Chapter 26 - A Heart, Full of Metal

Sam ascended the stairs, carrying hot meals for Gilly and Maester Aemon. He could hear her reading aloud slowly, with Jarvis correcting her when necessary, while Maester Aemon listened with a contented smile. In contrast, Tony barely registered Sam's arrival as he immersed himself in the contents of a scroll. He and Gilly would exchange his glasses back and forth if Sam wasn't using them. Gilly had developed a liking for Jarvis, even if she didn't fully comprehend his true nature. Her infant son cooed contentedly in a makeshift crib lined with furs to keep him warm. Tony had encouraged her to read aloud in the presence of her child so he could learn as well, despite her initial skepticism. Maester Aemon didn't mind the added company.

"What are you reading?" Sam inquired. Gilly closed the book, using her hand to mark her place as she peered at the cover through Tony's glasses perched on her nose.

"The Dan...se of Dra...gons," she pronounced the title slowly.

"Very good, Miss Gilly," Jarvis chimed in through the eyewear. Gilly blushed slightly, her child giggling from his cozy spot. Sam smiled, pleased to see that they were all getting along for the most part.

"Ah, yes, I haven't heard this one in a long time," the elderly Maester reminisced.

"What's it about?" Sam asked him.

"It's the story of the conflict between Rhaenyra Targaryen and her half-brother Aegon, fighting for control over the Seven Kingdoms. Both believed they were rightful rulers of the Iron Throne. As people declared their allegiance to either side, their struggle split the kingdoms into two factions. Brothers turned against brothers, and dragons clashed with dragons. By the time it concluded, thousands were dead. And it proved disastrous for the Targaryens as well... They never truly recovered," Maester Aemon explained with a twinge of sadness. His excitement for being able to read the story with his own ears faded as Tony diverted his attention to another scroll.

Sam saw that his stew had practically gone cold. "And you?" he asked Tony as he approached him, "Have you found what you're looking for?"

"Not exactly," Tony replied, his focus still locked on the scroll in his hands. "What's Valyrian Steel?" he inquired.

"Valyrian Steel? Well, it's one of the strongest metals forged," Sam eagerly shared his knowledge, although his enthusiasm dimmed when he noticed Tony look up from the parchment with a raised eyebrow and a partial frown. "It's both robust and lightweight... According to legend, Valyrian steel was crafted with dragonfire and infused with magical spells... It possesses remarkable resistance to damage, particularly to fire," Sam tried to reassure him.

Tony rolled his eyes in response. The term 'magic' was something he was growing tired of encountering in the scrolls he read and the information Jarvis recorded, but if it helped him find his way back home, he begrudgingly accepted it.

"And where can I find this... Valyrian steel?" Tony pressed, his curiosity piqued.

"It's quite rare... I'm not even sure if it's forged anymore," Sam equivocated, recalling the sword Lord Commander Mormont had entrusted to Jon before their departure. Tony leaned back in his chair, his hand covering his face in frustration.

"But if that's what you're after... your best bet would be King's Landing, a city to the south," Sam offered, trying to reassure him. Tony peered past his hand covering half his face. "But … it would be very dangerous … the Lannisters control King's Landing," said Sam back tracking given Jon had told him to keep him out of sight and mind from prying eyes.

"How far away is it?" Tony asked bluntly. Sam let out a sigh, realizing his mistake.

"Oh … please don't go there … if you say who say you are, they'll kill you for sure," Sam pleaded. Tony lowered his hand, exhaling sharply as he returned his attention to the scroll.

"Well, sometimes you've got to run before you can walk," Tony muttered to himself.

"What?" Sam asked, seeking clarification.

"Nothing," Tony deflected, shaking his head. He loosened his cloak a bit in the warm room, revealing the glowing blue light through his T-shirt. Sam stared at it immensely. Tony could feel his odd gaze and looked down at his chest before his eyes flickered back up to Samwell.

"I'm sorry... I saw that on your armor. What is that, if you don't mind my asking?" Sam inquired politely. Tony hesitated for a moment, tapping his fingers nervously on the table.

"It's, umm... it's an energy source," Tony finally admitted.

"An energy source? Like a small fire?" Sam asked innocently.

"Something like that..." Tony replied, evading further explanation.

"How would you wear a small fire?" Sam's curiosity persisted, his innocence evident in his probing questions.

"That's a miniature arc reactor designed by Mr. Stark. It's a small, self-sustaining fusion power plant. Its primary function is to generate clean, limitless energy by harnessing the power of nuclear fusion, mimicking the same process that fuels the sun," Jarvis intervened, his informative voice ringing out. Tony shot a half-annoyed look at the eyewear, which Gilly misinterpreted as directed at her.

"Thank you, Jarvis," Tony said sarcastically, silencing his AI friend. Tony shook his head, stood up and completely slipped off the cloak so Samwell could better see the glow through his T-shirt.

"I was … in an accident … a huge … explosion … " Tony attempted to explain. Samwell turned his head a bit while still keeping his eyes on him with a look of confusion.

"And now … I've got a cluster of shrapnel … metal … trying every second to crawl its way into my heart," he said tapping the glowing ring on his chest, "This stops it. This little circle of light. It's part of me now, not just armor." Sam furrowed his brows. Tony rolled his eyes once more and pulled down a part of his T-shirt to reveal the glowing blue light emanating from a circle embedded firmly in his chest. Sam's eyes widened in astonishment. Gilly pushed back her chair and stood up to get a better look.

"That's … inside you?" she asked her tone filled with both curiosity and kindness.

"A part of me yes," he said letting go of his T-shirt, "It keeps me alive and powers my suit … which is damaged and can't retain energy. No energy, no power, no power, no suit. So you can see my dilemma," he said. Sam blinked rapidly.

"So, Samwell Tarly, how do I get to King's Landing?"