Corlys(6) Arthur (12)seahorse meets a Reed. this is Sparta

An: this chapyer will start with Corlys getting an interesting companion for the trip to Sparta. Lord Reed warns lord Corlys.

Arthur meets the Velaryons

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Outside of white harbor, 5th moon of 130 AC

CORLYS

I received a message from a rather interesting source. An owl white as a fresh fallen snow with eyes so green it made me think they were emralds set in place of eyes.

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Opening the letter left me suspicious and worried. For nobody could know of our departure save the queen and my wife.

Lord Corlys, lord of the tides, master of ships

I understand your journey north is to find a dragon. However, I must warn you. The black dragons and red are not alike aside from having wings and breathing fire.

I am a friend of lord Arthur. If you'll allow me passage to his island. I can almost assure your welcome to be warmer. If no from lord Valhalla, then his people. For they are weary bunch and have good reason to be so.

Please. I implore you. Stop in white harbor and allow me onto your ship where we can treat and hopefully keep you from offending the lord of ice and fire. For a dragon is prickly as you well know, ice dragons even more so.

An ally,

The Owl

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Although I was slightly angered by the words this man spoke to me. I also understand that if he knows I'm coming to the island, the lord of said island must know.

I spend a good amount of time in my solar re-readin the missive from this 'owl'. Almost too much to direct our course to white harbor. But I make it and inform the men to stop in the white city of the manderlys for the night.

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We've been here for hours and I still have not seen eye or hair of this guest I'm supposed to ferry to the Valhalla island.

These thoughts run through my mind as Rhaena and I eat before retiring for the night. She has been excited to be on the ship. I just hope this boy is everything she wishes him to be. Hells, what I wish him to be.

As I was finishing my food and Rhaena had already finished, about to bid her goodbyes udun comes into my solar with a knock.

"What is it udun?" I ask ready to go to sleep and set sail tomorrow all the way to the island.

Udun looks nervous before speaking, "my lord, my lady, there is a man outside the ship wishing to be given quarters. I tried telling him no, but the man insisted that he'd spoken to you and was the entire reason for our stop in the harbor."

Wishing to verify some features I ask my squire, "and can you identify this man? Does he have any distinguishing features?" I get a shake of the head before udun responds

"My lord, he is quite short all things considered. He doesn't sound old enough to be your equal in age, but he seems older than the lady." I nod and ask another question

"And his face, eyes, hair? What did they look like lad?"

Udun shakes his head again making me frown and reply's to my query, "I cannot see his face my lord he wears a strange garb. One resembling a cloak in the shape of an owls beak."

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Rhaena speaks before I do, "tell him to board udun. And lead him here. I wish to speak with him."

Udun though not refusing my granddaughters order looked at me for confirmation. With a nod I sent the boy off to fetch our guest.

(What do you make of this grandfather?) Rhae asks me with a look on her face that reminds me far too much of my wife. Everytime she gets like this I see my Rhaenys. Truly as beautiful as they are deadly with their minds.

I don't get a chance to reapond when udun comes in and behind him is indeed a short man with the owl who gave me the message on his shoulder. If he's here he's been given guest right. So I get right down to business.

That and Rhaena seems interested in the garb he wears. Beast to ask my query's first to discern the nature of the man on my ship.

"So tell me lord owl, how do you know of my and my granddaughters journey to seek a dragon?" I ask narrowing my eyes. This is dangerous information. If it got to the greens the Valhalla house would be dead before it even got off the ground.

The man finally takes his hood off. Man is a strong word. He's not much older than jace. With mud brown hair and the greenest of moss eyes I've ever seen save for his owl.

He speaks in a quiet voice, " a pleasure lord Corlys, lady Rhaena. I simply wish to see my friend after moons of only communicating through birds."

I know he's not saying what he wants to say because of Rhaena's presence. But I have no time for such things. Besides, she's getting ready to try and speak to her future husband. She must learn to be in situations like this.

"Speak truth. My granddaughter is a true dragon rider. No need to coddle her with things you may think are unpleasant."

The man smiles at me and begins his tale of Arthur Valhalla, his dragon morgoth, and the wolf frost. Oh and who can forget the beautiful Artemis.

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Bay of seals, 6th moon of 130 AC

ARTHUR POV

As I fly above the bay of seals awaiting to see the silver seahorse of the Velaryon family, I look at my attire. Hands down the most well made one I've gotten so far. Miranda and her girls are true sorceress' with a needle and thread with my ideas.

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My gifts are all ready to be given to the Velaryon. Now the rest is up to them.

I've also informed Leaf and her family to stay hidden. At least from the Velaryon, but who was I to say they couldn't speak to Denlen?

I'm broken out of my thoughts by a quiet shriek from morgoth that lets me know another dragon has entered what he considers his territory. About a 4 miles radius around the three islands in each direction. Knowing this means I'll be entertaining my first guests soon I'm happy I've finished at least some of my keep.

The childrens ability plus the qarthie i brought here is incredible. I should have the keep finished by the time the war is over.

Then the bridge must be done but details details.

I do however have enough rooms for the Velaryon retinue In the castle+ breeze homes. So it'll be up to non dragon blooded people to stay down there in my village at the bottom of the plateau around the beginning of the red river.

With my mind made up I decide on a dramatic entrance. Morgoth brings us so high into the clouds I feel the air become hard to inhale. But I wait and wait and a wait until I get an image from Artemis showing Velaryon ships anchoring and making their way in small rowboats to land.

Letting go of morgoths leash he and I fall like a shooting star. Spinning wildly to pick up even more velocity. In truth it's like we're a bullet.

As soon as we get within range, morgoth spreads his shadowy wings over the Velaryon men, letting out his signature roar. Letting the pink dragon know it's a guest here and better act as such.

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Sparta, the north, 6th moon of 130 AC

CORLYS POV

After speaking to the crannogmen about Arthur Valhalla I was surprised the two seemed so well acquainted. 'It seems he made moves before showing himself, you're already proving smart young one.' I think to myself as I finally see the people of skagos.

While not starving like lord Reed had said, they were certainly just now getting good food. Among them I saw different looking people.

One group, with the largest man I've ever seen, all had some sort of blue mark on their faces. "The thenn," lord Reed whispered to me.

Beside the thenn were a group of fairly short blonde haired people with shaggy beards. "Ibbenese," lord Reed supplied. 'Ibbenese? The lad went right after the largest enemy of the three whores not named volantis. You keep getting more interesting Arthur Valhalla' I think to myself.

I also see mounts with horns sticking out of their heads. Lord Denlen gasps at this before speaking in an awed voice, "skagcorns," his awe is understandable. 'The beasts look like they could pull a castle gate down if need be. And those horns atop their heads would be deadly in a cavalry charge. Well well well it seems my guess about you is right. You're ready.'

Finally we hear it. The screech of morgoth. The obsidian dragon.

My wife wasn't exaggerating when she claimed he was as big as vermithor. The beast was making a fast downward spiral towards the ground. From the way Rhaena gasped when he opened his wings and calmly glided atop the water towards us, such a thing was not normal.

Pushing it out of my mind I look for the rider of the black dragon. I find him a moment after the dragon lands and we all recover from the snow he kicked up.

Seeing the rider dismount with a wolf confirms his stark heritage for me. No man could bond with such a majestic creature not named stark.

The lad wore white and red and grey. A startling and noble image. His clothes were finally made and he had two devices on his arms that look like blades.

Nobody speaks for a while. I do not know why he doesn't speak, but i and I assume my granddaughter are too engrossed in the man's eyes. My wife once again didn't lie. They are the most beautiful pupils I've ever seen. They look more like a beasts than a man's. For he has no whites. It was just grey and red. Red and grey. A dance of fire and ice.

Lord Denlen breaks the silence with a hearty laugh, but he speaks in a language I do not understand. Must be the old tongue that's spoken in the north.

An: although we can read and understand it this is Corlys pov. So just keep that in mind. 💪🏼

""it's been too long Arthur. Has morgoth gotten even bigger since we met at long lake?"" The young dragon lord stays quiet. Keeping his eyes locked with mine.

Like a wolf watching his prey before pouncing.

Quickly turning those ethereal sockets to lord Denlen Arthur responds in the same language. Shocking me further with how fluently he speaks it. Not only that, but how northern he sounds.

""I admit I've missed your company too. I have three kids I wish for you to train. Stay here even after they leave and I'll host you for true, well that depends on how this meeting goes."" Even if I can't understand the language, the feeling In the air is thick with tension.

Finally it seems to be realeased as lord Valhalla calls out to a women and speaks in that same odd language, ""Miranda, bread and salt please,"" the women makes her way with bread and salt. Ah guest rights.

Taking mine and giving the rest to Rhaena, I turn back to see the lord Valhalla whisper In the large man's ear. Said large man formed a wide grin before speaking out to lord Reed, ""come bog devil. The magnar wishes to let you converse with your kin.""

The lord Denlen responds with confusion evident on his face. Looking to lord Valhalla as he speaks. ""Arthur . You didn't inform me you had other crannogmen here."" lord Valhalla merely shook his head and said only one word. That one word set lord reeds back ramrod straight. ""Earthsingers""

Without haste lord Reed made towards the large blue marked man. Leaving me and my retinue alone with lord Valhalla.

For the first time he speaks to us, and does so in Valyrian so perfect and with such a contrast of accent to the rough and brute northern language, that it takes me second to even register what he said.

""Lord Corlys. Princess Rhaena. Be welcome to Sparta.""

Before I can speak Rhaena walks up to him. The large black dragon that had been still until now tensed up. But quickly stopped when Arthur himself met her halfway. The Direwolf at his side dwarfing my granddaughter.

With a confidence Ive rarely seen from her, she holds out both her hands. One for lord Valhalla to kiss and the other for his wolf.

When the wolf sniffs and licks her she laughs. And it sounds like bells echoing off the Mountains and water around us.

The lord Valhalla looks taken aback by it too. Those ethereal silver red orbs still the only thing we could see. For his face was hidden in shadows under the hood.

Quickly turning on Rhaena he speaks again. Let me show you my home. Then we can speak on why you've come.

AN: that's it for the chapter. Next one will

He Rhaena and Arthur's first one on one. Lmk what you think