Hello everyone. Sorry for taking a while, but I had some problems with Grammarly. Some of my saved documents were erased. I don't know how or why. I couldn't use it at all for days. Thankfully, I didn't lose much, just previous documents and chapters. But I did end up losing two chapters I was going to post.
I lost Harriet Potter: The Demon Empress chapter and the One Piece: A Demon Treasure half-written chapter I was working on. So, I will have to rewrite them all over again. Sorry.
So, I will upload the two chapters of my original work and post the two chapters I was going to post this week.
It's going to look like this.
-Two chapters of my original work.
-Harriet Potter: The Demon Empress
-One Piece: A Demons' Treasure.
Check on my Tumblr page for more updates! See you all soon!
( paulythide . tumblr . com )
Chapter 30
There was clearly a big smile on Shalltear's face as she stood before her lady, the great Supreme One, the leader of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, Galadriel Melkor. However, to see her lady, not in her magnificent form but in a sort of younger version of herself, looking like a young six-teen-year-old, was quite shocking to Shalltear. Yet, it was stimulating in a very lustful way. Because, of course, it was Shalltear, after all.
"My lady is so adorable~!" Shalltear cooed loudly, almost holding her body from jumping out to embrace Galadriel.
The white-haired girl simply smiled at the True Vampire as she sat on the edge of the bed, focusing on a recent report one of her agents brought just now to her. Galadriel won't deny how happy she was to see Peroroncino's creation living and kicking.
Peroroncino would've been over the moon if he could see Shalltear outside of the game. Galadriel thought before suddenly realising that it was Peroroncino, the one she was talking about. Maybe I shouldn't think about that! Galadriel shivered, trying to erase whatever her mind tried to envision. It was better to stay ignorant about certain things.
Galadriel shook her head before focusing on the task at hand.
"So, Shalltear, tell me each detail you remember of your last moment in Nazarick," Galadriel asked carefully.
Shalltear began to hum deeply. Her memories were hard to understand, and she was a bit muddled on what exactly she could tell her lady. "I remember just being on the third floor, like always, doing my duty as a guardian."
Shalltear, the true vampire, was struggling with her memories, which appeared to be quite uncertain even to her. She felt as if something was missing but couldn't quite put her finger on it. Despite racking her brain, she couldn't recall anything abnormal happening or out of place.
"I don't know what else happened, my lady," Shalltear added nervously. "I just appeared on that island, lost and confused."
Galadriel leaned back. She believed Shalltear's statement about what she experienced. After all, the same happened to Sebas and Pandora's Actor. They only remember the last thing they were doing in Nazarick before appearing in this world. For Pandora's Actor, it was him simply being at the Treasury and no more. Sebas recalled being in the throne room, and he recalled watching Galadriel simply disappear before he did, before suddenly appearing in the middle of nowhere.
It wasn't a groundbreaking piece of information, to be sure. But at least it allowed Galadriel to be content with the fact that the Guardians could be around the world now or would soon arrive. It was just a matter of time.
"I see," Galadriel sighed before standing up and walking towards Shalltear, who suddenly became anxious. She knew she had failed her lady by not providing the information she needed. However, she was rewarded with a gentle pat on the head. "Thank you, Shalltear. I know this is all new to you, and it may feel chaotic, but we are together now, and I am here with you."
Shalltear stood still for a few seconds. Her red eyes simply stared back at her lady's golden eyes. Suddenly, she burst into tears, hugging Galadriel tightly, who looked quite shocked by such a reaction.
"My lady~! My lady~!" Shalltear sobbed quite dramatically as Galadriel simply patted the true vampire's back gently. Galadriel couldn't help but chuckle slightly.
"It's alright, don't worry."
As Pandora's Actor and Sebas arrived, Galadriel couldn't help but smile. "Sebas, welcome back; I read your report. The Mountain is dead, as are his men. While I would've loved to have him alive, it's unnecessary in the grand scheme of things. But it seems you're still worried. Why is that?"
Sebas sighed. "I apologise, my lady. But I showcase a bit more of my unnatural strenght. I should have backed down and only intervened when necessary. Now, that could definitely bring unwanted attention to me."
Sebas replied mournfully, not liking the fact that he had failed in his first task. Yet, Galadriel wasn't truly bothered by that mad dog's death.
"Mm, I see why you're concerned now."
Galadriel responded with a soft hum, considering the possibility that it could indeed be true. Prince Oberyn and the others had undoubtedly been taken aback by what they had witnessed that day, and the implications of their discovery were significant. Though their actions hadn't posed an immediate threat to Galadriel's plans, they were now aware of Sebas' true nature as something entirely different. Yet, Galadriel truly believed whatever they thought, or Sebas, or whatever plan they were thinking of doing. It would all simply be useless.
At the end of the day, they wouldn't be able to do anything, even if they knew who Sebas truly was. It's all for nought. Galadriel thought but soon began to ponder if it would be a good idea to use this as bait or some kind.
"Don't worry yourself about it, Sebas. They are humans, besides, even if they knew more. They cannot do much about it," Galadriel replied, feeling quite confident about the current state of events.
"Still, it would be wise for us to remain wary," Pandora's Actor intervened. "It's important to note that there are several ongoing plots at the moment. Although we haven't discovered anything that could harm us as of yet, we must avoid becoming overconfident. My lady, we must not overlook the possibility that humans might act irrationally out of desperation. If we do, it could ruin years of planning on your part."
As Pandora's Actor spoke, Galadriel couldn't help but ponder over his words. It dawned on her that she had never really faced a true challenge, only minor obstacles that were easily overcome. But if she continued to ignore this fact, she could find herself in a precarious situation, one that would require a drastic and unexpected response, like her using force.
"You're right, Pandora's Actor," Galadriel nodded. "Sebas, you're acting as my persona butler, so if someone wishes to take advantage of the queen of the Seven Kingdoms, they'll definitely go after you."
"Which is also something we can use," Pandora's Actor said, moving his hands dramatically. "But I would leave this for later. Right now, we shouldn't move. Let's be reactive."
"Reactive, eh?" Galadriel hesitated, unsure if it was wise. However, upon seeing Pandora's Actor, she realised he was right. "It's true. So far, we don't need to push forward another scheme. Let's wait and see what they do first. Sebas, keep your eyes and ears sharp, and notify me of anything."
"Understood, my lady," Sebas replied quickly.
Shalltear, for her part, looked quite an excited puppy, shifting in place. "My lady, what about me? Are you going to give me a task?!" She asked happily, her eyes shining brightly with anticipation.
"Uh, yes," Galadriel then wondered what Shalltear could do. Besides Sebas acting as a butler, she has yet to think of a role for Pandora's Actor or Shalltear. "I think I should leave this for you, Pandora's Actor. Maybe you can think of something."
"Oh! Don't worry, my lady! I shall give Miss Shalltear a great role!" Pandora's Actor exclaimed jovially while Shalltear simply winced deeply. It was clear she wasn't thrilled about being under Pandora's Actor command.
"Now, I want a routine check-up in [Message]. Each hour, I want the three of you to try to contact any other member of Nazarick."
Galadriel ordered, and her current guardians there nodded quickly at her command.
"We have a lot of catching up to do, Shalltear. Please pay attention to what I am about to say."
Shalltear sat on a chair and pulled out a small notebook and a pencil before looking at her lady with a determined look on her face. "Yes!"
Cersei Lannister, the Queen Mother, sat in her chambers at the Red Keep, her mind racing with a million thoughts and schemes. She was growing increasingly frustrated and angry that none of her plans seemed to be coming to fruition. The power that she had worked so hard to attain was slipping through her fingers like grains of sand, and it made her feel powerless and helpless. She felt like a spectator, watching from a distance as her life spiralled out of control. But Cersei was not one to give up easily, and she refused to let her power slip away without a fight. She was determined to regain her hold on the throne one way or another, and Cersei knew what to do in order to achieve that.
At the crack of dawn, Cersei hastened towards the queen's chamber, located deep within the towering walls of the Red Keep. Her mind was consumed with thoughts of how to maintain her influence over her daughter, the reigning queen. She walked with purpose, her footsteps echoing through the empty halls as she contemplated her next move to secure her hold on the throne.
Yet, what Cersei wasn't noticing was that, while in the Red Keep itself, she does hold some modicum of respect and even average authority as the queen's mother. Here, in the tower built by Galadriel, it was the Divine Queen who reigned supreme.
So when she reached her daughter's room, Cersei was met with the queensguard. All of them, old and new, stood there, seemingly already knowing the queen's mother would be there, oddly enough. Cersei wasn't intimidated by their presence, but she would not deny how losing the previous kingsguard hurt her power. Still, she held her head high and smiled politely at them.
"Good morning," Cersei said, earning a few nods from the rest. "I came here to speak with my daughter."
Cersei spoke with a hint of impatience, not bothering to wait for a response before attempting to barge into her daughter's room. However, as she approached, she was taken aback to find that her path was blocked by Mya and the newly appointed knight, Brienne, who took it upon herself to take the badge of being a queensguard seriously.
"Excuse me," Cersei stated almost hissingly, but Brienne wasn't moving at all. However, it was Mya who approached the queen's mother, staring at her with those blue eyes Cersei had seen many times before. The same ones Robert had.
"The queen requested no intrusions as she rests," Mya simply replied as Cersei stared at her angrily.
"She is my daughter," Cersei hissed slowly, staring at Mya with increasing disdain.
"And she is my queen," Mya only replied, not intimidated at all by her. "We were instructed not to allow anyone in until she consented otherwise."
Cersei couldn't believe what she was hearing. How dared this bastard child answer back to her? Cersei glared at Jaime, who was awkwardly standing there. Cersei's eyes were telling him, or more likely, ordering him to do something to push them away. However, Jaime couldn't do so. Not while Ser Barristan was there, glaring at him to stay in place.
They had orders to follow; Cersei wasn't the queen any longer, and they did not answer to her or anyone else for that matter. They would only obey Galadriel's orders and no one else. Because of that, Jaime couldn't truly help Cersei.
"She is the queen's mother. I doubt she wishes harm upon her own daughter," Jaime tried to navigate the situation the best he could. Still, Ser Barristan only stared at him sternly.
"Understandable, of course, but our queen's order still stands," Ser Barristan stated, leaving no room to argue. "And we are the Queensguard."
Cersei stood there, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn't believe what was happening. She had always been able to command the obedience of everyone around her, but now even Jaime refuses to follow her orders. She felt a mix of anger, betrayal, and fear. How could they do this to her? How could they turn against their queen? Those were Cersei's thoughts, not realising that she no longer had that title to her name anymore.
This is not right! This is not right! Cersei's mind began to fall deeper into a sort of delirious state, where she truly felt that everyone was looking down on her.
As Cersei's mind was about to wander further, she and everyone else were interrupted by the arrival of Sebas, the queen's personal butler, who was walking towards them. A group of maids was following him closely. Sebas raised an eyebrow and looked at the queen's mother, observing her closely. Sebas coughed before bowing to Cersei.
"Good morning. I was ordered to wake our queen earlier today," As Sebas spoke, the queensguard stepped aside, granting him permission to enter. But, of course, he was followed by Mya and Brienne.
Cersei was fuming inside; she was utterly embarrassed, ashamed, and fearful. "Please tell my daughter that I wish to speak with her as soon as possible," she stated, clearly not wanting to wait more time.
"Of course, at once," Sebas replied.
Sebas's reply, which came with a courteous smile, astounded Cersei. The butler's gentle demeanour made Cersei feel flustered, and she couldn't deny his charm despite his supposed "age". Sebas was undeniably attractive to ordinary folk, especially ladies.
Inside the large chamber, the queen of the seven kingdoms was lying on the bed, utterly naked, with her large black wings covering her exposed body. Of course, for those who know, this was a usual scene. It was just how Galadriel slept—the only way she could actually sleep soundly.
"Is it normal for the queen to sleep like this?" Brienne whispered, and Mya simply chuckled.
"Yes, especially when she is exhausted," Mya replied, slowly approaching the queen and gently caressing her cheeks. "My queen, wake up."
Galadriel started to move around on the bed, letting out a groan as she slowly began to wake up. "Good morning," she mumbled before standing up and walking towards the bathroom for a quick, hot bath already prepared for her. It seemed that she was so used to this routine that she wasn't even paying attention to the stares.
"Good morning, your Grace," all of them responded, and soon, the maids shook their heads and began assisting her with getting ready for the day. Galadriel dove carelessly into the pool while the maids prepared her gowns, still oblivious to the fact that her naked body was on display. The maids soon put a large curtain around the bath, blocking the view, especially for Sebas, who remained behind the curtain.
Brienne had to admit that she was uncomfortable with the idea of Sebas being there in the same room where the queen was bathing. Still, the time she spent travelling with him allowed her to know that he was a man to be trusted, and the queen seemed to trust him with her life—enough to be comfortable in such a state.
"Your Grace," Sebas said. "Your mother wishes to speak with you."
A loud groan could be heard from the other side of the curtain as Galadriel mumbled something. "Now?" She asked.
"She did say as soon as possible," Mya added with an amused tone of voice.
"Alright, I could have breakfast with her. Sebas, could you prepare it?"
"At once, your grace," Sebas replied, already wondering why his lady sounded so annoyed by her mother's desire to speak with her.
Galadriel, for her part, had an idea of what Cerse wanted. It was clear that her mother was on edge, even mad that she was no longer the most crucial person in the Seven Kingdoms, not that she genuinely was ever. Still, her sphere of influence has greatly suffered since then.
I haven't paid attention to what my mother has been doing these last few weeks. Galadriel sighed, suddenly feeling as if Cersei would do something to undermine her rule and shift the focus back to her. It was a futile endeavour, no doubt, but Cersei's arrogance would definitely cause her problems if Galadriel didn't stop it.
What should I do with you, my dear mother? Galadriel thought, not liking the idea of killing her at all. Whatever Cersei was, she was still her mother. The reason she was there and why she had two beautiful siblings, minus Joffrey, of course.
I should ask my grandfather about this. He is also wary of Cersei's antics.
Galadriel hummed before she got ready to have breakfast with her mother.
Robb Stark stood motionless, his eyes fixated on Stark's banner as it fluttered atop Winterfell's walls. The sight filled him with a sense of both longing and melancholy; it had been far too long since he had last set foot in his ancestral home. As he took in the familiar surroundings, however, he couldn't help but feel that something was different. The castle, once bustling with life and energy, now seemed almost desolate and empty. The air was thick with an eerie stillness that seemed to have taken hold of Winterfell in his absence.
"How many did the Kraken take with him?" Robb mumbled, watching the pile of bodies, the mass graves filled with Northerner folk, a last form of insult from the Ironborn to him.
"Beasts, monsters, sea rats!" Catelyn stated that her voice was filled with anger and sadness. "They even cut the heads of the direwolves statues in the crypts. How could they disrespect the dead in such a manner?"
"They are Ironborn, my lady," Jon Umber replied, watching with disdain the Greyjoy flag being burned. "They are not even people."
"Have we heard about Theon?" Robb asked before Roose Bolton approached him.
"My lord, our scouts report that the remaining Ironborn are gathering at the Goldgrass. We have burned their ships. So they have no place to go. What should we do with them?"
Robb took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves down, but one look at the bodies made him forget about the mercy his father once taught him.
"They are animals, Lord Bolton. Kill them all and do it slowly. Burn their remains so they cannot be welcome in the halls of the Drowned God," Robb hissed angrily. He had no room for being merciful, not after what he saw the Ironborn do to the Northerner. Roose Bolton had an amused look on his face at the fact that the honourable son of Ned Stark would command such a thing.
"Understood, my lord. Also, I have heard from my bastard that he has captured Theon Greyjoy and is currently being held at the Dreadfort."
"The Dreadfort? What is he doing there?" Catelyn asked.
"He was not here, holding Winterfell. In fact, not many Ironborn were here at all. Must of them scatter away like the cowards they are," Lord Umber scoffed loudly, but Robb had to admit that something was a miss. Yet, at the same time, he wasn't bothered by it. No, Robb needed to see him face-to-face and ask him why he betrayed him.
"Lord Bolton, tell your son to bring Theon to me. I want him to be in Winterfell when he gets judged. I want to see him in his eyes."
Lord Bolton nodded slowly, his eyes showcasing no emotion. But the truth was another thing entirely. Lord Bolton's ghost-grey eyes revealed a man driven by goals.
"Of course, my lord," Lord Bolton responded, giving a slight bow before departing.
"Robb, I need to find them and their bodies. I must give them rest," Catelyn's voice cracked, still believing that Rickon and Bran were dead. Robb nodded stiffly, trying to simply keep his thoughts from remembering the deaths of his siblings. Grey Wind whined before licking Robb's fingers as if he were trying to tell him something.
"You miss them too?" Robb whispered, scratching the direwolf's ear. "Because I do."
Robb could only look at the Stark banner one more time, suddenly wondering about his half-brother, Jon, and what he could be doing at this moment.
"Maybe, after this is over, I will write to him," Robb couldn't help but mumble to himself. He knew what he had to do first: cut the Kraken's tentacles. It wouldn't be an easy task, especially since Theon was once someone he trusted. But Theon's sins were too big to simply ignore or forgive.
What would my father do?
Robb thought as he clutched Ice with his hand.
Olenna Tyrell's thoughts lingered on the current arrangement of the Tyrell family with the crown, which she was not preoccupied with. But she could not shake the feeling that it was more than it looked. She had read it a hundred times—all the points the Tyrell had to follow, all the commitments to the crown. All perfectly written, as if the queen had them ready years before the war started.
"Did she plan this?" Olenna whispered, trying to see a hidden plot but couldn't do it. "I don't think so. I doubt it. But what if she did?"
"Lady Olenna, Lord Tywin will meet you now," A Lannister soldier spoke condescendingly, causing the Queen of Thorns to scoff internally.
As Olenna approached the Hand Tower, she spotted Tywin sitting at his desk, engrossed in his writing and not acknowledging her presence. Olenna anticipated this behaviour from him, but she was not one to be underestimated.
"Lord Tywin, I would like to take some of your time if that is not a problem," Olenna said before simply sitting down. "I would like to request some wine, preferably from the Arbor. Thank you."
Tywin reclined on his chair, observing her with amusement. He put down his quill and stood up to fetch some wine for both of them.
"When I heard you wished to speak with me, I began to wonder what would be the topic for discussion," Tywin commented as he served wine to both of them.
"I think the topic is rather simple," Olenna replied. "Marriage."
"Marriage?" Tywin looked at Olenna, who smiled at him, already knowing what she wanted from this conversation. "I believe the Tyrells are in no position to talk about marriage, given recent circumstances."
Olenna huffed. "Circumstances they may be, but the Seven Kingdoms still need the Tyrell and the Reach."
Tywin Lannister's gaze fell upon the old woman sitting across from him, his eyes betraying a cold and unfeeling demeanour. It was a look that could have made many a lesser person flinch and divert their stare, but the Queen of Thorns was not one to be intimidated. She held his gaze with an air of mild amusement, her eyes reflecting a lifetime of experience and cunning that the Lord of Casterly Rock could not help but respect.
"After all, that's the reason why the queen still has us around. She needs all of Westeros united if we have to face a Blackfyre pretender," Olenna smiled after hearing Tywin scoff.
Tywin was not a fool. He couldn't deny the contribution of the Reach as a whole, especially since the Crowlands were still recovering from the war. Their farms weren't capable of equaling those on the Reach for now, and with winter coming, they would need them.
Also, add the fact that an army was crossing the Narrow Sea with yet another pretender trying to claim the Iron Throne. Tywin could not turn away allies, and he was sure that his granddaughter knew this as well.
"So you know," Tywin replied with a stiff mumble.
"It's hard not to notice a giant fleet cross the Narrow Sea, Lord Tywin," Olenna replied. "When are they going to arrive?"
"In a fortnight, less if winds are in their favour."
"I would like to believe that there are already preparations to meet such an army?"
"Of course, and with dragons on our side, it won't take long before we end the Golden Company once and for all," Tywin replied, now showcasing the same tone of voice that has brought so many men down to their knees.
"Good, wars bring nothing but more bloodshed and misery, and so far, there have been too many," Olenna dragged her voice as she took sips of her wine. "Still, as I was saying, marriage is needed to ensure peace. Especially in times of war."
Tywin leaned on his chair, now feeling as if Olenna was finally arriving at the point. "You say, but who is marrying who and why?"
"Well, since the Tyrell has lost two of their prized flowers, we only have one. My oldest grandson, Wyllas, and the queen are still unwed," Olenna said, taking time to look at Tywin's face, which looked calculative. "It's only logical that the queen weds into another great house. Especially one that is the largest in the south."
Tywin was not a fool. He knew that this match was not as crazy as it sounded. Galadriel needed heirs to secure her rule. The Tyrell would definitely be a great asset to them in the future. And they truly needed to create a united front if they wished to endure longer than the Targaryen.
Tywin's grandchild has made sure to begin to put the pieces together. Galadriel had arranged for Tommen to marry Shireen, as it would secure them the Stormlands. It was a mystery how she had managed to persuade Stannis to agree to such a match. Even Tywin was unaware of how she did it. But it surely proved that Galadriel was more cunning and resourceful than anyone had ever imagined.
Then Galadriel told him that Myrcella marrying Prince Trystane Martell would bring Dorne back into the fold and end the bad blood between both houses.
That's two kingdoms on her side by using just marriage. The Crownlands were fervently under her control, only leaving the Vale, North, Riverlands, and Reach. Galadriel marrying Wyllas made sense, even to Tywin. However, he wouldn't give the keys to the Iron Throne to the Tyrell so easily.
"Isn't your grandson a cripple?" Tywin asked, making Olenna frown.
"He's still a well-read lad. Kind and smart, more than I can say about his father."
"But he is still a cripple," Tywin said, hammering down what he thought about the match. "A cripple is not good enough to marry the most beautiful woman in all of Seven Kingdoms history. The Divine Queen is the chosen of the Gods."
"Are you a believer now, Lord Tywin? Do you pray to the Seven?" Olenna replied quickly, making Tywin scoff, but he remained calm under the judging stare coming from Olenna.
"The truth is in our eyes, believer or not. I am not a fool. But the answer is still the same. I will not have my granddaughter marry a cripple."
Olenna's face looked as if she had been spat on. And it was true. However, Tywin was still not looking to push away an alliance with them, or at least not entirely.
Sacrifices must be made, and Tywin knew who was up to the task. Someone who he thought needed to get out of King's Landing.
"However, if you wish a match for your grandson, I have someone still in mind."
Olenna raised an eyebrow, wondering just who that person would be.
But perhaps she already knew. Nevertheless, currently, that person was making sure to reach a strange man in the city—a servant, a priest, a septon who disagreed with the words of the queen being the chosen one.
Just to clarify, those who have used Grammarly know that it requires one to be online all the time; a simple disconnection can cause problems, and it does have some bugs here and there, especially when it comes to auto-correct.
Still, it's not the first time it has happened to me.