The One in Black

Right, another chapter after a long period of nothing. This chapter has been updated over the course of like three months of edits and touch-ups. It ain't the best but I figured y'all were getting bored of nothing entertaining being out there so I though I would give my loyal readers something to quench their thirst with. 

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Melkor stood before the Valyrian families with a wide smirk across his face. The seven-foot figure was clad in immaculate armor of midnight, and fine silk that shone like the depths of the blackness of the ocean. 

Melkor limped forward, putting his weight on a finely silver-carved cane.

Atop Melkors brow laid a beautiful circlet crown of pitch-black Iron.

Behind the far more mortal-looking Melkor strode a man in fine white silks, perfectly contrasting Melkor in coloring and attitude.

As Melkor was coated in darkness and exuded a sense of cruelty and mischievousness, Annatar showed very little emotion at all. He strode stoically, showing little but giving a sense of calm and collectedness, unlike the smirking Melkor. 

Climbing to the center of the floor Melkor scanned across the now silent Dragonlords and other heads of Houses, smirking at the surprise plastered across the three great family's faces. 

Melkors eyes locked with Balaemar. Sweat had begun to stream down Balaemar's brow, his eyes were as wide as a man being thrown into the maw of a dragon.

Lord Nohgaris and Lady Celeneos stood in the same state of shock as Balaemar. Many other Dragonlords and heads of households stood in the same state of shock but for a very different reason.

As Melkor broke his Gaze from Balaemar he began to address the gathered council, "It is so very good to be back in this room, to see so many new faces, the sons and daughters of the men and women I knew all those years ago." 

Before Melkor could continue he was interrupted by one of the Dragonlords, "I don't know who you are, nor do I care, but to claim to be the First Voice is the highest of transgressions that is so absurd, no sane man would dare to claim what you would." 

The Dragonlord sat back in his seat, a few levels above the ground, showing Melkor he was but an unimportant Dragonlord with little to note.

Melkor's demeanor never wavered before the pompous Dragonlord, "And who are you?" he spoke smoothly 

The Dragonlord couldn't fathom Melkor, a man who had barged into the council, claimed himself the First voice, and now dared to ask who HE was, it was outrageous. 

"I am Lord Gueson, head of house Gueson, I hold the twenty-second seat of the council of Dragonlords, I shall not be questioned by a man who has to cling to a useless title that we Dragonlords have no use for. The First and Second Voices have remained empty for a reason, leave this hall, and I won't have you fed to my dragon."

Melkor merely smirked at the rambling Dragonlord, he watched the other Dragonlords rested back into their seats, agreeing with their compatriot on how he belittled him. 

All the other council members seemed bored or ready to get back to their previous arguments, all the council members were growing tired of this charade, all but Four. 

Lord Dalnareon and his heir stood up straight with respect before the God in disguise with ample amount of fear but seemed calm compared to the other two lords. Lord Nohgaris and Lady Celeneos stood frozen with shock and fear, never had they met Melkor, only hearing his name in the Book of the Birth of Valaryia told to them by their Mothers or fathers who ruled their families before them. 

"I have lived in these lands for many years lord Gueson. I had watched the first spire rise high into the sky, but I have kept myself away from the political world and the people of Valyria for many reasons. My name is not known but to a select few, but I have always kept my ear close to the door of this council. I have listened to a great many things come and go from this room, and none of those great things have ever been associated with the name Gueson."

Lord Gueson's face reddened at Melkor, he sputtered and clawed for words but none came. 

"And now you can't think of a rebuttal, how typical of dimwits such as yourself." Melkor goaded the Dragonlord even more. Raising the ire of not just lord Gueson, but many other Dragonlords seated in the hall.

Lord Gueson continued to stumble over his words until he could finally think of the most rational thing a Dragonlord of his standing could say. 

"I call for Vīlībāzma zaldrīzoti against this pretender!" Lord Gueson shouted, pointing at the towering figure of Melkor. 

The room roared to life at the challenge. The weaker Dragon lord families began to grow excited and yell out their approval at Lord Gueson's challenge. But few lords cared little for Guesons challenge, seeing him as immature and prone to outbursts. eleven men and women seemed either bored out of their minds or slightly interested in the new arrival, knowing the first voice was an ever-elusive figure in Valyrian history. 

The monolith that was Melkor quirked his eyebrow at the challenging Lord. 

"You wish for a battle of Dragons, how immature. You were mocked and belittled by me and you now feel the need to challenge me to an ancient and sacred tradition that is used to prevent wars between the Dragonlords and stop you feeble-minded families from bringing down this freehold I oh so love."

The Dragonlord stewed at Melkors words but was adamant in his actions. "Do you accept the challenge?" The Dragonlord all but shouted at Melkor, wanting to hear the words of approval from him so he could legally under Valaryian laws end the man's life. 

"I will accept the challenge." Gueson's face lit up, ready to call on his dragon and end the upstart here and now. 

"But..."

Guesons scowled at that simple word, there was always a but with something. 

"I must warn you, I am unable to call upon my dragon at this time, for to call upon him would bring fire and brimstone to this Freehold, and it would fall and sink into the ocean, and bring doom for all here."

"I will not hear petty excuses, my dragon shall come, and should yours not be here then it shall be the death of you." 

A great roar resounded within the hall, the great doors opened wide. The floor rumbled and shook as the beast grew closer. 

A great dragon of great walked into the great hall. Having the hall specifically designed for the Dragon Lords and their dragons gave a great amount of room for Lord Gueson's Mount to roam. 

Guesons dragon was a shade of jade, giving the creature magnificence and regality to its aura. Its teeth were as large as a man's arm, and its scales as hard as iron.

Its horns that crowned the great beast twisted and turned into a great crown of ivory that resembled the antlers of a stag. 

Melkor looked up at the hulking dragon, its eyes bore into the smirking god, ready to breathe fire and death onto the small form of the one its master wished burned. 

Melkor looked up at the intimidating beast. If he were any other man he would have pissed himself and begged for forgiveness before the dragonlord. But Unfortunately for Lord Gueson, he was no man. 

"Kneel" The words that rolled off of Melkors tongue sent a feeling of darkness and dread that no one had ever felt before. The air burned, and the world halted as Melkors words rang across the room.

Words had power, and Melkor's power over words was unfathomable. 

The dragon's eyes widened before the dark god as memories and instincts that were not his own rushed through the beast. 

Slowly the Dragon lowered its neck, lowering its body as low to the ground, and bowed to its true master. 

Eyes all around the hall widened at the display, Melkor, the man who claimed to be the first voice had commanded another Dragonlords bonded Dragon to kneel. And that one action brought one raw emotion to the surface of many in the room, an emotion that has saved humanity countless times in numerous situations, Fear. 

Before Lord Gueson could even move Melkor spun around in a flourish to face the Dragonlord, bringing his cane down onto the hard marble floor, Lord Gueson evaporated into a pile of ash. 

Melkor slowly raised his head from the ash that was once Lord Gueson, relishing in the feeling of fear that consumed the hall. 

"Now that that annoyance is out of the way, why don't we get back to the reason for this meeting." Melkor held his ever-present smirk as he stared into the eyes of Balaemar. 

Melkor's eyes broke away before shouting to address the great hall. "Ghiscar has attacked, they wish to conquer us before we grow too powerful, I have revealed myself once again to enact a vote, a vote to call the freehold to war, Stir the Dragons from their slumber, and arm your army to war, for the Ghiscari wish to enslave us just as they have done to many other!"

Silence broke out in the hall. The actions that had just taken place seemed to break the minds of almost every person here. 

Lord Balaemar was the lone soul that spoke up. "I second the vote." 

Then all hell broke loose, all notion of Lord Gueson being incinerated to ash all but fled all those minds in the hall. Calls for war rang through the hall, demanding they burn all of Ghiscar to the ground.

"Then it is decided. The freehold shall march to war, and let it be known in the annals of history that we were not the aggressors but the one that was attacked." Melkor riled up the hall even more, many men and women began swarming past Melkor and Annatar past the doors to their dragons to call their families to war.

 All that were left in the hall were Melkor, Annatar, the three greatest Dragonlords, and an heir. 

"Well, it is truly great to see the heirs of those farmers I found grow to such heights. The Valyrians visibly shuttered under Melkors words, for they truly knew the Valyrian origin. They did not descend from a dragon god, no. They were once shepherds who had one day been found by enormous demons of fire and their master. And now they stand before that master who has been silent for a great number of years.

"My lord, it is an honor to finally meet you, you honor us with this most gracious visit." Balaemar's words rang like sweet honey. He bowed before the lord not daring to stare into Melkors eyes that shone of blood and fire. 

"Stand, you three have been granted great boons, and stand far higher than the likes of that welp I incinerated. Now before you three go on bowing to me and thanking me, just get to the questions, I'm very limited on time." Melkors tone was quick and annoyed, more like a bothered shop clerk that had wanted to turn in for the day.

"My lord, if I may." Lady Celeneos spoke not daring to speak another word unless allowed. 

Melkor motioned his hand forward nodding, giving her permission to speak. "Is it true? Has Ghiscar truly Attacked?"

"Melkors frown grew to a wide smile that he couldn't contain. " Ghiscar has done little more than kept scouts on the border, no attack has been planed, and no attack has been ordered from the Ghiscari empire, they know we are a threat, but will not attack for they know they will fall."

"Then why did you call for a vote of war, why attack our neighbor who has done little more than watch us with wary eyes, we will be the offenders and not the defenders like you had said." It was Aegamor who had spoken. 

Melkor turned to the young heir and gave the most truthful and worst reason Aegamor had ever heard. 

"Boredom"