The universe of A Song of Ice and Fire and its characters belong exclusively to George R.R. Martin. This is a work of fiction created by a fan for fans, made solely for entertainment and the development of creative writing.
Only the characters created by me, such as the protagonist and some other original characters, as well as the changes to the canonical plot resulting from their actions, are of my own intellectual authorship.
I wish everyone a good read!!
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Chapter 9
Year 100 AC
POV: Denovan
A week has passed since the first encounter with the giants and, at this moment, I have just concluded my greatest masterpiece in this life: my Leviathan.
It was gorgeous. Its handle was white, carved from pure mammoth ivory; its blade was Damascus Steel, with intricate and undulating patterns that resembled flowing water. It was magnificent. Besides its beauty, it had the ideal balance. It wasn't too heavy to sacrifice speed, nor too light to lose impact. It was perfect. And sharp as a razor.
"I have to thank my father for asking for half of the furs and ivories in advance from the giants," I thought, admiring the weapon.
I took the axe from the workbench and placed it on my back. I had made a special holder for it, inspired by Kratos. Both the weapon and the holder were inspired by him; after all, that axe is the most beautiful in all fiction... at least for me.
I started walking towards the training field. I wanted to test the weapon and warm up my body; it had been a few days since I really trained, focused only on the forge.
When I arrived there, as always, Ulfar, Sig, and three other boys were practicing. One of them was the poor guy who usually served as a punching bag for Sig.
"Ulfar, are you too busy to train with me?" I called out.
He was just supervising the youths to ensure they didn't really hurt themselves, not training seriously.
"Finally came out of that forge... I thought you would melt in there."
I took the axe from my back, feeling the familiar weight in my hand.
"Well... I finished this beauty. And now I want to test it... I'm still a bit behind on our score, aren't I?"
"Not that much... how much was it again?" he said, placing his hand on his chin where sparse stubble was starting to grow. "71 to 68... You are improving fast, Denovan... also, you are growing like a bear," he commented, already drawing his sword from its scabbard.
"I'm going to close the gap today..." I said, planting my feet in the snow, prepared to attack at any moment.
"If you lose, brother... I want that axe with me for a month."
"Hahahah... not in your dreams... brother."
I finished the sentence and dashed towards him.
The axe came diagonally, ready to shatter anything that stood in its path. Ulfar, knowing the brute force of the weapon and my arm, dodged with a step back and then advanced in a quick counterattack, the sword already almost touching my arm.
With my sharp reflexes—a gift from my bond—I lowered my shoulder quickly and the blade whizzed over it. The axe was already returning, only this time from the bottom up, in an upward movement, slower because it was controlled by only one hand.
Clang!
My brother was very close and, with impressive speed, pulled the sword back and blocked the advance of the axe. The sound of steel against steel echoed through the courtyard.
"HAHAH! HOLD THE NEXT ONE, ULFAR!" I shouted amused. Fighting was one of the few real pleasures in this life; with little to do in the day-to-day besides survive and work, sparring became an essential hobby.
Ulfar said nothing, just snorted amusedly and advanced quickly, the sword cutting the air in my direction. I did a full spin, using the inertia for the axe to gain speed. In the middle of the movement, I placed my other hand on the handle to stabilize and stopped the blade centimeters from touching Ulfar's neck.
"Hehehe... this time it's mine, brother. If you don't train more... I'm going to surpass you," I said laughing, panting.
Ulfar lowered his guard and looked at the blade stopped near his jugular.
"You are a monster, Denovan. No one would say you are ten years old... the Old Gods blessed you..." Ulfar said as he sheathed the blade and extended his hand to me. "And you have already surpassed me, brother. Your goal now should be Father, Halgar, and Tigas."
I shook his hand and, confused, asked:
"Tigas? Since when is he a warrior on the level of Father and Halgar?"
"Well... that's what they said. I didn't know either... I don't even remember who said that," Ulfar said, shrugging.
"You must be trip..." I was interrupted mid-sentence.
"That was incredible!!" said Sig, jumping between me and Ulfar. "You two put on a beautiful show just now..." she said pointing to the boys who looked at us with shining eyes.
"And this axe?" she said, pulling my arm to examine the weapon. "It is beautiful. And these strange shapes... it is kind of blue..."
Her eyes shone. I couldn't help but feel a pang of pride. I scratched my nose, disguising the satisfaction.
"This is the best weapon I've ever made... used what I call Thenn Steel. It keeps an edge longer and has these beautiful patterns and this natural blueish color."
"Very beautiful. The handle made of ivory turned out great," said Ulfar, stretching his finger and running it over the smooth surface of the bone.
"Have you shown it to Father, Denovan? He will be impressed."
"Not yet. I left the forge straight here, wanted to test it."
"You just tested it with Ulfar. Want to test it with me now?"
"That will be easy, Sig. Call one of them to help you too..." I said with a wide smile, pointing to the boys who looked on curiously.
"Bastard..." she said grinding her teeth. Then, as if a switch had been flipped, her expression changed to a challenge. "Since you are so good, why don't you beat me and Ulfar at the same time?"
"I refuse," said Ulfar immediately. "It is dishonorable on my part... joining a brat to defeat an even smaller brat? It is a hard blow to my honor."
He finished with a lupine smile on his face.
"BRAT?! You two united against me today!!" shouted Sig, kicking Ulfar in the shin.
When she was about to kick mine, she looked at my smiling face and stopped. Instead, she unsheathed the sword I had made for her. It was steel, simple and light, ideal for her agility.
"Let's fight. I am annoyed with you," she said seriously.
Her face showed no emotion. Over the years, Sig learned to control her explosive temper in combat, becoming truly dangerous. But for me... it was still lacking a bit. I knew her techniques, her way, and with my insane reflexes, it was complicated for her to defeat me.
"Let's see if you improved since last time..." my voice started serious and changed to teasing. "Siggggg."
I let her attack. Her sword was much faster than Ulfar's, only it had much less brute force. I dodged the blow with a lateral movement. Her sword went up, and I took advantage of the opening to close the distance. I was close to her and started to say:
"Finish..."
A kick came to my back. That one I didn't even see coming.
"Cough! Got me good..." I said, catching my breath, but with a wide smile. "You didn't use kicks before, Sig. Who taught you that?"
"Valka," she murmured. The lupine smile on her face suggested that the pleasure of kicking me in the middle of the fight was greater than talking. "Stop talking and attack me... Novannnn."
She imitated the drawling tone I used earlier.
"Brat," I murmured amusedly very low, but enough for her to hear.
I advanced quickly. The axe came from the bottom up. Sig dodged gracefully, spinning her body, the sword already ready to cut my exposed arm. I wasn't going to let that happen. I interrupted the axe mid-blow and changed the trajectory towards her sword.
Clang!
Parried successfully. The impact made Sig lose her balance for an instant. I advanced. I was going to knock her down and end this right away. When I was close...
I realized too late. It was a feint.
"Fuck..."
The tip of her sword stopped millimeters from my eyes.
"7 to 39... Denovannnn." Her voice was even more annoying this time.
"Hahaha..." Ulfar's laugh was loud. He picked Sig up and lifted her high, looking at me mockingly. "Denovan Hawk-eye lost to his little sister!"
Before I could answer, Sig's voice came loud:
"Little sister is your ass! I am older than him... don't call me that!"
"Yes, yes, your victory, BIG SISTER," I said, bowing towards her in an exaggerated reverence.
"What's with that tone of voice, little brother...?" Sig joked, getting down from Ulfar's arms.
"I am sad, sister, I'm going to have to talk to my mother not to give any more tips to my big sister," I said with my arms raised in surrender.
"Let's show the axe to Father... he will like it," Ulfar said, changing the subject and putting his arms around my neck and Sig's.
"Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something before..." I said to Ulfar, becoming serious.
Ulfar looked at me curiously.
"Speak."
"How are the negotiations with the giants going? It's been a week."
He looked at me fixedly for an instant and said.
"Well... things are going well. The bronze points have already been made, only the bags are missing. Since they are huge, it's a hell of a job, but it should all be finished today. So the giants should leave tomorrow. But why the sudden question? You never ask about these negotiations and hardly take an interest in this kind of subject... I doubt it's just because they are giants."
"Do you remember what the giant said? About the saber-tooths?"
"Hmm," he nodded, already knowing where the conversation would lead.
"You know the effect my bonds have on me. That's why I am looking for specific animals. And felines are the best hunters; and these are large and walk in a group. They are basically perfect for me..."
"Are you wanting to go with the giants?" Sig's voice cut my speech.
"Yes... but it would be quick. Just go to the northeast, see if I find a saber-tooth and come back."
"Valka won't let you, Denovan... you know that," Sig continued, crossing her arms.
"I don't need her permission. I'll just inform Father and leave him calming her down later..."
"How long would that take?" Ulfar asked. "Because Father won't let you go if it's too long..."
"Actually... I have no idea. But considering the few trips we made, it should be around three months to be back here."
"Good luck, brother. It will be hard to convince them."
"It will work out, Ulfar, don't be like that..."
"Take me with you, Denovan. Two is better than one..." Sig suggested, her eyes shining with the idea of adventure.
"If it's already going to be hard for me to go, imagine taking you, Sig. If you were a Skin-changer or older, maybe we could convince Father," I continued, trying to soften the refusal. "And I am confident I can escape anything. With Horus in the skies watching and Breu with me, I can flee if needed."
"Tsk..." grumbled Sig, kicking the snow.
"If Father lets you go, he will probably ask for at least a few men to accompany you. He won't let you go alone," Ulfar spoke thoughtfully.
"Yeah... let's talk to him. No use imagining things."
"Let's go," both answered.
"Next time I'll take you, Sig," I said patting her head.
"Hmm," she nodded looking at my axe.
We walked towards the big house.
"Was it hard to make it, Novan?" Sig asked, pointing to the axe and changing the subject.
"Well... it is more complicated because I need two different types of metals. It takes a longer time to make, almost double, and to make it look beautiful like this... is a lot of work."
"I understand..." her voice sounded a bit discouraged.
"This steel cannot be mass-made like we are doing with the other axes and swords. It requires a blacksmith to dedicate days on end, entirely to it. If not... it's nothing more than pretty trash. But it is a better steel than the common one we are distributing... and I will make one for you and for Ulfar. Don't be so sad, little sister."
"Hmm... I'm not sad... and will you really make it?"
"I will... it will take a while, but I promise I will give you one. I'll make it when I return from the trip."
"Thank you, you are the best..." she said, linking her arm in mine.
"Ungrateful sister. And that shadowcat skin I gave you? No one here in the village has one intact like that," Ulfar said in fake disbelief.
"Using your falcon is easy..." she said with a smile.
"Look at how you are, sister," Ulfar shook his head. "Don't ask me for anything else... Sigrid."
"I am joking, Big Brother..." she said, linking her arm in his too. "My two brothers are incredible."
A lupine smile appeared on my face and I said:
"Brother, have you ever received a gift from her? I was thinking here... and I never got anything, not even a stone."
"Hey!" exclaimed Sig.
"Not even air, Novan..." a smile that mirrored mine appeared on Ulfar's face.
"It's just us two then..." I said disengaging from Sig's arm, and Ulfar did the same.
After a moment of dramatic silence, Ulfar spoke:
"Hahaha... she's going to cry, brother, you know how she is..."
"How I am? I know I am not a crybaby!" she said pinching Ulfar hard.
We went arguing and talking the whole way and, when I realized, we were already inside the house.
"Daaaaad, I have something to show you!" I shouted.
"..."
No one answered me.
"Go there convince them, brother, they must be in the room, I won't have the patience to watch this discussion," said Ulfar.
"I'll stay around here too, Novan," said Sigrid.
It seemed no one wanted to intrude on the subject.
"You cowards, abandoning me now?... Alright."
I looked first in the hall and then in the kitchen, there was no one there. I headed towards the bedroom; arriving there, the door was open and Sigorn and Valka were talking about something.
Knock knock. "Hope I'm not disturbing you two."
"You never disturb me, son...", said Valka, already getting up to greet me.
Sigorn just nodded with his eyes while Valka hugged me.
"Wanted to show you something, Father," I said leaving the hug and taking the axe from my back.
His eyebrow raised in curiosity, his eyes fixed on the axe.
"Was that why you were holed up in that forge?" asked Valka, taking the axe from my hand. "It is very beautiful, never seen a blade as beautiful as this," she continued. "Is the handle made of ivory? And why is it kind of bluish? Is it a different metal?"
Sig has a personality very similar to Valka's, even though Sig isn't her biological daughter. I gave a smile and replied:
"This axe was made personally by me. I used two types of metals and did some processes on both, and they ended up gaining this color and this pattern on the blade. The handle is made of mammoth ivory, and I believe the edge of the axe keeps the cut for much longer..."
"It is the greatest masterpiece that has been made on this side of the wall... I am sure," I completed.
Sigorn was already next to Valka analyzing the axe fixedly and said after a while in silence:
"It is incredible, son... in all the years I've lived, I haven't seen anything like it. Not even when we fought against the crows, no weapon I've ever seen is similar to this."
I saw myself growing in pride, my chest puffing out. I know I am good, but being praised by someone so stoic, and who spent many words to praise my axe... I can't help but be happy. I may be proud, but I am an honest guy; I don't like to deceive anyone nor lie, the facade of the gods is something I prefer not to repeat.
"The disadvantage is the difficulty of making this steel that is in the axe. It takes a lot of time, specific materials, and only I can make one of these. Another person would take years to learn to make something at this level."
My father averted his eyes from the axe and looked at me with pride:
"It is a pity that we cannot distribute this to our men, but it is a beautiful weapon, son. I am happy to know that you became so skilled, and so young."
"My son is truly incredible, I made him," said Valka with a grin from ear to ear.
I gave a shy smile and rubbed my nose and sniffed, a habit I had since my first life.
"Thank you."
Sigorn took the axe and brandished it with one hand. "The balance is perfect," he said extending the axe for me to take.
"I made it thinking of using with one or two hands, ideal for strong and tall men like us."
"You are still a boy," said my mother with an amused smile. "Not that this takes merit away from the weapon you made."
"Did Ulfar and Sigrid see the axe?" said Sigorn ignoring Valka's joke.
"As soon as I finished making it I went to test with them. They liked it too, Sig already wants me to make one for her..."
"And it seems someone is giving some lessons to her, she defeated me today," I said looking at my mother.
My father looked at me half surprised and with a smile. After all, I am already better than many warriors of the village; few could defeat me. Sig doing that shows how skilled she is becoming.
"Sig is training hard, I had to give some tips to her," said my mother in a mischievous tone.
"I can already imagine the dirty tactics you must be teaching the girl," said Sigorn with a knowing smile.
Looking at them, I wanted to talk about the trip with the giants, but Valka would probably complicate things... Well, no use imagining.
Cough, cough. "... I didn't come here just to show the axe," I said putting it on my back. "Wanted to ask a little thing."
"The last little thing you asked for was a forge, metals, to be a blacksmith who made us have better weapons and armor than any other Free Folk, a horse that by the way became the best horse we have and turned you into a mini giant," continued Valka with a tense complexion. "What could this request be? Which is being made right when the giants are in the village?"
I looked at Valka very surprised. This woman is scary. I averted my gaze from her to Sigorn who looked at me seriously.
"What would this little thing be?" said Sigorn.
"Mom is almost totally right..."
"I knew it, Denovan. What are you plotting, huh?"
"Let him speak, Valka," warned Sigorn.
Sigh. "I want to go to the northeast accompanying the giants. I want to see if I find these saber-tooths. If I could get a bond with a creature like that... it would help me a lot."
"Denied. You are not going. You are just a child... Denovan, you aren't even 12 years old and want to go out with the giants? The things you are telling me..." Valka started her lecture and neither I nor my father interrupted her, we weren't that foolish.
"I don't need to say anything else, do I?" said Sigorn as soon as Valka finished speaking.
"Then excuse me, I will have to go without your permission," I said seriously, while looking at my mother who stared at me seriously, very seriously.
"You wouldn't do such a thing, Denovan. My only son wouldn't leave me," said Valka approaching me.
I averted my eyes from her and looked at Sigorn. He was serious, didn't seem disturbed at all by me saying I would disobey him. This could be either that he didn't mind a trip of mine with the giants, or that the chance of me managing to do this without his permission is zero, and he was confident in this second option.
I returned my eyes to my mother, who was very close to me and said: "I wouldn't leave you, Mom. It would be at most a few months... at most half a year."
She stared at me fixedly, and with every word I saw her eyes narrowing.
"Only half a year? Is that little to you? I doubt you last a month outside the Thenn valley. You think it's cold here? This is the best place to live, brat. There is no place with more green areas, more alive and that has less snow on this side of the wall."
"You are not going, and there will be no discussion," she said.
"I understand..." I said.
"Don't even think about doing anything. You won't be able to escape me. I will reach you wherever you are, so don't try anything." Valka was irritated.
I nodded. While leaving the room, I looked for a few moments into my father's eyes, and he gave me a knowing smile.
Seems like it wouldn't be that hard; he would deal with the beast.
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Let me know what you think, this was my first try at writing fight scenes. Not sure if it came out that great, it's kinda hard to put that stuff into words.
Things are starting to get interesting.
Thank you for reading :)
Leave your opinion in the comments, and if you liked it, leave power stones—it motivates me to keep writing.
Release dates will be Sunday and Tuesday.
I hope you liked it, see you in the next chapter.