Hello every one; here is the next chapter! Sorry for taking longer to update, I have COVID. It's truly bad, but I'll live. I will take a small little break so I can recover faster.
But don't worry, I will keep updating! So, the schedule for the upcoming updates is as follow!
-One Piece: A Demon's Treasure (One Chapter)
-Overlord: The Demon-Who-Lived? (One Chapter)
-Dragon Age: The Demonic Age (One Chapter)
-The Overlord Geass (One Chapter)
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Chapter 37
The older members of the Night's Watch were filled with unfathomable disgust as they heard the men groaning and wheezing while attempting to hit their targets, only for the arrows to miss the mannequins by a long. It was disheartening to witness the new recruits struggling with such a basic task as hitting an immobile target. The night's watch veterans sighed deeply, pondering how they would handle a moving target when the time came. And some of them, knew that the time would soon come.
Nonetheless, amidst the cacophony of new recruits preparing for the harsh winter and its potential horrors, a red-haired girl stood off to the side, thoroughly amused and entertained by the spectacle unfolding before her. Ignoring the lingering gaze of desire and bewilderment from the members of the Night's Watch, none of whom could comprehend how she could dress so provocatively in such frigid conditions, Lupusregina remained unfazed. She merely returned their stares with a sly, sadistic smile, waving at them in a taunting manner.
"What a peculiar place," Lupusregina muttered to herself, still uncertain of her whereabouts. She had arrived in the middle of nowhere, feeling confused and disoriented. To her surprise, she witnessed a rather overweight young man slaying what she believed to be some kind of undead creature before she, too, had to eliminate one. It was certainly an unusual first encounter. Intrigued, she decided to follow the fat man, along with a girl and a baby, only to stumble upon another group. This group consisted of a disabled boy, a tall and slow-witted man, and two other individuals who were determined to journey north, venturing across the Wall.
She realised that this place had some sort of magic. One of the boys seemed to know that she was different from them. Lupusregina was not dumb. She kept it a secret and pretended to be a clueless girl. Despite her mysterious appearance, she played the role of someone who knew nothing about the world, which was true in some way. Thankfully, the other group asked no more questions and soon diverted into their own path, never to be seen by her again.
However, Lupusregina came to the realisation that her best chance to acquire knowledge about this world was by following the overweight boy. Her intuition proved to be accurate as he incessantly spoke about the Seven Kingdoms and the Night's Watch and their responsibilities all the way to Castle Black. It was overwhelming for someone like Lupusregina to absorb such an abundance of information. But she did try her utmost best to keep up with the boy.
"My head hurts," Lupusregina moaned, but soon, her mind returned to something peculiar—a sign of something good and great. "My lady is here…"
It was a relief to hear Sebas' voice through [Message]. It appears that everyone in Nazarick has been slowly appearing.
"{Lord Sebas?! It's that you~!}" Lupusregina remembered her voice and how it cracked slowly. She was quite happy to know her duty was still in sight. She could still serve her lady, and while Nazarick was nowhere to be seen, it was a relief.
"{Miss Lupusregina, I am glad to hear from you. It appears you're all fine. Good. Our lady will be pleased. Where are you currently?}"
"{It's cold and depressing! I usually would like it, but I am following a rather fat man to a place called Castle Black.}"
"{Mm, I see. It appears you're currently way up north. Don't worry; we can use Lady Shalltear's ability to use [Gate] and bring you where we are now.}"
Lupusregina was utterly glad when she heard that, especially when she heard her lady's voice.
"{My dear Lupusregina, I'm glad to see you're fine.}"
"{My lady! I am deeply sorry for causing you any worry! Please find it in your heart to forgive me!}" Lupusregina's reaction was far from ordinary. As a devoted servant of Nazarick and a member of the Pleiades, bringing any kind of trouble to her lady was considered a grave sin. However, that was not the situation at hand, and Galadriel took the opportunity to reassure the troubled maid.
"{Don't worry, Lupusregina. It was not your fault. However, now that you're there, I am sad that our meeting will have to wait. I am currently in the middle of a… nuisance, a war, that I shall end as swiftly as possible. Yet, I have heard things happening in the North, and I need to know what exactly is happening. You'll act as my personal ears and eyes there.}"
"{It shall be done, my lady!}"
"{Good, I trust you. Pandora's actor shall contact you soon and tell you what you should say and how you should act.}"
That's how Lupusregina found herself in her first job, in a place like this. She was meant to be the Queen's assistant or something similar. Lupusregina thought it suited her well, and at least now the lord commander, a man who always seemed to have a scowl on his face, had no reason to kick her out. Not that he could, but he knew better than to anger the queen.
"Something is happening outside the Wall… mm, it had to do with those undead things," Lupusregina whispered as she recalled what she told Pandora's Actor. Still, Lupusregina felt as if something was missing. "Well, I had to find out!"
Lupusregina let out a sigh before she sniffed the air, her attention drawn to a strange white direwolf. The creature seemed to regard her with a mix of confusion, caution, and curiosity. Slowly, Lupusregina crouched like an animal in four, and approached the direwolf, who responded with a growl. Unfazed, Lupusregina smirked and emitted a small growl of her own. She knew there was nothing to fear from a wolf. In fact, she was more akin to him than to a human. The two locked eyes, their encounter silent and intense. Eventually, the direwolf lowered himself in a submissive gesture, acknowledging Lupusregina's magic and power. It was a recognition that only a beast like him could truly understand.
"My, my, aren't you a cutie?~" Lupusregina said as she began to stroke the direwolf. "Mm, I wonder what sort of magical species you are? Mm, it's a shame Lady Aura is not here. She would've taken a liking to your kind."
"How did you do that?"
Lupusregina glanced at the person addressing her and noticed it was none other than Jon Snow. He seemed taken aback to find her petting Ghost, his direwolf. Unbeknownst to him, there were many truths he was unaware of. Nonetheless, Lupusregina simply smiled at him, rising gracefully from the ground. Her long, wolf-like teeth were visible, leaving Jon unsure of her intentions.
"I am wolf girl…" Lupusregina teased, hiding the truth behind a joke.
Jon Snow had limited knowledge about her, relying solely on what Sam had shared with him. However, to his surprise, she suddenly emerged as the Queen's envoy. How did she end up so far from the Wall, eluding him and everyone? Yet, a letter arrived unexpectedly, bearing the unmistakable handwriting of the queen. Alongside it came wagons of a plethora of valuable resources, including new armour, weapons, and provisions. Yet, their most pressing need was for skilled fighters to wield those weapons. However, that matter would be addressed at a later time.
"So, are you going to be executed?" Lupusregina asked him, making Jon sigh deeply.
"No… this time at least," Jon replied, earning a hum from Lupusregina.
"Mm, tell me about these wildings or Freefolk, as you refer to them," Lupusregina inquired of Jon. However, before he could respond, they were interrupted by the imposing figure of the current Lord Commander, Alliser Thorne. His eyes burned with an intense loathing as they fixed upon Jon.
"They are nothing but animals, brutes, savages, who engage in killing not only each other but also us."
Alliser Thorne's loud statement and his hateful glare seemed to be directed at Lupusregina, causing the Pleiades to wonder if he harboured a deep-seated hatred for everything.
"And now they're aiming to take Castle Black," Alliser added, and now he glared at Jon. "We don't have enough men to defend the Wall, and some of them… cannot even use a sword."
Lupusregina hummed loudly. "It appears that you'll need more help," she said, keeping a smile on her face that seemed to bother the Lord Commander.
"We were hoping for more than just inventory from the queen. We require additional manpower to combat this threat. However, it seems that her focus lies elsewhere."
Now, Lupusregina's expression changed from one of teasing and indifference to a serious one. There was a primal hostility in her gaze that sent shivers down both Jon and Thorne's spines. If it weren't for her lady's command to maintain a low profile, Lupusregina would have slit that man's throat. However, that didn't mean she would tolerate any disrespect towards her lady.
"There is currently an army landing on the coast of the Stormlands. My queen is occupied dealing with this situation, so please do not underestimate the gravity of the matter," the Lord Commander responded, mirroring the same hostility.
Thorne couldn't respond as he wished, but he remained confident. "The savages will likely strike soon. I can't promise your safety here in Castle Black. Also, you should be careful not to walk alone here… some men here are not good people. Among them, there are rapists who haven't laid eyes on a woman in months, even years."
Jon was well aware that it was a lie, as most travel to the brothel near Castle Black. However, his intention was quite evident—he was attempting to intimidate Lupusregina. Surprisingly, she remained unfazed and didn't take the bait. Instead, she responded with a simple smile.
"Thank you, but I can take care of myself," Lupusregina replied. "Now, if you allow me… I have to use [messa—I mean, write a letter to inform the queen about what's taking place."
Lupusregina mentioned as she walked away. She intended to inform her lady about her current findings. Additionally, she planned to discreetly observe the residents of Castle Black. There was a great deal she needed to uncover, and truth be told; she harboured some animosity towards the lord commander now. Perhaps, if fortune favoured her, he might meet an untimely demise. After all, during a battle, unexpected events could occur.
The rain poured relentlessly down the Kingswood, causing great annoyance to Mya once again, who, with pure contempt, trudged through the fallen tree branches. The mud was atrocious, completely covering her clothes and saturating her boots. To make matters worse, the rain hindered the royal army, preventing them from moving as swiftly as they desired. This provided the Blackfyre bastard with an opportunity to outpace them.
"Fucking rain," Mya hissed annoyingly as she leaned on a tall pine tree, getting some refuge from the endless rain. "It's been two days since it started raining, and it's not calming down."
Mya, frustrated, took a sip of her canteen.
"It's the water?" Mya turned around and found Gendry approaching her, wearing the same irritated expression as she did. They were both completely drenched and caked in mud.
"It's wine," Mya replied, as she threw her canteen at him, who caught it without problem before taking a sip. "Don't drink all of it. I cannot function in this war without wine."
"Can't function in this war without wine? What are you, Robert Baratheon?" Gendry snorted.
"We are his children, after all," Mya chuckled, reclaiming her canteen. "Where exactly is the main force?" she inquired, noticing that Gendry had also taken a position against a nearby tree. He was diligently attempting to tidy up his boots as best he could.
"A raven arrived an hour ago, and Ser Barristan has told us that the Blackfyre bastard has taken Haystack Hall and the Bronzegate."
Mya looked a bit stunned to hear that. "Bronzegate fell? That fast? Haystack, sure, it was not a fortress, and Lord Errol left it days ago while making sure to burn everything. What happened?" Mya asked as Gendry sighed deeply, pushing as much mud out of his boots as possible.
"Those elephants are indeed a surprise. They were used to bringing the gates down… so, yeah, Lord Buckler must have fought to the end," Gendry replied with annoyance as he began to ponder if the gods were somehow angry at them. The fact that a storm formed out of nowhere and crashed into the Stormlands was utterly baffling. But then again, it was the Stormlands. "And with this fucking rain, the royal army will be a full day's march. Maybe two before we leave the Kingswood, giving the Blackfyre pretender enough to prepare."
"Great, just great," Mya muttered, casting a glance at the ominous, dark clouds overhead. Her mind raced as she contemplated how her beloved sister could harness the full power of the dragons amidst such a raging storm. This concern consumed her, overshadowing all other worries.
"You're thinking about Galadriel, right?" Gendry asked, and Mya wasn't even worried about nodding at him.
"Yes. She was supposed to use the dragons, but look at this…" Mya whispered before a thunder echoed across the air. "And the army is slowed down because of this rain… it's not painting well for us."
Gendry observed Mya, noticing the evident concern etched across her face. It seemed like a combination of several factors had contributed to her heightened anxiety, or perhaps it was combat fatigue. Nevertheless, Gendry couldn't deny that he also shared her apprehension about the potential outcomes, particularly given the current circumstances.
"Don't stress too much, Mya. We won't confront them directly at this moment. Let's be patient until the situation improves," reassured Gendry, causing Mya to let out a long breath. They both understood that dwelling on negative thoughts would only impede their focus, and they needed to stay undistracted.
As Mya gazed at the seemingly endless rain-filled sky, she knew deep down that it wouldn't endure for too much longer. After all, she had to return to her beloved, who had promised her a reward. While Mya had her reservations about Galadriel's proposal to improve the situation for her, she couldn't deny her curiosity about asserting her dominance over both Arianne and Margaery. Metaphorically speaking, of course.
"I guess so. Well, we should wait until the vanguard is closed. Do you have something to eat? I am starving."
"Mm, I do have something—"
"Ser Gendry, Ser Mya!" A rider yelled, out of breath, as he approached them quickly. "One of our scouts has detected a small party entering the Kingswood, bearing the Targaryen's banner!"
Mya and Gendry knew that if it was a Targaryen's flag, it was, in reality, a Blackfyre one. So, without wasting any more time, both Mya and Gendry got their weapons ready.
"Gather the man; we must capture some of them," Gendry commanded. "Try to take their horses, Mya."
Mya smiled viciously as she prepared her bow. "They won't even notice it until it is too late."
In King's Landing, Galadriel experienced immense relief upon hearing another voice from Nazarick. This time, it was Lupusregina, which came as a surprise. However, it seemed that the appearance of Nazarick members in the world was completely random. Nonetheless, it filled her with joy to know that more of them were showing up. Now, it was also a bit of luck for her since, with Lupusregina in the North, she had someone capable of digging more information for her. Her resources were spread thin as it was, but with Lupusregina there, she could prepare better now.
"Now, it is time to confront this little Blackfyre boy," Galadriel smirked sadistically, knowing that once she did, it would bring a temporary sense of peace. Westeros still remained oblivious to the true magnitude of the events that unfolded in the Iron Islands, among other things. Moreover, she had heard that the North's affairs were just commencing, and it would take some time for them to fully unfold.
But she would find the peace she wanted, which would help her establish her new empire.
"It took a bit to convince my grandfather, but he is not a fool; he can see the bigger picture now. It now all falls on me," Galadriel whispered before she heard a knock on the door. She looked at herself in the mirror one last time, noticing the beautiful "armour" that was given to her. It was useless to her, but she wanted to look heroic. She sighed before coughing. "Enter."
And as Galadriel expected, it. It was her dear mother. "Galadriel…"
"Mother, are you here trying to stop me?" Galadriel asked her, which caused Cersei to shake her head.
"No. You're Robert's daughter. You're as stubborn as he is," Cersei whispered, which brought some sort of unease to Galadriel; being compared to Robert was still something she didn't know how to feel. But perhaps, Cersei was right about that one thing.
Galadriel let out a sigh as she made her way over to her mother. Dealing with her dear, deranged, sadistic, and mad mother was always a complex task. In some ways, Galadriel felt indebted to her, considering she was the one who brought her into this world. However, Cersei's behaviour could be incredibly challenging to handle at times. Nevertheless, Galadriel couldn't help but notice that Cersei had been acting oddly "calm" lately. Naturally, she was still plotting, but her approach had become more subdued and discreet.
But also, Galadriel's demon side could not help but feel a bit proud, if not even amused by Cersei's shenanigans. Cersei was someone stubborn too, perhaps just as much as Robert.
"Mother, it will be over soon," Galadriel stated as she tenderly hugged Cersei, who accepted the affection joyfully. "Once this is over… we are going to have a party: food, drinks, rest, peace, all of it."
"Marriage…" Cersei growled, perhaps not referring to Galadriel's marriage but her own.
"That's true, but just consider it... wouldn't you want to have another child?" Galadriel inquired, causing Cersei to gaze at her with a hint of confusion. However, deep within her thoughts, the unsettling prophecy she had heard countless years ago resurfaced, haunting her again.
"I am old," Cersei answered.
"You're not old, mother. You're young, still, and beautiful," Galadriel replied with a smile as she kissed Cersei's cheek.
"Don't worry, mother. I will return, and once I do… things will change."
Galadriel said as she walked away, leaving Cersei humming.
"Yes… yes, they will," Cersei whispered, knowing that she would have to act accordingly. "You will not ignore me, father. I will not marry again."
Galadriel decided not to pay attention to whatever Cersei was trying to do with her grandfather and focused on what was important. Soon, Shalltear, Pandora's Actor and Sebas followed her as she walked in the hallways of the Red Keep.
"Now, Shalltear, listen to what Pandora's Actor says. He'll tell you what you need to know," Galadriel said in a hushed tone.
"I shall do so without fail!" Shalltear replied happily.
"Don't worry, my lady. I will make sure to give first good impressions," Pandora's Actor added.
"Sebas, as a security measure, keep an eye out. I'll bring some summons with me, just in case. But I also want to focus on the North. Lupusregina's encounter with the undead left me wondering what else it could be on the other side of the wall."
"Are we going to go to the Wall, my lady?" Sebas asked.
"Not yet. I want to learn more," Galadriel replied quickly.
Galadriel had ventured away from King's Landing to reach her dragons near the fields, where many of the citizens were looking at the beast in awe and fear. As she approached, three imposing figures emerged from the fields, their size and strength leaving her astounded. She couldn't help but marvel at how rapidly and tremendously they were growing. Among them, Ancalagon stood out as the largest. Galadriel realised that for the sake of practicality, she would need to find a means to shrink them down.
"You're getting fat, Ancalagon," Galadriel said, earning a whine from the enormous beast. "All of you are fat!"
Galadriel chuckled as Scatha and Smaug whined as if they were small pets.
"I believe they don't like to be called fat, my lady," Sebas said, with an amused tone.
"I am kidding," Galadriel chuckled; Ancalagon quickly accommodated himself in order to allow Galadriel to ride him, and soon, Galadriel felt as if she were riding a building. "Too big… I will return shortly. I want to burn some people."
As soon as Galadriel's dragon unfurled its large black wings, creating a powerful gust of wind that pushed people away, she declared her intentions. With her three "tiny" dragons by her side, Galadriel soared towards Kingswood, prepared to bring an end to the war, at least for the time being.