A/N: Welcome to my first ASOIAF Fanfiction and my second ever one (The other one on my account is delayed as I am still trying to get the storyline planned out properly) written. This fanfiction is actually a crossover story, but the franchise it's crossing over with doesn't actually have any other stories written for it yet in this fandom, and I know for a fact that if I DID create a new tag for it literally no one would read it. So It's going here for now.

As for what the franchise that's being crossed over is… it's a surprise! Though I'm sure that at least a few of you have already guessed it from the title alone.

Anyway, on with the story.

The fourteenth day of the fourth moon of the year 292 AC

The sun held low in the sky, bathing the great free city of Lys in a soft gold light. The colors in the sky mixed, the blue of midday giving way to the softer purples of early evening. The streets still bustled as the day continued, thousands of people moving to and frow across the cobbled streets. Ships made their way to port, traders hawked their wares to passersby, slaves were marched and displayed, and courtesans and pillow slaves beckoned those with money to spend it on their services. On the streets, rickshaws and their riders made their way through throngs, offering a measure of comfort and safety from the chaos.

In one of these hand drawn carts sat two individuals, alike in attire but unalike in appearance. One was a veritable beast of a man, in both stature and body. His limbs were heavily muscled, and his face and hands scared, marking him as a warrior. When one turned their gaze to his face, they would find his origins hard to define. His hair was closely shaved and his face bare. A thin nose and full lips marked his face. Oval eyes, a deep blue that were almost black, constantly scanned his surroundings, on the watch for potential threats. All this combined to make him seem average and unnoticeable, able to blend into any crowd.

His clothing was simple yet well made. On his chest was what appeared to be a black leather doublet, though it was strangely unflexible. On its edges, there was a fine inlay of golden leaf. A pure white undershirt apparently made of silk could be seen peaking out from underneath. His breaches were a similar shade to his doublet, and made of expertly sewn rugged cloth, allowing for good mobility and comfort. His hands were covered with finely made gloves of leather, which cuffed halfway up his lower arm. For footwear he wore shin-length boots of black leather. To his side was a large leather satchel.

His companion, seated next to him, was similarly attired, though, if possible, his clothes were perhaps even finer, constructed out of soft Myrish lace and strong fibers, making them light yet resistant to damage. The top of the doublet opened slightly, revealing his white undershirt, and a dark neckerchief rested on his neck. Around his shoulders sat a mantle and cloak that protected him from the elements, its linings shining with gold. His hands were covered by fine white gloves of lace. He also held a leather satchel, though smaller than his companion.

However, his physical characteristics differed greatly. Whereas his companion was a man grown, he was bought a boy, no more than ten to twelve name days old. He was incredibly, almost painful, thin, with little to no muscle definition. His hair was black as raven feathers, parted slightly on the left side and waved backwards. Pale skin like that of a corpse covered him. His face was sharp and angular, with icy blue eyes that could stare through a person's very being to see their soul within and consisting of only the faintest hint of baby fat that betrayed his age.

The rickshaw took these two travelers deeper into the city, skipping past many of the more popular taverns and bed houses, until they arrived at the entrance to an alleyway. Halting, the driver turned his head to his charges.

"We're here. Where you want is about halfway down that alley." The man and child exited their seats. The larger of the two flicked a silver Lys coin to the driver.

"Stay here. We will be back shortly." The driver nodded eagerly. This was almost five times the standard fare. He may be able to afford some 'comfort' of his own tonight.

The two made their way into the darkness of the alley. The boy walked slightly in front; his gaze locked straight in front of him. The man marched in step behind, his head locked forward but his eyes constantly on the move. A variety of beggars and ruffians infested the alley, reaching out for alms from these two clearly wealthy individuals. Some of the more uncouth sized them up, minds filling with thoughts of the treasures they must hold, held back now only by the threat proposed by the larger man.

A sharp crack and a blood-curdling scream rang out. One such individual had made a move to pickpocket the young boy, only to find himself holding his now useless hand after his companion had swiftly broken it without even directing his attention at the thief. The others in the alley quickly directed their gaze elsewhere, the shine of greed in their eyes giving way to fear.

A moment later, they had truly arrived at their intended destination. A sign hung outwards from a door, it's image and words well since worn off. The man opened the door, allowing both he and the boy to step in.

The interior of the establishment was well lit by a large supply of candles burning from all corners. Dozens of people milled around, talking, laughing, drinking and eating. A group of minstrels played in the corner. The sound of pipes, drums, and lutes encouraged some to dance near them. Circular tables were laid out haphazardly, allowing those who wished to find respite. The sickly-sweet smell of alcohol mixed with that of roasted meat and drafted throughout.

Upon their entrance, some amongst the patronage gave a glancing look, but soon went back to their own business. The clientele of this establishment was diverse, made up of both men and women from all corners of the known world. Two more walking in, even if they made a strange pair, did not call for more than a passing interest.

However, one pair of eyes lingered. Alone at a table sat a man with deep tanned skin, flamboyant green hair tied in intricate braids, a blue beard forked at its ends and dressed an intricate leather jerkin and puffy stripped breeches. At his side was a finely constructed cutlass, housed safely in its sheath. Upon seeing the new arrivals, he raised his left arm and smiled. The hand was missing two of its digits which were replaced with fakes made of gold, while the rest of his fingers were incased in a variety of rings. His teeth were half rotten, and many were instead made up of a variety of precious metals.

The travelers noticed the action and made their way to join their contact. Soon after, both stood before him, the younger of the two looking directly into his eyes.

"Ah! I see you have finally made it!" His tone was cheery, disarming, with a thick Tyroshi accent, "Please, seat yourselves and get some food. It was a long journey to here from Braavos!"

The young boy smirked, taking the seat on the left. The older man stayed standing, his hand resting on the boy's chair. The flamboyant man quirked an eyebrow before shrugging.

"Suit yourself, big man." He lifted a tankard to his lips, downing the ale within. Some leaked down the sides of his mouth into his beard. The boy sneered slightly in disgust. Wiping away the liquid with his hand, he continued speaking. "Ahhh! I do love the ale here! For the price, you can't find much better in this city!"

"I believe we are here to do business, not discuss the ale." The boy spoke. His voice was high pitched, as expected of someone his age, but carried with it a sense of superiority and command that gave his words weight beyond his years. The man across from him once again peaked an eyebrow.

"Impatient, are we?" He chuckled, turning his gaze to the standing man. "Do you often let your little one speak like that to his elders?" A stony gaze and deep voice responded.

"You will treat my lord with more respect." The implicate threat sent a slight shiver down the man's spine, though he hid it under a quick laugh.

"Haha! Of course, of course! I meant no disrespect, just making conversation!" The rogue smiled again, flashing his filthy teeth. He extended both his arms out. "How about we introduce ourselves properly?"

"You are Sallelos Irranar, a sellsword and pirate of Tyrosh." The boy spoke again, looking at his gloves. "You various exploits include the capture of the King's Ransom trade ship, the defeat of the Dothraki khal Fono in single combat, the deflowering of the several Septas of Oldtown, etc, etc." The boy waved his hand lazily at his recounting of Sallelos deeds. "I am Pallo Essios, and this is my manservant, Harenno." The standing man nodded his head slightly in acknowledgement.

The smile slightly diminished on Sallelos face, though did not fully leave. "…Never mind, I guess." He turned to look fully at the boy, Pallo, in front of him. "Then, to business."

"Indeed. Do you have the information we requested?" Pallo asked, fixing his icy blue eyes on Sallelos. The sellsword felt a growing pit in his gut, the longer he looked at the boy directly.

"Of course, I would not have called you here otherwise." He leaned forward in his seat. "Do you have my payment?"

Pallo snapped his fingers and Harenno once again flicked another coin into the air. Sallelos deftly captured it and held it up for inspection. The oval-shaped golden coin of Lys stared back at him. His smile turned into a frown, and he grunted, unsatisfied.

"What game are you playing here, Essios?" He accused, his vision shifting between the boy and man in front of him. "This is not even close to the agreed amount." A soft chuckle emanated from Pallo.

"Now who is being impatient?" The gloved fingers of the boy interlinked as he rested them in front of his face. "The deal was information in exchange for payment. Provide us what we want to know first, and you will receive the rest of what is owed to you."

Sallelos' frown deepened. "And what guarantees do I have you will actually provide me with my sum?"

"The same guarantees that I have you would provide me the information if I had paid in advance." The boy answered swiftly. The two locked stares, each trying to overpower the other. Sallelos began to sweat slightly as those icy blue eyes bore into him. He blinked.

"Fine." He relented. "The one you are looking for is indeed in this city." Reaching into a pouch that rested on his hip, he withdrew a rolled piece of parchment. He slid it over the table to Ballo, who quickly began to unfurl it. "She matches most of the descriptions you were looking for."

Pallo looked over the parchment. Inside was a sketch. The face of a beautiful woman, flowing hair and large, dark eyes. On the side of the woman's neck, three large slits could be seen, and scale-like patterns crept their way up her neck. The boy's smile grew wider. "Where?"

"At a pillow house, deeper in the city." Sallelos responded, finishing off his tankard. "It's called The Blooming Lily, near the southern harbor, about a 20-minute walk from here."

Snapping out of the near trance that the image had placed him in, Pallo turned his attention back to the rogue in front of him. "Excellent. Thank you for the information. Harenno, if you please?" The larger man nodded and reached into his satchel. Five gold Lys coins were placed on the table.

Once again, Sallelos frowned, anger flashing across his eyes as he stood from his seat. "Again, you cheat me! This is only half of what we agreed!" His right hand fell to the hilt of his saber. Others nearby directed their attention to the argument. Pallo only grinned, his hands once again interlocked.

"Calm yourself, Irranar." The tone could only be described as placating, like one would an unruly child. "I have not cheated you. It is simply that our business is not yet concluded."

"Not yet concluded!?" Sallelos growled, "The deal was gold for information! I have provided the information, so give me my gold!" He shifted his hand slightly, revealing the barest hint of sharp steel. Ballo once again chuckled.

"You must have suspected I would need to verify what you have shared with me?" His teeth were now fully bared. "You will receive the remaining half once the information is confirmed. Of course, you will be accompanying us to our destination." Sallelos now shook with fury. Breathing deeply, his eyes shut, and he calmed himself, if only slightly.

"And why should I not kill you both, take my money, and be done with this?" Upon saying that, Harenno's right hand fell upon his side, revealing to Sallelos that the man had what appeared to be a short sword hidden on his person. His left hand reached into his doublet.

"Oh, if you believe you can, go ahead!" Pallo's smile only got wider, his eyes squinting. He portrayed the perfect image of a predator. "Of course, you would need to defeat Harenno. But, before you try, you should note that not only does he possess a sword, 4 throwing knives, two daggers hidden in his boots, and a hard wooden cudgel, beneath his clothing he is incased in armor of high enough quality to break your cutlass in two"

Sallelos stopped and looked more closely at the man. His throat dried as he realized the boy was not bluffing. On closer inspection, he could see the studded, painted black, metal piercing throughout the doublet. Underneath the fine material, Harenno was covered in plate. Nothing he had on him could penetrate that. Even though his neck was protected, the high collar revealed itself to be forged of steel. He was also made more acutely aware of the sheer difference in height and mass. Sallelos was not a short man, standing at almost six feet, but the man in front of him towered at nearly seven. And for the larger man to so effortlessly move while incased in such heavy armor further demonstrated his immense strength. Sallelos wetted his lips.

"And beyond the fact that Harenno could kill you before you moved even without any of those advantages…" the boy leaned forward on his elbows, "Even if you instead decided to cut and run, there is no where you could go." Sallelos started and attempted to gather up what remained of his courage.

"Ha! If I wanted to, boy, I could be gone before you blinked. You are not the first to threaten my life and you won't be the last. I know every route out of this city like the back of my hand. Once I reach the port, you'd never find me again!" He was confident of this. He had hidden troves and bases all over the Free Cities and Stepstones. If worst came to worst, these up jumped Braavosi spice merchants would have better luck finding a virgin in Norvos nunnery.

So why did the boys smile only seem to widen?

"I know about your manor in Volantis." Sweat began to once again drip from Sallelos forehead. "I also know about your base in Grey Gallows. Your deposits in the banks of Lys and Myr under the name of Tarini Skiptaro and with Iron Bank as Elenar Yinda."

His mouth was drier than the Red Sands. The boy continued. "I know that you still send money to your mother in Tyrosh, living in that nice little red house in the trade quarter. And I know about your lover in Pentos, a magister by the name of 'Garrar Ahrelion' who is quite found of the trinket seashells you collect for him on your voyages."

Sallelos was reminded of some of the tales he had heard on his travels as he stared at that smile. The ones that told of creatures that appeared as men but would prey on the blood of the living to keep their youth and power. A dhampir. The smile on Ballo's face somehow became even more malevolent.

"I know every place you lay claim as home. I know the name and location of all your associates, rivals, business partners, family and lovers. I know everything about you, Areo Mopatis." The blood drained from Sallelos face entirely. He found that he could hardly breathe.

"H-how did you..." The boy continued.

"There is nowhere you can go that I can't find you. So let me explain what will happen now." Sallelos was only vaguely aware that the manservant had come to his side of the table and grabbed his shoulder. "You will accompany us to our destination. Once there, you will wait for us to finish verifying what you have provided. Then, you will receive your remaining coin, and you may leave."

Harenno lifted the near catatonic man out of his chair and shoved him forward, a knife now placed against his back. Sallelos began to pray to every deity he could, begging them to save him from these monsters that held his life at their mercy.

"Come along now, Sallelos." The boy stated mockingly, walking in front of both men towards the door. "It won't be too long before you're even richer." Sallelos forced his feet to move to avoid the tip of the dagger sinking deeper into his spine.

"Y-yes… of course."

"Oh, and do try not to run. If you do, I promise you the last thing you'll feel will be a sharp pain between your shoulders." That damn smile somehow stretched further.

Sallelos could feel tears stinging his eyes.

By the time the small group exited that nameless tavern, the sun had continued its descent in the sky. The gold that once enveloped Lys had gone, replaced by inky blacks and purples. It would not be long before the sweet embrace of night fully covered the city. However, Lys did not sleep and despite the late hour, hundreds of people still milled around. These still thick herds delayed the rickshaws transit to its new location, not helped by the extra weight of its new rider.

Sallelos did not dare to speak. He was seated in the direct center of the rickshaw, the man and boy on either side of him. He debated perhaps taking the boy hostage, but the tip of the blade still digging painfully into his side informed him this would end only in his death. The boy seemed unperturbed, reading a variety of scrolls in a language or code Sallelos did not understand. The driver cared not for what was happening behind him. It was not the first time he had an "unwilling" passenger, and these men paid well. Like always, he focused solely on his journey.

Minutes passed agonizingly slowly, until finally they stopped in front of a building. Made of white limestone, with a domed roof and glass windows, it blended into its surrounding buildings but was obviously of quality construction. Soft music and the sound of laughter emanated from inside. A slight scent of cinnamon wafted on the wind. Outside, a smattering of bed slaves milled around. All were exceptionally beautiful and wore sheer clothing that left nothing to the imagination. Sallelos himself momentarily forgot his predicament as he felt his eyes drawn to them, as they danced and flirted. His kidnappers, however, seemed unimpressed.

A sign hung above the door, showing a lily flower in full bloom. This was the place. Pallo and Harenno exited from their cart, again paying the driver another silver coin. The younger of the two turned to look at their unwilling companion.

"I do not expect we will be inside for more than an hour. Please, wait here until we return." With extreme grace, he turned around and walked into the building, the hulking manservant no more than a foot behind him.

The pirate stood ramrod straight next to the hand cart, not daring to make any sudden movements. Maybe he could try to make a run for it, but these men made it clear they knew enough about him to make life afterwards at best extremely difficult. He fiddled with one of the gold coins he had been paid, trying to convince himself that it would be over soon, and he would be gone. He'd never deal with these men again. Though he did worry about what they would do to him should his information prove unreliable. A wet spot formed in his trousers.

Inside the pillow house, its opulence was on full display. Beautiful curtains and couches of red silks and lace hung over everything. Men and women dressed in extravagant and expensive clothing wandered around, almost all with at least one pillow slave on their arm. The air was no thick with incense, almost certainly to cover up any unpleasant smells caused by the establishments business. Slaves of all kinds, young and old, fair and dark skin, plied for the two newcomers attention as they made their way towards the proprietor.

Said man in question sat before them in an intricately cared desk made of strong mahogany. He was a rotund individual, his girth almost overflowing onto the desk itself. The boy tried to count his chins but gave up after reaching the fourth. His robes were of the most delicate silk and his chubby fingers were covered in rings and gems. His face was clean shaven, with splashes of makeup placed around his cheeks and eyes. Before him rested a ledger and dozens of gold and silver coins, which he weighed on an ivory scale. He was currently engrossed in his counting but looked up as one of the girls not currently occupied gently brushed his shoulder. With impressive speed for a man his size he stood and strutted towards the new arrivals, revealing himself to have a rather impressive height, being only half a head shorter than Harenno.

"Welcome to my fine establishment! I see you are new arrivals!" The man attempted to bow, though with his gut the most he could accomplish was a slight kneel of his head. "Quite young to be at an establishment such as this, but fear not! We have many girls and boys who can attend to both your needs!" His voice was high pitched, ill-fitting for his stature. Pallo marked him quickly as a eunuch. At his words, some of the establishments prostitutes lined up on either side of the man, some even pawing at the two of them, though Pallo shook them off and Harenno simply ignored them.

"I'm sure you do." Pallo said, a grin forming on his lips. Delicately, he reached into his satchel and withdrew Sallelos' sketch. "However, I am interested in only a certain member of your house."

The man took hold of the sketch in his fingers, delicately grasping it as he looked it over. His eyes shown in recognition and a smirk of his own found its way to his face. "Ah! I see you are interested in the exotic! Yes, this girl is indeed here. How long were my lords interested in her company?"

"An hour would do; we have a tight schedule to keep." The boy said, his gaze focused on the fate slave owner in front of him. The man rubbed his hands together, his rings clinking slightly.

"Of course, of course! Now, since there are two of you, I would have to charge you double the normal rate: four hundred silver Lyssenis." His left hand was extended. Without waiting, Harenno deposited one gold Lysseni. Almost double the request amount. The obese manager's mood increased, and his smile widened. He would have to treat these two with more respect if there were such big spenders. "Excellent. You both will also have to relinquish your arms. No weapons on the premises. You will have them returned to you upon your exit." Two guards came up to them, holding out a sack each. Harenno quickly and efficiently dropped all his weapons into the bag, the houses owner showing slight surprise at the sheer amount of armament on him. Pallo demonstrated that he had none on him.

With a snap of his fingers, the proprietor had the guards dismissed and gestured to his customers. "Please, my good sirs, follow me. Your prize is just down here."

As they walked, the young boy took the opportunity to observe his surroundings. The establishment was quite large, and it was full of clients. He estimated at least 4 dozen men and women were here looking for pleasure. He also made note of the diversity of bed slaves offered, his face contorting in slight disgust when he noticed some were younger than even himself. Harenno shared his master's mood, nose wrinkling at the sights and smells of the place. Soon, however, they arrived at an iron door, at odds with the wooden entries and silk curtains of the other rooms. The fat man retrieved a key from within his voluminous sleeves and unlocked the portway.

"She is waiting for you, sirs. Enjoy yourself to your hearts content. Please, no permanent damage." He giggled slightly before bidding the two farewell. Pallo glanced slightly in his direction before looking instead at the room.

It was dark. There were no windows, and the only illumination came from candles hanging from various points on the wall and ceiling, though some had been extinguished. Aversion to light, the boy thought to himself.

The floor was covered with rugs and silks and a large bed dominated the center of the room. On this bed, sat the woman they had traveled so far to see. She moved sluggishly, as if waking from a deep slumber, and turned her attention to those who had violated her room.

Even in the dim light of the room, the boy could make out her features quite easily. She was dressed in almost nothing beyond sheer velvet that offered not true modesty. Her stature was small, likely below 5 feet, yet she was clearly a woman grown, her proportions demonstrating this fact easily. Her hands and feet were covered in what appeared to be dull blue scales, and uniquely she only had four fingers and toes on each limb. Her actual skin was a pale white, and her face hidden behind a veil. All that was visible was her eyes, which were a deep, dark black. Pallo spoke first.

"Hello. Can you understand me?" He asked in a dialect used by those in the Summer Islands. It would be unlikely for anyone in Lys to know a word of what he just said. The girl quirked her head slightly.

"Yes, I can. I assume both of you have paid for me?" She asked, her tone deadened. The boy's smile became predatory.

The gift of tongues. He was almost shaking with excitement. Finally.

"Indeed, we did." He answered her question, staring straight into the onyx-like gems. "However, my companion and I have no interest in engaging with you sexually." While her face was hidden, her confusion was obvious.

"What do you mean?" Emotion returned to her voice; curiosity mixed with apprehension. "I am a but a simple bed-slave, I have nothing to offer outside my body." The boy let out a dark chuckle.

"We both know that isn't true." He approached her slowly, hands clasped behind his back. "You are a Child of the Forest. Or the Sea, in your case. A mermaid, merfolk, faire folk, whatever you would prefer." The girl's eyes widened, and she scrambled back slightly.

"I have no idea wha-" He held up a hand to stop her, Harenno standing tall by his side. His predator grin only grew.

"Do not insult my intelligence, it's unbecoming for both of us." He had finally reached the bed itself and stood at its foot. "You are a mermaid. If I had to guess, you fell in love with the wrong sailor and found yourself bound here, forced to lay with humans, exiled from your people." The girl was now holding one of the bed's pillows, desperately attempting to gain some measure of space between herself and this boy.

"…what do you want with me?" She asked, her voice shaking. She felt as though she was being corned by a wolf or shadow cat.

"Simple. I want your Book." The girl couldn't stop the gasp from escaping her lips. Her body was vibrating now, and she removed the veil from her face. The fin-like ears and gills were now perfectly visible. In her mouth, small sharp teeth could be seen.

"You…. You don't know what you're dealing with, boy!" She tried to force venom into her words, but her stuttering and hesitation made the attempt mute. "I could kill you with but a look if I so desired." A dark chuckle filled the room.

"I doubt that. Your magic is all but gone. If that were the case, you wouldn't be stuck here, getting fucked by all variety of men." The curse felt distasteful on his tongue, but it provided sufficient weight to his statement.

Still shaking, the now revealed mermaid tried to hold the gaze of the boy in front of her, but what remained of her courage faltered and she quickly cast her eyes down. "Who are you?"

"My name is Artemis Fowl, acting lord of House Fowl of Westeros." The boy made a mocking bow before gesturing to his companion. "This is my knight and servant, Butler."

Butler made no movements beyond a nod of his head, his shock at the reveal of an actual mermaid carefully hidden behind a stoic façade. Artemis continued.

"And I want to make a deal with you. Your Book, for your freedom." The mermaid once again froze completely, her eyes widening to the point they seemed ready to fall out from her skull. She was tempted, gods know she was. Stuck here in this hell for years, having filthy mud men defiling her body day in and out, being denied access to the sea…

"How can I trust you, human?" She asked, her gaze hardening. Hope turning into confidence. "I have been betrayed before." The icy blue eyes of Artemis continued to stare into her very soul.

"A gesture of good will, then." Butler had pulled a chair which rested off to the side in front of the bed. Artemis sat in it, his left leg folding on top of his other as his elbows rested on top, his fingers interlocking. "Show me, here and now, that you have your Book, and I will purchase you from this place."

The mermaid was silent, thinking deeply on the request. The Book was sacred. To give it to a human was the upmost blasphemy. To even show it to one was a great sin. But the prospect of freedom, of no longer being bound to this evil place… and all she had to do was show it to him. After another moment, she made her decision.

Reaching behind her back, she slowly withdrew something from apparently nowhere. Covering it with her hands, she carefully held them out for her audience to see. Nestled safely in her grip, was a small Golden Book, perhaps the size of a large apple. Artemis' smile threatened to split his head in two. He turned his attention back to the small creature before him.

"A deal is a deal. Wait here a moment."

Not that she had any other choice.

It had taken almost an hour for Artemis to hash out an agreement with the pillow house owner. The fat slaver was resistant to giving away such a unique slave. Her beauty and strange nature had made her a popular attraction for his establishment. He had finally relented after demanding over fifty gold Lysseni's for her contract, an outrageous amount when even the finest of bed-slaves was worth only a tenth of such a price. A second later a bag containing sixty gold coins was dropped on the desk.

Artemis laughed softly to himself; the slack jawed image of the man would be an amusing memory for years to come. He, Butler, and the girl, now dressed in relatively modest travel garb, exited The Blooming Lily and returned to their handcart, Sallelos the Pirate still seated unmoving where they had left him. He jumped slightly upon catching sight of his tormentors, and let out a shaky breath when he noticed the short woman with them.

"Sallelos, your information provided both valuable and true." With a snap of his fingers, Butler threw a small sack of coins at the rogue, who clumsily caught it. "A pleasure doing business with you." Sallelos stood there for a moment, blinking like a fool, before immediately running as fast as his legs could carry him towards the nearest port. He would spend much of his newly gained wealth putting as much distance between himself and these devils as possible.

Artemis and his companions regained their prior seats in the rickshaw and directed the driver to take them to the cities main port. A short ten-minute ride later, they had arrived. Once again, a silver coin exchanged hands between Butler and the puller, who bowed deeply before rushing off to the nearest brothel. Artemis sniffed derisively.

"What now, human?" The small creature next to him demanded. Though the sun had since fallen completely below the horizon and the sky was now fully black and dotted by pinprick stars, her body was almost entirely covered by cloth, hiding her true appearance to any curious passerby. Artemis ignored her and walked towards one of the many docks sprawled out around Lys's bustling main port. She ran to catch up with him, grabbing him by the shoulder. "Do not ignore me!"

Immediately, she felt a large hand grab her arm, jerking it upwards in an incredibly painful manner. Butler looked down at the small mermaid, his eyes hard and dangerous, letting her know that any further action against his charge would result in pain. Artemis finally turned around.

"Patience, little Child." His voice took on a mocking, singsong quality. "We are simply heading towards my ship. There, our business will conclude." The mermaid struggled as Butler's grip remained strong. "Butler, let her go."

"As you wish, my lord" Immediately she was free and just as quick she rubbed her now sore wrist. Grumbling beneath her breath, she followed them down the dock. There, she saw their destination. A small carrack rested in the harbor, it's sails furled. On it's mast, a banner flapped gently in the wind. On it was a black raven with golden feathers, hovering over a golden coin. The sigil of House Fowl.

"The Fowl Star, personal ship to the lords of House Fowl. Impressive is it not?" The boy asked, arrogance on clear display in his voice. The mermaid was not amused.

"Enough of this, mud man. What more do you want?" He closed his eyes and sighed.

"I believe you already know. I want your Book." In a familiar scene, anger flared in her eyes and she snarled.

"You said in exchange for seeing my Book you would free me!" He raised his finger and tutted.

"No. I said that I would PURCHASE you in exchange for seeing the Book." He held out his gloved left hand. "If you want freedom, then I still want the Book."

Her fury continued to grow. "Damn you, Mud Boy! It is mine, not yours!" She balled her four fingered hands tight enough for blood to begin to drip. "Do with me as you will, but I will not give it to you."

An angry growl emanated from the boy. "I grow tired of this grandstanding, fish." He grabbed her face and forced her to look him in the eyes. Her stomach felt as though in free fall as the ice blue irises of the boy pierced her very soul. "I bought you, by your own laws I OWN you. You life is mine. And it is mine to give to whoever I please." That dhampir smile appeared again, evil and dangerous.

"Perhaps I could hand you off to slavers from Qohor, who knows what horrors they'll impart on you?" She whimpered slightly. "Or maybe I'll sell you to a Dothraki horde. I'm sure they will treat you well. Or maybe I'll just leave you hear for the sailors, pirates, and slavers to do with you as they wish."

"P-please… please… no!" Her legs were threatening to give out. She remembered how she was treated before the pillow house. How those that captured her had violated her very being, her soul. She could not go back to that. Anything but that.

"Or…" He said, releasing his grip on her. He smoothed a wrinkle that had appeared on her coat before resting his hand on her shoulder. They were of similar height, though he had a few inches on her, allowing him to look down in a suitably intimidating way. "We can abide by our original deal. Transfer you Book to me. Do this, and I swear on my mother's life that I will let you go."

For a moment, those eyes of his softened, lacking much the malice they held for so long. The change was jarring and the mermaid felt as though she had been slapped. He gently turned her head to the side.

"Look. We are by the sea." He said, whispering to her softly. "You could be free, swimming through the depths, away from here never to return." She could see it. Her mind drifted back to when she swam with her sisters and brothers, darting through the waters of the world when they were allowed above ground. The freedom. The joy. All of it was so close. "Do you not want to return?"

Finally, she could take it no more. Swiftly reaching behind her she withdrew her Book, her most treasured possession, and placed in the waiting palm of Artemis. "Take it, human! It is of no use to you. It is written in the ancient tongue." His predatory smile returned.

"Thank you. Was that so hard." From behind, she heard the steps of Butler. In his hand was a small chest, which he opened. Artemis deposited the Book into the chest, before locking it. The key slipped into his breast pocket. "Butler, take that to my quarters. I will meet you onboard."

With a nod and a threatening glare at the mermaid, he marched his way up the gangway to the Fowl Star. His prize claimed, Artemis returned his attention to the small woman in front of him.

"Please, human, abide by your word." She pleaded. Her salvation was so close. She could not bear it if it was stolen again.

"A deal is a deal." He turned and began walking up the gangway. When he was halfway up, he yelled back down. "I release you from your bond to me. Go now, away from this place."

Hope and victory blossomed in the woman's chest. A bright smile appeared on her face. Without a second thought she raced down the dock and jumped into the water. For a moment, she disappeared into the depths. Then, a large splash of water and a cheer of joy emerged. Artemis saw briefly, illuminated against the half-moon, the mermaid, her legs replaced with a fin, as she flipped through the air. He had to admit it was an impressive sight. Satisfied, he continued up to his ship.

"Thank you." A soft voice was barely heard over the gentle crashing of waves on the dock. Artemis halted for a moment, his eyebrow crocking slightly. He looked to his left but saw nothing. A smirk began to form, though this one lacked some of the arrogance many of his others had. He continued onto his ship, crossing the deck until he arrived at the entrance to his personal quarters on the vessel.

Opening the door, he saw Butler standing guard near the entry. As soon as he entered, Butler took his mantle and cloak, hanging it away as Artemis made his way towards the desk in the back of the room. "Is it secure?"

Butler nodded. "It is. It's resting on your desk, as requested." Artemis grinned. His excitement was building again. Finally, after months of searching, he had his hands on a Child of the Forest's Book. Soon, it's secrets would be his and his plans could be put into action. The Fowls would rise again.

"Excellent." His glee was evident in his voice. As fast as his stature would allow without running, he made his way to his desk. "I believe I will be retiring for the evening. Tell the crew to set sail immediately. I want to arrive back in Fowlhaven before the month is done."

Butler was not surprised by the request. He made his way towards the door. When his hand reached the latch, he stopped for a moment, turning back to his charge. "In all honesty sir, I still cannot believe that they are actually real." Artemis flashed his dhampir smile.

"And yet they are. And now their secrets are ours to use." Butler nodded again, a feeling of concern and unease rising.

"I just hope you know what you're doing, Artemis." His charge quirked his eyebrow at that. "This could be dangerous. For all of use."

Artemis was unperturbed. "Butler, when have I ever NOT known what I was doing?" The arrogance of the statement did little to settle the bodyguard's nerves, but he simply sighed, nodded, and exited the quarters.

Deliberately ignoring his friend's concerns, Artemis took out a sheet of parchment and began writing a message. Once the ink had dried, he sealed it with his signet ring and rose from his seat. Walking over to a covered cage, he removed the cloth and immediately a bird began to squawk. Inside the cage rested a large raven. It's feathers were black as night, except for the flight feathers on its wings. These were a bright gold. As it awoke from its slumber, its eyes opened, revealing them to be a bright gold as well, with a large degree of intelligence shining from them. Artemis opened the door of the cage, and the raven hopped on to his arm. Grunting slightly at the added weight, Artemis placed the sealed message into the leather container on the birds back. Walking over to a nearby window, he gave his instructions to his messenger.

"Juliet, Fowlhaven." The raven stared him directly in the eye, before nodding and repeating his instructions in a facsimile of the human tongue. Artemis grinned and opened the window. The great bird took off, flying fast and high into the sky, its mission under way. Satisfied, Artemis returned to his desk. He retrieved the key from its rest in his breast pocket and placed it into the chest's lock. Carefully, gently, he reached into the chest and retrieved his prize. The Book was small even in his hands and he carefully opened it. Spirals of symbols made themselves known to him.

Excitement and glee continued to build. This was it. What he had spent so long and so much gold looking for. It was real. As real as ship he sat in. The secret to riches enough to rebuild his family's legacy. All he had to do was break the Children's code and all would be his.

Opening a drawer, he retrieved a large, leatherbound journal, it's pages currently blank. From another drawer he withdrew an inkwell and quill. He weighed the pages of the Book down and studied the symbols. He weighed the pages of the Book down with smooth stones, ensuring it would not close on its own will. Dipping the quill into the ink, he began to write It would be a long journey back to Fowlhaven from Lys.

And he had a lot of work to do.

A/N: First chapter completed. This is more a proof of concept for myself than anything else. I had been rereading the Artemis Fowl books again for the first time in years and found that despite being made for children, they held up pretty well. I was also watching Game of Thrones for the first time in years too, with the first 4 seasons still holding up. As a result, I got the urge to write a fanfiction that combined the two, mostly to see if I could.

This story will be essentially a rewrite of the first Artemis Fowl book, with the appropriate changes made to account for the setting and time change from "modern day earth" to "Westeros". I am planning (though I admit it's unlikely to happen) to have other books after this is done, with only the one immediately after that being a rewrite of the second book. From there, this series would go in a completely unique direction, with much more influence from ASOIAF.

Next chapter is planned for next week, depending on my work schedule. If not next week, sometime next month. It will mostly be a quick history lesson on the Fowl Family in Westeros and go over Artemis's attempts to translate the Book into Common.

Please leave comments on how you like the story and if you're interested in seeing more of it.