The Mummer's Dragon

[Edric's POV]

What I had learned over time was that my leadership perks not only translated in battle but also most things in general - like labour. If I was around and partaking in it, even more so. As such, I joined in with the group clearing out the unwanted weirwoods. 

I started with the tree poking into the kitchen, cutting the branch right off and then dealing with it from the other side. Then I joined the men in the yard and began chopping the small forest down. These trees had no faces, as seemingly no one had been there to carve them. Yet, they were strange all the same.

Chop.

Chop.

The world around me shifted, bit by bit, until I stood in a field of snow on the other side of the wall.

I love and hate these trees… what now, a vision of the past?

Before me, I saw a majestic figure of ice in the shape of a woman. Long was her hair, silver in the moonlight. It was an eerily beautiful thing… an Other, undoubtedly, as she possessed blueish white skin and eyes like blue stars.

Personally, not my type, but…

I looked further on, to Wall and saw another figure, clad in black. Though distant and high up, my eyes could see him well enough. It was only a moment before I understood what this was.

Yeah. That's his type.

Before long, he mounted a horse and rode out from the gate to chase the Other. I remained still, turning to the weirwood forest behind me where the chase had continued. Even though I hadn't moved, my body shifted to the next tree… and the next until the man had finally chased her down. 

This won't end well, I reckon. 

I watched him catch her and, despite very likely having enough strength to break him, she didn't seem to put up much of a fight. They coiled in the snow and got… active. I glanced back at the frowning tree, raising an eyebrow.

Do I have to see this part?

The tree cried red tears, though truly it was just overbuilt sap leaving its carved eyes. It gave the vibe that it was telling me, 'I had to sit through this, so you have to as well'. Reluctantly, and most awkwardly, I watched the Night's King give the 'corpse queen' a tumbling.

Halfway through, I wondered if his pecker would freeze off and snap... it didn't, to my disappointment. That would've at least made me laugh. Instead, he gave her his seed, and the light from his eyes seemed to fade, almost as if his soul had been ripped away.

The scene shifted as he returned to the Nightfort beside his new woman. It was quite the formidable castle, sprawling with black brothers and well fortified. A proper stronghold that didn't allow easy access from the south - unlike the other castles along the Wall I had observed. There were more men in there than in the entire Night's Watch of today.

He declared her a queen first, before naming himself her king. While some rallied under this declaration, others looked more uncertain. The next I saw of him, the entire Night's Watch had bent to his will. His body had changed as a layer of ice covered half of his face. One of his eyes shifted from grey to piercing blue - slowly resembling an Other day by day.

The once vigorous Lord Commander was more lethargic, lifeless and ruthless. His disregard for the men he once called brothers was clear enough to see, as he would often sacrifice them to fuel some sort of ritual.

Though, originally, he gave the impression that the corpse queen controlled him... that seemed to change as well. As his body changed, so too did his will. With each year, he resembled the Night's King more than the last.

War would come to him, from north and south...

And that's where it ended.

I stood in the same place as I was before, observing the fallen weirwoods.

That... certainly quenched some of my curiosity, though it only left more answers. Had the Night's King truly fallen - or did he escape this predicament? He had slowly begun to resemble an Other... was he, in fact, the Night King or were the names merely coincidence? The truth was unclear.

Getting cliffhung by a tree...

I chuckled, continuing on with clearing out the yard. Though, my opinions of the weirwood trees had changed. If I could properly wield my greenseer abilities rather than stumble my way, they would allow me to be almost all-knowing. Whatever the trees see, I would as well. As such, I made sure to gather all the seeds and store them away. Also, I kept a tree in the main yard.

...

One of these days, I poked around and saw that Donal Noye had gotten the forge up and running. It had gone from a decrepit workspace from another age to a proper castle's forge rather swiftly. I watched the smith at work, being able to perform his duties with only a single arm - only being helped by another sworn brother every once in a while. He took pride in his work; that was clear to see. Nothing he made was subpar or half-assed.

It reminded me of the smith in Storm's End who taught me.

"You look more like your father in his youth with each passing day, Your Grace." He suddenly spoke, glancing at me.

"I've been getting that remark quite a bit." I chuckled.

"Have you need of me?"

"In part, yes." I nodded. "In my battle with the Others, I had broken my Warhammer - the same Warhammer my father had used to crush Rhaegar Targaryen at the Trident. It is a weapon I've grown quite fond of. Since you were the man who forged it, I wonder if you could make another... or, better yet, teach me how to."

"Teach you, Your Grace? It is not something you can choose to learn on a whim. Such a trade takes years to properly grasp, even for the quickest learners. I believe your precious time would be better spent. As for forging another Warhammer of the same quality... it might prove difficult with only one arm, but it is within my ability."

"With all due respect, it is not up to you whether or not I am capable of learning. I simply ask you to teach. Besides, I am not green when it comes to blacksmithing." I countered, shaking my head. "I've practised for over a year and frequently observed the trade whenever I had the free time. I dare say that I am more effective and well-versed than most apprentices who have practised for two or even three years."

"... Is that so?" Donal Noye looked surprised, yet he didn't seem to doubt my statements. "Even so, what do you seek from this trade? It most certainly cannot be gold."

"At first, it was a past-time... a trade I was fond of. Now, it means far more than that. If I do not master this craft, I fear I might not be properly equipped to face whatever terrors may arise in the coming years." I looked at him with a serious expression. "To cut it plainly, my success in this regard might just make the difference between whether or not we see another spring."

"... How so?"

"Part of it is prophecy, the other speculation. I believe that my magic might aid in forging a weapon capable of withstanding my full might. If I cannot fight at my best, well..."

"I'm not one for prophecies, Your Grace. I believe every man has a choice in the lives they lead."

"I'd like to believe that as well." I half-smiled. "Though I will not master smithing in one go, I at least seek to gain as much knowledge from you as I can so that I might put it into practice when I am able."

"If you're so adamant about it, I am hard pressed to reject, Your Grace." He nodded. "First, I need to know where you stand. Forge me a tool or weapon of your choice. I will grade your efficiency, speed and quality."

"I might be a little rusty…" I admitted, recalling the last time I cooked anything up in a forge. It was right before my life went upside down.

"You're not old enough to be rusty at anything." Donal Noye remarked with a humoured tone.

"Fair, fair." I laughed. "You're right."

I got straight to work.

~

[Daenerys' POV]

The Sons of the Harpy remained adamant in their fight, killing Unsullied, freedmen and 'shavepates' who supported her rule each and every day. Their war from the shadows was not something she was accustomed to, nor knew how to combat. The Unsullied were trained for direct battle, no less. They were just as inexperienced in this field.

She had made a new city watch named the Brazen Beasts, formed out of native Meereenese freedmen and shavepates, to combat the Sons of the Harpy and keep the peace. Under the suggestion of one of her advisors, she also demanded hostages from the noble families of Meereen to dissuade further murders. Alas, when it came to executing them once the killings continued... she could not, having grown fond of the hostages.

Hizdahr Zo Loraq had promised to bring ninety days of peace with no killings in order to win her consideration in marriage. Though she had no desire for him, she did want peace for Meereen. The moons would go by... with no killings to speak of.

The peace was a breath of fresh air, though her advisors found it suspicious that Hizdahr Zo Loraq could ensure that no Harpy killings would occur during this period. This was no certainty, however... and she was desperate enough for peace to consider him.

There was also the Siege of Astapor, initiated by a Yunkish army which had rebelled against her. They would sack the city, and a bloody flux would break out, killing three men in every four. In turn, the Yunkai'i seal the gates to keep the dead and dying within the city walls.

So far, her actions had brought mostly death, destruction and chaos upon Slaver's Bay... despite her good intentions.

When the 90th day of peace in Meereen came, Daenerys observed a giant fleet that smothered the ports from her Great Pyramid.

"Khaleesi, it is the Golden Company." Ser Barristan had informed her. "Their leadership seeks an audience... along with a man they claim to be Prince Aegon of House Targaryen, your nephew."

"Aegon...?" Daenerys looked at Barristan with bewilderment. As far as she was concerned, Aegon had died in the sack of King's Landing - brutalised by Tywin Lannister's dogs. "That can't be true."

"It is what they say." Barristan didn't look too convinced, either. "I find it strange as well, for the Golden Company has famously served only Blackfyre rebel Kings. They were formed for that very purpose... yet, even if they changed their stance in this regard, I cannot believe that Aegon had survived the Sacking of King's Landing. As much as I would wish it to be true... it is likely a farce."

"... What would you advise me to do?" Daenerys questioned, feeling conflicted. She wanted it to be the truth... yet it seemed too good to be so.

She recalled the day her brother once feasted the Golden Company's captains in hopes of winning their support. They heard his pleas, ate his food and laughed at him. She was little then... but the memory was not something she had forgotten.

"From what I hear, they have come a long way. The Golden Company is not a force you wish to have against you, least of all now. I would advise treating them with courtesy."

"I will hear them out."

Daenerys decided.

...

'Aegon Targaryen' led the group of officers, dressed in black regal attire with the sigil of his supposed house. His hair was silver-blonde, and he possessed dark violet eyes, that looked almost blue. His height and build were greater than the average man, though a farcry from Edric Storm. He had handsome features as well... and an air of confidence.

Daenerys couldn't deny that he, at the very least, looked the part of a Targaryen prince.

"You stand in the presence of Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, the First of Her Name, Rightful Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Protector of the Seven Kingdoms, the Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, the Unburnt, the Breaker of Shackles and the Mother of Dragons."

Missandei proclaimed, while Daenerys remained seated on her throne.

"It is a pleasure to meet face to face at last." Aegon smiled courteously, stepping forward. "I take it you've heard of me recently?"

"That, I have. You claim to be Prince Aegon, my nephew," Daenerys remarked.

"It is not a claim." An older man beside him countered. "It is the truth."

"And you are?" Daenerys raised an eyebrow.

"Jon Connington, princess. I squired alongside and for your brother, Prince Rhaegar. I was one of his dear friends, even serving as your father's Hand once. I would not make a lie of this matter... for Prince Rhaegar was a man I most admired and loved."

"... I see." Daenerys could see that he was genuine, yet it could be very well be true that he was lied to. "I doubt you've travelled so far with such a force to merely exchange pleasantries. Why are you here, truly, Prince Aegon?"

"I propose an alliance." Aegon went straight to the point, looking right up to her. "Let us marry and unite our forces. Your dragons, the Unsullied and the Golden Company. We have ten thousand men who are disciplined like no other, two dozen elephants trained for war and five hundred knights. The Golden Company's treasury can afford a fleet large enough to sail to the Seven Kingdoms. To our home."

"Once we land, Houses will flock to our cause and rebel against the Usurper's bastard for their rightful king and queen. In time, we will certainly defeat him and reclaim the Iron Throne."

He offered his hand, speaking of victory as if it was certain.

"What say you, aunt? You could abandon this hopeless endeavour for a far greater prize..."