Stranger's Curse or Gift?

Cersei looked dazedly on at Alexios as Joffrey looked at Alexios then back at his mother and repeating the action. "It is an honor to meet you two, young prince Joffrey Baratheon and her majesty Cersei Baratheon. It is a pleasure to finally make you acquaintances." The words surrounded the two as Cersei finally came out of her daze and tried to smile ever so slightly. She knew her words had to be chosen carefully and so she thought about it carefully.

Joffrey though had no such thoughts as he puffed out his chest and stepped forwards before his arm was firmly grabbed by his mother who glared at him. Alexios's lips arched upwards into a smirk and he proceeded to step towards Robert. "I hope you had a pleasant trip my king." Robert looked at him for a moment before recollection hit him and he smiled before laughing out loudly.

"Ah! Alexios! I hope you can whip my men into shape or is your skill just rumors? Haha." The smirk that formed started to recede before Alexios looked at Robert's laughing form wondering how such a man could be on the throne when so many better prospects were available. "I will hope to live up to your expectations of me, my king." A short and simple answer was all it took before Robert soon lost interest before chatting with his friend Eddard. So this day was filled with greetings and a jolly atmosphere that led into the night.

As Alexios went to his lounge, he saw a cloaked figure ahead of him that ducked into the off road next to them. He naturally followed even though he was alone at this time without his main weapon or armor. As he stepped into the ally, he found the figure standing before him waiting for his approach. His senses didn't pick up any danger so he held no worry or fear, just his normal preparation on what could happen. As he approached, he noticed something very wrong with the person in front of him that disturbed him greatly.

The person in front of Alexios wore a black worn down cloak that covered most of their body except their forearms, hands, and feet. As Alexios inspected the person, he saw the strange person's hands were nothing but bones and strands of muscle and flesh keeping them together. He unconsciously took a step back as he grabbed his dagger. "I mean you no harm celestial, I only wish to ask you some questions." Alexios stated dumbfounded at how this was the first time what he presumed to be a undead has ever spoken with a human.

"Speak and possibly we can our separate ways if you truly mean no harm to myself or anyone here." Alexios was no fool to be tricked by simple wording in a person's phrase of speech. "I wish to know why you are here and why you're helping the humans in their tribulation..?" Alexios felt stumped since he had no clear answer for this creature so he simply spoke what came to mind. "I was born as a human on this planet and therefore of course I will help those under my protection; as for why, not even I know as to that answer."

The creature stayed silent for a few moments before the sounds of bones shifting and braking could be heard before an abrupt silence took hold of the area.

"You speak truthfully, you're small amount of divinity show you as young and still being made. In the coming days and nights when the cold reaches past its domain, it will feed your soul with power from the cries and blood spilled on this world. Change is coming and you are between the sides, choose one and take your place in the forefront, gather the power around that will be created. Then, and only then will you become what you are meant to be. If you don't then you will die again, and either you will truly die or have to go to another world to continue your trial young one."

With the final words that brought questions to Alexios in the droves, the creature sunk into a black miasma shaped portal in the ground. The creature looked up for the first time as it went down into the portal and its eerily glowing greenish purple eyes bore into Alexios till the creature held its hand up. Before its hand dropped into the portal, a single drop of green blood like liquid came from the finger of the creature and floated in place. Alexios looked at it with curiosity and muttered under his breath about old beings and their stupid riddles. It all gave him a headache but nonetheless he approached the droplet hoping his instincts weren't betraying him right now.

As he reached out, the droplet sprung towards his hands stretching and starting to cover his finger and working it's way closer up his arm. He panicked and tried to remove the weird slime like thing from him but to no avail. As his heart beat raised, he sent a distressed single to his blood guard via their bond. He stumbled backwards till he fell down only to see the slime like thing lurch forward and entering into his mouth, eyes, nose, and ears. Wanting to hurl and to bash his head against the wall because of the pain he was feeling, he soon found his relief in puking next to himself.

On all fours with bones cracking and with bloodshot eyes, he screamed in pain to the night sky hearing the sound of hurried footsteps. As he puked again this time black blood, his eyes met with his blood guard all looking at him in a panic. His hands broke and healed till his fingers turned into claws, his back groaned from the pressure as his frame became more dense and durable. The bones in his feet adjusted till the were more flexible and durable making him more agile and more in control over his agility. He wanted to scream when his face started to change, his teeth becoming sharper, his red eyes now having a tinge of gold, ears becoming slightly pointed and longer, the pigment in his pitch black hair changing till his hair turned silver.

Alexios unfortunately slept for over two days, the entire time his blood guard was watching over him in the guest room of house Stark. Eddard had actually verbally fought with Robert about seeing him since it would cause alarm. Being the king, Robert got what he wanted and he was not pleased. The first thought that came to mind for many was that Alexios Dragen was in some way connected to some devil or the like. It did not go well when it was brought up in a meeting with Eddard and his advisors along with Robert and the people he brought. Most saying he should be killed on the spot or to have a trial after he awakens.

Most of it was just frustrating for Eddard as he knew all too well why most wanted Alexios out of the way. He held a lot of land that could be taken. He was a rich man that help more resources and connections than most people in a single realm held. It also didn't help that Cersei was flaming the fires the entire time trying to get into everyone's ear. By this point, Eddard just wanted Alexios to wake up and explain himself.

Reanna was shocked looking at Alexios as he slept, she thought that he almost looked somewhat similar to her original appearance. It made her curious as to what exactly happened before they came and found him. All she could do was wait till then. Toros was already organizing everyone along with Lucius for protective measures as they were all too aware of what this incident might've caused.

To them as long as it wasn't something that would hurt Alexios, they didn't care too much. That wasn't to say that it didn't bring up questions among the group. Some being what caused it, what happened when he left them earlier that night, when would he wake, and some more along the lines. Lucius had ridden back to Snake mount as soon as the event happened to gather the other blood guard which made everyone more tense. Seeing eight warriors each on a fine stallion with armor that can only rival each other appear with over twenty fully armed and well equipped soldiers was quite surprising to Eddard and everyone at Winterfell.

On the third day, Alexios arose sharply from his bed into sitting position and gripped his head as a spiral of memories and information invaded his mind. He gritted his teeth bout to lose his consciousness once again before he was embraced by a warm and comforting embrace that eased his pain slightly. His teeth reinforced now could only endure the stress he was putting on them from biting so hard till the end. As the sweat rolled down his face and body, he looked at Reana. "Gather everyone together, we're leaving for home, we must prepare for war discreetly. I will tell lord Stark that we will be departing in the hour."