20 The art of negociation

"Well well well..." I say as I look directly into the ravens eyes. "Did you enjoy the show so much that you finally decided to show yourself?"

Amidst the gnarled and ancient branches of the weirwood tree, the three-eyed raven perched like an enigma cloaked in darkness.

Its form, a silhouette of deepest black against the crimson backdrop of the tree, emanated an aura of ominous foreboding.

Its eyes, twin orbs of shadow, seemed to peer into the very depths of the void, unraveling mysteries that defied mortal comprehension.

For a moment, an eerie silence settled like a shroud, as if even the wind dared not disturb the presence of the three-eyed raven.

Then, from the shadows of the weirwood's ancient heart, a voice emerged—an ethereal whisper that slithered through the very air, brushing against the edges of reality.

"What do you desire , demon?"

It was a voice that seemed to resonate from the black depths of the void, as if it were a beckoning call from the farthest reaches of the unknown.

"Desires are like the winds that shift and change, my friend." I started bullshiting "They are whispered secrets that dance on the edge of existence, known only to the heart that harbors them. To reveal them is to unveil the very essence of one's being, a journey best left to the silence between stars and the shadows in the heart."

And the Raven knew that , but he didn't push.

Its watchful eyes gleamed with a knowing that surpassed the mere confines of spoken words.

"All right, then. Keep your secrets. But would you be so kind as to tell me why you wished to speak with me?" the three-eyed raven's voice echoed, its cadence a haunting blend of shadows and echoes that held the weight of ages.

"To bargain, of course! The tapestry you waved over hundreds of years may still come to be completed with my help"

The raven's gaze seemed to linger, its obsidian eyes holding a depth of knowledge that transcended time itself. "Tapestry woven over the eons, you say?" it mused, its voice a whisper that rustled like the secrets of ancient scrolls. "A canvas painted with threads of fate, winding and unwinding through the corridors of history." Yet, in its response, there was a sense of evasion—a calculated innocence that hinted at a timeless wisdom masked beneath layers of enigma.

The raven's words danced along the precipice of ignorance, a deliberate ambiguity that masked truths too profound to be laid bare.

"Of course, no need to play coy. I know you want the Night King dead , and I wish to aid you in this noble quest"

The raven's response came with a resigned air, as though the revelation was one expected, inevitable. "As expected of a demon," it mused, the words dripping with a mix of melancholy and acceptance. Its gaze remained steady, unyielding in the face of this revelation.

"And what would your help cost me?" The raven's query hung heavy in the air, laden with the weight of centuries-old wisdom and a keen understanding of the give and take that defined the world.

It was a question that reverberated with the echoes of unspoken bargains and unseen consequences—a reminder that even in the pursuit of noble goals, the web of fate demanded its price.

"Magic...The children's magic , to be precise"

The raven's laughter emerged like a chilling breeze, carrying with it a disquieting cadence that sent shivers down the spine.

It was a sound that danced on the edge of sanity, a mirth that seemed to echo from the depths of forgotten memories and uncharted realms.

"And in which corner of this world shall I unearth a child of the forest in these days of waning magic and dwindling mysticism? The raven said scornfully "Your plea stretches the boundaries of reality, a quest that seeks the elusive essence of a bygone era, now veiled in the mists of antiquity."

In response, a smile unfurled upon my lips, a silent acknowledgement of the raven's cryptic response.

My gaze, unyielding and resolute, locked onto the raven's three eyes—an ocular trinity that held within its depths the echoes of countless ages.

Amidst the palpable silence that hung in the air like a tapestry woven from unspoken truths, a quiet understanding passed between us—a communion of souls, each harboring their own enigmatic desires.

*Sigh* , and the raven broke eye contact first.

"It seems I can't quite keep my secrets away from you...your request is possible, but what guarantee do I have that you will keep your word?"

Well , that's a valid concern. Can't expect him to trust in my unbending sense of duty.

"I will swear on my soul that the help I will provide against the Night King's army shall be directly proportional to the worth of the magic I will be taught." It was a fair proposal.

Yet, in the wake of my declaration, the raven's demeanor remained etched in unyielding skepticism.

Its response was tinged with a sense of foreboding, a hesitation that lingered like a shadow cast upon the precipice of fate. "To form an accord with a demon, an entity of shadow and death, in the pursuit of extinguishing yet another—a venture of such intricate paradox," the raven mused. "But I accept. Make your vow , demon , and your teacher shall find you before you take your leave from Winterfell "

In that moment, the tapestry of words seemed to fade into insignificance, for the essence of our intentions lay bare before us.

A tranquil hush settled like a gentle mist, as if the universe itself paused to bear witness to the unspoken covenant unfolding.

Drawing in a breath that encapsulated the very essence of existence, I summoned a profound stillness that enveloped us in its embrace.

"I pledge, with every fiber of my being, that the contributions I shall extend to the endeavor against the Night King's encroaching darkness will resonate in perfect harmony with the value I ascribe to the arcane wisdom imparted by the Children of the Forest." The words danced upon the precipice of destiny, each syllable an echo of conviction that resounded through the air like a melodious symphony.

And in that moment, amidst the silence that bore witness to our accord, the very universe seemed to whisper its approval.

It was all sophistries , we both knew.

But we knew as well that this was my bottom line.

I had shown my sincerity.

It was the ravens turn.

"The emissary of knowledge, your designated tutor, shall traverse the realms with a swiftness unrivaled...If there is nothing else left to say , I shall take my leave.

Talking to you from such a long distance is tiring for an old man like me..."

At the utterance of those words, an ephemeral smile graced my lips once more, a reflection of the moon's soft luminescence dancing upon the canvas of night.

I would like to think the raven shuddered , but alas , it was impossible to know.

"Not so fast , dear friend of mine...We haven't even talked about your newest avatar..."

It was a threat , clear as a cloudless sky , and the Raven understood it perfectly.

The raven's countenance bore the weight of ages, its gaze a reflection of the eons it had traversed.

Amidst the gnarled branches of the weirwood tree, its form seemed to sag with a subtle weariness—a weariness not born of physical exertion, but of the burden of knowledge it bore. Its eyes, twin orbs that held the universe's secrets, radiated a quiet resignation—an understanding of truths both profound and haunting.

"Are you a seer , mayhaps? Nay , you are too present , your gaze too clear... I guess it doesn't matter...Tell me your price , demon.

What do you want in exchange for leaving Bran alone?"

There was nothing in my vow that prevented me from hurting the Raven or vice-versa , and so , my foreknowledge gave me the upper hand.

"Green sight" I responded, neutrally.

"Impossible" there was no hesitation in the Raven's answer, none at all .

Troubling, but I still had cards to play.

"No need to be hasty , my avian friend. What if I told you there was another option for tempering the boy's soul , besides taking his legs and forcing him to bear the loss ?"

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Three Eyed Raven pov :

"The tide had turned in the demon's favor," the raven thought, its voice a wistful whisper that held the echoes of time's passage.

"It was a shift subtle, like the shifting currents of the cosmos, but inexorable nonetheless."

As time went on , the demon's mastery over the labyrinth of secrets became evident, a prowess that left me outpaced and outplayed.

With every revelation, a deeper sense of unease settled within me, for the demon wielded knowledge of me that even the stars themselves would envy.

An enigma draped in obscurity, he withheld his identity, his motives shrouded in a cloak of mystery.

The chasm between us yawned wider with each exchange, as he unveiled truths hidden even from the all-seeing eyes of the Seven Pointed Star—an unsettling reminder of my vulnerability.

Yet, the contest was not yet decided.

The game, with its pieces shifting upon the chessboard of fate, remained in play.

And as the demon spoke of sculpting my vessel's soul to a refinement beyond mortal comprehension, I understood that the time had come to seize whatever shards of advantage remained within reach.

.

,,"Can you pledge, with a certainty that transcends doubt, that your method bears the seal of efficacy and success, devoid of unintended consequences?"

"No " the demon's crisp voice resounded in the moonlit clearing.

"But you have no other option but to accept, dear friend. I won't allow the boy to fall from that tower.

The mess it would cause would severely inconvenience me"

Yet another eerie prophecy unfurled, and yet there remained no trace of greensight's touch upon his essence.

A truth that, in the depths of my knowing, I should have discerned.

For if such a mark were etched upon his soul, surely it would have announced itself to me, a revelation as clear as the stars that adorned the heavens.

"Your words resonate with truth, yet let it be known that a guise of deceit shall not pass unnoticed.

Should this be but a ruse, demon, know that the tempest of my vengeance shall be unyielding and relentless."

I spoke with conviction , since an avatar weak in the soul would be no more use to me than a broken sword.

The demon, shrewd in his understanding, leveraged this awareness to secure what I held most guarded.

A resigned sigh escaped my lips, a testament to the realization that I had, in fact, been ensnared in the intricate web of his manipulation...

"In solemn accord, I pledge to share the secrets of greensight—a realm of knowledge cloaked in the tapestries of time—with you, demon.

Let it be understood that for every measure of enlightenment you bestow upon my vessel's essence, an equal measure of greensight's enigma shall be revealed unto you.

Thus, as the refinement of my avatar's soul unfolds, so shall the mysteries of greensight be unveiled, a balance struck between the depths of your knowing and the essence of my boundless vision."

The devil's smile unfurled like a malevolent dance of shadows, each curve of his lips a flicker of infernal flame that cast eerie light upon the abyss of his intent.

It was a smile that bore the weight of years old malice, an embodiment of cunning and corruption that whispered promises of twisted desires fulfilled.

Behind those lips, secrets darker than the abyss itself seemed to slumber, waiting for the opportune moment to awaken and weave their tendrils into the fabric of existence.

"It was a pleasure doing business with you , esteemed Three Eyed Raven"

I sighed again , preparing to sewer the warg connection to my faithful familiar.

"Before I depart this exchange, might I beseech you, venerable one, to bestow upon this soul the gift of your name?" I inquired, my words dripping with a veneer of thinly veiled sarcasm.

Despite the intricate dance of revelations that had transpired, the enigma that shrouded my newfound "ally" remained as impenetrable as ever.

"But of course, my dear friend."

The demon's smile contorted into a wicked grin that stretched across his countenance with a malevolence that defied the boundaries of normality.

It was a visage that seemed to mock the very concept of limitation, a sinister expression of delight that bore witness to the depths of his devious amusement.

As his lips curved into that unnaturally wide smile, it was as if the abyss itself had opened up to reveal the dark nature of his intentions.

.

"You can call me...Negary"

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A.N:

"To get at your purpose, ask yourself questions.

For example, who inspires you?

What are your passions?

What do you want to learn?

How do you want to change the world?

The answers to these questions can help guide you towards your purpose.

Now observe your workday and pick out meaningful moments.

Why are those moments meaningful? "