Chapter 28

Auron stirred up from his sleep with a naked beauty nestled in his arms. She's really beautiful and her skin looks so tender.

A/N: Moonshadow/Aidana

Looking at her sleeping face, he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. He sighed at his confused heart because he clearly had feelings for her despite not knowing her name. He was her first time and she became his woman in just one night.

He knew that his feelings with Daenerys were true but he also has some infatuation with the woman in his arms. It wasn't like his relationship with Marlena where it was pure Master and Servant, giving the needs of each other's body.

He couldn't help but want to protect this girl too as he claimed her last night. The situation was giving him a headache. He can leave her for Daenerys without any hesitation if the situation calls it. That's how his priority works and how much he loves Daenerys in both heart and mind. But doing it would be too cruel for the gentle girl and he's not ready to do that.

He tried to stand up, careful not to wake her but it seems he failed.

"Are you ready to leave?" The girl asked without showing emotions on her face but her eyes showed a different meaning.

"Yeah, can I ask your name?"

"What for if you're going to leave me anyway? I don't blame you though. This is what I wanted and I'm prepared that this might happen."

"Sigh, I think I need to be honest with you. There's a girl that already occupied a large part of my heart. I have feelings for you too but what I have for her was on a higher level."

Moonshadow was trying her best not to cry and she smiled.

"I'm glad to know that I have a place there."

Seeing the she was about to cry, the fickle part of him won then he gritted his teeth and embraced her in his arms.

"Look, I don't know what will happen and where this is going to. But I think I want you in my life too. Am I too selfish to ask this?"

Moonshadow burst in tears and she cried in his chest. After a few minutes of crying, she wiped her tears and looked at him.

"You're a greedy man, are you?"

"I am."

She nodded and said, "Okay, I will come with you."

"Really? I'm really sorry for asking you a lot. I hope we can persuade her to accept our relationship too but I hope you understand, she's the main wife."

"I understand. As long as I'm with you, I'll accept your arrangements."

Auron smiled and looked at her fondly. He kissed her lips before telling her his plans and the day of their departure.

"By the way, I haven't learned your name yet."

"My name is Aidana. It means a wise moon. Remember that my Emperor."

"Aidana..Wait, emperor? I don't have any desire to be one. I only want a place where I can call my own, a few men to serve under me and my future family and to live a happy life. But not now, I don't want to settle down yet as I still have so much place to discover and see." Auron chuckled.

Aidana didn't mean anything else but she playfully replied to him, "But only an Emperor has the right to have multiple wives."

Hearing that, Auron was stunned and he didn't know if this is true in these lands but he seem to be struck by lightning. Aidana didn't know that her playful joke has some impact on Auron which planted an idea on his mind.

Out of curiosity, she asked, "By the way, where is she?"

"Oh, she's still Tyrosh I guess."

"Then when can we meet her?"

"Not now, it is not the time yet. Anyway, we will leave Braavos for Pentos as soon as my ship was finished. Pack your things as soon as possible."

"I will, my love."

"For now, I will spend the rest of my day with you."

Aidana giggled but she stayed quietly in his arms.

--

Two days later after touring the rest of Braavos, visiting his friend Syrio and performing at night, he returned to the Arsenal with Aidana to check the progress of his ship.

When they arrived at the hidden shipyard, he saw Old Yonas barking instructions while occasionally looking at the large piece of paper in front of him. Contrary to the first time he's been here, the shipyard was now bustling with many people carrying large pieces of ebony wood.

Auron approached the old man greeting him, "How's it going old man?"

"What do you think? Get out of my face if you want your ship to be finished as soon as possible." Old Yonas said while his eyes was still in his blueprint.

"Just checking in because a certain someone boastfully said it will be done in three days." Auron smirked.

"You are really getting into my nerves you fucking brat!"

"What's that suppose to mean? Everyone is getting into your nerves, not just me."

Old Yonas finally turned away from the blueprint looking up to him but he was stunned to see the Moonshadow beside him.

"Why did you abduct the Moonshadow? Quick! Hide her."

"Tch! I didn't abduct her."

Aidana giggled and said, "He stole me."

Old Yonas was stunned once more. He looked at Auron and then glanced back at Aidana. He did a few more times before sighing.

"What's with that look? You're jealous aren't you? Hehehehe."

Hearing that, Old Yonas mouth couldn't help but twitch.

"I suddenly have an impulse to put a big hole into your ship's hull. What a pity. A flower in a cow's dung."

"Don't you dare call her a cow's dung old man!"

"Fuck you, brat. I was talking about you!!"

"Tch! You're just jealous."

"Whatever! Hey brat, you mentioned earlier that the whole ship was made of ebony wood right? That wood was hard and all but that's your instructions and it's your ship. I'm just curious, this will hardly float. The wood was heavy and dense."

"Don't worry about it, I have a plan. Just follow the blueprint and I'll show you something amazing later."

"Suit yourself!"

"So what's the progress?"

"We have already made all the parts. We just needed to assemble it but they are heavy so we're having some trouble."

"I'll help." Auron declared while putting away his armor, sword and lute.

Auron turned to Aidana and said, "I'm sorry, do you mind..."

"It's okay, my love. I'm sure Old Yonas won't mind if I stay here and watch you guys right? I can also help prepare the food."

"Sigh, it's really a pity. Girl you knew how to be useful unlike a certain someone here." Old Yonas interjected.

"Says the one who was just standing here and does nothing but kiss a piece of paper. I bet you can't even move your old bones, hehehe."

"Hmmph! I'll show you what it means to be the greatest shipwright here in Braavos. I may be old but my bones isn't brittle. I can even punch your face enough to knock you out."

Aidana smiled watching the two of them amusely as Auron and Old Yonas bicker with other.

--

Auron and the crew spend the rest of the day assembling his ship. It was already late at night when they finished.

Aidana was nodding her head trying to fight her drowsiness. She was startled awake when the crew began cheering. She hurriedly stood up from her seat and went outside only to find Auron and Old Yonas looking at the majestic black ship in satisfaction.

Auron was panting and he is full of sweat but he was grinning like an idiot.

Old Yonas was having the same expression. There was a rare smile plastered on his face when he looked at the warship they've made.

"Thank you, old man. It really looks like a legendary ship. Your reputation upholds you."

"Of course, who do you think I am?"

"Your bones are still brittle though."

Old Yonas winced but then he burst into laughter.

Auron joined him In his laughter as they both marvel at the sight of the ship.

"I must say, your crew is very efficient, old man."

"They are."

"Any chance you guys wanna work for me?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Well, I have this trading house in Westeros. The business must've started already. If I managed to recruit you, we can build a shipyard."

"You sound like you're not sure. Is that yours?"

"Yeah, I just left the operations to someone capable. If you join me, maybe we can start a shipping business."

"Let's talk again after you're business became well known."

"Remember your words old man. I'll invite you once again sometime later."

Old Yonas grunted changing the topic.

"You gonna test it or what?"

"Well, let's test it."

"I'm not expecting it to float but since you have an arrangement, let the ship taste the sea water."

"I'll show you something amazing later. I just don't know if it'll work."

Then Auron felt a slender arms wrapping around his waist. Aidana leaned her head in his broad shoulder.

"You're awake?" Auron asked.

"Mmmm~ is that the ship? It looks incredible."

Hearing the praise coming from the Moonshadow, Old Yonas expression became smug once more.

"Hehehe. Who do you think designed it?" Auron said feeling proud of himself.

"You really designed it?" Aidana asked in surprised.

"Of course!"

Old Yonas scoffed, "Stop flirting and test the damn ship for fuck sake!!"

Auron snickers but he eventually stepped forward and asked the crew to break the wood beams supporting the ship from falling. The crew broke the beams then gravity did the rest. The ship rolled into the sea with help of logs under it.

Large amount of seawater splashed and some of the crew were even drenched.

But they noticed the ship was slowly sinking.

Old Yonas and the crew sighed thinking they failed but Auron walked towards the water and said, "Watch how the legendary ship come alive. Be proud old man, we made this."

The fog was thick and he saw the ship was being submerged slowly.

When Auron reached the waters. He muttered a silent prayer.

"I invoke the power of the gods to aid me once more. I know you can hear me, Drowned God, Merling King, and Moon-Pale Maiden. I ask for your power to bless my ship that will help me in my journey. I know I don't have any to bargain, but since you guys are aiding me without me asking, I figured you would grant me with this request."

Auron closed his eyes in sincerity as he continued to stay in the water.

"What is he doing?"

"I think he's praying."

Amidst the murmurs and Auron's prayer, nothing seems to be happening. The black warship continued sinking until all that is left is the tip of the mast. When the tip also disappeared, Auron sighed.

'It didn't work? I think I'm gonna have to use the pearl to see if it will make the ship float.'

As he was about to leave the waters, he noticed a peculiar phenomenon.

The fog was still thick in the surrounding sea but in the area where the ship had sunken, the moon came out from the clouds shining down on that particular area. The Moon's reflection can be seen on waters like there are two moons.

Suddenly, the black ship that they thought was gone sprung up bursting out of the water from the reflection of the moon.

All the people looking at the scene including Auron were flabbergasted upon seeing such miracle and display of power. Auron really thought that the gods wouldn't hear his call and ignore him but all of them seems to be paying attention to him.

With that, he quickly bowed to the sea and the moon as thanks for blessing his ship.

Then heard someone shouted and pointing at the hull of the ship.

"Look! Something is new on the ship."

There they finally noticed that something was carved on both sides of the hull near the rudder. The right side of the hull has mural carved with a man half submerged in a whirlpool holding sword and torch both were raised forming a cross. On the other side of hull shows a half man half fish creature with a long beard holding a Trident pointing forward. The figurehead on the bow became even more menacing than the original. It was sculpted black dragon opening it's mouth seemingly ready to breath fire.

Now the ship came into full view and Auron couldn't contain himself rushing on excitedly towards the ship.

"Oh my gods! I'm not dreaming am I?" Aidana exclaimed at the sight.

"You are not! We are very much awake. Hic hic" Old Yonas cried in joy.

When Auron finally climbed aboard, he noticed the helm of the ship was shaped like a moon and there's a note tied to it.

He took the note and unfurled it showing some text.

"With the blessing of the Drowned God, they vessel will never sink.

With the blessing of the Merling King, the sea creatures will aid to your will.

With the blessing of the moon, you will never lost even if you travel at night in the sea.

Go forth Black Dragon and fulfill your destiny."

Auron sighed and said, "Another cryptic haiku."

The he heard Old Yonas and crew came aboard to see the ship they built.

"What a fine ship! She deserves a name, brat. A name fitting for something legendary." Old Yonas excitedly exclaimed.

Auron smiled and he didn't hesitate. He had already decided for it's name long ago.

"Then I hereby declared this ship will be named.... The Shadow!"