Chapter 4
Castle Black, the North
298 AC.
Dorrick Hill, a bastard from the Westerlands, made his way to Lord Commander Mormont Solar. There had been a raven from Greywater Watch for the Lord Commander and Ser Alliser Throne.
Dorrick knocked on the Lord Commander's door.
"Come in," he called from inside.
"Dorrick, what is it?" Lord Commander Jeor Mormont looked up.
"Raven from Greywater Watch for you, Lord Commander." Dorrick handed over the scroll to Lord Commander Mormont.
"Was there anything else, Dorrick?"
"No, Lord Commander, that was it," Dorrick answered.
"Alright, be about your business." Dorrick nodded, taking his leave.
Lord Commander Jeor Mormont broke the seal on the scroll, unrolling it to read. There were two scrolls rolled into one. Jeor opened the smaller one first. He recognized the handwriting of Benjen Stark, one of his best Rangers.
Benjen had left well over two moons ago to go to Winterfell to visit his brother. Stark would be due back soon. So why was he sending Jeor a raven from Greywater Watch?
Lord Commader Mormont
It is with a heavy heart that I tell you the news. My nephew and I found Yoren and several recruits dead on the road to Greywater Watch. I was escorting my nephew to Greywater Watch. You will find a scroll written by his hand, explaining in more detail what is going on.
First Ranger, Benjen Stark
Yoren was dead, as were several recruits he had been bringing to the Wall. Who or what had killed them? Benjen hadn't said it in great detail. Benjen said his nephew would explain in more detail in his scroll.
Jeor opened the other scroll to read it.
To Lord Commander Mormont:
My name is Daemon Targaryen; you may think me mad when you read this. I am not the bastard son of Eddard Stark and some unknown woman. My father was Rhaegar Targaryen, and my mother was Lyanna Stark-Targaryen.
You may be wondering why it is that I am writing to you at all. My uncles Benjen and Aemon have told me of your plight at the wall. I would like to help in any way I can. Winter is coming, and with it, the dead.
To ensure our survival, it is imperative that you make peace or a treaty with Mance Rayder and the Free Folk army he has. Every day they are beyond the Wall, the stronger the Night King's Army gets.
We executed a deserter at Winterfell a few moons ago. He was muttering about White Walker before my uncle, Lord Eddard Stark, took his head. There is truth to his mutters; Lord Reed's son, Jojen, has greensight, meaning he sees things.
From his visions, the Night King is real. If we are to stand a chance of surviving this coming winter, the whole kingdom needs to stand together.
As for my uncle, Benjen Stark, I have pardoned and released him from his vows. As you may have read in my uncle Benjen's letter, We found Nightwatch recruiter Yoren and several other men dead.
They had been attacked by Ramsay Snow, the bastard son of Lord Roose Bolton, and his men.
If you wish to reply to this letter or have a need for me, Send a raven to Greywater Watch.
Regards King Daemon Targaryen, first of his name, rightful King of the Seven Kingdoms, and Lord Protector of the Realm
Hmm, the letter was most interesting. It may be worth showing this letter to Thorn. Jeor rolled up both scrolls, getting up from behind his desk. He grabbed his Lord Commander Cloak as he walked out onto the gangway to go speak with the Master at Arms.
Greywater Watch: The Neck
298 AC.
Benjen Stark made his way to the Great Hall to break his fast with his nephews. Daemon, Cregan, and William were already there, deep in conversation with Grenn, Pyp, and Edd. Samwell hadn't yet arrived in the Great Hall.
Ashara was already there. Benjen took a seat across from the woman, who, if Brandon hadn't died, would have been his good sister. If the rebellion hadn't happened, be Lady of Winterfell.
She was still strikingly beautiful at thirty and five name days. It was no wonder Brandon had fallen head over heels in love with her all those years ago at Harrenhal.
"Have you never seen a woman eat before Benjen?" Benjen was brought back to the presence. Ashara had caught him staring at her.
"Sorry, I was just lost in my head, thinking about Brandon and Lyanna. What would they think of their boys?" Benjen nodded over his shoulder to where Daemon, Cregan, and Will sat, laughing and joking.
"They would be proud of them, no doubt." Ashara smiled sadly as she thought of the man she had loved and lost, the father of her sons.
"Aye, no doubt they would be." Benjen looked up as a servant came with a scroll in hand.
"My Lady a Raven has arrived for you from Pentos."
"Thank you" Ashara took the scroll from the servant, who bowed and went about his business.
"Good news or bad news?" Benjen asked, tearing his bread.
"It's from Arthur," Ashara said, turning her attention back to the letter from Arthur.
Dear Ashara.
My voyage from White Harbour to Pentos was uneventful; I arrived safely in Pentos a few weeks earlier. I should have sent a raven back by now. I found the Targaryens Daenerys and Viserys.
Princess Daenerys is the spitting image of Queen Rhaella; the prince unfortunately has the same growing madness that the Aerys had. That boy is too much like his father. There were some surprising developments upon my finding them.
Jon Connington is here with the Gold Company. Not only that, but it seems Rhaegar and Rhaneys are alive and here in Pentos. Rhaegar was found by Jon Connington after the Battle of the Trident.
He hid and nursed Rhaegar back to health. By what Rhaegar told me, Connington attempted to get Princess Elia, Prince Aegon, and Princess Rhaenys out of King's Landing on the day of the sacking.
He managed to get Princess Rhaenys out of King's Landing, but sadly, not Elia and little Aegon, as you well know what befell them that day at the hands of Tywin Lannister's mad dogs.
I told Rhaegar that Daemon lives and that Benjen was on his way to Winterfell to bring him back to Greywater Watch, hopefully by the time this Raven reaches you. The King and Benjen have arrived at Greywater Watch.
Rhaegar, Rhaenys, and Daenerys are eager to meet Daemon. Viserys is well Viserys the less said about him, the better.
Your loving brother, Ser Arthur Dayne
"What did Arthur say in his letter?" Benjen asked as Ashara set aside the letter.
"He made it safely to Pentos. He has found Daenerys and Viserys, and a few others; perhaps you should read it for yourself."
"It's a private letter between you and Arthur," Benjen protested.
"You will want to read it. Daemon will want to know what's in this letter, Benjen."
Benjen reluctantly took the letter from Ashara and began to read. His eyes widened as he read the words of Jon Connington being alive; not only that, but Rhaegar Targaryen, his goodbrother, still lived, and Daemon's half-sister Rhaneys was alive as well.
"Daemon, come here for a minute; you may want to read this," Benjen called to his nephew.
"What is it, Uncle Benjen?" Daemon came over, sitting beside his uncle.
"It's from Arthur Dayne. He's found your aunt and uncle in Pentos. There's more in the letter. You'll want to read this with your own eyes." Benjen handed over the letter for Daemon to read.
Benjen watched his nephew's reaction when he read the letter.
"My father is alive and in Essos. Both he and my sister Rhaenys live. Did you know about this, Uncle Benjen?" he asked, looking up at Benjen.
"No. Ashara and I only found out from Arthur's letter." Benjen answered.
"I'm going to go speak with Uncle Aemon; he'll want to hear this news." Daemon got up from the table, the letter from Arthur Dayne clutched tightly in his hand. The poor lad was in shock; his father and older half-sister were alive.
The Crossroad Inn, The Riverlands
298 AC.
Arya was sparring with Mycah down by the river. Nyermia lay not far away, watching her master. They swung their makeshift swords at one another. Racing down the banks of the river in a mock battle.
Unaware, they had company.
"Arya." Arya groaned inwardly at the sound of her older sister's voice behind her. She and Prince Frog Face were together.
"What are you doing here?" Arya was distracted, and Mycah caught her on the arm with his stick. "Go away"
"Your sister." Obviously, she is my sister frog face. Arya thought to herself.
"And who are you, boy?" Joffery arrogantly asked. What did Sansa see in that meathead?
"Mycah, my lord," Mycah answered, dropping the stick from his hand.
"He's the butcher's boy."
"He's my friend," Arya snapped at Sansa.
"The butcher's boy who wants to be a knight, hey." Joffrey pulled his sword from its scabbard. "Pick up your sword, Butcher's Boy."
"She asked me to my Lord."
"I am your prince, not your lord. I say, Pick up your sword." Three pairs of eyes watched from the woods.
"It's not a sword, only a stick, my prince." Mycah tried to reason with Joffrey.
"And you're not a knight, just a butcher's boy." The blade of Joffrey's sword was dangerously close to Mycah's face. "That was my lady's sister you were hitting. Did you know that?"
"Stop it." Arya tried to intervene if only she had Needle.
"Arya, stay out of this."
"I won't hurt him. Much," Joffrey said, the last part hardly above a whisper.
The sick bastard cut up Mycah's face. This is the sort of man you want to marry, Sansa. Arya thought to herself.
Mycah cried out in pain. Arya looked in horror to see Joffrey smiling and enjoying hurting Mycah. If he smiled, hurting Mycah, Gods only knows what he would do to Sansa once they were married.
"Arya," Sansa cried out as Arya hit Joffrey in the back with her stick.
"Why, you little bitch?" Joffrey swung his sword wildly at Arya. The three pairs of eyes in the woods began to growl and snarl.
Nymiera was up on her feet, growling as well. "Stop it, both of you. You'll ruin everything," Sansa whined.
Ayra lost her footing, falling onto her back. "I'll gut you, you little cunt," Joffrey threatened.
Three large wolves charged out of the undergrowth. They were much larger than wolves, more like the size of direwolves.
The black and gray male snuck his teeth into Joffrey's sword hand. He screams like a girl. The grey and white-tinged wolf/direwolf knocked him to the ground. The black and gray-tinged male placed both front paws on his chest.
He snarled, snapped, and bared his teeth at Joffrey. Arya picked up Joffrey's sword. The 'future' King shrieked and cried as the large wolf snarled, snapped, and bared his teeth.
"No, get them off me," he cried pathetically. The front of his pants was wet, as he had pissed himself.
The largest of the wolves/direwolves got off Joffrey as Arya approached.
"Please, please don't," he begged.
"Arya, leave him alone."
Arya just looked at the pair in disbelief. She walked to the bank of the river, throwing Joffrey's sword into the river. She took off with Nymiera and the other three on her heels.
"Oh, my prince," Sansa fretted over him.
"Get away from me," Joffrey whined.
Cannibal, 298 AC.
The dragonwolf pup is close. I can feel him. Cannibal growled to himself as he flew above the clouds, under the cover of darkness. I'm coming, Kepa.
Illyrio Mopatis's Manse, Pentose Essos 298 AC
Rhaneys stood watching her father spar with the famed Sword of the Morning. Ser Arthur had been here in Pentos with them for half a moon now. Rhaeny's mind wandered to her brother, as it had done every moment since Arthur had told them Daemon was alive.
"Thinking about Daemon again," Rhaenys nearly jumped out of her skin as Dany appeared beside her, watching her brother and Ser Arthur Dayne spar.
"And if I was." Rhaenys looked at Dany briefly, turning her attention back to her father and Ser Arthur as they traded blows.
"I can't say I blame you. If he's anything like he looks in our dreams, we won't be allowing him out of our beds for days at a time."
"Ours; I didn't know we would be sharing him." Rhaneys didn't look away from her father and Ser Arthur.
"Yes, our dear niece. We've both fucked him in our dreams. And dragons don't share, unless with other dragons."
"What makes you think I was thinking of Daemon in a sexual way?" Ryannys countered.
"Rhae I didn't come down in the last shower of rain. You had that look in your eye."
"What look?" Rhaenys tried playing dumb.
"That very look you have now Your cunts are wet thinking about him; aren't you about that big, thick cock of his?"
"Gods, don't you two have anything better to do?" Viserys whined from behind them.
"What are we doing? Dear brother"
"Acting like whores, thinking about that bastard nephew of ours," Viserys grunted, drinking from his goblet. He had been drinking more and more these days.
"You're just jealous; neither one of us will touch you with a two-hundred-foot barge pool. Uncle" Rhaenys glared at him.
"I will not be insulted by the likes of you, you half-breed Dornish whore; you do not speak back to me. I am the dragon," he ranted.
"Viserys!" Rhaegar yelled at him.
"What, darling brother?"
"Leave Dany and Rhaenys alone. For your own health sake." Rhaegar knew Rhaenys was close to smacking Viserys one. Gods that boy.
Viserys just scowled, glaring at his sister and niece, before slithering back off to where he'd come from.
"Come on, you two. You can spar with us." Rhaegar, from a young age, had both Dany and Rhaenys learn how to defend themselves with a wide range of weaponry.
Greywater Watch, the Neck
298 AC.
It was the middle of the night. The room shook and trembled as something landed outside the castle. I woke to increased yelling coming from outside the halls and in the courtyard. I got out of bed, threw my boots and shirt on, and strapped my sword belt into place.
"Uncle Benjen, what in Gods name is going on?"
"I don't know, Daemon; something got them in an uproar," Uncle Benjen replied.
Outside in the courtyard, the place was in chaos. Soldiers and common folk ran about. Someone yelled something about a dragon. Was Uncle Aemon right that dragons had returned to the world?
We went up to the battlements. Lord Reed was there with Cregan and William.
"Is it a dragon, Lord Reed?" I asked.
"Yes, I believe he's here for you, Daemon. If he wanted to hurt us, he would have done it by now.
"Tell everyone to stay back. I'll go to him myself." I turned to leave. Uncle Benjen grabbed my arm.
"Daemon"
"I'll be fine. Uncle Benjen, if he wanted to hurt us, he would have done so by now," I reassured him, turning and heading down to the courtyard.
The dragon's body was black as night, and his green eyes bore into mine. There was only one dragon with that coloring and green eyes. Cannibal. He had disappeared shortly after the Dance of the Dragons had finished.
Where had he been all this time? Why had he come to me now?
"Easy valītsos, nyke nūmāzma ao daor ōdrikagon" I say in Valyrian. Uncle Aemon's lessons in Valyrian were paying off. (Easy boy, I mean you no harm.)
'I know Kepa. I came here for you'. What the fuck? He just spoke to me in my mind.
"Pōnta brōzagon ao cannibal ȳdra daor pōnta" I stretched out my hand for him to sniff at. (They call you Cannibal, don't they?)
'That is what they call me. My real name is Sȳndror which means Darkness in Valyrian Kepa'. Syndror placed his massive snout into my hand.
"Syndror," I say, the name rolled better off the tongue than Cannibal did.
'We must go, Kepa; your cousin Brandon is in trouble'
"Bran, what's wrong with Bran?" I questioned.
'Someone has sent an assassin to kill him. He saw something in a tower and was pushed. The fall should have killed him, but he still lives.
"How do you know this, Syndror?" I looked at him in bewilderment.
'The Three-Eyed Raven, Brynden Rivers'
Bran was in trouble; I couldn't just stand by and let anything happen to him. Syndror seemed to read my mind; he lowered his massive wing.
"Daemon, where are you going?" Uncle Benjen called from the battlements.
I climbed up onto Syndror, getting comfortable. "Sōvegon sȳndror naejot Ropatasōnar" Syndror took to the sky with a roar, heading north for Winterfell. (Fly Darkness to Winterfell)
Those who dare try to hurt my family will pay with Fire and Blood. Dragons have returned to the world. House Targaryen will rise once again. But first, I have business in the North. Bran was in danger.
I don't know how long it would take to fly to Winterfell. I only prayed that we would make it in time. 'Fly faster, boy' I urged Syndror on.
He roared in reply, flapping his massive wings harder and picking up speed. I'm coming, Bran.
Winterfell, The North
298 AC.
Catelyn and Daemon's Povs
Catelyn Stark sat by Bran's bedside like every night since the fall. She prayed to the Seven Old Gods, any of whom would listen, to spare her son. Make him awake from the coma he is now in. He would never walk again.
The door to Bran's chambers creaked open. Catelyn looked up to see Maester Lewin standing in the doorway.
Lewin walked to the other side of Bran's bedside, feeling his forehead. "It's time we reviewed the accounts, my lady. You'll want to know how much the Royal Vist has cost us."
"Talk to Poole about it." Catelyn dismissed
"He has gone south with Lord Stark, my lady. We need a new steward; several other appointments need immediate attention."
"I don't care about appointments," Catelyn snapped at Lewin.
"I'll make the appointments. We talked about this in the morning, Maester Lewin." Robb had entered the room without Catelyn or Lewin noticing.
"Very good, my Lord, my lady." Lewin bowed his head, leaving Bran's chambers, leaving mother and son alone.
Robb walked to the windows, opening the shutters. "When was the last time you left this room?" he asked, not looking over his shoulder.
"I have to take care of him."
"What of Rickon? He needs you to. Bran is not going to die, mother. Master Lewin says the most dangerous time for him has passed. He will live, mother," Robb retorted. A flash of something in the moonlight caught his attention.
"What if he's wrong? Bran needs me."
"Rickon needs you too. He's six; he follows me around, crying all day. He doesn't know what's going on. He's six for Gods sake, Mother." Something had stirred up the direwolves and dogs.
"Can you please shut the window? I can't stand it anymore; please make them stop."
Robb turned to shut the window, but something caught his attention on the hill. Fire. "There's a fire. Stay here. I'll be right back."
Catelyn placed her things on Bran's bed, going to the window to see the fire burning on the hill. The bells were ringing, and shouting was heard in the distance.
Catelyn turned to see a grubby man standing behind her. "You're not supposed to be here. No one's supposed to be here."
They both looked to the bed where Bran lay defenseless. "It's a mercy really. He's dead already."
"No," Catelyn said, to stop the assassin. He hit her, placing his dagger at her throat.
I ran through the secret passages. Leading to the family apartments. I prayed I wasn't too late. I could. The corridor in the family apartments was empty. I ran towards Bran's room. I could hear what sounded like a fight.
The noise grew louder the closer I got to Bran's room. Breaking the door down. Lady Stark was on the floor, her hands cut to pieces and bleeding badly. The assassin stood over her.
I drew Wolfsbane from its scabbard. The sound of my sword being drawn distracted the assassin long enough to draw his attention from Lady Stark and Bran.
"Another hero. Oh well, I was only paid to kill the boy. I guess I just have to kill the three of you." The assassin stepped towards me.
"You can try." I drew Dragons's Fury as well.
"Who do you think you are, boy? Ser Arthur Dayne" The assassin taunted me.
He lunged at me, wildly swinging his dagger around. I dodged his wild swings. Valyrian Steel could cut through plate armor like a hot knife through butter. You could only imagine the damage it could do to a clothed limb.
I cut off his knife hand with Wolfsbane. He cried out in pain. His wailing didn't go on for long. I took his head with both blades. His head dropped from his shoulders onto the floor.
Lady Stark looked at me in horror. I was covered in blood. My shirt was soaked in the assassin's blood.
"Lady Stark, both you and Bran are safe." Summer jumped up onto Bran's bed.
I wiped the blood-soaked blades of my swords on my shirt, putting them back in their scabbard.
"What are you doing here, Snow? You're supposed to be at the wall." I knew not expect a thank you for saving both her and Bran's lives.
I was about to answer when Robb came running in with Theon and Ser Rodrik.
"Mother, what in gods name is going on? Who is this man?" Robb hadn't noticed me.
"Assassin sent to kill Bran" I spoke up.
"Jon, what are you?"
"Doing here. I'll explain soon. Lady Stark needs attention. Her hands are cut quite badly by the assassin's knife." It was time to tell Robb the truth about who I really was.