Robb looked at the white room, he had arrived after training for days on the ship with his men.
He had reached level 22 with 8 skill points, and was heading to Volantis to meet his in-laws and introduce his son.
Arya offered to take him, but it was better this way.
Less magic.
Less suspicion.
He had to talk to Jon about the future of the North.
His father's orders and the rumors.
He sighed and headed to his bedroom, watching his wife breastfeed their baby, Talisa had helped heal many sailors who were sick or injured, she went up to level 5 and got 2 skill points, one more level and she could acquire another skill according to what he knew.
The woman saw him arrive and smiled at him. He lay down beside her while caressing the child's forehead, although the child ignored him as he drank milk from his mother.
"Greedy" he whispered.
Talisa laughed.
"I wonder who he takes after"
XXXXXXXXXX
Arya smiled wickedly at him, her hand outstretched.
She motioned for him to come closer.
Rickon glared at her.
He was training hard. But the boy couldn't help but fail, again and again.
At first, it was even, but he used his skills, Arya didn't.
But as he well remembered, Arya was not someone who let herself be defeated, and she began to use skills, between teleportation and Mind control, she humiliated Rickon so badly that the boy demanded the cessation of skills.
The older sister smiled and agreed.
Unfortunately, although the children of the forest trained Rickon in their arts, Arya had experience on the battlefield.
Simply put, the girl was sweeping Winterfell with Rickon.
And the worst of all was the laughter of the soldiers when they saw Arya.
She enjoyed tormenting her little brother, or as she put it, showing him his place.
Bran and Meera watched from a balcony.
Meera leaned over Bran, resting her chin on the boy's shoulder, while he had his arm around her waist.
Jojen was also watching from another angle.
The boy had received a message from his father, asking him to stay in Winterfell until further notice.
Rickon fell to the ground again.
"We're done, little brother...This is boring" Arya teased him.
A war cry was Rickon's response.
Arya smiled and saw her brother coming towards her, she evaded him again and arrived at the white room.
She blinked, her training didn't end, normally it gave her points after training, not during.
She approached the monitor.
{Congratulations your familiar has leveled up.}
"Oh, Nymeria is hunting in the woods" she muttered remembering.
Arya quickly noticed what ability her wolf had acquired.
{Name: Nymeria
Familiar Level: 4
Union of senses: Share your senses with your owner}
XXXXXXXXXXXX
The man sighed tiredly as he looked at the white room, he had gained a new level and he approached the computer.
{Name: Ned Stark
Title: King of the North/Lord of Iron
Skill Points: 8
Level: 34 (0/39000)
Health: 2900/2900
Mana: 2680/2680
Attributes: Low
Skills:
Swordsmanship Level: 5
Atlantic Magic Level: 6
Do you want to spend six skill points and get the second upgrade to the Atlantic Magic skill at level 6?
Yes/No}
Ned pressed yes.
{Atlantic magic Level: 6
Cost: 200 mana per spell
Compass: You are able to know exactly where you are whenever you are in the water.
Upgrade 1: You are capable where your allies are in the water.
Upgrade 2: You are able to know where your enemies are in the water.}
"So the compass detects enemies and allies" he whispered.
It was incredibly useful.
Especially during battle.
It would have served him well with the Ironborn.
The man walked out of the room and looked to his side, Catelyn was watching him.
"There are two options," he said.
"Both are risky. Olenna Tyrell is not to be trusted, Ned" said his wife.
"No one would be crazy enough to trust the queen of thorns," he said.
Catelyn nodded.
"Still, Tyrell's support would be helpful," she admitted.
"It's all about rescuing Margaery Tyrell, or leaving her. But Robb with a second wife? I don't know, it's dishonorable" he said.
"We should question him when he returns from Valyria. Do you think Talisa will take it personally against her?" she asked.
Ned shook his head.
"She's from Volantis, a second wife, it's not as frowned upon in Essos as it is in Westeros," he said.
"What are we going to do?" she asked.
"We will first give the Tyrells a show of good faith, we will inform Olenna that the commitment has been accepted, if she keeps her part," he said.
"And what is the sign of good faith?" she asked.
" Galant Tyrell will be the messenger," he said.
"So we'll free her grandson, our best hostage?" she asked.
"For the moment, he is of no help, the Tyrells withdrew their men after his capture, if Olenna lies, or tries to save herself, winter will go for the roses," he said.
"Engagement to Robb. Not Aegon" she whispered.
Ned smiled.
"I told you it was a good idea not to publicly declare my support, Margaery may be a great lady, but she will never be a queen" he finished, satisfied.
XXXXXXXXXXX
Jon was lying in bed, resting after a passionate night with Daenerys, the queen slept next to him, still naked after having sex all night.
It had been a passionate couple of days, the queen of Meeren had focused completely on showing him how much fun he would have when they got married, not to mention that she gave a great apology for what happened with Daario.
"If this is how you apologize, please send assassins more often" the man muttered amused.
It was then that a knock was heard at the door.
Daenerys opened her eyes.
" Wait a minute! " she said.
Jon saw her covering herself with some clothes, so he took the opportunity to put on his pants. And the girl headed for the door.
Sir Barristan was waiting for her on the other side.
" Your Majesty, there was a problem, an attack," he said.
"The harpy's children? " she asked.
The man shook his head.
"The storm ravens, your majesty," said Sir Barristan.
The girl looked confused.
"They are waiting for you in the meeting room" he finished.
"As soon as I change I'll go" she informed him, closing the door.
Jon watched her change as he did the same.
"You didn't expect betrayal after Daario?" he asked.
The girl didn't say anything for a moment.
"I guess that was too much to ask," she muttered.
Jon smiled.
"They are just mercenaries, they have no support if they do not join a city or Lord with gold," he said.
"It seems I underestimated Daario's importance," she said.
"Daario was nobody, they use him as an excuse, nothing more," he said.
Daenerys saw him, already changed.
"Can you help me?" she asked.
Jon nodded.
"You are my fiancée now, betrayal against you is against me too, and the fact that Daario tried to kill me only makes the situation worse for the Storm Crows," he said.
Danny threw herself into his arms.
"Thanks, I don't know if I can do it alone anymore" she whispered.
Jon kissed her.
"Everything of yours will be mine, you will be mine...I'm only defending what belongs to me" he said possessively.
The girl licked her lips.
"Is that a promise?" she asked.
"Not at all, a fact" he clarified decisively, and without any fear, he squeezed her buttocks and brought her towards him.
"All Targaryen women are mine," he said.
Daenerys laughed.
"Oh, but there are only two" she clarified.
Jon smiled arrogantly.
"And they both belong to me" he finished, giving her a spanking to get her ready.
The Queen of Meeren continued to wear an amused smile as she was accompanied by the King of Valyria and a squadron of Unsullied.
They arrived to see Tyrion, Jorah, and Sir Barristan at a table, sitting in regular chairs, while there were two larger ones facing each other. At the doors were Unsullied guarding it, as well as a couple of Jon's summons.
Daenerys headed to hers, Jon went to the one opposite, the girl almost sighed, she would prefer Jon sitting next to her.
His possessiveness seemed amusing to her, and at the same time, it took her mind off of what was really going on.
Knowing that he would always be there for her.
"Report," she asked.
"It seems to have been a random attack, there were no major losses, but a couple of deaths," said Tyrion.
"Seven, to be precise, five citizens and two soldiers, no kidnappings, the raiders escaped, one loss for them," said Sir Barristan.
"It wasn't a planned attack, it was a declaration" Jon reported.
Tyrion nodded.
One of Jon's summons came up to him and said something in his ear.
"Definitely a statement" he clarified.
"Is something wrong?" Daenerys asked.
"Something similar happened in Yunkai and Astapor, apparently, but the second sons were involved," he said.
Sir Barristan sighed.
"Why?" she asked annoyed.
"Opportunity, your desire for an end to slavery is noble, as is mine. But mercenaries do not agree, they enjoy slaves, without Daario to calm them, they only let their true colors show" said Jon
Jorah nodded.
"What are we going to do?" she asked.
Jon didn't say anything, his engagement to Daenerys didn't give him those rights, not until they were married.
She looked at him almost pleadingly.
"In my opinion, set an example," he said.
"A massacre? What would they say about the queen? " said Tyrion.
Jon shrugged.
"I would say that she will not tolerate betrayal, and will protect the citizens," he said.
"Even if that is the case, we cannot protect all three cities, we can focus on Meeren, but not the others," said Sir Barristan.
"I gave my word that I would protect the three cities," Daenerys said.
"Yes, you're right, but you can't protect all three if you can't protect this one" Jon clarified.
"The king of Valyria is right, your majesty," Jorah said.
Daenerys bit her lip.
"As I told you, setting an example, or at least what I would do, I would destroy the storm ravens in Meeren, that information would reach Astapor and Yunkai," he said.
"Fear is a useful tool for royalty, but in the past, it has had the opposite factor, remember the rebellion" Tyrion clarified.
"Unfortunately I cannot, he was not alive, Lord Tyrion… But since you mention it, fear is dangerous if you do not know how to use it… But if you do know how, it is different, eliminating the storm ravens sends the message that the queen desires, if the mercenaries attacking Yunkai and Astapor do not surrender, it simply informs us that they have new masters" he said.
Sir Barristan nodded.
"Not very subtle, but setting an example may be best," he said.
Tyrion sighed but nodded.
"I don't like it, but I see that it is a solution," he said.
Everyone turned to the queen.
"Are those your orders?" Jorah asked.
"What if this example doesn't work?" she asked Jon.
"You make another one in Yunkai and another one in Astapor, if the mercenaries are crazy enough to die, let them die," he said simply.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
Tywin saw the arrival of the pirate accompanied by a retinue of his followers, the Ironborn.
"Lord Tywin," Euron said as he entered.
The Lannister looked at him and nodded.
Euron took a seat.
"What is the reason for this visit?" asked the old man.
Euron smiled.
"Oh I'm just here to support my comrades the Lannisters," he said.
"I remember well your support in the Greyjoy rebellion," Tywin said.
Euron laughed.
"Good times, we were both younger, more emotional" he clarified.
Tywin raised an eyebrow.
"What do you want?" he said bluntly.
"The Iron Throne, of course," he said.
Old Lion raised an eyebrow.
" King? You're a pirate, Euron, you attack, you take, you break... You're not the kind of person to sit on a throne, and you don't have the intelligence to maintain seven kingdoms " Tywin informed.
"Very true, but I have the power to help the Lannisters, a thousand ships full of men, friends in Essos if I need more, I have heard that old Ned has magic now, I have warlocks obtained from Assai on my ships, people who recommend me," he said.
Tywin looked at him curiously.
"Have you forgotten that my grandson is king?" he said.
"Of course, I don't plan on getting rid of him, but he's too young to rule, he needs a father to guide him, and from what I've heard, your beautiful daughter is still a widow," he said.
Tywin looked at him with interest.
"Why?" he asked.
"Come on Lord Tywin, we are both similar men, we follow our nature, we are the ones who do what we have to do, we get our hands dirty, we burn entire kingdoms if necessary, we are the ones who set the example, my brother never understood that, that's why he died," said the pirate.
The Lannister lord thought for a moment.
"This war was not your fault, or Stark's, it is the incompetence of your daughter and grandson, one died but the other continues to reject your orders... Give her to me, Cersei will not run over me as she did with her husband and father, I will control her, and I will give you the Starks on a silver platter" he said and said to one of his men to pass.
Tywin frowned at him.
Euron brought two men with him, one carrying a small box, the other carrying something covered by a sheet that measured five feet.
The man put the small box on the table.
"I brought two gifts, one to show my support, the other to show my love for your daughter," he said.
Tywin opened the box and took out what was in it.
A human head.
"Stannis" he acknowledged.
Euron nodded.
"My support," he said.
And he pointed for him to take out the other.
Tywin stared in wonder at the Valyrian steel armor.
"It's not a sword, but it works just as well," Euron said.
Tywin looked at him.
"There will be no wedding until I have Ned Stark's head," the old man said.
"Of course"
[T/N: ...Hopefully Ned can stand up better to Euron than Jon did.]
[T/N: This chapter has been re-edited, and it's actually better than what Patreon received back in October… two years ago. Its quality now matches the latest chapters on Patreon.
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