:-[Chapter 21]-:
"You and your child are abominations. We do Westeros a huge favor by removing you from the equation." Finished the Father.
Lady Serala of Myr, also known as the Lace Serpent hadn't time to say anything else before the trapdoor was close and she found herself completely surrounded in the dark. The last thing she heard was her own screams before she knew no more.
:-[T.A.B]-:
It was the first time for Harry to come back from war without a tragedy waiting for him in Winterfell. They left White Harbor a couple of days ago, after having stayed there for four days. Eddard had insisted for the men to take a break before resuming their final march toward the North capital.
The new knight of the North felt the cold wind on his face but didn't mind it at all. He grew accustomed to it and missed it while in the South. There was something more pure about being in the North, like the air itself wanted you to be free. In the South, there was something oppressing lurking around and Harry could put his finger on it.
The young wizard was happy to soon be back in Winterfell. He misses his new home, his friends and especially Sura's reassuring presence. He grown fond of the girl and learned to appreciate his time with her. He smiled to himself, thinking about her gorgeous brown-reddish eyes.
"What's gotten you smiling I wonder Harry?" said a voice beside him, making him jolt on his horse.
The knight turned his head and saw Eddard and Ser Rodrik slightly smirking at him.
"I seen that look on many men before, my lord." Said the older knight, smiling. "It is the look of someone one thinks of his woman waiting for him."
"And would that be a certain Sura I wonder?" said jokingly Eddard while tapping his chin with his finger.
"Aye, I believe so too. The lass always had eyes for our young knight." Said Rodrik, still laughing at Harry's expense.
"Fine, fine! Yes, I am thinking about her, happy?" grumbled the young knight, blushing from his neck.
"Don't worry my friend, I am sure Father already gave her the night free for your return."
"She has an important duty as the lady-in-waiting of Lady Lyanna. I am not sure…" started Harry.
"Lya is getting way better now, remember? She was finally able to have full night of sleep without Hedwig's presence. Her training with Lady Maege Mormont is going very well. The woman is a fierce warrior who can put everyone in Winterfell on his ass." Said Eddard, laughing at the last part, remembering the sparring between his father and the Bear Island woman.
"Aye, it's great to see her like this, like her old self. She even managed to get out of Winterfell on her horse for riding again in the godswood, even if she literally dragged Hedwig with her."
"Indeed it is. She and Benjen have gone through so much despite their young age. It is a blessing from the Old Gods that they were able to come back from such terrible traumas."
"Aye, you Starks are made of solid stuff that is for sure." Concurred Harry.
"Back to Sura, young knight, do you intent to wed her?" asked Ser Rodrik. "Does the fact that she is a bastard offend you in some way?"
"Not in the least. I am looking at her, not her name. I am fortunate to have found love but I'll have to see if she is interested too." Said a blushing Harry.
He didn't expect the two men to started laughing at his expense. Harry was puzzle for a moment, waiting for them to calm down.
"Ah lad, trust me. Sura in all over heels for you. This little banter of yours? They are everything for her. My sister whom also work as a servant for the Stark tell me she talk about you all the time. Trust me, Ser Harry, you ask her to marry you in front of the Old Gods and she will say yes in a heartbeat." Explained the Cassel man.
"Well, I guess you two have given me enough to think about."
:-[T.A.B]-:
The host arrived at Winterfell late in the day where the sun was about the get set. Eddard had pushed them hard, not wanting to sleep outside for one more night. Their arrival was announced by a small fanfare like the one that had welcomed Eddard years ago when he arrived for the Eyrie with Robert Baratheon.
The Great Courtyard was full of people. The entire Stark Household along with many civilians from Wintertown was present, clapping for their return. Eddard was of course the first to enter the castle entrance, followed closely by Ser Harry Winterstorm and Ser Rodrik Cassel. Many of the men composing the army had stopped at the town since the majority come from there.
Eddard got off his horse in a practiced movement. Harry was only a step behind him, use to be close to his friend. Snow was slowly falling the courtyard, a hard remembering of the harsh climate of the north.
Rickard Stark was one step in front of his family, a stern look on his face but didn't seem angry from what Harry knew from the man. Benjen and Lyanna were behind him, a huge smile on their faces and the young wizard could see Lady Maege holding her charge with a hand on her shoulder. Brandon was standing right behind his father, smiling at his brother. He was as tall as his father and the young raven-haired boy saw that he didn't stopped his training.
But Harry didn't look at them. Instead, he looked at the beautiful girl with brown-reddish eyes near Lyanna. Their eyes met and the young knight could look away. How it was possible he didn't know but she got even more beautiful than before they left for the Crownlands. She wore her favorite purple dress, gifted by Rickard years ago.
As soon as Eddard was near his father, he bended his knee in front of him.
"Father, I bring you your men. Due to King Aerys to let the North out of the fight, we have suffered no death within our rank."
"Aye, I was most upset when I heard the king didn't allow our army to attack the city and winning our fair share of the loot. Come son, we have a feast waiting for all of you in a couple of hours. We have things to discuss first my solar and then we can enjoy the night and relax. Ser Rodrik, you and our young friend shall join Eddard, Brandon and myself on my solar too."
Both knights immediately agreed with their Lord and followed closely the Starks. Harry quickly sends a smile to Sura who beamed in return. He waved at the two youngest Stark who were all too happy to see Hedwig again and were already giving her way too much affection.
Arrived in Lord Stark's private solar, the small group made themselves comfortable for the small briefing.
"Eddard, son, explained to me what happened with the King. Why has he refuse our army to attack and sack Duskendale from those traitors to the Crown?" asked Rickard, his eyes locked on his sons'.
"The Prince, father. Prince Rhaegar is the one who decided our army's fate. He is the one who convince King Aerys to stand us down. His words sounded like those of a fanatic. His time has a captive at the hands of the Darklyns seem to have pushed him into the realm of madness." Started the second son. "He seemed convince somehow that only followers of the Seven could undertake their offensive against the city and from that, his grace wouldn't budge. I'm sorry father."
"Don't be sorry my son. From what I know from the man, you were all lucky to leave unscathed. Duskendale is in rumble with nothing left. No lord even wants the region for the cost would be way too high for little reward since King's Landing is close." Reassured Rickard.
Eddard looked at his father and sighed in relief. It was something that weighed heavy on his young shoulder and earring this from him removed it completely.
"Father, there is something else. The hate for the Old Gods from the royal family was so unnerving that it sends shivers down my back."
Rickard was immediately interested in what his son was saying, trying to maybe connect the dots with the Threat to the North.
"The way Rhaegar spoke of us in hate was one of the reasons I didn't insist more for us to fight. I don't know what to make of it, father." Confessed Eddard.
The Lord of Winterfell stayed silent, reflecting on the last bits of information. Maybe Ned had something. Maybe the threat would be a religion war coming from the South. They already tried many times since the Andals' Invasion but always failed against the Wolves of the North.
'Maybe it is time to bring forward Moat Cailin's renovation plans.' Thought the Old Wolf while looking at the young skinchanger.
More and more evidences were pointing in the South direction. The events with the traitor Walys and now the royal family openly spat in the North face for their beliefs. His instinct was screaming at him to stop looking for allies and concentrate on his Kingdom. After all, these ideas of looking for allies were coming mainly from this old traitor Maester.
"Father?" said Brandon, taking the lord out of his thoughts. "What are we going to do about this? This cannot stand. We should go to King's Landing and…"
"And do what, son? Provoke them into a duel in front of all the keep to see?" almost thundered Rickard Stark. "So far down South, the smallfolk doesn't care for us like in the North. Our power is severely diminished and unless you want to storm the Capital of the Seven Kingdoms with an army, I suggest you stay quiet."
Properly chastise by his father, Brandon didn't add anything.
"We aren't doing to do anything about this because there isn't nothing to do, except prepare. I will send ravens to the proper lords so that they subtly prepare their land and castle, just in case. Eddard, what about this rescue operation into Duskendale?"
"I made the decision to… slightly bend the truth about who would go into Duskendale to save the Prince. We thought that the King would never allow Harry to go alone to save his son. We didn't see coming Ser Barristan and Ser Arthur offer to accompany Harry inside however."
"I see. And what happened inside, Harry? Or should I call you Ser Harry now?" said Rickard with a small smile forming at the corner of his lips.
Harry looked at his lord and started explain his adventure. He explained how they found Rhaegar chained to a wall for months, sitting in his own shit and piss. He told how they freed him and how the three of them had to fight against waves of enemies. He finished with how he put the prince on his back and brought him to safety with the two Kingsguards.
"When we arrived in the royal tent, the king offered me the Lordship of Duskendale but I refuse him. I chose to stay here, in the North where I belong. Aerys ask me for what I wish for and I asked for a knighthood. He initially refused to knight me. It was only with Ser Gerold Hightower's intervention that he accepted although he refused to knight a believer of the Old Gods himself. I choose Ser Barristan to perform the ceremony."
"It is true my lord. King Aerys didn't seem to be willing to knight our young Harry here, even if he saved his own son from the Darklyns." Contributed Ser Rodrik.
"My lord, I must confess. The royal family does not inspire confidence for the North. Prince Rhaegar has suffered much during his captivity. Maybe it is just me, but his hatred for everything that didn't fit into their Seven Gods was intense. I don't know what the Lace Serpent did to him, but magic was clearly involved. I wouldn't be surprised if his father would start to share that hatred one day." Continued Harry.
"I agree with Harry, father. Something is brewing in the South but I can't put my finger on it." Concurred Eddard.
Rickard stayed silent for a long moment. Everything was pointing to the South as the main menace for his land. Not the wildlings he previously thought, but the very kingdoms from Westeros. It was yet to be determined if all the others kingdoms would follow in this madness or not.
"Ser Harry Winterstorm. I will move ahead the date of your acquisition of a lordship. I deemed you ready and honorable enough to be one of my bannermen. Your actions in the Rebellion of the Sistermen and now the Defiance of Duskendale only proved it in my eyes."
Harry didn't say a word, stunned by his lord's speech. He wanted to try and persuade him to give him his lordship earlier but now, the man was already willing to do so.
'Well, that's going to be easier than I initially thought.'
"What do you mean, my lord?" asked Harry, not wanting to think for Rickard.
"I offer you the lordship that I promised you years ago when you save my son's live. I remove the obligation of you marrying first. You shall be the Lord of Moat Cailin in less than a fortnight. I need to send ravens to the northern lords to announce your ascension. You will be a bannerman directly under our authority. What say you, Ser Harry Winterstorm?"
"I say aye, my lord. I will bring honor to your decision."
:-[T.A.B]-:
After the small but important discussion in Rickard Stark's personal solar, the group went for the feast, where the servants were getting everything ready for their lords. Mugs were getting filled and plates were full. Musicians were playing soft music from a better festive ambiance. Luckily for the young wizard, the feast didn't last long as the majority of the men were exhausted by the long march to Winterfell.
"Well, I think I go see if Lyanna wants me tonight." Said mentally Hedwig before taking her leave toward her room.
"What? Why?" asked a confuse Harry.
"You'll see." smirk his direwolf.
:-[T.A.B]-:
Harry entered his personal room inside Winterfell for the first time in months. When he entered, he saw a beautiful girl in a purple dress in the middle of his room. Sura smiled cutely at him, still a little bit shy.
"Welcome back, my Lord Winterstorm." smiled the young woman. "I am happy that you are back from this useless war."
"As I am, my lady, as I am."
:-[T.A.B]-:
Thank you everyone for reading Chapter 21 of The adventure begins! Please let a review in the comment, letting me know what you think about my story.
If you are interested in becoming an Alpha or Beta reader, contact me!
Criticism is always welcome as long as it is constructive.
To InfinityMask: Yeah... Poor Targaryen dynasty.
To Sheploo: And they are not done yet!
To Spartan: ¡Espero que hayas disfrutado de este capítulo mi amigo! Para la canción de Fuego y Hielo, los Caminantes Blancos no aparecerán en esta aventura. ¡Tal vez en una próxima! Espero que esté bien escrito, utilicé la traducción de Google.
To Mark1: Yeah, not a good move at all for the king, to alienate the North and Dorne at the same time.
To Ptool: Glad to see you my friend! I hope you like this chapter as well.
To Loup silencieux: L'Ordre utilise les dieux pour cacher leur identité et pour honorer les dieux. Ils ne se prennent pas pour des dieux!
To rmw5763: Hi my friend! I must thank you for reading my story. I hope you like this chapter. And yes, Star Wars will definitively be the next adventure for our Harry! May the Force be with you!
To Ariadne Venegas: Indeed! This Rhaegar is far more mad than the canon one and since there is not White Walker in this adventure, Lyanna would indeed be in grave danger in the South.