Chapter 12 - Gathering Forces
Daenerys was walking with Ser Barristan and Missendei, heading back to her temporary quarters in the huge encampment that surrounded the southern side of Yunkai. She looked upon the people who had been rallied to her cause, now numbering well over six figures. To the southwest was the newly named Gold Legion walking elephants around their encampment, a show of force if nothing else. Their golden-armored steeds stood as towering and glittering fortresses in their own right.
The perfectly-ordered bedrolls of the Unsullied were next, just south of the Gold Legion. An endless field of rectangular mats, laid out in even rows. The same rows they would stand and fight together in. They surrounded her large tent, a protective wall of flesh. These were men who would fight and die for her, men who pledged their lives to her. She felt like their lives were in her hands, waiting to be used at the right time for her cause. It would take the will of a conqueror to throw their lives away.
But she would. She would do what was necessary.
Beyond the Unsullied, things grew stranger still. Over a hundred thousand Free-Folk now camped out east of the Unsullied. Women, children, men, giants, and strange beasts all congregated into a handful of different tribes. The army and guard forces they would create would help change the face of this side of the world. Harry's promise to arm and train them with the help of some Unsullied was intriguing...how does he casually accomplish things that entire empires and kingdoms spend years doing?
"My Queen!"
Daenerys was pulled from her thoughts by the yell and the continued running footsteps coming at them. It was Grey Worm.
"My Queen! The gates are opening! Something is happening!" He reported.
She immediately turned to look back at Lord Hadrian's tent. The Hound was still sitting out front of it, drinking that foul-smelling whiskey. He was staring at the city with keen interest now.
"Let's find out what they are doing," She said. The night had almost fully set, and to see the gates of Yunkai opening was a strange prospect. Are they riding out to fight or did Harry do something to take the city?
It took nearly 10 minutes for her Unsullied to gear up and be ready to fight, they arranged themselves in front of the city to defend it. The angle the queen stood at allowed them to see directly into the gates, but it was difficult to see in the darkness. The Unsullied guardsmen of Yunkai had seemingly lined up in orderly ranks as if they were about to march out in formation. Whatever was happening waited until her army was fully ready for combat before making any movement forward.
It took another 5 minutes as she sent a few riders out, Grey Worm and a few of his lieutenants. They stopped halfway to the open gates, waiting for a response.
That was when they all saw a familiar figure walking out, a black robe billowing around dark green leather. Two glowing green eyes were fixated on her as he walked with that smirk of his. Behind him were thousands of Unsullied, dressed up in the livery of Yunkai's guard.
They stopped at a call from Lord Hadrian, breaking into thousand-man Battalions equidistant to each other. The Unsullied of Yunkai had more ornate, if less intimidating versions of her own Unsullied armor. Yet as they stood in perfect lines, Daenerys couldn't help but feel the pressure of their existence. The Unsullied were intimidating and they wouldn't bat an eye to charge into her forces if so commanded.
Lord Hadrian walked forward, a golden scepter in his hand. It was just like the one that controlled her own Unsullied. She scowled at the idea of it, fully knowing that these were also kept as slaves. It bothered her, but she held her head high as he approached Grey Worm.
Conversation broke out and Grey Worm and his officers escorted Lord Hadrian her way. The Yunkai Unsullied waited without moving.
"Do you think he took the city?" She asked. "Alone?"
"It could be, Your Grace. If there is another man alive that could do that by himself...I wouldn't want to meet him," Ser Barristan said.
With an almost frustrating smile, Harry spoke up, "Your Grace, I have come to turn over the City of Yunkai to your control."
Daenerys raised an eyebrow, "And when, Lord Hadrian, did you find the time to conquer a city between meals and tours of your castle?"
Harry laughed, "Time is a funny thing, isn't it? If one has the means they can manipulate it to their will."
She stared at that smirk, "I see. I would like to hear more about how you manipulated time, but either way, I believe there is something you were here to do?"
"Ah, there is indeed," Harry said. He cleared his throat and then performed a perfect courtly bow, "I have taken Yunkai and have procured all five thousand Unsullied guards which now are lined up behind me. The leaders of Yunkai are currently on a ship that will soon be docking in the port, waiting to be taken. With them comes the vast wealth the leaders of Yunkai had taken from their city, waiting to be put to better use."
He then handed over the scepter that the Yunkai Unsullied were bound to, allowing the Dragon Queen to take over her new troops.
"Grey Worm, have a Regiment of Unsullied enter the city in force and make sure their leaders are under lock and key. Keep the peace but hurt no one. Release all slaves and ensure they have food and water for the night. I will address them tomorrow morning in the light of the day. As for these Unsullied, I shall speak to them now," Daenerys ordered.
She stepped forward, looking at the perfectly straight lines of the Unsullied in front of her, and began to speak in Valyrian. Harry cast a translation charm so that he may listen as she spoke. He also subtly cast a Sonorous Charm on her, which she noticed then nodded at him in thanks. She restarted her speech, and the Unsullied were unable to ignore it.
"Unsullied! I come here before you as a breaker of chains! A breaker of those who would make slaves of their fellow man! As of right now, you are free! But before you go, I ask one thing of you," Daenerys spoke, her voice echoing off the distant city walls, causing people from every camp to listen to her strange words. "I know that you have been slaves your entire life, held under whip and chain by those who think themselves better than you. They used you for whatever they wished. They do the same to many others. I ask you now, will you help me? Will you help me free the slaves from the world? Help me free those who deserve to live normal and peaceful lives. Will you fight for me, the Breaker of Chains?"
In a similar statement of acceptance to the last time she freed Unsullied, the silent ranks began to slam the butt of their spears on the ground. The lack of voice behind their actions seemed to reveal more about their background as slaves than anything else. Their training was devastating to their personalities, trading their lives for effectiveness as soldiers.
As one, the entire regiment of just over five thousand Unsullied joined the Dragon Queen's army.
Her other Unsullied soldiers invaded the city, eliminating corrupted overseeing guards, minor nobles who owned slaves, and others who still wished to hold power. The Wise Masters were all taken, along with their wealth and pride, as the chains of slaves were sundered throughout the city.
Yunkai now belonged to the Dragon Queen.
~~o0o~~
"So, are there any spirits or something that want a job?"
Death's laugh seemed particularly delighted today, "Absolutely, but you know I won't allow it." She would refuse to allow the dead out of her grasp, unless it was helping her champion, or they had died for a cause. Rare circumstances, but it could still happen like Syrio Forel continuing the training with Arya Stark.
Harry laughed, "That's fair. You think I can find someone in Braavos? There is a bunch of mercenaries there, right?"
"There are."
"And would any of them be interested in helping to train an army?"
"Maybe," Death said. "For the right price."
Harry nodded, "Any other interesting news you have seen?"
"Seen? Everything. Willing to share..." She let the sentence end as the dark visage of his mother smiled brighter.
Harry laughed, "That is fair I suppose." He was drinking some morning tea, looking out over his realm within the Peverell Trunk. "I have been meaning to ask, that lad that I killed, the Blackfyre one? Did he have any forces outside of hiring the Golden Company?"
Death laughed, "The remains of House Blackfyre are limited to a small cavalry and a force of infantry set up outside of Braavos. Though they have yet to find out about the fate of their young scion, I am sure they suspect something..."
"Hmm, that's not a bad idea."
"Share," Death prompted, her curiosity was palpable.
"I was thinking that we need a force for Jon Snow. More so than just making a strong strike team of fighters, I need Commanders who can lead men. That man, as young as he is, has been in the thick of it. I also need to enchant his sword and give him and his lady friend better armor. If he has to return to Westeros to fight against the undead, he will do so with an army at his back."
She laughed again, "Fantastic. Oh, I do have some news for you. A viper arrives in King's Landing, though he has a smile on his face, vengeance is his goal. He will not succeed without help. Jon's friend Sam and his adopted family left the crumbling Night's Watch, heading south to learn how to become a Maester. Robb Stark has returned to Winterfell and plans on setting off to the wall in the next week in force after his son is born. Quite interesting, wouldn't you say?"
Harry processed the information while slightly nodding, "Very interesting indeed."
"There are others that are headed to the Wall, hoping to land on the other side."
"The other side? I got over ninety percent of the Free Folk though, didn't I?"
"They are only as free as their oaths allow them. The false King, Stannis Baratheon sails North, hoping to eliminate the Free Folk. His Red Priestess hasn't noticed your intervention in his goals yet."
"Now that is entertaining."
"Indeed," A rare time when both Death and Harry laughed together.
He had a few ideas of where to go next, but since he was up with the dawn, he had Chancey invite Ygritte and Jon, as well as the recently healed Ros to breakfast, which they promptly accepted.
"Thank you all for coming to eat with me on this fine morning. I have been thinking about what to do going forward, how I can best put all of you to use," Harry said.
"Plans to put me on my back again?" Ros said, her nervous smile not quite reaching her eyes.
"I do have plans for you, but no, you will not be a whore unless you choose to be. How are you with paperwork and administration?"
Ros's eyes widened, not expecting anything since the immense pain she had suffered at the hands of the psycho king. The torture. She had woken up to strange creatures taking care of her, promises that she would be able to speak to the 'Wizard' that not only saved but healed her.
The same little creatures had brought her the best food she had ever had, while the 'potions' as they called them were definitely not the milk of the poppy, they still did wonders to eliminate her pain and injuries. She had been in and out of consciousness for days before finally achieving a sense of clarity.
"Administration?"
"Yes, do you know your numbers and how to read and whatnot?"
"Of course, I...well I have often been the one to address that sort of thing in my previous dealings," Ros said.
"Perfect, please do eat up. This is one of my favorite breakfast's that Chancey likes to prepare. It's quite filling," Harry said. "A traditional English breakfast I call it. Eggs, sausage, black pudding, bacon, baked beans, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms, and of course, potatoes. I wouldn't have it any other way."
Ros smiled at the handsome and charming wizard, if only she could calm down in his presence which radiated off of him like a pyre. It was extremely intimidating just being in the presence of the glowing-eyed fool.
"So, as I was saying, would you be interested in helping run a city? It should be quite easy, as the man already running it is quite competent, though he could use some help in such endeavors. I am not sure how great he is with the small things as it were, a position that I feel would be perfect for you moving forward."
Ros nearly choked on her tea, a flavor she had never imagined could exist, but it hit her taste buds like explosions of flavor, "Ahem, I am not sure how great I would be at it, but if you would have me do such a thing, then I would gladly accept."
"Fantastic," Harry smiled. They ate for a bit and he finally addressed the love birds. "As far as you two," Harry wiped his mouth and ensured that Shimmer had the last piece of his bacon, "I have been unsure as to how I wanted to employ you both."
Ygritte looked a Jon with confusion, "Employ?"
"To work for. He is wondering how we can be of use," Jon explained.
Harry nodded, "Oh, I hear that your friend Samwell Tarly has been sent to Old Town to become a Maester, by the way. Or maybe he left on his own, I can't be sure of the specifics."
"Really?" Jon asked, eventually nodding. "That will be good for him."
Harry grunted, taking down some toast dipped in baked beans, "So, as far as employing both of you. I was originally thinking of producing a strike squad of sorts, one that had the capability of taking down the Night King, who is of course the leader of the undead."
Jon's gaze snapped to Harry, he had known that rumors of the king of the undead. He had fought with the wights, but the ones who ruled them had to be a different breed. "You plan on fighting him?"
"Of course, I didn't save the hundreds of thousands of wildlings for no reason. I brought them halfway across the world to give them a new shot at life, a new goal. Many have chosen to continue in the martial traditions and join the new Frost Legion, something that I have been working on as a gift to the Dragon Queen. Many others have decided to join the new City Guard for the recently captured Yunkai."
"Yunkai? That is the city we were camped outside of? When did it get captured? Jon asked.
"I took care of that yesterday," Harry said casually. He had better manners than Ron Weasley ever did, so he took his time cutting up the sausage before eating bite-sized portions of it. "Anyways, that is where you will be working, Ros. The leader of the Wildlings, one Mance Rayder is in dire need of assistants and you will find him a gentlemen willing to do what it takes to save his people."
The former lady of the night nodded, her mind seemingly filled with many thoughts about her future.
Harry turned back to Jon and Ygritte, "So, with that being said. I feel like both of you are too important to waste on just a squad of fighters that I can create easily on my own. No, I need you as leaders, you and Ygritte. I am going to acquire a small army for you to work with, to begin training with. You will earn their trust and will eventually return to Westeros before the Night King arrives to support your brother in the coming fight. I will, of course, be there with my forces, whatever that looks like at the time. We have a few years before they make it to the Wall, hopefully."
Ygritte was speechless but Jon had fully stopped eating and was staring down at the plate like it was going to attack him. He finally looked up at Harry, "I left the Night's Watch. I am no leader."
"Bullshit," Harry immediately replied, "But I don't have to prove anything to you about yourself. You need to step up and be your own man. Step up, with your lady here, to take charge of an army worthy of helping your brother. Of course, you will need to blood them quickly and earn their respect through combat. I will set up skirmishes that will be perfect for the sizes I have in mind. Oh, if you will let me, I have new armor and a new bow for you Ygritte. I would also like to enchant your blade Jon, if you will let me."
"A new bow?" "Enchant my blade?" The couple replied together.
Harry laughed, "Of course, the bow you have is mediocre and I had one of my elves create a new one that will blow your mind away. Also, I have leather from a thousand-year-old basilisk that I am making armor from, just like mine. It is also enchanted, of course, I wouldn't give you something mundane and call it worthy."
"What would you do to my blade?"
"Probably just the standard stuff. While wielding it you will be faster, stronger, and not get tired as easily. The blade will be virtually indestructible except under the most dire of magical circumstances. What else...oh! It will be bound to you in a way that can't be taken from you. The blade will always come when called and only answer to you. That sort of thing," Harry explained, his tone still just as casual as can be.
Jon shook his head, "That's absurd."
Harry shrugged, "You have to earn your place as leader of the men I put under your command. If you are to be a Commander for the Dragon Queen, which I am sort of implying that by doing all of this, by the way, then you will do it right. You will fight beside your men instead of standing behind them. You and Ygritte both will run the new legion I build for you."
"You want us to work for the Dragon Queen?" Jon asked.
"You know she is technically your Aunt, right?"
That seemed to hit him like a ton of bricks.
"I could have sworn I told you that already, but it doesn't matter, you have promised to not go for the throne, as that would put you as my enemy. So, that means that you will work to make this world a better place. And as I said, I need talented men and women, and I have chosen you. Do you accept this?"
Jon wiped his face with his hands, running them over his eyes constantly to try and clear his mind. Harry continued to eat in silence as Jon processed things. Ygritte was looking back and forth between Jon and Harry with wide eyes as if the words that were coming out of their mouths were a foreign language.
Jon sat back in his chair and looked up to the beautiful dawning sky within the Peverell Manor. The vibrant colors seemed to soothe his mind and give him a sense of peace. Before he could reply, Harry spoke again.
"You are a great man, Jon. With the blood of wolves and dragons running in your veins. Leading men like this will be difficult, but if it were easy, then everyone would do it."
Ghost, who had been lying between him and Ygritte sat up and he was so large that his head was well over the surface of the table, matching eye level.
"Ah, how could I forget, Chancey?"
"Yes, Master Harries?"
"Could you get some breakfast for our friend there, he looks famished. Also, I am sure Shimmer would like seconds. She also needs to put on-"
Harry was interrupted by saying that Shimmer needed to gain weight with a swift peck on the back of his head. The beautiful phoenix had been resting on her perch near Harry but was facing the valley and the sunrise behind him. Harry laughed, "Well, some breakfast for Ghost then."
Chancey snapped and a bowl of meat appeared on the table in front of Ghost, who promptly dug in.
"How is the new bond between you two, by the way?"
"Incredible, I can feel his emotions and such. I can't describe it," Jon said.
Harry smiled, "Good, I am glad it worked out. Anyways, as I was saying, we are men of great power. And with great power comes great responsibility."
Harry was barely able to hide his wince as he quoted something from the Spiderman comic Seamus used to bring into the dorms in Gryffindor.
"That's a good one, that statement," Jon said.
"I can't take credit for it, but you can tell people I was the first to say it," Harry said. "Regardless, what do you say about becoming a Commander of sorts? The leader of a legion?"
Jon took a sip of his tea and then turned to Ygritte, a question in his gaze.
She nodded, "You are mine, Jon Snow, you need me with you, but you can lead this army."
"But do you think I should accept?"
Ygritte laughed, "Not scared, are you?
He chuckled, "Seriously."
"The wizard isn't wrong about you being a man of strong blood. You are a leader and a warrior. Whatever you choose, I am with you."
Jon nodded then turned to Harry, "Alright. I'll do it."
Harry smiled, "Good, after breakfast, both of you should head down to the armory to get your gear sorted. I have a lot of traveling to do today, so I can only hope to get you where I need you to be by that time. Be ready."
~~o0o~~
That morning, Daenerys entered the city as slaves were fully freed. Cries of 'Mhysa' or Mother were shouted by the freed slaves. Food, water, opportunity, and freedom were offered as the people under the Queen began to take back control of their lives. Stories of how Mother of Dragons forced the slavers of Yunkai to surrender with just her will began to spread.
The people of Yunkai were free.
~~o0o~~
"How did the..." Maester Aemon let his words fall away as he acquired the attention of his new queen.
"The ritual? How did the ritual go?" Daenerys filled in.
The freshly reborn Maester nodded, "Yes, forgive me, Your Grace. How did the ritual go?"
She nodded off to the huge sleeping form of Drogon just outside of the tent. The dragon had grown to be the size of a couple of carts put together since the night before. He could be large enough to ride by now, but Harry had recommended that she give Drogon a week or more to grow and get used to his size before taking flight together.
"The connection we share now...it's rather incredible. I can feel him growing in strength and power and the bond between us shares this power. It won't be much longer now before he will be capable of carrying me. Lord Hadrian even mentioned a saddle that could grow with him at some point, however, I don't want to bring him into combat until both he and I can better defend ourselves."
Maester Aemon nodded, "We all seem to be influenced by him at this point. Do you mind if I ask what you plan as far as Lord Hadrian is concerned, your Grace?"
She smirked, "I have a couple of things to work out, then I absolutely have plans with him. But we aren't going to discuss that now."
"Of course, your Grace."
She watched as people approached the Queen's tent, Ser Barristan leading the way.
"Your Grace, one Daario Naharis is here to see you," Ser Barristan said. They had just returned from fleeing slaves and setting up the basics for Mance Rayder to take over as governor. They had returned to the Unsullied encampment for now.
Daenerys looked surprised, "Really? And what would he want?"
Maester Aemon spoke up, "I would assume he is looking for a means to join the winning side, as it were. There is no way they don't know about what happened overnight."
Daenerys nodded, "Alight, bring him in."
Ser Barristan did so, and Missendei introduced them.
"Your Grace," Daario said, he dropped a bloody sac on the ground, "I have taken control of the Second Sons. We will fight for you."
Daenerys laughed, "Fight for us? Now that Yunkai belongs to me?"
He sighed, "I admit that Miro got what he deserved by your magic friend, taunting and disrespecting you like that. But I also know that you have many more battles ahead of you and two thousand experienced cavalry is something you sorely need."
The Mother of Dragons sighed, "I am not sure that I can trust you, however, I do have an idea of how you can earn my trust."
"Whatever is needed, my queen."
"My queen? You haven't earned that right yet either," Daenerys said as she pulled a small mirror with three dragons encircling the reflective surface. This was the first time she tried to use it since the ritual with Drogon and she was shocked by how easily the mirror reacted to her magic.
"Well, good morning. How does this wonderful new day find you?" Lord Hadrian's voice rang out as she held the mirror.
Daenerys smiled, "Lord Hadrian, I was wondering if you had a moment to stop by my tent, there is something I would like your input on."
"Of course, shall I come by right now?"
"Please do."
He appeared not 4 feet away from her, a full smirk in place. Blackfyre, the Valyrian Steel long sword sat on his back. The strange robes that surrounded his dark green leathered armor flowed around him as he appeared.
Daenerys also smirked in return, her own purple eyes were excited to see the man, "Welcome, Lord Hadrian. I have something that I find interesting and would like your input on." She nodded to Daario Naharis and the bloody sack at his feet, "You remember this young man, do you not?"
Harry turned, and while he hadn't looked at him yet, it was clear that he knew he was there from the start, "Ahh, Daario Naharis, was it?"
The mercenary bowed, "It was, Lord Hadrian."
Harry nodded, "I see no hostility in your eyes after I took your leader's life. And I see that you have in turn taken the head of the other Captain of the Second Sons, which now lies at your feet."
Harry didn't question him, just laid out what he could pull from the situation, but Daario nodded all the same.
"And now that Yunkai belongs to the Dragon Queen, you come asking to pledge yourself to her service to remain...alive?"
The man shook his head, about to speak, but Harry held up his hand, "Not alive, then. You wish to earn a place amongst the winning forces? I see. So, The Mother of Dragons has asked me to lay my thoughts on the matter."
Harry's eyes bore into the sellsword, "Tell me then, Commander?"
Daario nodded at the confirmation of his title.
"Tell me then, could you work as a part of a larger group, taking the rank of Captain instead? Lead by a Commander of my choosing? Could your forces?"
"We can, that should be no problem at all. We have fought many times with other companies, like the Wind Blown, and even alongside formal infantry. It is not a problem."
"You all have horses and number at just over two thousand, am I right?"
Daario nodded, "Around 2,140 cavalry with many years of experience. My men can fight in any condition."
Harry nodded, "I see."
The wizard went silent for a time before turning back to Daenerys, "I will be honest, I was thinking of creating another Legion, this one run by Jon Snow, the one I told you about last night."
Daenerys nodded, remembering the conversation about him being her nephew, but not wanting the throne to the point of taking a magical oath in promise. "I remember."
Harry nodded, "He has led men in combat before, and is an exceptional swordsman. I was thinking that we could put the Second Sons, the Windblown, and another group of soldiers I have heard about under one banner. They would be around 10 to 15 thousand men or so, but still an experienced force that can accomplish much."
Daenerys seemed interested, "And Jon would lead this force? What would be its goal?"
"Eventually they would help me stop the Night King along the wall, but that isn't for around 4 or 5 years yet. They would spend the time getting experience as a legion and becoming a cohesive unit that would see combat. What are your thoughts on such a proposition?" Harry asked.
Daenerys nodded, a slight smile coming to her lips, "I think more soldiers can't be anything less than a good thing, though I would ask if you are capable of putting together a contract of sorts to ensure their loyalty."
Harry smiled back, "Of course, that goes without saying. They will have to sign it or there will be no deal."
"I can get behind this offer then. But how would Daario here act? In other words, what role would he play?"
"He would lead the Second Sons with the title of Captain, which would only be called that as a subsection of this new legion. They can keep their banners but must display the new banner of the legion above it. They will effectively be the cavalry of this new legion. Their goal will be to increase their numbers to 5,000 in 2 years, becoming a full Regiment instead of 2 Battalions," Harry explained, staring off into the distance as he thought out loud. "How does that sound?"
Daenerys allowed her mask to form again as she looked at Daario, "You will sign the contract that Lord Hadrian provides, it is magically binding. You will serve for a period of no less than 10 years with the goal of increasing your forces to 5,000 cavalry in two years and you will act as the Captain of your portion of this future legion under the appointed Commander. Your wages will be fair. Do you accept these terms?"
Daario was nervous, but nodded, "I am not sure how to increase our numbers that much, we have hovered around 2,000 for a long time now. We will need horses and equipment. But for everything else, I accept and take on this responsibility. The Second Sons are yours."
Daenerys nodded with a smile.
"We will work with your new Commander on finding what you need to grow. I will introduce you to him later today, do you guys need anything in the meantime? Supplies?" Harry asked.
Daario shook his head, "We have supplies for at least two weeks, though we could always use more wine."
Harry laughed, "When I come by later today I will have the contract ready for your signature on behalf of your troops. Make no mistake though, Daario Naharis, this is much more than just a test. This is your life which will be on the line should you betray her."
Daario nodded and even gulped at his words. He left for his encampment and Harry turned to see what else the Queen had for him.
"Lord Hadrian, what are your plans for the day?" She asked.
"I am glad you asked. I have several things on the schedule, first is that I intend to gather some more troops for this new legion, maybe another mercenary company or two. Oh, the Commander of said Legion will be Jon Snow if you are alright with that."
"Does he have the experience?"
Harry turned to Maester Aemon with an expectant gaze. The now youthful Maester cleared his throat, "That is as fine a choice as any, I'd wager. The lad has had responsibility thrust upon him since he was just a boy. He has proven himself to the men of the Night's Watch, as long as it lasted. I would say he has the capability of being a great leader."
Harry agreed with his assessment, yet waited for Daenerys to speak.
"Hmm, that seems fine. How are things going with your Frost Legion?"
"I believe you mean your, Frost Legion. And they are going fine. I have about a third of the armor and weapons completed. Part of my goals today was to find some training sergeants out of Braavos that could apply my ideas better than the Unsullied. Your Unsullied are fantastic fighters, but I need people who will yell," Harry replied.
"Yell?"
"Indeed, you see, to remake them into an army, we need to break them down first. This isn't the cruel and horrible things that they did to those poor lads of the Unsullied," He nodded to Grey Worm. "But it is enough that they will be molded into a cohesive force, something that they are not right now. How that will work, is that I am going to force them to train physically for about two weeks. They will be too tired and weak to do anything besides continue to run. Our new sergeants will help me by yelling at them continuously for that period. This is something that has been tried and true for a thousand years in my world, by the way.
"We break them down, then build up what we want to see. By the end of a week, they will be sorted into their proper groups, where we can arm and armor them, with the special armor I have been making. They will think that things have gotten easier, but that is a lie. It only gets harder, then we start interspersing drills into the physical training, having them thrust a spear a thousand times a day, or launch arrows on command for that battalion. Things like that. By the end of two weeks, we will have a cohesive force, by the end of a month, an army willing to fight and die next to each other, and they will do so by your command."
Harry then noticed the people staring at him like he was a madman. Everyone in the room was shocked by his casual idea of 'repurposing' men into soldiers. He raised an eyebrow at them, "Any questions?"
"I think I have too many questions..." Daenerys said, looking overwhelmed by the information.
Maester Aemon spoke up, "You said something about special armor. May we see some that you have already made?"
Harry nodded, but Ser Barristan spoke up first, "Who is the commander of this Frost Legion?"
"The leader of the force will have the title of Commander, while the Captains under them will operate the different divisions, we can go into specifics later. The Commander is a fiery man named Tormund Giantsbane, which...Grey Worm, would you be willing to send for him? He should be somewhere in the Wildling encampment, I can't be sure where."
He double-checked with Daenerys, who nodded, then left the tent to give the orders.
"Chancey?" A small crack and his adorable little house elf appeared.
"You called for Chancey's Master Harries?"
Harry smiled, "I did! Would you mind popping down to the armory and grabbing a single set of armor and their accompanying weapons for each of the three groups? Maybe a few armor display stands as well, just so we can show off a set of each."
"Of course, Masters!" Chancey said, and she popped away with a snap of her fingers. Within 2 minutes, the little house elf reappeared with three huge boxes and a barrel full of weapons. She snapped again and three wooden mannequins with racks appeared, leaving the tent slightly crowded.
"Thank you, Chancey," Harry said, dismissing her. She left and he waved his wand to move the mannequins off to the side. "I kept only the small weapons and tools with each armor set. So there are barrels and barrels of weapons that will accompany the armor boxes."
He waved his wand again and the box opened and armor pieces flew out and settled on the mannequins. Each armor set was clear in its difference and purpose. The Infantry had a heavier set of splint mail which covered more and was noticeably heavier than the one for the Pikeman. The lighter armor for the Long Bowmen also showed that it had more movement ranges and even the helmets had more vision. The short spears of the infantry, along with their rotella shields, were noticeably shorter than the huge 5-meter-long pikes for the Pikemen.
"So, we have three if not four, different groups that will make up the Frost Legion. The first here is the Long Bowmen, which has light armor, heavy enchanted long bows, and even side short swords in case they are forced into melee through unforeseen circumstances. The second group is the Pikemen, who wield those long 5-meter pikes, they are how we counter any and all cavalry charges since the legion won't have any. Pikemen are a game changer and will be devastating for anyone foolish enough to charge at our Frost Legion.
"The final one is the standard Heavy Infantry. They have the heaviest armor and shorter spears, which are still fairly long at about 2 meters, along with the Rotella shield. They also have the side sword and rondel dagger for other armored infantry. I also have a set made up for the future city guard of Yunkai, which should be ready sooner than later. They are a little more decorated with "
Everyone was impressed with it but still had questions. The Queen spoke first, "I am impressed, which shouldn't be surprising. But may I ask why they are smoking?"
Harry laughed, "Oh! That is a freezing mist. You see, if they are to be labeled as the Frost Legion, they need to have a bit of frost about them. Speaking of which," He went and grabbed an arrow from one of the slung quivers, showing off the slightly glowing, rune-covered arrow. The head was the same frosty grey steel as the rest of the steel that the armor was made from. "These arrows explode when they impact their target with a frosty blast, it's quite effective."
Daenerys shook her head and made eye contact with Ser Barristan, who stood off to the side, "Never any half measures."
The freshly rechristened knight laughed, "Indeed, your grace."
Tormund walked into the tent with Grey Worm and he got his first look at the armored laid out, "Ah, is this it then?" He asked nobody in particular.
"It is, I have quite a few finished so far, but I will be working on it more in the next few days," Harry said.
Tormund nodded, then turned his gaze to Harry, then to the Queen, "So, Dragon Mother, is it?"
Daenerys turned her head to the side, questioningly, "I am, and you are to be my new Commander of the Frost Legion."
He nodded, "I won't kneel, but I will lead. I don't need the wizard turning me inside out or whatever the fuck he did to that other fool who run his mouth."
Harry smiled, surprised that Tormund had heard about what he did to the man who insulted Daenerys in front of him.
Daenerys shook her head slightly, "Yes, there seem to be grave consequences for rude behavior in certain companies. Either way, have you begun to separate the Legion yet?"
Tormund shook his head, "Was hoping to meet with the wizard about that today."
Harry spoke up, "Training will start tomorrow and we can get everyone set up then. I am going to get some people to train your troops today and we can brief them later tonight on how we want everything to go. Be ready for some hard work in the coming weeks."
Tormund snorted but didn't answer.
The rest of the meeting consisted of Harry letting Tormund know the basics of how his Legion would operate, a precursor to the initiation starting the next day. Tormund in turn would look baffled or offended by the ridiculous ideas Harry had. At that point, Harry would then conjure illusions showing examples of why the way he plans on doing things will work. The illusions of past battles also included the potential for dragon strikes, giant siege weaponry, and fields of frost coming from endless arrows.
Harry made the rest of his plans for the day known and the queen only had one thing to say.
"Lord Hadrian, when you have time, perhaps in a few days, we have something to talk about. In private."
There was weight and meaning behind her words that made him fully turn to her and search her eyes, "Of course, let me know when."
She had a slight smirk as if trying to hide it, but she stared him down.
"Until then, Your Grace," Harry said, still not entirely able to keep the slightly mocking tone out of calling someone 'Your Grace.' It was just a strange concept compared to where he was from. That being said, everyone else used it with such confidence and seriousness that it didn't quite make him cringe anymore.
~~o0o~~
A few Apparations and Harry had delivered Ros to Mance Rayder, making introductions and telling the new governor of Yunkai the benefits of having an assistant. Mance's reaction was surprising, seeing a huge smile appear on his face was the last thing Harry expected. They seemed to hit it off immediately so Harry left them to it.
The next stop was finding the remaining men of the Blackfyre House.
"Where did you say they were?"
Death spoke with amusement, "Outside of Braavos. You will see their banners." She sent him an image of the tents in question.
"Thank you very much," Harry said. "Shimmer, would you be interested in teleportation? Or are you still mad at me for that comment I made during breakfast?"
The bird sent feelings of indignation through his tattoo that contained her.
"Oh come on love, don't be like that! I am sorry, I was just worried about you, that's all!"
Harry finally made some progress by eventually bribing her with some delicious treats. Harry grabbed the Hound and they both appeared in a burst of black and silver flames on top of the Titan of Braavos.
Braavos itself was a city spread out across hundreds of islands, something that made roving mercenary companies struggle to interact with. The very southern side of the lagoon that held the City of Braavos was inhabited and built up as a sort of interaction point with the city. The few streets that led away from the lagoon were paved but encompassed large circus-style tents that various mercenary companies used as their bases.
The remaining forces of the Blackfyre's were located across several of these tents, the banners of House Targaryen flying above them. It seems they were fully invested in the ruse behind the young blue-haired Blackfyre. He approached the more intricate of the two tents, one that was smaller and had a constant standing guard outside.
Harry walked right up to the two guards and they immediately addressed him, "Who are you?"
"I am looking to speak to your Commanding officer. I have news of your...young Lord that they will want to hear," Harry said.
The guard on his left got a nod from the other and he left inside the tent. Harry heard a stern voice from within and the guard appeared a moment later.
"Commander Grayson will see you," The guard said, holding open the tent flap.
Harry nodded at the Hound who grunted and took up his own threatening position ducked through and found his way into the tent, a large round table where 4 men in well-fitted armor sat.
The same stern voice spoke up from a bear of a man with a shaved head and well-trimmed beard. Commander Grayson, "You have news?"
Harry nodded, "I do. I happened to meet your young lord in the encampment of the Golden Company."
Harry waved and his favorite chair appeared, causing the four men to stand up in shock. Before Harry sat down, he drew the Blackfyre blade from his back and placed it across his lap. When Harry showed no fear at the threatening positioning of the four battle-hardened leaders, they almost seemed unsure of what to do.
"You see, I was also there to acquire the Golden Company to add them to the might of the Mother of Dragons. She needs more troops, you see."
"What the fuck is this? How do you have that blade?" Grayson said, his sword appearing in his hand.
Harry laughed, "I was just as surprised when your blue-haired young lord decided to challenge me to a duel once he found out that I am working for Daenerys Targaryen's interests. When I realized that he wasn't a Targaryen, and instead a Blackfyre...well, I had to oblige his request for a duel. As you can see, he and his men were not enough." Harry tapped the handle of the Valyrian steel blade as he slightly changed the narrative of how the duel went down. It was him that stirred the anger of the pompous blue-haired young man, and things who initiated the duel in the first place.
The fight seemed to leave Commander Grayson, his brow furrowing and his body relaxing. The others in the room were still tense, blades drawn, but they didn't attack, following the Commander's lead. "He's dead then?"
Harry nodded, "He is. And you and your lot are now directionless. The last of House Blackfyre is gone. But I do have an offer."
Grayson sheathed his sword, "You want us to serve the mother of dragons."
It wasn't a question, but it was a purpose. Harry just shrugged, "What else are you going to do?"
Grayson sighed, walking over to a shelf with a few amber bottles on it. He brought glasses and the bottle to the table, enough for even Harry, serving a few fingers of whiskey for everyone.
"I had figured that Young Griff wouldn't survive...but to think he died while in the camp of the Golden Company, so soon. Did he say anything?"
"He claimed to be Aegon Targaryen, and he insulted the Dragon Queen. That alone was enough for me to feel alright with ending him, but I wasn't opposed to a fight. It was me and my guard outside against a handful of Young Griff's men and even a few crossbowmen...they didn't have a chance, unfortunately. I claimed this sword by right of conquest and also hired the Golden Company."
The talk continued as drinks were passed with toasts for the fallen and even fully introduced themselves. Learning of Harry's title of Master of Death was met with strange looks but no one commented on it. Harry then officially made the offer.
"So, it comes down to this. You will join one of the Dragon Queen's new Legions under a Commander of my choosing. You will have the rank of Captain with your division leaders below you."
"One of her Legions?"
Harry nodded, "Indeed, we have three armies so far, you will be part of the fourth."
Grayson nodded, perhaps realizing that the momentum behind Young Griff was immediately stopped, "Give us a few minutes to talk about it."
Harry left the tent and stood with the Hound for a good 5 minutes before one of Grayson's men came out to grab him.
"Alright then...Lord Hadrian, we accept the offer to join your fourth legion under the rule of the Dragon Queen."
Harry smiled, "Fantastic."
~~o0o~~
The meeting with the Tattered Prince, Commander of the Windblown Mercenary Company was fairly painless, even with the massive Dothraki with a scared face and a Valyrian steel arakh staring him down. The prince still accepted the deal to join the new legion, but requested that they not be used as chaff or something inconsequential. Harry easily agreed to that, making sure that they fought for good causes as long as they learned to work under their new commander.
The Windblown signed a contract for 5 years of work and was paid for the first year immediately.
Harry ran some numbers and found that the new legion, which he was pretty sure would be named either the Wolf or the Ghost Legion, would be just under 15,000 troops. It would have heavy and light infantry, longbowmen, and both light and heavy cavalry. Jon Snow would have three Captains under him: Daario Naharis, Grayson, and the Tattered Prince. The combined battle experience between the three of them should be enough to give Jon Snow good advice.
He needed Jon to start commanding men for the eventual fight against the dead, and good Commanders will be hard to find. The Hound appeared with Harry inside his study. He had copied a map he found and rolled it out, calling for Chancey to grab Jon and Ygritte.
The two entered after as the Hound and Harry were speaking.
"Who cares? Kill the cunts and take it over as you always do," The Hound said.
Harry sighed, "It's not just about killing, it's about sending a message. Ah, Jon, Ygritte, Ghost, thanks for coming."
Harry noted that they had changed into dark green basilisk leather armor with runic arrays all over, signifying the enchantments were active. It looked good on them, "How is the armor and weapons?"
Ygritte smirked, "It's a bit dark for my taste, but the bow is unlike anything I have fired before...how did you do it?"
"Magic, of course. Pass your blade over here Jon, if you don't mind."
The stoic young man drew the blade and handed it over. Longclaw was a beautiful blade with a carved image of Ghost as the pommel. The entire length of the blade showcased the beautiful dark swirls of Valerian steel, a fantastic material for enchanting. "A fantastic blade, Jon," Harry said as he ran his wand along one side, the standard array of blue runes appearing along the fuller. The runes took up about half the length of the sword, making this weapon an actual force of nature.
"I did the same to the Hound's blade, Lamentation, and it has been impressive so far wouldn't you say?"
The Hound grunted, not one for small talk.
Harry continued to apply the runes as he spoke, "I have your new legion prepared. They will be arriving here tomorrow. Of course, I will be sending the Gold Legion home today, then have them help when the Queen takes Meereen."
"What is the composition?" Jon asked.
Harry handed him a sheet of parchment breaking down the forces he would be in control of while finishing up the enchantments on Longclaw. "You have quite a bit of men, around fifteen thousand total and they have been informed that they will be operating under a commander of my choosing. Earning their trust and respect is up to you."
Jon and Ygritte exchanged glances, Jon's nervousness was calmed by her gaze.
"Here you are chap," Harry held Longclaw out to Jon. "Just a drop of your blood on the first rune on each side. Just there."
"A drop of blood?"
"I had to do the same for my bow, Jon Snow," Ygritte said.
Jon nodded, stoic as ever. He calmly sliced his thumb and placed it on both sides of the blade.
"Good, go get some practice in swinging it, you will notice the differences."
Jon and Ygritte left, knowing that they would meet the new legion the next day.
"What do you think, Hound?"
The huge man grunted, "Seems like a boy."
Harry nodded, "He has work to do."
~~o0o~~
"You just sent the most powerful man in Westeros to bed without his supper," Tyrion said at the end of a small council meeting in Kings Landing.
"You're a fool if you believe he's the most powerful man in Westeros," Tywin replied.
"A treasonous statement, Joffrey is King."
"You really think a crown gives you power?"
Tyrion stared at his father, "No, I think armies give you power."
"Mhm."
"Robb Stark has one, undefeated at that."
Tywin's impeccable mask turned into a slight grimace, enough for Tyrion to notice.
"And now they have taken out not just the Freys but also the Boltons, eliminating two of the houses thought to be on our side in a matter of months. My question is, what is next? The war seems to have just...come to an end. A mysterious villain in the shadows perhaps?"
Tywin almost growled, "It matters not, the wolves have turned tail and ran."
"And what do you plan on doing now that they have run? A mighty chase to eliminate the North? Convince another house to turn on them, maybe? Turn the hunt on the wolves, as it were?"
"We will in time," Tywin said, not answering the question, "but for now... you will raise a son of your own that will eventually inherit the north under a Lannister flag."
Tyrion scoffed, immediately thinking of his 'wife', Sansa Stark. "I will not rape her. She has gone through enough on our account."
"You have a duty to this family as do we all. When the Stark men are all dead we will place a new Warden of the North that is properly under our control." Tywin stood and walked to his desk as Tyrion followed in frustration. "Would you like a lesson on how the world works?"
"Use small words, I'm not as bright as you," Tyrion's sarcasm was dripping from his words.
Tywin ignored it, "The house that puts family first will always defeat the one that puts the whims and wishes of its sons and daughters first. A good man does everything in his power to put his family first. Regardless of his own selfish desires."
Tyrion shook his head with a smile.
"Does that amuse you?"
"No, it's a very good lesson. Only it's easy for you to preach utter devotion to a family when you are making all the decisions."
"Easy for me is it?"
"When have you ever done something that wasn't in your interests but instead was for the sole interest of the family?!"
"The day that you were born!" Tywin said. "I wanted to carry you into the sea and let the waves wash you away. Instead, I let you live and brought you up as my son. Because you're a Lannister!"
Tyrion was left in the small council chamber in the Tower of the Hand with brooding thoughts. Whoever had shaken the North had left ripples running through the South. Their wake was undeniable.
~~o0o~~
Two Lannister soldiers sat with whores on their laps, enjoying what the Brothel had to offer. One serenaded the girl on his lap, singing a song that speaks about the power of a Lannister.
Neither noticed the Dornishman that had appeared in the archway to their room until the sound of his boots finally drew their attention. A seemingly confident man with a dagger on his belt and fine Dornish silks had them locked in place with his dark gaze. He let his hand float through a candle flame as he casually walked toward them.
"You lost, friend?"
"Forgive me for staring. I don't see many Lannisters where I'm from," A smirk landed on the handsome man's face as he inspected the women entertaining them.
"I don't see many Dornish men in the capital."
"We don't like the smell," He laughed.
A beautiful woman in an orange sundress entered, grabbing his arm worriedly, "Come with me, lover."
Her voice was seductive and held great pleasure in the promise it kept.
"God's look at this one," The other Lannister soldier said.
A young man entered and tried to pull the Dornishman from the room, "Sir, if you would follow me, I'll arrange for a private room."
"Why are you wasting a woman like this on a Dornishman?"
The smirk fell from the man's face.
"Bring him a shaved goat and a bottle of olive oil!" Both Lannisters laughed.
A smile returned to his face, but it wasn't a pleasant one, and was instead filled with malice, "Do you know why all the world hates a Lannister?"
His form seemed to shift, threatening violence and pain as he walked toward the guard who insulted his woman. The two Lannisters stood up, pushing the whores behind them.
"You think your gold, and your gold lions, make you better than everyone..." His voice was smooth and deep, full of complete confidence as he walked up to the soldier. "May I tell you a secret?" he asked rhetorically. "You are not a golden lion."
The Lannisters exchanged derisive looks.
"You're just a pink man who is too slow on the draw."
The silence hung, everyone in the room tense as the Dornishman stared down the one with the insulting tongue. 2 seconds went by, then three.
The Lannister reached for his longsword, which sat carelessly on the table. The second his hand was over it, a stiletto dagger pierced through the top of his wrist, pinning it to the table. The man screamed in horrible pain.
"A longsword is a bad option in close quarters," The Dornishman said, turning to the other soldier who had revealed a few inches of steel. "When I pull my blade your friend starts bleeding, quite a lot I'm afraid...so many veins in the wrist."
The soldier shrieked in pain as the dagger twisted.
The smile on his face was the polar opposite of the screaming guard and extremely intimidating to the other one, "He'll probably live if you get him help. So, decisions..."
The stand-off was interrupted as Tyrion Lannister and his guard Bronn walked into the room.
"Prince Oberyn, forgive the intrusion, we heard there might be..."
The distinct sound of a blade rending flesh and another being sheathed happened simultaneously, only to be followed up with a near geyser of blood from the soldier's wrist.
"...trouble," Tyrion finished.
Oberyn, The Viper, pulled his paramour, Ellaria Sand into his arms as the soldiers rushed out of the room, "Apologies my love."
Their lips met and they began to passionately kiss, ignoring Tyrion and Bronn.
Tyrion looked up to Bronn with a confused frown on his face, while Bronn just silently laughed back at him.
Tyrion had no choice but to continue, "I am here to welcome you to the capital."
Ellaria pulled away, looking over to the intruders as Oberyn continued to deliver his love to her.
He finally spoke, "Ellaria Sand, my Paramore," The Viper's hand went out as if showcasing something, "The King's own uncle Imp, Tyrion the son of Tywin...Lannister."
Tyrion nodded, "If there is anything I can do to make your stay more comfortable-" He was interrupted by Oberyn.
"And what are you? His hired killer?" Oberyn asked.
Bronn spoke up, "I started that way, aye. Now I'm a knight."
"How did that come to pass?"
Bronn shrugged, "Killed the right people, I suppose."
The Viper laughed and Bronn joined him.
Oberyn spoke to the lad who was guiding them to a private room, "We'll need a few more girls," He checked with Bronn, "Girls yes?"
Bronn nodded as Tyrion shook his head.
"A few more girls!" Oberyn looked to the dwarf, "You don't partake?"
"Oh, I partook, and now I'm married," Tyrion smiled. "Prince Oberyn, may I have a word in private?"
Ellaria kissed Oberyn on the cheek as he sighed and followed Tyrion.
They left the brothel and walked down an alley.
"Seems I visited the Lannister brothel by mistake."
"Oh, they take all kinds."
"Even Dornishmen..."
"The King is very grateful that you traveled all this way for his wedding."
"Let us speak the truth here, Joffrey is insulted. I am only the second son."
"Well, speaking as a second son I have grown rather used to being the family insult."
Oberyn laughed.
"Why did you come to King's Landing Prince Oberyn?"
"I was invited to the royal wedding!"
"I thought we were speaking the truth."
Oberyn stared at him for a moment, "The last time I was in the capital was many years ago...another wedding. My sister Elia and the Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, the Last Dragon."
The Viper's gaze was distant, seeing memories of his beloved sister, "My sister loved him. She bore his children, Swaddled them, rocked them, fed them with her breast. Elia wouldn't let the wet nurse touch them."
"And beautiful, noble Rhaegar Targaryen left her for another woman. That started a war, and the war ended right here when your father entered the city."
Tyrion knew where this was headed, "I wasn't actu-"
"They butchered those children. My nephew and niece, and wrapped them up in Lannister cloaks."
Tyrion looked down, a frown marring his scared face.
"And my sister, you know what they did to her?" Oberyn reached out and lifted Tyrion's chin like a lover would. "I'm asking you a question."
Tyrion gently removed his hand from his face, "I've heard rumors."
Oberyn laughed humorlessly, "So have I. The one I keep hearing is Gregor Clegane, the Mountain, raped Elia and split her in half with his great sword."
"I wasn't there."
"If the Mountain killed Elia, your father gave the order..." The Viper's dark gaze locked Tyrion in place. "Tell your father I'm here. Tell him that the Lannisters aren't the only ones who pay their debts."