:-[Chapter 16]-:
"Now now, Prince Rhaegar. We have delicious plans for you." Said Lady Serala, walking toward him.
Serala, with a single wave of her hand made her soldier move away, creating an alley for her to Rhaegar. When she was close enough, she put her mouth near his ear.
"The fun is just beginning, Prince Rhaegar. I doubt you'll have as much fun as me."
:-[T.A.B]-:
:-[277 AC, Winterfell, The North]-:
The exact moment Prince Rhaegar was caught,
Harry Winterstorm opened his eyes after his nightly meditation inside his trunk. The vision shocked him to his core. It never happened to him before. It was like something, or someone was giving him instruction. His tried to retake his breath by slowly breathing.
Eventually he managed to calm down and started thinking about the vision or the dream. He didn't know what it was yet and didn't want to rashly conclude anything too fast and alert his lord for nothing.
With a wave of his hand, the torches on the wall lit up with a bright fire. Harry smirked slightly at this. Now he was able to lit up his torches himself with wandless magic. A true feat in itself and he was proud of it. His magic was becoming stronger and stronger the more time passed. He couldn't wait to go back to Hogwarts in a way.
"Really? You want to go back already?" said a voice Harry knew well.
"Kalvyn! It has been a while." Said the now fifteen years old young man.
"For you indeed, young man. How did you like this little reality dream of yours, hum?" Asked the archangel.
"It was real?" said Harry while Kalvyn wink at him. "So Prince Rhaegar is really prisoner from the Darklyn but why?"
"Denys Darklyn was corrupted by the witch Serala of Myr. She used her talent in potion to make control the man for her gain."
"A witch? Is she like me then?"
"Not in the least. Magic in this world is very weak. She is more of a charlatan. She managed to seduce Denys by means that frankly, is not important. This is your task, go to Duskendale and try to save the Prince before it is too late. A raven should arrive soon, announcing the news to the Seven Kingdoms."
"Thank you Kalvyn, I shall do that and no, I do not want to go back yet. You were right, the potential of your machine is incredible." Confessed the young warrior.
"Not a problem kid. Like I said, use it well." Winked the purple eyes man again and disappeared with a small pop.
:-[T.A.B]-:
Like Kalvyn said, the raven came a few days after their meeting in the trunk. Prince Rhaegar Targaryen had been taken captive by House Darklyn. The Red Keep was in absolute turmoil. Rumours that the King was beyond mad at the Hand, who had greatly supported the idea of the Prince going himself to negotiate.
King Aerys II had ordered all of his bannermen to raise their army to siege the city but the defender claimed they would kill the Prince if they even saw a hint of an army coming to attack. He ordered however for his Lords Paramount to send each part of their host directly to King's Landing.
Again, like Kalvyn predicted, Harry was chosen to go to Duskendale in company of Ser Rodrik Cassel and Eddard Stark who was commanding the army. Brandon would have been the one to go but sadly had taken ill. Maester Luwin, who had been chosen years ago had firmly protested against the Heir leaving and Rickard easily agreed.
Two thousands strong warriors left Winterfell in direction of White Harbor where they would take ships toward the Seven Kingdom's capital. This time, his direwolf Hedwig would come with him, to her great joy.
Rickard had given them a fortnight to prepare the army properly to leave time for them to be with their family and loved one.
Harry was proud to be chosen to go, this time as a full on warrior. He was ready and he knew it. He was winning most of the sparring he did with the guards and even against the Starks themselves. He didn't use his connection with Hedwig to enhance his reflexes. He wanted to be the best he could by himself first and if he needed it, Hedwig was always by his side.
In his room, Harry was looking at his armor, making sure it was ready for their departure. A soft knock at the door caught his attention.
"Enter." Said Harry, knowing who it was.
Sura entered his room promptly. As soon as the door was closed, she jumped into his arms, tears in her eyes.
"You are going to war again." Cried the young woman.
"Aye, I am, my Lady." Softly whispered harry into her ear.
They stood like this for a long moment, appreciating each other presences. Harry was slowly stroking her lower back, trying to calm her. She never liked when he left fighting bandits of wildling theses past years but now this was a siege where so many different things could happen. Great Houses would be there, all of the high players of the Great Games, as the Lords call it.
"Sura, my Lady. I will be safe. Ser Rodrik is coming with us and even Hedwig. Do you really think she will let anything happen to me?" asked Harry, still as softly as before.
"Over my dead body, Master." Confirmed the direwolf
"I know she won't. I know you are a good warrior but this is the Royal family. You will be in the presence of almost all the Great Houses and the best warriors of the continent. I don't want you to get hurt." She continued to cried.
Knowing there would be only one way to calm her down. He let her go and put a finger under her small chin. Her beautiful brown-reddish eyes were wet in tears. His eyes looked deep into hers, trying to express his emotions toward her.
He kissed her softly on the lips, trying to put all of his feelings in it. They had become a couple in the last year to the joy of Winterfell. Harry had asked Lord Stark for the right to court the young woman, since her father was dead and she was under his protection. He immediately gave it without a second thought, with a small on his lips.
"I will come back to you, my Lady. You have my word." Promise the young man.
"I will hold you to that, my Lord." Smiled Sura, before hugging him by the neck fiercely.
:-[T.A.B]-:
Prince Rhaegar was wheezing in his cold damp cell. For weeks now he had been a prisoner and for weeks had he endure the pain of torture. He truly underestimated the perfidy of the woman, Serala of Myr. When he was put in the cell, he thought at first he would be a simple prisoner and that's it.
But then Jon Hollard and his son came.
It was the first night of his imprisonment. Rhaegar what brought here by young Robin Hollard. The squire, without a hint of remorse or even honour, took the prince by the hair and forced him into his cell.
He would remember that.
The night passes as a blur for the prince. He was violently waked up by men barging in his cell. He tried, oh he tried to speak with them but their only answers were punches on his body.
He would remember that.
He didn't know where exactly they bring him but he suspected that it was probably the dungeon due to the cold and damp atmosphere. They put shackles on his wrists and ankles, making sure he could go anywhere. He was still dressed with his own cloths from King's Landing.
For how long he waited there, alone and cold, he didn't know. There was no sunlight, only a couple of candles. He didn't have a bed or even straw for comfort, only cold stones.
Suddenly, the door opened, letting a man came through it.
"Your grace," mockingly said the man. "I am Jon Hollard, good brother of my Prince Denys Darklyn. I am to take good care of you, per his orders but know this, is this truly a pleasure. We will get to know each other very much."
"You'll regret this, Hollard. The Crown will not…" started Rhaegar before getting interrupted by a fist in the stomach.
"The Crown will do as we say, as we have their wingless dragon with us. If they attack, their precious Prince will die. In the meantime, shall we get started, my Prince?"
"Even if my father does not attack, you have to understand your position, Ser. By torturing me, you will put an end to your House and the one of your lord." Said Rhaegar, trying to convince the man.
"Denys Darklyn is no ordinary lord. He is now Prince of Duskendale and you will show him your respect in his walls." Said Ser Jon.
The knight approached the captive prince and took his hair by his fist.
"Rhaegar the Beautiful they call you in that shit stain of a city. We should do something about that, don't you think?" smirked evilly the Hollard man. "Robin! Come my boy."
The young squire immediately came through the doorway, a huge smile on his face. It was like he was eager to deliver some punishment.
"Aye, father? Is it time? Can I do it? Please? Please father!" begged the young man.
"Calm yourself son." Laughed the father. "Yes it is time. You see, your Grace, my son is like me, oh so eager to please our Prince and his Lady Serala. I will let you both together, see you later, my dear Prince."
Let alone with the insane looking squire, Rhaegar could only gulp loudly. The look in his eyes did not bode well.
"You Targaryens are so proud of your looks. The beauty of the Valyrian Empire. Those long white hairs made you popular with the ladies I imagined, hum? Let's change that, shall we?" said the young man, taking a pair of scissors out of his back pocket.
He would remember that.
:-[T.A.B]-:
Inside the White Tower, in King's Landing, two members of the Kingsguard were discussing the event.
"Ser Barristan, we must go save Rhaegar! We need to convince the King to let us go now." said the newly appointed Arthur Dayne, thinking about his best friend prisoner.
"Ser Arthur, I am inclined to agree with you. However we must be careful with His Grace." Whispered the knight. "He took the news very badly and he sees conspirators everywhere. If he thinks we want to risk his Heir's life, we can be easily be punished or even killed."
"I don't believe…" started the young Dornish man.
"Enough. The King is the King and he ordered us to stay here, in King's Landing while we wait for the Lords Paramount. Lord Tywin has already started on his army camp at a good distance from Duskendale. Ser Gerold is already with him to get everything ready if needed. Who can protect the King and his family while we are down one member? Ser Gwayne is death, killed by House Darklyn. Stay focus, young knight." Firmly said the Selmy man, eyes like steel.
"Aye, Ser. My apologies, I am just worried for our Prince. I will check on Ser Grandison if he needs something from me." Said Arthur before taking his leaving.
Ser Barristan was left alone in main chamber of the White Tower. How he misses being a Kingsguard under Jaehaerys II. Sadly the man didn't rule for a long time due his propensity to illness. Many lord saw him as a weak King but the knight knew best. The Jaehaerys he knew was the one who won the War of the Ninnepenny Kings. He was the one who successfully destroyed House Blackfyre for good.
Every time a new Targaryen is born, the gods toss a coin in the air and the world holds its breath to see how it will land. Jaehaerys was definitively on the good side. The man had been a good King in his short reign while his son, Aerys was something else.
Yes the man wasn't completely mad but he has his moments. Moments that make Barristan's skin crawl under his armor. He knew there was no love between the king and the queen but to rape his own sister-wife? The Kingsguards were force to stay beside her bedroom door while he had his wicked way with her.
Barristan looked deep into the fireplace beside him, trying to find a way to help his Prince is Duskendale.
:-[T.A.B]-:
Somewhere, in Oldtown, in the Reach.
"So Tywin's plan seems to work in his favor. The man really didn't like to see his daughter refused by the king last year." Said a masculine voice.
"Aye. His idea to send the Prince in the place of the King will create more turmoil inside Westeros. Aerys is becoming madder and madder due to his Targaryen lineage and the fact that his son is getting tortured. He is convinced there are traitors everywhere at his court." Said another, laughing.
"How about Rhaegar? Is he still alive?" asked a feminine voice, adorning the Mother's mask.
"Of course he is. Our agent would not kill him when the stakes are so high." Scoffed a voice.
"What about out plan for the North? The Starks are the only one in our way for a unified Westeros under the Sevens."
"Patience. Patience my friends. If all goes well, Rhaegar will gain his family's madness and plunge the Realm into war for us. We have well placed agents to help that cause within the royal court." Said the first voice.
"Aye. The Order is preparing for this moment for millennia. The Old Gods must be erased for the glory of the Sevens. We cannot fail.
"And we won't," reassured the first male voice.
The Seven members went in position around the seven pointed star. Their started their chant to light the candle.
"And now, let us see how our dear Prince Rhaegar is doing."
:-[T.A.B]-:
Rhaegar had been alone for days now. No one came to his cell, not even for water or bread. His wrists were bloodied by the tight shackles around them and were hurting like hell. The cut on his head were burning him but the worst pain was definitively his left hand's fingers.
In the weeks that followed his incarceration, Jon Hollard broke them. One at the time and one day at the time, prolonging his agony. He was not blessed with milk of the poppy, making his suffering worse than ever.
Dressed with only his black breeches, the prince of Dragonstone was starving. He could already see his weight loss with his apparent ribs. He didn't get any outside news from his captors. They kept him in the dark, literally and figuratively.
Suddenly, the door opened, finally letting some light pass. Rhaegar squinted his eyes, little bit dazzled by it. A curvy figure entered the cell, blocking the torches behind it.
"My poor prince, what have they done to you?" said a sultry voice that he knew too well. He wondered when she would come, whether to speak with him or to goad him.
"L-Lady Serala?" said Rhaegar weakly, his throat sore by thirst.
"Oh, yes my prince, it is I. I am so glad that you remember me by my voice only."
"Who could forget you, Lady Serala? Or should I call you, the Lace Serpent." Snarled Rhaegar who still had fight in him.
Serala of Myr brought her face closer to the prince and illuminated them with a candle in her hand. The prince could see her gorgeous face was all serious.
"I would advise you not to insult me, Dragon Prince. You are in my lair now. Yours is far away from here." Warned the Myrish woman, her voice losing all precious warmth.
"I will have you flogged once I am out of here, witch."
"Witch?" giggle the woman. "Out of here? My prince, if you leave this place, you will be despise by all."
"How can I be despised by leaving a town that tortured me and killed my retinue?" asked Rhaegar, bewildered by the idea in itself.
"But because of what you did to Duskendale your Grace." Gasp Serala, while putting a hand on her mouth and the other on her heart. "You and your men have violently attacked a brothel in the city, raping the women and killing the patrons."
"We have done no such thing!" screamed Rhaegar, offended by the very idea.
"But you have, my prince." Laughed Serala while straddling him. "We have dressed our men with all of your armors and send them in the lower part of the city. Half the city has seen it. We've let survivors of course so that they can attest of your doing. We even found a dragonseed willing to help us! He's dead of course. We wouldn't want him to speak too much of it, yes?"
"The people would never believe these lies."
"But they are. Rhaegar the Rapist they call you. Do you want to know the best part, dear prince?"
"Fuck you." Snarled Rhaegar.
"In due time, my dear, in due time. No, the best part is this," started Serala before her face become a mask of sadness and despair. "You tried to gang raped me with your Kingsguard! You force yourself upon a poor defenseless lady."
"I-I-I did no such thing!"
"With an entire castle and city who will swear it on their life? I doubt it will change much for the Seven Kingdoms. Rumors so easily spread, especially from the royal family" giggled the woman who started grinding herself on the prince.
"Stop it you whore." Tried to move the prince but he was too weak to do so.
"You are mine, Rhaegar Targaryen, all mine." Whispered the Myrish witch.
:-[T.A.B]-:
Tywin Lannister was in his tent heavily smirking at the event while reading the report of the day. When the king had refused his daughter for his son Rhaegar, the Hand had been furious. His daughter was prize any man should rush to possess. The man swore vengeance upon Aerys that day and Duskendale gave him the perfect opportunity to strike.
His brother Kevan entered the tent, leaving his Lannister guards outside. The two brothers were dressed in their House's armor of red and gold, gleaming under the torches light.
"Brother. The preparations for the siege are complete. Siege towers and trebuchets are ready to be assemble at your command. The men are ready and leaders are assign to their group." Said Kevan.
"Good. Now we wait for the other kingdoms' armies."
"Do you know why the king as ordered this? With only the Crownlands and our forces here we could easily take Dun Fort." Asked his younger brother.
"Because of me. I managed to convince him to call part of the kingdoms' banners so that he could see which Great Houses refuse his call."
"And if they all answer? What will the king do then? Inquired Kevan.
"It is almost impossible to know the fool's mind. He is erratic in his decisions and even Rhaegar was starting to see the true behind the man."
Tywin rise from his seat and indicated to Kevan he wanted wine. His brother immediately started to pour some into his favourite golden cup. He gave him and poured himself one after and sip on it.
"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.
"That is good. It was a long time since I saw my nephew."
:-[T.A.B]-:
Thank you everyone for reading Chapter 16 of The adventure begins! Please let a review in the comment, letting me know what you think about my story.
If you are interested in becoming an Alpha or Beta reader, contact me!
Criticism is always welcome as long as it is constructive.
To Wrixel: Thank you for reading! Yes, Luwin is here!
To InfinityMask: It is possible yes, thank you again for reading and posting a review!
To dannyderailed: Hi! Care to elaborate? Thank you for reading!
To Starstrider: This story will indeed take a while. I will be honest with you, I still don't know if I am going straight to another world after Game of Throne, (I have a couple of ideas already) or if I do a year or two in Hogwarts then maybe go back to the machine? What do you think?
PS: Good catch for the after Voldemort! ;)