Dark Knights of Steel: Ice & Fire
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Chapter 2
A few days later on the Kent Farm, Aegon raised the lumber axe he grasped in his hands high into the air before bringing it down forcefully. The sound of the metal blade cleaving through a log of wood, splitting it in half, rang into the air, mingling with the sounds of cattle and horses as they grazed in the nearby pasture fields.
Wiping his brow clear of sweat, brushing his damp hair from his eyes, Aegon then lifted another log of wood onto the chopping block to split in half. For a moment, the young knight thought briefly of what he had learnt about this strange new world he had found himself in. If you had told him that he would somehow end up in a world where men could fly with the clouds beneath them and axes break on their skin, Aegon would've laughed it off as falsehood and madness.
But given the nature of how he'd arrived in this world had quickly opened the young knight's eyes to the seemingly infinite possibilities of this strange realm. This world was unfamiliar to him in a lot of ways. There were some small similarities to be certain, but the notion of magic being real was something Aegon had never considered before; he had heard the stories of magic practitioners back home such as the Red Priests of R'hllor, the Faceless Men of Braavos and the shadow-binders of Asshai, but he had never met such people before, so he could not rightly say whether what they practiced was magic or not.
As he had found himself in this new world, Aegon decided that he'd best learn all he could about it. Starting off with his first point of call, Aegon learnt all he could about the ruling families of the Three Kingdoms.
The Kingdom of the El was ruled by Jor-El, his wife Queen Alana and their two children, Kal-El the eldest and heir apparent and his younger sister Zala Jor-El. According to Jonathon and Martha, the Els were refugees from a world that had died in some great cataclysm leaving them the only survivors. The Els had befriended the previous monarchs, King Thomas Wayne and his wife Martha. Other things that Aegon learnt about the Els was that they possessed superhuman abilities such as the strength of giants, the ability to fly unsupported or even without wings, shoot fire from their eyes, breathe hurricanes of wind and mortal weapons would shatter and break against their skin.
Of course, Aegon asked how the Els had become the ruling house of the kingdom. His first train of thought was that the Els had usurped the throne from the Waynes, but Raven had told him that it was the deaths of the Waynes at the hands of their former servant, Alexander Luthor, that the Els had become the ruling family.
Raven proceeded to explain that Luthor had been previously contacted by Jor-El when Jor-El had learned that a nearby volcano, long thought to be dormant, had roused from its long slumber and was going to erupt and had passed a letter explaining everything to Luthor to give to King Thomas. But for whatever reason, Luthor had not passed the letter along and denied all knowledge of it when Jor-El personally visited King Thomas asking why they had not done what was needed to prepare for the imminent eruption. When the mountain had erupted, Jor-El and his wife saved the kingdom, revealing themselves to the world and were hailed as heroes. For his treachery, Luthor was banished from the kingdom, but found something in the debris from the volcano that turned him into something monstrous.
Then came the fateful day when Luthor came to exact his revenge on the Els but had mistakenly killed the Waynes instead. Queen Martha with her dying breath had bequeathed the duty of ruling the kingdom to the Els and the care of her son, Prince Bruce, the bastard son of Queen Martha.
Aegon had asked who Prince Bruce's father was, and Raven told him that no-one knew save for Queen Martha and she hadn't told anyone save perhaps King Jor-El and Queen Alana. At least not anyone that Raven knew, which led her to tell Aegon about Bruce, the Bat-Prince.
Prince Bruce was the Els primary enforcer and chief knight who was charged with finding and apprehending all magical beings in the Kingdom of El and did so with great success, earning a fearsome reputation for himself. The Bat Prince also had a group of spies and informants called the Robins who acted as his eyes and ears, watching comings and goings and for any signs of magic users entering the kingdom.
Aegon had asked why magic was outlawed in the Kingdom of El and he was told that magic was the one thing that could harm and perhaps even kill the Els, thus magic was outlawed and anyone who displayed magical abilities was captured by the Bat Prince and never seen again. This then led Raven to tell Aegon about a rival kingdom, the Kingdom of Storms ruled by King Jefferson who had the power to summon and control lightning.
When the Els had arrived on this world, King Jefferson was told of a prophecy delivered by his court magician, John Constantine, that spoke of beings who would look human and would bring about the end of the world.
Naturally, King Jefferson could only assume this meant the Els themselves would bring about the end of the world and had done everything in his power to ensure that the world would not end abruptly.
The next kingdom that Aegon learnt about was the island of the Amazons, Themyscira, ruled by Queen Hippolyta. To Aegon's surprised, the Amazons consisted solely of women, no men whatsoever. Even the fighting forces of Themyscira comprised solely of women.
Aegon had asked how that was even possible. Surely, he thought to himself, that there were some men on this island, to keep familial bloodlines continuing.
But the young knight was told that the Amazons were essentially and functionally immortal. They could be wounded and killed, but they would not suffer the ravages of time, age or even most illnesses. And for added effect, practically all the Amazons were blessed by their gods to possess strength and athletic prowess that would make even the strongest mortal man envious.
In hindsight, Aegon supposed it shouldn't have surprised him too much that Themyscira's armies consisted solely of women. In Dorne, nearly over a third of their military was comprised of women and even those of the smallfolk would gladly pick up a spear to defend their homeland from invaders. And in the North, House Mormont trained their womenfolk to fight, even Beyond-the-Wall, Wildling women were just as much fighters as their male contemporaries were.
After learning all he could about this new world, Aegon was at a loss at what he should do with himself. If what Raven had told him held any truth to it, his home was likely dead and gone. Even if it weren't, there was likely no feasible way of getting back.
Jonathon kindly offered the young knight a place on the farm until he got back on his feet and was ready to make his own way in this new world. So, Aegon spent the next few days helping the Kents and their wards around on the farm. He'd spent much of his growing years in fishing villages dotted around the Mother Rhoyne in Essos and he worked with his hands, so he certainly wasn't afraid of doing hard work and getting his hands dirty.
He'd also found some good friends in Raven, Kory, Garfield and Victor. He also some of their contrasting personalities; where Raven was reserved and stoic, Kory was free-spirited and sociable. Where Victor was grim and serious, Garfield was the jester with his jokes which largely consisted of puns and play on words phrases, much to everyone's annoyance.
After chopping another piece of lumber with his axe, Aegon then heard Kory call out to him. "Aegon!" she said exuberantly as she, quite literally, flew over towards him. A bright cheerful smile was on her lips as she held in her hands a pitcher which sloshed with liquid inside and an earthenware cup. "Are you thirsty?" she asked as her feet touched the earth to stand on.
Wiping his brow clear of sweat, Aegon smiled tiredly and replied, "I am, thank you for asking." He craned his neck slightly to look up at Kory who was a foot taller than him, or near enough. Not that he minded if he were to tell the truth.
Kory then poured him a cup of clear clean water into the earthenware cup and offered it to Aegon who accepted the offered drink with a nod and smile of thanks. Draining it quickly in one go, Aegon asked, "Might I have another?" He held out the cup and Kory smiled and acquiesced, pouring him another cup of water.
After drinking the cup of water, Aegon then spoke to Kory, "It's warm today, isn't it?" he said conversationally.
"It is rather warm today," Kory said in agreement as she glanced at the sun that hung high in the sky. "Not that I mind. I rather like it being warm and sunny," she added.
"So I see," Aegon replied with a smile of amusement on his lips. "Anything you needed of me, Lady Kory?" he then asked as he finished his cup of water.
"Nothing in particular. I was wondering if you wanted to come inside for some lunch? Everyone else is already inside," Kory informed him.
"I could eat," Aegon mumbled as he set the lumberaxe against the chopping block and followed Kory into the farmhouse. Everyone else appeared to have started luncheon without Aegon.
The midday meal consisted of what Martha called a ploughman's lunch which consisted of a loaf of crusty white bread, wedges of hard cheese, baked ham cut into thick slices, pickled onions and gherkins, hard boiled eggs, celery & radishes, sweet crisp apples with mustard or softened salty butter to compliment. To accompany this hearty meal was a flagon of ale to wash it down.
Sitting at the table, Aegon gave his greetings to everyone and Kory sat close beside him making him glance at her. Ever since he had been on the Kent Farm, Kory always sat inordinately close to him and went out of her way to converse with him or accompany him. It was a little strange, but Aegon supposed that Kory was a very friendly and social creature who liked to be around people.
"How's the work going, Egg?" Jonathon asked he sipped from his cup of ale. Aegon had insisted that everyone use his nickname, Egg, as a way of letting them become used to him as his name sounded foreign to them.
"Well enough, Mr Kent," Aegon said to the former soldier turned farmer. "I should have all the wood chopped and ready for stacking, so you shan't be cold this winter," he added.
"That's good to hear, young man," Jonathon said with a nod of approval. "Victor and Garfield can stack the wood once you're done with it," he added looking at the two boys mentioned.
"No worries, Pa. We'll have it all stacked for winter," Victor replied.
As they ate in companionable silence, Kory looked at Aegon and spoke to him, "Would you mind telling us a story of your homeworld, Egg?" she asked hopefully, her glowing green eyes shining warmly at him. Aegon had quickly found himself at the mercy of Kory's sweet smile since being here and could hardly say to any of her requests.
"Well, I suppose one small story wouldn't hurt," he relented. He then thought about it before thinking of one story he could tell everyone at the table. "This is the tale of Princess Nymeria of Ny Sar, Princess of the Rhoynar." Aegon then regaled everyone at the table of the story of the Rhoynish Princess Nymeria and her ten thousand ships. He told of how after learning of the defeat of the Rhoynish forces at the hands of the Valyrian Dragonlords, Princess Nymeria gathered all the ships she could find and then summoned all the women, children and elderly and set sail avoiding the Valyrian forces with the aid of the Old Men of the River.
Everyone at the table listened with rapture as Aegon told of Nymeria's wanderings, trying to find her people a place they could call their own, until finally the journey took them to the deserts of Dorne where the Rhoynish Princess captured the heart of Lord Mors Martell of the Sandship. Aegon then told of how after marrying Mors and declaring them the supreme rulers of Dorne, Princess Nymeria and her husband then quelled all their rivals in Dorne to become the rulers of the region.
Finishing the story with how after ruling Dorne for close to thirty years, Nymeria declared her eldest child by her first husband, a daughter, rather than the eldest son of her third marriage to Ser Davos Dayne of Starfall, as was the custom of Rhoyne which had been accepted by the Dornish.
"A very interesting story you just told, Egg," Martha commented as she collected the empty plates and cups to wash. "I can't imagine that naming her eldest daughter as her heir would've sat well with others," she then said.
"Perhaps in the north of Dorne, most lords would've taken issue with it, but Nymeria had ruled her land and people so well, that the lords of Dorne accepted it and even adopted as their own custom," Aegon said to her. "I've often admired my mother's house for such free-thinking ways, and I wondered that if the rebellion never happened, would it have been my sister Rhaenys who would ascend the Iron Throne before me?" he added thoughtfully.
"Most men, lords and nobles in particular, can't fathom the idea of women being rulers and leaders," Raven said dourly. "It's such a backwards way of thinking that holds the human race from progressing into a better age," she added.
"Change is inevitable, or so I'm told," Aegon said to the dark-haired girl. "Most are too comfortable with the status quo and don't like change," he added.
"I suppose you have a point there," Raven said with a nod of her head before adding, "But, the longer people try to resist change, the worse off they will be when it finally comes knocking on their doorstep."
"I take it you have some grand plans to bring about change, Lady Raven?" Aegon asked lightly.
"Change has already happened with the arrival of the Els from another world almost two decades ago," Raven replied matter-of-factly. "And if the way things are going, a great tide of change will be upon all of us, whether we want it or not," she said with a bitterness in her voice.
"Lady Raven?" Aegon said looking at Raven in worry.
"Don't mind her, Egg," Victor quickly said. "Raven just gets in one of her moods sometime," he explained.
Aegon nodded and swallowed a lump in his throat before saying, "Well, since I've told you all a story, perhaps you all might regale me with on?" he asked.
"Well, I've known and told quite a few stories myself," Jonathon said with a grin. "Suggestions anyone?" he asked looking at his wards sitting at the table.
"I've got the perfect one," Victor said with a rare smile on his face. "The Tale of the Black Knight!" he declared.
"Ooh! That's a good one!" Garfield said, nodding his head up and down eagerly.
"The Black Knight? Who was he? A villain of some kind?" Aegon asked curiously.
"Nah. Far from it. He was a hero in this land," Victor told him. "Clad in black armour and riding a black stallion, the Black Knight would ride out to fight monsters and bandits that troubled the land," he said.
"Ah, so the rare example of a black knight being a hero? This should be good," Aegon remarked.
"Well, siddown and listen to the story of the Black Knight," Jonathon said to the young knight before beginning to the story.
Aegon listened with fascination of the story of a mysterious warrior clad in black armour whose first quest was to slay a dragon which had threatened the kingdom. The battle had been fierce and even after the dragon had swallowed him, the Black Knight fought on, cutting his way out of the dragon's stomach, slaying it and emerging victorious. But that first quest had left the Black Knight with a mysterious ability to shoot flames from his mouth much like the dragon he slayed would.
Aegon was utterly fascinated by the story of the Black Knight's adventures and he had asked, "What happened to the Black Knight afterwards? Does he still roam the land?"
Jonathon shook his head in response and replied, "No-one had seen the Black Knight in many years now. All anyone can really say was the Black Knight disappeared, never to be seen again."
"Hrmm, pity," Aegon said. "Would've been nice to meet a living legend," he added.
"Who knows? He might still be out there, waiting to come to return and save everyone," Jonathon said with a shrug of his shoulders.
"If he is still out there, then he would've returned by now," Raven said dourly.
"Well, in any case, story time's over. Time to get back to work," Jonathon stated as he rose from his chair and prepared to head back outside.
"Aye, I need to finish chopping the rest of the wood," Aegon said as he rose from the table.
"Would you like some help, Egg?" Kory asked him sweetly.
"Erm, no, but you are welcome to watch," Aegon said to her nervously which made her smile sweetly in response. "Perhaps you can tell me stories of where you come from?" he suggested.
"I'd like that," Kory said with a bright smile and Aegon almost lost his breath seeing her smile that way toward him.
"Don't let Kory sing. Whatever you do, don't," Raven whispered to Aegon who looked in confusion. "You've been warned," she said to him before leaving the room to do whatever she did on the farm.
"Right…" Aegon muttered before shaking his head and leaving the farmhouse with Kory following him.
TO BE CONTINUED…
A/N: There! After a long wait, I've updated this! I apologise to all who waited patiently for this next chapter. Nothing more than a filler chapter, but hopefully the next chapter we'll see Aegon and the Titans go on an adventure; maybe Jonathon or Marth get kidnapped by some bandits led by Two-Face or someone along those lines? Who knows what the future holds.
In other news, I've got the idea of an Elder Scrolls/DC Comics/Marvel Comics crossover and I've set up a romance poll on my profile of some lovely lasses and forewarning, the idea is going to be a Self-Insert Dragonborn/Dovahkiin story, so if that's not your cup of tea, then I wouldn't recommend reading the story. But for those of you who want to read the story, if I do end up writing and publishing it, feel free to have a vote on the romance poll on my profile.
And that's about all I have right this minute, so I'll leave this here and see you all in the next one.
Be kind to one another,
Angry lil' elf.