:-[Chapter 32]-:
"We shall attack the North directly by Moat Cailin and by burning the Neck. Your fleet will stay where I say to stay. We shall need your fleet for the Ironborn when the North will be put to the sword. Do I make myself clear, Lord Tywin?" almost snarled the king, not unlike his father use to do.
Due to his numerous years of experiences dealing with the previous king, Tywin was able to keep his face like stone, not showing a single hint of emotion to the present court. In his mind however, he was raging like a lion.
"Of course, your grace. Ill send word immediately to the Lannister Fleet to stay in Lannisport."
"Good. Youll do well to not offend me more, Lannister. Who knows what may happen to those who does. Now for the rest of the plan, we shall wait for the rest of the Lords Paramount. My plan is to be heard at one time by all of you. The meeting will take place the day after the Royal Wedding. Now, leave."
:-[T.A.B]-:
"No."
"Sura... Please. Be reasonable." begged Harry.
"You think that I will leave you here, all alone? That I will flee Moat Cailin for Winterfell just to be safe?" Sura said, squinting her eyes dangerously, making even Hedwig whine a little. "No."
"Sura, those southerners will outnumber us five to ten time our own. I dont know if we will stop them here. The North will win eventually, that I am sure of it, but Moat Cailin? The North cannot be won from the outside, you know that. Winterfell will be the safest place for you, please."
"No. My place is here, with you, with the people of Moat Cailin and Midgard, nowhere else. I understand your fear for me and I love you for it. But my place is with you." Sura insisted, standing firm.
"As your husband, please... listen to me."
"Use your powers."
"What do mean?"
"Do you think me for a foolish little girl enamoured, Harry? Ive known for a long time that you were special. Ive never thought once that the Old Gods rebuild this castle. I know it is you, who else?"
The young wizard sighed softly, pinching the bridge of his nose. He truly hoped shed see reason and go to Winterfell, where Brandon could watch over her safely.
"Ill will not be the first Lady of Moat Cailin to flee at the first sign of danger. We need every hand available for this fight. I have been training with Ser Barristan himself with the knife. I can defend myself."
"I am sure you can, Sura, but..."
"No, Harry. I am staying here and that is final." Sura said, putting her hands on her hips.
"I think she beat you this time, Master Harry." Hedwig said, slightly laughing.
"Very well, then." acknowledge Harry. "Ill ask the blacksmiths and the armorers to prepare you an armor and weapons. I wont have you with no protection while there is a war outside." he finished.
Sura jumped into his arm with a squeal of happiness. They kissed for a moment, before Hedwig got between the two of them with the purest deadpanned look. Laughing at his familiar antics, Harry petted her face and guided his wife by the hand outside to prepare her equipment.
:-[T.A.B]-:
While the Lady of Moat Cailin was getting equipped under the extremely watchful eyes of her numerous bodyguards, her lord husband was inside his Great Hall with all of the Starks, Torrhen, Ser Barristan, Ser Lewyn and all of his Moats Wolves. Rickard Stark was just beside Harry, in sign of support. Hedwig was on his other side, creating an imposing atmosphere.
The Great Hall was of course made of stones except for its wooden floor. Six pillars were supporting the ceiling. Torches were put at each one of them, giving light to the room. The hall was heated by four fireplaces and constantly watched over by servants. Behind the throne, was the Winterstorms banner. Newly created by the people of Midgard, Harry new banner was the Direwolves Gate on a black field with a single man in front of it, holding a sword with his two hands and pointing the tip at the ground. On the top of it, was the houses word, You Shall Not Pass. As Harry was the host of his liege lord, he allowed the Stark banner to be put on the wall also.
Turning his attention toward his Household Captain, the young lord spoke in a soft yet resolute voice. "Torrhen, bring us the prisoner."
"Aye, my lord." Torrhen said immediately. The giant man got out of the Hall, followed by some guards. They all waited a couple of minutes for the captain before he came back, with someone else.
"My lord, the prisoner, as you requested." said the man, revealing Robert Baratheon in shackles, before returning to his place, between his lord and the prisoner.
Robert looked around him, closing his eyes repeatedly to adjust them to the light. He wasnt use to see so much of it after all this time in a donjon. He saw Harry, sitting on his seat, looking at him seriously.
"Harry! What is going on? Nobody wants to tell me anything!"
The lord of Moat Cailin chuckled at this. What did the Stormlord expected in a time of war? "What do you expect, Robert? You show up in the Neck, minutes before we are attack by a Faceless Man from Essos."
"I have nothing to do with this fucker!"
"Then why did you come to the North? Do you really expect me to believe that you deserted your own father?" snorted Harry. The young man refused to be naive once again.
"I refuse to fight for a mad monarch." Robert boomed. "Aerys was bad enough, now we have a fucking maniac burning people left and right for their belief. I refuse to be part of it. I prefer to be on the bad side of history then participate in this crusade."
"Did you think about the consequences of your actions, Robert?" Eddard asked, after receiving a nod from Harry that he could speak in his stead. "The king is known for burning anyone who dare oppose him. He asked for one of our heads, don't forget that." finished the northerner, while pointing at himself and his siblings.
"Ned, I cannot fight for a man who is asking the head of my foster brother! We spared together, dined together! Seven Hells we went to our first brothel together!"
"Lord Robert! Now isn't the time for your crass demeanour." intervened the lord of Moat Cailin. "What do you have to offer us, in the hope that you will not stay in my donjon for the rest of this bloody war?"
"The Stormlords have been ordered to stay where they are and stop any reinforcement from Dorne. A small fleet from Sunspear have manage to flee and..."
"Aye, we know. Oberyn Martell in on his way from White Harbor with two thousand men." interrupted the raven-haired lord.
"Do you know that I am the one who send orders to our fleet to let them pass and not pursue them in any way?" Robert smirked. "We could have sailed along the coast of Westeros and caught them before they even got to the North. I have sent orders to the captains before fleeing Storm's End, glad to know Prince Oberyn was able to arrive here."
Harry stayed silent, absorbing the new information. If Robert truly had done this, it was indeed a very good reason to keep him here.
"What are you sensing, Hedwig? Do you feel any lie coming from him?" Harry asked through their mental link.
"Nothing, Master. Either he truly believes his lies or he is saying the truth. He feels trusty to me." Hedwig answered truthfully.
"Robert is not that good of a liar, especially to your instinct." the young wizard sighed softly. "I think he is telling the truth."
"Me too, Master Harry." nodded Hedwig. "I'll watch over him, if that made you feel better."
"You and the Moats Wolves are going to watch over him. I refuse to let a southern lord wander around my castle or even my town as he pleases." Harry said with resolution.
"I agree with you. I'll help the Moat's Wolves with pleasure."
"Lord Robert Baratheon. I will permit you some freedom within my castle. You are to be constantly under our supervision. Under no circumstances can you be found alone within my walls. Do you understand?"
"Aye, my lord Winterstorm. I understand." Robert grumbled.
"You ought to be grateful, Baratheon. I am not like your southern king. I do not lash upon my people on a simple whim." Harry said. "However, if I see you in any way, shapes or forms make a single threat to my people, I will give you to the lizard-lions of the Neck."
"Thank you, my lord." the Stormlander said more gratefully and bowing slightly. Torrhen went to the man and removed his heavy shackles.
"You'll leave in the guards' quarters where they can all keep an eye on you." finished the young wizard, closing the matter.
:-[T.A.B]-:
Prince Oberyn Martell was riding on his magnificent black horse in direction of Moat Cailin, the fortress of miracles, if Lord Wyman Manderly had anything to say about it. The prince didn't believe the Gods had a hand in the reconstruction, as the Fat Lord said. No, no. Everything was clearly done by that Sorcerer, that... Lord Harry Winterstorm.
Harry Winterstorm. What a man. Son of simple farmers, if the rumors were to be believed, he rose up within Lord Rickard Stark men until he saved his son Eddard's life during combat. He then managed to gain so much of his trust, that the Old Wolf used him for saving the then Prince's life. Even if the Targaryen were quite insulting if this situation, the newly knight of the Seven Kingdoms took the news better then himself at the time, remembering when he destroyed his own tent that night.
The young knight then managed to get the Moat Cailin's lordship and became the talk of the Seven Kingdoms by renovating it in a single night. The exploit was such, that the king had declared it a heresy and started a crusade because of it. Now known as the Sorcerer Lord in the south, he made the men shit in their breaches and the women weep, terrified of what the man could do to them.
But Oberyn wasn't scared in the least. He was intrigued sure, but not scared. The carriage behind him was containing his beloved paramour and two secrets persons. The carriage was surrounded by at the very least three hundred men, the rest of the army following closely.
"My p-prince, we are ap-p-pproaching Moat Cailin. The scout told me we are about an hour from arrival." said a shivering Dornish.
"Thank you. We shall all be in front of a good fire soon enough. Bring fifty men with you and go to the castle to announce our arrival."
"All of your arrivals, my prince?" inquired softly the man, look qwuickly at the carriage.
"No, only mine. No need to take chance right now. The Starks will understand why we kept it a secret all this time." Announce only myself and the army."
"Yes, my prince." said the man, putting his fist on his chest and riding away, barking orders left and right.
Around an hour later, Oberyn arrived at the Mermaid Gate, beautifully crafted with multiple marine species and of course two massive mermaids in honor of the Manderlys. As soon as he arrived at the gates, they opened for him immediately. For the first time, a Prince of Dorne entered the lordship of Moat Cailin and of Midgard.
The Red Viper of Dorne entered the premised and saw the distrust in the eyes of the northerners. Even if they were there to help fight the invaders, there was no parades, no music and no fanfare, only cold eye and hands of their weapons.
"We could have thought we would get at least a welcome from the lord of Moat Cailin. A Prince of Dorne is here after all."
"The northerners are not known for their hospitality. It is a harsh kingdom, harsher than the desert in some ways. Harsh climate where almost nothing grows. You could say that it is the same for us, but we are lucky enough to be closer to the Free Cities and that allow us way more trade than them. They have opened their door to us, let's take it for a compliment, even if Lord Winterstorm is not here himself." Oberyn wisely said.
They arrived inside the fortress of Moat Cailin a couple minutes later, not taking the time to admire the newly created city still in constructions. He could see the smallfolk working hard to finish houses and markets, under the security of House Winterstorm. He liked the style of the houses very much. Some even had two floors and Oberyn could see some foundations had a basement. A little further away, away from the city itself, there were several large buildings but no inhabitants near them.
Dropping fluidly down his horse, the darker-skinned man took the time to observe the formidable defenses of the fortress. The multiple towers and walls were giving an extremely good view of the courtyard. Oberyn wasn't even an enemy and even him could feel the heavy pressure all those northerners soldiers were giving. He could see dozens upon dozens of them all around, looking everywhere.
'This Harry Winterstorm is going a little over the top, doesn't he?" smirked the man. 'The statue of that big wolf is pretty beautifully crafted, however. Like it came from one big marble block.'
Oberyn had around fifty men with him, all dressed in Martell's colours, plus the carriage where his beloved paramour, Ellaria Sand was and the two mysterious cloaked figures. He helped out each one of them to get down the rolling box where they could finally walk around.
"It is gorgeous!" Ellaria said. "It doesn't look at all like the ruin of legend. My love, what do you think?" drapping her arms around one of his.
"Powerful fortress indeed. I can easily see how the North had never been conquered by an outside army."
"Thank you for you king comments, Prince Oberyn." a voice behind them said.
Oberyn looked and saw a young man with pale grey eyes and brown hair. He was wearing the Stark armour and seemed quite young.
"Prince Oberyn, I am Eddard Stark," Oberyn heard a gasp behind him. "second son of Lord Rickard Stark. We thank you for your long journey from Sunspear. Please, follow me inside. You and your personal guard will stay inside of what we call the Direwolf Tower." he said, pointing at the biggest tower, the white one.
"Thank you, lord Stark. I've half expected that you make us sleep outside of your walls." playfully joked the Prince of Dorne.
"There was talk about it." Eddard said honestly and seriously. "But my lord and my lady decided to build your men multiple barracks so that they can sleep in warmth and sheltered from the wind."
"Again, many thanks. We can't wait to be inside with a nice warm fire to warm our hearts and souls."
Oberyn saw Eddard looking at the two hooded figures, who were desperately trying to stay hidden.
"And whom may I have announced, Prince Oberyn?" Eddard asked, nodding at the persons. "Here in Moat Cailin, we do not like to let hooded men or women entered our homes."
"Very well." Oberyn sighed. "If you ladies will please." indicated the man toward them.
The two hooded remove their cloak, revealing their faces to the world.
Elia Martell and her lady-in-waiting, Ashara Dayne.
:-[T.A.B]-:
"Why are they here, Prince Oberyn?" Harry asked, looking intently at the two women beside each side of the Red Viper, inside his personal solar in company of all of the Starks, the two ex-kingsguards, Torrhen and of course Hedwig.
"I mean no disrespect, Lord Winterstorm, but this is for Lord Rickard Stark's eyes only." tried to reason Oberyn.
"Everyone here as my utmost confidence, Prince Oberyn. You may give that letter that you seemed so afraid of." Rickard chuckled.
"Simply because I am all but surrounded and I know what the letter contains."
"Do you forget that you are already under the protection of House Winterstorm and House Stark? We have already break bread and salt. Nothing in this letter can break that oath to the gods." Harry confirmed in a voice that he hoped was reassuring. Eddard was at his side, confirming what his lord said to the ladies in front of them.
"That is reassuring, thank you my lord." Elia Martell said in a soft gracious voice as she put her hand on her heart.
"We are not the barbarians King Rhaegar screams at the top of his lungs, my lady." Rickard said, scowling slightly.
"Apologies if I gave offense, Lord Stark. The road has been long and uncertain." Elia bowed slightly.
"No taken. Princess. Now, may I see this letter?"
The Red Viper took out a letter from within one of his pouches and gave it to the older man. The Old Wolf read the letter in a few minutes. His face showed no emotion, even to those of his family. Once he was done, he gave the letter to Harry, still showing nothing. The wizard took it and started reading.
To Rickard Stark, The King in the North.
This letter is to congratulate you. The rebuilding of your Moat Cailin has been a tremendous success from what my spies told me. Again, my congratulations. I am sure you know, Lord Stark, that the time is grave. This is a time of war. The Iron Throne has declared war on us the moment they asked for our heads. Per our agreement, I have sent to you two thousand soldiers from Sunspear. As you may also have recently discovered, I have sent with my brother my own sister and her lady-in-waiting, Lady Ashara Dayne.
I offer the hand of my sister, Princess Elia Martell to your first born, Lord Brandon Stark. Know that our alliance does not depend on your answer. This is simply to celebrate our future victory.
I understand this is maybe taking you by surprise and I give you my apologies for it. Never before a member of House Stark and House Martell has been betrothed.
With this, I declare the Alliance of Sand and Snow officially begun.
King of Dorne, Doran Martell.
"King of Dorne, huh? I see some people are quicker than we are." Harry said, giving the letter back to Rickard who gave it to his son Ned.
"Little Doran a King?" said a very surprise Ser Lewyn, uncle to said king.
"Yes. He declared himself Dorne's king with the support of the court who insisted and named him like so." confirmed Oberyn. "Dorne will never bow again. We bowed to the dragons and the dragons are no more. The has has come for the Iron Throne to cease to exist."
"You want the Seven Kingdoms to go back the way we were before Aegon the Conqueror?" asked Harry, wanting a confirmation.
"That we do. The Targaryens are done. They are maintaining their power simply by fear and nothing else. The concept of the Iron Throne, is over."
"While your speech is incredibly true, there is one problem to the offer your brother offer the North." Rickard said, almost dejectedly.
"What is, Lord Stark?" inquired Oberyn.
Rickard indicated to Ser Lewyn to speak in his stead, probably thinking the news would come better coming from family.
"Lord Brandon Stark is married to Lady Barbrey Stark, formerly Ryswell. They united before the Old Gods some moons ago."
"Oh. I see." the Red Viper said, founding himself out of words.
"Oberyn Martell, speechless. I thought I'd never see the day." Lewyn laughed out loud.
"That change everything, brother." said Elia, looking fearful at the prospect of already losing the alliance.
"Nothing's change, Princess." Rickard said kindly. "We do not refuse the marriage offer because my son is already married and quite happy from what I know. I am far too old for you and my son Eddard is too young for marriage before a couple of years. It isn't your fault, nor is Brandon's. It is the will of the Gods, and nothing else."
"He is right sister. You should enjoy your stay with the lovely Ashara here. I am sure our kind Lord Eddard Stark would be happy to guide you both?" Oberyn smirked to the blushing young man.
"Of course, Prince Oberyn. It would be my pleasure to do so if my lord permitted it." Eddard said, glancing at Harry who nodded immediately.
:-[T.A.B]-:
Thank you everyone for reading Chapter 32 of The adventure begins! Please let a review in the comment, letting me know what you think about my story or what you would like to see.
If you are interested in becoming an Alpha or Beta reader, contact me!
Criticism is always welcome as long as it is constructive.
To BioHazard82: Thank you for the review
To Dantalien: Thanks for reading! Where did I nerfed Harry?
To Narim2001: It is very possible haha
To Blaze1992: No, the wildling will not play a part in this story. No indeed, Rhaegar is pretty much in his own little world.
To rajeshkont: Harry will indeed get better and better. He is still a novice yet and need experience.