Storm's Guard

[Edric's POV]

After the battle, I gathered my removed gauntlet and Lady Forlorn. Once all of the adrenaline faded, I felt like a zombie. A shell being kept awake by will alone. 

"Your Grace, what is the use of the Kingsguard if you don't trust us to protect you?" Brienne questioned.

I looked to Ser Arys and Ser Mandon, who were long dead. 

"If you believe that the Kingsguard will stand by and watch you protect us instead, you've given the wrong people a white cloak." Balon Swann spoke, shaking his head. "There is no death more honourable for a Kingsguard than dying for the King they were sworn to protect. Ser Arys and Ser Mandon knew that full well."

"And where am I to find replacements for such brilliant knights?" Edric questioned, raising an eyebrow. "If you were just shields and swords to me, I'd throw you into battle without hesitation. Alas, I couldn't. You all are more than that."

"I am certain the Realm would weep less for a few knights than their King." Brynden Tully looked to the forest. "Besides, those terrible creatures… only you can lead us against them. If we lose you, we lose hope."

"I'd imagine all the high lords would be scrambling for pieces of your crown." The Hound added.

"Heh." I chuckled knowingly. "Yeah."

Afterwards, I made the seemingly endless walk back to the Wall and Eastwatch, falling into the closest bed I could find.

…

The Plane of Euthymia.

"Your Kingsguard were right." Raiden Shogun touched the gash along my cheek, which was quite long and deep. It would definitely leave its mark. "If you had them by your side, this wound wouldn't exist."

"How awful… my baby face is ruined." I made a look of dismay before chuckling. "How bad is it, truly?"

"You look terribly hideous." She made a slight smile.

"On the bright side, I believe I dealt quite the blow to the Night King. That one Other was a powerful combatant… one that could've caused many problems in the future."

"Is this what you would call 'copium'?" She raised a humoured eyebrow.

"Very much so." I laughed, shaking my head. "I mean, it's a small price to pay. The true losses were my two Kingsguard."

"You will find replacements. None of them were too extraordinary. For your greatest benefit, you should find men with a strong will."

"Those with the potential of a Vision?"

"Precisely."

"Easier said than done… but it's definitely something worth exploring. If I had a healthy Arthur with me, I wouldn't have been wounded - nor would I have to babysit him. Hell, we would've mopped the floor with those bastards."

"He has the blessing of fire." Raiden acknowledged. "A perfect counter to their bodies of ice."

"Unfortunately, men like Arthur don't grow on trees." I sighed.

"While strong desires are part inherent, they can be nurtured just as well. Your charisma and leadership should be capable of inspiring such desires in others… as you did with your friend."

"An army of vision bearers would be quite formidable." I stroked my chin. "An effective and reliable weapon against the Others - especially in my absence. I cannot be in all places at the same time."

"Try getting a couple before you speak of an army." Raiden smiled slightly.

"If you aim to climb a hill, you're not reaching the mountain top," I replied, shrugging my shoulders. "I'm seeking the skies."

"How philosophical. Though, you're not doing much in your current state. I believe you know the routine already?"

"It's a routine now?" I raised an eyebrow, chuckling. "It sounds like you just want a free cuddle."

"Mutually beneficial - in more ways than one." She replied, sitting down. "Don't pretend to object to the notion."

"Uh-huh." I smiled. "I suppose I do need to recover my strength."

I laid down and got comfortable, placing my head on her lap. My body warmed to hers and livened from her touch. It was electrifying, in a way. I felt stronger. However, this energy made me a bit restless. All my mind could think of was the Others… they were living rent-free in there.

"You lost your famed warhammer in the battle." Raiden Shogun remarked.

"It was always Robert's," I replied, looking up at her. "It is as you said; I will have to forge my own weapons to contest against them. My only saving graces were my magic, stash of dragonglass and Ser Lyn Corbray so kindly carrying Lady Forlorn. I fear I'd be six feet under already if I were lacking for any of those."

"Or you could have retreated."

"... Mayhaps," I admitted.

"Your streak of victories has given you quite the reckless spirit in battle."

"If I see an advantage, I'll seek it out." I countered, shrugging. "If I had retreated, I would've gained and lost nothing. By facing them, I gained more than I lost… or so I believe. The largest gain was knowing that the Night King has much more formidable Others in his ranks and me slaying one of them."

"Take care it doesn't kill you."

"I'm cautiously reckless." I chuckled, shaking my head. "If that were the Night King, I'd be on the other side of the Wall as soon as I saw him."

"Cautiously reckless…"

She smiled.

~

[Arthur's POV]

While Edric had left him twenty-five men, five of which were hardened men-at-arms, Arthur had gone out of his way to recruit from King's Landing. That number soon quadrupled to a hundred as the prospect of being provided by the King and fighting alongside him was supremely popular. Arthur's own fame, gained from the Great Tournament, made it all too simple for him to pick men off the street. He could've recruited an even greater number, but he decided to keep it at a hundred as this was his first time training other men.

Since he did so, he had the luxury of picking the healthiest of the bunch. The elderly, frail and overly youthful would not do too well in battle, after all. Once he finished his selection, he rallied them outside of King's Landing near the tourney grounds where all the necessary equipment had been prepared by the City Watch the night prior. He had taken a few of Rhaerra's blue cloaks as well.

Arthur observed their ranks, standing brilliantly over a hill that overlooked them. He took a breath of confidence before speaking loud and clear;

"You've made the decision to dedicate yourselves to His Grace, the King. A simple decision - who wouldn't wish to fight for the King and be rewarded for it? Who wouldn't want to rise to a place of glory, honour and prestige? However, before you continue and come to regret this, let me tell you one thing… his place is not for those of feint heart!"

He drew Nightfall, its dark blade stealing the light from the morning sun.

"You will suffer endless hardships, you will sweat, you will bleed… you may just die. Many of you will, as battles come and go - that is the reality! Only the strong and dedicated will survive by his side, becoming seasoned, disciplined, mighty and absolutely fearless warriors who spit in the face of death. The royal guard, elites amongst elites, a personal army directly under the command of the King!"

"You will be his sword, his shield, his bow, his spear - the sacred guardians of the Realm. The men who uphold the King's peace and serve him with absolute loyalty, through thick and thin. Who of you think yourselves worthy and fitting?"

His eyes scanned the crowd.

"It is not too late to turn back… as I'm going to put those who remain through the Seventh Hell."

He grinned, almost sinesterly.

There was a sense of unease especially when it came to the mention of death, though quite a number of them looked up to the challenge. One of them stepped forward with a look of confidence.

"Since I could remember, I dreamed of being a knight. A man who fights for what's right and good. As the years went on, I've been a fisherman, a shop's assistant, a farmer - I've gone from one place to another… the dream going away. But, then the old King raised his banners and I begged to have a spear in my hand - and I was given one. I fought in the Battle of the Fords and so many others after. It was the first time in my life I felt like I had a purpose. When I saw him, young as he was, winning and winning again… I knew he was special. Someone with a greater purpose than any one of us."

He continued on.

"I would gladly give my life for him… the King, the chosen son of the Seven. I will kill his enemies and protect his life with my own. I will face the Seventh Hell you talk of to march behind him."

This speech had roused the others.

"I've bled in the fields with nothing to show for it. Let me bleed for the King, for the Realm! I fear no trial, no pain. I will earn my place in the royal guard!"

"I was born a farmer's son with dirt in my hands and hunger in my belly. Give me a sword and food, and the only thing I'll be hungry for is the blood of his enemies!"

"I don't fear hardship; I was born in it."

"I'm not running away anywhere, Ser. I've come from Storm's End to serve the King who gave me a home, helped build my family a farm and gave them a life of comfort. As he, the King of the people, dirtied his hands for me and my family… I shall dirty my hands for him, gladly, until death!"

The more men spoke, the stronger they were as a unit until the thoughts of turning back vanished entirely. Everyone remained. Arthur sheathed his sword, smiling at the result.

"Welcome to hell."

~

[Edric's POV]

I woke up, feeling a pain across my right cheek. Those thin ice swords really were something, to pierce through my helmet with such ease and cut so deep at a moment's notice. Maybe I'd need to forge more than just magical weapons… 

I touched the wound, feeling the long line of stitches.

Someone had treated my wound?

After that thought, I struggled to sit up and felt completely drained. Clearly, I wouldn't be in fighting shape anytime soon… at least, nowhere near my best. I willed myself to sit up and get dressed. Afterwards, I went out to see what was going on.

Loras stood by the door, smiling slightly as he saw me.

"You've seen better days, Your Grace."

"I wonder who stitched the wound?"

"I did." He replied simply.

"You have my thanks, then. Can you bring me some food and drink to my bedchamber? I still need to gather my strength."

"As you wish."