing in light; it became apparent that the Old Gods had taken me somewhere where none from Westeros could find me. My disappearance was felt but there was nothing anyone could do; my cousin-siblings felt my absence most keenly, even Sansa was upset but she refused to show it much to the annoyance of Robb and Arya.
Lady Catelyn Stark nee Tully was actually happy that I was gone; but sadly she had no Sept to give her thanks in. Father-Uncle Eddard Stark was most displeased when he learned how his wife practically celebrated my disappearance; he refused to visit his wife's bed, even had her chambers moved with only her Tully household to serve her and had refused to speak to his wife since.
Lady Stark refused to apologize for her behavior; she believed that she was in the right and her Lord Husband was in the wrong. She managed Winterfell from her new quarters which was separate from the Family Wing as she patiently waited for her husband to come to his sense, apologize to her and return her to her true quarters.
"Why does Ned still care for the Bastard Girl?" Lady Stark said to Septa Mordane as they sewed together, "Aerea Snow was never his bastard but that Dragon Prince Rhaegar Targaryen's; she's more of a Waters or even a Sand since she was born in Dorne. The girl is a product of rape, she murdered Lyanna Stark when she tore her way out and Ned was a fool to keep her!"
"She is a Blackfyre;" said the Septa with a humph, "the Seven removed her before she could cause more harm. The Seven Who Are One punished Aerea Blackfyre for her sins and being an abomination!"
"Yes and may Aerea Blackfyre never return;" said Lady Catelyn in agreement, "less she tries to bring ruin to the North!"
I woke with a snort to morning light streaming through the closed shutters; I was up, dressed in a white tunic embroidered with red Weirwood leaves, a pair of black breeches tucked into boots and a sleeveless long grey coat embroidered with a white direwolf. I buckled on Dark Sister and grabbed some money as I went downstairs to the main room; where lobster, crab and bread with honey was served for breakfast.
Tea was also served to anyone who was hungover from drinking last night; I couldn't help but give a cheerful smile and a word of morning. The barkeep placed food and drink before me at the corner table that I had claimed as he said: "The cider didn't affect you like the others!"
"I didn't drink much last night but I slept like a babe still;" I replied as I dug into my meal.
Cinnamon was offered for the bread and bitter tea; I was allergic to cinnamon and avoided it at all cost, even in Winterfell Gage and the cooks knew to never have cinnamon near me nor in anything I ate or drank for it could nearly kill me. My mother, Lyanna Stark, was allergic to cinnamon considering she had a sweet tooth; not only did I inherit Mother's looks and coloring, I also inherited her allergy and even Arya was also allergic to the stuff too.
I went out into the market and explored a bit; there was different kinds of fruits from other lands, animals ready to be slaughtered for meat and exotic animals displayed to be bought, etc. I visited a vendor selling birds of all kinds even exotic; large cages side by side stretched like a wall.
But I was drawn to one lone cage that held a beautiful snow owl speckled with grey and gold eyes; I didn't realize my mind had slipped from my found, found a door, knocked and was allowed in. I found my-self in the owl's body staring at my-self with glowing white eyes and I heard the owl speak to me in a woman's voice: "Mistress!"
I was back in my body with the bird vendor staring at me in shock and he asked: "Why did your eyes glow white suddenly?"
"I skinchanged;" I answered matter of fact. "How much for the owl?"
"What do you mean skinchanged?" The man inquired curiously and I sighed as I explained: "My mind entered the snow owl's body; I can see through her eyes, use her other senses and had bonded with her!"
"Proof it;" said the vendor as he opened the snow owl's cage, "use the owl to bring a fish from the fishmonger, any flower from one of the flower girls and a rat dead!"
So I went to the door within the owl's mind, found the door open wide and entered, and took off from the cage leaving my body standing. Flying as an owl during the day was strange but oh so freeing; found the fishmonger, dove and took a fish from the cart, and brought it to the vendor.
Flew to the flower girls selling all sorts of flowers; I aerial danced for them and the girls were charmed by my performance, one of them threw a beautiful large burgundy thorn-less rose into the air that I caught by beak and flew to the bird vendor as I laid it on the counter away from the fish. Then I flew to the docks and found the biggest rat sunning it-self on a box; I swooped down and snatched it up.
The rat tried to fight but I slit its throat with my talons as I brought it back to the vendor; I returned to my-self as the snow owl laid our third prize before the vendor and instead of returning to her cage, she instead flew to my right shoulder and perched there. The vendor looked at the three items he had requested, looked up at me next and he said very quickly with a hint of fear: "Take the snow free of charge and may she serve you well!"
I went around the market with my new familiar; I thought the Old Gods must've intended for me to find the snow owl whose plumage matches the colors of House Stark. I bought kabobs from a cooking vendor and shared the meat; my owl ate ravenously that I bought a few more kabobs and watched her strip the sticks clean of meat.
"I'll name you, White Ariella, my White Lioness in owl form;" I said as I settled on a name for my snow owl.
White Ariella preened at her name as she settled upon my shoulder and I brought her back to the Sailor's Delight for lunch; where she won over the barkeep by catching and eating mice. I took the pellets White Ariella coughs up and fed them to the fire; out of curiosity the barkeep and I carefully cut a pellet open to see mice bones.
My large white owl is from a wintry land and it's very rare to find such a bird in the tropics' I was already bonded to Ariella and she to me. I knew the Old Gods wanted me to find the snow owl and form a familiar bond with her through warging; White Ariella was now apart of me and I was apart of her.
Act Four
Evening was falling and the Sailor's Delight was packed; I wore a white dress embroidered with blue winter roses and I put braids in my hair after a bath. I took the stage as the Winter Rose of the North with White Ariella perching on a stool next to me as I tuned my Dragon Harp and began playing a Northern song...
Where Lagan stream sings lullaby
There blows a lily fair
The twilight gleam is in her eye
The night is on her hair
And like a love-sick lennan-shee
She has my heart in thrall
Nor life I owe nor liberty
For love is lord of all
And often when the beetle's horn
Hath lulled the eve to sleep
I steal unto her shieling lorn
And thru the dorring peep.
There on thy cricket's singing stone,
She spares the bogwood fire,
And hums in sad sweet undertone
The songs of heart's desire
Her welcome, like her love for me,
Is from her heart within.
Her warm kiss is felicity
That knows no taint of sin.
And when I stir my soot to go,
'Tis leaving love and light
To feel the wind of longing blow
From out the dark of night
I let the tune fade sweetly as eyes became misty and I saw the looks of men, and women sighing wistfully over lost loves or current loves. I struck up another song of love and began singing...
I wish I was on yonder hill
Tis there Id sit and cry my fill
Till every tear would turn a mill
Is go dte tu mo mhuirnin slan.
Siuil, siuil, siuil a ruin
Siuil go sochair agus siuil go ciuin
Siuil go doras agus ealaigh liom
Is go dte tu mo mhuirnin slan
Ill sell my rock, Ill sell my reel
Ill even sell my spinning wheel
to buy my love a sword of steel
Is go dte tu mo mhuirnin slan
Siuil, siuil, siuil a ruin
Siuil go sochair agus siuil go ciuin
Siuil go doras agus ealaigh liom
Is go dte tu mo mhuirnin slan
I'll dye my petticoats, I'll dye them red
and it's round the World I will beg for bread
until my parents would wish me dead.
Is go dte tu mo mhuirnin slan
Siuil, siuil, siuil a ruin
Siuil go sochair agus siuil go ciuin
Siuil go doras agus ealaigh liom
Is go dte tu mo mhuirnin slan
I wish my love would return from France,
his fame and fortune there advanced.
If we meet again, 't will be by chance.
Is go dte tu mo mhuirnin slan
Siuil, siuil, siuil a ruin
Siuil go sochair agus siuil go ciuin
Siuil go doras agus ealaigh liom
Is go dte tu mo mhuirnin slan
I took a break from singing to eat my supper; White Ariella kept watch for anyone else to approach until I was called back to the stage. I sang theDornishman's Wife and many picked up the chorus lines to theBear and the Maiden Fair, and it got a bit rowdy toSeven Drunken Nights.
By the end of my performance; I escaped to my room where I got ready for bed and left the window open as White Ariella went out to hunt. Bu the time I laid in bed and fell asleep; I slipped into my owl and joined her in the hunt.
White Ariella's Mind: Normal P.O.V
She felt her Mistress join her in the night while Mistress' body slept; she welcomed the company as she flew silently in the night sky. Her human bond gives her freedom in exchange of allowing her Mistress the use of her body.
Her Mistress was special, touched by Gods, a she-wolf in human form chased out of her pack and chose to fly instead. She named her a White Lioness and she bore the name proudly as she spotted a worthy prey.
She will gladly help her Mistress to fly and they'll fly together anywhere as she silently dove at her prey. The squealing lasted for awhile as she tore into the wild pig and began feasting as it bled out.
Aerea's P.O.V
I woke in the middle of the night still tasting White Ariella's prey blood; I got up and washed away the taste of blood with water. My owl came back covered in blood and she allowed me to wash her before joining me in bed where we slept the rest of the night.
Author's Note
Yes I did it for the FIRST TIME in a Fanfic story; I recorded the ENTIRE humorous Irish folk song SEVEN DRUNKEN NIGHTS and it was most famously performed by THE DUBLINERS. Granted I changed the names of the week into Irish via the Google Translation and it was well worth writing the lyrics in full.
I also threw in a traditional Irish ballad; MY LAGAN LOVE, but there were different versions of it that I chose Donal O'Shaughnessy's version with its Irish lines. Finally I recorded another traditional Irish song; Siuil a ruin and I got from a website called The Celtic Lyrics Collection and the Author is Unknown.
Most of this episode was lyrical and it was fun recording the lyrics; including THE DORNISHMAN'S WIFE and THE BEAR AND THE MAIDEN FAIR!