It did not take long for the Pegasi to travel through the North.
They saw mostly open plains with not much on it. A few forests here and there, but that was pretty much it. Due to the ship arriving in the evening of the day the group had already a day behind them and decided to rest near a small pitiful river near a small equally pitiful settlement with a mill.
The camp was erected swiftly with just one tent.
Confused Davos was just in the process of asking when all of them simply entered the tent. One after another nine people went inside the small looking tent.
Now more confused than ever Davos made his way to it apprehensively. Looking inside, he saw a massive space, that wouldn't be out of place in a lords castle. Expensive furniture out of wood that looked more like art than something to sit on. It even had more than one room. Something that wasn't indicated in the slightest from the outside only confirming his suspicions from the ship.
"Come Davos, sit." Harry said with the same cheeky fanged smile on his face as before with the rest either having grins on their faces or passive, nearly icy masks. Placing a simple gold-cup on the table in front of Davos Harry filled it with some Dreamwine from Qarth. "Here drink, it should help some."
Davos complied, sitting down on the couch littered with soft pillows, feeling like clouds and took the goblet, that most likely could feed his family for more than a year and drank from it. The wine in it was neither red nor gold, but a sweet purple colour that shimmered slightly and tasting better than anything the smuggler had up until now in his life.
Coming back down to the matter at hand he just asked "How?" motioning all around himself not finding the proper words for it.
"Simple, magic!" Kinvara bubbled helpfully, like always full of energy even at this time of day.
At Davos blank look Harry simply explained it as good as he could with letting out a few important details.
"If you have any problems with this then know you can leave at any time. I won't stop you." it would make things easier anyway. Besides nobody would believe Davos anyway.
"No, m'lord that won't be necessary!" Davos said strongly, but also hastily not wanting to offend the man before him. Especially not now when the powers they possessed were revealed.
The messy-haired man just sighed and insisted "You don't have to lie. If you aren't comfortable then it is a simple thing to get you to your wife. You can decided from there." He waved off Davos attempts of insisting otherwise. "You could sleep on it and tell me on the morrow what you decided." Harry proposed.
The smuggler just nodded relieved, but also a bit ashamed at himself for his prejudice against magic. Even when the Stranger technically represented it. Not the best choice when someone wanted something represented. Not many knew much about the stranger or prayed to him.
His thoughts and inner turmoil were interrupted by the evening meal that just flew on plates onto the table.
The room assigned to Davos was as lavish as the rest of the inside. Despite the very comfortable bed full of pillows filled with feathers instead of straw and his belly full of delicious food and wine that indicated to help with sleep Davos couldn't catch a closed eye.
After seven hours of tossing, turning and indecision he thought that maybe a walk out in the cool and fresh northern air would do him some good. So, he did just that.
As soon as he was outside the cold air cut into his cheek like a blade. A blanket of snow was stretching over the land, with small snowflakes landing in his hair and clothes. The small weeping water was frozen on the surface with fish swimming under the frozen sheen, illuminated by the reflection of the sun rising over the horizon and the many pines. Being thankful for the thick clothing Davos began his trek, walking past the horses that were all huddled together, spending each other warmth.
Following the small river the smuggler made his way further upstream towards the small settlement, approximately a mile away from the camp. All the while thinking about what he should do.
On one hand it wasn't out of the question to simply return to his normal life as a smuggler. It wasn't much, but it was his and it was all he ever knew as a life. On the other hand there was a new opportunity, an unknown. Something with the potential of transforming him into something more than just another smuggler on the Narrow Sea.
Granted he couldn't get his own boat from his savings, but this opportunity maybe even better.
He wanted that, to give his wife and children more than he had when growing up. The faces of little Dale and Allard before his mental eye practically made the decision for him.
He was a risk-taker anyway. Every new load he smuggled was one. This was no different. The only thing different was the magnitude of it. On top of it Davos' consciousness wouldn't allow him to disregard the debt he had to them.
Just as he went to turn around, having arrived at the mill near the river the cloak of memory and concentration he had shrouded himself in was pierced by a wail.
First he thought that the river really deserved its name, but then it did not stop and was accompanied by grunts. A feeling of dread crept up his spine like every time Davos heard that special cacophony of sounds. His time in Flee Bottom had taught him exactly what was happening right now.
A woman was raped.
The smuggler couldn't think of something more vile or disdainful.
'Go away you fool.' his mind screamed at him. It had never done anyone good by playing the hero. Most Davos had known and who had tried were gutted for their efforts by the soldiers who did such acts. Davos did not listen to his head in this case, instead opting to see what he could do. Doing the right thing in his mind was something that always overrode his common sense.
The feeling in the atmosphere grew somehow even chillier, as if it wasn't right what was happening or Davos simply wasn't used to the weather. That's what he told himself anyway.
Walking around the mill he came upon the scene. Under a tree was a women being raped like he thought.
The culprit was a man with pale white skin nearly as white as the snow around him, where he desecrated the helpless and wailing woman on his pink cloak. His hair was long and black.
Another notable thing was the dead man swinging at a rope from the tree. He seemed at least double the age of the woman. The gods were apparently mocking him, Davos himself escaped the death by hanging and now another died the way he should have.
Banishing these thoughts out of his mind Davos set to do what he thought was the right thing. Silently grabbing a nearby stone, not too heavy and not too light he walked near the pair and quickly bashed the stone at the man's temple, knocking him out. Strangely enough the man did not make a sound. Pushing the, hopefully, unconscious man of the woman he pulled off his cloak and put it around her shoulders.
It did not help the sobbing and as he went to look after the knocked out man Davos cursed. "Damn!" the man was a noble of the North from the look of his attire, now that Davos got a better look at him other than the back. Mentally reviewing the map of the coast of Westeros Davos came to the conclusion that this man was the Lord of the Dreadfort. It being the only castle nearby. That made it not really better.
'Where are the guards? What happened here? Why?' that and many more questions coursed through Davos' mind. Deciding to stay would be foolish he pulled the woman up bridal style and dashed for it, back to camp. It wouldn't do to get caught while having knocked a noble out or possibly even killed him while the man had his fun. Davos knew the consequences of such.
He was all the while letting the woman sob her heart out on his shoulder and trying to soothe her, unsuccessfully.
The smuggler was not a moment too late in entering the woods. As soon as he did shouts coming from behind him. It were, with a high probability, the guards the lord set to watch that nobody came upon him. Either through luck or misfortune did Davos somehow stumble upon it and interfere without arousing the attention of the guards.
'Or they were just idiots.' Davos mused as he dashed through the Underwood towards the camp. Like every time his life was in danger a crystal like clarity and calm descended on him.
Not looking back he heard the voices getting smaller and finally vanish. Relieved the smuggler's run slowed to a light jog. After a few more minutes he was at the campsite again, hoping that the people inside could help the still inconsolable woman in his arms.
Harry was the first to come upon him. "Ah Davos you come just..." upon seeing the women in the smuggler's hold Harry immediately changed gears.
"What happened!" he demanded, commanding more authority and respect with these two words, uttered in a no non-sense voice, than any king or lord Davos had ever seen. Not that there were any, but still. The commotion attracted the attention of the rest and Narcissa pried the woman off him and comforted her in an adjacent room.
Davos quickly replied "I was outside, trying to clear my head a bit, when I happened to walk by the mill near the village." now a bit more reluctantly Davos went on. "I heard the wails of a women and went to investigate. I found her being raped by a man, so I knocked him out. Afterwards I noticed that he seemed to be a lord, so I ran for it before some guard could find me, while carrying the women."
Harry cursed quite a bit and commanded "Show me where you found her!" while also ordering "Bella, Marcella come with me, maybe we can... persuade this lord somewhat." the word persuade conveying a completely different meaning than it normally did or even should.
Davos with the rest in tow led them to the place as soon as they were dressed in their armour, which took not long the clothing and metal flowing like water onto their bodies before becoming solid once more. As the group came back onto the scene the only thing in place was the still swinging corpse of the man.
"Scatter and search the area. Maybe they are still near." was the order coming from the messy-haired man as he himself activated the super-sensory ability, but discovered it didn't do such a good job when standing on snow. The snow dampening the vibrations in the ground considerably.
Soon after they dispersed in different directions with Davos following Harry. It took surprisingly little time for anyone to find clues. However it was already too late. The only trail existing was the one the horses left behind.
His group could surely follow it, but only with their own horses, who were much too eye-catching and possibly obliviating dozens of people wasn't on Harry's to do list. Not to mention that it could be any number of people, not the ones they were searching for. The snow that now fell did not make it any better.
With a sigh the wizard said "It seems it is of no use to pursue them." getting only a nod from Davos as reply. Harry recalled all others with a mental message and lead them back to the tent. The rest joined them shortly. "Have you found anything?" Harry inquired with not much hope for anything.
"No, there were only a few animal tracks, nothing more." answered Bellatrix having hoped to deal out some punishment on the man who did this to the woman. Ever since she knew what happened to her sister Narcissa the eldest Black sister had a burning hatred against rapists. That she herself was sold like cattle to the Lestrange didn't make it better even when she at the time was somewhat alright with it. Having seen it only as a business relationship. Only after Harry saw Bella truly what she had missed out on.
Soon enough all of them were inside the tent once more. As an additional security measure they set up notice-me-not wards.
It took some coaxing, but she finally calmed down enough for talking, but for now they only had her name, Ros. The whole bunch sitting at the enlarged table. "Can you tell us what happened?" asked Narcissa gently, knowing that all this wasn't fun to deal with, having lived through much worse herself.
Reluctantly Ros began to tell her story. Compulsions can only do so much, but without them the women wouldn't even talk right now. "I was just washing clothes in the river, when suddenly Lord Bolton with a few guards appeared." regardless of how reluctantly she at the beginning was now it flowed smoothly. "He talked something about being cheated by my husband." here she hiccuped and sobbed a little, but pulled herself together again. "He had my husband hanged by his guards and then send them away to look out for people to stumble upon us. Next he raped me under my husbands swinging corpse." the further she came to the ending the heavier her sobs got. Understandable, everyone would be distraught after such events.
Despite being furious with this scumbag of a lord Harry forced himself to stay calm, his bout of idiotic attack first and ask questions later mentality rearing its head again. It happened not as often these days, thankfully.
"How could you have cheated him?" came the question of Gabrielle in a mixture of perplexity and disgust.
Now she shook her head. "I don' know, I was only terrified." shivering and shaking from head to toe at the memory.
Firing a weak cheering charm at the woman to counteract her negative emotions a little Harry asked kindly "Anything else you can recall?" it did not make much sense. A miller's wife couldn't really cheat a lord of anything, expect maybe taxes and Harry doubted that killing the man who worked and got the money would remedy that situation.
"Only something about a First night or some such." came the meek reply. Ros having her eyes closed, as if it would help her pretend it did never happen. Narcissa just send him a look that said he should stop asking questions and gave the woman a dreamless sleep potion. A few seconds later she was out like a light.
Harry turned to Davos who, judging from his reaction, knew what the woman was talking about. "Do you know what she was talking about?" Harry's eye-brow raised, clearly expecting an answer from the glint in his snake-like eyes.
Davos' own fists were shaking in controlled fury "Aye, I do. She was talking about the abolished tradition of First Night. According to it a Lord had the right to be the first to bed the wife of any man under his influence on the night of the wedding." only knowing it from the gossip out of the Red Keep and how the king once remarked that it was a shame the tradition was abolished.
As Davos explained Harry got very glad not to have settled in Westeros.
Sure, Essos had slavery, but that seemed not so different in Westeros only that the slaves were the smallfolk, who had the same amount of power as slaves. They could go were they wanted, but without money or other resources that was difficult. Hunting for survival was out of the question, too. When some Lord caught you poaching on 'His Land' then it meant either the wall or a life with a hand short.
So, they lived on the land, worked for the lord and got little in return. Like the slaves, only that some of those had better lives in the manses of their masters from a viewpoint solely focussed on food and shelter.
From the looks of things his wives too were appalled at such a thing. Who, wouldn't? You marry the woman of your dreams and suddenly another guy comes along and says "Sorry, but I get to fuck her first." Heck, the result could even be a bastard. Something not very well received by the people of Westeros. Only because the noble couldn't keep it in his pants and needs a scapegoat. Why did they even have whores, when they fucked anything anyway? Harry had to shake his head to dispel these thoughts. They weren't helping.
"Are we taking her with us?" asked Marcella.
"Of course we are." stated Narcissa, knowing the prickly lord would throw a fit at having been denied his fuck. It would only spell disaster later for Ros.
Decision made they quickly ate breakfast, packed up their stuff, disassembled the tent and mounted the Pegasi. Ros' sleeping form rode with Narcissa who glued her to the saddle with a sticking charm and took her place behind the women. After only five minutes the group was in the sky once more. From the sky they could see many people searching in the woods. Most certainly for the man who knocked out the Lord Bolton.
The flight was peaceful and silent. Harry enjoyed it, the wind in his hair, the feeling of freedom and nothing binding him. The unsupported flight spell Voldemort developed was the best thing Tom ever made in Harry's opinion. No flimsy piece of wood needed.
Though, the control took something away from the thrill. The danger that if anything should happen to the broom it would spell doom for the one riding it. On the other side Harry did not play Quidditch for the thrill, but for the sake of flying.
Something he could now enjoy without having to make a broom, for which the last Potter did not know the spells and enchantments.
The sights were few. One was Winterfell, the castle of the Stark family. Another was the Neck and some floating castle that swam on top of a river, never staying in one place. The last before Harrenhal was a long bridge connected to two identical castles. Two squat and ugly keeps. Deep moats surrounding and protecting it.
It took them only until afternoon to arrive. The massive towers and walls of Harrenhal visible from far away. The castle looked eerie and not really welcoming despite the lively bustle going on in and around it. More a ruin than proper castle.
In contrast to it stood the newly erected tourney grounds and many tents or similar the smallfolk used as shelter. A continuous influx of people was streaming inside the grounds like a river. It seemed Davos did not overstate of how big an event this was.
Silently the Pegasi landed under a disillusionment and silencing charms away from most, as to not draw attention. Without much trouble the group found a place to make camp. Of course it was under a notice-me-not and muggle-repelling ward geared towards only letting people inside who were keyed in by the maker.
The Pegasi were transported home with a simple portkey charm on the saddle. The stable boys at home would care for them from then on.
Ros was put in a bed, she wouldn't wake up for a few hours. Deciding that it was too soon to go to bed the group searched for something interesting. Except for Davos who stayed behind in case Ros woke up in an unfamiliar environment and got scared, which was a given for what she lived through.
"That is one big castle." whistled Bellatrix as she stared at the monstrosity with her hood up. All of them being in their armour. It was a habit, still. To be always ready. On top of it they were in foreign territory.
A smile on her lips Andromeda agreed, nodding. "Quite." looking around herself.
The gatehouse was guarded, but with a bit of charm from Fleur the men were falling over themselves to let them in. With a disgusted eye-roll the Veela then ordered them to stand there for the rest of the night. They did so without complaint. The gatehouse was gigantic and as big as the great Hall of Hogwarts. Walking into the Outer Ward they were greeted by a seven-sided building, a well, the stables and the armoury.
Curiously enough ghost were in abundance near and inside the castle. These ones even so strong that the group didn't have to enter the astral plane to see them. Four burning men floating and screaming around. A father and sons from the looks of things. Another a sophisticated woman in an elegant dress, but blood dripping constantly down her lips with a bat on her shoulder. Others as well, but these looked like slaves, who died of various maladies. Starvation, lashings and other typical ways for slaves to go.
"Does anyone else have the feeling this castle is cursed?" Marcella asked sarcastically with a twitch to her lips. One could practically feel all the blood and despair that was infused into the mortar of the castle.
The response were only nodding heads with Gabrielle saying equally sarcastic. "What gave it away? The beautiful décor of the ruin, the many violent looking ghosts or the feeling of discomfort upon entering?" the Veela's own sarcastic smirk on her lips, causing the group to laugh. All of them shared a black humour and dry wit to them, though varying in degree.
In the end not much of interest was in the gigantic great hall or the towers. It was more like a hazard to ones health trying to navigate some parts of it than a castle to live in. Not wanting to repair it and risk a possible investigation they left the towers alone. Something interesting was the so called Godswood. It was a walled space the size of over twenty acres. Ignoring the Hall of a hundred Hearths for now.
The place seemed as if it went against its very nature. Like it was made a perversion of its previous purpose, a contradiction. Peaceful wrath would be best to describe it. The place were it was strongest was the tree with the pure white bark and blood red leaves that looked like hands. In it was carved a face that looked more like a visage full of fury and scorn, a twisted mouth and eyes burning with hatred and tears the colour of its leaves on the face. Marks numbering thirteen were carved into the bark, looking more like wounds of a living person than a tree's.
Apparently Melisandre tried to imitate the expression on the tree, exclaiming strongly and passionately. "Symbols of the Heathens!" turning to Harry a fire burning in her eyes "We should burn it down, master!"
Harry just sighed in exasperation. "Melisandre, you know as much as I that we are guests here and I think burning down a symbol of their faith wouldn't go over well." now that he thought about it she had send the seven-sided building the same look of utter contempt. The rest, except Kinvara just chuckled seeing the argument. Melisandre was as passionate about burning the enemies of Harry as Bellatrix was passionate about torturing and killing them. One of the reasons Kinvara was the representative of the faith and not the older woman.
It only caused the fiery woman to huff, but she relented with a reluctant nod. His words of persuading the people with deeds to their religion rather than with violence ringing in her ears. It seemed to have worked. More people than ever were praying to R'hllor in their home.
"Besides" now stepping closer Harry reached out to touch the bark "I wanted to see if there was something special about these trees."
A moment before touching the bark a voice behind them sounded. "I didn't know some people in the south still prayed to the Old Gods."
As one the group turned around, looking for the intruder. It was a relatively tall man, approximately six feet in height. He had a long face, dark hair going to his shoulders, a close cropped beard and grey eyes soft like fog. He was clothed like a northerner with a sword by his side. He had a solemn look on his face.
Shaking his head a little to come out of his stupor Harry answered "I wouldn't know either. We aren't from here." the rest of the group measured the man up and down as if looking for a threat, but found none. At the moment at least. The gaze of course lingered on his wives for longer, but this man at least seemed able to keep it in his pants.
Now a brow was raised the man replied "So you are only here for the tourney?" it was said in a pure curious manner and not with any suspicion in his voice.
Folding her arms in front of her Bellatrix glared at the man and asked "What's it to you and who are you anyway?"
The man seemed to blush. Either in embarrassment or because he was addressed by the women standing with Harry and their beauty. "I apologize my Lady." a slight bow accompanied it "My name is Eddard Stark, second son of Rickard Stark Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North."
Now it was Fleur's turn to respond with a delicate eye-brow raised and a slight, teasing smile on her full pouty lips. "Are you really or did you make that up to get more pussy?" it wouldn't be the first time something like that happened to her or her sister while simply trying to walk somewhere.
It seemed Eddard wasn't prepared for such a bluntly delivered response, as evident in his spluttering and increasing blush. His cheeks by now flaming red. "I can assure you I would never do such a thing."
Despite wanting nothing more than to tease him further for her amusement Fleur let it be. It would've to do for now.
"Well Eddard then let me introduce myself." Harry began with a grin on his face, still concealing his laughter, which was on full display in his eyes. Luckily, they were standing too far apart for Eddard to notice the uniqueness of these orbs. "My name is Harrison James Peverell." it wouldn't do for them to use their real last name. No matter how unlikely it was for the people in Westeros to have heard of them. Harry too bowed a bit.
"Andromeda Peverell" came the calm introduction from the middle child of the Sisters Black, along with a perfect curtsey.
"Narcissa Peverell." delivered in her typical ice-queen persona against which a glacier looked warm and inviting. Mirroring her sisters action.
Next came the eldest of them "Bellatrix Peverell." she too performed a perfect curtsey like she had learned from her mother. Her demeanour however displayed quite openly that she couldn't care less about Eddard.
"Marcella Peverell." said the Italian woman with her exotic voice, practically purring and getting another blush from the Northerner. Letting her smile triumphantly. She wouldn't try anything with anyone else than Harry, but teasing was too much fun and she hadn't done it in so long with someone else than her husband.
Rolling her eyes Gabrielle too performed a perfect introduction, but had no interest in charming the man in front of them. "Gabrielle Apolline Peverell."
Next came Fleur, who just smiled a smile that would've a lesser man creaming his pants right then and there, saying in her voice that sounded soft like summer rain. "Fleur Isabelle Peverell." She enjoyed it to make men flustered, but like her sister would only have her husband in her bed, on her lips or on her body in general. Well, aside from her sister-wives of course.
Melisandre saw no use in impressing the man or being nice to him so she just nodded to him. "Melisandre Peverell." she knew that she insinuated to be Harry's wife as well, but didn't care at the moment. She viewed herself as such anyway.
The same went for Kinvara, though bubbly and sometimes oblivious she may be, but she too saw no need to charm other men when she had the perfect one for her. "Kinvara Peverell." the last name extra pronounced as if it was a secret she was telling. Her own blush at admitting to herself with a name that she was married to the man of her dreams. Sure, the marriage was only consummated once, but that was enough. It wasn't a simple marriage either, but so much more. She had to suppress a wistful sigh at that. Even after one and a half years she still loved him as if on the first day.
Overcoming his blush and forgetting for the moment that he was here to pray Ned said. "I have never heard of the House Peverell, from where do you hail?" now inspecting the people before him a bit more intently and noticing the mystical looking high-quality armour, dresses and weapons. From whichever part of Westeros they came from it wasn't one Eddard knew, having never seen or heard from it in the slightest. Though, he should have from the looks of things. That equipment isn't cheap. On the other hand he wasn't that versed in the history of Houses like Brandon the heir and only ever visited the Vale, Stormlands and North.
Harry answered, seeing no harm in answering that vaguely. "We hail from Essos near the Jade Sea." technically true.
That seemed to astonish Eddard. "Truly? Your use of the Common Tongue is flawless!" there was no accent or anything to indicate a foreign heritage. Well, the hair colours did, but Eddard heard enough stories from Robert and his whores from which some had coloured hair. But these women took it to another level with the elaborateness. It truly looked like the stars, fire or gold were spun in their hair.
"Thank you." Gabrielle said with an inclined head and shrugged shoulders. "It isn't the first language we learned outside of our own and won't be the last." by now they had quite few. French, English (Common Tongue), High Valyrian and its various dialects, Ghiscari and some others as well.
"Well Eddard, I think we held you off long enough from your prayer." Harry said and made to leave with the rest following, but was stopped by the Stark.
Eddard himself did not know why he stopped these people, but at the moment he needed a reprieve from Robert's boisterousness. It did not help matters that his sister would arrive anytime now, so the future Lord of Storm's End's mood was high. Then he naturally took some serving wenches and whores to pass the time. Ned had to suppress a sigh at that. He loved Robert like a brother, he truly did, but his skull was thicker than a bulls with not much penetrating it.
Harry just had a brow raised in curiosity, asking. "Yes?"
"You don't have to leave because of me." now a sigh really escaped his lips "I was only here to find a bit of peace before my family arrives."
Harry just sat himself down on the grass besides the man with the rest following suit, forming a circle. Subtly setting up a notice-me-not ward against disturbances. Amused Narcissa asked with a fanged grin "Trouble with the family?" she and her sisters and Harry could sympathise, having lived with shitty families themselves. Well, shitty in Harry's case in theirs it was more like dysfunctional. Later on it evolved to shitty, though.
Only now Eddard saw the oddities in their eyes and teeth. The teeth were perfectly straight and white, but they had fangs. Slitted eyes with wondrous vibrant colours lying in black pools. That was a bit more complicated to explain and Eddard failed to come up with one convenient enough.
Despite his nervousness reaching through the roof he asked without stutter. "What is with your eyes?" these weren't normal eyes at all. Another thing were the collars, something that made his stomach drop, but he refrained from judging too soon. Their behaviour wasn't typical for slaves.
"That was quite rude." huffed Bellatrix, crossing her arms under her bosom. The eldest Black turned to Harry with her big puppy-dog eyes asking innocently. "Can I educate him?"
From Harry only came a calm, firm, but also deadpan "No!" causing Bella to pout and the rest to chuckle.
Meanwhile Eddard experienced a shiver, thinking that he could pass the things she wants to educate him in. The disturbing grin she had when saying it didn't help it. "I apologize. It is just that I have never seen such eyes. Are you sick?" it could be he amended to himself. After all he knew nothing of their land so that was a possibility.
Now Gabrielle laughed her lyrical laugh with a hand before her mouth, shaking her head in amusement. "No, we aren't. These are our family's traits." also true. At least something useful came of having began to read the book The Lineages and Histories of the Great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms, With Descriptions of Many High Lords and Noble Ladies and Their Children. That was the most boring read she ever had and she only lasted to the third page, but the gist of it was clear. Some families had specific traits. Like Lannister and their golden hair and emerald eyes. Tully with their auburn hair and blue eyes. Before them apparently truly sat a Stark with their dark hair and grey eyes.
"Oh." Eddard said "They are very... " struggling to come up with a word and not to offend the foreigners was more difficult than he thought.
Seeing that the Northman had a few problems with finding the fitting word Marcella supplied one, the corners of her mouth twitching upwards. "Unique?"
"Yes, that." his cheeks again flaming at that.
Narcissa waved off his attempt at an apology and steered the conversation back to were it was. "You said something about family and having peace before their arrival."
At that Eddard slumped a little and explained, why he did so to strangers was a mystery even to him. He explained his family a bit and then the fostering, the time spent away from his siblings, his foster father and brother and the betrothal between said brother and his sister, together with her reluctance to marry him. Brandon's dislike of Robert did not help matters. Even though both liked to drink, fight and go wenching.
"Seems like quite the family you have." Fleur commented absent-mindedly, thinking of her own father and mother right now. She did not need to mourn anymore, but such wounds never go fully away. Beside her Gabrielle grabbed her hand, squeezing it and also thinking the same, obviously.
Eddard just nodded, feeling already a bit lighter at having talked about it.
"Just enjoy the time with your precious people and cherish it. There isn't much more to it." Harry said, now laying on the grass outstretched and looking at the evening sky with its various colours of orange, red, yellow and even purple dancing across the horizon. Melisandre and Kinvara too were looking at the spectacle the sundown made.
The second son of Rickard Stark now also looked up and noticed the hour of the day. "It got pretty late. I better go back." he stood up and dusted of his clothes a bit. The rest following suit.
Andromeda just nodded, saying. "Time flies when in good company." a smile on her lips which was returned by Eddard. He said his goodbyes with a bow and left them.
After that the group walked back to their tent. No, problems were encountered with the notice-me-not spells around them still active. Dropping it they entered the tent.
Inside was Davos sitting at the table together with Ros, who still looked a bit out of it, but also wide-eyed. Obviously trying to take it all in.
"Feeling better? Inquired Narcissa causing the woman to squeak and jump out of her seat. Only now got Harry a proper look at her. She was tall and willowy, with longs legs and small firm breasts. She was pretty in her ordinary dress, but did not hold a single candle to his wives. It was beauty in a common sort of way. In a society such as this medieval one it was enough to warrant rape it seems.
Upon seeing them her eyes seemed to get even wider as she tried and failed to apologize for one thing or the other. She all around skittish and jumpy.
"Relax." Harry said with a smile that showed no teeth and hand held up to stop the constant stream of incoherent words. "Take a breath and then start from the beginning." the gentle smile never leaving his face, causing the woman to blush in mixture of embarrassment and gratitude.
"I just wanted to thank you for taking me with you." she said meekly with her hands clapped before her.
Harry motioned for her to sit and did so himself with the rest following. A bit incredulous he said "Really? We took you away from your home and everything you knew so excuse me when I have my doubts about that."
Ros sat herself on her previous chair, trying to be as small as possible. "Yes, but I also wouldn't have anything at home." she explained.
Leaning on the table in interest Kinvara asked with her head tilted to the side. "Why?" her eyes holding nothing but innocent curiosity.
Reluctantly she answered also aided by a few compulsions. "With my husband dead his brother would most likely get the mill. He never liked me and so would've thrown me out to fend for myself."
"The reasons for him not liking you were what exactly?" queried Fleur with narrowed eyes. Having her suspicion that she wasn't telling the whole truth.
If possible the woman grew even more reluctant, but the compulsions persuaded her otherwise. "He hated me, because it was his belief that I only married his brother to use him so that I have a roof over my head." The compulsion forcing the woman to do things she was inclined to do anyway.
Like someone honourable that would protect someone, would reach the decision faster through these. However, you couldn't make a psychopath do acts of charity or other things people generally saw as good. When it went against someone's nature it would most likely not take hold at all. Otherwise it would've to be categorized with the Imperius.
Expectantly Fleur asked "And? Is it true?" she wouldn't judge her for it. In times such as this a woman had to look out for herself.
Trying to shrink even further and not even really comprehending why she talked about this truthfully Ros answered. "Yes, I am an orphan. Have no skills to get paid for and also no desire to whore myself out to a large group of men." a helpless shrug that basically transmitted the message 'What was I to do?'
With that cleared the group went to bed, while Harry thought of a way to help the woman, who slept in a different part of the tent together with Davos who had his own.
She obviously had nothing to her. No skills, lands, money. Only her body and wit. Though Harry went to sleep with a smile on his face and an idea on his mind.
The next morning Harry's group woke up early like it was their habit before coming into this world. That they now lived with two women whose internal clocks let them wake up by sunrise only helped with that. The reasons was that they took up their training again to keep their abilities sharp.
All wore only non-descriptive clothing. Skin-tight trousers made out of cotton from their farms. Simply brown in colour with nothing fancy on it. Harry forwent his shirt, only wearing the amulet and ring on his upper body. His wives wore chest-bindings to prevent their breasts from being too much of a hindrance. Their chokers on full display together with their rings.
Melisandre and Kinvara stayed in the tent and did whatever they did. Hopefully not breakfast. Both weren't physical fighters, but more the traditional caster type fighting from a distance and so did not really concern themselves with training their bodies.
They earned a few queer looks from the few people already up, seeing them warm up with stretches. Afterwards, they were jogging towards through the tents and along the lake, jumping over obstacles rather than going around. After having run the typical distance of eighteen kilometres in an hour, which was further made difficult due to the spell that made them heavier by twenty kilos, they swam through the lake back from where they came.
Seeing the towers now made them look more inviting than yesterday, practically inviting them to climb the Kingspyre tower. It took only another hour and they were on top all breathing heavily.
The last part was simple yoga exercises to keep flexible, agile and their core and balance strong.
When everyone was finished the group simply apparated down. Gabrielle sighed as she took Harry's left arm and her sister taking the right, taking in his musky scent from the workout. It got her motor running and a glance to the it was the same for them.
Bellatrix stretched like a cat, saying. "Nothing goes over a good aches in the muscles." she was the first to see the benefits of the training and came even to like it. That she could inspect Harry's physique as he exercised letting his muscles contract and relax. She got turned on by the power they represented and he contained. Sweat cascading down on his body, glistening in the sun as he worked out. Assuring her every time anew, that he was truly worth her worship.
Marcella wore a lazy grin as she said seductively "Oh I don't know, I could think of a few things that are better." looking directly at Harry as she did so.
Narcissa chimed in as they made their way back to the tent. "I heard of a bathhouse here and saw steam rising out of one building on top of the tower. Maybe we could... relax a little in there? Sooth our muscles." she also had something else in mind, but so had the rest of the women. One look was enough for her to know they would either jump Harry in the tent or somewhere else. In the tent were Davos and Ros so that was out. The darkening of their eyes with lust as they looked at Harry was a dead giveaway.
Harry grinned "Sure." his eyes too taking on a darker hue as they made their way through the Outer, middle and inner Ward to get to the bathhouse.
He was practically dragged across the yards by the two Veela and towards the building made out of stone and timber. Upon entering they saw one low ceiling room with many big stone tubs, where seven people could sit in comfortably.
The trousers were discarded quickly and the chest binding soon followed. Not wanting to be disturbed and also not trusting notice-me-not wards or muggle-repelling to hold up against a large stream of people with this destination in mind and their noises on top of it, Harry set up a quick Fidelius on one of the tubs.
On such a small space it took not much effort. It also would give them a private tub. The charm could be removed once they were leaving Harrenhal. He choose Gabrielle as secret keeper, who said it loud enough for all the others to hear.
None of them was noticing the other two people who entered the bath in that exact moment.
Oberyn Nymeros Martell was bored. Everyone who knew him also knew that the Red Viper and boredom got not along very well. He was at Harrenhal for almost a week now and only today in the evening would the opening ceremony begin.
The only reason he was here was his sister Elia, who was married to the crown prince Rhaegar. To this day Oberyn regretted at having failed to protect his sister from being married to the man. At home people would die for her, there her family was and there people loved her.
Now she was in King's Landing, a shitpile of a city with a mad man as king. Her husband, the gallant prince that he was seemed incapable of protecting Elia or even his own mother. Not that the man seemed to spend much time with his wife or family. Instead, from what he got out of Elia, he was mostly away. His sister was sure his duties were preventing Rhaegar to attend to her more often.
That's what he loved about his sister she had no thorns like typical for woman of Dorne. Elia was sweet and gentle always thinking the best of people. Which was unfortunately not an advantage in the viper's nest of a capital. At home there were snakes too, but these wouldn't bite her. More like coil protectively around her ready to strike her foes down in an instant.
But back to Rhaegar. After having snooped around a bit in the capital Oberyn found out that the man often times went to Summerhall to do whatever he did. That wasn't of interest. What was of interest is that the fool would rather spend time in a ruin than with his beautiful wife that bore him a child. A beautiful girl, something that nearly cost Elia her life.
Oberyn clenched his fists and released a breath he didn't knew he was holding as his paramour Ellaria Sand tightened her hold on his arm. The woman having noticed his agitation. She was good at calming him down, which Oberyn appreciated.
He had met her shortly before departing Dorne after he came from planky town with his new daughter Sarella Sand. Her mother had given her to him after he got a message that she would do so. The captain of the trade ship Feathered Kiss was a free spirit and an infant had no room on board of such a ship in waters full of slavers. Oberyn accepted his new daughter gladly, but had to leave her in the Water Gardens with his brother.
On the way to Harrenhal per horse he met Ellaria and took her to his bed, where Oberyn decided to see more of her in the future. Like right now, as they made their way to the bathhouse that was more ruin than anything, like the rest of Harrenhal.
Upon entering he heard someone say out loud in an enchanting voice the location of one of the tubs in a weird way, but thought not much of it. From a glance at Ellaria and her puzzled look she did too.
Now standing fully in the room he saw who must've said it. In the tub at the corner of the room and the only occupied one were seven people. One man and six women. All to Oberyn's eye looking incredibly delicious. It seems they weren't the only ones with the idea of having a bit of fun in here. Two of the women looked perfect and like the old Valyrian Dragonlords were rumoured to look. The other four were perfect too, although more interesting with what looked stars to him in their hair. Every one of them had a different arrangement of these in their midnight black hair.
The man with the body of a god, who had messy raven black hair with a golden streak running through it, seemed to know what he was doing from the way he handle the women together with the shouts and gasps coming from them.
In the end Oberyn decided to first tend to Ellaria and afterwards they could maybe join in. It would be a little tight in the tub, though nothing he and his paramour couldn't handle.
After an hour Oberyn sat in the tub with an equally exhausted but happy Ellaria in his lap, kissing his neck. He was facing towards the group, who showed no signs of stopping. The Prince of Dorne had to admire the man's stamina. To service six women so thoroughly took a good amount of skill. However, twenty minutes later they too stopped and were just soaking in the tub. It was fortunate that they were in a bath or the room would certainly smell of the distinct odour of sex.
Having decided that enough time had passed the Red Viper said to his tub neighbour. "I must say I'm impressed with your performance." the casual way he delivered it was only enhanced by the wolfish and cocky grin Oberyn wore. Ellaria was giggling in his lap as she turned around to see the people in the nearby tub.
They all looked startled and with eyes wide open as if caught in something they weren't supposed to. It caused Oberyn to laugh, but he also understood. He himself was from time to time so deep in the throes of passion that he noticed little else.
"How are you seeing us?" asked one of the Valyrian looking women, no demanded more likely. Her eyes narrowed dangerously and the dornish man had no doubt she was a passionate one. Even when the question confused him.
"What do you mean?" he asked back with a mocking eye-brow raised. "You're sitting directly beside us." his expression told them to dare and contradict him.
Meanwhile Harry thought furiously as to how this could be possible. The only way was that this man and woman knew the secret. Something that wasn't even two hours old and nobody told them. Seer blood could be the answer. Most concealments were useless against the gift of sight. Not to mention that he was a bit miffed by being interrupted. It seemed the short break they wanted to take in-between another bout of sex was now a longer one.
Before the prince of Dorne could reply a man, who had entered a minute before, shouted. "With whom are you talking?" afterwards he was muttering something unfavourable about crazy Dornishmen under his breath and turning his back to them. The Bathhouse having his first fill of people in the morning.
Now it was Oberyn's and Ellaria's turn to goggle at the man who said that as if he was bonkers. There were seven people, who all had fucked quite loudly in the tub beside them. And this guy wants to tell them there weren't?
Harry just cursed under his breath, motioned for the others to make some space and told the olive skinned man with a sigh escaping his lips. "Just, come over and I explain."
Oberyn did so intrigued with Ellaria following behind, slipping smoothly into the tub, while winking charmingly at the women. Causing the half to raise their eye-brows and the rest to roll their eyes.
'Not quite the reaction I normally get.' the Red Viper thought even more curious now.
Before anyone could say anything Harry cleared his throat, stood up so that the water was just under his waist, turned to the other people in different tubs and shouted to the man that talked previously. "Hey, shitface! Do you know that I visited your mother last night? Yeah, I fucked her good for three hours straight and it only cost me a copper. After I was finished she licked my cock clean and said that it was more than her husband ever could've done to her." sitting down again he grinned at the two gob-smacked faces as they saw the guy not even turning around to the string of insults thrown his way.
Oberyn snorted with laughter that soon turned to a full blown one as he couldn't suppress it any more. Ellaria was giggling at first with a hand before her mouth, that soon turned also to a full belly laugh.
After he caught his breath, Oberyn asked "So mind explaining how you can insult Mace Tyrell to his face without him puffing himself up and threatening you?" it wasn't as if he cared for the fat flower of Highgarden, but his interest was piqued. Which meant he wouldn't let go anytime soon.
Gabrielle with a smile of her own proposed "Why don't you try insulting him first?"
The olive skinned man just shrugged with a roughish smile and turned around to the fat oaf. A vicious glint in his dark eyes. "Hey, Mace I know for a fact your mother thinks you a fool. Dorne is better than the Reach and can kick its ass anytime..." what followed were more than a few colourful insults towards the man his heritage, house and land.
Amused Fleur said dryly. "Feeling better?" a grin on her face.
Oberyn returned it in kind, replying. "Yes, but how is this possible?" motioning to the ground in a circle indicating the tub.
Harry just shrugged and wrote with a flourish and Flagrate 'MAGIC' into the air and directed a beaming smile onto the once more gob-smacked expressions of the two. It soon however turned to confusion as Oberyn laughed as if mad. Even his paramour looked at him strangely at that. "He spoke the truth that red-teethed bastard." the red viper chuckled out.
"Who spoke the truth?" Bellatrix asked in silent fury, having her suspicion about the red-teethed comment. Marwyn was the only one that she knew who had red teeth from chewing some strange stuff. The man had left them a year before to get back to the citadel and it seems they rather should've killed him, if it was him who informed the man before them.
"A few moons ago I got a raven from a good friend I made in the time I studied in the citadel." Oberyn began "He explained that he discovered the resurfacing of magic as evident in the burning glass-candle. He further said that the same showed him visions that required him to go east. Once arrived it took him a year following a flying city in the clouds to meet the people he wanted." now stroking his chin the man was oddly serious. "From then he said that he learned magic from these people. He even send proof in form of a Invigoration Draught as he called it."
"I'll kill him!" Bellatrix snarled at having her suspicion confirmed. 'How dare that scum tell our secrets so openly.' she fumed in her head, going through all the curses she would use on the Archmaester.
Oberyn answered calmly as if the women opposite of him didn't just threatened to kill someone. "No matter how eager I am to see more magic performed, I would like my friend in one piece." his face taking on an innocent expression. "Besides I may have blackmailed him into giving me the information." butter wouldn't melt in his mouth.
"Calm down Bella." Harry said, putting a hand on her thigh and began stroking it. Causing the eldest Black to lean into him with a pout. "We never asked him to keep our secrets."
"But why?" asked a baffled Ellaria. When she had such a secret she would keep it at all cost and only telling people she trusted absolutely.
Harry shrugged unconcerned. "Easy, I didn't teach him much and certainly not anything dangerous to us or others. More like potions to heal and other small things. Not that he could handle the big things. For that Marwyn lacks the necessary power."
The Archmaester would be a rather weak wizard. He could make potions and work with runes, but his spells would always lack real power. "Besides who from his order would believe him anyway?" Harry asked rhetorically.
Answer? No one!
Together with the superstitious and religious smallfolk magic wouldn't be well received. More like vilified and cursed. Harry could already see it before his minds eye how the people that worshipped the seven would react to such a thing. With fear and fear led to hatred and that led to suffering. It was a good thing they settled in Essos and far east, where magic was much more accepted.
Not to mention that they helped to free the slaves with it, so they associated it with something good. Their freedom. These people longed for change and got it in form of Harry's group and their magic.
In Westeros it would be different. They would've to hide what they are or risk the same thing like at home.
Oberyn and Ellaria just nodded and accepted his reasons, more than he would've thought. "Ah, forgive us. Here we are intruding and I only now realize we haven't introduced us at all." Oberyn apologized and introduced himself and his paramour, receiving an introduction in turn.
"Well, it was nice meeting you Oberyn, Ellaria" inclining his head to each of them "but if we stay any longer we get all wrinkly, not to mention that it is time to break our fast." Harry stood up with his entourage following close behind. They dried themselves with a few spells and dressed themselves.
Subtly Harry cast a tongue-tying curse at Oberyn and Ellaria so that they couldn't speak of this conversation and the information in it. Not taking any chances after Marwyn. It was true that he did not demand it from the maester, but it was definitely implied.
After whispering something in Ellaria's ear he got a positive response. A hesitant one, but a positive one regardless. Oberyn couldn't help it, he was excited. Here were people versed in magic, masters even. According to Marwyn anyway. Simply too tempting for him to abandon so quickly after discovering it.
Acting with a casualty that belied his excitement, Oberyn asked "Could we join you we also haven't broken our fast yet."
Harry only looked at his wives, waiting for their approval or denial. Either wasn't important to him as he couldn't care less for the dornish man to eat with them. Getting only shrugs or nods, Harry just said curtly "Sure." He finished dressing himself and dried Oberyn and Ellaria with a quick spell.
When all were dressed the now bigger left the bathhouse, with Harry at the front leading them towards their tent.
If Oberyn thought the tent was too small to fit them all, he didn't say a thing in complaint. The group entered and Harry smiled as he hear Ellaria gasp and he could practically feel Oberyn's smirk in his back.
Seeing the size of the inside was always a surprise for people who saw it the first time. When one wasn't a smug dornishman, that is.
Harry just bid them to sit down, while he got the breakfast. He just had to take it out of stasis. The tent even had an magical refrigerator and freezer, together with a storage chamber for keeping food fresh.
Harry prepared coffee, tea, milk, sugar and some of the local drinks for breakfast. Some pastries he had kept fresh and warm, cereal (the only thing edible he had brought with him to this world in a restocking box) and some things more British, like scones and waffles. Butter, clotted cream and some jams were also on the tablet. Not that much, but he heard from Oberyn about the feast that would happen tonight so it wasn't that much of a problem.
Quickly levitating the stuff to the table, Harry could practically feel Oberyn's giddiness together with Ellaria's own.
Davos still looked uncomfortable around magic and Ros kept staring as well as shooting disbelieving looks at the people around the table. Probably not believing she ate breakfast with a Prince of Dorne and other rich persons from a foreign kingdom, who were also Maegi.
"What is that delicious smell?" the olive-skinned man inquired curiously, while smelling the air.
Having put the plates and cups in front of everyone Harry pointed to the pitcher of dark liquid, saying "It's coffee. It tastes a bit bitter, but it helps you wake up faster in the morning. Normally one can drink it black, with milk, sugar or both." each time pointing to the objects containing the things in question. Holding the can up and having an eye-brow raised in question, Harry filled the dornish a cup each after getting a nod from them.
Deciding to introduce the rest of the food Harry did so. Happy to have more people liking his food. Oberyn seemed to take a liking to coffee, while his paramour seemed to find it too bitter for her tastes. She preferred Tea herself. The rest of the food was appreciated by all of them.
Breakfast was finished quickly and like before Oberyn couldn't keep the smile off his face or the questions of his tongue. "Where did you find this coffee. I have never head of it and I travelled as far as the Summer Isles." neither in Essos nor in the Summer Isles did he hear of such a thing. Either it was coming from further east, which he doubted as from time to time ships from Asshai found their way towards Westeros, or it was something coming from even further away.
Thinking quickly Narcissa replied. "We found it in the jungles of Sothoryos." Not noticing, ignoring or deigning the incredulous looks beneath her she continued. "Together with a few other new plants that when processed give several new products. Such as chocolate." summoning a few bars of it, she knew Harry had lying around, the ex-Malfoy handed them around.
Davos was the first to question them this time. "You really were on the continent itself, not just the basilisk isles?" he had heard only tale of them from sailors and that was enough to keep his distance. That these people only went there for some plants astounded him, even when these were highly prized. It could be lies of course, like so many sailors before them had lied of having been on the continent itself, but Davos doubted that deeply with the proof of it sitting before him.
"Well, yes." Gabrielle confirmed with a shrug and added. "The coffee and chocolate together with other things should be soon in some ports of the world, seeing as we have cultivated them at home from the saplings we acquired there." being the Mistress of Coin she knew that these products would bring them even more revenue.
They already were making much money from the spices, fruits, vegetables and other goods they produced. The bathhouses too made a good income. The entry cost only two coppers, but with so many people now able to enjoy a luxury it made an excellent profit. Together with the toll extorted from the trade routes controlled by them their coffers were full, despite the many constructions they had to commission in the last year and the ones still ongoing.
"And where lies your home?" Oberyn asked. The Dornishman had suspected from the beginning that they weren't Westerosi, the eyes, hair and fangs a dead giveaway. He was curious about it of course, but decided to wait for answers. He got more than he hoped to get.
"I thought you had a talk with Marwyn? Did he not tell you?" Andromeda asked with a delicate brow raised in surprise. Her eyes fixing in on him, making Oberyn feel as if his soul was inspected.
The Prince of Dorne shook his head. "He did tell me that he had instruction in magic from masters and their names," he admitted "but not where he went or learned." the Archmaester having tricked him, though Oberyn found it only fair. After all he tried to blackmail Marwyn first.
Seeing no problem with answering it Marcella did so. "We right now, live in Atlantis at the Black lake, which was formerly the Poison Sea. Straight north of Qarth."
With a somewhat triumphant expression on his face Oberyn leaned forward and exclaimed "So, you were the ones responsible for all that uproar in Slaver's Bay and Qarth?" now grinning fully at having made that discovery.
"What uproar?" asked Ros, speaking up the first time since they had entered the tent. Slowly, having build up her confidence that she was allowed to do so. Though, the woman had no idea what Slaver's Bay was or where it is located. Only that it sounded not so welcoming.
Davos was the first to answer her. The smuggler had a soft spot for the woman and seeing that she was or rather still is somewhat afraid of Harry and his female companions she had latched onto him for a feeling of familiarity. Him being smallfolk too helped in that regard. "I only heard the rumours from the sailors in the ports. However, it is said that out of nowhere some people appeared in the area and started to build a city with strange powers."
Now a still grinning Oberyn took over. "And a year ago news got around that the same people had successfully conquered the bigger cities of Slaver's Bay, New Ghis and Qarth after repelling an attack made out of forces from all three of them." now looking like the cat that got the canary Oberyn went on. "Even going so far as to freeing the slaves, dealing the business of slavery a hard blow. Further these people seemed to somehow revitalize the Red Waste and Ghis. Regions that before were desolate and nearly devoid of life."
"It isn't called the Red Waste anymore, but the Fields of Elysium." Fleur said calmly and proud of their achievements. If she would've lived a life with Bill Weasley she probably would still be on Earth hiding from the Muggles, while being a housewife.
She had nothing against Housewives, but Fleur was a proud Veela, a fighter and a proven one at that.
Sure, she wanted children, but not with someone who would expect her to be like his mother. Only performing household charms and caring for the children, while having no job or aspirations herself. She didn't enter the Triwizard Tournament for show, but to prove herself, which she did.
In stark contrast she now had a position of great power and trust, in a government run by the man she loved. She could enact change and deliver true justice, like the land where they live in hadn't seen it since forever.
There had been times when she had doubted her decision to wait for her and her sister being reunited with Harry. Lonely nights spent on the run from their persecutors.
That all was swept away by the first kiss she had in that tent with him. She and Gabrielle were even further rewarded for their patience, despite not having expected it. They were made full Veela and given various bodily enhancements and artefacts from Harry to protect them. Harry waved it off as no big deal, but only a Parsel-mouth was capable of writing in parsel-script and only those can inscribe the writings necessary for it onto the rings and chokers so that they could provide that kind of protection.
Snakes and Parsel-mouths may be vilified now, due to Voldemort and others, but in the past Parselmouths were prized healers and protectors. The symbol of Caduceus alone should convince everyone otherwise.
'That aren't the only things Parsel-mouths are good at.' she thought happily as the Veela thought about their various bedroom encounters and the feeling his tongue could give her.
She did not remember the first time besides, the satisfying ache and soreness.
The second time she remembered just fine. A unnoticeable blush now colouring her cheeks at the memory. She had thought Harry a normal man in the bedroom and she had thought wrong. With the rituals and potions he was infused with together with him being a Metamorphagus he outlasted all six of them.
Only Kinvara and Melisandre were excluded. Those two hadn't been taken to Harry's bed expect that one time in the House of the Undying. Though Harry wasn't all there at the time. Neither was she or the rest.
His stamina would've shocked her before, but she was talking about Harry. The man who survived a killing-curse and who in his life did more impossible things put together than hundred witches and wizards.
The best out of all of this was the connection she now had with her beloved. It was like something straight out of a fairytale. She could feel his emotions and read his thoughts with ease, when he allowed it of course, which was most of the time. Only enhancing the pleasure she felt during sex. She like her sister and the other six was now connected to Harry in mind, soul and for all expect the priestesses nearly every evening, in body.
The Veela had never dreamed that her feelings would reach such a level, but they did and everyone who tried to harm her beloved or try to separate them would find himself the focus of her fury.
Altough not everything was perfect. Fleur could feel Harry's doubt as to the new relationship he had with her, her sister and the two priestesses. As sad as it was to admit, but she knew he didn't love the four of them just yet.
Why should he? It was more like an arranged marriage after all. Through Fate or something else he had been robbed of the choice to take them as wives himself. Luckily, Harry had a big heart and was much too gentlemanly to kick them out.
The fact that they were Veela wasn't enough for him, like it would for most men. Harry needed an emotional connection, he needed love.
Fleur had felt a few glimpses of the overwhelming feeling of love he held towards his first four wives and had resolved to do everything to earn his love, much like her sister and the priestesses. He was going out of his way to make them comfortable, despite the fact, that he had no reason to do so.
That fact only strengthened her feelings, so she could wait until he reciprocated her emotions towards him in full, while doing her best to earn his affection.
Coming out of her musings she noticed that the discussion seemed over. A quick mental question at her sister proved her right. They only had talked about what their group had accomplished in the east.
Oberyn and Ellaria went back to their tent for now, but promised or more like insisted to come back later. Fleur wasn't really anticipating the tourney, mostly because all the men would ogle her and the rest. As long as these brutes did nothing else she could ignore them.
Should one of them not get the message and try to touch her she would educate him, painfully.