A Game of Thrones: In the Land of Monsters!

First Arc-Episode Five

Act One

MOONLIGHT BATHED THE dark forest; young Lya took a moment to rest, the wolves laid in a pile with the girl curled on top of them. But she couldn't close her eyes nor sleep; Lyarra Snow sensed something in the darkness of the forest and it wasn't her pursuers.

The direwolves were awake, human and wolves were on their feet, alert and mindful of their surroundings. Lya had drawn her Valyrian dagger and retrieved her axe from the ground where she had placed it.

We are hungry; she heard many voices chatter as one in her mind,Our Master is also hungry!

From bushes and tall grass came rats...large rats with enlarged and exposed brains emitting lights, and solid white eyes. Following these rodents came five emaciated beings with squid heads; they wore tattered kilts, long limbs and equally solid white eyes.

They looked feral as they crouched at the edge of the clearing, each had a swarm of ten rats moving around them and they silently watched. The wolves were growling and showing their teeth in snarls; Lya felt fear but refused to show it as she gripped her weapons tightly.

The rats gathered in their swarms of ten, facing the girl and standing on their hind legs as one.

We can smell your fear, child; came the voices again,We and our Master are hungry. You and your wolves will feed us well!

Lyarra realized in horror that it was the rats who are speaking telepathically; the five strange creatures chuckled in amusement.

"What are you?" She asked as fear crept into her voice.

Cranium rats; was the horrific reply,We serve the Vampiric Illithids. We find them fresh prey and share in the meat once they have their fill!

"I won't become a lamb to slaughter;" said Lyarra Snow in defiance, "I'll fight first!"

Take your best shot;" jeered the cranium rats challengingly,our Master will make the first move!

Before she knew what was happening; one of the Vampiric Illithids came charging at the child. Lya ducked and swung her axe, and managed to cleave the monster's leg off at below the knee.

The creature fell as it couldn't balance on its remaining leg; there was blood as the Illithid balanced on its hands and remaining knee. It roared in anger and Lyarra threw her axe, hitting the squid head in the flaring tentacles where its mouth is and managing to kill it.

The girl and wolves scattered as they ran in different directions; Lya sheathed her dagger as Frostfyre joined her. Behind came roars of rage and she heard the rats in her head say:You can run, we'll hunt you down, we'll chase you until you fall and pick your bones clean!

The girl and she-wolf reached a crossroads in the forest; straight ahead kept going deeper into the trees. Right led to snowy mountains and the left led to other mountains; Lyarra pushed the black direwolf toward the right.

"Make your way to those mountains, Frostfyre;" said Lya as she moved left, "lose them in the snow!"

Frostfyre moved to follow the child and the girl stared deep into the she-wolf's eyes. Lyarra Snow had left her body and came to a closed black door with a white mark; knocking, the door opened and she passed through.

She was in the wolf's body and could see her-self through Frostfyre's eyes; her eyes were glowing completely white. Lya felt the maternal concern of the she-wolf for her and the instinct to protect.

Please, Frostfyre, head to the snowy mountains; Snow mentally begged.I will blame my-self if you were killed; you must live!

Then Lyarra Snow went searching for the other wolves and found three mental doors in their colors. But before she could knock; each door vanished with a howl and threw her back into her body.

"Timber, Ice and Sky have been killed;" said Lya as she embraced Frostfyre. "No matter what we must live for them!"

The black direwolf with the white mark and winter blue eyes gave a sad whine as she nuzzled the human pup before heading towards the snowy mountains. Snow could see the lights of the rats' glowing brains and she ran down the left path.


Act Two

The cranium rats were in hot pursuit of the seven-year-old girl; the other swarm and remaining Vampiric Illithid were in pursuit of the fourth wolf. Their prey was in sight the swarm was eager for a feast; they'll kill her slowly and she'll feel them tear her flesh until they reach the tender meat beneath.

Heart was beating fast in her chest, blood rushing through her veins, legs and lungs were burning; but Lyarra Snow dared not stop. Thorns had torn at her nightgown, her arms and legs had scraps, and bruises; she took a risk in looking over her shoulder and the rats were drawing near.

We will feast upon the child; she heard the rats telepathically chant.We will feast on flesh, meat and organs until there's nothing but bones; her hair, nails and clothes will warm our nest!

Lya pushed her-self to run faster and made more distance; she was so focused on running that she suddenly fell down a hill. Pain coursed through her as she landed and luckily nothing was broken; the girl managed to crawl until she came upon a pair of black boots.

Looking up she saw a woman standing at 5'8" dressed in black with red embroidery; the woman had long dark red hair and deep red eyes, her skin was white as moonlight and smooth as silver, and her lips were red as blood. The woman gave a kind smile as she said: "What are you doing out here, little one?"

We will feast on the child; Lya heard the rats as they neared and she exclaimed in fear: "Cranium rats want to feast upon me!"

The rats came charging down the hill, Lyarra cried out in fear when she saw them and curled into her-self. The woman narrowed her eyes and snapped her fingers; the cranium rats burst into flames with a screech halfway down the hill.

"I have dealt with the rats, little one, they shall never feast on your flesh;" said the woman crouching near the frightened child.

Lya embraced her savior and broke down crying as everything came crashing down; the woman embraced the girl as maternal instincts kicked in.

"Come, little one, my coach is nearby;" spoke the woman soothingly as she picked Lyarra up, "it's cold out and we'll be in my castle soon!"

The woman carried the child to a waiting coach; she could hear the girl's stomach growl in hunger as they settled inside and the coach was pulled by a pair of Armanites.


Act Three

Lya was bathed in warm water, her hair washed, her scrapes and bruises were tended with special lotions that healed them. She was dressed in a new nightgown and was soon sitting at a table with a bowl of soup, diced bread and a cup of orange juice.

She was in a bed chamber with a fireplace warming the room; Lyarra soaked the diced bread in the soup before she ate and drank. The window view showed mountains and forests, the castle was built out of but still apart of the mountain.

Lya remembers her old room in Winterfell; it was small with a small fireplace that she learned to clean, light and heat the room since she was four. She had a small bed set against the wall to sleep and two trunks, one for her clothes and the other for when she becomes a woman.

She learned to keep that room clean and organized from a young age; everything Lyarra Snow was given for seven years were hand-me-downs. Her siblings slept in the Family Wing and they had bed chambers; Robb had the Heir Chamber, Sansa got their Father's childhood Chamber and no doubt Arya would sleep in Aunt Lyanna's old Chamber when older.

Generations of House Stark have slept in the Family Wing; both trueborn and natural born siblings had their own or even shared chambers to keep the pack together. Only in the current generation; Lya wasn't treated as pack, she was a Snow and the former Lady Stark made sure that she would never be a Stark.

It felt strange to the girl to be given a spacious bed chamber and a large bed set in an alcove. Lyarra Snow explored the room after eating; there was a spacious closet that was used for dressing and had a vanity.

She also remembered the bathing room and a private alcove that was a private garderobe. Then Lya returned to the sleeping area when the woman who saved her came in followed by servants who silently removed the dishes and left after cleaning the table.

"You're still awake, child;" the woman stated as she noticed the girl looking around.

"This is all so new to me;" explained the young girl nervously, "it feels like a dream and any moment I'll wake up back in the slave ship on the way to Yunkai to be trained as a pleasure slave!"

"Who would dare sell a child into slavery? Who sold you?" The woman asked curiously though her eyes flashed red.

"My Father's legal wife Catelyn of House Tully;" answered Lya hesitantly. "I'm the natural born daughter of Houses Stark and Dayne; born out of wedlock I was seen as a stain to the honor of Father's wife and she sold me to restore her honor!"

"Slavery is greatly frowned upon within Thaczil unless you're of the Underdark;" said the woman simply. "Now I would like to know your name?"

"My name is Lyarra Snow;" replied Lya with a small flinch that was noticed.

"Lyarra Snow;" repeated the woman in thought, "what a strange surname!"

"It's one of nine surnames given to bastards out of wedlock in Westeros by the father or unwed mother of noble or even royal line;" explained Lyarra with a sad sigh. "Though I should've been a Sand since I was born in Dorne but Father named me a Snow and was raising me in the North!"

"Your Mother must've had a say in your surname?" The woman inquired and the young girl said in answer: "My Mother killed her-self when I was a baby and she tried to take me with her until Father saved me; I only know her name through a vision I had and Father won't tell me of her I doubt he ever will!"

"No doubt you never had a Mother since;" said the woman in understanding. "Well I'll change your fate...I, Lucinda von Bloodmoon, ruling Lady of the Bloodmoon Vale will be your Mother!"

"Why?" Lya asked confused but also in awe and Lucinda answered: "I never had children; I always wanted a child but Fate decided that I shall never bear one and yet I have hope upon meeting you!"

Lyarra didn't know what to say and the woman said soothingly: "We'll talk more in the morning!"

"Could you stay with me until I fall asleep?" The young girl inquired and Lucinda nodded with a smile.


Act Four

Lucinda tucked Lya into bed and sat near the child; she could tell the child was still nervous and she sang her a lullaby...

"Where the north wind meets the sea

There's a river full of memories

Sleep, my darling, safe and sound

For in this river all is found

In her waters, deep and true

Lies the answers and a path for you

Dive down deep into her sound

But not too far or you'll be drowned

Yes, she will sing to those who'll hear

And in her song, all magic flows

But can you face what you most fear?

Can you face what the river knows?

Where the north wind meets the sea

There's a mother full of memory

Come, my darling, homeward bound

When all is lost, then all is found!"

Lyarra fell asleep to the woman's voice and once asleep; Lucinda quietly got up and left the room. For the first time in a century; she felt hope that she would be a Mother for the child that sleeps near own chambers had been denied maternal love for seven years of her life.

Lucinda was a vampire but she wasn't an ordinary vampire, she was a Vampire Lord in her own right. She had a servant summon four of her Arcana Harlequins before she went to her solar and waited.

Four individuals entered the solar; they wore robes and even armor, and wore a Harlequin mask of a Arcana they represented...

The first was a Tiefling male standing at 6'1" with purple hair and solid black eyes; he was slender and muscular in figure, a pair of black horns grew from his brow and curved over his head. His skin was golden orange and he had cloven feet; he wore a dark red robe like tunic and obsidian armor, his mask was obsidian with gold designs and and a crown-like crest.

He was the Warlord equivalent of The Emperor in the Arcana; his weapons were a great sword, warhammer and mace. The second was a Drow female stand 5'5" with long copper hair and lilac eyes; she had a buxom figure and her skin was jet-black.

She wore a blue dress tunic and white pants tucked into grey boots, and over the dress tunic was a silver chainmail surcoat. She carried a sword and a whip, her mask was white with a crest of silver crescent moon horns; she was the High Priestess.

The High Priest of the Arcana Harlequins was a Yuan-ti Pureblood male standing at 5'8" with obsidian black hair and greenish gold snake-like eyes. His skin was the color of bronze with patches of gold scales, his figure was willowy and also muscled.

He wore studded leather armor over green robes and bore twin scimitars, and a heavy shield strapped to his back. He wore a bronze mask bearing the symbol of his deity.

The fourth person wore a gold mask with a sun crest; a male cambion with blood red skin and black markings, and dark wings. His hair was black as night and gold eyes; he wore armor and he was the Sun Harlequin.


Act Five

"Creed...Shumash...Barakas; you three are to go through the Crimson Forest, track the Vampiric Illithids to their Elder Brain and destroy them," instructed Lucinda calmly. "Then hunt down and slaughter any den of cranium rats you find!"

"Yes Countess;" chorused the three male Harlequins before leaving to do their assignment.

"Sable;" she said turning to her High Priestess, "there is a girl in the room next to mine. You are to act as her guard until other accommodations could be made!"

"Of course, Countess;" said Sable with a bow before she left.

The Countess stretched catlike before leaving her solar and made her way to another part of her castle. A eunuch guard greeted Lucinda as he opened a door to a harem chamber; men and women greeted the Countess from different parts of the room.

Lucinda von Bloodmoon was a vampire who fed on both blood and energy through sex as well as emotions. She has a harem of men and women who enter a contract of their own free will to serve as her lovers for thirty years.

Countess von Bloodmoon is not picky of her Concubines as long as they are healthy, a few scars or freckles don't bother her and they are free to break contract with pay at any point within ten years. The men and women of the harem also do work in the castle as cooks, maids, servants, etc; Lucinda doesn't mind sharing her lovers nor is she possessive.

There has been courtships and pairings of couples no matter the gender, not only are partners found but in the end matches and marriages are made. Lucinda was a romantic at heart and a very good matchmaker; unlike normal vampires and Vampire Lords who discard their lovers once age starts showing, and move onto new younger lovers like garments.

The Countess is very caring and makes sure her lovers are well cared for in every way; their health, food, clothes,any educations and skills they needed to polish that will be useful later on. Many of her lovers enter her harem by contract to help their families and others do so in hope to find a good marriage match, or explore their tastes in being lovers of Countess von Bloodmoon.

There have been couples who approached her together and sought her blessing to marry, and break their contracts to start a family. Not only do the couples get her blessing but the Lady also pays them for their time, insure the couples be able to set up their home or give them land that will be theirs and finds them employment for whatever skills they have mastered or polished.

Lucinda von Bloodmoon wanted to celebrate that she finally has hope to become a Mother as she selected two men and led them to her chambers.


Author's Note

The song All is Found was written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez.