Galazza Galare reflected on the last two years. Much had changed. It all had begun with the rumours of a city appearing near the Poison Sea and the subsequent revitalizing of the Red Waste. As soon as the news of that event had reached Meereen, Astapor, Yunkai and Old Ghis all were already preparing for war.
Her pleas for peace had fallen on deaf ears with the Great, Wise and Good Masters. Most didn't live long enough to see the result of their folly. Namely the downfall of Old Ghis as they knew it. The enemy crushed the combined forces as one might a bug before anything could be achieved, leaving no survivors.
If that wasn't enough their attack and greed had woken a sleeping dragon. Not even before the corpses were cold, the enemy stood before their gates. At first she had thought that would mean an easy conquest for them. 'How foolish these idiots have been in their arrogance. Sitting on victories long since past.' Galazza thought with contempt, remembering the noble families ignoring her begging for peace.
Their foe didn't arrive too late or too early, but exactly when they meant to. As she later learned their army had been crushed with minimal to no loses for the enemy. Moments later said enemy already stood before their gates. It was a testament to her new king's power that he could achieve such.
Not that everyone was thrilled with the changes, herself included. In the beginning at least. Slavery was all that had made Meereen what it had been, while also being their only trade. The very few remaining Masters had grumbled about that and tried to go against it as soon as the foreign influence left. The problem was it didn't, but burrowed itself deeper.
In the meantime she herself had tried to find out if the curse was real or not. It was! That, she had found out in the most painful fashion moments after Harry had left. Her grandchild had punished a former slave by flogging. Her whole family had felt the agony themselves shortly afterwards. Of course, that wasn't enough for the more prideful members of her family and a week of pain and anguish had followed until it penetrated the thick heads of her sons and grandsons.
While her male family members explored their masochistic tendencies, with the rest as unwilling participants, their new king had been hard at work. Conquering Yunkai, Astapor, Old Ghis and Qarth, restoring their lands after the blasted Valyrians had sowed the fields with salt, skulls and sulphur and putting Shirego Kou in charge of the enlarged Ghis as a whole.
That would prove to be a wise decision. Shirego was of the old blood of Ghis and could easily take control, which she did. In turn Shirego was controlled by Harry. Like that he wouldn't be seen as a foreign ruler, he instead controlled the one who was suited and accepted for the task.
Every last complaint went out of her mind after the day on the Plaza of Punishment. All former slavers had been gathered and tried. Some were released with a big fine as punishment, for taking part in slavery, but not mistreating their slaves. Others were simply killed by beheading. The most foul were the burnings, which had been reserved for the worst offenders like child-slavers and so on.
No lie could convince them, no bribe sway them and no slaver escaped unscathed under the tender mercies of the Blacks. 'Fitting name for their black hearts.' Galazza mused.
The flames had seemingly burned the smell of charred flesh and the screams of terror into Galazza's mind. That day the old families were shown the prize for slavery and defiance. Though, one thing was the same for all. All slaves were to be released and the ones who had treated them good could keep them as paid servants, should the ex-slave so desire. Further ruthlessness was shown as even the children of the now dead masters were deported to a foreign land, never to be seen again, preventing them from accumulating influence.
Also a smart move, no matter how ruthless it was.
It wasn't all bad, however. Due to their new King the land was able to grow food again and support livestock, making way for the beginning of new trade. Cedars grew once more, allowing for new ships to be built. The Isle of Cedars lying in between Slaver's Bay and the Gulf of Grief was resettled with Ghozai and Velos rebuilt. Old Ghis was also restored to its former glory, a river again flowing through it, which let palm trees and other plants grow. Their defences got improved for the first time in centuries and the new medical potions and healers saw to it that most people were hale and healthy.
Ghis had doubled in size, the mountains were explored and several mines with various metals found. Even the lost language of the Old Ghiscari Empire was gifted to them as a show of good will.
Another smart decision was to reopen the fighting pits. Sure, some new rules had been implemented, but that didn't decrease the excitement.
All in all Galazza could say that Harry's enemies were eradicated utterly and his allies rewarded richly for good services. It made the decision she had made in the last few months easier.
Apparently Yezzan had noticed that as well and found one master absent. Grazdan mo Eraz was the man's name and from the looks of things he had been in Volantis as the conquest of Ghis happened. From then on Yezzan had heard rumours that the idiot was in the process of bringing Volantis to attack them, to re-establish slavery.
They couldn't do anything, so they waited until concrete facts showed up.
In Meereen there wasn't all peace and quiet. Hizdhar zo Loraq, some boy not yet a man had also been absent, living a little while with relatives in Tolos. Though, he was more impulsive and returned to Meereen upon hearing the demise of his family. He even had the audacity to demand her help as the Harpy, but Galazza wasn't suicidal and declined.
Enraged, Hizdhar predictably gathered the Sons of the Harpy, who also were displeased with the situation. In time she had lost control over them and finally had to take steps to imprison Hizdhar and the few Sons of the Harpy still living after the conquest of Ghis. With the new and improved city-watch it was easier than expected. Most citizens immediately reported strange behaviour, not wanting to incur the wrath of the being generous enough to free them and make their lives better in almost every aspect.
The rebellion died before it could even truly begin. Hizdhar was imprisoned and his collaborators dead. Some were killed on her orders others died due to mysterious circumstances. In the latter case Galazza suspected the hand of her king being involved. That was why she was currently in Atlantis, to present the traitor and reassure her king of her loyalty at the same time.
She wasn't the only one. In every city of Slaver's Bay, or Phoenix's Bay as it came to be known, were sleeping cells containing the Sons of the Harpy and every single one was eradicated.
Yezzan zo Qaggaz stood beside her, waiting like Galazza for the meeting to start. The man was no longer an obese whale stinking of piss and shit, like she remembered. In his place stood a slim man, who could support his own weight and whose body odour wasn't a lethal weapon. From what Galazza had heard the man had lost weight rapidly. Beside him stood his attendant, Sweets. His slaves were released and healed, causing him to loose interest in them. Now that they weren't grotesque any longer. Sweets together with Nurse were one of the few that weren't thrown out. Although, the ruler of Meereen doubted that the man was here to complain.
'Most likely he wants to curry favour with our new overlord by telling him that Volantis is nearly ready to attack us and to ask for his curse to be lifted.' Galazza thought neutrally. She was here for the same reasons after all.
Then there was also Grazdan mo Ullhor, the man responsible for Astapor. News on the man were sparse due to his constant guard, consisting of Unsullied and according to rumour they didn't even let him go shit and piss alone, much less write letters to other people. Only with messengers was he allowed to talk while the Unsullied were present, of course.
Grazdan looked like a nervous wreck, jittery and nearly paranoid. Her sources, the graces of Astapor, had told Galazza the presumed reasons for that. Apparently a former slave of Grazdan, a butcher named Cleon, had tried to kill him and assume the leadership of Astapor himself. The pathetic attempt failed and the butcher was butchered in turn by the Unsullied, who may guard Grazdan, but also protected him.
Last, but most important was Shirego Kou, the new and first Lady Paramount of Ghis. The women was beautiful with wiry black and red highlights like all Ghiscari people. She had amber skin, black eyes and buxom figure. Her tokar was a blood red colour with black fringe. Cunning and intelligence were plain for all to see in her eyes, something that was required for someone in her position. During the whole time she had been appointed Lady Paramount Shirego had done good work.
Old Ghis was restored to its former glory in record time and new crops had been planted while livestock more than doubled in size. Furthermore the woman kept an eye on Galazza and her fellow city rulers, demanding reports from them on their endeavours with the Sons of the Harpy.
Galazza came out of her musings when the door opened, revealing the guards from yesterday. Abha, Galazza believed she was named. The Ghiscari women had no idea why they had to wait ten hours, but what the king wants the king gets.
The throne room described the nature of their ruler quite well, Galazza found. It looked peaceful and tranquil with its beautiful artwork, architecture and plants, at first glance only though. A certain oppressiveness was found, when one looked for it close enough. The throne and its siblings were obviously elevated, standing above the rest, reaching higher into the seemingly open ceiling than all others and grasping at the night sky.
Of course one couldn't forget the throne itself. It was a warning for all who looked at it, saying. 'Don't mess with us!' Galazza had gotten the message clearly, but that reaffirmed it.
With the announcement finished all four knelt down in front of the Jewelled Throne of Bones. It was uncomfortable to be in such a position for someone her age, but Galazza refused to show weakness and patiently waited to be acknowledged by her king.
A few more moments went by until the deep voice of Harry echoed through the room. "Rise!" once all stood he asked. "What are you here for?" he had been glad to not hold court during his ten days of vacation, it was exhausting. The interruption wasn't appreciated.
"Forgive our intrusion, Your Majesty." Shirego began as she straightened up. "We have important information for you..." Harry motioned her to continue and she did. "while also bringing you an apprehended traitor. We have brought him to you for trial and he is currently in the dungeons of the palace."
With a raised eyebrow Harry responded. "Surely one single traitor isn't too much for you to handle, is it?" upon their hesitation he inquired. "What is the true reason for your presence here?"
This time Yezzan spoke. "We, that is Galazza and I, would like you to lift the spells you have placed on us."
"What would keep you in line then?" Harry challenged.
Yezzan could name a number of things. The fear of being burned alive, being mind-controlled, tortured with magic Grazdan talked about and that were only the negatives. Positives were that his life improved together with his health, no matter how reluctant on his part. He was richer and his lands saw more trade than ever. Instead he said. "Our loyalty to you, of course, Your Most Exalted Majesty!"
Harry's eye twitched in irritation, but that was overshadowed by his lips twitching in amusement. "Good attempt at sucking up, but brown-nosing won't help you here." looking at the group before him sternly, with the exception of Shirego, Harry frowned. "I rather think that you want to prove that I can trust you by bringing the traitor here, rather than executing him yourself." without letting them speak he went on. "I also think it is a testament of how things were handled previously that you saw the need to do what you do now."
All four were confused not really knowing what to say, until Galazza asked. "What do you mean, Your Majesty?"
A sigh escaped Harry. "I mean that you should simply tell me that you have the traitor Hizdhar zo Loraq in custody and not use it as an excuse to come here. Not that it matters. I know that you worked the last few months against him and his efforts to rally people behind him to restart slavery. Or that Yezzan here collected information about that idiot Grazdan mo Eraz and his attempts to convince Volantis and its allies to attack us." The Taboo was insanely helpful in disposing these traitors and had been the cause of more than a few people being found guilty of treason with the punishment following shortly.
Shocked Galazza mumbled with a bit of an accusation in her voice. "You knew?" her normally parchment like face going even paler. She had her suspicions, but to have it confirmed made it all the more real.
This time a smirk was on his face. "Of course! It would've been stupid of me to trust you completely and not observe you, regardless of the fact that I had a curse placed on you or not." the smirk transformed to a grin. It had been a good decision to tell Melisandre to keep an eye on these with the glass-candle. Galazza had mentioned treason once, triggering the taboo, but she had been talking with Hizdhar who wanted her to commit treason with him.
"What happens now?" Grazdan asked fearfully, thinking he would be punished for being in the same room as the other two and having gotten an offer to help assassinate his king. He was praying to all the gods that would listen that his family should be spared.
Rolling his eyes Harry replied. "What do you think? None of you betrayed me, despite the numerous chance everyone of you got." pointing to Galazza he said. "You could've easily used Hizdhar to circumvent the curse I placed upon you and your family, but you did not and instead worked to preserve the peace and be loyal to me. One could say you passed the test." not to mention that she did her job so that he didn't have to intervene. A servant who needed constant support and couldn't do his or her job properly wasn't much help.
Galazza nodded, relief flooding her being. "I thank you, Your Majesty." She was a pacifist by nature and wouldn't have condoned Hizdhar's actions. She shuddered to think what punishment the man in front of her would've exacted on her and her family if it would've been the opposite.
Next Harry pointed at Yezzan. "Since the moment of your appointment you worked for me like intended, ruling your city wisely. No new slaves were made and no ex-slaves enslaved again and all who tried to do so properly punished. I made the correct decision in giving you leadership of Yunkai."
Yezzan thanked Harry as well. He may have lost his grotesque slaves, due to them being healed and Yezzan losing interest, but he got wealth and influence in turn. He also could walk, piss and shit without assistance once more. Not to mention having sex again, which was previously prevented by his massive form. Now, Sweets was more than willing to perform. An hermaphrodite she may be, but Yezzan liked it like that anyway.
Next came Grazdan mo Ullhor. "I believe you have something to tell me, Grazdan?" Harry asked neutrally. That was the most difficult one, because Harry just now learnt of it with Legilimency. Apparently Grazdan had been contacted by someone through a child that brought him written messages. The Unsullied couldn't read and therefore could only prevent Grazdan from writing back. The problem was that the child never spoke a word either. That meant he likely just got an offer, which he could accept or decline. It would also explain the man's jittery behaviour.
For the sake of appearing invincible, even though knowing he wasn't, Harry demanded. "Well?!"
When still no answer came forth, only the shaking increased. "Speak, cur or I will make you!" Marcella commanded.
Seeing no other way out Grazdan confessed with a stutter. "Yes, I was approached by someone. I don't know who, but he contacted me through a child bringing messages, asking me if I wanted to rule the kingdom you created."
Turning her nose up at the pathetic shivering man Fleur requisitioned. "Did you accept this proposal?!"
Grazdan shook his head frantically, shouting. "NO! I would never betray you, Your Majesties, you have to believe me! I wanted to tell you in person and do so at once as soon as you would arrive!" the response was frantic with panic in his voice.
Confirming it with a quick scan done with Legilimency Harry said. "Calm yourself! I believe you." it took a while but a minute later Grazdan had his pulse under control. "Now, what were you to do, according to your contact?"
More calmly Grazdan replied, now knowing he and his family wouldn't meet a grizzly fate. "Well," he began reluctantly. "I was to either arrange a meeting with you and try to poison you. Hire one of the Faceless men of Braavos. If that was too expensive hire someone to do it, who would be given your guard schedule to kill you in your sleep."
Alarm bells rang clearly in Harry's head. Someone already knew his guard schedule meant that he had spies in his city. "I see." was all he said out loud. 'It seems we have spies in our midst.' turning his thoughts to Melisandre he inquired. 'Do you have any idea who the spies could be, Melisandre?'
'No, Harry. I just recently have begun recruiting people with an aptitude for magic from the various red temples to help me monitor the comings and goings of people, but nothing suspicious occurred besides what happened with these three before you.' Melisandre explained. No Taboo was triggered Harry didn't know about and the watch-skulls also didn't react to anyone under glamour or spells.
Taking the small blessings, namely that Qarth's leader Xaro Xhoan Daxos seemed to be content with his lot. After the Pureborn were all killed the Thirteen were disbanded and the only one not a complete douche was put in charge. The Ancient Guild of Spicers and the Tourmaline Brotherhood were still active. The last Potter also made a mental note to look for more glass-candles.
Harry asked Grazdan. "Who was your contact and did they say anything else?"
"It only ever was a small child and no it never talked, only giving me messages." after a bit of thought he said thoughtful. "I believe it was one of my many servants."
Raising an eyebrow Fleur asked flatly. "You believe or you know?!"
"I am reasonably sure." Grazdan answered hurriedly, sweating a little.
Harry pondered the problem for a few moments and sighed, having not really expected the man to know his servants. They were mostly invisible to their masters be it in Essos or Westeros, making it easy for them to gather information. Harry stood up, stood before Grazdan and delved into the man's mind as soon as he did, retrieving the memory of the event and gaining the looks of the child. The next moment Harry apparated to Grazdan's home in search for the child as he was invisible.
Luckily it didn't take long to search the pyramid for the boy in question. He worked in the kitchens with a few other servants that accepted to work for money in Grazdan's employ. One stunning spell and Apparition later both Harry and the child were back in the throne room.
"Is that your contact?" Harry asked, holding the child up at the scruff of its neck. Upon the man's nod Harry bound the boy with ropes and began with the questioning. Obviously he couldn't answer back, but that wasn't important anyway. He simply took the information directly out of the unprotected, sleeping mind.
From what Harry gleaned the child worked for a man who named himself The Spider, but didn't know who he was or where he was from. The child only knew that every week it was to give written information to a contact of its own. Another useful titbit was that all spies of that sort were small children, who had their tongues cut out. The boy was afterwards transported to where he came from with his clothes serving as a portkey.
He ignored the puzzled looks he got from his vassals.
Sitting again on the throne Harry spoke to his four visitors after he relayed the information to his wives. "I thank you all for you loyal service. Especially you, Shirego." Harry said with a smile to the Ghiscari woman. She had done everything and went the extra mile on top of it. "Restoring Old Ghis and the Isle of Cedars together with expanding your territory, while also beginning to strengthen your fleet is quite a feat."
The woman bowed deeply, saying. "I live to serve you, Your Majesty."
Harry ignored that she put emphasis on serving him and not his wives, for now. So he just nodded. "I will lift the curses, because you proved your loyalty to me." here his voice grew harsher and became frosty, his eyes glowing with power. "Don't make me regret that!"
"We won't, Your Majesty!" Galazza answered with Yezzan and Grazdan mirroring it. Harry simply nodded and lifted the curses. The one on Galazza was tied to the rest of her family with a blood spell, so Harry only had to dispel the one on her. Shirego's contract would stay active, of course.
As soon as the four were gone Harry and the rest together with Abha, Dipti and Divya walked to the council chamber, reserved for the newly named Black Council.
The moment everyone was seated Harry sighed. "It seems we have spies in our cities, working for someone named The Spider."
"Indeed." Fleur concurred, turning to their Mistress of Whispers she said. "Any reason why they didn't trigger the taboo or other magical methods of monitoring?"
Melisandre nodded. "Yes, the Taboo Harry established only activates when one speaks the word, which mutes obviously can't do. The other measures are only good for observation, but we can't look everywhere at once, obviously. Not with the fixed amount of glass candles we have." Ten to be precise all found in various manses and pyramids of now extinct families. They needed a more traditional spy-network, but she didn't exactly know how to go about it.
"Alright." Harry interrupted, turning to Abha he commanded. "When we are finished here I want you to take a few warrior-maids with you and take every child that had its tongue cut out into custody for questioning." then he added. "Though, do it under a pretence, like restoring their tongues. I don't want to set them off or frighten them. It would be nice if you could do it in the time we are away, but that would be asking a bit much."
"Of course, your wish is our command." Abha promised and made a mental note to search the orphanages and other places for small children first. "If I may speak, Great Father."
That title sent a foreboding chill down his spine. They called him master, lord, king, Hyrkoon and Azor Ahai from time to time, but this was the first time she called him Great Father. "You may." Harry allowed tensely.
Straightening up Abha decided to begin with the issue that was less pressing for her. "Thank you. It seems that we have a problem with the Unsullied, Great Father." upon his nod she continued. "You remember the order that the Unsullied's manhoods should be restored by mixing the potion into their Wine of Courage?" another nod. "Well, it seems that they took that as test given to them by their goddess, the Lady of Spears, to chop their manhoods off again. I'll quote what one said. 'One who didn't sacrifice his 'spear' to the Lady of Spears isn't worthy to know her name.'"
Harry just sat there in stunned silence, he thought having their cocks and balls back would make them happy and give them back some semblance of normality. "Why?" he croaked out in disbelief. Though in the back of his mind he was reminded of the fact that this was one of the things where he assumed they would like it. Only seeing it from his perspective, because Harry definitely would like to have his junk back, if it should go missing.
"It is against their faith." Dipti said shrugging. She didn't care so long as they understood that the only one worthy of a cock and balls was Harry here.
"What of the attempt to let them care for a child?" Harry demanded somewhat desperate, hoping that they fulfilled the requirement he had set for men to serve in the army.
Divya shook her head in the negative. "It didn't work. They had no idea what to do with them, mostly just standing there as they usually do. Not that many men applied for duty in the army, preferring to be in the city-watches, even less met the requirement you have set." most Ghiscari and Qartheen males weren't cut out for being a real warrior. Most were pampered beyond belief and had treated war as a joke in their mock wars, where they replayed the old victories of Ghis or Qarth. That only strengthened the warrior-maids resolve that only women were the ones worthy to fight besides Harry.
Melisandre interjected gently inside Harry's mind. 'It seems that the Unsullied are more broken than we thought. It was always a possibility that this was the case with their training.' the word training was said with all the distaste she could. She was all for serving Azor Ahai and R'hllor, but people did it because they wanted to and not because they were forced to. The temples took slaves, orphans or sons and daughters from families that had too many children and gave them purpose in life. Even the high priest wore the title Slave of R'hllor and it was worn with pride.
'Couldn't we repair the damage with Legilimency or remove all the painful memories with potions or spells?' Harry countered as a last effort.
It was Narcissa who answered. 'You know that Legilimency is far too delicate and time consuming for such problems.' It had been the same problem with the Stonemen. 'Removing their bad memories would mean setting them back to the skills of a five year old and losing nearly ten-thousand warriors on top of it.' The Unsullied simply lacked empathy to interact socially, neither did they have self-worth or individuality. To integrate them into normal society was all but impossible.
"What of the eunuchs that aren't Unsullied, how did they like their changes?" Harry asked, half-expecting them to chop their manhoods of as well.
Distaste was clear in Abha's voice, no matter how much she tried to conceal it. "They appear to like it and are thankful." she had to restrain herself not to geld them again. Only the memory that the Great Fathers had manipulated the system stayed her hand. Clearly Harry knew better than herself.
"Am I understanding this correctly that we have practically no male warriors, beside the Unsullied, in our army at the current time?" upon their nod Harry said "Ok, here is what were going to do. The rules I set for being allowed to fight seem not to be working." Harry was ready to discard them as a failed social project at this point. "We simply split things up. Only men are allowed to be in the navy and city-watches." that together with the fighting-pits should be enough to satisfy them as far as fighting went. It was a good thing, that the Patrimony had absolutely no ships or harbours. "In turn only women are allowed into the standing army be it infantry or cavalry."
Abha, Dipti and Divya nodded in understanding, but Abha seemed sad, until Harry addressed her directly. "Abha, now that only men are allowed into the city-watch, you will withdraw from being the commander of them forthwith, congratulations." the caramel-skinned woman seemed confused at that, until Harry proclaimed. "Henceforth you will be the Mistress-at-Arms for the Palace of Love, do keep up the good work." The future commander of the City-Watch appointed by Fleur would have to report to Abha. Harry trusted her more than someone new. There had been a few problems with the men of the city-watch complaining about being led by a woman, being mostly compromised of male ex-slaves. Just because they had been slaves didn't mean gender-roles weren't firmly established.
"I won't disappoint you, master!" After all, not much would change for them and the city-watches were made out of only men anyway, while all sailors were men, due to the Patrimony not having a single harbour. "What of the Unsullied?" Abha inquired, wanting to know what he had in mind for them.
He answered that shortly after he sent Dipti to catch Shirego before the women went to sleep. "Well, I am assuming they don't really care what happens with them, do they?"
Divya and Abha nodded together with his wives while Melisandre said. "Not really, you give the order and they do it. Be it to stand somewhere until they collapse or to simply fall on their spears and kill themselves. Their lives are yours to do with as you please."
Normally Harry would hate himself for what he was about to propose, but saw no other alternative with how the rules were now. "Ok, the way I see it we either let them kill themselves or we can make them into women." stunned silence ensued. Why wouldn't it? Normally a sex-change would only be made when the one affected wanted it, but here it weirdly enough fit the situation. The Unsullied couldn't care less if they died. So what was the big deal of being transformed from a man to a woman?
'Maybe they would even see it as a blessing with their goddess being a woman and all.' Harry mused, getting the approval of his wives for it. Needless to say that Abha and Divya were all for it, looking at him even more reverently than previously. Like before the necessary potion would simply be mixed under their food together with the one to regrow their cock and balls. They were kinda required to reform into female genitals after all.
With that resolved Dipti soon came back with Shirego in tow. The woman seemed to have expected a different set-up, according to the half-removed tokar together with the sultry and raunchy look she wore. Said look fell away as she saw the different women in the room, bowing she asked. "How can I be of service, my Lord?"
"I am sorry if I woke you up, but I wanted to inquire if there are any people left to you that trained the Iron Legions of Old Ghis?"
The answer came promptly. "You have nothing to be sorry about, Your Majesty. You call, I come and shall perform anything you desire." the way she purred the word anything was definitely not in an innocent way. "As to your question. Yes, there are a few people I know of."
Ignoring the looks of venom Narcissa, Marcella and Fleur shot the woman Harry said. "Good. I'd like to revive the Ghiscari Lockstep legions of old with their help. With the Good Masters of Astapor nearly completely eradicated I am in need of someone who can train me more infantry that are close to the Unsullied, but not so... broken." The mixture out of Greek Hoplits and Roman legions the Unsullied were would go a long way to help him.
"It will be done as you command." she promised and left as soon as she got the instructions to only draft women. At least Harry hoped some would apply on their own. The Dothraki women should do so, at least the ones not in the newly made cavalry.
Just as Harry thought they were finished here Abha proved him wrong, having exchanged a meaningful glance with Dipti. "We have a plea of our own, Great Father."
There was that shiver again as the uneasy feeling returned tenfold. Nonetheless he nodded his consent, saying tense and ready for anything. "Alright, what is it?"
In a flash all three of them were up and out of the door. Harry exchanged a puzzled glance with his four present wives. Moments later they returned, but not alone. Each had one girl in tow, who were only wearing a simple robe, presumably their daughters.
"We know that you think first of the kingdom and then yourself." Abha began, knowing he wanted to first stabilize his kingdom and then sire children, but with how it went he would've to conquer the whole continent to have complete peace and quiet.
Dipti took to speaking next. "Though, now it is time for you to carry on the tradition for the kingdom." finished with words all three gave the girls a signal, which caused them to slip out of their minimal garment with practised ease. Now standing naked as the day they were born.
Divya said. "We'd be honoured if you gifted our daughters with your seed, Great Father." she meant it. He was all the women of the Patrimony could hope for in a Great Father. Comely, handsome, kind, strong in more ways than one and even was Hyrkoon reborn. So what if they used their closeness to Harry to get an advantage for their daughters? Every other woman of the Patrimony would do the same for their first-born daughters.
That seemed to be the cue for the girls. "We will give you many strong daughters." promised the one on the right, Divya's daughter from the looks of it. All of them resembled their mothers in more ways than one.
The second time that day Harry was stunned into silence. His wives except Fleur and Melisandre seemed to develop an eye-twitch. He took a deep breath, calmed himself down while mentally calming Narcissa and Marcella.
Harry meanwhile used Narcissa's advice, which he got during negotiations with Rhaegar. The questions of when, where and why were useless here. Who and what weren't, though. Who was more important right now? The answer to that was that Harry was more important, because he also had what these girls wanted, namely his seed. The logical conclusion was that he clearly had the upper hand. Despite that he would be careful in how he handled this right now.
A strained smile on his face Harry answered. "I am sure you will, but I'd like to know your names first." one after another the three introduced themselves shyly as Grishma, Jyotsna and Kanta. While they did that Harry thought of possible avenues he had at his disposal without feeling like a flesh-peddler. These girls were barely fourteen and he had no intention of bedding them whatsoever.
In the end he had to combine bullshit with truth. "I originally wanted to discuss this with you a little later, but it seems it needs to be done now." Harry lied, having had no intention of ever bringing that subject up himself. Though, an idea had formed in his mind to buy time and think of a solution. It wouldn't do for Harry to monopolize all the women, especially now that most men had their cocks back. They wouldn't appreciate it very much that he would do so now that they could fuck again. Not that Harry even wanted to have more women, he was quite content with what he had.
"What do you mean, master?" Divya inquired curiously and a bit confused.
Taking another deep breath Harry explained as gently as possible. "I can't possibly be expected to impregnate all of the women coming from the Patrimony."
"What are the other women to do then?" Dipti asked, though as long as her daughter was gifted with children from him she could live with it.
Reluctantly Harry tried to respond, but Narcissa beat him to it. "We didn't return the manhoods of all the gelded men for fun, you know." just barely keeping herself from sneering at them contemptuously.
The looks on the three women's and girl's faces would've been funny if not for the seriousness of the situation. Momentarily forgetting who she was addressing, Abha objected strongly. "But they can't be expected to have the children of these clearly inferior males!" judging from how uncomfortable the three girls looked that was an understatement of how they felt.
Harry didn't mention that some of these were sons of other women from the Patrimony. "I don't like it more than you do, but it is for the best of all." Harry said with his best remorseful tone of voice and feeling dirty immediately for how similar he was to Dumbledore right now. Noticing that, Harry decided to tell them his reasons, instead of being completely like Dumbledore and tell nobody anything of real value. "We take these measures to keep the children strong and not weak, like you believe."
The three mothers and daughters obviously wanted to believe him, but it went against most they believed in. Finally they simply asked. "How?" After all strong children were what they wanted and if his proposal would give them that they would do it.
Sighing in relief now that they didn't dismiss it out of hand, Harry explained. "Lets assume I would impregnate every single daughter. At first there would be no problems, but they would come later down the line. If we follow the trend then my potential sons would be next in line to do so as well." with their half-sisters no less. Worse it could be that he was expected to do the deed on his daughters should they somehow decide only he would suffice. After all who would want to have the son if she could have Hyrkoon? Some of the previous Great Fathers had done so, but for Harry it was a big NO on that front! "The blood would become stale, so to speak, meaning we need fresh blood to produce the best possible children." he definitely needed to wash his mouth afterwards, while cursing that they didn't understand genetics here.
"But who of us gets to have your children then?" Abha asked timidly, remembering with whom she had argued, blushing in embarrassment which thankfully was hidden by the colour of her skin.
Deciding to throw them a bone Harry said. "Well, I thought that we decide that with a tournament, which takes place every summer." They should be able to manipulate the Goblet of Fire, so that it chooses women based on different criteria than before and more than just three each time. "The four, who prove themselves as the best will get the privilege of carrying my children and enter my personal guard." the offer should be seen as a honour by them, though now came the catch.
"Although, there are conditions." he now had the rapt attention of the six females in front of him. "Only women beginning at sixteen years of age and who are virgins are allowed to enter. Also, when someone has lost then she isn't allowed to participate again in the next one, mostly because there will only be a tournament every summer and I can't expect them to wait so long every time." That should narrow the candidates down considerably. Harry doubted that all of these girls would stay virgins so long, hoped for it in fact. At least it would prevent most women coming outside of the Patrimony from trying to enter.
Deciding to end it with a compliment, no matter if it was a lie, Harry said. "We all must bring sacrifices for us to prosper. This is yours and mine is to not have the chance to spread my seed further into such beautiful women." That caused them to blush and preen.
It would give the girls some time to grow up. Right now was the middle of winter and with how long it took the seasons to change summer wasn't in two to three years.
While the girls seemed to be a bit disheartened that they had to wait. Abha, Dipti and Divya were another matter entirely. They seemed to anticipate the challenge, even if it weren't them that were fighting, but their daughters.
Harry waited until the six were gone, knowing what was coming he turned to Narcissa, who hissed. "Why didn't you tell them to go to hell?" In the morning they had added two women already, she wasn't inclined to accept more, at all! That wasn't even taking that hussy Shirego making a move on Harry into account.
Harry sighed tiredly. "Because it would've offended them. I could've told them that we won't be continuing the tradition, but that wouldn't have gone over well. They are my vassals now, I am dependant on them and have to keep them happy. Like this I have bought time and hopefully laid the groundwork for their daughters to look elsewhere for partners, maybe even find love. The many men wouldn't like it that I monopolize half of the female population. Not to mention that hopefully more children will be born like this, which wouldn't have happened otherwise, with them waiting for me."
That would've been a disaster. No offspring meant no growth and with it no future. Even if the men wouldn't be marrying the girls the safety-net of the Patrimony would catch them, with all mothers caring for all children. The Orphanage never lacked for visitors either. Like this there would at least be growth even if it would only truly begin after the next summer.
In an emergency Harry would simply put a strong lust-potion in their drinks, hire a few male whores and let it work itself out.
"Ok, that seems reasonable," Marcella conceded "but why did you talk about organising a tournament to select women to have your children?"
Smiling sheepishly Harry retorted. "Like I said, to buy time. Outright rejecting them would've been a bad idea. Besides, summer isn't for a few years yet. It should be enough time to hopefully show more than a few women that they can love a man, even if he doesn't have certain attributes." he hoped at least that sexual frustration would do the rest and see them in the arms of other men. They didn't know him even a little, after all and couldn't love him the same way his wives do.
"And what of the women, who meet the requirements to enter the tournament an still want to after the time has passed?" Narcissa pressed. Two more women were enough as it was, but now the situation seemed to have escalated.
Harry sighed again. "Could we please not do this now? I was between a rock and a hard place and made the best of it. Wasn't a compromise the best solution and what you told me to strive in such situations?" Harry defended himself, he didn't get eight wilful wives by being weak or easily strayed. He had to keep them in line somehow. "Besides even IF I should gain more women, they won't be my wives." the whole thing was a big if anyway.
Not willing to give up the argument Marcella insisted, it coming out as an accusation. "But they will be as good as, knowing you." The Italian woman knew she and her sister-wives had nothing to complain about. They were married to the man they loved, spent more time with him than most high-born ladies, nevermind peasants, despite being in higher numbers and had a good life. Nonetheless Marcella didn't particularly like the situation.
Harry nodded as if caught with the hand in the cookie jar. "Probably," his back was straight now, time to fire back "though I wasn't the one wanting to be king, was I? Neither did I want to accept the burden of Azor Ahai or lead the warrior-maids of Hyrkoon until you urged me to do so. No matter how reluctantly you did it!"
Narcissa was ready to counter. "We knew you couldn't turn them down with your nobility anyway!" her ice-mask was up, hurt and venom in her voice, but not as much as for her enemies.
"It is true that I wouldn't have felt particularly good about it, but I would've done it for you, because I love you!" Annoyance clear in his voice as he nearly restored to shouting. Ten years of war had taken the edge of his saving people-thing somewhat. It was still there and would always be, but he could temper it or at least demand things in return. As long as the person he helped wasn't totally poor and helpless that is. He wouldn't change a thing, but Harry would be lying if he said that he hadn't thought about wanting them to vanish with him. Not that his heart would permit him to leave the slaves to their fate. In his old world or the new Harry couldn't stand seeing people suffer. He knew deep down that he would've done something against slavery sooner or later.
The sentence hit Marcella and Narcissa like a bludger to the face. Had they really pressured Harry into things he didn't want? When they checked the feelings they got from Harry together with their own it was as clear as day.
Harry would've been happy to live with them somewhere, raise kids and live in peace. In that case it wasn't the Gryffindor boldness or honesty that was the problem, but their Slytherin ambition. It was an unconscious thing, something they did without really realising, much like with Harry's need to help. Even going so far as to take advantage of Harry's noble instincts without being aware of it.
'Gods, were we really that selfish?' Narcissa thought worriedly. As she looked back she would have to answer in the positive. Harry gave them anything they wanted, making their wildest wishes come true, before they could even voice them. What did they in turn? Unknowingly pressure him into things he disliked, but did because he loved them and then complain about how good they had it in comparison to other women. Did they give him what he wanted, a family and children to call his own? The answer to that would be no.
Well, Melisandre at least admitted to trying to convince Harry into accepting being Azor Ahai. She knew he was it and just needed the necessary encouragement, so to speak.
Harry didn't even have such a big harem by Essosi standards. Rich merchants and even pirates had up to twenty or more women, or the opposite in case of rich women. Even if the latter was rarer.
Marcella and Narcissa together with the rest could've told Harry at any time that they didn't want him to be king or a saviour to mankind and he would've put them first, said fuck it and be gone from Essos faster than anyone could blink. But, they didn't and he took it as something they wanted, which they kinda did, if they were honest. Instead they were too concerned with squabbling amongst each other than to pay attention to Harry's needs.
Before any of them could say anything Harry asked. "Don't you trust me to not betray you with other women?" more than a bit hurt accompanying his annoyance, as the same argument was dragged up again.
"I trust you, but I don't trust these women throwing themselves at you!" Narcissa shot back, her anger cooling down rapidly and the sentence said more weakly than not.
Harry shook his head. "Yes, but when you trust me then you know that I won't reciprocate their advances, which makes the women throwing themselves at me only a small nuisance." he looked at her, daring her to contradict him. "I have already proven that I can resist just fine. I resisted Fleur and Gabrielle. I resisted the many attempts of Melisandre and Kinvara, because you wished it and I want you to be happy. I also resisted the many attempts of the more bold warrior-maids."
Going another route Harry said. "I trust you, to not take men up on their offer of sex." he even let them have fun and flirt a little. Fleur, Marcella had done so, but Harry knew they just enjoyed teasing. "Why don't you trust me to do the same?"
Melisandre was calm. She would've no problem to give Azor Ahai an army of concubines for him to fuck. Even a stable full of boys, should he desire it. So, she sent her clear feelings of love and worship to him through their connection. The old priestess knew Kinvara was the same. As long as she could the giddy priestess would do anything to make Harry happy. Bellatrix was the same as well.
Fleur was a Veela and completely okay with sharing her man, so long as it weren't too many, which they weren't. She knew that Harry didn't make these situations happen, but he made the best of it anyway. She like the rest actually had no right to complain about adding women, because otherwise she would be either mad or dead right now. Fleur and Gabrielle knew Harry would've been completely satisfied with only one wife. Fate had other plans and gave him eight. 'At least he isn't in the double digits like so many rich Essosi merchants. Though, it could be interesting.' the Veela mused.
The most resistance came from Narcissa, Marcella and Andromeda anyway. The latter less so than her sister-wives. Two of the three were present and shuffling nervously.
'We really are failures as wives.' Marcella thought morosely. Sure, they fought with him and counselled him, but that was also to their benefit. It was really bitter to admit that the only ones who supported Harry unconditionally were Bellatrix and Kinvara, the supposedly crazy ones. She herself had indeed flirted a little with some men at the opening feast, but stopped almost immediately. Most of these westerosi idiots took that as an indicator for her being an easy lay, not really understanding that she was just teasing.
"Or would you rather that I break our bond and let you search for a new man?" Harry inquired, masking his trepidation at the prospect of it. Their bond with him was nearly unbreakable, but it could be broken by mutual agreement, now instead of the previous and weird conditions.
Horrified at the mere suggestion both Marcella and Narcissa yelled. "NO!" when he was ready to let them go, thinking they were happier without him, then there was no other way. They both had to be honest and no longer bury the problem under a ton of Occlumency barriers.
Reluctantly Marcella began. "We trust you, but you also have to understand that Narcissa and I never really were true wives. Sure, I was married a bunch of times, but that wasn't really marriage in the true sense. Neither was Narcissa's own much of a partnership. We have no idea how to be a good wife for you." the transition from underling to wife wasn't really easy for them. They wanted it, of course. Though, beyond that they had not much of an idea how to act like one.
Narcissa picked up, just as reluctant. "We are happy, exuberantly so, I assure you of that, but I guess we are insecure." It was true that Harry had swept aside most problems easily, but one still remained.
"We know you want children, but we aren't really good mothers either." Marcella explained. In her opinion it was quite pathetic of them, that crazy people like Bellatrix, Kinvara and Melisandre were better suited for the role of mother than herself and Narcissa, who had been mothers in the past. However, therein lay the problem. In their opinion they were dreadful mothers. Marcella could still remember how she wished her own son was dead after he betrayed her. She really didn't give him any real connection to her and neither a good father. In the end he had betrayed her like all other men in her life before Harry, not that her attitude had helped that. Her son was dead, of that Marcella was sure and she didn't want to put another child through such problems.
Narcissa's reasons were similar. She had killed her own son, no matter how accidental it was. That left deep scars on a mother. Sure, she hadn't had much influence in his life and Draco was moulded into a miniature version of Lucius, but that didn't mean she despised him. Narcissa mourned the loss of her baby, fallen into the claws of his idiotic father.
She wanted nothing more than to have Harry's children, but every time she thought about it doubt reared it's ugly head, accusing her. 'You killed your son! You should be miserable!' the voices had grown quieter with time and stopped once she confessed to Harry in the jungle of Sothoryos, but they came back anew, with every woman that was added and the possibility increased that they would birth him children, something she wasn't ready for just yet. Soon, but not yet.
Narcissa knew Andromeda hadn't the same problems, but understood and tried to support them, even if it was by blocking other women to join in. Andromeda also knew it wasn't something Harry did on purpose. Heck, they had to wait years in which they dropped hints that they were interested. In the end the blunt hammer of honesty was the best option with Harry anytime.
"With each women added the possibility increased that you won't need us any longer." Narcissa finally confessed, moisture building in her eyes. That was one of the many reason she jumped at the chance to teach him politics and the courtesies, intent to be useful to him. "In the beginning Cella, Andy, Bella and I knew each other, knew we were broken and that you accepted that and loved us anyway. However, then came Fleur and Gabrielle, both about your age, healthy and whole. We accepted them, that is true, but only because they are Veela and we knew what would happen should we deny them." her throat was growing dry. "It was only a matter of time until they would gift you with children, your greatest wish. Then shortly after the House of the Undying happened and Melisandre and Kinvara joined as well." Narcissa suspected the only children didn't happen was that they had too much to do.
A few tears escaped her eyes, despite her holding them in as good as she could, a hollow chuckle bursting forth from her throat. "Then there are the warrior-maids." They may have allowed these women to fight for them, due to not having much of a choice with how outnumbered they had been, but Narcissa and Marcella had hoped these women would take the hint. "All of these want nothing more than to give birth to your children, which was also one of the main reasons we tried to keep them from your bed." Besides the reason that there wasn't enough time to spend with him.
Marcella picked up also with suspiciously wet eyes. "Nonetheless we let them join, one after another, knowing in the back of our mind that we couldn't really deny it to them, because otherwise we would have no right to be with you as a group either." It was done reluctantly and under protest, but it was done. Had they wanted there would've been much more resistance. "Then there is the fact that our bond to you could be broken by getting us pregnant. It could be different, now that we have formed the coven, but we didn't want to risk it." she was pretty sure it was different, but doubt, insecurity and fear still lingered in her mind.
Harry understood. They were deathly afraid he wouldn't love them anymore, if they wouldn't give him children, something that was ridiculous. On the other hand they could lose him after they had shown him they weren't good mothers, causing him to try and break the bond, which was equally ridiculous despite his earlier offer. They may be able to share surface thoughts and feelings, but things they want to keep hidden usually stay that way. Now he could hear it loud and clear.
Turning to Narcissa Harry began. "I know for a fact that you were and would be an excellent mother. I remember that Draco got sweets everyday for his first year at Hogwarts, a bad mother wouldn't do that!" it was said strongly and firmly. "You were controlled and despite that did anything you could to show your love for Draco." Harry may have loathed the ferret, but that was secondary now. "On top of it I know that you never would've burned Malfoy Manor with Fiendfyre if you had known that Draco was present."
Without giving her a chance to reply Harry turned to Marcella. "I haven't paid much attention to Blaise in school, so I don't know how he acted. The only thing I know is that he was vain and extremely proud, much like his mother." Harry smiled at Marcella, which caused her lips to twitch upwards at the memory. He left unsaid that Draco and Blaise didn't get along even a little bit from what Harry saw of their interactions. "Yes, you probably weren't the best mother, but you had your own problems to deal with. I don't know why your son did what he did. Maybe he took extreme measures to be noticed by you for reasons unknown or something else entirely."
He straightened up. "What I know, is that you can't keep living in fear of what might be. This situation can't be solved with Slytherin cunning or planning. You need Gryffindor courage for it and face the problem head on." Slytherin's values were generally better for politics and negotiations, but Gryffindor's were better suited for ones own emotions and situations in which you had to improvise and think on your feet. "Still, know that I love you and will not pressure you into anything and wait as long as you need." a small grin was on his face now, his eyes laughing. "Though, you have no right to complain when the others want children and get them. That is their own choice and has nothing to do with how much I love you or not."
His demeanour change as Harry looked both women sternly in the eyes. "On the issue of you being bad wives, well that is straight up false!" he held up a hand to stop the protests in their tracks. "There is no definite way a wife should act that I know of or care about, expect that she should help and care about her husband in any way she can. You help me and care about me brilliantly, that much is beyond dispute!"
He walked up to Narcissa, wrapped her into his arms, holding her tightly and began kissing her. To finish it he sent all of his love he felt for her through the bond at the same time.
Narcissa immediately felt it and was overwhelmed with the intensity of which Harry felt for her. This was the love of a man, who as a thirteen year old, with little happy experiences, still managed to banish more than a hundred Dementors with a fully corporeal Patronus, things most adult wizards struggled with. Harry felt emotions deeply and intensely. His love for her and by extension the rest was deeper than the deepest ocean, higher than the highest mountain and shone with a brilliantly blinding light of immense ferocity.
The youngest Black felt like she was suffocating, as if she was drowning in their ocean of love, dying from erotic asphyxiation, only to be revived again as Harry breathed new life into her through their kiss, bringing her back from the edge. The sweet torturous circle continued as Harry continued to pour his love into their embrace. If there was a method to kill her with kindness, Harry had found it.
Narcissa's worries were washed away as her mind was cleansed and emptied. Her knees grew weak, causing Narcissa to swing her arms around his neck absent-mindedly, holding onto him much like a drowning man would to driftwood in a stormy sea. Only for the waves of passion to throw her this way or that. One moment she was near the shore and at the next a riptide pulled her right back inside the sea of rapture. Finally she couldn't take anymore as her pleasure reached its peak, erupting like a gushing and pulsating spring.
Harry had to hold the moaning Black upright, otherwise the starsky-haired woman would be a puddle of goo on the floor, instead she melted into his arms and body. Narcissa was glad that she wore no underwear for her to soak through as her juices flowed down her legs for all to see, due to the short dress she wore.
Both broke the kiss after what felt like an eternity. Narcissa said three words. Words that she hadn't said nearly enough in the past years. "I love you!" she now saw that she had been silly in her doubts. She had accepted to share him with her sisters and Marcella, so she could accept others joining as well. As long as she had his love and enough time with him everything was alright.
Harry smiled his crooked smile that let him appear more handsome and replied, touching her forehead with his own. "I love you too!"
After a while Narcissa reluctantly let go of Harry, who then repeated the same with Marcella. Harry didn't see that his hands glowed with the colour of a Patronus as they grabbed Marcella's arse and caressed her backside.
The Italian woman moaned into the kiss as their tongues duelled, grinding herself against him in an effort to speed up her own release. His touch was intoxicating, injecting the drug of his love into her veins. Marcella's heart couldn't beat fast enough, to get all of it spread out throughout her body as the addictive drug of his love acted as an antidote against the poison of her own insecurity, purging it from her system. Time lost its meaning and after what felt like an infinity Marcella came undone as her release exploded like an erupting volcano, sending shock-waves through her shuddering frame.
The moment she broke away from the kiss Marcella felt colder at once. She sighed. "I love you and hope that I get to do that as often as now, should we let the warrior-maids join as well." it would drive her insane if she couldn't get the same amount of his love in the future.
Harry's grin stayed in place and seemed to widen a bit more. "I love you too, but I think you will find that we will have more than enough time for such things. Even if I somehow would get a hundred wives." more than a bit smugness in his voice.
"And how will you accomplish that?" Fleur asked hungrily as she griped his manhood from behind through his robes. Narcissa and Marcella listening intently. Melisandre already knew what he was talking about.
Harry chuckled and spoke again. "What I now say was intended to be a surprise, but I guess it doesn't matter if it is a surprise or not at this point." seeing that he had their attention. "Bellatrix, Kinvara and I have been working on a project that would solve the problem of us not spending enough time with each other." holding up his hand he showed them his ring with the rainbow-coloured Phoenix Flint in it. "You remember the spell the Undying used to multiply themselves and the research notes we took from the Time Room in the Department of Mysteries?"
Upon the mute nods of Marcella and Narcissa he went on. "As soon as possible we looked for an island that was deserted and Melisandre remembered one south of Great Moraq laying in the Cinnamon Straits. Kinvara named it Cinnamon Isle." he chuckled dryly at the memory, not aware that the ones present, except Melisandre didn't hear the name of the isle, because he wasn't the secret keeper.
Surprise was etched onto Narcissa's, Marcella's and Fleur's features as they turned to the red priestess and back to Harry.
Harry continued. "It is truly a beautiful island with sand as white as snow. It lies directly at the point where the Jade and Summer Sea meet. The clear azure water of the Summer Sea is on one half and the jade green water of the Jade Sea on the other, palm trees and all kinds of exotic plants live there as well. In short a small paradise." with the time-turner it was easy to escape unnoticed and prepare this.
"First we put it under the Fidelius, followed by a Muggle-repelling ward, Cave Inimicum and a Cursed Barrier." Just like their library full of magical knowledge and the secret of where they came from was under the Fidelius, otherwise Melisandre and Kinvara would know that by now through the bond. The muggle-repelling ward was self-explanatory. The Cave Inimicum made it so that people couldn't see, hear or smell the ones behind the ward. The Cursed Barrier only let people through that had the Phoenix tattoo of their coven, it had been adjusted by Harry to react to it, instead of the Dark Mark like intended by Voldemort.
"Bellatrix changed the function of the Mirror of Erised with her knowledge of enchanting and combined the spells from the vanishing cabinet with it, connecting another mirror as an exit point on the island. Kinvara helped with her new knowledge on runes, she really grew quite adept at them." the mirror was the only way onto the island, that wasn't flying and even then only Harry's group could see it. All of this seemed overkill, but Harry did not want to take any chances with it, just in case.
Changing his posture to a more relaxed one Harry went on. "Lastly the time-turners were sacrificed to power the new device. Bella and I extensively studied the research notes of Croaker on time-magic and the magic of the mirror made it easy to enchant." it just needed a strong enough desire to work, which they had. "Like that the mirror acted as a much more powerful time-turner coupled with a portal, going back up to a year, while also transporting us to the island." Not that they wanted to change the past, only ruin lay down that path. But with the island under a Fidelius and nobody else there they effectively had their own realm of peace and quiet.
Harry talked through the quietness of his wives. "Though, that isn't all we did. We also incorporated the spell to duplicate a person from the Undying and improved upon it, working them into our and your Phoenix Flint gems on the rings." he was showing the ring again, it reflected the moonlight coming from the window and shone with a light seemingly its own as it created a rainbow.
The duplicates created by it would have all physical and mental abilities of him, but were incapable of doing active magic. On top of it all clones of him could be dismissed by Harry and they would give him their memories, once each day in his sleep. Of course, it had a downside, which was that the clones had a limited capacity as to how much they could remember. A days worth of memories from a day of relaxation was the limit. It was not like he could learn all kinds of things there, neither did he want to. The island was intended for relaxation and not for training or anything else. Besides, he needed the other rings for copies of him to appear and Harry doubted his wives would appreciate it, if he did anything else than them.
"In essence the mirror and my ring, the master key, are tied to your own rings and acts as a prism. For each of you that arrives on the island there is one of me. Nobody would even notice us gone. The mirror would transport us to the island one year in the past. We live there for a year, relax or do whatever, go back and arrive shortly after we left for the island. Then we spend a year outside of the island, work on our kingdom and after a year we go inside once more to arrive shortly after we left the island. A nice time-loop to our advantage that would let us relax on a tranquil island without interruption." To protect their island further Harry had placed a password on the mirror, which was needed to get access. For maximum security the password was in Parseltongue. So, only Harry could open it while wearing his ring.
The rings were by now a marvel of enchanting, with the new enchantments on the Phoenix flints and the protective capabilities on the rings themselves. Though that wasn't all, the rings also had enchantments on them, that would see Harry's group clothed in their armour with just a thought by switching their worn clothes with the armour stored inside the rings. The jewellery also could only be removed by the person wearing it, like that they had their protection anytime and anywhere available. Combined with the chokers and Harry's amulet, which would negate all poison be they inhaled or swallowed, they were granted excellent protection.
This time all expect Melisandre and Harry were stunned. Narcissa asked the red priestess. "Why did you help him do this for us?" she knew the woman would do anything Harry wanted, but hadn't expected her to help him with it while she wasn't in the picture as well.
Melisandre replied softly and honestly. "You are the wives of my husband, my sister-wives. It would be selfish of me to not try and make you happy. We are bound together and should try to get along with each other. Though, I mainly helped because it would please you and my husband!" the red priestess enjoyed calling Harry her husband and if she had any say in it would grace his bed tonight. Another reason she helped was because she knew that it was also to her own benefit.
Harry chuckled again, a bright grin on his face. "I wasn't quite finished." he drew out the silence longer until they were ready to burst. "We also modified our bedroom in the palace. It now has the same abilities as the Room of Requirement in Hogwarts." The last Potter mentioned the room to them and had spent enough time in the room to have the spells on it analysed adequately. Now they could change the room to anything they might desire.
Narcissa and Marcella looked at each other and nodded. It was either shape up or step down. All the others were willing to compromise and Harry again did his best to make them happy. Though, that he trusted Bellatrix, Melisandre and Kinvara with it was telling. All three wouldn't say a word about it or even let a stray thought betray them. Not that the rest was snooping around in their heads.
After their personal problems were solved the group flame-travelled back to Harrenhal. They had a tourney to win.
Hizdhar zo Loraq would be killed in public after their vacation.