A/N: Please read this note, would you kindly?
Not long enough you say?! Hows this for a long chapter?!
A man returns.
A man is also quite surprised!
Last chapter blew past the review threshold faster than the Night King did the Wall!
Had a proper blast writing Tywin in this chapter, he's really one of my favorite characters to write, to say nothing of the Hound. Now, then!
If by some miracle this story actually makes it to...lets say, 750 REVIEWS -unlikely, but possible, given its already well over 700 already-I'll do my best to update early again. Until then, I'll be off updating other things. This story WILL be updated again come May regardless, but feedback really lights a fire in me to focus on certain stories faster. Just look at Untraveled Road and Shed No Grace on Me, to say nothing of Foxfire and Dance of the dread.
So, onward, I suppose.
With my fifteen year anniversary on this site finally here, I find myself reflecting on the little things in life. What was once a lazy pastime meant for me and a few friends really grew and evolved over time. There are days when I look back on the last fifteen years here and I wonder if anyone will remember me; if I made an impact, despite never making a single cent on any of these stories. Some days were happier than others, and some stories I enjoyed writing WAY too much; to the point where I'd stay up all night working on them.
And of course, there are times when I look to the future and wonder what will become of things when I'm gone.
Of course, I try not to dwell on the latter overmuch; I'm still alive and still writing. In an ideal world, I'd like to keep doing so for as long as I can. But old age is catching up to me and these days, the world is filled with so much madness and death. Even before that, so many friends and fellow writers I once knew are gone, now. Will I still be here in twenty years? Ten? Five? Its a chilling thought. But for now, I'm still here, still writing.
Only a few careful questions this time. Wouldn't do to spoil things.
Q: Update schedule?
A: Multiple ones to name a few; Beast Hero, Blood Upon the Snow, A Boy's Journey and trying to finish Counting Stars. The latter of which is FIGHTING me.
Q: Somebody better deal with Pycelle soon, he's a right shifty bastard...
A: He is, but as he's stated several times, he's loyal to House Lannister. That man's no traitor.
Q: Nice to see a ruthless-yet-good Naruto with an actual spine. Any chance we'll see that silver tongue of his soon?
A: Funny you should mention that:
We're about to see how much of a Lannister our Naruto has become.
...he's Tywin's son in this alright, through and through...
...and channels the old lion HARD in this chapter.
Q: HURRY UP AND GIVE US THE HOUND!
A: Wish granted. Mind, he and Gregor -bastard!- are younger here, seeing as we're still aways from season one.
Q: More drama please! And more of the Lannisters!
A: Tywin's a lot of fun to write; Charles Dance really brought him to life.
But we do need to spread the POV around a bit, flesh out the world a little more...
Q: I've got a bad feeling about this...
A: About whom?
Q: Timeskips soon?
A: They're coming, sooner than you might think.
Alright, I've kept you waiting long enough, methinks. Enough of this old man's rambling; you're here for a story. Hope you're prepared for the chaos to come. Once more, I own no references, quotes, memes or themes. Not a wit or a one. Nope. They're simply tributes to legends far greater than I.
Lastly, a reminder to one and all. Naruto's Westerosi name remains Nathaniel.
Joanna prefers to call him Naruto, yet she's the only one who truly does.
Timeline is still a little skewed here, but hey, that makes things...fun.
References and verbatim from Game of Thrones below:
"It was the dragons Loren Lannister knelt to on the Field of Fire. Now the dragons are dead. They've been dead for a hundred years. If Aerys continues this foolishness, he and his line will follow them."
"Let me take a wild guess. Into the grave?"
"Precisely. Now go. You're tired. Take a few days to rest.
"And Cersei?"
"With Jamie gone, she'll need time to adjust. We'll speak again."
~Twyin and His Heir.
Hear Me Roar
Tywin Lannister held no love for the gods.
It was something of an unfortunate truth for the weary Lord of Casterly Rock; he held no faith in them. None. Why should he? If the so-called "gods" had their way, Nathaniel's head would be on a spike somewhere and Joanna would have died bringing Tyrion into the world. Tyrion, who had been born a dwarf. Tyrion, who shamed the family with his very existence. Tyrion, who had torn his own mother open from within merely by being born. Nathaniel had been on hand to prevent that, but the danger remained.
'No,' the old lion chided himself as he writ another letter, one of many. 'Don't focus on that.'
He despised the gods, not because of Tyrion, but because it seemed they would never stop trying to take Nathaniel.
This was not the first time someone had sought to end his second son's life. There had been three prior to this, three Nathaniel didn't know of, that he would never know of if Twyin had anything to say about it. Pycelle had stopped one. The Hound, another. Joanna carved the last one a bright red smile from ear to ear and mounted their head outside the castle gates as a warning. That memory lifted Tywin's spirits somewhat. His wife was a lioness through and through and she had her claws. Woe betide any who sought to harm her cubs. Gods, he loved her.
For a time, it seemed her "warning" was enough. The mysterious attempts had stopped and he'd thought no more of them. Until, this.
Until someone -Aerys?- sent not one, but two Faceless Men after his son. They'd failed.
But poison had nearly succeeded where their blades faltered.
That was the part that troubled Twyin. Poison. How very unlike Aerys. Was his former friend truly so foolish as to leave a trail? Or was he simply mad beyond reason, beyond caring even? The man he'd known had been eccentric, energetic, even a touch crazed at times, but stupid? No, never stupid. Duskendale may have eroded his sanity, but he must act as though the man still retained some semblance of his wits. To think otherwise was foolish indeed. A man must never underestimate their enemies...or a madman.
Tywin took a moment to center himself, then coldly regarded the words written before him.
The Starks of Winterfell would certainly be surprised, but that was precisely his aim.
For if they were caught off guard, so too would the realm be. As planned.
Aerys thought he finally had the measure of him, did he?
The Reynes and the Tarbecks once thought so.
Now the rains weep over their halls...
...with not a soul to hear.
Tywin took a certain grim satisfaction sealing the letter with red wax-red as blood-and in pressing his signet ring into the ink. From there he blew on the wax to cool it, and set in the box with the rest. He remained Hand of the King until he inevitably chose to discard the position and in the meantime, he would use every scrap of that influence to his advantage.
And if the Dragon protested? He would know the Lion still had claws.
Six ravens -Genna would soon have the Twins well in hand if all went according to plan- would fly today. He would see to it personally, the better to insure the maesters did not intervene, nor the Spider catch wind of his scheme in its infancy. They would eventually of course. It was inevitable.
But by then the seeds would take root.
'Lets see you predict this, old friend.' he took a certain dark satisfaction in imagining the gawping face of Aerys, of the shouting and shrieking that would surely follow. 'By the time you do, it will be too late.'
It only took a matter of minutes to reach the rookery tower, even less to send the messages. The birds knew his face; likewise, they were well trained and did not fuss as he attached the scrolls to their legs. Each knew where to go and went without complaint...well, all save the one destined for Winterfell. He imagined that one looked a little surly at the thought of flying so far North. A bit of extra food, a pat on the head, accompanied by some brief words, and it was suitably encouraged to make the journey.
From there Tywin returned to his chambers and summoned the Mountain.
His task was a simpler one. Gregor Clegane may be a mindless brute, but he was a mindless brute who could kill like no other.
"As of tomorrow, you and your brother will guard my Heir with your lives. If he falls, so do you. Are we understood?"
The Mountain nodded once, grunted, and left the way he'd come.
Which brought Tywin to his third matter.
The Faceless Men.
It was good that the Faceless Girl turned her coat and sworn herself body and soul to his son. If she hadn't, she would be dead. It would not have been...clean, but it would've sent a message. Yet in sparing her life, he gained more than a font of information on the Faceless Men, but also a wary sentinel, utterly devoted to Nathaniel's continued well-being. All because she thought he was a god. Ha! Tywin was content to perpetuate the farce so long as it kept her loyal.
This "Nymeria" as Naruto had named her, did not know much of her order, but she knew enough of her Faceless compatriots.
For instance, their hands and feet. Their disguises allowed them to change their face, their voices, even the shape of their body at times, but that disguise only extended so far. An assassin masquerading as a cook would not have the scars of one, nor would a poisoner pretending to be a peasant have clean feet. One posing as an old woman would have wrinkled hands. Likewise, no amount of magic could mimic memories of the staff. He and Joanna knew the names and faces of every servant in the castle by heart, and they'd refused to take on any new ones since their attack. Any visitors who came were closely monitored at all times.
He summoned two guards and gave them orders of their own.
All were to be searched upon admittance to the Rock. No weapons would be allowed in the presence of his family. They'd tightened their guard as best they could. The Lannisters would not be caught unawares again.
Alas, that left the fourth and final matter of the evening, his children.
This...was not something he could simply fix with an order.
Cersei had locked herself in her room. Last he'd heard, she was bawling her eyes out. Keven had likely escorted Jamie to King's Landing by now, and Nathaniel...
The boy would need time.
In hindsight, Tywin knew he had stepped on more-than-a-few toes in convincing Jamie to surrender his rights to Casterly Rock. But they both knew it was better to have Nathaniel as heir. The boy was akin to a sponge; soaking up all he was taught, ever to eager to take in more. Where his brother and sister had ignored his wisdom and scoffed, Nathaniel learned those lessons and learned them well, proving himself a quick study. Having grown up as the spare, he knew he might never inherit, yet he'd thrown himself into learning all the same.
Now there was much to do and little time in which to do it.
Jamie understood the importance of family; law and order was all well and good, but there were some laws that ran deeper. Stronger laws. Older laws. Family came first. Family always came first. He knew what would happen when his son finally presented himself before Aerys and swore his vows; the mad king's -for mad he truly was- paranoia would be pacified, thinking he'd snatched up Tywin's firstborn heir and humiliated him before all the Lords and Ladies of Westeros.
The fool wouldn't realize he'd been duped until it was too late.
Even a madman wouldn't dare take two sons from the same household. Such might well invite...a rebellion.
Maybe it was bloody well time for one. Aerys grew worse by the day.
Afterwards? Well. That was the future. It would take...much to see Jamie released from that cloak. But released he would be, when the time was right, and he would be free to do as he wished afterward.
Tywin knew he was skirting between loyalty and treason. Some of these plans might well take years to reach fruition.
But neither gods nor man would compel him to give another child to Aerys.
To prevent that, he needed allies, a great many of them, and soon.
Someone knocked on his door. Ah. Here came one now.
"Enter."
(.0.0.0.)
He was dreaming yet again.
Naruto was so terribly died of dreams.
He'd seen enough for a lifetime. Yet they just. Would not. Let him be.
This time he couldn't even make sense of them; a scattering of flashing images of sights and sounds, and those he did see made little sense. He glimpsed a Kraken rising from the deep to strange a Rose. A wounded Lion limped through a forest, missing one paw, a young Viper hiding in its mane. Bother were hounded by a Skinless Man. Wolves howled over the corpse of a Stag. Towers tumbled. A mad Dragon laughed, only for another Dragon to bite his neck. Trout boiled in their rivers as Falcons fell from the sky. A tide of ice came from the North and this time there was no one to stop it, only cold blue eyes staring at him out of the dark.
A voice like knives hissed at him. "I SEE YOU."
This...this wasn't a dream, was it? Dreams didn't bring this kind of cold.
Calm. Whatever it was, it couldn't hurt him. He lifted his chin to glare at it in return. "I see you, too."
That seemed to surprise it. Whatever the blazes in was. "You are not afraid?"
Bitter laughter tumbled past his lips. "I've seen worse than you."
It made a noise; might've been laughter. "...you have not."
He had. So much worse. Was a dream-or a vision?-supposed to scare him?
"I have." he forced heat into his voice.
And there was light.
It burst from his body for an instant, only a moment. It was enough. He saw them. The source of the blue eyes. So many dead. They surrounded him. All staring at him with lifeless orbs. They didn't flinch in the face of his fire, didn't even blink. They just stared. Stared, as the fire faded back to black.
The voice came on again. "You are weaker now. Lesser. The Fox is not with you."
It stung more than he cared to admit.
"And?" he tilted his head. "Just because I'm weaker doesn't make you stronger, now, does it? I'll find him. Just you wait and see."
Arrogance radiated from the darness.
"But why wait? You want me?" he spread his arms. "Here I am!" Wind gathered in his palms, rising to a keening pitch as he clenched his fingers. "Come get me!"
Could he die in a vision? Naruto hoped not.
Oddly, his words seemed to give the blue-eyed entity pause.
"We...shall sleep...for now. Soon, we will rise. You cannot stop us."
Without warning the world fell away and he found himself gazing up a man in a tree.
Why? Why in the seven hells was he looking at some madman trapped in a tree? Would this never end?
All around him a cage of roots loomed in very direction, barely visible in the dark, forming a strange chamber of earthen stone.
...you are dreaming." the man looked at him and spoke, his voice a low, raspy whisper from years of silence-wait, how did he know that? "But you are not Brandon Stark. You are not meant to be here."
He blinked. "You can see me?"
"I can, Son of Fire. As can He. Your presence has changed things." a trembling finger rose to jab at his chest as the strange-tree-man prattled on. "Slowed some events. Accelerated others. Obliterated yet more. There is much to do and little time in which to do it."
"Now wait just a secon-
The man-in-the-tree most assuredly did not. "The name Lannister is not enough. You must gather allies. Shout at the man with the burned face, but be gentle with she who is faceless. Find the fox. Burn the madness out the realm and hold it together. Prepare."
"For what...?"
"For darkness. For death. For the Night King."
Shadows swarmed in.
He woke with a start, trying to remember where he was. Warm blankets, a familiar ceiling, the faint taste of nightshade on his tongue. He rolled over, palmed his face and shook his head.
A great weight settled over his chest and he recalled why he'd had a drop of that tonic last night. He wished he hadn't.
Because you see, he remembered. "You are now my heir."
Isn't it remarkable, how five words-five little words!-can utterly upend your life? Turn reality on its ear with but a gesture? Tear away all that sweet surety and certainty you've clung to? Yank the rug out from under you, trip you up, then toss itself on your head?
That summed up Naruto's current predicament quite nicely.
For so long he'd thought he knew his place in this world. He hadn't been entirely happy with it, sure, but he was content. Not quite happy, but content. He had a wonderful loving mother who loved him to death, a ruthless father who would destroy any and all enemies who dared threaten the family, two beloved siblings -three now, including little Tyrion- an aunt, and three uncles besides. He couldn't ask for more.
Life was stable. Life was simple. Life made sense!
Until it didn't!
At all!
Casterly Rock was suddenly his to inherit and with it, the world his oyster. Soon he would be free to pick and choose whichever wife he wanted to woo, having as many children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren as he liked. Even his bastards -assuming he made enough missteps to actually have any- would be well provided for.
That was precisely the problem!
He felt dirty enough thinking about taking Jamie's place on a good day; now that his brother had apparently given it up without so much as a fuss? He felt downright filthy. How was he to feel about all this? Happy? Hollow? Both? Neither? Tywin must've wanted this for a long time; he wasn't entirely sure when his lord father decided he would be better suited to the role, but he had and here they were. No way out but through.
But which way was through?
And now these strange dreams.
How he longed for the days when things made sense...
.
..
...right, no point sulking about it.'
He spent a moment sitting on his bed, staring into space, trying to make sense of it all.
Staring into space wasn't going to get him dressed.
Someone had left a change of clothes for him at the foot of the bed; a red-gold tunic and long black trousers. Naruto threw them on haphazardly at first, realized how that would look -as well as the gossip it would cause among the servants- then took time to dress himself properly. From there he paced to his mirror.
The face that stared back at him looked wearier than words.
"You're in the great Game now, beloved nephew." Uncle Gerion had told him. "And the great Game is terrifying."
It certainly was; if only because he didn't know what in the seven hells was going on anymore, or how he was going to adjust. What had changed while he was recovering? Why was Cersei suddenly on her best behavior? Why had Jamie ridden to Kings Landing to join the Kingsguard? Why was he having these visions? Riddles within riddles, plots within plots. He'd get to the bottom of them sooner or later, it was just a matter of time, but he'd never really had the patience for this sort of thing.
To that end, Nymeria hadn't left his side. The Faceless Girl lurked nearby even now, watching over him with endless patience. If she was hiding under the bed, he was going to have a good long laugh.
As though reading his mind, something shifted under the bed.
Naruto blinked. "You must be joking.
Someone tapped on his door.
"...?"
Naruto straightened up, mustered his best Lannister expression and sighed once. "Come."
Grand Maester Pycelle -still on loan from King's Landing- shuffled in like the dusty old codger he pretended to be.
"My apologies my lord," the aging maester rasped, "For interrupting your time of leisure. I wanted to discuss a few matters with you, in light of your recovery." He reached a trembling hand into his pouch and withdrew a pair of letters. One was larger than the other. "I have here a letter from Elia Martell. She wished you to read it should you wake...
He strode forward to take them and paced back to his bed.
Elia. He'd almost forgotten about her in the chaos. But the larger letter...?
"And another," Pycelle groaned behind him, from a most auspicious personage...
Naruto glimpsed the three-headed dragon stamped into the wax. His breath hitched in his throat and he found himself inhaling reflexively. The queen. His fingers itched and he to read it. But he didn't dare. He absolutely did not dare. Not with Pycelle in his presence. His fingers ran over the scroll a moment longer, checking it for any breaks. Still sealed. Good.
Idly, he looked back to Pycelle, still lingering near the door. Very well. He needed to have words with the man in any case. Now seemed as good a time as any.
Turning his back on Pycelle, he walked away and traced one hand over his desk. "I understand you nearly let me die some days ago.
Pycelle's face turned a fascinating shade of puce. "My lord! I would never! I kept you alive!"
"And in pain." he continued, plucking a piece of fruit, an apple. He bit into it heartily. Swallowed, now. What was it you said? I should have died?
Pycelle flinched. "That is not what I meant! You must understand!"
"Oh, I do." he bobbed his head, savoring the brief gleam of relief in the older man's eyes...right before he snuffed it out. "And you must understand that I'm well within my rights to have you thrown into a cell. Perhaps a stay in the dark will loosen your tongue."
The poor man went white as a mouse. "M-My Lord! That is...I...you cannot-
Still he persisted with this farce? His temper sparked. "Enough."
Pycelle paused. "Lord Nathaniel...?"
"I can't be the only one to see through this performance." he channeled Tywn as best he could and glared at him, hot enough to melt valyrian steel. "How is it possible that so many could be so stupid for so long?"
Pycelle continued to stare at him. It roused his temper further.
"You're old, not mute." he snapped. "Speak! Or would you rather go the way of Ilyn Payne?"
Pycelle was silent for a moment more...then he smiled -the smile not of some doddering old mouse, but a wily rat, clever and sly-and abandoned his hunch. When next he spoke, his voice held a strength that it had lacked only moments before. "There are times when I have trouble believing it myself."
Naruto sat on the bed. "Then why the farce?"
"You truly are your father's son. The-old?-maester chuckled at that; it was a surprisingly deep sound now that he wasn't putting on airs. "It took even him some time to recognize my deception. I hadn't thought you would see through me so easily."
His frown deepened. "You still haven't answered my question, Pycelle."
"I shall, with but a word. Flowers."
He blinked. "I don't follow."
"You will." the utter surety of his words unnerved him yet further. "So many flowers, my lord. Each wanting to grow the tallest, bloom the brightest." he scoffed as though at some dark joke only he understood. "Then one by one, sooner or later, they all get...plucked. No," he shook his head, "I don't wan't to be the tallest or the brightest. I only want to remain in the garden...until my time comes to return to the dirt."
Ah, so he wanted to survive, then. Good. He could use that. A man could be compelled to do all manner of things in the name of survival. "Thanks for the poetic candor. But I still fail to see why I should trust you."
"I have served the interests of the House Lannister." the maester lifted his chin to stare him down, but he didn't miss the tiny hint of fear lurking behind that confident demeanor. "Unfailingly, for generations. Your father has built the strongest house, and it is that house I wish to serve."
Twyin had built a strong house indeed. It didn't change his questions. "And what happens when we are no longer the strongest house?"
"You say such," Pycelle granted him a wry smile. "And yet I do not think such a day will come while I still draw breath, my lord."
Naruto took another bite of his apple and waved him on.
"You represent the dawn of a new age." Pycelle rubbed his hands together, openly simpering while he watched him eat. "A new era. Your father sees it. Your mother sees it. Even your siblings have begun to suspect. But I saw it from the first. The moment you manifested your talents. To that end, I have endeavored to protect you, from the moment you were born. "Shortly after you came into this world," he paused, weighed his words for a moment, then barreled on. "I was approached by a man. He offered me an absurd amount of gold to kill you. The very next day, he found himself in a cell."
"And what proof do you have?"
"None." the aging maester shrugged. "Everything I have told you, your father already knows. By all means, ask him. That said...
He sensed the other shoe about to drop.
"I wish to apologize for my earlier conduct." he continued. "You were the second son. I could not be seen to favor you overmuch. Even now, as Lord Tywin's heir, there is a limit to the aid I can be "seen" granting you. Varys has spied everywhere. It is a delicate balance I walk."
Naruto had an inkling. He chose to ask regardless. "And why is that?"
"Many a maester in Oldtown wishes to be rid of you. Some see you as an abomination. A mage. But not I." he shook his head. "I am loyal to House Lannister. I will always be loyal. Unlike that Faceless Girl of yours."
Naruto couldn't even bring himself to be angry at that remark. Pycelle didn't understand. How could he? There was no one more loyal to the cause than Nymeria. One day he would understand. And if not, if he sought to inconvenience or otherwise diminish her in his eyes...
.
..
...well. Masters were old. They had accidents all the time.
"That will be all, grand maester." he waved Pycell off. "You may leave. Actually, wait." he paused as a thought occurred to him. Aerys wanted to make his life miserable with poisons, did he? Two could play at that game, not with death, but something far more terrifying. "There is one thing you can do for me."
He knelt before him. "Command me."
"Bring me every book you have on Greyscale. Where to find it. How it can be contracted. Everything."
'Lets see how Aerys likes being tormented. I've got some nasty pranks in mind for that lunatic.'
Pycelle looked like he wanted to question, but chose not to. "It will be done."
He rose and walked backward through the door, pausing only to close it behind him.
Naruto counted to three. Three more. Nine, now.
Then he looked to his bed. "Well?"
Nymeria slid out from under it with fluid ease. He'd suspected she was hiding under there but it amazed him to see just how quickly she moved. "He speaks truth."
Blast. He'd sensed as much, but if Pycelle was lying it would've been far easier to have him executed. No matter. Rats had their uses and so did he...for now.
Nymeria turned a questing look to the letters, half-forgotten on his desk. He saw the unspoken question in her gaze. Might as well read them, then.
Naruto broke the seal on Ellia's note first.
Her handwriting was surprisingly...messy. He found it surprisingly endearing.
"Dear lion,
You are still sleeping as I write this, and by the time you read it, I will no doubt have returned to Dorne.
Allow me to be frank. What are you? When you held my hand and touched that tree, I saw things. I'm still trying to make sense of them.
I find myself more curious about the Faceless Man. Or rather, his body. The head...it was crushed. Like a grape. I would have suspected the Mountain, but he was not in the castle at the time and your sister swears you were the one to do the deed. Who attacked you? What did they seek? Your brother? No one will tell us anything and I find it all so wretchedly...dull. But not you. I suspect you will have much to say when you wake. And you will wake, of that, I have no doubt. I shall tell Mother of you. No doubt she will find you as intriguing as I have.
Live, Lion of Lannister. I would have us continue our discourse.
Oh, and Oberyn still demands that duel.
Sincerely, Elia."
"She is courting you."
"What?" Naruto looked to Nymeria. "No, she isn't."
The Blackfyre gave him a long-suffering look. "She is. A girl knows."
He gave her a decidedly flat look. "And how does a girl know these things, hmm?"
Nymeria shrugged. "A girl knows many things. A girl listens. A girl learns. Will you read the dragon queen's letter next?"
"How do you know about that?!" Nymeria quirked a pale brow even as he spoke. "Nevermind...
He shook his head as he reached for the next letter. Was Elia flirting? If so...
"Clever girl, he muttered. "Very clever girl...
He unfurled Rhaella's letter.
Definitely larger. How a raven managed to carry this, he had no idea. Must be one sturdy bird. By contrast her writing was dignified. Elegant...but he could tell it had been written in haste. No wait, there were two letters here, a smaller one tucked within the larger. Had she written another message? He read the first.
"Dearest Stranger.
I confess myself...curious.
There are so many things I wish to ask you. Who are you? Why do you wish to help me? How have you escaped the king's notice for so long?
As I said, so many questions. Yet none of them seems important as this:
How would you help me?
Your last raven said you would, yet I cannot fathom how. Would you kill a king for me, ser? Would you storm the Red Keep and put Aerys to the sword? I do not doubt you words, nor your intent, but I cannot see how you mean to make good on them without plunging the realm into war. I want to know who you are. So very badly...but I suppose ignorance is bliss. At the very least, could you tell me who you are not?
Regards, the queen."
The second proved far larger...and more troubling than the first:
"Dearest Lannister.
"So you are a Lion, after all. The irony isn't lost on me. I should have known. Only one of Tywin's blood would dare stand up to Aerys. And here you are, baring your fangs at him. Worry not, I discovered your house name by purest chance. I had thought you might be the newest member of my husband's Kingsguard, young ser Jamie Lannister. His sudden arrival was suspicious but when I hinted at our correspondence, he only smiled at me and said:
"Not this Lion, your grace."
He would not tell me anymore than that, the smug prick.
But you are a Lannister! Do not deny it. Which Lannister, I know not, but you are a lion nonetheless.
I shall say this now; ff this is a trick, some means to break me down even more than I already am, I beg you to cease.
If it is not...then my heart is yours. I wish that we could meet, that I might see you and speak face to face. Yet you must be careful. Aerys would tear down Casterly Rock if he knew of this.
What do you look like, I wonder? Are you short? Tall? I find myself wondering. It keeps me up at night.
My so-called husband worsens by the day. Aerys sees traitors in every shadow and makes enemies of allies. He burns someone almost every week and afterwards...no. I do not wish to speak of what occurs afterward. My own Kingsguard cannot protect me, though Ser Jamie has tried as best he can. One of the older knights made the mistake of arguing with the king just yesterday. Aerys had him burned before the court for all to see. He called it treachery. I call it the death of a god man.
All the while, no one stopped him. Not ser Athury Dayne, not Ser Barristan, no one. This madness cannot go on much longer.
Should he find these letters, I expect fire shall seem a lovers caress.
I would ask that you burn this as well once you have read it.
I hope to hear from you soon, My Lion.
Tentative regards,
~Your Queen."
Nymeria made a noise that might've been a distant cousin to whistle. "My lion, she says." she turned a wry smile on him. "A boy has done his work well."
Naruto groaned. "...not another word."
"And she calls herself your queen!" the Faceless Girl cooed, sitting beside him on the bed. "How adorable."
"There'll be no more discussion on the matter." Utterly-red faced, he could only elbow her as he stalked his way to the blazing hearth. A flick of his wrist cast Rhaella's letters into the flames. He watched it smolder away completely; it gave him time to banish the flush from his cheeks and recover his wits. "Did you find the Hound?
Nymeria tilted her head, idly making him think of a cat he'd once seen. "The one with the scarred face, yes?
"That's the one. And he's been burnt, not scarred."
Her brow furrowed. "What is the difference? He gained those awful wounds in battle, no?
"No." he mimicked her voice. "A girl knows much but she does not know all."
"Then how did acquired such horrid injuries-
"Ask his brother, Gregor."
"Why?"
He told her the tale soon thereafter. By the time he'd finished her expression had grown dark indeed. "Say the word and I will slay him.
"Tempting but no." Naruto shook his head. "Not quite yet. Where did you find him?
"In his room, looking after his sister. A girl does not like this Gregor Clegane."
"Stay away from him, you hear?" he wagged a finger her way. "If he gets his hands on you I'll have to kill him."
Gregor was a dangerous bastard and twice as mean. He did things. Foul things, dark deeds he couldn't prove, because there was never any proof, but twisted all the same. That one hadn't been born quite right in the head. His sister only lived because he'd kept a watchful eye on her. But he was good at killing, so Tywin kept him. For now. That would change soon.
But first, Sandor. That was a matter he'd been meaning to rectify for some time now. No time like the present.
He was just climbing to his feet when the door opened again. "My sweet boy!"
Nymeria tried to dive back under the bed.
Too little, too late...for her.
Naruto had all of instant to brace, then Joanna was on him in a swirl of silk, pulling him into her bosom. Tywin must've told her he was awake. She certainly acted like it; because she herself down onto the bed and hauled him onto her knee. Heat speared through his face. He was too old for that!
"Moooom," he whined a little. "I'm fine. Really, I am!"
"Don't you "mother" me, young man!" she gave him a good hard shake. "I was worried sick! And who is this Blackfyre girl Tywin's told me about?" Nymeria sneezed and Joanna's gazed snapped to her. She would've given Kushina herself a run for her money. "Ah. There she is. Come here, child."
Nymeria cast a pleading glance his way. Naruto shook his head. Nope! Not getting between that.
"You attacked my son."
A nod.
"And then you saved his life."
Another nod, smaller this time. "A girl did...
"Good. Should you betray him, I will know. Now then!"
Her arm snaked out, grabbing Nymeria and reeling her in. In an instant, she had the poor girl planted in her lap opposite him.
"Tell me about yourself."
Nymeria squeaked out a protest, to no avail.
This was one battle even a Faceless Girl couldn't run from.
(.0.0.0.)
Someone was knocking on her door again.
Cersei buried her face into her pillow.
Couldn't they take a bloody hint?
She wanted to be alone.
(.0.0.0.)
A scarlet slitted eye opened in the dark.
It was too damn cramped in here.
When would he see the sun?
(.0.0.0.)
The hound wasn't hard to find.
Tywin had kept him and his brother close, simple enough.
What followed afterwards was decidedly...not simple. Nay, not at all.
(.0.0.0.)
Sandor knew there was trouble when the door opened.
If it were him alone he wouldn't have bothered, but he was busy sharpening his sword. His little sister wasn't; Selene was closer and practically flung it open. She always did like visitors in the keep. Part of the reason she always kept their hearth burning and well-stocked with firewood.
"My lord?! We were't expecting you...!"
Quit the visitor indeed. He hadn't expected Nathaniel fuckin' Lannister to drop in.
Sandor lowered his sword and watched them.
Selene was a darling girl of ten with dark hair, brown eyes and a sharp wit to match. Clever girl, and sharp as a tack this one. His one weakness. He didn't like leaving her alone, so he kept her with him wherever he went these days; away from Gregor, away from those dark eyes and grasping hands. But damn if she didn't make him weak.
"Don't worry, this won't take long." he cast a quick glance about. "Is Gregor around?"
Both of them stiffened. Selene's smile grew strained. No...?
Oddly enough, that seemed to please him. "Good. Would you mind kneeling for a second, Clegane?"
"Fuck kneeling." The Hound spat at his feet. "You ain't a king, little lord."
"And you're too damn tall, ya big bastard!" he wasn't prepared for the explosion of expletives that burst forth from Nathaniel Lannister, so much so that he reeled back on one foot. "I can't heal your bloody face with you towering over me like that! Now do you want me to fix what your brother did to ya or not?!"
Clegane looked past him.
His baby sister tapped her foot impatiently. "Just let him do it already! You'll feel much better!
Selene really was his one weakness. He thanked the gods every day for her survival.
"Oh, for crying out loud-Hurry up and kneel already, big brother!"
Sandor Clegane never knelt so fast in his bloody life.
Nathaniel laid a hand on his scarred face.
It didn't hurt.
If anything it itched like bitch; a thousand ants crawling across the right side of his face. He grit his teeth against it, hating every moment, trying not to squrim. Bloody mage. Swords he understood, women he understood, but magic? He'd never understand magic. Because you couldn't fight magic, not the usual way at least. The idea of something he couldn't fight made him feel weak. Small.
And then, quite suddenly, the itching sensation stopped.
"Here." the little lordling handed him a mirror. "Look."
Sandow seized it with trembling fingers.
And he saw. His face looked...normal. A little pink on the right side, aye, but that was just fresh skin. No scars. No ruined face. He quivered. Quivered as he hadn't since he was a boy. He felt Selene dart forward and give him a big hug, on he absently returned with one arm, but he only had eyes for the grinning blond before him.
"How?" he rasped. "Why?"
Nathaniel titled his head. "Do you need to know?"
...no, no he bloody well didn't. He wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth.
"That said, I'd avoid your brother for a few days if I were you. He might...not like this."
A harsh bang caused them to jump.
Sandor looked back.
Something stood in the doorway.
Something. Not someone. Never someone.
Sandor hadn't considered his brother human for a long awhile.
Because make no mistake, it was the Mountain standing in the doorway, clad in full armor. There was blood on it, of course. Always was. He didn't miss the wineskin in his hand, nor his flushed face. Seemed someone had been drinking. Shame. Gregor was mean enough when he was sober. Put a little wine in him and he got worse.
"Clegane." Nathaniel grunted.
Selene gulped andiously. "Brother...?"
Gregor looked toward him. Blinked. Saw his healed face. Frowned, now.
Sandor tensed. He wouldn't put it past the bloody monster to try and burn him again.
The little lord must've realized it as well; because he sighed. "Go ahead. Try." he turned a limpid smile on him. "See what happens."
Sure enough the "Mountain" took the bait. He didn't say a word. Not one. He stepped forward, threw the wine sin away and reached for Sandor. The younger Clegane tensed-
THUNK.
Sandor didn't see the prince move; but he certainly heard the punch that folded his brother in half. It shook the damn keep.
His greatsword went flying across the floor.
Selene yelped and ducked away behind him. Sandor shielded her with one arm, for all the good it did hm.
Here, now, in this moment, Gregor wasn't focused on them.
"See, that's the funny thing about giants." An eerily calm voice cooed; words spoken so soft that it took Sandow several seconds to realize who'd done the deed. By the time he did, it was far too late. "The big guy always underestimates the little guy."
Tywin's boy grabbed his brother by the face and smashed a knee into his groin. Sandor heard something burst. The Mountain crumbled to his knees with a dull wheeze. Another kick from Nathaniel kept him there. A third drew a mewling whine from the monster.
"I'm betting everyone looks little to you these days, Ser Gregor...
Credit where it was due, his brother was in a right rage. He lunged at him, grabbing for his head.
Nathaniel opened his mouth and bit his little finger clean off at the lowest joint. The Mountain reared back with a yowl of pain, clutching his bloody hand. Not satisfied with such an injury the Little Lord spat his prize out and stalked forward. A tan hand closed around Gregor's still screaming face and smashed it into the floor. Once. Twice. Thrice. After the third, those fingers clenched around his ugly visage. He didn't pop his head, though Sandor almost wished he had.
Instead he marched to the fireplace, dragging the stunned Gregor behind him...
.
..
...oh.
Sandor clamped a hand over Selene's face and made her cover her ears.
He didn't want her to see this.
Because he did.
Just as well too, because Nathaniel pressed Gregor's face to the flames like a nice juicy mutton chop.
"You've grown so used to smashing through all your enemies that you forgot something terribly important." Nathaniel hummed over the screams, over his thrashing, over the awful smell of sizzling flesh. "There's always a bigger fish out there. Always." Without warning he spun and threw the burned man out the fire, strode over to where his greatsword lay, and gave it a great big kick. It skittered his way with a harsh clatter. The intent was clear.
"What are you waiting for?" he gave it another nudge with his boot. "Pick it up."
The Mountain quivered, clutching at his ruined face.
"PICK IT UP."
Sandor wondered if he would; wondered if this was moment the Mountain finally crumbled. He held his breath, even as Selene clutched at him.
And then, Ser Gregor Clegane, most terrifying man in Westeros, trembled.
When he tried to rise, Nathaniel kicked out his left knee; the result was humorous as it was horrible. With his knee mangled, Tywin's greatest knight began babbling. Nathaniel showed no mercy; he reared back for another blow. That tore it. Gregor broke and crawled out of the room like a drunken crab. Sandor had never seen his brother move so fast, flee so far from well...anything.
The ghost of a grin touched the corner of his mouth. It grew with each passing moment that Gregor didn't return.
Poor Gregor Clegane. Best by a boy. His brother's reputations would never recover from this.
He'd always wanted to kill his brother, from the moment he shoved his face in the fire.
But this spectacle? This abject humiliation? Here and now?
Sandor Clegane absolutely howled with laughter.
In that instant, the little lord won his loyalty.
For life.
A/N: Turnabout is fair play, and the Mountain crumbles.
Aaaaand scene.
Had to save the timeskips until the next chapter.
Well, should this remain a story? Or should it fade back into oblivion? By all means, speak up.
As ever, the Embers rule remains: If people don't like this story? If they don't enjoy it? Well...I won't be able to continue it. That's no joke, folks. I'm so busy these days with two jobs; holidays are HERE and basically, I don't have time off. Not anymore. My free time is limited and as such, I can't afford to focus on something folks don't like. Reviews keep me writing in these times, and keep the daily updates flowing. Silence...silence only hurts. I hate having to beg for feedback, but without it...well, it feels like I'm not making an impact.
So...in the immortal words of Atlas...
...Review...Would Ya Kindly? And of course, Enjoy the previews!
Potential ones...
Previews are the same this time. Didn't want to spoil the upcoming chapter.
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!
SPOILERS LAY AHEAD!
YE BE WARNED~!
(Previews)
Lyanna tutted softly. "You foolish lion."
"This from the wolf who thumped three squires?" She thumped him over the head and he laughed. "Ow, ow! Hit me all you like, I regret nothing!"
Rhaella perked up. "It IS you...
Jamie willed himself to breathe. Calm. He must be calm. Now wasn't the time to act.
But if Aerys so much as whispered another plot against Nathaniel...
Well. No one would be sad to see the Mad King go.
Bronn was silent for a long moment. And then:
"Yer father's a right scary cunt sometimes, ya know that?"
"Don't let him catch you saying it."
"Aye, but I don't have any halls to weep over.
"Not yet. Stick with me and the world will be your oyster." Naruto spurred his horse on. "A Lannister pays his debts."
The sellsword chortled and rode after him.
"You certainly do...
Father hated him.
Tyrion was a smart lad; he realized this immutable truth by his seventh birthday. Father despised him, loathed his very existence, wished he'd never been born. He seldom smiled in his presence, and when he did it wasn't a kind one. By contrast Jamie and Cersei and Nathaniel were the truest of siblings and Joanna the best mother a son could ask for, even a dwarf.
He was forced to grow quickly in mind, if not necessarily body. He learned, oh yes, he learned. Cerseri was technically the eldest, despite being twins with Jamie, having been born minutes first. Yet as a woman, she could never inherit, a fact that often made her bitter.
And so Tyrion learned.
Not that he had much choice in the matter mind you; it was either learn or die.
At six years old he was smarter than most men, with a silver tongue to match. He understood his family; almost as much as he did his beloved siblings.
Jaime was a Kingsguard.
Cersei wanted to be queen.
Nathaniel...had more worldly ambitions.
He was the heir of course, which meant that, for the most part, his future was his own. At least it was until father found a suitable match for him. He wondered who it would be. He was still writing those letters to Kings Landing. And wasn't that a mystery? One of these days he'd have to find out who-
Her heard a commotion in the room ahead, a low, muffled bang. His brother's room. And was that smoke peeling out the air?
"Damnit." a low growl pierced the air ahead of him. "Another failure. Why won't you hatch?!"
He poked his heat into the room and waddled in. "A dragon egg? Now wherever did you find that?"
"Merchant from across the Narrow Sea."
"Looks like a stone to me." he knocked his knuckles against it. "Certainly sounds like one."
"Oh ye of little faith, Tyrion...
"I have plenty of faith." he scoffed. "Just as I have faith that merchant swindled you out of a great deal of gold. Its certainly very...red."
It certainly is."
"You do realize that, if by some miracle it actually hatches, you'll be expected to hand that hatchling over to the King."
Nathaniel scoffed.
"Fuck the king."
"Dangerous words. Aerys might not like them.
"Don't care what he likes." he set the egg down in the brazier. "This egg's special. It'll hatch. I just know it."
"And then what? You'll ride the beast into battle?"
Nathaniel walked away with a hum.
"I understand I have you to thank for saving my life."
"Think nothing of it. What's your name?"
...Qyburn, my lord."
A crack spread across the egg. Another. Another, now. Another yet still.
And then...
Cersei shook her head, setting her golden hair swaying as she sat beside him. "Foolish little brother. Are your proud of yourself, now? Was it worth all the pain?"
"Undoubtedly-ow!" Tyrion hissed as she tenderly cleaned his injury with a wet cloth. "Well, ladies do love battle scars, or so I'm told...
"Perhaps," she hummed, not quite able to hide her smile. "You nearly lost your eye and nose. Whatever will father say?"
"They should have aimed lower?" Cersei pinched his arm and he yelped. "Dear sister, you wound me!"
"I'll do more than that if you don't hold still...
"I'm sure you will." he eyed the fallen bodies with a sigh. "Who taught you to use a sword like that?"
Cersei only smiled. "No one."
Bloody tourneys. He hated them. Still, this was a sight better than jousting. He'd take what he could get in the melee.
Prince Rhaegar was...not as he expected. At least he seemed saner than his father. For now.
"May you fight well." the prince settled into a stance.
...same to you."
"Seven hells!" Robert guffawed. "How are you still standing after a blow like that! You must have a skull like iron!"
Naruto reeled on his feet. "Something like that...
"Gods, this calls for a feast!" He slung an arm around his shoulders. "To our new friendship! Don't sulk over there, Ned! You're coming too!"
He could feel HER staring holes in him as they japed.
Rober elbowed him, winking as he did. "The she-wolf's looking at you again, lad. Give 'er a kiss."
Naruto thumped him over the head. "You kiss her!"
"Me?! The Baratheon only laughed harder. "Not a chance! I'll not come between a wolf and her prey. Besides, I've got my eye on another...
"I am a Lannister! Not some broodmare!"
Joanna tutted. "You're my daughter. You've not even met the man-
...I won't do it."
"BURN THEM ALL!"
EDIT: Hey, you made it! I do hope this chapter lived up to your expectations. By all means, feel free to let me know what you think!
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R&R! =D