24 The Feast

The smile on Dacey's face was just a bonus of winning the joust and gifting her with the crown of love and beauty, in Ragnar's opinion. The greatest thing about it all was the sour face of the greedy lords, quite similar to Ulfric's face when he destroyed Whindhelm's doors with his shout.

Arthur, Rhaegar, and Jorah were smiling; Ragnar didn't know why the first two were happy, but he did not comment on that. Ragnar wanted nothing but to leave the field; the king seemed to want to say something, but Ragnar used his strongest calm magic (pacify) to make him lose the will to create conflict. The magic was invisible and worked just fine. Ragnar then left the field and went to get changed. There would be a ball at night to celebrate the tournament's conclusion, and Ragnar intended to participate

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The ball was held in Casterly Rock's halls, all Lords of the Westerlands were present, as were the ladies. The King sat at the high table with Rhaegar on his right side and Tywin on his left, Jamie Lannister sat at Tywin's left. The Kingsguard stood behind the king and Rhaegar. The hall was beautifully decorated, with Targaryen and Lannister banners hanging in every corner and wall. Servants walked around offering food and drinks for the Lords. The King was enjoying the party by boasting and claiming Tywin's accomplishments as his. Rhaegar Targaryen was eating quietly, and his face had a sorrowful look to it. Once Ragnar walked into the hall, all eyes were on him; Ragnar wore a midnight blue tunic dress with runes craved on its sleeves and hem, black trousers, and had his hair braided in a top knot variation, to the many ladies of the realm he looked EXTREMELY handsome.

" There he is, The Great champion of this Tournament," Said the King, who was already drunk, the calm spell still working on him.

Ragnar chose the silence and just inclined his head slightly to the King. The king raised his mug at Ragnar and returned to talk to the unimportant lord, who seemed quite interested in the King's gabble.

Ragnar looked for Jorah and found the man having a drinking contest with a very drunk Gerion Lannister, they seemed to be striking quite the friendship, if Ragnar could guess. Jorah saw Ragnar coming his way and said

"Come, Ragnar, you must defend the north's pride with me. Lord Lannister managed to get us some mead, Gerion here said he could hold his drink agains any man of the north, he said he could outdrink Greatjon Umber himself! Ha not even Greatjon Umber can out-drink Greatjon Umber… and he is Greatjon Umber!!" Ragnar could only laugh at the situation.

" The audacity of this golden cat, come on, Lannister, I will show you the greatest of the Nord arts, drinking. MEAD!" Ragnar shouted, and the whole hall heard his voice. Some Lords even got scared for a second. Gerion just laughed nonstop

" Where's your faithful servant Davos, by the way?" Asked Jorah

" He's finishing up some stuff for our trip back north; unlike you, I will not be able to get a boat. I will have to ride back home." Ragnar said as someone handed him his drink.

"Where's your cousin?" Asked Ragnar as he drank the whole cup in one go. "another," he said to the servant nearby

" She's talking to some ladies. Her mother, my aunt, told her to do that; according to Maege, if she does her job right, it could help to close a food agreement with the Westerlands. Winter is coming, after all. This autumn will not last one more year."

Replied Jorah.

" Aye, Skagos is more than ready for this winter. This will probably be the easiest winter in the history of Skagos." Ragnar replied, satisfied with Skagos progress so far, and unlike past winters, this one Skagos would not only survive but thrive, grow. Skyrim's winter was harsher than Westeros, of that he was sure, and even in those conditions, some vegetables would still grow. Ragnar would also use magic, lots and lots of magic, to help.

" We in Bear Island are ready as well, but another food source is always welcome," Jorah said, and Ragnar nodded.

" Good Queen Alysanne, they call her, good for the Reach that is, took all the fertile land on the north and have it to the nightswatch," Ragnar said; Jorah said nothing but nodded.

" And you Lannisters? How are your preparations for the Winter? I know most of your lands are fertile but not in winter, right?" Ragnar asked as he was handed another mead mug, which he drank in one go again " ANOTHER, please bring me a bottle next time, love." Ragnar said as he smiled at a servant, which made her go as red as the Lannister's cloaks

" Tywin said we have food for a 10 years-long winter. I guess it's true. He's been doing a lot of business with the Reach lately." Gerion Replied.

" One can say many things about Tywin Lannister, but a bad Lord he is not. Ruthless man? Obviously, but a very effective administrator. No wonder the Westerlands is so well nowadays," Replied Ragnar.

"Careful, my lord; one would think you admire Tywin Lannister." Said a feminine voice. Ragnar turned his head to see Dacey; she wore an emerald green dress; she was elegant; her deep blue eyes were highlighted by the crown of blue roses she still wore. Ragnar stood up, and she offered him her right hand; he took it and gave a slow kiss on her knuckles. She smiled and him but said nothing.

" My lady, you look stunning; the crown of roses suits you, as does the dress, but I confess I'm curious to see you in armor; a woman who can be this elegant in a dress must be irresistible on plate armor," Ragnar said; Dacey didn't blush, but she smiled.

" Well my lord, one can only wonder. They said you looked like a hero of old on your Valyrian steel armor. If you let me it, then I can think about wearing armor for you," Dacey said, and Ragnar smiled

" For me, you say? I shall think about it." Ragnar said, and for the first time, Dacey blushed.

Dacey and Ragnar kept their flirting with each other to the point of making Jorah and Gerion leave. During the feast, Ragnar danced with Dacey 2 times; he danced with two random ladies and surprisingly with an 11 years old Cersei. It was weird; she was just a little girl, spoiled to the core little girl but a little girl nonetheless. She didn't look at Ragnar with disdain but with confusion, as if he was someone who she couldn't understand. He OBVIOUSLY didn't ask and tried to get as far away from her as possible. The emo prince played one of his melancholic songs, which killed the feast mood and as good Nord Ragnar couldn't let the party die when he was in it, so he asked Rhaegar for his harp; this brought all attention to Ragnar

" This song is about a girl I met in Volantis ( lie)" he said as he began to play a happy tune, and then he began:

Sera was never quite an agreeable girl;

Her tongue tells tales of rebellion.

But she was so fast,

And quick with her bow,

No one quite knew where she came from.

Sera was never quite the quietest girl;

Her attacks are loud and they're joyful.

But she knew the ways of nobler men,

And she knew how to enrage them.

She would always like to say,

"Why change the past,

when you can own this day?"

Today she will fight,

To keep her way.

She's a rogue and a thief,

And she'll tempt your fate….

Ragnar's voice made the song unforgettable for everyone present; the song would become a hit in all of Westeros in a few moons, of that Ragnar was sure. The song brought the excellent mood back to the feast. Later that night, in private quarters, the King would offend Tywin Lannister by denying to betroth Rhaegar to Cersei.

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A/N: That's it for today, my friends

Next chapter, there will be a time skip

Thank you 🙏