Chapter 13 Aina

Aina sat Beside her husband on a gilded throne in a fielded gathering. Melkor sat at the head of the gathering to Aina's left. He exuded an aura of malice, his arms rested upon the throne, his hands folded together as his eyes bored into those who knelt before him. 

Brandon Stark and his uncles knelt before the assembled council to judge what to do with the survivors of the flood. 

Around the pavilion stood dozens of children of the forest, Giants, and Greenmen. Few sat in wooden thrones like Melkors. All of them were leaders of small clans of the few fleeing children and giants who wished no part in the war with the race of man any longer. 

But the most important one of these leaders stood directly behind Eoghan who sat beside Melkor as well, was the Giant King Jormun. 

Jormun was massive even by giant standards. He stood twenty-five feet tall, gilded in furs and wood as makeshift armor, and wielded a club half his size. 

He had a receding hairline but made up for it with his massive beard that grew from nose to chest. 

Jormun had arrived after the alliance of men was utterly annihilated by Melkor and his newfound magic, which was nowhere near the power he once wielded, but to him, some kind of power was better than none. 

And now he was comparable to some of the weaker Maiar. But soon his powers would return. 

Jormun had rallied a force of five thousand strong, three thousand giants, and the rest children of the forest. He had received Eoghan's message through the weirwood but in his panic to gather his forces, he had forgotten to send a message back that he was on his way. 

But as Jormun arrived at the tower, there was no army left. What lay around the tower was but a great rushing river that cut the land in two. 

Aina's eyes roamed across all those who had come to the gathering, none sticking out to her except for Brandon Stark and his five uncles who now kneeled before her and her husband. 

Aina's attention was grabbed by a pair of little hands reaching up trying to grab onto Aina's loose flowing hair that shined like the moon. 

In Aina's lap, she cradled an infant girl wrapped in black silk, her hair was a mix between her parents, black and white. But her eyes were all her father's, blood red. 

Aina tickled little Faervedess. "you are so 'CUTE'!" Aina Cooed. 

Faervedess burst out laughing at her mother's over-affection. 

Aina looked up from her pampering and looked at all those staring at her. 

Instead of stopping because of embarrassment or out of courtesy, Aina looked back at all those who stared at her with a glare that promised pain and suffering. 

Melkor chuckled as he watched all those on the receiving end of Ania's death threat as they all shit themselves.

Melkor composed himself as he looked at the men kneeling before him. 

"Brandon Stark, you kneel before me and my wife after you faced defeat against my overwhelming might." 

Brandon Stark didn't react. He just kneeled there, unmoving like a mountain against the howling winds of a storm. 

Melkor's eyebrow rose, "Did you lose your tongue in battle young lord, or are you so shamed by defeat that you refuse to speak to your betters?"

  Brandon Stark looked up to where Melkor sat. His face was as empty as a desert. "How? No one could achieve such a magical feat. Not me, my father, my grandfather who was a GOD! But you were, who are... no, what are you? 

Melkor smirked at the shell-shocked lord, "It's exactly what you say Stark. Not even a god could pull off what I have achieved. Unless, I, was a god greater than your beloved Grandfather." 

Brandon and his uncles looked wide-eyed at Melkor as he revealed what he truly was. 

Brandon was left agape. Jon the Oak broke the silence "Why would a god interfere with the affairs of mortals? Are you one of the gods the children preach so much about?" 

Melkor shook his head "You could say that, but no, I am not one of the old gods my compatriots worship. No, what I am is so much more. But I have met the old gods, and they have all agreed to lend me their power till mine returns, and until then, I shall build a home here, for my family, and as your King." 

Garth the Gardner spoke up, "We are already kings of our lands, what lands do you control, even if we acknowledged you as king, the other kings and Magnars south of here would never accept someone like you." Garth spat. 

Melkor smirked at the belligerent king "You speak as if you have a choice in this matter. I do not care what you call yourself, kings, or magnars, but I am not king of some small patch of land like you, no. I shall be the first king of all of Westeros."

  Silence swallowed the field. No man woman child, Greenman, nor giant has claimed the title of king of Westeros. 

"Swear allegiance to me and my family, and your lives shall be spared, your lands returned to you, and rewarded beyond your wildest dreams."

With hesitance, the captured lords and kings swore fealty to their captors, till the last to swear was Brandon Stark. 

"Hesitant are we Lord Stark?" Melkor asked 

"Brandon kneeled on one knee as he shook his head. "No, your grace." 

Melkor smirked, "Then swear."

"I, Brandon Stark, Lord of Winterfell, son of Brandon Stark the Bloody Blade, Grandson of Garth Greenhand, here, do by swear my fealty to his grace Melkor The first king of Westeros for the rest of my days, house Stark shall answer his call no matter the season, we shall share mead at our hearth, and my children after will answer your call long after me." 

As Brandon Stark kneeled there, unmoving, a hand was offered to him. Melkor stood above him. "Stand up Brandon Stark, KING of the North, loyal vassal to the first Elder King of Westeros." 

Brandon Accepted Melkor's hand helping him out of the dirt. Shocked that his former enemy was now treating him with such respect. 

Melkor turned to the other lords and Kings. Return to your lands and gather your strength, conquer your neighbors, take as much land as you can, and prepare for the day I call upon you, and should you be gone before I call for you, prepare your sons for my call." 

Garth was confused, "You speak as if you know of a coming danger." 

"Because I do, there is a great enemy coming from the deep north. I don't know when, but I know with the land divided fighting against each other, you are not ready for that fight." 

"Then you'll need all the help you can get." Melkor turned to who just spoke

"Eoghan? What do you mean?"

Eoghan chuckled. "I and the elders have agreed you have brought us great victory over the race of man, but if you say there is a coming danger beyond the race of man, we wish to help as well. This land is our home as well." 

Brandon nodded in thanks to the elder Greenman. 

Eoghan nodded back. "That does not mean my people have forgiven the race of man, but for now we can put our grievances aside for this coming danger, and I along with the elders and Jormun shall swear to you as our king, as long as you tell us more of this danger." 

Melkor smiled and nodded. "OF course, Friend" 

Eoghan Smiled at Melkor's acknowledgment of friendship. 

"I guess that means I need to kneel as well." Melkor turned to Beorn who looked quite the unhappy one with the news of kneeling to the man he found naked at his front door.

Melkor smiled at Beorn. "You have every right to not kneel for as long as you live Beorn, live as you wish. You protected my child when I was not there. And that is a debt I can not repay to you. 

Beorn Snorted "Bah. I'll kneel to ya' your 'Greatness' but don't think I'll forget you'll owe me." 

Melkor chuckled, "Of course not my friend." 

Melkor turned his head to Aina. "I plan to make this world a safe home for my family, and I shall need all the help I need."