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"Speech"
'Thoughts'
Writing/Singing
"Foreign Language/Flashback"
-Scene Shift-
Chapter 40: Interlude 1
Beyond the Wall lies the great lands of Endless Winter. For as long as anyone has known, it is forever cold. Only endless snow, dark-looking forests and mountains with a biting cold wind for miles around.
WHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
The pounding, swirling, storm that raged on and on around any person traversing the frosted lands can be quite the heavy burden. Nothing but the swirl and what resided in the apparent center of this apparent storm. Speeds ranging from heart attack level to a lazy pull that can be nauseating.
Once pushing past this nightmare of a weather pattern, one would be greeted with an out-of-place, yet very pleasant sight. It was a Weirwood tree, larger than any other one would ever see south of the Wall. It towered high into the sky and spread out even further with its large branches and roots. The Weirwood tree at Winterfell was supposed to date back over ten thousand years or what many Northerners have said. However, this tree in particular was far older due to it dwarfing the one in Winterfell by leagues. The only one beating this one in so many categories resides in the true Isle of Faces down south in the Riverlands.
The sounds of crunching snow could be heard. It was at a steady pace as it went towards a particular spot underneath the large Weirwood tree. Once stepping over a large ring formation composed of rocks, the person halts slightly and looks back to them and sees glowing glyphs fluctuate slightly before dying down. Soon after, the person turned back and entered a hidden space.
Moments after entering the cave, the person occasionally watches their step so they wouldn't trip or lose their footing from the various branches and roots. They could feel the magic from this place, it being thick enough to taste. This was due to a great number of factors.
"Who are you?" The voice sounded old, ancient and rusty from lack of use. "Why have you come here?"
If this was an ordinary person, they would've jumped in fright and surprised by the voice seemingly speaking from all over. This was due to the echo resounding off from the tunnels. However, the person who came here was extraordinary.
Soon enough, the person was greeted with the sight of several children… well, not typical children per se but they were referred to as such. They were Children of the Forest.
Eyeing the individuals before them, the person spoke. "Someone who seeks an audience."
Without getting a response, the person strolled past the Children and ventured deeper into the cave.
Upon reaching the heart of the cave system where the greater amount of the Weirwood tree's roots resides lies an unusual sight. Buried within the roots lies a man more ancient than any man had a right to be sat surrounded by a mass of roots that nearly enveloped his entire body. More focused was the man's aged face with long hair on his head with a beard to match. One root was partially sticking into the empty eye socket of the root-bound man. And on the one side of his face is a wine-red birthmark that looks like a bird.
One red eye soon sees the arrival and takes in their features. It was a young man with silvery white hair in a frazzled lanky style. Formally dressed in a peculiar white attire with a black and gray striped shirt lay underneath the styled jacket. A black cloth hung loosely around his neck as he made a brief adjustment to his monocle with his leather gloves. And hanging by his waist by a chain which was tucked into a pocket.
"The Three-Eyed Raven." Says the spectacled man. "Or should I say, Brynden Rivers. The man with a thousand and one eyes. We finally meet."
The red eye blinked with its owner speaking some moment later. "You have me at a disadvantage. You know me, but I don't know you."
"Of course." The white-haired man bowed and gestured cordially with a hand. "How rude of me. I am Aeon. And you would most certainly not know of me, given I'm not native to this world."
Rivers narrowed his eyes in confusion. "I do not follow."
"You somewhat would." Aeon vaguely says. "Has old age finally come to you? Or are you just playing ignorant?" He tilts his head slightly with the corner of his lip twitching upward slightly to barely form a smile. "Let me give you a hint. I, like you, was given quite the gift. Some consider it gracious. The opportunity of overseeing something grand."
One of the Children put two and two together and spoke. "You're like him."
Whatever smile Aeon had turned into a frown. "Not like him." He steps forward slightly. "I -like him- was given the gift to see various points in time as an archivist."
"What's the difference between you two?" Asks another Child of the Forest.
"I am not limited to just one World… one timeline… in particular. I oversee many." Aeon focuses back towards the bound Valyrian. "Tell me, do you still hear the song?"
"Of course he does-"
"I wasn't asking you," Aeon interrupts the one Child of the Forest. "I'm asking him."
Brynden did his best to shift in place. Mostly his lone eye in searching for something. "I… I do not. I can't connect anymore." The old man rasped out. "All I see… The future is clouded. Changed. How…?"
The Children looked on in confusion, murmuring amongst themselves.
"What does this mean?" One inquired nervously.
"If the future has changed, then so must our plans." Stated another.
Aeon nods. "Rightfully so… just not with Brynden and his apparent successor candidates." This quickly earned looks of attention from the others in the cave. "He's being blocked out in more ways than one." He elaborates. "The Wall is more powerful now with the Red Moon in the sky. Working its intended function of keeping certain magics from reaching past it once again. Well, more like actions from a certain someone."
The emphasis on the last word had the well-suited man turn his gaze on the elderly man intertwined in the Weirwood branches.
Despite the area being darkened, the monocle on his right eye glinted as Aeon's sharp eyes narrowed.
"You -Brynden Rivers- are in serious trouble."
There was an immediate shift among the other residents in the cavern.
"Trouble?" Asks one of the Children of the Forest.
Pulling out a large Watch fob, he flipped it open, glancing at something unseen by all save for him. "In some versions of this world's tale, you planned to have Brandon Stark come here crippled and accompanied by the simple-minded stable boy and the girl of House Reed after her brother sacrifices himself to see them through the barrier. A means of limiting the poor boy's capabilities and forcing him into a path of your choosing."
Brynden Rivers squirmed, his normally indiscernible expression cracking. "I do not know what you are talking-"
"Cut the farce." Aeon snapped, cutting him off. "I know what you have planned. I know what you have done with your whispering."
The Children look startled before turning to the bound Valyrian.
"What have you done?" He silently asked.
The timekeeper raised a mocking brow, holding out his arms. "Oh? You didn't know? He's been stringing people along, nudging them here and there to a particular course."
"We know that-"
"But not what you intended to know in preparation for the coming Long Night." Aeon redirects his focus back to Brynden Rivers. "While I know in other versions of this world, you are actually doing all this for the greater good of mankind. However, which greater good is the problem of this whole situation. Who's greater good is this directed towards?"
There were some bouts of silence before it was broken.
"The ends justify the means." Brynden's response was one that brokered no arguments, a dark underlying tone that the white-garbed man scoffed at.
"Spare me the intimidation tactics, Rivers. Your days as being a terror mean nothing to me." Aeon scoffs. "And what could you even do now?" Brynden remains silent, only fuming. "But tell me, what kind of mercy were you trying to give to them?"
"Mercy has its price." Rivers spat out angrily. "How often has an act of mercy led to war?"
"So you say. In truth, mercy is complicated. One would believe ruthlessness is mercy upon itself. Another state's mercy only leads to war if people are stubborn and stagnant. It all matters where people believe it resides." Aeon waves his arm in a theatrical manner. "Fighting to save lives gets the job done, but not killing irks many. Yet there are those going through a pacifist route that is more successful in the long run instead of the short term."
"Often than naught, it's best to kill one to save hundreds. Hundreds for thousands."
"Oh yes, that is true. Being more strategic to know which is more valuable and necessary. Having people killed at an event when their guards are down as opposed to on the battlefield as one fine example. Barbaric, but effective. But manipulating things further for planned courses to save millions and billions can often be a grand dream if done correctly. Yet it can doom them all in the process as well." The man in white gazes to the tree roots and pats the nearest one slightly. "This was what you sought to use for the longest time since you came here." Aeon motions to the present setting. "Something of a spymaster -such as yourself- can't seem to pass up on what's essentially the greatest tool imaginable."
"I have indeed been given an honor. An opportunity."
"Oh yes, you have. But as one tyrant once said: when is a gift not a gift?" Aeon pries his hand away from the tree root to focus back at Brynden. "For years, you forced many to undergo a "flight" trial to awaken their greenseer capabilities. Countless lives died as a result. Only a handful survived with a few being driven mad. Brandon Stark is one such person you sought. Your perfect candidate, given his blood of the Kings of Winter. Someone you wish to give the same opportunity as you all those years ago."
Brynden gnashed his teeth, one hand clenching a root so tightly that he was shaking. "He needs a teacher. I could guide him."
The look the three-eyed raven received was one that would cower most. Rivers weathered the storm but still felt the aura from the man.
"Tell me," Aeon stepped forward. "Do you really think Bran would accept such teachings if the boy knew the truth? Or even Jon Snow if Bran didn't work out? After all, he can be considered far better, given he is the byproduct of Ice and Fire and beyond the Wall at this very moment. Filling either of their heads with such grandeur of how honorable it'll be of being your successor and becoming one of the archive keepers of this world instead of you?"
"That is initially the plan." Spoke one of the Children. "Brynden Rivers is near the end of his lifespan. The Weirwood can only prolong it for so long."
"Clearly. A means of properly resting for good. Yet he doesn't want to really rest as he wanted you all to believe. In truth, Brynden wishes to prepare his candidate to the point where he could Warg with his body using one of his trips through the past to see previous events? Seeing a past event with him and then at the last moment, possessing the candidate's body and staying in it with his years of experience in a much younger body?"
This drew the attention of the rest of the Children, wondering if this was really possible or not.
"In various timelines, you plan on switching your soul, your heart with Brandon Stark so you may occupy his body once his body has grown accustomed to the warging and greenseer gift of his family lineage. From there, you would affect certain parts of the present and have things fall into place of destroying all of your opposition so you may rule Westeros and perhaps beyond. And if Brandon wasn't capable of producing children, you would select an "heir" of your choosing and repeat the cycle of training them before hopping into their body and do it all over again. The result would have you be the phantom lich king, forever ruling this world for countless years."
"...Bynden, is this true?"
"You might as well confess," Aeon spoke up before Rivers even had a chance to speak. "You really can't do a thing anymore. No real power to back up your arguments."
It was by this point did Brynden began visibly seething at the man before him, who unraveled much of his hidden agendas for all these years. "I do what I must to live and survive beyond this Hell! I do what I must to live a life away from this prison! I have served my time! I DESERVE TO BE FREE!" Exclaimed Brynden, writhing madly within the roots.
The pressure Aeon exuded increased ten-fold, cowering the Children of the Forest. "You deserve to be punished." The Time-Keeper jabbed a finger at the Targaryen bastard. "You betrayed your family and so many all because of your biases and hidden thirst for power. Keeping your head low when needed in hopes of garnering more influence. However, you ruined things for yourself by killing that innocent Blackfyre boy during the Great Council. As a result, Aegon came to his senses and punished you accordingly on his first official act as king. You sought to escape such a punishment like your half-brother once you came to the Wall once you were guided by your predecessor and took his place. It wasn't long before you realized you traded one prison for another, and thus you planned."
Aeon walks a little as he continued to speak. "You saw this world was going through a complicated cycle. A continuous loop with you propelling it for the intended goal of saving it. But you sought to save it on your own terms. Seeing possible futures and noting them for your various plays. Some still occur, others don't. One such remnant is poor Hordor. Things such as that can never be fixed." Aeon gazes at the tree-bound man. "However the cycle has been breaking. You can thank Ventus for that." He could see Brynden narrow his other eye upon him. "Using your whispers, you sought to course correct things after Ventus left this world the first time around and after his departure with the Sacking of King's Landing. A lot became as it originally was for these past years until the arrival of Roxas and Xion. Because of them, things were greatly shifted out of your control. Once more you sought to redirect things, pushing things harder and harder for your narrative so you win in the end."
With this said, footsteps could now be heard. The sudden sound drew the attention of Brynden and the Children. They quickly wondered how someone else bypassed the wards of this place.
It was a blue-eyed blonde, wearing a winter get-up. It wasn't big and encumbrance like many people residing beyond the Wall. It was slim and form-fitting. It was white and gray, somewhat complimenting Aeon's to some capacity.
"Your plan might have worked in this timeline had Aeon and I not interfered."
Upon seeing the new arrival in the cave, Brynden snaps and roars. "YOU WHORE! YOU RUINED EVERYTHING!"
Namine was unfazed when yelled in such a way. The Children, however, jolted in their spots as they never witnessed the bound greenseer this angry before.
"I've been called worse with actual threats behind it." She coldly said.
"Who is this?" Asked another child of the forest.
"An associate of mine." Came Aeon's vague response. "Leaf, I recommend you and your siblings take Dark Sister and the great bow with you. Brynden won't need them anymore. "
The one Child of the Forest looked at Aeon in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"No one else will be coming here. Well, no one living."
Leaf and her fellow Children balk at the implication.
"But the barrier-" Came the stammer that Aeon interrupted.
"Will not work much longer." He said dismissively. "You and your siblings are no longer bound to be here."
"What?" Leaf muttered, not quite believing what was just said.
"You heard me."
"But-"
"This place is considered deconsecrated by the Old Gods." Aeon stated. "They gave me the authority to enact it as their adjudicator for this matter."
The Children practically paled and looked on in shock and disbelief. "A-Are you certain?"
"I am. They've grown tired of Brynden Rivers mucking up things for too long. They can't trust him any further."
"But what about the archive?"
"The one in the Isle of Faces is still active." Aeon gazes at the bound Valyrian. "He was doing a lot of effort in interfering with the man stationed there for his plans."
With this said, with hope and other emotions filling their hearts, Leaf and her fellow Children snag everything of value before going deeper into the cave where they would leave through the escape route used for emergencies. Given this place is no longer safe for them, they'll have to find safer places. No doubt they'll seek to get south of the Wall, but until then it might be best to find better company.
"One last thing, Brynden, you've never been a player. You've -in fact- been a piece trying to act as a player. After all, the one pulling your strings has been reaping what you have sown."
With that said, the pair depart from the cave, leaving Brynden all alone in the dark.
"Would you know where they are now?"
Knowing who Namine is referring to, Aeon could give the best answer he could give. "Places where they're needed."
Upon leaving the cave, Aeon and Namine could see the figures in the distance. From the falling snow, one would have a hard time to tell who and what they were. However, Aeon and Namine knew.
"Time to go."
With a wave of Aeon's hand, a gathering of light erupted from the snow. It wasn't long before the pair left in the Light Corridor where things became far quiet outside of the howling wind.
It would not be much longer for the figures to come closer to the cave and find the barrier is no longer there. Before long, the lone occupant, the bound figure of Brynden Rivers will meet his demise.
-Somewhere on the King's Road-
Sounds of hoofs beating and boots scraping against the dirt alongside wood creaking could be heard. The sounds originated from that of a small army composed of Northerners, Dornish, Stormlanders and various others. Leading them were Beric Dondarian as a grim look graced his features.
They left Kings Landing some time ago, practically feeling like hours with what they had to accomplish.
Originally, he and the others were given orders to sweep the capital and retrieve the loyalist remnants of Ned Stark and Lewyn Martell. It would be from there would they unite, storm the Red Keep and have a coup of their own. Upon liberating the Starks and imprisoning Joffrey, they would figure out who would properly sit on the Iron Throne.
It was relatively simple, especially with two Keybearers on their side. However, plans changed.
Roxas gave out new orders as they needed to acquire as many of Robert's bastards as they could and get them out of the city. A precaution in case things went sour. Amongst them was the recently found Arya Stark. With these people of great interest, the status of the North and the realm can be relatively secure to some capacity.
While this all went on, Roxas and Tyene headed toward Visenya's Hill. A means to retrieve Ned and Sansa Stark alongside Princess Myrcella with them not in the secured Red Keep during Joffrey's coronation.
Quite the gamble that was. One which is problematic with what Beric and the others agreed upon.
Sadly, things didn't go so well with what they all witnessed once outside of the city gates. A sense of dread filled their beings upon seeing the pillar of darkness shooting toward the sky, widening and expanding to encompass Visenya's Hill. If that wasn't bad enough, they noticed the lack of Arya and her direwolf. Not to mention Gendry and the unusual talking cat.
Sadly they couldn't drop what they were doing and head back. All they could do was have a few volunteers go back into the city and search for Arya and Gendry. Hopefully, they made it back in one piece, let alone alive.
"This is where we part ways, Lord Dondarrion."
The Thunder Lord gives a brief nod. "Aye."
Gazing his lone eye over, Beric saw the Yoren of the Night's Watch leading a small group of people situated around a cart and an iron cage wagon. Each were volunteers -both willingly and criminally imposed- as they would have a new life at the Wall.
The two parties met earlier when they were making their way out of the capital. The guards stationed at their post wouldn't let some of Beric's group out while trying to not look promiscuous. Yet the timely intervention of the Wandering Crow allowed their exit, giving out a lie they were volunteers for the Watch.
"You know, I could lighten your load by taking some of 'em with me up North."
Knowing the recruiter of the Night's Watch was referring to Robert's bastards, Beric shook his head. "Appreciate it, but Blackhaven is closer. So is Dorne."
"You believe 'em to be saver in those parts?"
"It would take too long to get to the North, in case you forgot. And I can secure safety for these folk with my House and those further south."
Yoren hums a little. "Can't argue with that." He takes a swig from his wineskin. "Then I wish you luck on your travels."
"You as well. And I can't thank you enough for earlier."
"You're good people. Your cause is just, wanting to protect 'em people."
After some more conversation, it wasn't long before the two parties went their separate directions.
Beric looked back to the Night's Watch party, having him briefly wonder if there would be any issues with them. Yoren had a lot of control of his own group, even if it's just him overseeing the volunteers of going Northbound. Not to mention they will need to traverse through the Riverlands, which is arguably a dangerous territory at this time with the Heartless and Unversed.
In another timeline, Beric would want to join Yoren in protecting him and his company up to the Neck. From there, the Lord of Blackhaven would have Thoros and everyone else go throughout the Riverlands to enact their own form of justice against those who wronged them. Sadly, this was not that world as the Thunder Lord needed to focus on his own people right now. A good number of them were innocent and needed protection.
Thus it's time for him to return home. It was time to begin assembling the banners of allies, ones tied to his family and others.
He needed to prepare for the return of Roxas and Tyene so they can fend off the coming darkness.
-Sunspear, Dorne-
*CRASH*
Sounds of pottery smashing with a wrathful yell could be heard. The originator being a snarling Viper as he struck nearly everything in venting his utmost anger.
Off to the side, a man bound in a wheelchair sat at a table, overlooking a multitude of letters that he had been reading through for most of the day now.
His eyes flickered over to the sound of more pottery being shattered followed by more raging growls, snarls and hisses before writing on the letter he held in his hand before moving onto the next one. The man in the chair had his eyes narrowed with a disconcerted look.
One of them bore the wax seal of the Kingsguard, one which the Martells immediately knew came from Ser Barristan Selmy. Another came with the official seal of the Iron Throne. The last one was a blank seal.
The first bore the message of sorrow and forgiveness for the loss of a sworn brother. The second contained the message of the new state of the realm, demanding House Martell swear fealty to King Joffrey Baratheon. The last was a letter from the spymaster Varys, sending out a warning -done out of courtesy- of a number of missing individuals that is now wanted by the Crown, one of which pertains to House Martell.
While he was one of a more composed and calm nature, Doran Martell was still a man of Dorne and he can have a temperament that is as intense as the sun. Yet it was more contained as opposed to his brother.
The gall of this mad bastard king demanding their fealty after killing their beloved Uncle Lewyn. He has half of a mind to direct the marshaling army of Dorne and send it straight at King's Landing.
Though not as much as-
*CRASH*
"Murderers, all of them. Filthy, conniving, VERMIN!" The Red Viper of Dorne ranted. "Kill them. I'LL KILL THEM ALL!"
Doran only hummed, tossing aside parchment. "Calm yourself, Oberyn."
Oberyn Martell rounded on his brother, a deadly look in his eyes.
"Calm?! CALM?!" He shouted. "Those Lannister bastards did it again! Uncle Lewyn is dead, many of our men too and now, my daughter is missing as are Roxas, Ned and his daughters. We have no idea where they are and for all we know they could be dead!"
The Lord of Sunspear shared in this sentiment, this belief but he had to reign in his bloodlust and be the level-headed Prince and Liege Lord of Dorne.
"I understand your anger, my brother. But you must not do anything rash. I promise you, we will have our vengeance-"
"When brother? When?" Oberyn interrupts, a manic gleam in his eyes. "You've had your time and patience, but it's wasted now. Ripe for the taking, only to plop and spoil like your blood oranges."
Doran raised a brow at his younger sibling. "Did you not take out Ser Gregor Clegane? Spear right through his head… or what it turned into from how you explained it."
His younger sibling let out what was likely the most dramatic scoff he had seen him muster, emphatically holding up one finger, his whole hand vibrating before steadying itself.
"That was one piece of our plan. There are still far more that need to taste the end of my blade." The Red Viper spoke with unrepentant savagery. "They took our uncle, my daughter now and more than one close friend this time. Now, I want them all dead."
Doran sighed, imagining how the rest of his Household, let alone the rest of Dorne, was reacting to the recent event at King's Landing. It was practically the same with news reaching them of the loss of Elia and her children. Nearly all of Dorne sought to raise their spears in rebellion against the Baratheons and Lannisters back then, only to be quelled by the combined might of Doran and Jon Arryn.
But as always, his brother appeared to harbor the deepest grudge though it should come as no surprise. Unlike most highborn lords, like all people of Dorne, Oberyn never harbored any guilt nor disdain towards his bastard daughters.
No, he loved them fiercely and dearly, raising them himself and training them to become fierce warriors, eight young nieces that Doran loved as greatly as any in his family.
So to hear the possibility of one of his daughters being killed in the coup at King's Landing would be a devastating blow.
What surprised the elder Martell was the apparent friendship Oberyn had developed with Eddard Stark.
The name Stark was one that was met with mixed reactions from the people of Dorne.
Some called them traitors yet others didn't really hold much resentment towards them. Even the Daynes, who would be believed to hold the most animosity towards the Wolves of the North, not only did not harbor ill intents to the Starks, they even named their future Lord in honor of him.
And prior to that, it was Eddard Stark and Ventus that saved Lewyn Martell from being killed during the Rebellion, allowing him to come home to his family.
So really, those who held any animosity toward the Starks in Dorne were far and few between. One such example was Ser Gerald Dayne, who felt slighted by his cousins -Arthur and Ashara- slain because of Ned Stark and his actions.
When Oberyn told of how the Starks lost just as much as the Martells did and how Eddard, of all people, would understand the loss of a sister, Doran could see why his younger brother grew to call the Wolf Lord a friend. Looking back on it, Doran always did feel pity for the Starks. They had lost their liege lord, their heir and the beloved daughter of their liege, sparking the Rebellion.
Doran shook his head. Now was not the time to reminisce.
Plans were made and enacted. But like what Oberyn stated, they were like his blood oranges. So many ripe and ready to partake in, others ruined once naturally falling and splattering to the ground.
*CLANG*
Like that bowl of blood oranges that was thrown upon the ground. Such a waste.
The elder Martell sighed, ready for however his sibling would react to what he was about to order upon him. "Brother, I request you take some time abroad."
Oberyn stopped in his tracks, turning to Doran to give him one of the most bewildered looks he could muster. "...Excuse me."
His elder brother gave him a pointed look. "You must take your time to vent elsewhere."
"You mean to have me exiled once more like what happened with Edgar Yronwood." States the Viper, appearing deranged now. "So like you to save face and to appease many in court."
"You would be acting rashly, quickly calling our banners against my wishes while we're already preparing for war against this Organization XIII. Instead of fending against them and their forces, you'd march towards King's Landing for King Joffrey's head."
The second Prince of Dorne kept a heated gaze until it broke, turning away and giving out a bitter chuckle. "You know me too well."
"I do. Which is why I worry-"
"Too late for that, dear brother. Our family has been harmed once more. Trystane and Arianne, my daughters, Ellaria and Nymor greatly weep for what happened. Lewyn was slain and likely Tyene could be dead as well. They are all but seething for blood."
"We do not know that Tyene is dead." Doran firmly said. "Someone like that mad little monster would be unrestrained in parading around her corpse. He is much like Aerys in that matter."
"Is that supposed to comfort me?" Oberyn sarcastically asked.
"It is supposed to make you calm down and make you not act so hastily." Doran rebuked. "Honestly, brother, you are one of the most intelligent men in Westeros yet you're a damnable fool half the time. Step back and think, assess, don't go all bullheaded and rush recklessly into death. Lest you forget the fate that befell the elder brother of the Quiet Wolf."
Oberyn stopped in his tracks at that, looking down with a grimace. He recalled conversing with Ned about their siblings and the memories they had with them. The Stark Lord held deep love for his brother and sister but he wasn't blind to the fact that it was the Wild Wolf's own actions that led to his imprisonment, despite the context that would make most, especially to someone like Oberyn.
A knocking came to the chamber door, making the brothers turn to it. It creaked open slightly to reveal Areo, captain of the guard standing there.
"Yes?" Doran asks briefly.
"Your daughter is here."
"Send her in." He commands before turning to his brother. "You stay."
"For what?"
Doran didn't answer as the door swung open. Princess Arianne walked into her father's solar. While calm in appearance, her tired eyes were all but bloodshot.
Oberyn wasted no time in going over to his beloved niece and pulled her into a hug which she reciprocated immediately. She shuddered, clinging onto her uncle tightly as fresh silent tears streamed down her face.
Her father made a faux-affronted scoff at this display.
"Ahem, am I not your father, Arianne?"
Despite her current mood, the fiery princess of Dorne cracked a smile, separating from her uncle to go over to her father and hug him.
"Thank you, my dear." Doran softly said. "I'm so sorry I must ask you to do your duty in this time of uncertainty."
"That is what the heir of Dorne must do." Arianne said, her voice strained yet strong. There was a slight venomous edge to her next words. "Or would it be something else in mind?"
Her father took note of this but didn't say anything on the matter. Instead, he brought up something else. "I've already sent a letter to the Yronwoods to send Quentyn back here."
"To grieve with us?" Arianne said sarcastically. "Would it just be that before sending him back?"
"Of course not. There would be no point."
"For what exactly?"
"What you two must do now with your uncle. I've made arrangements for you and an assortment of our forces to go out East."
This garnered reactions from the two others in the room.
"You want me… and Quentyn to go to Essos with Uncle Oberyn?" Arianne stated, gesturing to herself and Oberyn to make sure she wasn't hearing things. Her father nodded. "For what? Why?"
"Fulfilling promises." Doran's voice was soft and stern, gazing right into Oberyn's eyes now. "Of vengeance. Of justice. Fire and Blood."
The pieces fell into place in the viper's mind and slowly, Oberyn gave his brother a curious smile.
"Truly?"
"It is time."
Arianne looked between her father and uncle with a questioning look, wondering what was going on.
Soon enough, answers will be given and much more than she could imagine.
-Unknown Location 1-
She felt… skittish.
Terrified.
Trapped.
Isolated.
She was in some enclosed location with barely any movement available.
Her senses, particularly her smell, were assailed with a manner of stimulations, predominantly negative. The smells she was picking up on were vile, putrid and suffocating.
Metal was pressed up against her furry skin…
Wait…
Fur?
Since when did she have fur?
*BAM*
She jolted, her four paws skittering slightly at the sound when she was filled with the scent of someone… familiar.
This scent… it was of lilacs, subtle perfume and lavender.
So much more pleasant than what she had smelled mere moments ago.
Through her vision, she saw a familiar figure of blond locks and hair that she recalled nuzzling into, braiding and brushing and with it came an expression of shock that morphed into unrestrained fury.
"You had her in a cage!"
"Best means of containing the beast, dear sister."
That voice… ooooooh that voice. It filled her with dread as much as it did rage.
She saw him.
That face… she wanted to run from it as much as she wanted to jump in and tear into it, rip it apart into an unmistakable mess of flesh and bone.
Such actions were withheld as she was taken into the arms of the one with the longer hair, being kept close by holding her protectively.
"I plan on having it's pelt as a rug before my-"
"You will do no such thing!"
She felt her ears flicker back at the shout, a possessive glare thrown at the mad one.
It was hard for her to focus on what was spoken next. All she did was whimper and nuzzle into the being of warm comfort.
The other just shook with rage and madness.
"How dare you speak to me in that way!" The petulant shrieking hurt her ears. "I am your king! You will do as I command!"
"You may be king, but I will not blindly follow like many others in court. After all, many of your actions weaken your claim-"
"It's not a claim. The throne is mine. I wear the crown."
"Of course it is." Said the girl with the familiar, warm scent, holding an undertone of sarcasm. "What would our mother say to that?"
"How would I know? That useless wench-"
*SMACK*
The king recoiled from the hit.
"Mother is dead and you would disrespect her?"
Her brother glared at her. "You will never hit me again. If you do, it will be your head." He soon storms off. "I'll have that mutt skinned and turned into a rug."
"Empty promises from a false king."
She didn't notice what happened next as it was more of a blur. No longer kept in the place of confinement but in a nice room. One which seemed familiar.
The warm arms were back around her, running through her fur, comforting and alleviating any fear and worries she held. "Shhhh, Lady, I'm here, I'm here. I'll keep you safe."
She felt herself whine, leaning into the warmth of this one.
"I know, I miss her too."
Before Sansa knew it, she woke up from the unusual dream.
She sat up in a rush, the world became disjointed and tilted causing her to promptly fall back hard, missing the gasps of surprise that came from her sudden awakening.
In an instant, she felt a presence by her side and a towel moving across her forehead and cheeks, wiping away the cold sweat she developed.
"Oh dear, please do not move so much." Spoke a mature, motherly voice that put Sansa at ease. She felt soft hands adjust her body into a more comfortable position. "You had a rough landing with how we found you. Please, stay still my dear."
"Is she alright, mother?" Asked another female voice, this one distinctly younger.
"Don't worry sweetheart, the Queen assured me with proper rest, this young girl shall be alright." Said the first voice.
Sansa released a small groan and then, the back of a woman's hands were placed upon her forehead.
"No fever, that's good." The mature voice said in relief. "Just exhaustion and exertion from your trip here."
"Does she need anything?" Asked the young voice.
"Just some more rest and perhaps a proper meal to get her strength back up." The mature one said with certainty. "Now, open your eyes young one," She then felt hands cupping her eyes. "Here, to help you with the light."
Sansa was confused at this but when she opened her eyes, the hands in over her eyes shaded the bright light and she adjusted to the brightness faster before the hands were pulled away.
"There, much better, no?" Said the mature woman who hovered over her. "Come on, let's get you up."
Sansa didn't protest as the older woman, with another girl joining in, helped her sit up.
She was dazed but overall, alive and well for the most part.
"Don't make any drastic movements." The older woman advised and the redhead teen finally got a proper look at the two women.
Looking at both individuals, Sansa saw they were Dornish in appearance. Long black hair with olive skin for starters. They looked quite similar as well, practically making her think they were related. Yet there were two key differences. The younger of the pair had a different set of eyes and a particular strand of hair compared to her older lookalike.
Strange…
Why did they look familiar to her?
She's never seen them before but at the same time, it feels like she should know these faces.
Before she could speak or do anything, the sound of a door opening cut in and Sansa turned her head to see…
Why is there a giant mouse wearing a gorgeous dress?
"I must be dreaming." Sansa croaked out, her throat dry and slightly raspy.
She started coughing and immediately, the older woman moved to retrieve a glass of water from a nearby bed stand and placed it up to Sansa's lips.
"Here, gently now." The woman said in a soothing voice, helping the young Stark.
The cool feeling of water ran down her throat, Sansa releasing a satisfied and grateful sigh afterward.
"Thank you."
The woman gave her a kind smile whilst the Mouse in the grand dress moved to stand by her bed.
"How are you feeling?' She asked, her voice sweet and concerning.
Sansa stared at her for what felt like an eternity until her mind managed to produce a response.
"Tired." She said, still feeling a heavy sensation on her body.
"Yes, you did appear dramatically." The mouse lady spoke. "We were worried sick about your health. You've been asleep for days."
"What happened to you?" The younger girl asked and now that she got another look at her again, Sansa judged her to be slightly older than her, perhaps by a year or so.
"I… I don't…" Sansa winced, feeling a slight spike of pain in her head. "What happened? Where even am I?"
"Oh my," The talking mouse said aloud, gasping and appearing to shake her head in disappointment at herself. "How incredibly rude of me. My apologies, dear. I am Minnie, Queen of Disney Castle. These two are Rhaenys and her mother Elia-"
"Elia…" Sansa cut the queen off, staring at the mother in wide-eyed disbelief. "As in… Elia Martell?" Sharp looks were given when hearing this. "The former Princess of Dorne? Rhaegar Targaryens Wife?!"
"...How do you know all that?"
Sansa gaped like a fish, her mind taking a moment to reboot at this world-shattering meeting she was having at this time. "How are you even alive!? You're supposed to be dead!" She then looked over to the other girl in the room, remembering all the gruesome stories told at the tail-end of the Rebellion. Of the fate of Elia Martell and her children. "Both of you!"
"Oh goodness, what in the world happened?" Queen Minnie asked in fright.
"That's what I want to know!" Sansa blurts out.
-Unknown Location 2-
Eddard Stark stirred with a groggy groan, feeling a sense of vertigo upon opening his eyes, shutting them immediately after. A bright light shined directly into his face. Covering his sight with his hand, he opened his gray eyes to have them adjust to the light. After his sight cleared up, he looked toward his surroundings and saw that he was in a place he didn't recognize.
Where was he?
This place was… strange.
It was extremely clean and tidy. Also foreign to him with all sorts of things being the clothing people wore, what looked like booths and shops with bizarre symbols and emblems and just an overall aesthetic that was familiar yet unfamiliar at the same time.
Attempting to get to his feet, the Warden of the North felt his hand grasping onto something. Turning his head, he saw the all too familiar Valyrian greatsword Ice. Its naked blade was out in the open, having him recall he no longer had its sheath due to-
'Sansa.' Ned recollects with worry. 'Where is she? I… I must find Sansa.'
Upon getting onto his feet and using his sword as an impromptu cane, Ned gazed about to see more of the vicinity. He appeared in some sort of town square with a sky that seemed to be in a perpetual sunrise with blues and pinks. It made it seem tranquil.
About to move and explore-
"Oh my!" Said a young, female voice. "Are you alright?"
He felt a hand on his shoulder and he turned only to be staring at the face of what he could only describe to be a ghost. Ned felt his entire breath leave his body, a cold sweat developing with his heart aching deeply.
She was a young girl, likely in her mid to late teens, close to Jon and Robb's age with flowing black hair, lightly tanned skin and deep purple eyes with a gray outline around them.
Despite some differences here and there, this young girl was a spitting image of…
"Ash-Ashara?" Ned stammered out.
The young girl looked at him quizzically before smiling slightly.
"My name is Allyarra." She said before a curious look marred her face. "How do you know my mom's name?"
Ned felt his lungs dry up, eyes constrict and vision shift.
"Hey, hey, are you alright?" The girl's mood shifted to that of worry.
He felt his mind begin to shut down yet some of the barebone faculties still operated. "Wh-Where am I?"
"Radiant Garden." Allyarra answered, frowning in concern. "Are you lost from another World?"
Another World? Another World?
Was he in another World like what Ventus, Roxas and Cloud once spoke of?
"Mister?" Ned turned back to the girl and his perspective shifted into that of nearly two decades ago.
He was breathing heavily, a painful look coming over him as he gripped Ice's handle tightly. A reaction that made Allyarra begin to panic.
"Hey, hey, Mister, please, hang on." She now placed both her hands on him after seeing how quickly his demeanor had changed.
'What is happening?' Ned erratically thought. 'Is this more punishment? Is this torture? Why? Why is this happening-?'
His thoughts were cut off as a few moments later, another woman came into the vicinity, only this time, there was no room for doubt in his mind. Someone that like a haunting memory brought to reality. Someone who he once considered his true love and recently, admitted it himself.
She was mature now yet time had done little to her beauty.
In fact, she somehow appeared more beautiful than when he last saw her. She looked so much like Allyarra yet far more.
To him, she was always more.
And he couldn't believe it even though she stood before him.
The two adults locked eyes and they froze.
"Ashara?" Ned's voice was barely above a whisper.
Amethyst eyes widen bit by bit. Inspecting the man before her before landing on an all too familiar sigil sown into the man's doublet. In an instant, her jaw dropped and tears peaked out of the corner of her eyes as her gaze locked onto Neds.
"Stark? House Stark?" One could hardly hear her voice yet Ned heard it without issue.
"Aye. I-I'm Eddard-"
"N-NED!"
Ashara Dayne pounced on the Quiet Wolf and hugged him tight.
"Ned!" She tearfully yelled, clinging onto him with all her might.
"Ashara?" Ned whispered in stunned disbelief. Despite this, he had one arm wrapped around the woman who had captured his heart years back at the Tourney of Harrenhal. Any doubts he had of her being some sort of apparition were thrown out the window upon feeling her body upon his.
"Oh gods Ned, it really is you." Ashara wept with sorrow and joy.
"Ashara, how are-MMPH."
She silenced him with a passionate kiss that made his brain shut down.
In an instant, he felt himself back in his younger years, days when the world wasn't as grim and deceitful and all the people he ever cared and loved were by his side. Memories of days past rang through his mind, one of the most intense out-of-body experiences he had ever gone through.
"M-Mom," Allyarra muttered, slightly blushing at her mother's actions, holding up her hands to slightly cover her eyes. "What the hell are you doing!?"
Ashara didn't hear her daughter, instead focusing on pouring out years of pent-up longing and love into this kiss, one Ned soon found himself reciprocating despite the initial shock.
She pulled away, gasping for air with tears now freely streaming down her cheeks.
Ashara Dayne, Starfall's lost lady and Eddard Stark's lost love, laughed shakily, hands on his cheeks as her thumbs gently rubbed against him.
"Y-you're here," She stammered out, pain, love and sorrow in her haunting purple eyes. "You're here, you're here."
Tears now threatened to stream down Ned's eyes as the reality began to sink in. This wasn't a dream or a hallucination.
Ashara Dayne was standing before him alive and more beautiful than the day he lost her.
"Yes, Ashara, I am-MMPH."
For the second time in a few minutes, he was silenced by her lips, the woman throwing her arms around him and pressing herself against him as much as she could.
"Goodness, mother!" Allyarra was now mortified, sensing that the people of Radiant Garden who passed them by were staring at them. Her mother pulled away, trembling now while holding one of the brightest smiles she had ever seen. "Seriously, what's going on? How do you know him and-?"
"Allyarra," Her mother interrupted, stepping back yet holding Ned's hands. "I want to introduce you to someone I have longed wish for you to meet. This is Eddard Stark." Ashara then turned slightly to the Stark lord. "Ned, this is Allyarra… our daughter. Allyarra… this is your father."
"..."
"..."
"WHAT?!/WHAT?!"
-Mysterious Tower-
Within the main room of the magical structure were several individuals.
Off to the side, an anthropomorphic mouse that rules an entire world as its King stood next to the desk of his former master. Behind said desk was said former master, garbed in a blue robe and blue pointed hat and magnificent beard. And his large wide eyes stared towards the two individuals standing before him and his former apprentice.
Kairi of Destiny Islands, one of the Seven Princesses of Hearts and bearer of a Keyblade. Her long dark red hair was cut short to roughly around her shoulders. Her outfit is a unique hooded pink-and-black dress with two small black cat ears on said hood. There are black ruffles on one side of her skirt and plaid on the other which she wears black bike shorts underneath it. She wears thick belted black boots. Lastly, there are thin white bracelets on her left wrist and a thick wristband on her right wrist.
To her right was one that neither Yen Sid nor King Mickey would have ever expected to call an ally.
He stood a good head taller than Kairi, garbed in an all too familiar black coat and had spiky red hair that seemed to defy gravity like all spiky hairstyles do and teal eyes.
He was once No. VIII of the Organization, the Flurry of Dancing Flames.
But Axel of Organization XIII was no more. The Nobody was gone. All there was now was his Somebody, his original self; Lea who was also now a wielder of the Keyblade. A small indication of this being his Somebody was the lack of the small purple tear tattoos underneath each of his emerald eyes. Small details, yes but they can make all the difference in the world.
However, despite being back to his original self, due to the others having grown used to the name of his Nobody, Lea was preferably fine being called Axel. After all, he's been known as Axel for a good number of years, so why stop now?
And he was still a raging firestorm when needed so that old additional moniker still applies.
He sensed movement from Kairi and with his "amazing" abilities of deduction, he was quick to figure out that she was giving him a teasing look despite not looking at her.
"I see you chose not to go with your new attire, Axel."
The redhead smirked, glancing at her.
"Like I told Kairi," Axel pats his chest a little as he still wore his Organization uniform, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it. This is how you pick me out of a crowd. I make myself easy to remember."
Kairi playfully smiles beside him. "I swear, you wearing that may get you in trouble one day."
"As if." The redhead focuses back more on the former Keyblade master. "There a reason why you wanted to see us, grand wizard?"
Mickey made a grumpy amused face at the way Yen Sid was addressed with the wizard taking it in stride.
"I must first apologize for calling you both here so suddenly." Yen Sid said in his deep voice. "While you've made improvements and strides in Merlin's training, recent circumstances have made me come to believe the next stage must begin sooner than later. You are both to go out on your own to test your growing abilities."
A look was relatively shared between Axel and Kairi as they looked at Yen Sid curiously.
"Are you sure, Master Yen Sid? The place we've been at is doing great." Kairi respectfully said.
Given how far behind the pair were in comparison to Sora and Riku, Axel and Kairi needed a means to "catch up". The vicinity was basically a place where time was relative. Much taking place under a fraction of real-world time. Axel was already a considerably skilled combatant but the usage of a Keyblade meant tapping into greater power he had never considered before and Kairi held a well of power of her own being a Princess of Heart and all.
"The training you've had there can only take you so far." Yen Sid says evenly. "Experience in the field is vastly different from being constrained in an isolated location. Sora and Riku were largely self-trained Keyblade wielders and had come considerably far with those skills alone. The two of you must do the same in forging your own abilities outside of a trained environment."
"What~~?" Axel picked his ear as if trying to make sure he wasn't hearing things. "Why do I need to do that? I'm plenty strong already."
"In your own right, you are. But there will always be something bigger where your own base power is overwhelmed by."
A tick-marked formed on Axel's head. "Oi."
"Gosh, Axel, what Yen Sid is trying to tell you is that you need to adjust to using your Keyblade." Micky spoke up. "We're not saying you're weak but inexperienced with this new type of power. You're strong with what you already know but need to develop what you don't."
"Ok, backhanded, but I'll allow it."
Kairi merely shook her head at his antics. "Then where should we go, Master?"
"Let your heart be your guiding key. It shall take you where you need to be."
Axel looked unimpressed. "Rather vague, ain't it? Plus," He patted his chest. "I just got this thing back. Still trying to remember how to use it."
"Axel." Kairi dryly said, the redhead snickering to himself and even King Mickey couldn't help but chuckle slightly.
Yen Sid smirked at the man but remained focused.
"Your Keyblades are the powers of your hearts made manifest. They have the power to guide you in ways you cannot imagine. Allow their power to point you in the path that shall suit you best."
Axel crossed his arms with a pointed look before sighing dramatically. "Alright, let's give this a try." Turning around, he gives a brief wave to King Mickey and Yen Sid. "See ya two later."
Kairi nodded and gave a brief farewell before following after Axel.
Once leaving the tower, the taller of the pair created a Dark Corridor with them both entering.
While Axel has the Organization coat for protection, Kairi's new outfit would protect her from the darkness. Even then, she was a Princess of Heart which makes it much harder for the dark energies to affect her.
Exiting the Dark Corridor, Kairi and Axel saw they were in a vast grassland. The hills were rolling and the breeze was strong but pleasant. They could spot sporadic spots of forestation here and there, but not enough to see a sea of it. Pulling off his hood, a cool breeze hit Axel's face as his red hair fluttered slightly in the wind.
"Now why did our hearts lead us here?" He asks himself.
"At least it has a scenic view." Kairi happily said, making the taller of the two grin.
"Yeah, nice place." He declared, the pair walking down the dirt road together. "Wonder what kind of World this will wind up being."
"Maybe someplace nice?" Kairi's hopeful question was met with a derisive snort, causing the islander to gape before puffing her cheeks into a pout, comically beating her fists against the redhead who was nonplussed by her actions.
He laughed at her, making her 'humph', crossing her arms and turning her head away in a dramatic huff.
Shaking his head, Axel focused on the road ahead, his mind beginning to drift in random thoughts.
Thinking back on the events that led him here, Axel grimaced to himself.
He was at a metaphorical crossroads. Whatever path he may take can lead him to something important for the greater mission of taking down Organization XIII. One way can lead him to prosperity, another to ruin. He could go back to his roots or move forward so he can persevere with his new lease on life.
It'll be something of a philosophical discussion he'll constantly come across. And each time, he may never have a proper solution to his internal plight.
"What is with this place?" Axel said aloud after a few minutes of walking. "Normally, a Heartless would attack or we'd run into somebody but all we've gotten is nothing, nothing and more nothing."
"It's not all bad." Kairi argued. "You should appreciate these quiet moments, Axel."
"I know how to appreciate it but not right now." Axel rebuked, frowning in thought. "I dunno just-"
The red-haired Keybearer stopped in his tracks, his eyes becoming focused and sharp while his ear twitched.
Kairi immediately halted in her steps, turning to her frown, brows furrowing at his actions.
"Axel?"
He held up his hand, pointing to his ear. "You hear that?"
Soon she could make out the voices of men, the clatter of steel, the whinny of horses. Her eyes widened and in an instant, the pair dashed off in the direction of the sounds.
Running over a hill, the two stood atop the mound, staring down at a road and on said road were several carriages all surrounded by dark creatures.
Narrowing his sight, he focused and recognized familiar shapes of the Heartless. They were present and now attacking the locals of this World.
"Look alive, Kairi." Axel said, holding up his hand.
With a flick of his wrist, flames were conjured and expanded before they dispersed to reveal a Keyblade. Its guard resembles his Eternal Flames chakrams with a straight hilt rather than a cross-shaped handle. The blade and teeth take the shape of a glowing translucent streak of yellow-orange flames with the teeth forming the shape of a hook. The Keyblade's chain links resemble mini-chakrams while the main token resembles a pure silver version of his old weapon.
This was the Bond of the Blaze.
Lifting his arm, Axel rested his weapon over his shoulder as he partially let it dangle from his fingertips. "Time to get to work." He mutters, rushing forward into battle.
Flicking her wrist, ethereal flowers and feathers raced across her hand before forming Kairi's Keyblade. It is round and curvaceous to the point of appearing harmless. The hilt is shaped like a heart, one side of the hilt is formed in the shape of a breaking ocean wave, while the other is formed into a beige vine of sand that wraps around the shaft, which is colored to resemble a sunset. The vine connects to a bouquet of colorful flowers, which from the teeth of the Keyblade and entwine to outline another heart. A red silken keychain connects the hilt to the papou fruit token.
This was Destiny's Embrace.
"Wait for me!" She yelled out, rushing right after Axel.
Getting close to the Heartless, leaping into the air, Axel twirled Bond of the Blaze as it was engulfed in flames. Bringing his other hand forward, he grasped the fire and pried his hands apart as he enacted a Formchange. Instead of holding a Keyblade, he wielded a pair of chakrams, his trusted Eternal Flames.
Each chakram has a circular main wheel with a black, cross-shaped handle. The edge of the main wheel sports four spikes shaped like the spikes on the Nobody sigil and a small ring that is bisected by the main wheel. Another spike identical to the other four is attached to each of the rings, making a total of eight spikes. The interior of the main wheel and the outer edge of the half of each of the four rings that are on the interior of the wheel are red, as the inner edges of the other halves of the ring. The rest, however, is silver.
Grasping his old weapons, Axel embued flames that danced around the edges of the Chakrams, gaining more intensity before they were thrown. They spun rapidly, with the flames increasing before they engulfed both chakrams altogether, just as the spinning weapons began cutting through the Heartless.
Kairi followed suit with an attack of her own. She arched her Keyblade around her before thrusting it forward to go into a gliding attack, winds buffeting the Heartless in her path. She then pivoted upwards, the tip of her Keyblade gaining a sphere of light that shot out multiple beams, taking out every Heartless it struck.
With a quick twirl, a beam of light erupted from her Keyblade and particles of light came down like a heavy rain, striking Heartless, making it look like the light was burning and melting them away until they faded away.
Two Chakrams sailed by her, returning to their owners who caught them in a spin, using that to slice through several more Heartless.
Throwing them forward again, the chakrams whirled and cleaved through many Heartless left and right. In their trails were burning flames which spread like wildfire. They whirled back to him, causing Axel to dash forward with left-to-right slashes, following a straight throw of his Formchange chakrams into several enemies. Once back into his hands, Axel leapt into the air, cleaving through several airborne foes with a right-to-left slash a few times over. He soon performs a combo finisher involving a cross-slash as his chakrams rapidly encircle Axel.
"Not done yet." He gritted out, increasing the output of his fire and heat.
With an explosion of his power, his Chakrams ricochet around him, spinning in a furious blaze of raging infernos that incinerated every Heartless they struck.
Kairi was quick to capitalize on this attack, jumping around with the help of winds conjured by her Keyblade, sometimes zipping over to a chakram and striking it with her Keyblade to keep its speed and power going.
Axel and Kairi clear a good portion of the Heartless by this point, not seeing that the locals of this World were staring at them in wonder, awe, slight fear and disbelief.
They didn't have long a moment of respite as both heard a scream nearby, looking over to see a pair of young women in danger.
Rushing over, Axel's Formchange reverts back to his Keyblade. Kairi wasn't far behind as she performed a series of quick dashes in order to catch up. Before the tall redhead got close, the Princess of Heart quickly cast a rapid succession of Blizzards to freeze their enemies in place from afar. Once close, Axel cleaved through each of them before roasting the rest that came across his way.
Once the Heartless were cleared out, the redhead made a satisfied nod with Kairi mirroring this action.
"Yes!" Kairi said in a pumped voice. "Looks like our training's paying off."
The former No. VIII shot the Princess of Heart a proud grin until he remembered why they rushed over to this area.
"You two okay?" Axel asks, finally taking note of the pair he and Kairi just saved.
A woman with red-brown hair possessing beautiful features and slender curves that could entice most people who saw them. Her warm and caring hazel-blue eyes were filled with concern and fright from moments prior. Her attire was of a nice fitting dress with floral and vine patterns and stitching, making Axel think she was some sort of noble.
The girl beside her was pretty in her own right with soft brown hair with brown eyes. Her attire was similar to the first girl but less extravagant.
"I-I am. I thank you." The second girl stutters out briefly.
"I as well." Says the first.
"Here." Kairi quickly stepped forward, holding out her hand to them.
The noblewoman grasps the offered hand as she helps pull her up onto her feet with the other being assisted by Axel. In the process, she and her companion gazed at the duo's unique features. The tall man had strikingly red hair and strong emerald eyes whereas the young teen girl, perhaps closer to their age, if a bit younger, had dark auburn hair, bright and beautiful blue eyes and a very pink attire, unlike anything they had ever seen.
However, the girls focused on Axel's attire and momentarily froze upon seeing the design and detail, having a mixture of recognition and uncertain alarm. Such thoughts of what he wore were dashed away as the two women eyed the weapon in Axel's grasp, glancing over at Kairi a moment later.
'Keyblades?!' Both thought with a growing surprise.
"Are you both alright?" Kairi asked worriedly, breaking them both out of their thoughts.
"Oh, um, y-yes, yes, thank you." Said the soft brunette.
"Are you hurt anywhere?" Kairi said, checking them over.
"No, no, thank you," The other brown-haired girl said with an appreciative smile.
"Well, good." The auburn-haired teen said with a satisfactory smile.
It was then did the redhead stepped forward, gazing down at the noblewoman.
"So what's your name, pretty lady?" He says, giving his signature smile in the process. "Mine's Axel, and this here is Kairi. Got it memorized?"
Both girls, particularly the noblewoman intensely focused on the man now.
That name… it held great familiarity to them. They recalled hearing this name in King's Landing and the description given to them matched the features the man bore and wore. Eyes widening in confusion at the odd sense of conflicted realization.
Before either could voice the coming queries, let alone voice their names, they were interrupted.
"Margaery, Sera, you two alright?"
The two women look over to see Ser Garlan Tyrell come over and envelop the two in a momentary hug.
"We are fine, brother." The older of the two stated, though hugged her brother back all the same.
Sera pulled back, looking around and gasping in realized fright. "Where's Mira? We got separated in the attack."
Garlan placed a hand on her shoulder, giving her an assuring smile. "She is fine, Sera. She is with our grandmother."
"Thank the gods." The handmaiden sighs in relief, a hand over her chest.
Garlan 'hmphed', holding his smile until his eyes shifted over to the two newcomers.
There was a sense of wariness in his eyes, until they zeroed in on Axel.
His eyes widened considerably, recalling his time in King's Landing and above all, what he was told by the hero of the North.
Men and women who possess incredible power, control the Heartless and Unversed and more importantly, all wore a cloak of pitch black akin to the Keyblade hero of Westeros.
The drawn sword Garlan had was quickly pointed at Axel as he had his sister behind him.
"What's going on?"
Soon enough, more swords were pointed at him from all sides. Even a few knights pulled Kairi out of the way for her safety.
"Hey!" She cried out, shoving them off, surprising them with her strength.
"You best stand back." Garlan stated with an intense gaze directed at Axel.
The redhead seemed unperturbed by this sudden hostile mood, instead glancing at Kairi to make sure she was fine before turning back to Garlan.
"Uhhh, something the matter, fellas?" Axel spoke conversationally, raising a brow. "I did save you, ya know."
"Silence, Organization scum." Spoke one of the surrounding knights.
Axel froze, as did Kairi and the fiery Keyblade wielder turned to the knight who said this, his eyes boring into the man who shuddered slightly. "...What did you just say?"
"We know what you are." Garlan spoke up, redirecting Axel's attention back onto him.
Several questions began swimming through his mind, having him wonder how these people perhaps knew of the Organization. Did they come across this world and terrorize it? If so, for how long?
"Seems Kairi was right earlier that wearing this will get me in trouble." The redhead mutters to himself.
Before things were about to escalate, the noblewoman Axel and Kairi had saved quickly moved to push her brother's sword to the ground and stood between Garlan and Axel.
"Stand down." Margaery says, evenly yet loudly. The order was momentarily looked upon with great confusion by the assembled knights. "I said stand down."
"But my queen-"
"Axel here has saved our lives from the Heartless." Margaery rebuked, shutting down any chance of a counterargument.
"And he has a Keyblade." Sera included, pointing at the Keyblades both Axel and Kairi still held in their hands. "They both do."
Looks of confusion and dumbfoundedness swept across many present. None so more than Axel on what he was momentarily hearing.
"Wait, you know about the Heartless?" Kairi asks. "And the Keyblade? How?"
Margaery regarded the pair, taking a moment to silently regard them, internally debating to herself on her next course of action before speaking up again.
"We have learned a great deal from a friend of the realm: Roxas."
Axel's mind momentarily shuts down with what he heard. His eyes widen and his grasp on the Bond of the Blaze loosens, letting it dig into the earth ever so briefly.
Disregarding any sort of decorum, he got up right in Margaery's face, making her respond with a bewildered look.
Garlan stepped forward to protect his sister yet comically, Axel merely shoved him away, his sister looking at what happened when Axel grabbed her shoulders.
"Roxas? You know Roxas?" He asked, almost shaking her, wanting to make sure he didn't mishear her.
"Of-of course." Margaery stammered.
"He was here!?" Axel yells out. "Wait, is he still here or-"
"Axel!"
Before any of the knights stepped in or acted rashly, Kairi was suddenly between the pair and pushed her friend back. He stumbled slightly and saw Kairi with one hand on her hip and her other wagging her finger at him.
"What?"
"You don't go grabbing people like that and screaming in their faces." She admonished as one would a child. "You nearly scared her just now. Shame on you. And here we just helped them and you do this. I thought you were supposed to be the mature one."
Axel's jaw slightly dropped as his hands fell to his sides, hanging limply.
"Ok… ow, that hurt."
Margaery and the rest of the Tyrell Household were unsure of how to react to this interaction yet despite herself, she was unable to withhold the audible snort that escaped from her lips due to Axel's behavior.
Hearing this made Axel glance at her with a raised brow and unnoticeable pout.
"What's so funny?" He challengingly asked, getting right in her face. "What? Does my pain now amuse you? Me, the guy who saved your ass."
Garlan bristled at the way this man was speaking to his sister as did many of the knights whilst Kairi was torn between laughing and sighing at Axel's antics.
Margaery took this all in stride, detecting the playful undertone of the redhead and brazenly reached up to pat his cheek.
"I do believe your pain does indeed amuse me. But it should come naturally to the queen of the Reach and eventually, the Seven Kingdoms."
"Queen?" Kairi spoke up, blinking now. "You're a queen?"
The Tyrell turned to the auburn-haired teen and smiled. "Yes. It has only happened recently."
"A recent queen?" Axel hummed. "What are you doin' out here in the middle of nowhere?"
"Mind your tongue." A knight spoke up, earning a deadpan glare that caused him to flinch.
"Hey, tinhead," He emphatically thumbed at himself. "In case you missed what happened just now, I just saved your Queens bee-hind, so I give myself preferential treatment on how I talk to her. Get it memorized."
Kairi exhales a sigh before looking towards Margaery. "Forgive Axel, your majesty. He is… well…"
"All is forgiven." Margaery quickly said, now smiling broadly, greatly entertained by the man. "I do believe his words do hold merit. After all, he did save my life along with you. I would like to personally thank you both."
Axel blinked before adopting a smug, cocky grin for all to see. Margaery snickered to herself, sensing her brother's growing aggravation at the man and Sera was torn between laughing and scolding him for how he was acting around her queen. How it was improper in such a manner.
He was now even picking his ear with his gloved hand.
How crude!
"Ok, not to sound pushy or anything but you were on your way to somewhere, yeah?" Axel drably asked.
Margaery simply nodded. "Come. No doubt my king and husband and many others would like to hear your tale and arrival."
"Yeah. And clearly we," Axel gestures to himself and Kairi, "would like to know of a number of things as well."
"Certainly. The least I can do after your heroic rescue."
"Heh, hear that, Kairi? We're already bonafide heroes. Queen's decree."
Kairi simply rolled her eyes in amusement.
Soon enough, the two Keyblade wielders were escorted to have quite the anticipated meeting.
-End Chapter-
AN:
Here is essentially the proper wrap up of Season/Book 1 of the story. Well I'm not making a separate story for each season/book of Game of Thrones as that would feel too much. No, this is just a placeholder of sorts.
With the Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring not coming around anytime soon, I thought some issues would need to be brought up. As you all saw in the opening scene, I wanted to get the one big story narrative out of the way with Brynden Rivers given that a lot will be tossed out of the metaphorical window. I've been conflicted with the one fan theory for a long time of The Three Eyed Crow/Raven wanting to control Brandon Stark and through him much of the realm when the Long Night has passed. We essentially got that in the initial show, but can't really confirm for numerous reasons.
FMW: Going on some of the huge reveals we did in this chapter, looking over the many reviews, during that one instance where Roxas left for Radiant Garden and ran into Alyarra, only one reviewer took a guess as to who that could possibly be and they guessed Rhaenys. Good choice, wrong world but hey, points for that. So yeah, Ashara and Elia along with Elia's children are alive and Ned met his daughter whom he didn't know he had. I bet you guys have TONS of questions but leaving it on a cliffhanger is always a fun and dick thing to do that leaves people wanting for more. Straight up, I'm a Ned and Ashara guy through and through. My literal favorite pairing in the entire franchise so… yeah, feels good to finally be writing a moment between the two considering just how many I have in my mind for other GOT stories. So fuck yeah, Ned and Ashara. And Sansa is with Elia and Rhaenys in Disney Castle. So many things to do in season 2. And will things be elaborated upon? Naturally but not just limited to here, hint, hint, Rebellion, *Cough*. God, it just feels so good to FINALLY be doing some of our big swerves and plot twists in this story. And we still have a lot more lined up and waiting.
Anyways, be sure to review this story guys! Would like the criticisms. Please and thank you!
R&R