Chapter 4 - Canceling a Wedding
It was quite the view from the massive statue, the city of Braavos sprawled out below him across a series of islands protected from the open ocean. Watching the city from the helmet of the Titan of Braavos was just the calming and quiet scene he needed as he sorted his thoughts.
Harry had been coming to terms with everything that had happened in the last day or so, but he was beginning to feel restless. He also wanted to check on Peverell Manor to make sure that everyone had made it safely but decided to hold off.
With a sigh, he spoke, "Anything interesting happening soon?"
"Oh, yes. Much is happening everywhere," Death's amused voice rang in his mind.
"You know what I mean."
"I do. A young and honorable king is falling. His love is his anchor, but he is already betrayed. His army walks to their death but two days from now," Death said.
More than that though, she began to impart knowledge upon him. The houses that bicker like the Ancient and so-called Noble houses of his world.
Westeros, the Seven Kingdoms as it was called, was embroiled in civil war in the year 298 AC. The start of the war of the Five Kings began as Robb Stark was declared King of the North by his bannermen, seeking vengeance for his father's murder.
It was this very same King that Death had spoken of. For two years the war dragged on, his army moving into the Westerlands in 299 AC. He struck devastating blows against the Lannisters, who were essentially the Malfoys of Westeros. That should be all that needs to be said about them.
At some point, an extremely powerful shadow and blood magic spell was unleashed. An undying necro-shade was summoned by a shrouded Red Priestess. The shadow killed a southern King, one Renly Baratheon.
This year had another event that Death spoke of, the fall of a clan of Warlocks, who had desired to enslave Dragons. He was given an image of a beautiful young woman, with eyes like purple glowing amethysts and hair like flowing silver. She was entrancing and powerful, fire-attuned magic seemingly billowing off of her. The three wyverns that were with her burned the warlock to death. The dragons had powerful blood and fire magic about them, all of it resonating with their mother.
Death brought the injections of knowledge to an end with the last bit of information. The year 300 AC came and Robb Stark and his new wife Talisa had broken the vow he had made to the Frey's, promising to marry one of his many daughters. This is where Robb would be betrayed. This is where his mother would be killed, his wife and unborn child would die, and his army would be sundered.
Harry felt his heart drop at that, "How long do I have?"
"To do what?"
"To at least meet with them."
"They won't listen without proof."
"I can get that."
"They won't trust you without knowing your motives."
Harry sighed with frustration, "To stop them from dying."
Death hissed at him, still smiling "They will all die in time."
He leaned back from her with his hands up. That blast of energy would have killed anyone besides him, which is what she wanted. He couldn't see how far it went but hurried and apologized, "Sorry, I mean this specific group of people...we can exchange them for their betrayers can we not?"
She nodded, smile still in place, "They meet in a King's tent, one day's march outside of the Twins." A spot many kilometers to the west pinged in his mind. A place with two keeps and a huge bridge, across the Narrow Sea.
"Right...anything else I should know?"
"The Boltons, the Frey's, and the Lannister's have come together in this plan to eliminate the King of the North. While he fights and dies here, their home is under siege by the Greyjoys," Death explained. As always, her words only contained a small portion of the information she sent to him, while the rest was imparted like a vision. He learned about each house involved including the goals, leaders, and loyalties for all of them.
Death wasn't finished there, speaking more than he could ever remember. She told him of the threats to the north of the wall, that winter would bring an undead monstrosity south to clash with the living forces. Harry nearly cringed as Death spoke about it, the entity even went back to speaking in the third person when she promised an eternity of suffering to the leader of the force beyond the wall.
He sighed as his headache increased, "Right...Off I go."
A long look at Braavos locked the image of the city in his mind, the view from the Titan would be his anchor point. He would be able to Apparate here in the future. The Point Me spell set the direction for his trip. He started with long Apparations over a few hours, each Apparation taking him to the next horizon. When he got to the ocean, a Distant Eyes spell let him lock onto the far shore.
With a surge of magic and willpower, he twisted to appear on the distant beach.
~~o0o~~
The Invisibility Cloak made him unreasonably overpowered versus these muggles and frankly, stupid-looking guards. He didn't even bother with them as he walked to the lord of the Keep's quarters. A disgusting old man who looked exactly like Filch seemed to thrive in his filth. Even spoke the same. It was like Filch if he was headmaster with all the power behind it, but way worse.
He smelled exactly like Filch did as well, a dusty old cupboard with mold and rot coming from him. He was reading through letters on his desk while some female was holding her breath while...pleasing him under the table.
Harry would have to remove this memory immediately.
He quickly summoned his wand into his left hand, just to get used to the feeling. The Elder Wand, now upgraded and repaired from when Voldemort had held it, was thrumming with deathly energy waiting to be unleased. It was a more pure white now, like purified bone, and green deathly magic constantly emanated from it.
A quick Petrificus Totallus had the old bastard locked in place. He then Stupified both the old man and the maid, but quickly summoned extra robes around the disgusting Filch look-a-like to hopefully remove some of the smell. Now the Filch of this world was out cold, unable to move, and hopefully covered up.
Quickly checking the desk, Harry found a series of letters from Roose Bolton and Tywin Lannister. Evidence acquired.
He apparated, just barely touching the Filch doppelganger to bring him along. It couldn't have been a fun feeling for him.
Harry appeared next to a lake, where Filch promptly was submerged. The cold evening weather was enough to have the old man spluttering. Harry didn't care as he cast him with a Wingardium Leviosa and put him on land. Another weakened Stupify and Harry appeared once again.
Roose Bolton was with some Guards in a tent to the south of King Robb's army, Harry's Point Me spell was enough to find him. The Guards were quickly dispatched, 6 casts of Stupefy, and all were silently sent into unconsciousness.
He found another series of incriminating letters in the form of correspondence with Frey and Lannister. Harry pulled Roose along for a quick journey back to the old man. He bound both of them and made one last teleportation. This time, his arrival was immediately noticed as he appeared in the King's tent, in the center of where his army was waiting, just northwest of the Hags Mire.
A quick crack had the entire tent jumping in fear. Two tied-up bodies dropped next to Harry.
"Guards!" An older man yelled, he had black armor and a fish imprinted on his armored chest.
Swords were drawn and Harry just released his presence, "I come in peace, King Robb."
The four guards were already swinging at him when each one of them froze in place before falling over.
"Worry not, your guards are fine," Harry said as he covered the tent with a few magical barriers, all silently cast.
"Who the fuck are you!?" A man he knew to be named Greatjon Umber yelled.
"I am Hadrian Peverell, and I am here to save your lives."
Behind King Robb, both his mother Catelyn and his pregnant wife Talisa were cowering with their eyes wide open.
Robb's wolf, Grey Wind, was about ready to leap at Harry, but he calmed him with a bow of respect and a silent pressure implied by his magic.
"You're familiar will not be harmed if he attacks, but I will have to knock him out should you decide to let him do so," Harry said.
Robb finally spoke, holding his sword firmly in his right hand, "My familiar? What do you speak of?"
Harry raised his eyebrow, "You have a magical connection to your...Dire Wolf, do you not?"
The non-sequitur seemed to throw everyone in the room off. Four unconscious guards and not a sound coming from the army outside all left the people in the tent fearing for their lives.
"What do you want?" Robb said, unsure of what he meant.
"Right...you were trying to cross the Twins but you fell in love with that beautiful young lady right there," Harry nodded at Talisa, "And it turns out Walder here," He kicked the tied-up body to the right. "Planned to betray and kill you all. Roose here was in on it and his army is a day or so south of you instead of sitting at Harrenhall like you ordered." Harry revealed the information Death had passed him quickly and precisely.
All eyes fell on the two bound and unconscious men, "Oh! I have their correspondences here."
Harry levitated the scrolls to the table, all eyes following them like they would burst into flames if touched.
Harry waited after that as they continued to stare at both him and everything that had just happened.
"Right then, please read up and let me know what you think," Harry summoned a comfortable lounge chair and sat down as Greatjon shook his head to clear the confusion.
He walked over and turned the old bastard over, "This is Old Walder himself."
Robb looked down at the man, then back to the lounging Hadrian, who now had a drink from some beautiful mug.
Robb quickly read through the letters, and sure enough, "The Lannisters were promising Roose the North, where he would become Warden and we would no longer live."
Robb passed the letter to his mother and stared up at Harry, "Hadrian, was it?"
"It is."
"You were mostly right, but we aren't trying to cross the Twins, we are trying to secure their help to take down the Lannisters," Robb explained.
"Ah, I see," Harry said, thinking that Death could have explained that better.
Death just sent a chill down his spine with a laugh that only he could hear.
"Well, that changes nothing, there was going to be a meal where they played the song 'The Reigns of Castamere' and then they were going to slaughter everyone. Roose here kills you...or would have had I not stopped you from walking into that trap."
"And you are some dark wizard that seeks to control me?" Robbs's voice was harsh and it barely hid his fear.
Harry sighed, "I do require your help, but for different reasons, and most certainly not to control you. Mainly, I need you to retake the North and set up for the future. Where larger concerns will take place in the coming years."
Robb shook his head, "If I leave then my army disperses. Before we speak on that, who in the name of the Old Gods are you?"
"I told you my name. The War of the Five Kings will end soon and I don't want to see your deaths," Harry said. "As for who and what I truly am...well, I am a wizard."
Robb searched his face, looking for any sort of deceit, "You have to give me more than that. I have been worried about the Frey's well enough, but that is our only chance right now."
Before Harry could answer, Lady Catelyn spoke up with anger as if just connecting some dots, "WAS IT YOU!?"
"Was what me?" Harry asked with confusion.
"The one who unleashed a shadow that killed Renly Baratheon?"
"Oh, no that was a Red Priestess, in the service of Stannis Baratheon. She summoned the Necro-shade. It is gone now though, having fulfilled its task," Harry explained. Leaving Catelyn with misplaced anger.
"Oh! You do know that your sisters and brothers all live, right?" Harry said to Robb happily. Hoping to bring some good news.
Everyone's faces fell though, and Robb spoke up, "You are wrong...They were killed by Theon Greyjoy, and my sisters are held captive in King's Landing."
Death spoke to Harry, he tilted his head as if listening, something the people all thought made him look mad, "The brothers, their wolves, and their protectors are on a mission to the North, Sansa remains captive in King's Landing, and Arya isn't too far away with a hound."
"Hmmm, Arya is pretty close by being protected...or no, held captive? By a dog? Does that sound right?"
"The Hound maybe?" Greatjon asked.
Robb looked straight back at Harry so he continued, "Sansa is held captive at King's Landing unfortunately, however, your two brothers, their wolves, and their sworn protectors are headed North to learn old magic or something."
There was a lot to process from those words and everyone seemed to be running them back through their minds. Harry waited patiently.
Robb recovered just after Greatjon, "Perhaps as a sign of...trust you could save my siblings."
"Hmmm, I cannot save Bran, because he has to reach a certain place. I sense Rickon needs a bit more time before I can grab him for you. Sansa is following her fate for now, we can talk about her later, but she will be fine for a while. Arya...well I guess I could grab Arya real fast if you wish," Harry said expectantly.
"PLEASE!" Catelyn said, her fear, fury, and mistrust all swelled within her.
"In the meantime, do not bother leaving the tent as I have sealed it...at least until we finish our meeting. And don't kill these two just yet. I can get more information from them."
Robb nodded, "Please, at least get my sister."
Harry and his chair disappeared.
~~o0o~~
After Hadrian left with the promise to grab Arya through whatever strange magic he used, the people who had been shut in the tent were unsurprisingly terrified. Greatjon immediately went to the tent flap only to find it sealed through some sort of invisible means. Trying to slice through the walls was impossible as well, something that should have been easy for anyone with a sword. They just couldn't open the tent...it made no sense.
"I can't even pretend to know where to begin with something as large as this..." Robb said. The overwhelming nature of the last few minutes had yet to fully sink in.
Catelyn stood and walked over to the unconscious Walder Frey. She stared down at him with a baleful expression, "I was a fool, Robb."
Robb exchanged glances with his trusted general Greatjon, it would have been all of them as the fools if they had fallen into the trap, but even without it, they were trapped between a betraying force of heavy cavalry and the seemingly impenetrable Twins. The Frey's had made a fortune taxing any and all people that used the bridge, the only crossing anywhere near their location.
"I think we are all fools in front of that man, and yet...if what he says is true," Greatjon said.
"He just saved all of us," Robb finished.
Catelyn was still staring at Old Walder, the images Hadrian had described of their imminent deaths felt all too real to ignore.
Robb continued, "But am I selling my soul by agreeing to do what he says? Am I condemning the North to horrors that some strange wizard can conjure?"
Talisa shook her head, "How? He just saved all of our lives from horrible murder! Betrayal! If there is a chance to end this horrible war, how can you not grasp it?"
The Blackfish and Greatjon both seemed unable to answer the question.
"Our bannermen will disperse the moment this is over between us and the Frey's. Each of them wants to secure their homes and I can't honestly blame them," Robb shook his head. "But what then? What do we do then?"
Talisa walked forward, placing her hand on Robb's shoulder, "Do what Lord Hadrian said and secure the North. Free your people take over the Dreadfort and secure Winterfell. Kick those damn Greyjoy's out and help the small folk. This war has left the people in ruins...we need to help them."
Robb smiled at her spirit. This woman was just incredible, she stole his heart the moment she first lashed out at him with her sharp tongue. She had more balls than half the men he knew.
"She's right, I think. We defeat the Frey's and the gods-betraying Boltons. You give Edmure enough men to hold the Twins then we head North and kick those iron cunts out of the North," Greatjon said. "Between the Blackfish in Riverrun and a decent force even under Edmure in the Twins, it should be enough to hold anything long enough for us to respond."
The Blackfish nodded, "I can hold Riverrun and between me and Edmure...no one will make it through to the north."
Robb nodded, "Right. Now, how do we stop the Boltons...I doubt killing Roose here will matter."
"Also, what of Edmure...was he coming back?" Catelyn asked. Edmure had gone to the temporary privy, as unpleasant as that was, but had missed the commotion.
Greatjon sighed and looked at Robb, "If we can't leave, he presumedly can't make it in."
On the planning went, analyzing the future battlefield after they dealt with the Frey's, assuming holding Old Walder was enough to cause the remaining forces of the Twins to surrender.
~~o0o~~
A Point Me spell and a series of Apparations let Harry find Arya and the Hound sitting by a fire. His sudden appearance had both dog and girl standing at once.
"Well, you're not the biggest dog I have ever seen, though maybe just as ugly."
Arya burst out laughing.
The scarred man growled as he pulled his sword out, "The fuck did you come from boy, is that your cock in your hand?"
Harry looked down at the Elder Wand in his grasp and laughed, "Stupefy."
He overpowered the spell, enough to take down a Blast-Ended Skrewt and the Hound fell like a sack of potatoes.
"What did you do to him!?" Arya asked worriedly.
"I just knocked him out, I am here to grab you and bring you to your brother and mum."
"Robb?" Arya asked with hope.
"That's the one, are you ready?"
She looked around as if searching for a horse, "Uhhh, how exactly are we going to get there?"
Harry smiled, "Magic, of course."
Harry put a foot on the chest of the Hound and held out his hand, Arya grabbed two packs and a skinny little sword, then accepted Harry's hand. Harry Apparated all three of them back into Robbs's tent. They appeared while the prone form of the unconscious Hound bounced off the hard ground.
Arya didn't quite puke, yet she dry heaved once or twice, much to Harry's amusement.
"Arya!" Catelyn screamed as she ran over and grabbed her daughter.
"Mom?" She asked between dry heaves.
"Oh, thanks the Seven, Arya! Are you alright?" They embraced.
"Ugh, dizzy."
Robb sighed in relief at the sight of his sister. Harry gave them some privacy, sitting in another summoned chair and minding his own business while they talked.
Greatjon had moved all the soldiers to one side of the tent and the Lords Walder and Bolton to another, all very much still unconscious. The Blackfish stared at Harry like he may or may not be a demon from hell and he couldn't decide which.
Harry let the reunion continue as it turned into an introduction. Arya smiled at the beautiful Talisa and approved of Robb's choice to make her his queen. Catelyn wouldn't let her daughter go while apologizing and crying. It was a sad and yet hopeful sight.
It was when things finally slowed down that attention was once again placed on Harry, "Well, then. Now that that is out of the way...let us talk about the future."
"I won't lie, without the Frey's help we are looking at being caught between the Lannisters and no way of crossing the Fork assuming they don't surrender. How can you help with that?"
Harry raised an eyebrow, "I was planning on going in and taking a bunch of people out, then opening the gate for you lot. You will have to move fast enough to take the Twins to prepare for the coming of the Boltons behind you. Move your armies into position, give someone enough men to hold it, and either defeat the army or just head north and take out Roose's bastard at the...Dreadfort was it?"
Robb nodded.
"And secure Winterfell..." Catelyn said as she turned to Robb with sad eyes.
Robb explained, "The Greyjoys took over Winterfell, we haven't heard any word about it since then."
"I am a betting man, and I would put any crown I can grab out of my ass that Small Jon took the place back," Greatjon said. They had sent the smaller force of nearly 250 men and horses to take back Winterfell nearly a month ago, but have received no word from them just yet.
Harry nodded, "I can help with repairs...but not with the deaths."
Robb was still unsure of what that would entail but nodded regardless.
Greatjon had enough, "I have seen some shit in my day, but I haven't ever seen anything like what you can do."
Harry smirked, "There aren't many in this world who can even say that."
Robb spoke up, "You keep saying 'this world.' Do you mean Westeros?"
"Westeros is a continent."
They exchanged glances, and Harry expanded, "A continent is a continuous expanse of land, often designated by larger bodies of water...it's not important. Anyways, do you agree that you need to take the Twins after I open the doors, then turn and face the Boltons?"
Robb shared a glance with the Greatjon who shrugged, "We aren't taking the Lannister's without the Frey's. We aren't easily taking the Frey's without him." He gestured to Harry.
"Take your losses and take your help. Head back to the North," The Blackfish said, putting an end to the discussion.
Robb sighed and looked to the floor then back to Harry, "You wish us to secure the North again...after we take down the Frey's and Boltons?"
Harry nodded, "You aren't prepared for the true threat, the one that comes from beyond the wall."
"What threat would that be? Wildlings?"
Harry shook his head, "Remind me of the words of your house, Lord Stark?"
"Winter is coming."
Harry nodded again, "It isn't just for games, the true enemy of Westeros is the walking corpses and their frozen masters north of the wall. Your goals will be to secure the North, destroy the Boltons, and prepare everything from Riverrun to the Wall for the greatest war of your life. And make no mistake Robb, it will be."
Robb could only sigh as he exchanged glances with everyone in the tent, he had much to think about in preparation for the coming battles. What could he say though, a fucking wizard with powers and sight beyond anything he could understand has a purpose for all of them. What could they possibly do against that?
~~o0o~~
A soft pop and Harry appeared in the gatehouse, black mist signaled the arrival of his scimitar, the blade already falling towards the first Frey soldier. His nearly invisible form in the waning light of day blurred as it slashed through 5 guards, clearing the room before anyone could even speak. No one had time to grab a blade or a shield before the black scimitar passed through them.
The blade was strange, when dealing a killing blow there was almost no resistance as if armor couldn't even slow it down. Watching with his Soul Sight, he also realized that this sword acted as a conduit for souls to go straight to Death for judgment.
It was like wielding a scimitar-shaped reaper scythe where each slash was as devastating as an Avada Kedavra spell. He would have to test it further, otherwise the wrong swipe could eliminate someone he was just trying to wound.
He supposed Black Mist was extremely fitting, it was just so on point that he didn't like it. Death laughed in his ear as if reading his mind about the naming of the sword. He just scoffed and opened the Gate to the western keep, a simple animation spell to activate the mechanism. The larger part of the Frey Garrison was on the western tower, where he had taken Old Walder from, so he would have to be quick.
He apparated to the next floor up, where a small archer nook and some anti-siege weapons lay. There were 6 men around a table, just as absent-minded as the ones below. He summoned the Elder Wand, twirling the wand as he created a sound-proof barrier. The men screamed as they grabbed weapons but none could match the speed and ferocity of Harry.
The first two charged him and he learned the power of his blade. Harry feinted at the the one on his right where the man stopped his wild swing in order to block. Harry's scimitar swept up while he stepped past the man on the left, his blade bisecting him.
A quick flourish and a corporeal wall of black mist shrouded his form. One of the men had a crossbow ready to shoot, but Harry had gone invisible with his Invisibility Cloak and silently Apparated behind them. He Imperio'd the crossbowman who then shot the farthest Frey Soldier.
Harry cut through the rest while invisible and then looked out to the west.
The larger force of the Frey's were setting up what looked like campsites and such. It was passed sunset but they were creating barriers and other strange traps. Harry shook his head and eyed some fallen stone pillars that were an entranceway at one point in time.
He raised his eyebrow at the large amount of stone, realizing the potential.
Harry aimed his wand and Transmuted two massive stone hippogriffs. Using a spell similar to McGonagall's during the Battle of Hogwarts, the stone hippogriffs became weak golems that could easily be dispatched with a bit of magic.
Which of course makes them extremely deadly to those without magic. Harry mentally ordered the two hippogriffs to kill any soldier of House Frey. It was a mental image of the soldiers protecting this place and wearing the colors and symbols of the Frey's. Using a bit of soul and blood magic, Harry bound the stone hippogriffs to recognize his allies and those who consider him the same, marking them as people they shouldn't attack.
The hippogriffs bowed at him and sprinted off into the night. Cries of alarm rang out as the two massive beasts of stone began to rampage through the unaware soldiers. Harry Apparated down to the entrance below, where troops began to flood out in response to the ruckus. He stunned or sliced enemies like one of Death's very own Reapers. Nearly 30 minutes of fighting left the Western tower of the Twins empty aside from servants, women, and children.
The soldiers that had gone out to fight the hippogriffs were either fleeing back to the Twins or were slashed and bludgeoned by rampaging stone hippogriffs. Harry opened the door back down from the bridge to find a bunch of men running back.
A smile crossed his face, "Well, I guess I have more work to do."
~~o0o~~
The morning came fast enough, though little sleep was had. King Robb had a lot to explain to his men, and his exhaustion wasn't going to help. Most people were confused and frustrated, the momentum of their army and cause seemingly lost with more dire news. Many didn't believe the words until a tied-up Walder Frey and Roose Bolton were paraded before everyone.
The letters and correspondence between the two and Tywin Lannister were damning though, and in the end, they all marched on. Hoping to get to the Twins with enough time to not only take it but also prepare to defend against the Boltons. The task seemed impossible, yet King Robb had said that their mysterious benefactor, who had somehow brought Arya to them, was going to help take down the Frey's.
With haste, they embarked on the 4-hour march to the Twins.
King Robb, Greatjon Umber, the Blackfish, and Edmure Tully led the army into the Frey lands. The Blackfish and his men would help defeat the Freys and the Boltons before heading south to Riverrun.
They stared at the destruction as they made the final approach to the Twins. Battlements were smashed. Horses, carts, and men were sundered upon the ground. Not a single living soul was in sight, just hundreds of Frey Corpses. Each one looked to have been brutalized with heavy impacts and slashing claws like creatures had been set loose on them.
The column of soldiers was nearly silent as they took in the gruesome sights, and the gate to the Twins was open and unguarded.
It was then that they noticed something strange, two massive stone creatures stood guard to either side of the open gate. They looked to have the body of a horse, but huge bird-like wings, talons, and upper torso. Both statues moved and nodded at King Robb, never giving off any hostile body language despite the intimidating presence and blood-covered claws and beaks.
"That is something...more of this Lord Hadrian's work, no doubt," Greatjon said.
After dismounting, the King's party walked past the moving statues, which showed no hostile intentions. They entered the keep and found their way into the darkened hall where Walder used to hold his court.
Two green eyes were staring at them, glowing in the dark, lightless room. All of the torches and candles lit at the same time, revealing Hadrian Peverell.
Robb spoke up, "It seems we didn't need to take the Twins after all..."
Hadrian laughed as he stood up, it wasn't threatening, yet what he did seemingly alone was enough to make any wary, "The price for life is always death, isn't it?"
Nervous gulps and glances were shared until Robb found his voice, "Lord Hadrian, forgive me for asking, but what are your intentions now that you have captured the Twins?"
Harry tilted his head and seemed to realize how tense everyone was, "I haven't taken the Twins, only just freed the bridge a bit. Someone else needs to claim this place. I have no need or want to take part in the control of this extortion-bridge. So as far as I am concerned, this is under your control, King Robb Stark of the North."
Robb seemed to sigh a bit while nodding, "And the Boltons?"
Harry shrugged, "Defeat them or convince them to join under you. Either way, letting Roose go is like leaving a poisonous snake in your bed."
Robb nodded, "And what of the Hound?"
"The Hound? Oh, that big guy...hmmm is he still around?"
"We have him in shackles...we can bring him to you if you wish," Robb ventured, looking for a path to continue the conversation.
Harry nodded, "Right, you have everything handled here then? You still need to secure the Twins before the rest of the women, children, and servants start to wake back up."
King Robb nodded, "Right, Greatjon? Take some men across the bridge and make sure that it's cleared out. Greatjon, have your men clear this building and begin preparing for the Boltons. I want scouts headed out as well."
Greatjon replied, "I had some sent out last night, they should be returning soon."
"Good, bring Old Walder, Roose Bolton, and the Hound here," He said to some other guards. They saluted and ran off to complete their orders.
Greatjon's men began clearing out the keep, while a few squads went across to secure the other side of the Twins.
Harry watched it all happen while sitting back down in his summoned chair in the corner of the large dining hall. To think that all of these people would have been murdered in this very room made a cathartic light blanket his emotions. It made the grim work that he went through for nearly 5 hours overnight worth it. He closed his eyes for a bit and rested until someone spoke to him.
"Hello again," A curious and unafraid girl's voice said.
Harry turned to the left and smiled, "Arya Stark, have a seat..." Harry summoned another chair matching his own, "How are you?"
Arya took the seat and smiled, "So, you are a magic man then? Like those Red Priests?"
"Hmmm, those fire and blood priests?"
She nodded.
"I would not say that I am like them at all," Harry said with a smile.
"Can you bring back the dead?"
"I do not dabble in necromancy," Harry hedged. He could contact lost souls, but the dead are dead for a reason.
Even speaking on revival made Death's attention slightly more hostile.
"I saw a Red Priest named Thoros of Myr bring Beric Dondarrion back to life after the Hound killed him," her eyes blazed as she spoke. That wasn't the first time she had seen death. It was all too familiar, yet this world was so much darker than even his.
"I see," Harry said, looking off into the distance.
He then noticed her sword, a slender little thing that she had pulled out to not stab the chair while sheathed on her hip.
"May I see your weapon?" Harry asked.
"Yes, my brother had it made for me. It's called Needle."
Harry smiled, "Needle is a fitting name, was that Robb who made it?"
She looked sad, "No, it was Jon. He's not officially my brother, but he was my best friend while growing up at Winterfell. Everyone said I couldn't train because I am a girl."
"Did he train you?"
She shook her head, "We were too busy doing 'lady' stuff for that."
"But you do know how to use it?" Harry pressed.
She looked slightly sheepish and sad at the same time, "My teacher was in King's Landing, but I didn't actually get to learn from him for a long time...before things went bad."
"What was his name?" Harry asked, picking up the hidden meaning of her teacher's death.
"Syrio Forel, the First Sword of Braavos, Master of the Water Dance," She recited with prideful glee. "He...he saved me and I wish he could have just come with me. It would have been a much different journey."
"He died to save you?"
She nodded, "Stopped a king's guard named Meryn Trant... and he didn't even have a real sword at the time."
Harry nodded and sent a question out to Death, "He gave his life for her...does he want to still teach her how to fight?"
He heard the uncaring laugh of Death, "He is alright with it, do you know the runes?"
She knew he didn't know and he summoned his wand while examining the blade. He let Death guide his wand as he cast a few spells. The first spell allowed him to carve runes into the blade, but it was Death's hand that guided their formation. The second spell made the blade impervious to damage. The third and final spell was a growth enhancement charm, which would increase the length of the blade to fit her size as she in turn grew.
He summoned a finger length of Goblin Silver that he had in the Peverell Manor Smithy. There was a surprisingly large amount of magical metals there, including Mithril, Goblin Silver, Orichalcum, and some others that are more unique.
With a wave of the Elder Wand, another series of runes appeared along the blade, mirrored on both sides of the slender tang, including one that pulled the length of Goblin Steel into it. The rapier grew a bit, taking in the new weight and mass.
The runes for strength, speed, sharpness, and growth, along with the unique ones that Death had added made for a beautiful sight, mirrored upon both sides of the blade.
"What did you do?" Arya asked as the runes began to glow with blue magical light.
Harry smiled, "There is great power in giving one's life to save another. My mother did that for me. There is no way to bring back the dead, but the ability to interact with them isn't entirely gone. Your sword master has agreed to continue your training, now that he has done the same for you as my mother did for me. When you train with your Needle in the future, it will be with the Water Dancer."
Arya didn't believe him but couldn't help but inspect the blade.
Harry held it out to her, hilt first. Arya took the sword and the connection didn't quite form.
"Put a drop of blood on that rune there," Harry said. "Just a drop to bind it to you."
She looked more than a little skeptical.
He laughed, "I have no need to harm you Arya, I brought you here to gain trust, not lose it."
She lightly poked the tip of her left pointer finger on the tip of Needle, she then touched the rune that Harry indicated.
It lit up and the color of all the runes changed, now showing an icy greyish-blue color. Something fitting for a Stark, no doubt.
"This blade will always be with you should you will it."
She shook her head then looked back up at Harry, "Thank you, ser."
"Hadrian Peverell," He half-bowed at her.
She smiled and ran off to go train.