An: changed the face cam to Harry styles. Maybe you'll enjoy that more.
Also, "" is common tongue. """" is old tongue. And () is Valyrian
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The neck, greywater watch, 7th moon of 129 AC
(ZAYNE)
As the crannogmen and myself make our way through the swamps, I find them extremely easy to talk to.
Maybe it's the magic connecting our blood.
Or even the giant Direwolf that walks alongside me, proving that I'm at least half related to their warden seemed to make them relax.
Such an odd thing. That men would relax when walking alongside an animal that could quite literally kill everyone here without breaking a sweat.
The now named Denlen Reed, future lord of the greywater and second child of jagen reed. Apparently he has a daughter back at home.
While I don't think he's trying to set me up with her, I became cautious. For I know what lords do to their daughters in order to further their house. I just hope my prospective friends don't try to do that with me.
It'd leave a terrible taste in my mouth.
I also haven't dropped my hood. I enjoy feeling mysterious and odinesk when I walk with everything covered except my eyes.
Denlens words break me from my musing about the journey through the neck so far.
"Lord Valhalla how long have you and frost been bonded? Such a strong connection seemed impossible to me before meeting you."
I decided to stop speaking the andal language and make them even more confident in my love for the north and the things it represents.
""In truth I've only been bonded with him for a week or so. Morgoth and I met him around the saltspear and fever river.""
All the mens eyes turned towards me after using the old tongue. All but lord jagens eyes are moon wide. Something I'll have to speak to him about. 'Is he a greenseer? He looks far too unphased by almost everything I've said.'
I break from my thoughts as Denlen speaks back. The smile on his face true and bright after learning of my trilingual ability.
""By the old gods, you speak it perfectly! And whose morgoth?""
Ahh yes. How did I speak a language I've never heard before? Well as for Valyrian my body just knows what to do. Something I've been trying to figure out since the day I woke up.
How can I remember my time in Valyria? I know it's full of so many things that would be useful to my survival, but it seems something is blocking those memories from coming in.
Anyway, as for the old tongue, my family was named 'the first lords of Valyria' for a reason. The amount of books and scrolls we had would've rivaled the citadel and maesters who spy for the hightowers.
As such, learning the old tongue would've been as easy as taking candy from a child.
I speak to Denlen in a joking manner as I take off my hood to show them who it is they're speaking too.
""Morgoth is my dragon.""
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(DENLEN POV)
Making our way towards my home with the unknown stark has been an experience.
My father said he received warnings and dreams from the old gods about the song of ice and fire being sung.
When I asked him what the hells that meant he said he himself didn't know.
However, the man in front of me, Zayne Valhalla, might just be the song.
After his revelation of having a dragon and pulling off his hood I hear jalen and Godfrey's breath catch in their throat.
For the lord of Valhalla showed his face for the first time.
Had i any doubts about his stark lineage before they're all gone now. However, I can't help but be curious. Never before has such a union happened.
The cold direwolves of the north and the firey attitude of the Targaryens.
I spoke such thoughts only for the eyes of a beast in the head of a man in zayne valhalla to level me with a look that froze my blood. 'Stark indeed.'
""I will accept your blunder of naming me Targaryen once lord Denlen.
I do not disdain or hate them. But I am most certainly higher up on the food chain then one of the last families to have acquired dragons.
My name is Zayne Valhalla. My family were the very first of the 40 families. It was us who taught each one about the taming of creatures of myth and legend.
Please don't try to compare me to them. For while I have no desire for conflict, I assure you I'm prepared for it should such disrespect be levied at me again.""
It felt like I was speaking to a beast. Those eyes without any whites and the mix of fire and ice in the pupils was almost too much to handle. I felt a physical pressure be released as he looked to my father and began to speak.
""Lord jagen, tell me, did you see my coming?""
That again shocks me. To know he knew about our family to such a level was disturbing. Not even the starks knew how closely related we were to the earthsingers.
My father regards zayne for a moment. That mask of indifference he wears faltering slightly under the gaze of a boy my age. Such things were insane to watch. From the moment we arrived in his space, zayne valhalla had led the proceedings like a veteran of diplomatic endeavors.
Finally my father speaks, his voice always so soft that it makes you really have to listen to hear him. A trick he used to see whether or not he could trust who he's speaking with.
""Indeed. But my own question needs must be answered. How did you know such things?""
Zaynes own mask of indifference and Ice drops completely into a smile that shocks me again. Such perfect straight teeth were almost unheard of north of the neck. We had some remedies to clean our mouth as much as possible, but still, comparing that to zaynes own hygiene was a fools errand.
The lord Valhalla responded finally after getting his chuckles under control
""I believe such things are better left discussed under a heart tree.""
The way he said the words made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. But my father seems to again understand more than me. Something I envy.
While I could bond with and control almost any animal, my father and sister always knew things before I did.
It made me feel inadequate and unworthy of inheriting greywater. For why should I inherit it when my sister can see visions from the gods to help keep us safe?
As we close in on the keep of my family my father turns towards me with a look I've seen far too much. 'You must believe in yourself above all. For who will believe in a man who doesn't believe in himself?'
These are the words he'd always say when I voiced my doubts about ruling ahead of my sister, mya.
I shake off the lingering doubts and try to prepare for the meeting between reeds and dragons. The meeting that will be written in history books if the words zayne spoke are true.
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Greywater watch, The Neck, 7th moon of 129 AC
(ZAYNE)
After a day and half walk through the neck with my companions we finally found the corner of a river upon a rowboat to see the keep of the reeds.
(Image)
Such a thing was truly impressive. The keep was never shown in the tv series of got, so to see the real thing was all the more awe inspiring.
From the way the author describes the greywater, it moves with the flow of the river it sits upon. My only theory for such a thing would be runes.
The north is known for such things. Well I say the north, but firstmen in general.
Look at the Royce's In the vale. Another family I plan to take with me to wherever I end up. They're one of the only firstmen families to not succumb to the promises the andals made. That I can at least respect. Even if it's diminished by the fact they've married into the andal bloodline numerous times.
I pull myself from those thoughts as we pass by the small bayou people who inhabit the keep. The weild spears and bows. A good combination for their style of fighting.
Not only that, but they always dip their blades in poison made from plants around their home, those only they know the cure too.
This is another reason I plan to make them my friend. I need dangerous people that others will underestimate. The reeds are the perfect example of that. Just ask Arthur Dayne.
Said inhabitants of the keep looked at frost and I like we were deity's. This is another reason I always wear a hood in public, to stop the natural curiosity of humans. If nobody can see me, they can't tell enemies how I look.
Lord jagen seems to be taking us to the solar, but I stop him. ""Lord jagen. Let's go directly to the heart tree. While I enjoy the ambiance of the neck and greywater, I find myself eager to start my conquest.""
The word conquest seemed to make the crannogmen more weary. So be it. My words were not false. I will conquer wherever I decide to set up base. And nobody will stop that.
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Standing before the heart tree I'm trying to come up with a way to make them believe me. I sigh and decide to lead with the rice.
Slowly taking the sack from my belt I begin untying it and speak, ""this is my gift to you lord Reed. I hope I can at least dissuade some of your worries about myself and my motives with this. Do not think me a fool when I say this, such a gift will help you and the north more than you could ever know.""
The man looks unimpressed. Something I admire about him and presumably all other northern lords. They listen more than they speak. Unless they're filled with ale that is.
Denlen breaks the silent staring contest, ""and what does this miracle grain do?""
I begin a long explanation. Mainly about how the rice will never spoil should it be kept dry after harvest.
I also gave them ideas on how to use it.
Frying it in animal fat and putting it with anything, vegtibles or meats, enhances either of them to new heights. It's also incredibly filling, which means you don't have to eat as much.
Such things I could tell were like music to their ears.
It was then I find I know how to get them to understand what the world is about to face. Blood.
The blood of kings is said to be the most powerful substance in this world.
I myself belive this to be true. For how else could I warg into animals as intelligent and sentient as morgoth and frost?
Such things are easy with ravens or mice I've found and practiced on during my walk to the greywater, but with morgoth and frost my head always hurts and I bleed from my nose like someone's broken it.
My thoughts are that the more intelligent an animal is, the harder it will be to take their mind over.
Such things make perfect sense. If anyone could warg into anything, It'd be a disaster waiting to happen. The human being always wants more. Whether that be power, money, sex, etc it's always present. It's in our very nature.
Just as I'm about to voice my thoughts on showing the two crannogmen what's to come another voice rings out.
""Father? Denlen? I was told we have a guest. Imagine my surprise at waiting almost half the night in the solar to greet said guest, only to find you all not arriving.""
I turn to see an admittedly beautiful girl around 20 years old.
She has beautiful black hair and green eyes. 'The black must come from her mother,' I assume as lord jagen speaks.
(Image)
""Ahh mya. Forgive me. Lord Valhalla requested to meet under the heart tree. I assure you nothing was meant to dishonor you."" He said in a voice I know all too well. The one most fathers from my old time used on their daughters.
I hold in my laugh at the realization she has him wrapped around her little finger, and watch her turn towards me and frost.
Her eyes widen slightly. And I can hear her whisper, ""Ice and fire""
She quickly makes her way up to frost and I, dropping into a perfect curtsy. ""Please lord Valhalla, make yourself at home here.""
I smile back at her and give my own greeting. With my hood off I can't hide how shocked I am at her appearance. Most firstmen woman from my memories weren't all that beautiful, but Mya Reed slaughtered those memories.
""A pleasure to meet you as well lady Reed. I was just about to show your family my reason for being here. Would you like to take part?""
She looks taken aback by my offer but simply nods her agreement.
I look back to the crannogmen and speak, ""touch the weirwood and prepare yourselves. This will change everything.""
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As soon as they've all touched the tree I slide the hidden blade in my bracer up to my palm and press inwards.
The resulting cut isn't too big, for I barely needed to apply pressure to the edge of the Valyrian steel before my skin gave way.
I slowly walked up to the tree with my hand holding a pool of blood and spoke to the spirits I know inhabit said tree.
""Show them. They must understand.""
And so they did.
Images of the first episode of got flashed by. With the three men being ambushed by white walkers.
Images of the man who escaped begging lord stark to belive him about white walkers white lord stark took his head.
Scenes of jon snow scrambling in the mud of hardhome, finding longclaw, and meeting blades with a white walker.
They all saw the shock in the blue eyes of it as the ice spear failed to shatter the Valyrian steel. The sound the two made when meeting together resounding like magical steel.
And finally, when Jon snow decided to go after the night king instead of escaping with dany and drogon.
The image lingered on the Night king. Those cold blue eyes looking like a mimickrey of mine own. The eyes of a true beast set in the skull of a man.
I didn't even let them speak after showing them the images. ""Now you know. That is my enemy. Not the petty squabbles of the lords and ladies who believe themselves far more important than they actually are. We will speak tomorrow.""
After I say that I make my way to the keep and ask a comely little maid to show me to my room.
After a blush and a quick, ""yes my lord,"" frost and I are off. Garnering more and more eyes as we walk through the keep.
I guess direwolves are truly sacred to the people of the north. That's a good thing. Means they won't hurt him.
Before the maid can leave me alone I call out.
""Can I please have a map sent here?""
Again a blush and nod is what I received. I sigh. 'Even with my hood on my appearance makes things difficult,'
Only a few minutes pass by and I get the map I've been wanting.
Time to see where I will live.
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After a good nights rest I wake up and do my usual morning routine. One that was literally drilled into me during my life as a soldier.
250 push-ups, sit-ups, and 100 burpees.
Such things won't shred me into stone,but I only need to keep my physique right now until I find a place I can call my own.
I put on my fur cloak and outfit to start my day just as a knock is heard on my door.
I hail whoever it is to come in and in walks mya Reed.
From the bags under her eyes I can assume she didn't sleep well lastnight. Not truly surprising given what I showed them.
She offers a smile before speaking, ""good morning lord Valhalla. My father requested you and I to meet him and Denlen at the heart tree.""
I give my response, ""of course lady Reed. Give me one moment,"" I say before tying my sword around my waist and making my way to her, offering an arm as is custom.
She takes it and we walk in silence to the meeting spot.
The silence remains until we're about to reach the godswood before she turns and says, ""thank you for showing us that lastnight. Although I didn't get much sleep, such a thing needs to be prepared for.""
I wave off her thanks, ""I needed you all to believe me. It's going to take far more than the north to beat them for true. However, I felt that going directly to the ones who'd know real from false would provide me with at least a little credibility when I eventually try to get all other northern lords to agree with my plans.""
She just nods as we finally reach her father and brother.
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Again I'm thanked by the reeds for showing them what's coming. I wave it off and get to the meat of why we're here.
""Forgive me lord Reed. But I desire to leave today. Not for anything you or the people of greywater have done. But time is of the essence. And i needs must be set up in a defensible position, as well as getting the people I will rule up to my standards. So, why have you decided to meet today?""
Lord jagen lets out the first chuckle I've heard from him before responding.
""You claimed lastnight to not know where you'd decide to live. I believe Denlen and I have the perfect place.""
My interest showed on my un-hooded face it seems as Denlen laughs and speaks before I can.
""Yes,it's been abandoned by the north for centuries after they rebelled. Also, it's not north of the wall where everyone woild simply think you a wilding trying to become king.""
I chuckle this time and speak. ""Why would I want to be king to a bunch of filthy andals? A people who have proven time and time again that their words are wind and subject to change whenever it suits them. Men who shout for all with ears to hear about how honorable and righteous they are and the gods they serve, only to indulge in the sickest most disgusting vices when they get off their shift. No. In truth? I'll turn any andal who thinks themselves on the same level as me into ash along with their keep.
I am not some lord of westeros who cares what others think of him. My only goal is to make my family strong and kill the night king. Any who try to stop that will be removed.""
I can tell my impassioned speech struck a chord with them. Good. I continue, ""so,do tell me about this land you think I will be interested in.""
The words he says make me almost jump for joy. I'd forgotten about it completely but now it's been said I can't help but facepalm at not thinking of it before.
""A land called Skagos. Centuries ago the lords there allied with the greystarks, a cadet branch of the starks of winterfell. After the rebellion the starks decided to leave the skagossi to their fate. 3 lords inhabit the island. Though I know not how many still survive there.
But if you want a place far away from the south? Then I believe nothing could be better than the island.""
Yes yes yes. Sparta. My new home.
I pull out the map without even answering lord Reed.
Scanning the eastern coast I find it. Skagos. A chain of 3 main islands and smaller ones dotting the water around them.
The main island itself looks to be around the same size as Ireland from my old world.
In truth it was perfect for me. Not too big. Not too small.
And if what lord Reed says is true, there isn't much resistance they can put up.
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I didn't even wait to leave greywater. So focused was I on the prospect of my own kingdom i dont even recall the last few hours of my stay with the reeds.
Only the need to keep my existence under wraps until I give the go ahead.
It seems my gift and warning of white walkers got them to agree. But truthfully I don't care. It's Time to start the legend of zayne valhalla. The first lord of ice and fire.
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AN: there it is. Just an FYI, mya is not a romantic interest. There is only one. Rhaena.
That doesn't mean zayne won't use his looks to his advantage, but he won't be some olayboy with a harem.
I despise such things as they kill the realness I'm trying to provide in a world full of fantasy.
I hope you all enjoy it, will have pictures up soon. Don't flip on me if they're not.
My advice is to read arcs together to understand what's going on and make it have continuity.
You don't have too. But I find it allows me to follow a straight line instead of reading 1-2 chapters and having to remember what was said the next day when I post a new one.
If you're going to be nasty, leave. I have no energy for you or your miserable existence. If you can waste your own time trying to put someone down who never did anything to you, Rhen do something productive. Go to work. Or write a book of your own and let the world give their opinions on it.
Live long and prosper❤️🖖