Chapter 10 - Three Glorious Gifts
Harry ended up trekking back up to the north of Westeros, this time with Shimmer's help for teleportation. She had much more skill in long-distance teleportation, the ease and stability of travel by phoenix fire was remarkable. He understood why Dumbledore used it, regardless of being able to bypass Apparation warding. It was the dead of night as he searched for the nearest Ironwood Tree. He found one the moment he noticed something interesting.
Not about the trees, but rather something inside his moleskin pouch was vibrating. He cast a few Lumos orbs to illuminate the area around him as a smile breached his face. It was the twin of the dragon mirror he had sent to Daenerys.
He looked into it and a torch-lit tent came into view. Rippling silver hair cascaded around a pair of sparkling purple eyes. They were alight with magic and were absolutely beautiful.
"And here I thought you couldn't be more beautiful than in my dreams..." Harry said, trying his best not to cringe at his line.
"Oh, flattery is the first thing you go with, is it?" She had a smirk as she challenged him.
"Can you blame me? It is the first time I have seen you outside of the Dream. I was just a bit intimidated is all," A smirk of his own matched hers.
"Oh? The great wizard, Hadrian Peverell, intimidated by a simple queen?"
"A simple queen? Not so much...A dragon queen? Absolutely," His smirk grew to a smile.
Her beautiful tinkling laughter sent chills up his spine, "That seems reasonable."
"So tell me, how have you found using the mirror?"
"To tell the truth, I had been able to use it for a few days...though I felt guilty about our last discussion. I wanted to apologize for my hostility, the last time we spoke. It seems I am under more stress than I realized and I took it out on you," Daenerys apologized.
Harry smiled, "I took no offense. But thank you all the same, I am sure I wouldn't be able to live with a clear conscience knowing someone as beautiful as you is angry with me."
Daenerys shook her head at his audacity, "You are ridiculous."
His smile grew, "I suppose the ridiculous is just a step in another direction when magic is concerned."
"I guess so. Tell me, where are you?" She asked, looking at the darkened background around Harry.
He looked around and showed the mirror, "I am in a forest just south of the Wall, currently searching for Ironwood for the last gift I am acquiring for you."
She looked surprised, "I didn't mean to imply that you needed to give-"
Harry cut her off, "I won't lie to you Daenerys Targaryen. I have three glorious gifts for you, but there are intentions behind them."
"Intentions is it?" A delicate silver eyebrow raised.
Harry nodded, surprisingly serious, "I do have intentions, all positive of course."
The implication was clear, but she couldn't help but ask, "And what might they be?"
"I suppose now that you have accessed the mirror's ability to contact me, I will have to meet you before we speak on it."
"So, I don't get to find out until you reach me?"
"Patience is a virtue, as they say," A smirk grew on his face once again.
"Is that so?"
"Screwed up by saying that didn't I?" Harry asked sheepishly.
"I guess you will have to wait and see," her own smirk replied.
"You are in Yunkai right now, correct?"
She nodded, "We will be negotiating in the morning with some nobleman from the slaver city. Then I intend to take the city by force."
"By nightfall?"
"Indeed."
"I will be there by then, with my forces to assist," Harry said.
She raised an eyebrow.
"What? I told you I would come see you when you got it to work, and who would I be to not come prepared?"
She smirked, "I look forward to seeing you then, Lord Peverell."
"Please, call me Harry when it's just us."
"Harry, then."
He smiled, "See you tomorrow."
He cut the connection and laughed out loud, "Oh boy...she is something."
~~o0o~~
Harry arrived back at his trunk in a small dip between rising grassy mounds at the base of the Velvet Hills. Next to him, a massive Ironwood trunk hit the ground, having been turned into a Portkey for the ease of the journey. "Willis?"
The tiny master leather worker appeared with a pop and a bow, "Master Harries, sir."
"Willis, would you be so kind as to fashion a few lengths from this wood? I would also save the rest for later use," He said.
"What lengths, sir?"
"I need one for a hatchet, then one more for each of the spear and pike lengths I was showing you the other day. Also, if you would make a long bow for a giant...maybe 4 meters tall? That would be fantastic," Harry asked.
"Of course sir, would you like some others as well, perhaps the length of tools like shovels and pick axes?"
Harry nodded, armies did need tools, "That would be fantastic, Willis, thank you."
Willis snapped his fingers and the trunk split as if he cut all of it at once. Harry left him to his means and went to finish the enchantments he would apply to all of the Frost Legion's armors.
Appearing by his workbench again, he looked over his shoulder to the forge room where Gendry was already hammering away at something. He nodded at the hardworking lad and pulled out some lengths of metal to work on his enchantments.
It didn't take long to come up with an array of acceptable runes to finish the frosty aura rune that he wanted for the future armor sets Gendry was already working on. He fixed the immediate freezing problem that would be extremely uncomfortable and eventually compromise the steel.
Instead, he turned up the output for the aura that accompanied it, making a billowing cloud of cold mist that would emanate from under the armor. This would also keep the wearer cool in the heat of the desert and on a larger scale would create a large cloud of misty cold worthy of the name Frost Legion.
The entire enchantment array was low enough in power to accept the ambient mana in the air to keep it charged after the initial empowerment. The finished array had a self-repairing function, an automatic fitting rune, a sustained comfort rune, a durability-increasing rune, and the finished frosty-aura rune.
Harry then got a fantastic idea, he took the two arrows he had copied out and inspected the arrowheads. The bodkin would be ridiculously hard to make it work, so a version of the standard arrow that was a bit lighter for proper distance, "Explosive ice arrows incoming."
After finishing his designs on an explosive ice arrow, he copied 1,000 of each of the three types, just storing them in some empty crates for now. It was just a start, he would need many more than that, but it was a start. Gendry, Harry, and Willis all worked together for nearly the entire night, finishing all of the armor and weapons for the 2 of the 4 different sets Harry needed.
On top of that, he made size-adjusting rings that could be expanded or contracted for all of the creatures that were used to the cold. These bracelets he provided would regulate the temperature of the creature wearing it. He knew there were a few hundred bonded creatures, a few hundred pack animals, and even more livestock.
These bracelets could size up to fit a mammoth or down to fit an eagle's ankle, both of which will probably need them. These enchantments would focus on a balance of temperature, based on the environment the creature that equipped it was used to. As dawn broke, Gendry and Willis left to go rest while Harry created 500 copies of these slim steel bands and put them into a few small crates.
He sighed, it was time to get a few hours of rest before heading just northeast of Valyria to Slaver's Bay.
~~o0o~~
"Any notable landmarks I could hit on the way?" Harry asked.
"Not without going all the way into Valyria, I recommend taking the time to plan for a full trip before heading there," Death replied.
"Right. I bet there is all sorts of fantastical loot to be had there."
Death laughed, "You are right on that, much to be seen in the ruins of Valyria..."
"Well, that wasn't ominous at all," Harry replied.
"Oh, it was very specifically ominous. My little champion will face some delightful things within Old Valyria."
"Will I now? What remains in Valyria?"
Laughter.
"I see," He said. "I guess I will be on my way then."
Harry packed up his home in a trunk and off he went. It started with short Apparations to the higher rounded peaks of the Velvet Hills. They were called hills but stood as solid barriers between the Flat Lands and the Golden Fields. The reddish brown grass flowed over the tops of them, appearing as fine as velvet that flowed in the wind from a distance.
When he got to the top of the Velvet Hills northeast of Myr, he got a good look at the fairly straight Rhoyne River. A stripe of fertile green land painted the progress of the river as it flowed through the Golden Fields.
Shimmer popped up on his shoulder, her Enochian tones filling the air around him as he listened to her words, "This is like a field of golden flames, it's beautiful."
"Funny that I would have compared it to a golden ocean of sorts. I guess being you, one who is partially fire makes sense that you would see it that way."
Shimmer laughed in superiority, even if he knew that she didn't actually feel that way, "You are as much water as I am fire, of course, it makes sense."
Harry remembered from his days at muggle school how they said that the body is 60% water, "Is that true? You have fire in your veins?"
"Harry, you are adorable, but I can turn completely into fire, I thought you knew this?"
"I mean I knew that...but it's kind of strange hearing it is all. Well, shall we be off, fire-lady?"
"Finally, a title worthy of my glorious flames," sarcasm lacing her words.
He laughed as Shimmer burst into flames, taking him in the wake of her teleport to as far as they could see. Well past the Rhoyne River, past the Selhoro Tributaries, and deep into the Dothraki Sea. Shimmer teleported hundreds of kilometers in just a single jump.
"It's so much smoother when you do it, thank you Shimmer."
She nodded in his vision, remaining on his left shoulder.
"Point me."
~~o0o~~
Daenerys didn't expect the meeting with the Slavers of Yunkai, the Wise Masters as they call themselves, to go well. She was counting on it going poorly in fact, but decided to meet with them all the same. She knew this city would have to be taken by force, regardless of what goods they would offer. How dare they pretend to be generous when openly enslaving anything that walks?
The so-called Noble, Razdal Mo Eraz claims to have dangerous friends. He claims to be able to enslave anyone and everyone, as if on a whim.
Well, Daenerys also has powerful friends. She pulled her tri-dragon mirror from the table next to her, as she still sat within the temporary receiving tent where she met with the slaver. She pushed her will into the mirror, her fiery magic poured into it and she felt the mirror reach out. Unsure as to how she could tell, she marveled as seconds later, two glowing green eyes and a handsome smirk appeared on the other side.
"If it isn't the mother of dragons herself, giving me a call on this fine day. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
She smirked back, noticing that Ser Barristan the Bold and Missendei both watched her carefully. She just sent Jorah Mormont away, hoping that he would find the friends of the slavers, despite his lack of tact, and decided to contact a friend of her own.
"I was just informed that the Slavers of Yunkai, generous as they are, decided to stand against me. They promised that with the help of 'powerful friends', they would be taking back any slaves that I freed," Daenerys said.
Harry's handsome smirk turned into a dark frown as he heard her words.
"I was just curious, would one of your three glorious gifts be...information? Or the ability to discover who those friends are?"
He raised an eyebrow, "It wasn't, but if they are claiming as such then it would be prudent to discover exactly that. Actually, I am only a few hundred kilometers from you right now, would you mind if I came by to discuss this and other things?"
She raised an eyebrow and amethyst searched emerald eyes, staying silent for a few breaths, "I admit, the prospect of seeing you is intimidating. The last magicians I met tried to enslave me and my dragons..."
"You mean those shitty warlocks in Qarth? Please do not compare me to them," Harry said. "I promise that I have no intention of any sort of slavery, manipulation, or even remote hostility towards you or yours. I will swear to it on my magic if you wish."
"And if I do wish that?"
Harry stared at her until laughing, "I was planning on doing this when I was in front of you, but now is good enough, I suppose." He set the mirror to float with a quick and silent Wingardium Leviosa. The mirror gloated back up and focused on him as he held his wand in his right hand, pointing to the sky, "I, Hadrian Peverell, being of sound body and mind, solemnly swear that I hold no hostile or negative intentions toward Daenerys Targaryen, her dragons, or her people."
The Elder Wand flashed white, and the truth set in magic.
Daenerys smiled, "Was that a spell?"
"It was a Magical Oath, not exactly an Unbreakable Vow, but a declaration that I have nothing negative toward you, as I lined out. It is a magical promise to you and yours with very dangerous backlash should I break it."
"Then you are welcome to come visit me, how long will it be from that far away?" She asked, nearly unable to keep the smile off her face.
"Ehhh, I am close enough for Shimmer to teleport, would you point the mirror to an open spot near you?"
She let her smile bloom and turned the mirror around. It was an open face to the tent she resided in, with lines of soldiers in black leather standing on either side of a red carpet.
"Perfect, give me a few minutes and make sure no one walks through there, alright?"
"Of course, I look forward to seeing you."
"Likewise," Harry said with a smile.
She cut the connection and the image of glowing green eyes burned in her mind as the mirror turned mundane once again. She looked at Yunkai in the distance, knowing that this side of the world wasn't ready for Hadrian Peverell.
"That was the wizard you spoke of, Your Grace?" Ser Barristan asked.
She nodded, "It was indeed, and if I am lucky, the solution to many problems."
He smiled, "Just a problem solver then, Your Grace?"
She turned to her loyal guard, "Oh much more than that, if I have my way. Now, let's prepare for his arrival."
~~o0o~~
Harry smirked and opened his trunk, he stuck his head through the portal into his home, "Alright then, Hound. Let's go."
Sandor Clegane, who had been waiting by the exit of the trunk in full armor, grunted and stood up, "Already there?"
"One last jump, though you will be with me for this one."
The Hound grunted again and donned his helm, leaving the maw of the snarling dog open as he walked out.
Harry replaced the trunk in his Moleskin Pouch and got ready, "Alright Shimmer, you got a good look, right?"
The twilight phoenix nodded, as she stood on his shoulder.
"Let's go then!"
Flames covered them and the Hound flinched in fear as they disappeared. A billowing wave of black and silver fire heralded their arrival outside of Yunkai. He was facing away from the throne where Daenerys sat but quickly turned to view her.
She was wearing a white dress that seemed to pay homage to the shackled slaves, as the top was held up with a metal collar. She sat on a sofa with a single Queen's Guard to her left. The black and green dragons nuzzled her, while the golden-white one watched him from a perch. They were small, no bigger than winged dogs, but they were readily absorbing ambient magic just as they sat there.
A woman with a tied-back afro stepped forward, "Greetings, great wizard, you stand before Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains, and Mother of Dragons."
Harry turned his gaze from the silver-haired and amethyst-eyed Daenerys to listen as she continued with title after title.
When she was done Harry spoke up, "I am Hadrian Peverell, Master of Death." His words resonated through the atmosphere, a declaration to the world.
Ser Barristan frowned at the title and resonating words of magic, but he would be wary of anyone who claimed power over death, and rightly so.
Harry stepped forward and waved his hand, causing one of his favorite drinking chairs to appear from nothing. The others were shocked at the sudden display of magic, but the dragons looked interested as they no doubt felt the surge, "Well then, you have quite the setup here."
The queen raised a delicate silver eyebrow, "Is that how we are going to start?"
Harry laughed, "I supposed I find myself unsure as where to start the conversation, though I have very much been looking forward to having it."
"That is fair."
He smiled, "Well, how about we talk about the gifts I have first?"
She nodded.
He pulled a book from his pouch and handed it to her handmaiden, "Pass this for me, will you love?"
"Of course, Lord Peverell," the handmaiden said as she took the book.
"The first gift is knowledge of a sort, not solely the kind you requested, but a type you need all the same," Harry said. "Everything in my library about wyverns, raising them, bonding with them, and everything else in between. I compiled them within a single tome."
She gasped as she looked through the first few pages. He had placed a translation charm on the book, making it appear to anyone who read it in their most used language.
"I also included the mount-rider ritual circle in the back so you may inspect it, and you should go for that as soon as possible I say. It will get whichever dragon you decide to bond with to grow much faster, and it will increase your well of magic as you both grow together."
She shook her head turning through the pages in the book, "This is an incredible gift, Lord Hadrian." The plethora of information was beyond what she had time for at a meeting like this.
"Glorious even," He laughed.
"You will help me with this ritual?"
"Of course, I have a ritual room in my home, but let's continue first," Harry said. He turned to the back of his chair where Shimmer hopped to after he sat down, "Shimmer would you kindly grab the Maester for us?"
The beautiful phoenix nodded and chirped as she disappeared in flames once again. Seconds later, the Maester arrived, looking healthy and interested.
"May I present, Maester Aemon Targaryen, your uncle, I believe," Harry said.
Daenerys's jaw dropped, "My uncle? How is this possible?"
Harry smiled as he gestured for Aemon to speak.
"Greetings, Your Grace. I am indeed Aemon Targaryen, Maester of the Citadel. I have been assigned to the Wall for many long years now," He started. "In my old age, I was sure that death's door was but a few days away, that winter would claim me."
He shook his head, the wisdom behind his eyes not showing on his body anymore, "When Lord Peverell here offered to fix my sight and my age in exchange for another chance at living, serving one of my blood even, I admit that the opportunity pulled me from my duty on the Wall."
"Don't worry Maester Aemon, the Night's Watch will be replaced with soldiers soon enough," Harry said.
Daenerys was amazed, "Lord Peverell, knowledge and wisdom for your first two gifts, I gladly and readily accept both of them. Maester Aemon, be welcomed in my court, your knowledge and wisdom, as well as family name are all accepted here."
"I thank you, Your Grace. Lord Peverell has granted me this opportunity, and I would not miss it for the world."
She smiled, "Missendei, please find another chair for our Maester here."
"Ah, I got it," Harry said. He looked around a bit, seeing chests of gold, "Oh, that is interesting."
He waved his hand and another chair appeared, but Daenerys looked skeptical at his notice of the gold.
Harry bounced the tip of his wand several times like the dot that paces words on a music video and more chests filled with gold bars appeared next to the others. He kept at it until 20 chests were there.
"Right, then where were we? Ah, yes for the last gift... I had a couple of armies for you."
Daenerys blinked then shared a glance with Ser Barristan, "Sorry, a couple of armies?"
Maester Aemon laughed, "I expect no less from our Master Wizard here, for who would he be if not one to leave us astonished at his every move."
"Well, to be fair, one is bound to me through their foolish actions, so they will fight for me mostly, but I will let you decide where you need them, at least until Slaver's Bay is known by a different name. The other is one that we have to train and stuff... I am in the process of arming and armoring them, but it will take some time to train. I was hoping some of your Unsullied would be willing to step in for that."
She shook her head, "And where did you get these armies?"
"The one that is bound to me was formally known as the Golden Company, but since they turned on me after I hired them, trying to send information about their hiring to someone... but they signed a contract and have consequently been cursed. I renamed them the Gold Legion," Harry said, drawing a gasp from Daenerys and Missendei. "Ah, you have heard of them then?"
Daenerys nodded, "They were too expensive to hire, though it would have been nice to have."
Harry nodded, "Actually, there is something I meant to talk to you about regarding my interactions with the Company. When I first went there with the Hound here, there was a young fellow with blue hair calling himself the ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. He was claiming to be Aegon Targaryen, but I know for a fact that he was a Blackfyre. He and his men had...differing opinions on things and we got into a bit of a scuffle. The Hound and I defeated him and his men quite easily, but I thought you should know."
Maester Aemon spoke up, "Ah, House Blackfyre is supposedly an extinct house from the Crownlands, originally a branch of House Targaryen founded by Daemon Blackfyre. He named the house after the Targaryen Valyrian steel blade also named Blackfyre, the Conquerer's Sword. It originally symbolized the monarchy and King Aegon IV, bestowed it to Daemon which inevitably was one of the seeds from which the first Blackfyre Rebellion grew."
Harry pulled his Moleskin Pouch from under his armor and reached a hand into it, causing the occupants in the room to look at him curiously. He pulled the bastard sword that he looted from Young Griff, aka Aegon Blackfyre, "I believe this is that very same sword."
Maester Aemon looked at it wide-eyed, "May I inspect that, Lord Hadrian?"
Harry floated the blade over to him and the Maester nodded after inspecting it.
"This is indeed the blade wielded by Aegon the Conqueror," His tone was reverent as he held it out to Harry once again.
Harry shrugged, "It's not exactly my type of sword, I prefer a scimitar, however."
That caused the Hound to snort.
"Pretty sure you lost to that scimitar, Sandor."
Maester Aemon laughed, but Ser Barristan regarded Harry once again. He had heard and seen the Hound fight before, and he was a monster with power and skill. It would require an exceptional swordsman to defeat the Hound in single combat.
The Hound grunted at the jab and shut up.
Harry smirked and made eye contact with Daenerys "Anyways, if you want the blade, it's yours."
She had a strange smile on her lips, "No, I don't think I want it. In fact...you should hold it. Preferably on your person, not just in your pouch. Regardless of whether or not you use it."
Harry raised an eyebrow but had the blade floating next to him in the air as he responded, "Alright... Well if that is the case then, Ser Barristan, may I ask you a few questions?"
The knight in old leathers raised an eyebrow, "Yes, Lord Peverell?"
"They say you should be wary of an old man in a profession where men die young," Harry started, watching as the Knight nodded with a smile. "Did you make an oath when you entered the Queen's service?"
"Of course, I did."
Harry nodded, "I see, and if I were to insist that you double down on that oath, what would you say?"
Daenerys looked confused and the Queen's Guard looked contemplative.
"I am unsure what that would entail."
Harry reached into his pouch yet again, inspired by the Blackfyre blade, this time pulling the Valyrian steel long sword Red Rain from his pouch. He examined the blade and then whispered to Shimmer who still sat imperiously on the back of his chair, "Would you grab the Philosopher's Stone from my study, please?"
The phoenix nodded and once again disappeared in black and silver flames.
Harry examined the blade, noticing that it was still in pristine condition after he cleaned it. Summoning the Elder Wand, he began to inscribe a series of runes. Strength, speed, power, momentum, devotion, valor...essentially the standard lineup that he had been adding to each sword he enchanted with an ounce more for a guard.
Death spoke in his ear, "It seems there is a being who has a claim to this man...if what you are doing is what I think it is."
Harry silently responded, "Who is that?"
"One of the local gods, one of the Seven as they call themselves," Death replied.
"They are real?"
"They are tiny."
"I see..." Harry said.
"The Warrior wishes to claim this man with a blessing, he has offered a rune you may use, should you wish," Death said.
"You talked to him?"
Death laughed. Harry sighed.
Harry stood up and looked at Ser Barristan, his eyes hard and glowing. He finished magically inscribing the runes, mirroring them on both sides. Shimmer appeared with a grapefruit-sized sphere of red crystal with golden bands encasing it. Harry made the sphere float off to the side for now.
"Step forward, Ser Barristan. I have something for you," Harry's demeanor changed as he ordered the knight.
Ser Barristan looked over to Daenerys with a question. She nodded but was staring with a mix of wariness and curiosity.
"Repeat your oath to your Queen."
Magic filled the room, as Harry began the process of sealing his words into the blade.
Ser Barristan wasted no time as he kneeled in the direction of Daenerys, "I swear to ward the Queen with all my strength, to give my blood for hers."
The intensity of magic increased as Harry scribed the words to the blade.
"I swear to obey Her commands and keep Her secrets. I swear to defend Her honor and serve at Her pleasure."
His words became a physical weight as he continued. Harry also pushed more magic into the blade as the words were written in steel. The dragons all lay down, basking in the magic that surrounded them.
"I will never flee, nor falter in my duty. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, and father no children."
The old knight could barely breathe as bands of magic in the form of a divine blessing began to imbue him.
Ser Barristan stared at his Queen, "I pledge to Her Grace my life and honor, until the day that I die."
The weight of his words, bound by magic, didn't cease as he finished the Oath signaling that the process wasn't finished.
Harry began speaking in a chant, "By the power of the Warrior, as the Master of Death, I imbue this blade with your oath, your body and soul are tied to the fate of your queen. Hold out your hand."
Ser Barristan shook as he raised his hand, the burden he was picking up was a mighty thing, but Harry took the edge of the blade and held it there, "Your blood, is required."
The knight didn't hesitate as he was in some sort of magical trance, he sliced his palm against the blade and no blood spilled. It was absorbed directly into the sword.
The magic was a force that reached a crescendo, magic filling the air with a buzzing whine. Harry held the blade out grip first to the knight, "Take your blade and stand for your Queen."
He fought against the overwhelming magical pressure that fell on him like the weight of the world. He grasped the handle. As soon as he did, the Valyrian steel turned into a shining white color. The influence of the Warrior bled into the blade, slightly golden swirls stood out on the newly christened blade. The runes flashed from green to blue to gold as they burned brighter, Harry's magic being replaced by the will of the Warrior.
"I hereby rechristen this blade, it will be named Durandal from now on. The Blade of the Warrior," Harry finished.
When Ser Barristan stood, the magical power from the sword resonated around him. Harry conjured a glass and grasped the Philosopher's Stone, activating the enchantment to pour 1 dose of the Elixir of Life.
"The last thing...drink this," Harry's aloof demeanor had changed at the start of the oath ritual and it was still just as demanding and serious.
Ser Barristan didn't hesitate and downed the glass like a shot. In seconds his white hair turned brown and his aching joints popped and cracked as they returned to a healthy and young state. His youthful vigor returned to him and he looked Harry in the eye, "Thank you Your Gr-, I mean thank you, Lord Peverell."
Harry nodded with a smile, "I just gave you what I gave Maester Aemon here, except with the weight of your oath behind it. You will be stronger, faster, and nearly unstoppable when upholding your oath. I expect only your best for the Queen."
The Maester in question had been observing everything with amazement, the open magic enough to draw the attention of any scholar. He nodded to Ser Barristan when he looked over to him.
"Forgive me for upsetting our meeting, I just had to convey my concern for your safety," Harry said, talking to the quiet Daenerys.
Ser Barristan looked at the blade in amazement, but quickly moved back to the side of Daenerys, taking up his position as a guard.
Daenerys stood up, her dragons were huddled around her, finally calm and quiet at the amount of ambient mana, "Lord Peverell, we will need to discuss the army situation still, but I do want to convey my sincerest gratitude for everything you have done and continue to do."
Harry smiled, and nodded at her, "We will need to get some actual Queen's Guard armor made, but for now he will be a force of nature. I will see about a scabbard soon."
Ser Barristan nodded in thanks but continued his duty.
"This has to be the third gift then?" Daenerys asked, a challenging smirk on her face as she gestured to Ser Barristan.
Harry brought out the contract that Mance and his lieutenants signed on behalf of the Free Folk, setting it on a conjured and floating tray, "No, that was just a bit of inspiration."
He brought out a signature blood quill, one without a curse on it, and set it on the tray as well.
Daenerys felt a frown cross her face as she read through the contract. "What is this then?"
"Well, you need more people behind you. Specifically, you need non-slave citizens as well as another army. The Free Folk north of the Wall are trying to escape the dreadful fate of being devoured by the undead. I just happened to know of a queen who could use them, while providing for them."
"That is a lot of people, over 140 thousand? I can barely feed those I have now..."
"I will help with that, it won't be a problem."
"This also says that they will serve...but will not kneel?" Daenerys asked, slightly confused.
"Indeed, it's a huge part of their culture, and asking them to do so will essentially be asking them to break everything that they hold dear. I personally think it will be a fantastic fit for a city that is filled with ex-slaves, however."
"Why is that?"
"What better than an example of freedom than people who would rather die than kneel, than to be considered anything less than free? What better for those who no longer have a sense of self-worth than to see that as an example to live by?"
"And this Mance Rayder, he won't kneel but will be bound to my service?"
"He is a good man. One who is willing to die for his people, and he willingly signed the contract," Harry nodded to the floating tray where the contract was waiting for Daenerys' signature after she read it. "What is better than kneeling you might ask, I would say a signature on a magically binding contract."
"And you aren't worried about the logistics and the like?"
"No, they have a lot of herd animals for now, but we are in a bay and can capture ships for fishing and whatnot. As I said, I can help with food for a while, at least until the city can sustain itself, and of course, the army will move with you."
"This says 10,000 soldiers and 5,000 guards, are you sure they will produce that many?"
"Absolutely, if not more to be honest. They were ready to send 100,000 at the Wall and while not all of those are fighters, they are hard people used to surviving in an extremely harsh environment. They are by no means a cohesive force, but with the help of some of your Unsullied, we can train them to fight as a group. I have a great theme for this army, by the way," Harry said, excited to be talking about magic again.
"Theme? What do you mean?"
"Well, they are from the north, used to the cold weather. So I worked to design an enchantment for their armor that will sort of billow out a frosty aura. We can call them the Frost Legion. Oh, there will be some Giants as well."
That opened everyone's eyes, and Maester Aemon asked, "Giants still exist?"
"Oh yes, they have over a hundred or so, Mammoths too," Harry said.
"If they are used to the cold, will that not present a problem for them and their animals?" Ser Barristan asked.
"I got that covered with enchanted bracelets to keep people and animals cool, so no problem there."
"Back to the question of leadership for Yunkai," Daenerys said while reading the papers. "The contract stipulates that this Mance Rayder will rule just and fair, in accordance with my will. Is that enforced with this contract?"
"It is, as soon as you sign it with that quill, it will take a bit of your blood as it did with theirs and the contract will bind them to your service for no less than 5 years."
She nodded noticing the blood-colored signatures, and she re-read the entire thing before signing it.
"Fantastic, now we just need to set up the portal."
~~o0o~~
Mance had just started to eat breakfast, the fateful day to see whether or not the mad wizard was speaking truth or lies had finally come. He was about halfway through the meal when a runner entered the tent.
"Mance! It's open! The portal is open!" He opened his hand and warm beige sand fell from his palm.
"Let's see this then," Mance said. He walked over to the molded stone walkway that the very same wizard had somehow made. It walked right up to the edge of the portal, a strip of dark metal ringing the interior and the ground all the way around.
A rippling surface, not unlike a settling pond, slowly coalesced into a beautiful seen. It was the later afternoon on the other side of the portal, where the warm and cold air seemed to be exchanging places.
On the other side were three signs above open gates that could fit mammoths and giants in size.
The first one was labeled as: 'Army - 00/10,000'
The second said, 'Guard - 00/5,000."
And the third was just labeled as 'Civilians - 00.'
The wizard appeared and walked through the portal, his black robes and dark green leathers making him recognizable, while his strange bird sat casually on his shoulder.
Mance nodded at the man, "You did it then?"
The wizard smiled, "Of course, these signs are magical so everyone should be able to understand them, being able to read or not shouldn't matter."
Mance raised an eyebrow, "And the queen of dragons?"
"She has agreed to the terms. There will be no kneeling," Hadrian said. "Of course, you must ensure that there are at least 10,000 soldiers and 5,000 guards willing to be trained, and you all must uphold your end of the contract. Just send those who want to join through the respective gates and we can go from there."
Mance nodded, "Alright then...five years as a governor. I am not sure I got the better end of this deal."
Harry laughed, "Nonsense, you won't be fighting the dead, so don't worry about it."
The leader of the Free Folk snorted, "Alright lads! Let's move through the gate!"
The process of moving an entire population of people through the portal began. One thing Harry did, was that families could walk through, but only those that were of age and willing were counted for the gates. A man could bring his wife and child through, but if only he wanted to serve, then the counter would only rise by one, while the civilians would rise by two.
Unsurprisingly the guard gate was filled first, closing at 5,010 people with a gesture from Harry. He didn't want more than that, as it would be a waste of bodies, better to have them join the Army.
Harry watched for a few hours as the population crossed into the dry and sandy environment outside of Yunkai. After the Guard Gate closed, the Army Gate continued to fill, crossing 10,000 and showing no signs of stopping. He wasn't going to let that gate close as the more that joined the better, but he watched as it crossed 12,000.
Then 15,000.
17,000.
More and more just kept joining, fully aware of what they wanted to do. Harry fully intended to pay them and had told Mance as such, so maybe that was part of it? The guards wouldn't make as much as those who joined the army. Of course, joining the army would be much more dangerous.
Free Folk weren't afraid of combat, and they would be a vast and powerful force once Harry was finished with them. He let Mance organize everything as tents and bedrolls hit the dirt on the other side of the portal. The encampment of the Free Folk was south of Daenerys' Unsullied, but it kept growing as more and more came through.
Harry had given the box of enchanted bracelets to Mance, and as Wargs and their bonded creatures began to come through, people handed them out as Harry had shown him how they worked. The strangest and most interesting of the bonded creatures were the frost spiders, nearly 25 of them had come through, though none joined the army.
The size of a carriage, the spiders held their riders as they skittered through the portal to the civilian side. None of the wargs with frost bears, dire wolves, or snow hares had joined either. Only 27 out of all of the Wargs had decided to join the Frost Legion, and all of them were bonded to large grey-white eagles.
Harry just found his scouting squad for the Frost Legion.
After 5 hours the last of the Free Folk came through—the Giants.
Out of the 140 giants, 105 males and 35 females crossed the portal, pulling huge Mammoths with sized-up temperature bracelets around their horns and feet. The 35 females went through the Civilian Gate, while all of the males joined the army.
Harry leaned over and spoke, "Mance, do you think the Giants would appreciate having bracelets for temperature regulation as well?"
He jumped at the first crack of the Wizard's appearance, sighing as the man couldn't help but cause a scene anywhere he went, "Yes, they would have trouble with the heat, I would think."
Harry nodded, "Let me make some more bracelets and you can hand them out, yeah?"
"I will make sure they have them."
As the last of the population crossed, Harry took note of the total with a bit of shock. 5,010 Guards, 24,357 Soldiers, 8,531 livestock and other beasts, and 115,628 civilians. Warg-bonded creatures and mounts were not counted, but it was less than 2,000 he guessed.
After 6 hours of people, livestock, and everything the Free Folk owned crossed the portal. Anyone left in the north would be left behind. Harry quickly had Shimmer search for anyone who might not have made it, or was too injured to do so, and made sure they made it through before he shut down the portal, "Well then, would you like to meet her?"
Mance nodded, "I guess it's time now that my people are safe. I have to say, for a mad wizard, you follow through on your promises. That is something I will not forget."
Harry nodded back, "A man is only as good as his word, wouldn't you agree?"
"I would."
After the day ended, Harry had the totals for each of the gates.
The Guard Gate ended at 5,010, which was the first to close, forcing anyone who wanted to help out to join the army. The Army Gate finished with a count of 24,357 humans, 27 Wargs and their eagles, and 105 giants with 48 of them owning mountable mammoths. The mammoths weren't as large as the Gold Legion's elephants, yet they were still intimidating.
The many clans of the Free Folk once again broke into their respective groups, with no interest in fighting each other as the temperature difference drained their energy. Fur and thick leathers were turned into hot bedrolls while only the animals wearing bracelets seemed to feel comfortable in the drastically different weather.
Yunkai and a vast quantity of open land were filled with hoards of free folk. All sorts of people had left to gather and hunt on the surrounding lands while fires and camps had slowly come together.
For better or worse, Harry had moved an entire civilization of people to another continent.
~~o0o~~
Earlier in that day, Daenerys watched the Free Folk start to migrate into the lands around Yunkai, a tide of grey and white-furred people spilling out of one of Harry's Portals like an avalanche. The tide of Free Folk entered near the opposite side of the city where the Second Son's, another powerful mercenary company, made camp.
The Second Son's banner displayed a broken sword with blood and flesh colors in the background, illuminated by the desert sun as it waved over their camp. While they were a force to be reckoned with, they were also limited in numbers, with only around 2500 light cavalry. The dangerous thing about them was that they were extremely adaptive, being able to fight in any circumstance, be that on horse, on foot, or at range.
She watched as a squad of 10 riders approached her camp. With a quick message to Hadrian, she prepared to receive the riders. He showed up in a swirl of flames with his black-armored guard and nodded to those present.
"How goes the transfer?" Daenerys asked the wizard.
"Slowly but surely. Another few hours and they will be close to finished," Harry said, as he conjured another chair.
Ser Barristan, Jorah Mormont, Maester Aemon, Missendei, Grey Worm, and now Harry and the Hound, as well as three dragons were all in the reception tent where Harry had first met the Queen.
Harry hadn't met Jorah Mormont or Grey Worm yet, but he nodded to them all the same. They seemed to recognize him, Harry figured Daenerys had spoken of him to her people. Jorah seemed skeptical of him while Grey Worm was constantly analyzing his movements, a true fighter.
"I have a group of mercenaries approaching, Lord Peverell. I was hoping you might help me vet them?" Daenerys asked.
Harry smiled, "I would be honored to, your majesty."
Ser Barristan coughed, "Pardon me, Lord Peverell, it is proper to say 'Your Grace' amongst the royalty of Westeros."
A slight bit of red touched his cheeks, "Ah," He looked around sheepishly, "Forgive me then, Your Grace."
Daenerys loved it, rarely finding a chance to see the wizard off his game, "Apology accepted, Lord Peverell. Ser Barristan, would you...?"
"Of course, Your Grace," the knight said. He left the tent and waited for the riders to dismount.
"Any word on what kind of men these are? Just normal mercs?" Harry asked.
Daenerys shrugged, "I have only heard that they treat each other as equals and have been around for a long time. They may or may not be worth investing in, but we will see. They have been encamped outside of Yunkai for several months now."
Harry nodded and inspected the approaching men. Three of them separated from the rest, following Ser Barristan as he walked back to the tent.
"Allow me to present the Captains of the Second Sons: Miro of Braavos, Brendal Negesin, and umm..."
"Daario Naharis," The youngest-looking Captain bowed.
Harry watched the leader, Miro, who had a scar on his face and an uncaring demeanor, as he stepped forward, "You're the mother of dragons. I swear I fucked you once in a pleasure house in Lys," Miro said.
Harry almost killed him right there.
Mormont spoke as Harry exchanged a shocked expression with Daenerys, "Mind your tongue."
"Why? I didn't mind hers," He stepped up to Jorah who didn't back down before turning to the Queen, "She licked my ass like she was born to do it."
Harry was fine until he wagged his tongue at her.
"Sectum Sempra," Harry said, his magically enhanced voice empowering the spell causing the man to nearly burst as terrible wounds cut through his body. A black scimitar removed his head before anyone had a chance to react as Harry had Apparated behind him and swiped once.
Harry wasn't done there, he slammed his open palm into what remained of the man's back and pulled. A green soul mirroring Miro's features was made visible as it was ripped out of the fresh corpse, screaming in ghostly pain.
The other two mercenaries stood and drew weapons, finding themselves unable to move as Harry petrified them, "I fucking dare you to speak to her like that fucking fool just did."
The temperature of the area began to increase, black and silver flames beginning to burn around Harry as his eyes glowed ferociously.
He closed his fist and the soul dispersed in an anguished wail.
"LORD HADRIAN!" Daenerys screamed at him.
He heard her, his breathing coming at a furious pace, "Forgive me, Your Grace. I have vetted the Second Sons and found them wanting, shall I wipe the rest out as well? They only have 2 thousand or so, yes?"
"Lord Hadrian, they are our guests. Please refrain from killing them! Regardless of how they speak to me," Daenerys said.
He gathered himself, controlling his breathing and magic. "You are right, I shouldn't have killed him. But he had no intention of fighting for you with pockets full of slaver gold," He waved his hand, and the other two were released from his spell.
"Sorry lads, but if you go for your weapons, I will kill you," Harry said. "Scourgify."
He cleaned the corpse and blood with another wave of the Elder Wand.
Outside of the tent, the 7 remaining riders saw their leader killed and charged forward after the stun wore off.
Daenerys was watching the situation deteriorate further as they charged. Her Unsullied and Dothraki guards were ready to engage until a booming voice stopped it all.
Harry had cast the Sonorus Charm, amplifying his voice many times over, "STOP!"
The charging horses came to a stop as his voice stunned and staggered them.
"You have a single chance to come out of this alive. Captain Brendal Negesin, I suggest you tell your men to stand down and mind your tongue," Harry said.
The man gulped and nodded, "Daario, tell them to wait."
The other one walked backward, never letting his gaze leave the wizard until he passed the edge of the tent.
"Lord Hadrian, I must ask you to leave for now. When I said I wanted your help to vet them, I didn't mean that killing was on the table. The next time someone enters my presence with the intention of parlay, you will NOT harm them in any way. Do I make myself clear?" Daenerys said, her rage nearly matching Harry's.
Harry breathed deeply and turned. He bowed, "Forgive me, I will not do so again. But just know that I will not have people speak to you as such in my presence, though I will resort to less lethal means from now on."
He disappeared with a spin and a crack, leaving the Hound there as a guard. Neither Harry nor Daenerys saw the looks of approval from Ser Barristan, Jorah Mormont, and Grey Worm, who were all more jealous than angry that Harry had been the one to end that fool's life. They remained silent, however.
"Now, Brendal Negesin, forgive me for that display, you will be compensated for the loss of your Captain," Daenerys said. She waved and a single one of the golden chests was brought forward by an Unsullied.
The man looked down at the chest, gold bars nearly spilling from it, "How is this worth a man's life? A man that I have known for many years, a brother in arms."
Daenerys sighed, "I understand your loss, but I also understand that you are already hired by the Slavers of Yunkai. So I have an offer for you, join us or stay out of our way, and I won't let the wrathful wizard destroy you. Because trust me when I say that he would take distinct pleasure in doing so."
Daario Naharis walked back into the tent as his fellow Second Sons behind him finally calmed.
Brendal spoke again, "Our contract is our bond. And right now...it's with Yunkai. If we break our bond, no one will hire the Second Sons again."
"Fight for me and you will not need another contract. You will have gold and support indefinitely."
"You have no ships, you have no siege weapons. You have no cavalry," Daario said, shaking his head. "The people who are arriving here through that strange means all seem to be refugees."
"A fortnight ago I had no army. A year ago I had no dragons. Now the Gold Company fights for me and Yunkai will be just another bump in the road," She looked at the remaining two men, "You have until tomorrow to decide."
Brendal and Daario recognized the dismissal and the two men left. The Hound spoke up with a laugh, "Everyone is tough, 'til the wizard decides otherwise. Fucking cunts."
Brendal frowned but didn't speak. Daario just looked back at the queen with a strange look but walked to his horse all the same.
~~o0o~~
"You stand before Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains, and Mother of Dragons."
Mance exchanged a glance with Harry, who shrugged and just let the handmaiden introduce her. After the Free Folk made it through and the Portal was shut down, they had gone to speak with Daenerys.
"Well, that is quite the list of titles," Mance nodded.
Daenerys nodded as she spoke, her graceful voice exuding authority and power, "While most titles are earned, I have yet to claim the Iron Throne, besides that I have earned mine by blood and flame."
"And you plan to do such a thing as claim the Iron Throne?"
"Indeed."
"With the mad wizard?"
She laughed, glancing at Harry who smirked, "Absolutely."
Mance nodded, "I see."
He paused inspecting the mother of dragons, "You know, when this...mad man came waltzing into our camp, I thought we were going to send a hundred thousand men to our deaths. He comes in, faces a challenge from one of my lieutenants, who he instantly killed, then offered our entire population salvation in the form of some eldritch transportation." He shook his head, "What I want to know, is why you have his favor. This is a boon to you, a force of what, 15,000 and a handful of giants? Does he just want to bed you?"
Harry's expression changed throughout Mance's questions, ending up with a frown as he asked the last question.
"Don't look at me with those deathly eyes, I need to know more than just your word as to what her motivations are," Mance said.
Harry didn't reply but slightly snorted. It didn't matter whether Mance knew anything or not, the contract had been signed and fulfilled on Harry's end. It's too late to back out now.
"I don't need to reveal anything about the relationship between Lord Hadrian and myself, however, I assure you that my motivations are no less than any Queen with the will to rule. I have said it before, Westeros is like a wheel of constant warfare. Turning and turning, seven spokes riding on the lives of the small folk. I intend to break the wheel, and start fresh," Daenerys said.
Harry smiled, watching the fiery passion blaze with her words. She held a will for bringing the downtrodden back into the fold, back to dignity. If nothing ever happened between them, he would at least respect her for her beliefs and convictions. If things progressed between them, however, he would move heaven and earth to help her see her goals through.
Before Mance could reply, she continued, "I accepted the deal that Lord Hadrian proposed because I do need troops, leaders, guards, and everything in between. You were able to unite the many clans of the people beyond the Wall, appealing to their reason and will to survive. That wouldn't have mattered without his intervention and my acceptance of the contract. As long as you follow through, there will be no problems."
"Are you going to get those men and women killed? Those soldiers? As they follow your orders trying to break the wheel?" Mance asked. He heard what she said, but he still had to look out for his own.
Daenerys looked to Harry, who took the cue, "They will be prepared for war. They won't be the untrained mob they would have been if they attacked the wall. I would wager we can get them into fighting shape within 5 to 6 months. I would say 2 months for the guards as that is easy and while I can give them plenty of training on reading people and stuff like that, I believe my time would be wasted on them."
"You are arming them?"
Harry smiled, "Oh just wait, they will be a force to be reckoned with when I am done."
"That didn't answer my question," Mance insisted.
"No, Mance, we won't be wasting the 24,357 troops in some foolish assault somewhere," Harry replied, his humor removed from his words. "We will forge them into a powerful force that won't fall easily."
Mance sighed, "Fine then, may I have a list of the rules you wish to be enforced in Yunkai? Assuming my people won't be used as a battering ram to acquire the city, that is."
Harry shook his head, "Have I kept my word with everything I said I would so far?"
Mance eyed him, "So far."
"Out of the two of us, one of the requirements in the contract was much easier than the other, wouldn't you agree?"
"Your magic seemed to make things easier if that is what you mean."
"Yes, MY magic made it easier to send you across the world. My magic gave you and your people a new chance. No one else. Now stop doubting me, and stop doubting her. If you can't take our words then don't bother and just break the contract, but be aware that the consequences are severe," Harry said. "Out of the two of us, it is YOU that needs to prove their word is worth anything."
Mance didn't like that, but he knew Hadrian wasn't wrong, "Just don't let them die a pointless death."
Daenerys looked him dead in the eyes, "I will not waste their lives."