:-[Chapter 30]-:
"Aye, your grace. I shall not fail you." nodded the knight.
Ser Arthur, who was beside Jonothor, followed him without speaking to anyone. He just obeyed the order without complains whatsoever. The Sword of the Morning wasn't who he was years ago. Now, only a shell of a man was standing in his place. Years of seeing who he thought was a good man and the next Great Targaryen King, burning people alive and then killing his own father had taken a huge toll on his psyche.
"I sure hope so, as failures seem to run in your family. I hope that you show better results. Leave, now." snarled the king.
:-[T.A.B]-:
Harry was running as fast as he could for three days, sensing the dogs and men from Harrenhal running after him. He was getting exhausted but he kept running. Using Hedwig's combine power with his had tired him immensely. He needed to rejoin somehow with Ned and his men. His familiar had told him they were now in the Riverland and had managed to arrive at the Green Fork and the Twins, having rejoined them due to her great speed.
The young sorcerer knew that he couldn't get captured a second time. His friend and men were risking their very lives by simply crossing the Neck to the South for him. Harry was able to rest for the first night only before his magical senses told him about the enemy's presence. Sure, he could hide inside his magical trunk, but what if it was taken or worse, destroyed? No. He had been stupid once, he would not be a second time.
Sadly for him, his body was hurt since his transformation and he knew he couldn't fight as well as he did when he fled. Holding one of the swords that he stole from Harrenhal, Harry continued walking into the woods. Hoping to fool the dogs following him, the young warrior crossed several small streams and rivers. His goal was to reach the Green Fork since Ned was there. Crossing this river will be difficult due to the torrents and the castle itself.
"Master, I can feel you. You are far but we are almost together. I can smell you on the other side of the Fork."
"Good... we've been separated for the last time. I think I hear the water now."
"I do too. The men here are picking up the pace, Master."
"That's good, I'll try to do the sa..." started Harry but was interrupted by all of his senses screaming at him. He immediately turned around, only to see Ser Oswell Whent, Ser Arthur Dayne and a bunch of knights pointing and screaming at him.
"Well shit." chuckled Harry. "Time to try my new move." he said before raising his palms in front of him. He channeled his magic into them. With a mighty roar, the young wizard screamed the incantation.
"AUGUE!"
A massive fireball shot out of his hands, flying straight towards the nearest knight. The man screamed in pain, his scream echoing through the forest for the few seconds it took for the spell to burn him to the ground, leaving only ashes. Harry casted his spell multiple times, hitting his targets more often than not. Sometimes the fools were hiding behind a tree but the sorcerer only burn it with them.
His energy was rapidly depleting as each fireball were taking a good part of his magic. It was a new spell he created one night when he was practicing his Incendio spell. It was very effective and a very useful as an offensive spell but also costly with his magic reserve, especially after all he had endured these last few days. He decided to kept the rest for the dword and hoped that Hedwig, Ned and the others would join him soon.
:-[T.A.B]-:
Robert Baratheon woke up with a grunt and a massive headache. He tried to pat his head with his hand but saw that he was in shackles. He looked around him and saw that he was sleeping in a damp cold cell.
"What the fuck?"
"I see you finally woke up, Baratheon." said a cold feminine voice.
Robert looked in the direction of the voice and saw Lyanna Stark, looking at him with her grey eyes. The Storm's End's Heir felt a cold chill down his spine when their eyes made contact.
"Ly-Lyanna?" stuttered the man, his throat was hoarse for not having talk in a few days.
"It is Lady Stark for you, southerner!" spoke another feminine voice, this time a more mature one, the one of Lady Maege Mormont.
"It is alright, Lady Maege. I am sure Baratheon didn't mean any disrespect by it." said Lyanna
"Why am I a prisoner? Why am I put into chains?" growled Robert.
"Because you have been found in the middle of a carnage where many of our men were found dead. Lord Winterstorm is a prisoner of Lady Whent in Harrenhal and you are the only one found at the scene. Why are you in the North?"
"When I learned about King Rhaegar's actions in King's Landing, his plans about his fucking crusade against literally everyone, I decided to flee Storm's End. I left with only my armor, which you took it seems, my weapons and my horse. I was riding through the Neck when I found Lord Winterstorm and his band of hunters. We were attacked by a man who appeared straight from the shadows."
"A man from the shadows?" said a confused Lyanna.
"Aye. He came out from nowhere and must have done something to my horse because I was quickly unsaddled like a first time child. The man killed the hunters so quickly me and Lord Winterstorm couldn't do a thing. He managed to hurt me under my arms so that I couldn't lift my war hammer. They fought for a while until your sorcerer changed into some kind of man-beast. It was something I never saw before. He was faster than I ever saw a man be."
Having already seen the transformation with her brothers, Lyanna believed it immediately. It was not something that could easily be invented. "Then what happened?" asked the young girl, showing him to continue.
"I cant tell you much to be honest. We fought he and me and I lost. Its as simple as that." said an honest Robert. "Can you free me now?" he asked while showing the shackles.
"Absolutely not." she spat. "Even if I believed a word you said, we will wait for words about Lord Winterstorm and Eddard."
"Eddard? What do you mean?"
"He is leading a party of about fifty men to rescue Harry and bring him back to Moat Cailin. You will stay here until they are back and that is final, Baratheon." she said before taking her leave, followed closely by Lady Maege.
"Lyanna! Lyanna, wait!" implored Robert. But Lyanna didnt wait nor came back to his cell. He was left alone, tied to his bed, waiting to know what will await his faith.
:-[T.A.B]-:
:-[Two days after Harrys escape]-:
King Rhaegar was sitting on the throne in the main Hall in Harrenhal, bored out of his mind. He was waiting to hear about Oswell and Arthur for days now. His men were patrolling the entire land for a simple man. But this man was the key to the Norths resistance. Once he was captured, he would be killed and the North would abandon their foolish ways.
The door suddenly opened. A knight entered, revealing himself to be The Smiling Knight. His cruel smile send chills in many guards spines but no one could or would dare say anything to the king. The man walked with assurance toward the throne and bended his knee in front of his king.
"Your grace," chuckled the knight. "everything is ready in the courtyard. We are only waiting for your approval to begin the festivities. Mwa ah ah!"
"Gratitude, Ser. Ser Gerold, lead the way." answered Rhaegar. He stood up from his throne and followed the Reach Knight. The Smiling Knight followed quickly, not wanting to miss what was to come for anything in the world.
The Targaryen walked through the door, previously opened by the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Outside were multiple pyres containing the entire guard of House Whent. A hundred men were burning alive and in the center was a pyre even larger than the others. This one was the host of none other than Lady Whent. Her pyre wasnt lit yet and she was screaming to the king.
"My king, please! Ive done everything you ask! Please, mercy!"
"Everything Ive asked? I did not ask of you to lose my prisoner. I did not ask of you to make a fool out of me by promising me to bring me the sorcerer for my wedding. You are guilty, Lady Whent."
"Your grace, please! Oswell will find the heretic and bring him back to us, I swear!"
"So you admit to your failure. I will not accept it." said Rhaegar, his voice firm and devoid of any emotions. The Smiling Knight gave him a burning torch with a massive smile upon his face. He was giggling like a small boy waiting for his gift at Christmas.
"Be purified by the flames of the Seven, miscreant!" proclaimed the king before throwing the torch inside the pyre, burning Lady Whent alive.
"No! Your grace, please! MERCYYYYYYY!" screamed the woman as the flames were catching up to her dress.
"The enemy of the Seven doesnt deserve mercy."
The army was watching with a fearful eye their monarch smiling as the fire was burning the poor woman entire body. No one said anything as the king ordered the entire Household to be purified by the sword. The screams were heard all day as the handmaidens were raped and then killed. Harrenhal once again became the symbol of the Targaryens' total power over the Seven Kingdoms.
No one saw a lone figure leave the castle on a horse.
:-[T.A.B]-:
:-[Back to the present day]-:
Harry was fighting like a madman with his sword firmly in his hand. He managed to pick up a shield abandoned on the ground and use it effectively against his adversaries. Thanks to his training with Ser Barristan and Ser Lewyn, Harry was well above their level. He was able to smash his boot on his enemys chest, making him lose his balance. The young warrior immediately put his sword in the mans visor, killing him on the spot.
Another one came at him, screaming like a crazed man, a two-handed mace in his hands.
"Die you fucking heretic!"
Harry casted a quick Incendio on the mans legs, making him panic. The young Lord of Moat Cailin didnt wait a second more before smashing his shield on his face. The man fell like a puppet on the ground, unconscious. The raven-haired boy smashed his shield a second time, just to be safe. Blood spurted but the warrior paid it no mind. He continued to fight against waves of knights and men-at-arms when they finally stop coming. Harry was panting heavily and couldnt resist to put a knee on the rivers bank. By reflex, he wanted to put the tip of his sword in the ground for more support but he reminded himself of Ser Barristans lesson.
"Always have your sword and your shield up, not matter the reason. A split second can make all the difference with a split head and a complete one."
Looking around to make sure no one was going to stab him in the back, Harry allowed himself a small moment of rest but kept his head high and sharp.
"You should surrender. I shall give you a quick death if you do so." said a voice in the woods beside the river bank.
The emerald-green eyes man looked quickly in the direction and saw Ser Oswell Whent, sword in hand, all by himself. Harry sighed. His new challenger would give him a good spar if Ser Barristan said was true.
"And you should leave your King Rhaegar while you have the chance. As soon as he finds that you failed to capture me, he will kill you and your entire family if he didnt do it yet."
"You know nothing of my king. And I will not fail in my duty to bring back your head to his grace. I will restore the honor of my House."
Harry got back to his feet, getting ready for the duel of his life. Tired and exhausted, the young warrior looked in defiance at the enemy knight, pointing his sword at him.
"And I will go back to mine. Your move, Ser Oswell."
In mere seconds, the knight of the kingsguard was on him, sword and shield his hands. The fight was furious. Harry was using the last of his energy to keep the Riverman on his toes. He ducked his head quickly to avoid a well-placed blow. He used his shield to bash Whents sword in the air and use his sword to stab him. Unfortunately, the blow never came as he was stop by a white shield.
Ser Oswell managed to block the sword blow for the only reason that he knew that technique for he had seen it before. Many times, even. When he had spared with Ser Barristan, he had been the victim of it too many times to count. Luckily for him, the young man in front of him wasnt in shape to properly execute it.
However, for Oswell, this did not address the problem that he no longer had a weapon worthy of the name. He was now on the defensive and trying to parry all the furious blows coming from him.
Harry was using the fact that Ser Whent lost his sword to his advantage. Even if he missed the killing blow, the fact that the knight lost his weapon gave him a huge advantage. His opponent was using his shield with both hands, trying to make his life longer.
"You are going to die if you dont ask for mercy, Ser Oswell Whent. Die for an ungrateful king that doesnt give two shits about you." said Harry before using all his weight to use his own body to make the Riverman lose his balance.
Ser Oswell fell immediately, no quite ready for this kind of offensive tactic. Even with his many years of experience, the knight wasnt able to keep his balance due to the heavy white armor he wore. He fell flat on his back and lost the air inside his lungs. Trying to get back on his feet, he didnt saw coming Harrys foot straight of his chest, keeping firmly on the ground.
Harry put his blade on the mans throat, effectively winning the intense duel. Oswells eyes went wide in realization.
"Told you what would happen, Ser. What says you?" asked a victorious northern lord.
"I-I..." started the man before getting interrupted by a third man.
"Wait! Lord Winterstorm. I have news of Harrenhal." said a mysterious man.
"Who in the Seven Hells are you?" asked Harry, no dropping his sword nor his arms. He also kept his foot where it was, not taking any chances.
"He is a Whent knight from Harrenhal." was quickly to answered Oswell, lifting his hands up in surrender. "I know him
"What do you want, knight?" asked the emerald-green eyes lord.
"My lord Winterstorm, I escape from Harrenhal the next day you did. King Rhaegar Targaryen has killed everyone on the castle, guards, knights, even the maids. Men, women and children have all been put to the sword or the pyres." explained quickly the man. "Your aunt, Lady Shella Whent was burned alive by the king himself."
"A-Aunt Shella is dead? Wh-What do you mean?"
"His grace has decided that my Ladys failure to keep Lord Winterstorm as a prisoner was worth the extinction of her House. Ser Oswell is set to die if he was to failed. His grace has gone completely mad."
"What is he thinking? That I would accept my family massacre and go on like nothing has happened? Is he mad?" said a flabbergasted Ser Oswell, still on his back.
"Aye, Ser. He was smiling while your entire people were burning to death."
Harry saw Oswell shed multiples tears at his new situation. Entire family gone, old friends dead by either fire or sword and now, his king was asking of him something far worse than he ever could have imagine.
"What shall you do now, Ser Oswell?" asked the young warrior.
The young warrior waited for the answer before he heard a noise, like something was dropped on the ground. Harry looked in the direction and saw the Harrenhal knight dead, his head was hold by a hand.
The lord of Moat Cailin gasped when he saw who it was. Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning in the flesh.
"Indeed, Oswell. What shall you do?" said a deadpanned knight of the kingsguard.
:-[T.A.B]-:
"Where can we cross that damned river?" asked a frustrated Eddard Stark.
"A little further, my lord." said quickly the crannogman accompanying him. "There a very small gap in the river where we pass contrabands from the Riverland without paying the Freys atrocious toll."
"Then show us." said Eddard, not carring at all about the small crime the man just admitted to have committed. Right now, he only wanted to find his friend and bring him back to Moat Cailin to his wife.
Hedwig was at the forefront of the party, making sure there was no surprises coming their way. The direwolf had rejoined them couple days ago and Eddard couldnt be happier. She had help them tremendously in hunting and avoiding patrols from the southerners. As of right now however, she was getting more frantic and the Stark had forced his men to double efforts.
"Come on men! We are close to Lord Winterstorms location, his wolf can feel it!" tried to encourage their leader. "Hedwig, take off, go rejoined him right away!"
The white direwolf didnt need to be told twice. She scampered so fast, Eddard only saw a white flash and then she was gone in the forest.
"Go get him, Hedwig." muttered Ned to himself, continuing to run as fast as he could.
:-[T.A.B]-:
Hedwig, the white familiar of Lord Harry Winterstorm was running as fast as she could in the woods, looking for the small gap the two-legged small man talked about. She was able to smell her master on the other side but the present current was way too strong, even for her powerful legs. She was feeling him fighting for his life against waves of enemies.
Suddenly, she was what she was sure was the passage the crannogman talked about. The small gap still had the powerful water but Hedwig could see a small way if she walked on the rocks. Not losing a single second to think about it, the direwolf jumped in and managed to cross the rivers quickly.
Thanks to her hyper-developed senses, Hedwig was able to sense Harry very close to her. She felt him extremely tense, as if he was ready to jump at any moment. She redoubled her effort and ran faster.
When she finally saw him, three men were fighting in a cercle. One of them looked like he was fighting on her masters side, however. They were both wearing the same white armor she had seen the kingsguard wearing in the south. So why were they fighting against each other? She heard one of them screaming while fighting the other.
"Think, Arthur! Your own sister is the lady-in-waiting of Princess Elia herself! It is only a question of time before the king ask the impossible of you." the man implored.
"My king is just." said the other man, parrying many blows at the same time while speaking. "He will guide us in a world like we never dreamed of."
"You just as mad as your king, Arthur." said Harry, dodging Dawn with difficulties.
"I shall not let your ignorance goes any further, miscreants. I shall kill you both, right here and..."
But Arthur didnt have time to finish, as a massive white blur rammed into him violently. He fell to the ground harshly but stayed conscious. Lifting up his head, he saw Lord Harry Winterstorm`s direwolf in front of him, looking at him menacingly. The beast was snarling at him, showing him its massive teeth and fangs.
"Hedwig!" sighed in relief Harry.
Oswell looked at the young sorcerer quickly before reputing all of his attention on Ser Arthur Dayne. "Lord Winterstorm. You have my apologies for what I have put you through. Leave with your wolf, I shall take this one and find a way to the North."
Harry pondered his options. One, he could stay here and fight the Sword of the Morning with Oswell Whent and his familiar Hedwig but in his state and with his direwolf exhausted too, it wasnt a good idea. Two, he could take the knight on his offer and eventually offer him asylum, like he did with Barristan Selmy and Lewyn Martell. As his duty was to Moat Cailin, the North and to his wife Sura.
"I say we take him on his offer, Master. Jump on my back and well rejoin with Ned and you men from home." said Hedwig.
"I say you are right, girl." said Harry mentally before talking back to Ser Oswell. "Gratitude for your offer, Ser Whent. Find us in the North and a place shall be yours."
The knight only nodded, not quitting Ser Arthur Dayne from his eyes. The Lord of Moat Cailin jumped on his direwolfs back and ran in the forest, leaving the two kingsguards in their duel.
:-[T.A.B]-:
King Rhaegar was walking in Harrenhals main courtyard, surrounded by his five kingsguard. It has been cleaned up of the many pyres on his order. Once the bodies were removed, they were put in a massive mass grave, buried and forgotten. House Whent was done ruling this ancestral royal seat. This castle was to be a new Targaryen outpost in the Riverlands in the like of Dragonstone.
He had been waiting for days now about Oswell and Arthur with almost no news. Winterstorm had been spotted near the Green Fork and the men were to attack him and capture him but no raven had come about their victory.
Meanwhile, his men were put to work by cleaning up the place from the rubble. The walls were in dire need of reparation and his army needed something to do.
"Your grace!" called out a voice.
Rhaegar turned to watch one of his patrol captains, a dragonseed from King's Landing. He jumped down his horse, who was immediately taken by a small stable boy. The knight bended his knee and dropped his head, waiting for his kings answer.
"What is it, captain?" asked the king.
"It is Ser Arthur Dayne, he is back at the gate." quickly answered the man.
"Why are you the one who greet me and not my kingsguard?" inquired the Targaryen, squinting his eyes dangerously.
"My king, Ser Arthur is not quite... alone. I believe it is for your eyes first."
Rhaegar only grunted at that. Deciding to follow the captain, he nodded at him, indicating to him that he could start going back to the gate. The king followed him, under the vigilant eyes of the kingsguard. The more they were getting near the gate, the more they heard whispers coming for the soldiers.
Arrived at the destination, Rhaegar climbed up the stone stairs until he was on the wall. He saw a lonely figure, waiting patiently on his horse. Ser Arthur Dayne, dressed in his white armor, looked up and saw his king.
"You grace."
"What is the meaning of this, Arthur? Why are you here without Whent and your men?" asked the king.
"The men are still looking for the heathen Harry Winterstorm. He has managed to pass the Green Fork with... reinforcement."
"Reinforcement? In the Riverlands? Explain, now Arthur." demanded the king.
Rhaegar saw the Sword of the Morning sighed slightly before starting his story.
"A traitor from Harrenhal managed to flee Harrenhal during the cleansing and to warn Ser Oswell. Learning of our divine actions here made the traitor turn his coat to the North. He negotiated a pact with the lord of Moat Cailin for my death and his freedom afterward. The heretic fled on his direwolf to rejoin his men in the North."
"What happened to that filthy traitor?" snarled the king, closing his fists in rage.
Ser Arthur unclasped a small object from his horse and lift it up, revealing it to be Ser Oswell Whent decapitated head.
:-[T.A.B]-:
:-[Author Note: Chapter 30! Never thought people would followed this story. Thank you all so much for the support. ]-:
Thank you everyone for reading Chapter 30 of The adventure begins! Please let a review in the comment, letting me know what you think about my story of 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 Nysk: Thank you for your kind review my friend! I hope you like this chapter as well.
To Travis Btmb: TFTR!
To Sheploo: Down with the order indeed!
To Mark1: Nope! It was an Archangel of Time, Master is not the Master of Death yet!
To Claudiomir: And thank you for reading, as always!
To BioHazard8: Thank you so much for reading. I hope you like this chapter as well!
To Stormzy: What can I do to make my writing better? I will take any advice! Thank you reading my story and for your reviews. For Robert, I can try to make him more likable in the future!