Chapter 10: Life in the final Moments of the Doom 3

We soon began our journey back to the Tree stump. Flying across the ruins is a surreal feeling. We were able to enjoy it together specially with the absence of a demon. Though our fun had to stop at some point. The magic in the air is slowly leaving. Fearing for what it meant we made sure to charge our equipments and swords.

We landed upon the tree and dispelled our wings. We saw a man standing in the middle. Giggling and laughter echoed around him as lights danced around him. As we got closer his features became more aparent. White haired and bearded, and a white toga adorned with golden edges. His clothes barely covering his chiseled body. It was the Father himself, as made evident with his golden balance scale. I admit, he looks a lot like Zeus from God of War.

"You have done well children. Thanks to you, this souls may finally find peace."

"I doubt it would have have been possible without your aid." I replied with a small bow.

" *HaHaHa*. You sell yourself short. What you did today bought us time. A hundred years to be precise." We were surprised by that. "So even at the event of your death, whether you succeed or not. There is still hope for this world.

Though we cannot give you much, I pray this is enough." He then gave us a pair of feathers. Mine silver with blue edges. Elise's feather is Gold with red edges.

As soon as touched them, they melted into out skin. And then I felt weight at my back. Looking behind I saw a pair of wings. I ran my fingers accross them feeling them in my hands and feeling my hands from my wings. " ...wow"

*kyaaaaa!!!* My attention snapped to Elise hearing her squeel. She has wrapped herself in her wings like an egg. Nuzzling her cheeks against them.

*hahahaha* I couldn't help but laugh at Elise's reaction. Though the fact that she has decided to wrap herself up in her gold and red wings, says alot about how usefull she would be at the coming days. Still it was nice seeing her be very happy. She looked a little too cute.

I then gave an apologetic smile to the Father himself. He simply nodded his head in understanding.

"Thank you children, and good luck."

When he vanished in motes of light, a small pouch fell. When I picked it up and looked inside, I found. seeds. Weirwood tree seeds.

I stretched my wings. It felt very natural to me. Just like using my own limbs. I walked to Elise and gave her a kiss on her temple, making her laugh softly. That got her attention.

"Come on love. We can't linger. The doom is gone, and the magic is disappearing. Soon people will be flocking to this lands. We have to be gone by then."

She nodded in understanding. "You're right. So, back to Tanwen, one last time?" I nodded at right.

Flying with my own wings was incredible. Feeling the wind in my wings. They give me a sort of confidence in the air. We did a lot of acrobatic moves in the air. Still mixing air burst/fire burst to better our manuverabilty and speed. We arrived at Tanwen's side after a couple of hours of flying. Landing at the top close to her. I felt her life, slowly sliping away.

"You have done me a great service my friends. Thank you..." Her voice a bit cracked by small sobs.

Elise was beside her in an instant and hugged her nose. I walked beside her and ran my hand on her scaled cheek.

She turned to the crying Elise. "It is alright my dear... I have been waiting for this for a long time."

"What are the burrial rights of a dragon?" I asked hoping to grant it to her.

"There is none, though I would be honored if you would take my flesh. It has been a time honored tradition and a mark of honor for dragon's to serve as armor or arms for the decendants of their riders. You may not be mine, but it would be an honor to be service to your line."

Elise nodded. "We would be honored Tanwen."

"I must ask but please say no if you wish, either answer will make me happy." looking to the skeleton and then to me. I spoke before she could.

"You may. Go on." I said softly. She was surprised at first but the gratitude shining through her big eyes bought me joy. I gave her a reassuring nod.

"...Thank you."

A dragon lords burial tradition. Simple enough, cremation by dragonfire. I took Elise's hand took a few steps back. Then Tanwen releassed a steady stream of fire towards the skeleton.

After ten whole minutes, there was nothing but ash. Ashes that she scattered with the wind. Along a mighty roar. After that she fell with a *THUD!*. Elesis was at her side instantly, softly petting Tanwen.

The armor though is badly melted. The dragon fire destroyed the enchantments in the armor after eight minutes of steady fire, rendering it useless. Yet for some reason I don't regret my choice.

After several minutes of silence Tanwen spoke. "Take them please, these are all I can give you. It is not enough compared to what you have both done, for all of us. But I hope one day, it just may be." She shook her left wing and lifted her wings. Tucked underneath it is another of those expanded bags, and just like the first one it was a stylish utility belt. This one was burgundy in color.

Elesis stepped forward and then removed her current waist bag and gave it to me. She then put the belt around her waist. Once she put hers on. It automatically resized. 'Not bad'. I then put the waist bag around my waist.

"Take care of them my dear." She asked Elise.

"I will, I promisse. I will raise them as my own." her voice cracking in between sobs.

"Take care of her, Ronan."

"I will, with all I have."

She then released a lengthy breath... and she was gone. I held Elise as she cried.

We spent the next five days in mourning and packing everything. Taking stock of our inventory. And reforging our swords. The daggers combined was enough for a longsword but added to that, is another longsword inside her inventory right beside two dragon eggs. And another valyrian steel greatsword, just hidden by the rocky covering of the last dragonlord's sword.

The change is smaller compared to what I thought. But then again our equipment is at it's peak at the moment compared to when we started. Though the change is small doesn't make it insignificant. Now channeling the elements at a faster rate. The innate darkness and light now instantaneous. And larger magical capacity for larger spells. Which also extends to larger magical storage. I didn't use up all the Valyrian steel so I made minor upgrades to our armor. A simple upgrade in storage capacity and increasing it's over all strength. Making them far more resilient.

The last thing is also the most insignificant. Simply changing the bag holding the wallet sized storage into a thigh bag. Upgrading it with some defensive abilities but also a blood lock and a magic beacon. Just incase someone steels it, or we lost it.

With all the dragon parts we had, I made jewels and clothes. Knowing the vanity needed to be displayed in society, I made sure to make them grander in look. That and I wanted to lift Elise's spirit for a little bit. She designed them while I made them. We really enjoyed it, so much so I actually suggested we do it again someday. She beamed at that. I Enchanted the clothes of course. Poison resistance above all. And a pletora of anti assasination enchantments. Even against the sorcerous attempts like the face less men. And the next one is that no one can remove her clothes without her express permission.

We are currently high up in the sky. Hidden under the cover of the night sky. Looking down at the ruins.

"Are you ready?" I asked looking at her

"...yeah. Let's go." She then turned and flew off.

Looking back one last time. '...thank you'. Despite the harshness and danger of this lands. They gave me the means to find peace regarding my beloved's safety. Strengthened us and woke us to the reality of this world.

Turning back I saw Elise waiting for me with a soft smile on her face. Now for our next adventure.

~~~~~~ 1 year Later ~~~~~~

Captain POV

Knock* Knock* Knock*

"You may enter." A soft voice answered.

Opening the door I saw my esteemed passengers. He is currently scribbingly away with currently the most expensive invention they have that every body craved, 'The Fountain Pen'. Leaning on his shoulders is his beautiful wife. "My lord and lady, apologies for the intrusion but we have arrived."

"No need for apologies captain. Thank you for informing us. We'll be out in but a few minutes." The Lady replied softly.

"At once my lady."

My name is Moors, I am the most capable captain in all of Pentos' fleet. So much so that I am already guaranteed the position of admiral in Ten years time. Or when one of them admirals died before their retirement.

I then closed the door. I released a breath I didn't notice I had been holding. Usually the words of the lady holds no merit in conversations in the presence of the lord but this peole are different. My current passengers are Lord and Lady Sieghart.

Currently the most prominent house in pentos. The whispers surrounding them are more unbelivable than the next.

They were a married couple known to posses great wealth. Pentos is where they have settled for the past ten months. During their time there, Pentos received an unprecidented rise in power. And it all started with the two.

They say the two people were but mere merchants at the start. Selling incredible quality cloths and fabrics to the masses at incredibly cheap price. So cheap even a commoner can actually buy one. Their expensive ones are far above the rest that to wear one has become proof of wealth. You can no longer meet prominent Lords and Ladies that don't wear their cloths.

And of course their most selling, their 'gilded accessories'. I myself is wearing one now. My belt buckle has a sculpted ship on it. What made it incredible is that it is Gilded with gold. Looking at it alone could fetch it for at least 10 gold coins but in truth I bought it for only 'one' gold coin.

The cost of their products was so low people from Myr, Tyrosh, Norvos and even from Westeros sailed to Pentos to buy one or have something comissioned.

Lords offered lands and titles to bring them into the fold. They declined them all. Thieves didn't fair any better, none succeeded but they brushed it to the side. Assasins on the other hand are a different matter entirely. Not only are the assasins displayed for all to see, their gruesome death and the look of horror and suffering in their faces, those that hired them died aswell. Ever since then only fools tried.

Another thing to be envious of them was their popularity.

eight months ago, the Dothraki came. Our magisters were ready, Slaves and gold were prepared for the peace offering, the march to the meeting point was simple and routine. What we didn't expect was their attack.

A surviving rider was abe to return to Pentos. We were told of the Dothraki attacking them with no warnings. Killing and stealing everything and everyone. A messenger was sent to determine the truth. He returned with his arms removed and tied to his back and his torso tied to the horse with one wooden board with two words written in it. 'No Mistake'. That had the magisters rallying their forces in the defense of Pentos. While some decided to pack off and run. The khalasar would arrive in two months.

While everyone was clamoring about the impending invasion, a tale spread across the masses the next morning.

The Siegharts were known to worship R'hllor, The Old Gods and the Seven. Their altar was outside their house and could be seen just over their waist high fence. A weirwood tree as evident by the face is actually a heart tree, and around it the seven. Gathered like a family. Sculptures of incredible make, each made out of pure white stone.

It was beautiful really. Many were at first baffled but a conversation regarding religion with them will have anyone questioning theirs. People are allowed to pray to it, I myself have. And I am not ashamed to say I felt like a weight on my shoulders were lifted. As is with everyone.

According to the rumors is that Lord Sieghart actually invited the man personally to pray. And so he did. As soon as he finished, the Mother holding a pitcher actually released water from it. Said rider then looked to it and drank the water. Come morning the next day he was seen laughing and praying but this time his arms were intact. You could see the scar from where it was cut but they were indeed attached and working arms.

That had the people scared, magic is performed by human sacrifice after all. Until one desperate mother holding her baby came. I was there. She knelt before the mother and prayed, beg for her child's life. The child caught the pox it would seem. And it was dying. Soon the water flowed through it again. She took a cup full and fed it to the baby. Half an hour later, the baby's color began to get better, after that the breath became even and steady. And after an entire hour pass, the baby was giggling and gurgling at it's mothers arms that continued to kiss the Mothers feet.

After an entire week it became a sacred place for the people. As any form of illness was cured, so long as you were truthful.

A man who had lost his hand came pushing through the crowed. He then prayed, but no answer came. Again and again he tried. But no water flowed. He was then made to move by the rider who was first healed. Said man has taken it upon himself to guard it. The brute stepped back until one child's prayer was answered. But before said girl could drink she was shoved aside harshly and her cup of water was taken by force. The brute drank it. And threw a copper coin at the girl and walked away laughing. But then he keeled over screaming.

That was when another 'miracle' occured.

The Warrior suddenly moved. The peopld fell on their asses and stepped aside as it walked. It's heavy footfalls creating a resounding *THUD!* with each step. He then reached the brute and grabbed him by the neck and lifted him up.

"You murdered men and women. Only to fill your greed, and take what is not earned by you. You raped women and children. Only to fulfill your vile desires. And yet you pray to us for forgiveness. You must first pay for your sins, before you can be forgiven." said The Warrior.

He then drove his stone sword through the brute. And walked back to his previous position. Standing slightly behind the Mother and the Maiden. His position as if to safeguard them.

The story spread far and wide. And the faith grew. One they soon called the True Faith. After all the miracles continue. A little girl offered a flower to the maiden by planting it near her. And the Maiden actually smiled and knelt beside said girl and helped planting the flower. And the maiden rewarded her with a seed.

This inturn prompted offerings. A blacksmith that received inspiration after praying to the Smith, offered the Warrior his creation. A fine sword it was. Enough to be called a Lords weapon. The warrior took it with gratitude. And then it gave him a seed.

Said seed bloomed into a weirwood tree in just two weeks, already as half tall as a man. And it's very presence is said to invigorate the smith. Causing him to work longer but also better. Soon people had weirwood trees in their yards and homes. Sculpted statues of the Seven arrayed around them.

One family made it so they were having dinner. Another made it so they were simply relaxing. It was of all kinds. There was even one where they were as if playing. It became a tradition for a family to sculp their own figures. Specially since they saw Lord Sieghart do it himself.

And the one that solidified the love of the people to House Sieghart. A month before the invasion as everyone was preparing, a freak storm came from the horizon. And to everyone's fears, we all saw a giant wave of water closing in on Pentos. It was huge. Easily twice the height of a Lords' mansion.

I myself felt despair. But hope came from several roars. It came from the Weirwood trees. They were all roaring with what seemed to be a mouth in its trunk. Seconds later, another much louder roar came. It was the heart tree.

And then right before our eyes, A wall of water twice higher than the wave defended Pentos. We all watched as that water wall stayed there for five minutes until it began to lower itself slowly. The storm was no more. The calm sea right before us, I felt relief as I hugged my wife and son.

'The Miracle of Old Gods' Is what they called it.

Morning came and as it bacame practice for the men. We stretched with both arms in welcome to the sun. A simple 'Praise the sun.'

When someone asked Lord Sieghart how he worships R'hllor known for it's hunger for human sacrifices all listened.

He said that gods do not need sacrifices. It is merely their followers that fail to hear his true voice. 'For what god requires man's death but those that do not know life.' He wakes in the morning, stretches himself and simply praise the sun. For another day has come.

Though it was said that Lady Elesis didn't like it. And so only the men do it. Time passed peacefully and then the khalasar came. Women and children are on the ships ready to set sail just incase.

Our forces of three thousand men. Against the invading force of twenty thousand. It was a battle that would be remembered for generations to come.