Shortly after the conclusion of the dinner Tywin Lannister left his children in the care of his sister and brothers, while making his way to the tent of House Tully.
Hopefully Hoster was still awake so that Tywin could tell him of the change in plans. The Lord of Casterly Rock had no intention to take the risk of his son joining the Kingsguard. A wedding in the next few days or even tomorrow was best. Any further delay was detrimental for the legacy of House Lannister.
Tywin walked briskly towards where he knew his destination was. Two Lannister guards in their typical armour following closely behind him. A few minutes passed until he arrived, seeing the sigil of House Tully flying softly in the evening breeze on the banner near the tent.
"Tell Lord Tully that Tywin Lannister is here to speak with him!" Tywin ordered and promptly waited to see his command carried out. Not even expecting the guards to not do like the Hand of the King told him to.
It took a few moments until Tywin was bid inside. He was greeted with the sight of Brynden Tully nicknamed the "Blackfish", beside him was the man's brother Hoster Tully and Lord of Riverrun. "Greetings, my Lord Hand." Hoster greeted him stiffly with Brynden just nodding in his direction and offering him a seat.
Tywin took the two in. Brynden appeared relaxed, but clearly wasn't. There was an underlying tension, like a coiled snake ready to strike at a moments notice. 'Ever the warrior and survivor.' Tywin thought, remembering their time fighting in the last Blackfyre rebellion and how formidable an opponent Brynden was and still is. Then there was Hoster Tully, who wasn't remarkable in any area, be it combat, strategy or other. Both were tall, broad and strong and possessed auburn hair and blue eyes typical for House Tully.
The Old Lion greeted them back, took his seat and asked. "I wanted to inquire if you have any problems with accelerating the marriage between Lysa and Jaime?"
That seemed to relax the two men a bit. Hoster answered with a small frown. "How soon are we talking?"
Deciding to get it over with fast Tywin said bluntly. "Tomorrow would be best."
"Tomorrow?" Brynden sputtered bewildered, but caught himself shortly as he remembered who he was talking to. "Isn't that a bit too fast?" he knew Lysa was shy, delicate and a romantic. She wouldn't appreciate such a rushed affair for her wedding.
Tywin shook his head in the negative. "No, I just come from dinner with Aerys and the House Black to which Jaime was personally invited by Aerys. I have the strong suspicion that he plans to steal my heir by appointing him to the Kingsguard." looking both Tully men in the eyes he stated. "If that happens then there will be no wedding. Unless you are willing for your daughter to marry my son Tyrion?"
Hoster declined carefully, but not without disdain in his voice. "My daughter needs a whole man!" a sigh of exhaustion followed. First the talks with Prince Rhaegar and now this on top of it. Hoster briefly contemplated telling Tywin of Rhaegar's plans, but he couldn't be sure that the Lord of Casterly Rock wasn't loyal to Aerys. After twenty years as Hand and nearly half of the time spent being insulted could indicate a willingness to bring Aerys down. However it was also possible that it means the opposite or simply an unwillingness to part with power. For now Hoster wasn't going to bring Tywin up to date. Not before the wedding at least.
On one hand the Lord of Riverrun did not want to have such a hasty wedding for his daughter. On the other hand his future grandson would be the Lord of Casterly Rock with all its lands and riches. What was a small and rushed ceremony in comparison to a life of security and luxury for his little girl? It took a while to get over his pride, but the outcome was the most important thing at the moment. 'Once we are in a solid alliance through marriage I can breach the subject of dethroning Aerys.'
Not that Hoster had any doubts to Tywin's hatred towards the Mad King. It was pretty clear from his actions at Duskendale that Tywin wouldn't have cared if Aerys survived the ordeal or not. Openly saying to all present. "There is your dragon." when they asked who would rule them with Aerys' death, even pointing to Rhaegar. Though, that had been before Rhaegar's marriage to Elia Martell, which destroyed any chance of his daughter becoming queen.
"Agreed. When shall the ceremony begin?" Lord Tully queried, ignoring the incredulous look he got from his brother.
Tywin answered after thinking for a bit. "I think at the time of the melee will be best. Not many people will look at anything but the competition, giving us enough time to get it over with quick enough."
Hoster asked a bit confused. "Won't you be making Aerys suspicious with your absence? You are his Hand after all."
Tywin just so refrained from snorting out loud, instead he simply stared at Hoster and answered. "King Aerys does not allow me into his presence without all the Kingsguard present. Due to some of them participating in the melee I am unwelcome near him." the word king said in such a way one had to search for it or think it imagined.
This time Brynden spoke up. "What of your son, wouldn't he like to join the melee?" the Blackfish remembered Jaime from the fortnight the lad had spent at Riverrun. Tywin's heir didn't make much conversation with Lysa and she in turn made no attempt to engage the young man either. That only increased his worry for Lysa, though he also couldn't really begrudge Jaime. Like all lads that age he was much more interested in stories of war and glory. Not that Brynden had any right to sit on a high horse in that regard. He had been the same and wasn't married to this day. Something that strained the relationship with his brother to this day.
On the other hand he knew that House Tully needed alliances. Their location made such a thing vital, because without strong alliances they would be caught in the middle of a war every time, sitting in the middle of Westeros as they are. An alliance offered security and help in times of need.
"Due to the wedding most likely becoming a small and short affair I don't see a problem with him taking part in it." Tywin explained. He too would like to showcase the skill his heir possessed and for him to bring prestige and pride to House Lannister with it. In regards to the marriage, well, Tywin would see to it personally that his son did his duty.
Then the subject took an abrupt turn. "What about these strange people, these Blacks?" Hoster asked. He had heard from them mostly due to his brother, daughters, son and ward. He had spent the night of the opening feast with Tywin, hammering out some of the details of the betrothal, now soon to be marriage. Anyone wielding such powers together with dragons was a threat in his eyes. The strange customs Brynden told him of did nothing to alleviate his concerns. Women as warriors, how ridiculous can you get? "What sort of people are they?"
Tywin pondered briefly what he should reveal and how much of it. "They don't appear to be hostile." he admitted condescendingly as if he had expected Hoster to figure out that much on his own observations. After all their dragons could've performed a second burning with everyone inside, dealing a fatal blow to Westerosi nobility in the process, but they didn't. Indicating that they either had no interest in Westeros altogether or did not view them as threats. Both possibilities with the second the more plausible one in Tywin's eyes.
"What makes you say that?" Hoster pressed not sensing Tywin's underlying agitation and annoyance from the dinner before.
With pursed lips the Lord of Casterly Rock replied. "They healed princess Elia of her condition, something no Maester could achieve." It was also something he did not like. Without a weak and frail princess it was less probable that there was a replacement needed, his daughter for example.
Before rumours and whispers of the useless princess echoed through the Red Keep and how Rhaegar needed a better more healthier one. A more fertile woman, who could pop out heirs without difficulty, male heirs that is. The rules of inheritance the Iron Throne worked on were clear on the matter. Females could only inherit when there were no males left. So if Elia didn't get a son soon or in the near future then the throne was going to go to Viserys should Rhaegar die.
Tywin saw nothing wrong with wanting Elia replaced. It was normal for the various vassals to prepare for a time of uncertainty, where an heir wasn't present. After all the Targaryen line was lower in number than ever before. Only three males and one female remained, that were important that is, and one of those was a madman. The fact of the matter was Aerys' ability to rule was in question, leaving Rhaegar as the heir, but he had no suitable heirs of his own. That in turn left only a child , who didn't inspire much confidence from his apparent lackwit-like behaviour.
Princess Rhaenys wasn't ideal either, with her dornish looks completely dominant. Baelor Targaryen also known as Baelor Breakspear had had the same problem, people fearing he would favour the dornish in his rule. Not that it came to that with his death at Ashford. Though, Baelor was everything a man could've wanted in an heir he was mistrusted regardless, only because of his looks. His namesake, the feeblest King who ever sat the throne, Baelor I Targaryen, didn't help matters either.
All of this was making the situation they were in all the more uncertain. Or rather it was still uncertain, but with Elia healed that could change any moment now.
"That's good isn't it?" Brynden exclaimed, interrupting Tywin's thoughts. It could only be good for Elia to have overcome her illness in Brynden's mind.
Hoster didn't really listen, only thinking of how that negated any chance to bargain for his daughter Lysa to be queen in case of Elia's demise. A betrothal wasn't easily broken, but to have her marry the prince in exchange for his support, which also brought the North, would've been satisfying. Sadly, the agreement with Lord Lannister was already in place and you didn't snub this lion lightly. "Indeed." he replied absent-mindedly.
Tywin saw something happen between them narrowed his eyes in suspicion, saying. "If you'll excuse me I have other business to attend to for his Grace." his cold gaze settled on the two, calculating and evaluating their posture and made to leave the tent. Though, in the end he acted on his suspicions regarding Rhaegar, saying just before he exited the tent, turning his head around to look at the two. "Please send prince Rhaegar my regards."
It wasn't anything that had much meaning or could be interpreted in any way other for the harmless courtesy it was, if his thoughts were wrong. But the widening of their eyes as he said it was enough evidence for him to suspect they knew what was going on with Rhaegar. Fortunately Tywin had other things to worry about at the moment. Fortunately for Hoster and Brynden that is. "Good Night." with a small nod to each he left the tent, leaving the two Tully men slumped in their seats behind, together with the unspoken promise of a future conversation.
Meanwhile the Lord of Casterly Rock was again left to carry out the unspecific directions of Aerys, trying to optimize them so that they could be carried out.
Arthur Dayne sat in the tent of the Kingsguard near the royal one, making himself ready to sleep while the shift for the first part of the night began. His thoughts a violent storm of reprimands accompanied by Elia's furious look etched into his mind. A look he had never seen before on her face until that day. He being the first it had been sent to, as far as he knew, was a hard blow.
In his misery Arthur didn't see the tent flap open or Ser Barristan enter.
"It was an eventful evening, wasn't it lad?" Barristan said announcing himself with his soothing voice. His expression warm with a slight undercurrent of concern in it.
Arthur just nodded distractedly, agreeing quietly. "Indeed."
Selmy didn't need to be a mind-reader to know what ailed the young man. His actions from before. "I am sure you did the best you could with the information you had, lad." he said, sitting down besides Arthur one hand on the Dayne's shoulder in a consoling gesture. Why Arthur did not share his information that caused him to act was a mystery to Barristan, but apparently he did share it with Lewyn.
That caused Arthur to snort in derision. "Apparently Elia begs to differ." only a moment too late did he notice the way he referred to the princess. Much too informal for a Kingsguard and too much longing in his voice.
Immediately Barristan's brows rose beyond his hairline in surprise. "I see." he murmured finished with a sigh. Instead of reprimanding Arthur Barristan simply said. "I know how you feel."
Surprise and disbelief was clear to see in the young Kingsguard's face. "You do?"
Barristan simply had a small smile on his face, while chuckling. "I am not that old and was just as young as you once, so yes I do know." he was only forty-five namedays old after all. Selmy briefly contemplated if he should tell his brother in arms that he fancied Ashara and came to a decision "If my vows wouldn't prevent it, I would be courting your sister." he stated, shocking the Sword of the Morning. "I know your situation is the same only that your heart yearns for Elia."
A sad sigh escaped Arthur, knowing the older knight hit the nail on the head. "Yes, though that isn't the only thing plaguing my mind." he hesitated a bit, but then came clean. "I had strong suspicions that they were trying to poison King Aerys." he couldn't say with which methods or anything else concerning magic, but that much he could. Even if he had no reason as to why the Blacks would do so. In hindsight there was no motive for them to poison Aerys. Though, at the moment everything had seemed to fit into his theory. Even the ever present food taster, who had to go so far as to suckled on Viserys' wet nurse's breast in Aerys' madness, had been absent. On the king's orders, but still.
Barristan frowned, not very enthused about Arthur keeping such things secret from his brothers in arms, but he kept his mouth shut for the moment.
"That isn't even the worst of it. I even had briefly contemplated to do nothing and let Aerys die so that Rhaegar could ascend to the throne without..." he admitted and stopped as if trailing off, catching himself just in time before he said something he shouldn't. Barristan didn't know what Rhaegar had planned after all. A pained expression etched onto Arthur's face.
That confession explained for Barristan why Arthur hadn't said anything to the rest of the Kingsguard. Despite all of it Barristan couldn't really blame Arthur, because in the end he did his duty, regardless of the fact that it had been unnecessary.
"I can't say that I am not disappointed in you for keeping your suspicions secret, however I too have had my doubts and moments of weakness." as Arthur perked up a little to look at Barristan fully the older knight explained. "One such time causing these thoughts is the one I saw as my finest hour at the time. The Defiance of Duskendale." here Barristan chuckled ruefully. "I single-handedly rescued the king from captivity, aye, and true enough it gave me fame and glory." here he looked Arthur right in the eye. "Now I am unsure if it was the right thing to do. Had I kept silent and let Lord Tywin storm the town, Aerys most likely would've died and Rhaegar would sit upon the Iron Throne right now." he got a far away look in his eyes as he relived the days in his mind. "Some nights I lie awake, thinking on what could've been."
"Did you find an answer?" Arthur asked quietly.
Barristan simply nodded, saying softly. "Yes, No matter how many times I think on it nothing will change that it happened. In the end it doesn't matter what happened in the past, because we can't change it. We have to live in the here and now." now Barristan's gaze was sharp and focussed but also understanding. "We are Kingsguard. Our duty is to protect the king and his family, kill his enemies, lead his armies, give him counsel when asked and keep his secrets when not. One thing we do not do is judge him. Though, I am sure Gerold already gave you that speech." a little amusement colouring his voice at the last part. "You swore our oath, which means you won't be having land, a wife or children. The Kingsguard is your duty and family now and love is the death of duty." even if the love was to the crown princess, which was even worse. One wrong move and Arthur's head would decorate the spikes of the Red Keep.
Not to mention that if Arthur should give into his impulses, he would be forced to play the Game of Thrones, something that only the lowest and worst of the Kingsguard had done. "Of course, you're still prey to pride, ambition, lust, love, anger, jealousy, greed for gold, hunger for power and all the other failings that affect us lesser mortals. There is no shame in admitting that much. You know that Lewyn keeps a paramour. You could do the same, none of your brothers in the Kingsguard would think any less of you." as long as it was some unimportant lass and not a highborn lady from court it wouldn't matter too much. Besides Arthur was dornish like Lewyn.
Arthur answered with shake of his head, a minuscule smile on his face. "Thank you, I will heed your advice, Ser Barristan. I have a lot to think about." with that Arthur finished preparing for bed and slept in his cot. Hopefully sleep would find him swiftly. "Good Night."
Barristan echoed "Good Night" and went to catch a restful sleep as well.
The next morning Harry awoke much earlier than usual, long before sunrise. His intent of not missing the melee driving him to wakefulness together with something else. It was the first time he woke up to Melisandre and Kinvara on his right and left side, trapping his arms in their bosoms and his legs with their own. Their hands must've crept towards his junk in the night, judging from the gentle grip it was in. It did absolutely nothing to keep his morning wood down.
"Good morrow, husband." Melisandre's sonorous voice greeted him in a purring fashion. Her hand was greeting his cock in turn.
Harry reciprocated the greeting in kind, playing with her labia and clit, causing the redhead to moan. "Good morrow to you as well, wife." he said with a slight grin knowing that she revelled in being called that. Like he predicted a feeling of pride, happiness and love came over to him through the bond with her.
Next his head was gently turned by a delicate hand which took his chin and turned it towards the second redhead. "No greeting for me?" Kinvara pouted. She immediately brightened once Harry leaned in to kiss her. Her eyes were closed, her crotch rubbed softly against his leg and her voice moaned. Liquid fire was coursing through her body, consuming her in a blaze of passion.
Their activities woke up the rest on the enlarged featherbed. A sheet wasn't really needed with them generating enough heat through their bodies alone. Not that any kind of uncomfortable cold or heat did anything to them. Besides, a blanket would just be a tangled mess and a hindrance in the end.
By the time Harry's cock was engulfed by Melisandre's mouth, his body caressed and peppered by Kinvara's kisses the rest came back out of Morpheus' arms. One after another greeted him, a bit drowsy as the sleep faded from their minds.
Lying with her elbow propped on the mattress, her head in her right hand Fleur asked with a mischievous and still sleepy grin. "Enjoying yourself?" she loved to see him caught up in pleasure. It was thrilling for her to be someone who could have such control over Harry, who held so much power himself. She treasured the moments where she coupled with him and his gaze was solely focussed on her and her alone, his face contorted into a expression of awe and ecstasy the moment he lost control completely.
"Certainly." Harry gasped and groaned as the skilful ministrations of Melisandre drove him further to the edge, his hands playing with her hair in the meantime.
Amused Andromeda interjected. "Let the three have their fun. After all, we promised Melisandre and Kinvara their turn."
Bellatrix and Gabrielle grumbled at that, but contained their displeasure while they left the bedroom to prepare for the day, leaving the two red priestesses with Harry behind. Harry's last action was to shout after them to tell Lyanna when he would meet her.
After a good amount of time Harry came out of the bedroom fully clothed in his robes with Melisandre and Kinvara on each arm. Both wobbling on their legs like newborn fawns, supporting themselves on Harry so that they wouldn't crash onto the floor.
Breakfast was already served, but the rest had waited for Harry to arrive before they began eating. Thankfully Aerys did not pay them a surprise visit this morning for whatever insane reason.
It was a rather quiet affair until they came onto the topic of Aerys and his style of ruling. All agreed that the man was a terrible king.
Finally Harry couldn't contain his curiosity any longer and asked. "Speaking of ruling, I had expected you to lecture and teach me on ruling not the opposite." a bit of humour in his voice as he said that, remembering his rant from yesterday.
Marcella answered him after a mirthful laugh. "We said we could teach you politics and negotiation, very little of that has to do with being a leader. A leader inspires people to follow him. Something you're a natural in." Harry is a Nexus, someone who connects people by the sheer force of personality and presence, as well as inspiring them. He even inspired people as far into the darkness as Bellatrix. Sure, it had required a good amount of work and was done more out of necessity than anything else, but he did it regardless.
Narcissa sat her coffee down and interjected. "Besides, from the moment of birth a Pureblood was taught to think for themselves and their family first. Everyone else were only tools to be used." she took a sip from her beverage before continuing. "That's also why the Wizengamot did not work out. Everyone only ever worked for themselves and not with each other. Deals may have been made together with alliances through marriage, so that certain laws were put in place or repelled, but in the end backstabbing was inevitable."
Marcella took over again. "That routine was responsible for all the dissent and useless arguments. The only thing Purebloods ever agreed on was that they were superior to half-bloods and muggleborn. We can teach you to negotiate and to learn politics, but in the way of being a leader you are in a league of your own. A leader looks out for his people, like you said, but we all were raised to pretty much look out for our families and ourselves, giving no concern for other people's plights or problems." That Harry still thought about the well-being of others after everything he'd been through showed the strength of his character in comparison to their own. Sure, they looked out for each other, but anyone outside of their group was only helped on Harry's wishes or if they gained something from it.
They couldn't even be against it, because without that particular character trait of Harry they all would still be miserable or dead on Earth.
Westeros had been one alternative to Essos and its slavery. The attempt to settle on Westeros had been them trying to keep Harry away from slavery and its misery. Sadly, Westeros wasn't suitable for them to live in. Magic, polygamous marriages, their status as warrior women, foreigners and the Faith of the Seven together with their appearances overall worked against them in Westeros. In the end Essos was the only alternative, and knowing Harry they resigned themselves to the fact that they had to eradicate slavery. So far it was looking good.
Fleur spoke this time a bit amusement in her voice, addressing Harry. "I had thought that you would insist on doing everything on your own, not risking anyone or anything else but yourself." that was how he had been back on Earth, but she knew he had changed to some degree, living with him for more than a year showed that.
Harry smiled ruefully as the rest giggled. "Let us just say that I was shown the error of my ways. Besides, I can learn from my mistakes." he pouted. Harry knew that he couldn't do everything on his own no matter how much he wanted to. The war had shown him as much. Also people would take it the wrong way, thinking he thought them weak or incapable or a number of other reasons. The crux of the matter was that he knew for a while now that he wasn't responsible for all bad things happening and that he needed to trust others to do things, regardless of the risks or how he might feel about it.
He then inquired. "Why didn't you insist to be called queens by the Westerosi, much like you demanded from them to name me by my title of king?" he had thought they would do so, but no such thing occurred.
Marcella answered with a tone of voice as if it was the first time she heard that she was a queen. "Well, to be honest, it hadn't occurred to us. At home they call us that, but here I guess it would be confusing to call eight separate women queen. Besides it is more important for you to be called king here." This was quite literally a man's world. Men got to be Maesters, rulers and warriors, while women got in the short stick in nearly everything.
Andromeda chimed in at that point. "Technically we aren't married, having never performed a wedding ceremony of any kind. So it would be presumptuous to call ourselves queens." she knew Harry and everyone else saw them as married to him, herself included. Not that they would tell these Westerosi that they aren't married. That would only lead to more problems in the end.
Harry frowned in displeasure. "That may be, though everyone here thinks we are married. Ergo you are queens!" that was the end of the discussion for him. He also made a mental note to arrange for a marriage ceremony to be arrange back home.
A change of topic came out of nowhere, when Kinvara asked giddily with a dreamy quality to it. "What do you think the prices are for winning the melee?" her imagination supplying her with al manner of things that could be won. Not minding the serious air in the room or completely misreading the atmosphere.
Narcissa just shrugged uninterested, but glad for the change of topic. "I have no idea. Though, it isn't as if I'll participate."
Harry was confused at that and it must've shown on his face as Narcissa said with a small chuckle. "You do know my weapon is a bow, don't you, Harry? The event is a melee."
Then comprehension dawned on Harry's face. He had known that Melisandre and Kinvara wouldn't take part in it, having no weapons or combat experience without spells. He had simply thought that the seven of them fit exactly in terms of numbers, without thinking about in what kind of event he was taking part in. "Oh, well...shit." he ignored the laughter coming from his wives. "What do we do now?" he fretted concerned that they were too late to do anything about it.
Bringing her laughter under control Marcella interrupted his fretting. "Relax, while you were busy shagging their brains out" she inclined head to the two red priestesses clinging to Harry and kissing his arms while looking up at him adoringly through lidded eyes. Nothing else was on their radar but Harry. "I arranged for a sell-sword to be our seventh member."
Harry relaxed at that. "That's good, thanks." smiling at Marcella in gratitude, causing said woman's cheeks to develop a pink dusting at the sincerity in his tone.
At that point Bellatrix interjected. "As long as I get to beat up some idiots, everything is fine with me. I can't wait to show those arrogant pricks that a woman can be as much of a fighter than a man or in some cases be even better!"
Andromeda rolled her eyes at her older sister. "I doubt it will bring us anything but more resentment, if the way people looked at Harry when he mentioned our army consisted purely out of women was any indication." they had looked at him as if he was as mad as Aerys. Just beating them in a contest wasn't going to be enough. It would take much more to change a fundamental part of their society. Besides she had no intention to try and change it, which would be like trying to give House-elves freedom. Andy knew a doomed undertaking when she saw one.
"Speaking of female warriors, what do we do about the fact that the warrior-maid still want to fight bare-breasted?" Fleur spoke up, looking at Harry with something akin to mirth, while Cissy and Marcella suppressed growls. "Someone found it a good idea to set it into their heads that they could fight naked in every battle." now that Ghis and its neighbours were conquered the use of war-paint in battle lost its function in battle with no faction left who used copper or bronze to make weapons.
Harry just groaned at that, his right hand rubbing his forehead. He exhaled with a sigh. "That was me attempting to give them some protection while allowing them to fight bare-breasted as per their traditions." at the time he had known that it was a mistake to do so. However, there hadn't been any time to forge enough armour for all of them nor had there been any steel to make said armour. Transfiguration had been a possibility, but Harry and his wives had had other things to worry about.
Fleur said "Well, it may have worked for Ghis and its neighbours, but the rest of Essos uses steel to make weapons. That makes the war-paint useless for combat in the future." it had other uses, like protecting people training so that a real life battle could be simulated better. "We need to give them armour or our loses will be significant in our future battles."
That was also one of the reasons why she didn't understand how the Dothraki still existed. They wore no armour and employed no tactic or strategy. Apparently only their reputation and the cowardice of the Free Cities, as well as the infighting amongst them, left these savages alone to fight amongst each other. A proper armoured cavalry made out of knights would ride these unprotected fools down completely. The arrow storms from horse back so feared by many were no problem if properly armoured, the same went for the slashing weapons of the Dothraki, the Arakh. It would bounce off of the steel plate. Even chain mail was impervious to slashing weapons and knights wore both. It basically made them nearly invulnerable to Dothraki while said savages were completely exposed to the steel of the knights.
Like this these savages only fought amongst each other, killing their own people, while getting these so called gifts from the big cities and breeding like rabbits. Without these gifts or their raids they wouldn't survive for long with no farmers, smiths or anything a civilisation had to advance further. In Gabrielle's eyes these people were the scourge of Essos, exploiting other people and living off of their hard earned things. The experience she had due to some time spent with them before she and Gabrielle joined Harry didn't make it better.
Fleur would do her best to see them destroyed, after they dealt with the other Free Cities attempt to re-establish slavery.
Narcissa spoke up next. "Actually, I made some improvements to the war-paint so that it can resist other materials than stone, bone, claw, bronze and copper. Iron and Steel among them. However the materials to make it are expensive." sure they had the Cauldron of Plenty, but that had its limits as well.
"How expensive are we talking?" Gabrielle inquired, being the Mistress of Coin.
"Well, a batch coming out of a normal cauldron would require a hundred pure diamonds or other gems the size of walnuts ground to dust, dragonbone, the typical ingredients for the paint with obsidian dust instead of coal, as well as giving it an oil base so that it isn't going to wash away immediately during rain." Narcissa explained, thought a bit and then added. "They also don't have to be completely naked for it to work."
Gabrielle thought a bit and said. "Well, we have many gems, but to mass produce it would be stupid." they would lose massive amounts of wealth that way. Luckily they had Fire-crabs living in their territory now. The beasts had jewelled shells on which gems grew. Dragonbone would be the most difficult to obtain, the skeleton they had found wasn't going to last forever. "To use the paint to cover the areas they want to expose would be best, minimising how much they use."
Harry nodded that he understood. "Sounds excellent!" The problem was to sell the idea to the warrior-maids, but he doubted it was difficult as long as they could flash everybody. "It should go well with giving them partial armour elements, like vambraces, greaves, a left shoulder guard, shield and a helmet." the rest would consist of their typical leather armour with the breasts and thighs most likely exposed, but Harry couldn't really change a culture completely over night. "Like this the shield will give them a good amount of protection normally provided by armour and can be used for bashing into an opponent." the ancient Celts and some African tribes had went into battle completely naked, but the important thing was that they carried a shield. Adding other armour elements to it should provide even better protection, while leaving the necessary parts exposed required for their culture, but also protected together with other vulnerable parts like the throat and armpits.
"With the shoulder guard, shield, helmet and greaves the vital parts are protected from arrow storms, while they also won't be as restricted in their movement or overheat due to too much armour." that was a serious problem knights faced. With how many layers of protection they had there was no outlet for the heat. Especially in summer. Thankfully Harry and his wives were practically immune to temperature changes due to their enhancements and rings, solving that problem for them when they wore their armour.
The restriction of movement was a little less of a problem and not nearly as bad as some people thought. Despite popular belief a knight in armour could run pretty fast and even do a roll to evade attacks and certainly didn't need to be lifted onto his horse by a crane. The weight was after all evenly distributed on the body. Besides, if that were true, once a knight fell off his horse there would be no getting up, making the knight practically a dead man on the battlefield. If armour was so cumbersome and in the end useless, why spend so much money on something that will get you killed? People don't want to die and armour prevents just that in most cases.
Saying that Harry remembered something, addressing the Veela, he asked concerned. "Do you need an other type of weapon, should I make some for you? I doubt a sword is good for aerial combat with wings." especially with six wings. With his own two the movements required to be effective with a sword were seriously hampered due to the new appendages, which you could hit by accident. They could fly without wings with the unsupported flight spell, but there was something more fulfilling by flying with wings than without. Probably coming from his Animagus form. 'Maybe a spear or some ranged weapon?' Harry mused inside his head.
Both shook their heads in the negative with Fleur declining. "Thank you for the offer, but that won't be necessary." she found it sweet of him to offer such, it showed his concern for them. "But we won't be using our weapons while in the air." that would be stupid and also give away their considerable advantage of flight. Why engage in melee when magic was sufficient to attack while flying and escape most of the danger?
"We also can simply partially transform more than our wings should it be necessary to fight while in the air." Gabrielle stated and promptly transformed her naked feet into wicked razor sharp talons able to pierce steel. She followed it shortly after by doing the same with her hands. From the looks of things they could inflict serious damage, even ripping an unprotected man to shreds easily.
"Good." Harry said relieved. "Hopefully the Warrior-maids won't raise much of a fuss about it. I still don't know if it was a good idea to restrict the women to fight for the army and the men to the Navy."
"It was a good decision and necessary!" Marcella assured him firmly, leaving no room for his self-doubt or argument. "The Ghiscari, Lharzeen and Qartheen had no standing army, except some Unsullied and a Civic Guard in case of Qarth. The Warrior-maids were disgruntled with your decision, but followed it because they believe and trust in you." she personally was glad that his experiment had failed. " An army with men and women in it isn't really possible in this day and age with rape nearly inevitable." It was practically inviting trouble to do its thing. Better to keep it separate. "Besides, when both men and women are allowed to fight in the army then the same would have to be true for the Navy and with how superstitious people are that is impossible." she stated.
Confused Harry asked. "What do you mean?" he had done the same for the navy as he did for the army, inviting women to join. The problem was none had done so, all going into the army instead. He had found it curious at the time and simply thought they wanted to stay with their own gender. Therefore it hadn't made as much problems as the army.
Andromeda took over, she knew Harry saw nothing wrong with women in the navy, the rest of the world was different. "Simple, people believe that women bring misfortune when on a ship." The middle Black sister thought it nonsense, but such a change would've been one too many in such a short time. "Like this it may be separate, but at least both parties are happy with how it is." Like this both had a chance to fight. Men even had more of one, being the only ones allowed into the city watches on top of the navy, who was more active than the army anyway, protecting merchant ships and so on.
Only in the fighting pits both genders were equally represented. Blood was blood after all.
Gabrielle interjected this time. "Besides, an army out of women is better suited to work with full Veela like us." she stated in a no nonsense voice. "With men in our army its effectiveness goes down considerably. Only a few weak-minded ones are necessary to spread chaos through our ranks, should they fall prey to our Allure." Just a hundred spread out through a few thousand were enough for infighting to start should they suddenly decide it was a good tactic to impress her sister and her by doing so. The only reason the Unsullied didn't go crazy in Qarth was ironically enough the abominable training they went through.
"Another bonus would be that we could let our Allure loose and concentrate on other things. It would do nothing against our own forces," the only effect it had on women was to make them jealous should their men fall prey to it. "while it would wreck havoc on the enemy, who would start to fight each other, spreading chaos and confusion in their ranks." men in the army would honestly be detrimental to them.
Harry accepted their reasoning without much fuss. He would've liked to let men join, but knew that too much change too soon wasn't helpful. "Alright." he nodded and with that the topic was closed. "I just fear that the Warrior-maids will be at a disadvantage when going up against men in combat." It was a fact that men were stronger than women and strength was an important, even a deciding factor in battle. The fights around Ghis hadn't been much of a challenge due to them having outnumbered their opponents, as well as said opponents not having the same muscle mass as normal men, with them being eunuchs and Harry's forces being pretty much invulnerable to injury. Something that would change in the future, like previously discussed.
Then Bellatrix proposed. "Well, we could enhance them with a simple runic pattern tattooed onto their skin to enhance their strength to that of an average man." A permanent strengthening solution needed too costly ingredients to make so many of them, even with the Cauldron of Plenty. To make them roughly equal in strength to a man was about as good as they could get it. Besides, like that Harry's group was still superior to the army, should the need to quench an uprising ever occur.
With that cleared each of them ate a healthy amount for breakfast before going outside. Harry left the rest and went to the tent of the Starks to pick up Lyanna for their training. Melisandre and Kinvara went to check on the dragons and the rest looked for things of interest until the melee started.
As Harry left the tent, Andy asked a question into the room of women she had wanted answers to since yesterday after the axe-throwing contest. "You still didn't answer my question as to why you all acted so affectionate yesterday."
Narcissa answered her. "Well, I wanted to get us all together sometime in the future to discuss our relationship with each other."
"What do you mean?" the question conveying her confusion perfectly. "I thought you were okay with Melisandre and Kinvara joining." both women just now came out of their stupor, hearing their names mentioned.
"I am, but I meant the relationship between us women." more specifically to better said relationships in such a way that they would come to at least respect each other and not only refrained from killing one another because of Harry.
The others accepted the reasoning, though the meeting would've to wait until the jousting started. Otherwise there was no time in their day.
The sun's first rays broke over the horizon, bathing the land in red, yellow and orange light. Harry inhaled the clean and cold morning air, ignoring the whispers from the odd people out that followed.
It took him little time to go the by now familiar path to the tent with the Direwolf banner over it. In front of it he spotted the figure of Lyanna Stark waiting for him impatiently, pacing back on forth while muttering to herself in agitation. Another turn and she spotted Harry, causing her to walk towards him briskly. "Where were you?" she shouted accusingly. "She said you would be here before sunrise!" the female Stark pointed to the rising sun that contradicted that statement.
"She?" Harry asked mirth clear to hear in his voice.
That caused Lyanna to stop her impending rant and form a new one. "I don't know!" she had been much too sleepy to notice any details. "One of your wives just barged into my tent shook me awake to tell me when you would be here and then you don't even arrive on time!" the more she spoke the louder she got. She wanted to get as much time training as she could and her teacher was already late!
The only thing Harry got from that was that it could still be anyone of his wives. "You aren't much of an early riser are you?" his amusement not vanishing in the slightest. When you had been up against Basilisks, Dragons and all manner of different deadly threats a teenage girl was nothing in comparison.
She just glared at him in displeasure, causing Harry to shrug with a lopsided grin completely unapologetic. "So, where do you want to train?" he inquired in an attempt to get a move on.
Lyanna huffed and decided to tell him. The faster the better. "Near the God's Eye, away from most people." she really didn't want others to see her first attempts at being martial.
"Alright, lets go." Harry promptly walked towards the lake, Lyanna trailing behind him. Soon the lake came into view as they left the castle and tents behind, revealing water calmly moving with tranquil grace, reflecting the sun's first rays on its surface.
When Lyanna stayed in her dress he raised a brow at her, causing her to ask a bit snappishly. "What?"
Not changing his expression Harry asked. "Do you intent to train in a dress?" that would complicate matters more than a bit. He thought she hid clothes better suited for it under said garment.
His question caused Lyanna to flush red either in embarrassment or anger. "It isn't as if I can just make appropriate clothing out of nothing!" Lyanna defended herself, crossing her arms. To steal some armour nobody would miss was something different than stealing clothes that wouldn't fit, being made for men for nearly all. Even Benjen's leathers didn't fit her because of her stupid breasts deciding to grow this year of all times.
Harry simply sighed and waved his hand over her form, causing her dress to ripple like water and change. A moment later the dress was transfigured into a pair of tight fitting leather pants and a leather weskit. "There, one problem solved." he said, taking a closer look at the girl. Her arms were slim with bony elbows, she had narrow hips and maybe a little less than a handful in terms of breasts. Her legs and arse were firm. All in all there wasn't much strength in her frame.
"So, what weapon do you want to learn to wield?" Harry asked. He could teach her to fight with swords, be it arming sword, longsword or Bastard sword. For other things he had either his wives to do it for him or the Warrior-maids. However, Lyanna was more limited in her choice of weapon being a woman of below average strength, making some weapons unsuitable for her. In the end he already knew what weapon would be best, but he wanted to make a point.
Lyanna thought about that after she came out of her stupor caused by the casual display of magic. "I'd like to learn to use a bow." Images of her shooting arrows with the strength of Narcissa inside her head. Notions of her swinging a sword having taken a less important role for now.
Harry nearly chuckled at that, knowing that Narcissa's display the day before caused that to be the case. Sadly, he had to dissuade the teen of that notion. "I'd advise against that." Harry stated. "You don't really have the strength for it."
Lyanna was far from dissuaded. After all how hard could it be to draw such a flimsy string? One of his wives did it easy enough. "You said you teach me and I want to learn to shoot a bow." at home she shot at targets all the time and it went fine.
Seeing that she wasn't deterred Harry summoned a few bows from Harrenhal he had seen lying about. All of different draw weight. Then Harry transfigured a dummy out of a few rocks nearby and gave it the armour a typical grunt wore, gambeson. "Ok, try and hit the target." he then threw her the bow with the lowest draw weight and an arrow to shot with.
Lyanna promptly caught the bow, nocked the arrow, drew the projectile back, aimed and let it loose. It hit the target, bouncing off harmlessly. She looked at him smugly, saying. "See!"
Harry just shook his head. "Well, you just proved me right."
"What do you mean? I hit the target!" she protested, sputtering.
"You did." Harry conceded. "However you inflicted no damage, making your attack useless" and that on a target with no chain mail or plate on. He picked up the next bow with more draw weight and gave it to her. "Here try this one then."
She did so and hit the target again, with more effort, making the arrow bury itself into the fabric. Her right arm shaking a little while drawing the string. "Ha!" some smugness returning to her voice.
It was dashed just as fast as Harry took the gambeson and showed her the inside, retorting. "Do you think your opponent will be injured from this?" the arrow didn't even make it fully through, only sticking loosely in the protective clothing.
Lyanna scowled at the offending garment, as if it had insulted her severely.
Harry just gave her the second to last bow with the same arrow. This time she barely got the string completely back and missed her target completely, her untrained arms shaking from the strain. The last one she didn't even got the string to budge halfway. "Like I said you don't have the strength for a bow. Most women don't." at least not for one meant for war and to injure knights. "Not to mention that with the first bow you wouldn't be able to injure anyone and the range it covered was also quite small." Special bows out of Dragonbone or Goldenheart could circumvent these weakness somewhat, but not completely. Lyanna also had a completely wrong stance and took too long to aim, which put the arms under too much stress and cost energy. Either her teacher was shit or she was self-taught.
Lyanna just looked at him morosely, but she understood. At home her target was without armour and also made of straw, as well as stationary. "Fine, no bow then. How about axes?" her enthusiasm returning again as she imagined herself like Andromeda. The women of Bear Island that had come with them to Harrenhal also in her head with their axes and maces.
Again she got a negative response out of Harry. "No, the axe is more top-heavy and therefore more tiresome to use." Like before strength was the deciding factor. His wives could use their weapons like they did because of their magical enhancements. Normally, using two axes or even two short swords like Marcella was very tiresome on the arms and not really recommended.
"But your wives use bows and axes." she protested. "Why are they allowed to use these weapons and I'm not?"
Harry simply chuckled. "Let's just say that my wives are a completely different breed of women and leave it at that." His voice sounded light, but there was an undertone of steel present that broke no argument, causing Lyanna to simply nod.
"What you need is a Bastard-sword." Harry continued as if he hadn't been interrupted, transfiguring some more rocks into one. "You can wield it with both arms, making it easier to put more force behind it. Also, the point of balance is closer to the handle, so it takes less energy to use. You can also adopt certain stances to keep it at rest, conserving even more energy." While he explained Harry demonstrated these things for her. "Another weapon you could use are daggers. They can slip into the weak points of armour easier than a sword."
Lyanna nodded along her previous disappointment vanished now that she had a weapon to look forward to. It even was the one she wanted to learn how to use from the beginning. She took the offered sword out of his hands, holding it in her own and noting that it wasn't that much heavier from a tourney sword or one for training.
"Ok, first come the basics." Harry said after he took of his robe, leaving him with a pair of leather pants. He promptly took up a stance after summoning Lightbringer, explaining. "This stance is called the ox. The point of the blade can be aimed a little lower or higher, but note that it is typically aimed at the opponents throat or face." he demonstrated with Lyanna as his opponent. "Also note the blade's alignment by observing the angle of the cross, the blade is neither horizontal nor vertical but slightly diagonal. In fact, it is the natural position achieved by cutting upwards. The hilt is just besides the head held at temple level." he explained the advantages and disadvantages of the stance until he ordered. "Now you try to mimic me."
Lyanna did so, taking up stance after stance he explained to her. First the ox, then the plough followed by the fool, from the roof and lastly the near ward. He corrected her when she was wrong and was patient with the She-Wolf. Though she blushed when he corrected her plough stance, gently encircling her with his arms from behind and guiding her hands to the right places and her blade and feet into the correct position.
"Ok, next I want you to try and change from stance to stance as best and fluid as possible." To change from one to another was of vital importance after all.
Again Lyanna did so to the best of her limited ability. "Look after your footwork." Harry commented, seeing Lyanna neglect to move her feet. "Footwork is one of the most important things in sword fighting. Without it you can't generate much force behind your blows." he explained to her.
Confused Lyanna inquired, falling out of her stance. "But you hit with your arms?!"
Harry just chuckled, remembering his own faults he made in the early days. "Yes, you do." he agreed in an amused tone of voice that said he knew more than her and immediately explained "However, when you use your feet together with the rest of your body then your blows will be much stronger." not a moment after he explained it Harry demonstrated it on the dummy with a conjured steel sword. First the hit using just his arms followed by the proper one, which rattled the dummy much more. Afterwards he had her training exactly that for a time.
"I think that will be enough for today." Harry said, seeing Lyanna panting. It may not have been a strenuous looking workout, but to use a sword like that, even without an enemy, was tiring to do for an hour and a half. Especially for a completely untrained individual.
Ever defiant Lyanna exclaimed insistent. "I can still go on!"
Harry shook his head and denied. "No you cannot." he easily plucked the sword out of her hands after storing Lightbringer back into his ring. She was miffed, but accepted his decision. To wind down Harry taught her some basic stretches to finish the exercise.
"I am assuming you did not eat anything until now?" it had been much too early for the servants of Harrenhal to prepare something and from the looks of it Lyanna waited for him as soon as she got the message. The shake of her head was answer enough. "Then you should eat a good amount and not do anything more for today. Tomorrow at the same time?"
Now smiling brightly Lyanna answered cheerfully. "Sure!" she soon left with a spring in her step.
Happy himself to be of some help to the girl, Harry began to leave as well. Completely unaware of the emerald eyes trained on him behind one of the trees near the lake.
Today was an absolute horrible day for Cersei Lannister. Yesterday these foreigners healed that dornish slut Elia Martell, diminishing her chances of becoming Rhaegar's queen severely. 'Well, she can still die of some "accident."' Cersei thought maliciously. Though, Cersei doubted that she would get an opportunity, not being anywhere near in the princess' confidence or circle of friends. Not even a handmaiden.
If that wasn't bad enough once she woke up the Lady Lannister had to learn from her aunt Genna that Jaime was getting married right before the melee was set to start. It was still before the sun was up that she fled the tent in her misery instead of preparing for the wedding of her other half, wanting to be alone now that both Jaime and Rhaegar would be out of her reach forever.
Once arrived at the lake she raged at the injustice of it all. She was the most beautiful woman in the Seven Kingdoms. She should be with Rhaegar and not that useless dornish whore. She should be with Jaime and not that little timid and stupid fish bitch. Now she had no chance with Rhaegar and Jaime was going to be out of her sphere of influence soon.
While she sulked near the God's Eye she heard noises coming from nearby. Spying out of her hideout Cersei saw that Stark girl, a skinny and ugly thing. A typical northern savage. She was together with someone unexpected. King Harry Black, who from the looks of things taught her how to wield a sword.
Again another woman got what Cersei wanted, martial training. Though, she wouldn't mind being in the presence of such a man as Harry to learn it. He definitely was all man. Chiselled facial features, accompanied with aristocratic looks typical for highborn people and a strong jaw. His body was well muscled with broad shoulders, but not as bulky as most knights and much more defined in terms of muscle definition. His abs clear to see for all. He also was more on the lean side of things, a perfect balance out of strength and speed. That firm and cracking arse wasn't a thing to overlook either.
That man had three things that especially got to her. First were his eyes. Sure, some might see them as the ones of an abomination, but she saw the power contained in them. Not to mention that they were emerald like her own, together with gold. Only that it was a small ring around the iris instead of eyes freckled with gold like her father's eyes.
The second was his voice. Just like Rhaegar's voice his had a quality to it that was otherworldly. She had heard it, the previous evening and at the singers competition to watch the prince. Instead she was treated to something else entirely. Tones never heard before reverberated through her entire being. Unlike the prince's music Harry's was soothing despite its sad tilt. It had caressed her soul gently, touching her in ways she never could've imagined, leaving her in tears. Not tears of sorrow, but tears of elation and a new beginning.
The third and most important was his power. He could command people like her father and had an aura of command around him that was intoxicating and exactly what she wanted for herself, but what she meant wasn't power in an ordinary sense. Rather the TRUE power he displayed. Magical power, but his wasn't as pathetic as that fraud Maggy's had been. He was capable of incapacitating the whole Kingsguard in a matter of moments. Not to mention the captivating display the evening before, showing all their might for the world to see.
When there was one thing Cersei loved more than anything else then it was power. That alone wouldn't be so bad or extraordinary, many people want power. However, she also hadn't any fear in her, none at all.
It was her that had crawled furthest into one of the cages which contained the lions of Casterly Rock, not Jaime. No, he pulled her back when she wanted to touch one. It was her that had initiated the first sexual experiments with Jaime, more out of childish curiosity than any sexual desire. Just wanting to find out their differences instead of their many similarities in an innocent pursuit of knowledge, despite it evolving with her liking the power she had over Jaime because of it. It was her that had given the old witch her blood without flinching, not Melara Hetherspoon.
It was her that had wanted and still wants to throw her monstrous brother Tyrion down from Casterly Rock into the sea to be smashed against the cliffs, further disfiguring his already malformed body until only a bloody mess remained. Consequences be damned. Her brother, uncles, aunt and even her father refused to do so. Was she the only Lannister with any daring?
Though as of late her family wasn't what Cersei thought it should be. Her father had promised her she would be queen and failed, letting himself be insulted by the Mad King with impunity. Her brother Jaime promised her she was the only one for him and to be always there for her. He obviously had lied directly to her face. Even Maggy the frog promised her to be queen in that prophecy of hers and from what Cersei could see the old bat had lied as well. Such seemed to be a theme in her life lately.
Cersei only had herself to rely on from the looks of things. 'I am the true lioness of Casterly Rock, acting like a scared little girl is beneath me!' she thought with conviction only people with massive amounts of self-delusion are capable of.
Coming back with steely resolve from her internal pep talk, Cersei approached King Harry with her head held high. "King Harry, a word if you may." she called out to him before he was going to follow the wolf-maid back to Harrenhal. He turned immediately, his eyes focussed on her with an intensity she was only used to from her father.
"Yes, Cersei Lannister, was it?" his deep voice washed over hear, sending tingling shocks through her spine that weren't unpleasant, remembering yesterday evening and how his voice affected her. It was soothing and deep, like a calm ocean, but like an ocean it concealed an underlying danger not many saw or even knew was there.