11 Meeting (2)

The mood took a sudden dive when I dropped a bomb on Rhaegar. He was visibly shaken for a few seconds when he heard my answer. I knew the prophecy was very important to him and some of his major decisions were influenced by it. He even believed that he was the prince who was promised when he was younger, and I was not sure if this belief persisted until now. I was curious about what he had to say about this, hoping that he would not disappoint.

Rhaegar closed his eyes and mumbled some words - may be praying to the Seven - before taking a deep breath. Then he became composed and calm again, and softly asked, "What do you know about the prince that was promised?"

Instead of replying to his question, I looked at the rest of his companions and asked, "Is it okay for them to hear this? They might hear something interesting..."

"Except for Dontos, I need everyone to leave!" Rhaegar commanded in a loud voice.

"Yes, Ser Rhaegar!" Myles and Richard spoke in unison and stayed a safe distance away from us.

Jon nodded, not forgetting to give me a sharp look before leaving the vicinity and joined his fellow squires.

"Ser Morris, please leave as well."

Morris bowed slightly with his right fist on his chest and moved past me and whispered, "I'm watching you..."

"Oh, snarly..." I whispered to myself while giving him a slight nod, "Don't worry, I won't do something stupid, Ser Morris."

Adam leaned closer to me and said, "Be careful, brother...I don't wanna see you getting hurt." Then he scooted like a mouse escaping from a cat.

"Thanks for the warning, I guess," I replied, which I knew he heard because he gave me a thumbs-up sign.

After making sure that no one could hear their conversation, Rhaegar urged, "Go ahead, Dontos. How did you know about the prince that was promised?"

As a rule, you had to establish credibility before you could convince anyone to believe you, especially if you were going to say anything magical - like a prophecy of a chosen one. It could be by reputation, intelligence, or simply strength. And the best way to do so in this world should be by magic - hard to explain yet strong enough to shatter biases and prejudice. I smiled at him and asked, "Before that, I've something to show you. Wanna experience true magic?"

Rhaegar frowned but eventually agreed.

I chose 'Bitch in the Ditch' first because its effect was obvious enough, so after I was done chanting its vulgar lyrics, Rhaegar looked around in amazement. I gave him enough time to enjoy his current state, and when everything was over, he finally settled down and asked, "What was that?"

I ignored his question and began singing 'Queen of the Whore' and picked up a sharp rock and cut myself. When he saw my wounds healing in mere seconds, he pulled out a dagger from his waist and asked, "The song makes healing faster?"

"Yes, great ser."

Rhaegar poked the sharp tip onto his finger and drops of blood came out. Still, the wounds were instantly healed. He did another small cut on his right arm but this time, it took a few more seconds before it fully closed. "Good magic," he praised.

"Thank you." I would just show him the positive chants I could do. As for the bad things like weakening chants, poisons, and curses, that would be my little secret.

Rhaegar sheathed his dagger and inquired, "Now, can you tell me what you just did?"

"Bardic chants, a type of magic that disappeared after the dragons became extinct."

"I've read a lot of books, including the legends in Essos and the History of the Dragons but I've never seen any information related to bardic chants," Rhaegar commented.

I shrugged my shoulders, "Perhaps my ancestors destroyed every book and scrolls that mentioned our abilities?"

"Maybe...but I've heard you saying 'Our'. Are there others like you?"

"Yes, great ser. This's the secret of the Hollards. Unfortunately, all of them were killed by His Grace and I'm the only one left."

Rhaegar had a sorry look on his face and apologized right away. I knew he was thinking of the Hollards' extermination in Duskendale and I graciously accepted his apology.

Then, we came back to square one - the prophecy. After a long pause, I asked, "How do you understand prophecy, Ser Rhaegar?"

"Predictions...visions...they tell the future," Rhaegar replied.

"For me, it serves as signs and directions to guide you to the true destination. You need to read it properly to arrive at the correct place. Once you misread it, you're bound to get lost, either going in loops, or be stranded in a dangerous place, or worse, it leads you to a dead end."

Rhaegar was deep in his thoughts, silent while he digested the things I just said, before saying, "I'll take note of that."

I knelt on the ground and wrote 'The Long Night' on it and began speaking, "Ancient beliefs claimed that thousands of years ago, there lived a legendary hero named Azor Ahai, the champion of the Lord of Light who fights against the Great Other. Different accounts spread far and wide across the lands of Essos, recounting the tales and wonders of the unforgotten hero, including the story of the Long Night. Nowadays, people believed that it was just a tale used to scare children but this isn't the case. It actually happened. Yes, the White Walkers and its Wights are still in the far North, defeated during the War for the Dawn. There they wait while thriving in the Lands of Always Winter, separated from us by The Wall created by the First Men, Children, and giants. This is the reason why the Night's Watch is formed, not to protect us from the living but to protect us from the dead."

Then I scribbled 'Azor Ahai' and continued, "The holy texts of the Lord of Light prophesy that there will come a time when the Long Night will return, and Azor Ahai will be reborn to lead the people of the world to victory once again. There will come a day after a long summer when the stars bleed and the cold breath of darkness falls heavy on the world. In this dread hour, a warrior shall be reborn amidst the smoke and salt to wake dragons out of stone. He draws from the fire a burning sword. And that sword shall be Lightbringer, the Red Sword of Heroes, and he who clasps it shall be Azor Ahai come again, and the darkness shall flee before him."

Then I wrote 'Light Bringer' and spoke once again, "What's the story behind the legendary sword 'Light Bringer'? Accounts go like this - Great was his woe and great was his sorrow then, for he knew what he must do. A hundred days and a hundred nights he labored on the third blade, and as it glowed white-hot in the sacred fires, he summoned his wife. 'Nissa Nissa,' he said to her, for that was her name, 'bare your breast, and know that I love you best of all that is in this world.' She did this thing, why I cannot say, and Azor Ahai thrust the smoking sword through her living heart. It is said that her cry of anguish and ecstasy left a crack across the face of the moon, but her blood and her soul and her strength and her courage all went into the steel. Such is the tale of the forging of Lightbringer, the Red Sword of Heroes. Truly a tragic hero, for he must do a great sacrifice to bring out the lethal weapon to fight against the threat."

Then I wrote 'The Last Hero' and exclaimed, "A text was also preserved, famous in the North, describing the tribulation of the last hero, as stated - So as cold and death filled the earth, the last hero determined to seek out the Children of the Forest, in the hopes that their ancient magics could win back what the armies of men had lost. He set out into the dead lands with a sword, a horse, a dog, and a dozen companions. For years he searched until he despaired of ever finding the Children of the Forest in their secret cities. One by one his friends died, and his horse, and finally even his dog, and his sword froze so hard the blade snapped when he tried to use it. And the White Walkers smelled the hot blood in him and came silent on his trail, stalking him with packs of pale white spiders big as hounds. A glimpse of what is to come, a deadly search that marches against time."

And, for the last time, I wrote 'the prince that was promised' and recited, "The one that was promised, the foretold savior that will lead the world out of the darkness. A 'bleeding star' will herald the coming of the prince. His is the song of ice and fire. A wood witch appeared before Jaehaerys II Targaryen about it, assuring that the promised hero will come from his bloodline. On that fateful day, Queen Rhaella and King Aerys II Targaryen were wed to fulfill the prophecy. Indeed, when the red star bleeds and the darkness gathers, the prince that was promised shall be born again amidst smoke and salt."

I stood up and bowed at Rhaegar, and said, "Most priests say the one that was promised is the Azor Ahai rise again. But I assure you these things will happen, and it's gonna be sooner rather than later because the winter's coming. Everything will be revealed in its proper time but for now, great ser should understand the whole picture before attempting to find out the smaller details. And what's the whole picture? It's the threat from the farther North."

Rhaegar was dumbfounded after hearing my longest speech in this world.

I erased everything I wrote on the ground with my feet before asking, "What did Maester Aemon tell you?"

Rhaegar had not yet moved on from the prophecy when he heard another mindblowing information that only he should know. Without thinking, he blurted out, "How did you know?"

"Magic." I believed that when something was impossible to explain, just blame it on magic.

He nodded helplessly and answered, "The prince that was promised would be born amidst the smoke and salt, beneath the bleeding star, but he never mentioned about Azor Ahai."

"Is this the reason why you decided to wield a sword and become a knight?"

Rhaegar remained silent.

I took it as a yes and added, "Whatever the case, there's an interesting truth the great ser should know. Most prophecies are written in High Valyrian, and 'Prince' is gender-neutral. If we wanna be more accurate, it should be read as the prince or princess that was promised, or simply the one that was promised."

Rhaegar's frowns were getting deeper while his eyes were fixed on me. I almost believed that he would become a frozen bloke but eventually, he spoke, "Why do you know all these things?"

"Wikipedia."

"What?"

I knew he would not understand what Wikipedia was but at least, I did not lie to him. Since he was demanding an acceptable answer, I replied, "I know them because I have read them in the books (ASOIAF) and saw them happened with my very eyes (TV). Ser Barristan claimed that I was a priest, and so did the other sailors who know me. All I can say is this - amidst the fight between men for control and power, they will come and blood will be spilled together. The world desperately needs a hero, or everything will turn into zero."

"Is there anything else I need to know?"

"That you're not the one that was promised. As for other things, let the priests guide you."

Rhaegar turned around and stood still. I did not know how long it took but the next time I knew, he raised his right hand and his squires ran to his side. As expected, Ser Morris became a haunting statue again as soon as he reached us. On the other hand, my 'sworn brother' trodded his way toward me, as if he was carrying a mountain on his back. His eyes seemed to question me if everything was alright, and I simply whispered, "Don't worry."

There we waited - both Adam and me - until I heard Rhaegar asking, "Are you busy, today? If you aren't, I wanna invite both of you to a meal. I know you're hungry."

"Yes, great ser."

"No, great ser." I ignored Adam and continued, "It's my pleasure. I'm indeed famished and - " I stopped talking when I saw a familiar figure approaching us - good old Ser Barristan.