:-[Chapter 17]-:
"And your son Jaime? Is he coming with Lord Crakehall?
"Aye. Lord Sumner is bringing him with part of his army. They should be in the Riverlands by now, gathering troops with Lord Tully." Said Tywin who cracked a small smile at the idea of seeing his son for the first time in years since he was a squire.
"That is good. It was a long time since I saw my nephew."
:-[T.A.B]-:
The army of the North finally arrived to King's Landing by sea. It has been a long travel by ships but the men were motivated and in high spirits. Eddard had been doing an excellent job leading the men. Being a Stark, leadership seems to come naturally to him.
Dozens upon dozens of ships from everywhere in the Seven Kingdoms were accosted to the port. It was truly a sight to see, thought Harry.
"What do you think, Ned?" asked the young warrior to his friend.
"I think I already miss Winterfell and the cold." Answered Eddard truthfully.
Harry laughed and pats his friend's shoulder.
"I know what you mean. I miss Winterfell too and the others. Think about something else. Are you excited to see Robert again? His father has sent him while he and his wife are leaving for Essos, yes?"
"Aye, I am happy to see Robert. It has been a long time since I saw him. He will lead the forces of the Stormlands in lieu of his Lord Father. It will be good to see him."
"I am sure he thinks the same. In his letters, you said that he want you discover the joy of brothels, yes?" teased Harry.
Eddard became red from his neck to his hairline and sputtered.
"I-I don't know what you mean, Harry." Said Eddard with the most dignity he could muster.
Their ship, The Lyarra, was fast approaching the section of the port that was reserve for the Northern host. Of the pier, Harry and Eddard could see men running around, transporting good to one place or another.
"Hey Ned, is this the yellow banner of the Baratheon I see there?" asked Harry, pointing in said direction.
There was indeed a small Baratheon retinue on the pier. Towering them all was the massive silhouette of Robert Baratheon. The young man, no, now a man, was waving like a madmen at the ship, his booming voice resonating through the port.
"Ned! You fucking bastard! Come here you!" boomed Robert, putting an arm around Eddard's neck.
"Hello Robert, it is nice to see you well. How is Jon Arryn?"
"He is well. The old man still nags me about manners and stuff. At least he let me spar every single day!" laughed out loud the stormlander.
"Manners are important, Robert. You will be Lord of Storm's End one day." Tried to chastise his friend.
"You sound just like him I swear." Said Robert while shaking his head in a over dramatic fashion. "Even after years, you did not change at all. How is your sister Lyanna?"
"She is well, thank you. Her training is going smoothly with Lady Maege." Answered Eddard, a bit shocked by the sudden question about his sister.
"You know I caught her red handed practicing archery before your Lord Father even allowed her, aye? I promise to not say anything to him at that moment. I gave her some tips and she was so grateful could see it in her eyes. I think she liked me Ned! Maybe I should my Father to betrothed me to her, we could be brothers!"
"Robert! She is but a child." Protested her older brother.
"I am talking betrothing, Ned, not marriage for Gods sake." Laughed the taller man.
"I hear you now have a new little brother? My congratulations to your Lord Father and Mother." Said Ned, hopping his friend would drop the subject.
"Aye! Renly Baratheon. A strong name for a strong lad. Maester Cressen is taking care of while my parents are leaving Westeros for Essos.
"Why are they both leaving Storm's End? With a newborn son, I would have thought at least Lady Baratheon would stay." Asked Harry, just behind Ned.
"Because of the Hand." grumble Robert. "Rumours say is convinced King Aerys to send my parents to Essos in order to find my cousin Rhaegar a Valyrian bride. He refused Cersei Lannister for his Heir last year because he wants to keep the Valyrian blood pure. Since we have Targaryen blood, he only trusted this to my father."
"How is Stannis taking the news?" asked Eddard, still 'prisoner' under Robert's strong arm.
"Bah! Who knows? I haven't asked him. I'm sure he is fine." Wave away the stormlander.
"Robert, Stannis is your brother and all alone in Storm's End." Admonished his Stark friend.
"He is a Baratheon. He will be fine. He just needs to smile more, like you!" laughed Robert. "So, Winterstorm, I hear that you will have a Lordship soon?"
"I don't know about soon, Lord Stark want me to be married so that I can start a new vassal House." Blushed the young warrior.
"Well, I don't think it is going to be a problem with a certain Sura, aye Harry?" smirked Eddard.
"Ned!" whisper shouted Harry.
:-[T.A.B]-:
With the arrival of the northern army, all of the kingdoms in Westeros were now represented in the Capital.
The Westerlands and were represented by Tywin Lannister, Lion of the Rock and Hand of the King. The man was already at Duskendale, setting up the siege as close as possible without provoking the self proclaimed Prince Darklyn.
Gerold Hightower was chosen by King Aerys II himself to represent his army. The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard was with Lord Tywin at camp, helping him.
For the Riverlands, Hoster Tully has taken illness and had to stay in Riverrun. He sent his brother, Ser Brynden Tully, the Blackfish himself. The knight already had a fierce reputation as a warrior, won during the War of the Ninepenny Kings.
The Princess of Dorne had decided to send her second son, Prince Oberyn Martell, the Red Viper of Sunspear. His always had a perpetual smirk on his face but not in a superior way.
Mace Tyrell was the only Lord Paramount present in King's Landing, giving him a false impression of superiority. The renowned Fat Flower of Highgarden was puffing his chest to everyone entering the Throne Room.
In a surprising move, Jon Arryn decided to send his only Heir, Denys Arryn. The man was around twenty years of age and looked exactly like Elbert use too but in a more handsome way. The pretty boy, as Robert called him, was call the Darling of the Vale by the smallfolk and had a very good reputation as a knight.
Since Lord Steffon Baratheon was gone to Essos, Robert was the obvious choice for leading the Stormlands forces. Armed with his giant warhammer, the man was eager to prove himself again in battle, this time for his king.
The Iron Islands haven't sent anyone, to the great anger of Aerys. The man had ranted and screamed for days when he heard the news. The poor page boy had suffered the anger of the king by being hanged.
Inside on the Red Keep, in the Great Hall, the many lords were gathered, waiting on the king himself. All of their respective army were ready, at the gates of King's Landing, waiting on their lords. The Targaryens guards were stationed everywhere in the hall and most importantly, around the Throne itself.
Horns were heard in the Great Hall, announcing the king's arrival. A servant opened a door behind the Iron Throne and announced his king with a surprisingly powerful voice.
"You are in the presence of King Aerys the Second of His Name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of The Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm."
The man had shoulder length hair and a short trimmed beard. His hair was silver with spark of gold, giving him a kingly look. He was surrounded by four of his Kingsguards knights, all dressed in their shining white armor. Barristan Selmy, Oswell Whent, Lewyn Martell and the newly appointed Arthur Dayne were the ones accompanying their king. Dayne was chosen a few days after Ser Gwayne died in Duskendale. The two other were probably standing guard for Queen Rhaella and Prince Viserys.
He slowly climbs up the many stairs of the Throne while his knights were forming a human wall between him and the lords. Harry could see his purples eyes looking suspiciously at the crowd in front of him.
"My lords. My son was taken by theses fouls scum of House Darklyn. My Hand is already there, getting everything ready for our arrival." Said Aerys with a coarse voice.
"Our arrival, your grace? You intend to ride with us?" asked Mace Tyrell while puffing his chest at the news.
"Yes. Everything needs to be perfect and this why I will come. To make sure everything is perfect to rescue my son."
"Don't worry your Grace, we shall retrieve Cousin Rhaegar without a doubt." The booming voice of Robert Baratheon resonated through the Great Hall, lifting his hammer high in the air.
The comment made the crowd roar in approval.
"I sure hope so." Warned the king. "The Crown would not take kindly any kind of failures of your part, my lords. The Crownlands lords are already partially guilty to not have seen this coming before it was too late. Now, we have a foreign witch of our shore who cast vicious spells and has her claws on my son."
Harry was glad to have let Hedwig with Ser Rodrik in the northern camp. The king doesn't seem to kindly take magic, especially with the news of this Lady Serala of Myr. Many different rumours were coming from Duskendale. Some were good, some were bad.
The main rumour was the reason why Prince Rhaegar was incarcerated. He apparently, with his men, had participated in the while mass killing of patrons in a brothel. To add insult to injury, the whores working at the establishment were all raped multiples time by the Targaryen men. It was firmly denied by the Crown but then again, many eyes witness spoke of the event.
The worst was when the king heard the accusation of Lady Serala herself. The prince had apparently tried to force himself in a drunken stupor on her. Ser Gwayne was with him during the act, helping his prince. This was also firmly denied by the king but the numerous accusations began to be on the mind of many lords present in the Great Hall.
:-[T.A.B]-:
Lady Serala was moaning in her bedroom under the touching of her prince husband. Like every night, to maintain her control over him and by the same fact, Duskendale, she put her concoction on her nipples and her womanly part. Mixed with her own body fluid, it acted like a drug on the mind of the possessed, in that case, Denys Darklyn.
She was send here by patrons who paid for her service handsomely. Who they were, she didn't know for the amount of gold she was asking, she didn't mind at all. She knew she would come out of this alive and well. Theses patrons assured her of this. They had agents within the court itself who would attest of her innocence or even defend her with a trial by combat.
So many people she lied to. So many she killed in the shadows. This time, it was her biggest job and her most important for she would live as a Princess of Duskendale for the rest of her life. She had been assured of that.
"Does this please you, my Queen?' asked Denys Darklyn, pure reverence in his eyes.
"Hum, yes it does, my pet. Make sure to lick everywhere, yes? You wouldn't want to be a bad boy and be with our dear wingless dragon are you? She said with a faux mocking tone.
"N-No my Queen, n-never." Quickly said the man, dropping to his head immediately of her right nipple.
"Good my pet, good." She said while putting her hand on the back on his head.
Around an hour later, Lady Serala was walking toward the dungeon to meet her favourite prisoner. For a couple months now, she had the distinct pleasure to see the man slowly break. She licked her lips, imagining all she could and would do the heir to the Iron Throne. She made sure to start bringing her concoction with her, just to see how long he would take to break under her spell.
:-[T.A.B]-:
The northern army was walking in direction of Duskendale in company of the stormlands'. The thousands of men were collectively walking toward the same direction, toward the same goal, to save their Prince.
Hedwig's presence had cause a massive turmoil within the southern men. With the help of Robert, who finally accepted the fact that the direwolf was real, the knights and levies from the South calmed down. The white familiar always stayed with the men from the North however, since the horses didn't like the predator's presence.
Harry was riding beside her, on his horse gifted by Lyanna. Ser Rodrik was by his side, watching his Lord's back. Eddard was riding at the forefront of the army. The young man never regretted his father's decision to keep him permanently at Winterfell with his family. Sure, he missed Robert and the Eyrie sometimes but his family needed him more than ever.
"So, Master. Have you thought of a plan to save the prince from the Lace Serpent's fangs?" asked Hedwig, trotting beside him.
"Kind of, I don't know the layout of Duskendale yet or even Dun Fort. I'll wait to be there first. I have brought my climbing equipment we got from the Sistermen just in case we needed it."
"Still, it would be so useful if you could Apparate." Commentated the direwolf.
"Apparate? What is it?" asked harry, curious about a new branch of magic.
"It is when wizard move to one place to another in the blink of an eye. The owner of the shop where Hagrid bought me use to come each morning like this from his home and leave in the same way. Very useful is you ask me."
"You don't say. Did I tell you the story when my dear cousin ran after me with his friends? I was so scared and he was about to catch me. I closed my eyes and I prayed whatever force to be anywhere else but there. I found myself upon the roof. It got me into so much trouble with my relatives." Said Harry mentally with a small smirk.
"I can imagine. This is something I will miss from this form. I could have scared them shitless, don't you think?
"That you would Hedwig."
"Harry, come ride with me. Ser Rodrik, made sure we are not heard, aye?" said Eddard.
"Aye my lord, but do not go too far, stay where I can see you." Answered Rodrik.
"Aye, Ser. We won't."
Harry moved his horse forward to be at his friend's side. They went a couple of meter forward so that they would not be heard by the troops behind them.
"What do you intend to do once we are at Duskendale, Eddard?" inquired the young wizard.
"Follow the king's orders to the letter. He had ordered us to reinforce the north side of the siege with the Lord Hand."
"Tywin Lannister, cannot wait to meet the man with such a fearsome reputation." Said Harry while scratching Hedwig's ear beside him.
"Aye, this is a man not to be trifle with. Anyway, he is not the thing that I wish to speak to you about. Do you have a plan? With you specials skills, you are among the best in our warriors for the kind of situation" asked Eddard, looking at his friend.
"The beginning of one." Said Harry, patting his satchel containing his climbing gear.
"Good. I can only hope all will go smoothly and the King wont ordered us to ravage the city."
"I doubt it. I mean, sure, they captured Prince Rhaegar but they can't have done much worst to him, aye? Said Harry.
"I sure hope so for him my friend. I sure hope so." Confessed Rickard's son.
:-[T.A.B]-:
"AHHHHHH! Please stop! Please! Please!" screamed the once most beautiful man in the Seven Kingdoms.
Ser Jon Hollard and his son were both inside his cell, doing their prince's will. Like Dorne and the Martells before them, they would earn the Targaryen's respect. The knight was holding the Prince of Dragonstone's head firmly with his son was finishing his work.
"Look, Father! Do you like my work?" said the young squire with a maniac smile on his face.
Rhaegar had now three scars on his face. Blood was pouring on his chest, soaking his breeches.
"Aye my son. Prince Denys and Princess Serala will be pleased. Three scars for the three headed dragon, isn't that fitting, your grace?"
"F-fuck you... I'll have y-you b-b-burned for this." Said Rhaegar with difficulty. Everything was hurting. They took some of his toenails as well as break the toes themselves. After many months of captivity and torture, he didn't look like the gallant man that he once was. He lost so many stones of weight he didn't recognize himself. His wrists were still in the same shackles they'd put him when he first was brought here. His shoulders were hurting him like a bitch. He didn't know why, but Robin made sure to cut his white hair every time they got too long but never touched his growing beard.
"We shall see who shall burn who, rapist dog." Said the knight. 'Your Father is on his way to negotiate your release. The fool even agreed to negotiate near the city."
"M-My father will n-never agreed with anything you o-offer." Stumbled the prince.
"Are you sure about this, my dear Prince?" said a fourth voice, one Rhaegar feared the most.
"Princess! Look at my work, what do you think?" said an excited Robin.
"It is perfect my sweet. You are strong, just like I knew you were, yes?" she said sultrily, caressing his cheek with her hand.
The squire leaned on her touch, his eyes full of the same reverence Denys Darklyn had in his.
"Go now." She said, with a wave of her hand, her tone becoming firmer.
"Princess." Both Hollard said before taking their leave.
Serala waited for the two men to leave the room. When the door closed, she sat on a chair in front of the Prince, crossing her long legs. She was wearing a dark green dress that showed a lot of her thighs.
"Your King Father is coming in Duskendale. I hear he is very afraid of losing his precious heir after losing so many children." Giggled Serala. "He will negotiate for your release and we will have our new charter."
"I still have... my brother Viserys if I die. He won't care, you are gravely mistaken on who you are dealing with. My father is not a forgiving man." Warned weakly Rhaegar.
"I very much doubt it. My sources inside your castle tell me the man is going mad with your brother's security. He even goes so far as to forbid your own mother to see him without a least one Kingsguard present."
"Do you r-really think you can capture him so easily? He will have his Kingsguard with him, the best knights of the Realm and now they know they need to watch out."
"Again, you are ignorant of you position. Your reputation as a rapist is now at the four corners of the Seven Kingdoms. You would be lucky if Lord Steffon and his wife found you a bride in Essos considering it." Laughed the Lace Serpent.
Rhaegar stayed silent a moment, knowing she was right. Sure, some people would not believe such lie, like his best friends Arthur Dayne or Jon Connington. But many people would. Many lords and smallfolk alike.
"Oh? Nothing else to say?" she said while rising to her feet. "That is good my prince, you are learning. Maybe I should give you a reward? What do you think?"
"N-no, stay a-away!"
"Why would I do that? After all, I may need some proof that you had your ways with me." Said the witch while putting a hand on her growing belly.
"No... it can't be possibly be mine." Implored the prince.
"It is very possible, my dear prince. Who knows what this future son of Targaryen descend could do with a mother like me." Said Serala while licking her lips.
:-[T.A.B]-:
Author note: For Lady Serala being pregnant, I simply wasn't comfortable writing a full on rape scene with her and Rhaegar. Please take this into consideration in the reviews!
Next chapter: Harry goes save the Prince. 5 reviews for this chapter and I'll post it!
Thank you everyone for reading Chapter 17 of The adventure begins! Please let a review in the comment, letting me know what you think about my story.
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Criticism is always welcome as long as it is constructive.
To Sageofchaos: I hope you like this chapter, please tell me if you liked it and what you would like to see in the future!
To Claudiomir: Welcome back! Thank you for reading!
To Drakena: Yes! Time to shine Harry. It's going to happen next chapter, I promise! Chapter 18 is almost done on my part. I am currently at 5.3k words