You wanted to talk?" Harry began, not really knowing what these beings could want with or from him.
Leaf was their spokesperson, being the only one of them to speak the Common Tongue. "Yes." she confirmed. "We want to discuss the possibility of forming a new pact with you."
"Why?" was the only thing coming from Harry. Right now he was resigned to the fact that this wouldn't be a normal vacation. Not anymore.
Not missing a beat Leaf explained. "We are dying, our sun is sinking and this is our long dwindling." she pointed behind her where the barely sixty other Children of the Forest stood. "The giants are almost gone as well, they who were our bane and brothers. The great lions of the western hills have been slain, and the mammoths are down to a few hundred. Many of us went down into the earth, into the stones and trees. In the world men have made there is no room for them, or us."
Her green and gold eyes looked into Harry's own with an immense intensity, conveying hope and more. "That was until three years ago. Magic began to sing again, after being silent for so long. It strengthened us like it hadn't done in centuries, crashing over us like a tidal wave." she took a step forward. "Being near you invigorates us like nothing before. It gives us something we thought long lost to us. Hope." It also helped that he spoke their language, was acknowledged by unicorns, the purest creatures there were, and had nearly the same eyes as them.
"Eh, that's nice." Harry replied, entirely uncomfortable with the attention of all the little beings on him. Now he definitely saw the resemblance to House-elves even more. Only the looks of utter adoration were absent, thankfully. He got enough of those in his own kingdom. Harry still didn't know if it was a good thing or not that Bella's own looks of worship had prepared him for such a thing. "What would be the terms of that pact?"
"We want protection and our own piece of land to do with as we see fit, preferably a forest." Leaf stated.
Harry could agree with that easy enough. "I have no problem with that, but my dominion has no notable forests in it at the present time." he frowned in thought.
"There is the Forest of Ifequevron north of the Dothraki Sea." Fleur interrupted. "The area is currently uninhabited. Besides it is only a matter of time until the Dothraki savages attack us again. Why not conquer them, take their lands and be done with it?" her sister nodded in approval. Both of them hated the savages after having experienced life with them for a short time and had no problems with exterminating them.
Leaf perked up immediately. "That would be perfect." Ifequevron had been the last bastion of them in Essos, hidden much like their current location, until a few centuries that is. Every land had belonged to them before the Dawn Age, before the emergence of man. They had been pushed back bit by bit until only Westeros remained to them. Even that hadn't brought much peace to them. After only a few centuries man was again before their doorstep. This time they would at least bargain for their protection, instead of relying on good will.
"What would I get in turn?" Harry questioned, his wives' words about negotiating ringing in his ears. In the past he'd have done it because they clearly needed it. Now he was king and needed to think further. He had to force himself not to think about Dobby, his loyalty and excitable behaviour. His big eyes filled with pure joy every time he saw Harry. These beings possessed a resemblance to House-elves, but were not the same.
"We won't fight in your wars against men, but can aid you in fights against other threats." Leaf made that very clear by the tone of her voice alone. They already had lost too many to wars against men. On the other hand the Others and more were the enemies of all. Chewing on her lip the small being said. "I don't know what we could give you." her large ears dropped to the side of her head in sadness.
Harry sighed. He couldn't stand the sight of these creatures so sad. It reminded him too much of Dobby. Not to mention that they were living in a tree. What could they truly give him? Cursing his soft heart, Harry responded "Let's forget that for now. You can think of something for later." he waved Leaf's protest off. "Anything else you need?"
Leaf looked directly at Brynden. "We have another room full of Greenseers, enthroned like he was." here she turned to Harry with pleading eyes. "I beg of you, revive them." it would give them some more numbers and guidance.
Harry saw no harm in it. Unicorn blood was powerful, but it hadn't really much uses. As long as enough was left over to preserve the eight unicorn hearts then it was of no consequence. "Or course, that is no problem." he assured the being with his agreement and beckoned her to show him where to go.
Soon enough the group came to a room with another twenty Children of the Forest enthroned into the roots. Harry simply asked for water and the ages of his patients before starting to work. It didn't take long after that to revive every one of the small beings. Blood red and moss green eyes opened lazily, one pair after another. As if waking from a deep slumber.
While the Children of the Forest had a reunion of sorts and Lyanna pestered Brynden with more questions, Harry stared at the Philosopher's Stone in his hand. It had lost its deep red glow. After each use it had grown dimmer and dimmer in intensity. He had been afraid of that happening.
"Seems the Philosopher's Stone is out of power." he stated. It was no wonder. Not with how long Nicolas Flamel must've used the artefact and Harry afterwards by utilising its powers.
"What do you mean?" Fleur asked, a bit of alarm entering her voice. She, like every student of Beauxbaton knew of the school's most famous student and his achievements.
He showed her the red rock. "Here take a look." handing the artefact to her, he said. "It had to happen sooner or later."
"I thought the Philosopher's Stone didn't need any kind of fuel to work?" Gabrielle asked in confusion, inspecting the artefact after Fleur had her turn. That is at least what every source stated.
Harry shook his head with a little chuckle escaping him. That was impossible with magic or technology. He replied. "It appears that way, but it does indeed need fuel to make Elixir of Life." the life-energy had to come from somewhere. "In the years I have possessed it I analysed it to the best of my ability."
Intrigued Fleur and Gabrielle inquired at the same time, their silver-blue eyes looking into his emerald-gold ones. "What did you find out?"
Growing solemn, he responded. "Its fuel are blood and human souls. The more a Philosopher's Stone consumed upon its creation the stronger and longer lasting the stone is." it also proved once again that Blood-magic was the strongest magic for a reason.
Horrified at that revelation Fleur and Gabrielle stared at the unassuming stone in Gabrielle's hands. "How could Flamel create something so horrible?" Fleur's words were shaky at best, her view of one of the greatest wizards of all time shattered. For the stone to work for more than six-hundred years there had to be countless souls imprisoned inside it.
"I don't know, but all great wizards did terrible things to some extent." Harry stated. Voldemort split his soul by taken his victims will to live, killing in cold blood and enjoying it. Grindelwald and Dumbledore had had the ambition to rule over the Muggles and Flamel created the Philosopher's Stone. Ekrizdis, the wizard responsible for building Azkaban, did horrific and atrocious things to create the Dementors. "Flamel was born shortly before the time where the plague ran rampant in Europe and before the Statute of Secrecy was put in place. Who would miss a few hundred Muggles here and there? Especially when they died by the millions and the relations between Muggles and Wizards grew more strained by the day."
After all, Flamel had lived in the time of the hunt of witches and wizards and such horror painted ones world-view. On top of that Flamel had belonged to an older family with all the beliefs that entailed. Namely, that he hadn't been very friendly with Muggles or even Muggleborn magicals. That had also contributed to Harry's decision to distrust Dumbledore more. Albus, having been Flamel's apprentice in Alchemy.
"You didn't." Gabrielle denied vehemently, firm in her belief. Upon his confused look she elaborated. "You didn't do or create something so horrific."
Harry just smiled ruefully. "I did. True, I haven't used them, but I created some things that I'm not proud of." mainly during his later years at Hogwarts to shortly after his graduation and getting Narcissa and Bellatrix as a team. Luckily, he had destroyed his notes for these kind of things. Though, he hadn't been proclaimed Voldemort's equal in the prophecy for nothing. Harry may not be a genius in the conventional sense, but he was by no means stupid. Also, magic wasn't a strict field like mathematics or other sciences anyway.
No, it was an art. Something, made clear by the description of the Dark Arts. It was even directly in the name. Like Voldemort, Harry knew that the Dark Arts were only labelled as such because of the Ministry. Who feared things they couldn't understand nor control. Magic wasn't dark or light. The intent mattered most. Hermione never understood that and Harry knew she was limited by her understanding of things. The girl was incapable to believe, she had to know. That was why she was unable to cast a Patronus and also why the higher branches of magic had been denied to her. Not because she was stupid, but due to the fact that she didn't understand what magic truly was.
The notion that magic was an art form was further supported by the fact that powerful magic could be done with music. As demonstrated by Harry's group.
Before they could talk further a voice interrupted them. "Fatebreaker!" the call silenced every voice in the small room full of burnt roots.
Harry and the Veela turned to the diminutive being that called them. He had his race's typical characteristics, but his eyes were a deep blood red. Eyes which bored into Harry's form like a drill. "You mean me?" Harry asked, pointing to himself.
"Yes, come here!" the small and frankly fragile looking being nodded, beckoning him with his clawed hand.
Once there the small Child requested from Gabrielle. "Please give me that stone in your hand." it held out its clawed hand to receive it.
Gabrielle looked at Harry for permission. After all, it was his stone. When he nodded she handed it to the Greenseer, who took it with haste and broke a small piece off from it with a stone from the ground. Next he went to the roots burrowing themselves through the ground and broke a branch the size of a staff off.
Harry's group watched fascinated as the Child seemed to craft a sceptre the length of a staff. The sceptre was roughly as tall as Harry with a shaft that twisted itself upwards in a spiral and ended in a crown resembling a cage of vines to hold the Philosopher's Stone. After that the unnamed Greenseer carved runes into the sceptre along the shaft and on the crown. The runes seemed to bleed due to the colour of the sap, but only the runes of the crown bled drops of sap onto the artefact, covering it in a thin layer of sticky red liquid before being encased by vines, completely caging the stone. After that the Child sprinkled Obsidian dust onto the runes changing them from red to black. Despite being empty the Philosopher's Stone began glowing again, giving it an unimaginable, unearthly lustre.
"This Weirwood has feasted on countless lives from us and men alike. Now these belong to you." the greenseer explained and walked with the sceptre in hand to Harry. In the past many executions had been done in front of Weirwoods to be witnessed by the Old Gods and to let the Weirwoods drink the blood and grow strong from it. Skagos was the only place it was still done so, together with the Mountain Clans of the North. "I present you with Bloodwood."
After Harry took the sceptre, the Child of the Forest took the small shard it had broken from the Philosopher's Stone. "Hold out your sword, please." it requested politely, but with a sense of urgency.
Caught off guard Harry did so automatically, Lightbringer still in his hand from cutting the House-elf lookalikes free. A moment later the small shard was pressed into the sword and absorbed by the Mithril. Lightbringer began to glow a blood red colour and lit up, illuminating the small room of the cave they were in. It died down after that, revealing Lightbringer and its change in colour. The sharp edge of it was still black, but the rest was now a bright red, exactly like the Philosopher's Stone. The silver veins were replaced by golden ones, which glowed together with the golden runes carved into the metal.
"What did you do?" Harry inquired, hoping that they didn't ruin his sword. There was a definite edge to his voice now. He was grateful that they gave him Bloodwood, basically gifting him with a reawakened Philosopher's Stone. But he would hate for his sword to be worse than before.
Unconcerned the small being retorted. "I connected your sword with the stone. Every enemy you kill with your sword will feed the stone and refill it." he had seen it in the future, at least one possible future. "I don't know all the specifics, but I saw you craft and wield such in one possible future for you."
"Oh, thanks." Harry said dumbfounded, thinking how that could've been accomplished. He took a good look at his sword, inspecting it thoroughly, casting a few detection spells on it. The Child seemed to be telling the truth. The blood-drinker curse on the blade together with the Resurrection Stone were responsible for collecting blood and souls from killed people and transferring them to Bloodwood.
Another oddity was that the Basilisk venom, his mother's blood protection and the Philosopher's Stone apparently blended together, combining into something new. Like a pimple jinx combined with a jelly-legs jinx created a whole new effect. Namely, causing tentacles to sprout on the affected area. From what Harry gathered his blade wouldn't poison living beings any longer, but only work on any undead creature or other unnatural beings, like Dementors.
Though, to get the full effects Harry would have to test the blade on various subjects.
"I hope that will suffice to acquire your help in getting us away from Westeros and to more prosperous lands?" the greenseer questioned.
He only got a nod from Harry in reply.
With business and everything else finished Gabrielle transported the Children of the Forest via portal to Vaes Leisi, a city consisting of carved trees and haunted grottos in the forest of Ifequevron. And just like that there was only one Child of the Forest left in Westeros. Gabrielle went with them to set up a few wards to repel Muggles and protect their small community better, while Leaf chose to stay to break the pact they had made in the past with the precursor of House Stark.
Brynden was brought to the ship which had sailed to the Wall and was now on its way south to King's Landing to restock. Harry and co. would meet their new spymaster there once the tourney was finished.
Once outside Harry checked the time by reading the sun. One of the few useful things learned in Astronomy. From the looks of it it was about midday, giving them a bit time to get back for the finale of the melee. The two went in search for a subject to test the new Lightbringer while Lyanna stayed behind in the cave together with Leaf to learn how to warg from her, Brynden having sensed the talent in her and told her about it.
Harry took the advice from Leaf and looked for a keep south-west of the cave. It took maybe fifteen minutes of flying to spot the wooden building sitting atop a low hill in a glade, surrounded by an earthen dike. From up above Harry and Fleur could see a few pigs and sheep running in a pigsty and sheepfold.
Like Leaf described it there were only women present and according to the female Child of the Forest the man called Craster married his daughters by force. A crime and abomination in the eyes of the Old Gods.
Not spotting the man Fleur and Harry, with Hedwig in tow, decided to look somewhere else once they saw men of the Night's Watch visiting. Not wanting to make it more complicated than it had to be.
After splitting up and another five minutes of flight later Harry was alarmed by Hedwig to a man chasing two young girls with dark honey-blond hair through the forest, weapon raised threateningly. They did not yell for help. Then again who would come in such a frozen wasteland?
Never one to run out on someone in need of rescue Harry performed a nosedive, the new and improved Lightbringer in hand and on fire. Swooping down like a wrathful archangel Harry impaled the man from behind directly through the heart. His victim could only gasp and scream as the blood was literally sucked out of his body together with his soul, robbing it of its power before banishing the soul to the afterlife. Or whatever came next. The wound was cauterised and smoked from the heat of Lightbringer.
Hedwig landed on a nearby bough while Harry inspected the blade. He found it to be better than before. The only real difference was that it did no longer poison living people. Not that it needed such when it was able to cleave through stone effortlessly. Satisfied he turned to the two girls after storing Lightbringer away in his ring where Bloodwood already waited.
The swift death of their pursuer gained him the attention of the two young girls. Both were clad in an assortment of furs and at most fourteen years old from the looks of it, if Harry was generous. "Hey there." he greeted the two with a smile on his face. He spared the dead man a glance as he turned to the girls.
It was a man in his sixties with grey hair, a flat nose and dropping mouth, giving him a cruel look. No wonder the girls ran away. The axe in his hand didn't do anything to remedy that. The corpse wore a jerkin made from sheepskin and a cloak of sewn skins as well as a twisted heavy gold band about his wrist.
What Harry not expected was for one of them to kick him in the shin and start running again, dragging the second behind. "Wait." he yelled after them, thinking his appearance must've scared them. It didn't take long to catch up with them, scooping up one in each arm. Still they struggled until they didn't, not able to escape his stronger grip. Harry had no intention to leave two possibly injured girls without making sure they were fine.
He sat them down and said gently. "I'm not going to harm you." their reaction was perfectly logical, after all they had been chased and must've been scared. Hedwig landed on his shoulder, having caught up with the three.
When they continued to stare at him he asked. "What are your names?" he infused his voice a little with Phoenix song to relax the tension. Not so much that he spoke the True Tongue, but enough to sooth them. Thinking they were too shocked, traumatised, too confused to speak or simply didn't speak the Common Tongue.
A second before Harry was about to cast the translation spell, the slightly older looking one answered. "My name is Val and this is my sister Dalla." Val's eyes were glued to the flaming wings of the man, no, being before them.
Fleur choose that moment to return, flapping her six iridescent wings as she landed. "There you are." she saw the two little ones and asked him. "Who do you have here?"
"Fleur, this are Val and Dalla, though we haven't gotten further than introductions as of now." Harry explained, turned back to the two girls. "Are you unharmed?" he asked, checking for any kind of injuries.
Val took a stunned Dalla's hand, knowing she was no match for whatever stood before them. Though his presence and voice seemed too calm and peaceful for him to be a threat. "Yes." she replied curtly, but not coldly. Despite her wariness he did indeed save them from Craster and a life with the disgusting and cursed man.
"Good." Harry said relieved that they were all right and seeing no obvious injuries.
Dalla chose that moment to interrupt. "Pretty." she said, looking at Fleur's wings. Ignoring Val, the younger girl looked up to Fleur. "Can I touch them?" her hand already outstretched to do just that.
Amused, Fleur decided to indulge the girl. "Sure." she nodded her consent. "Just be gentle."
Dalla stroked the soft and beautiful feathers, looking on as they changed colours depending on how the light of the sun struck them. "Soft." she murmured and blushed when she heard Fleur giggle. With big blue eyes she asked her and Harry. "Are you Old Gods?" to her they certainly looked like it.
Harry and Fleur laughed at that, even Hedwig gave a bark of amusement.
Before he could answer Harry and Fleur felt a burning sensation on their marks. Harry's hand went to his chest, while Fleur's went to her lower abdomen.
Standing up, Harry declared. "We have to go." he grabbed Fleur's hand and prepared to transport them to Lyanna and from there back to Harrenhal.
Val and Dalla didn't request to go with him. He may have caught them, but they were too stunned to act before it was too late. A blink of an eye later Harry was gone, assuming Val and Dalla would be picked up by their parents or tribe and not wanting to rip them away from their home.
While Harry took his group back south of the wall, the brothers of the Night's Watch waited for Craster to come home. After a day they searched for him and found the corpse being devoured by a shadowcat. Craster's wives didn't shed a single tear and were taken to the wall by the Night's Watch. Not being seen as a threat in any way they were allowed to go south of the wall and settled in the gift near Mole's Town.
Nobody saw the figure with blue eyes taking the squealing boy Craster had abandoned in the woods.
Andromeda was severely annoyed. At first the day had begun like any other, but took a turn for the worse near midday. Marcella, Bellatrix, Melisandre and herself had just ate a bit in the Hall of a Hundred Hearths when the so called trial of Cersei Lannister began. In middle of the hall no less.
Normally Andromeda couldn't care less what they thought the girl guilty of. That had changed when these people basically accused them of being accomplices by giving the girl a potion to rape her brother of all people. The rest went in search for Narcissa, Kinvara, Harry and the Veela sisters.
The trial started with the septons beseeching the Father Above to see justice done. From then on many witnesses came forth to testify, all sworn to honesty by the septon. Most were septons and septas with no Lannister speaking against or for Cersei.
It went a bit too fast, so Andromeda had to delay it a bit.
Luckily, Andromeda had the King of the Seven Kingdoms under her command, which made it easy to drag that whole trial out. Aerys wasn't one of the judges, which consisted entirely out of septas and septons, mainly due to the fact that Aerys had decided to let the Faith deal with the issue before Andy could command otherwise. She really should've specified her commands instead of letting him act like normal. Most people simply thought the king was mocking Tywin a bit more with that decision. Right now Andy was just waiting for an opportunity to interject, as well as the return of her family.
"I knew your daughter wanted to become a Targaryen by marriage and I know imitation is the greatest form of flattery, but this!? I think my rejection of your marriage proposal must've been very hard on Cersei for her to emulate us to such a degree." Aerys rambled on and on as the judges discussed the outcome in hushed tones. Every word drove Tywin further and further into teeth-grinding fury. It was a wonder they didn't shatter from the pressure.
Shaking her head to clear it of any distracting thoughts, Andromeda made herself ready once Cersei was declared guilty.
It didn't take long from there for the judges to decide. The leading septon shouted the verdict, his high voice reaching the whole hall. "Cersei Lannister, in the light of the seven you are found guilty of the vile sin of incest, as well as seducing your innocent and unwilling brother with sorcery." he declared smugly. An uproar from the crowd made itself known, many expressing their disgust. The septon held his hands up to quite the crowd. It was made worse by the fact that Cersei had lost her maidenhead, reducing her value significantly. "This august body hereby sentences you to a Walk of Atonement. Furthermore, you are also declared a traitor to House Lannister and attainted to remove the stain upon its honour." For her it meant to be basically banished from the family. It also removed the right to inherit, even from her children.
Tywin looked like he had swallowed a sack full of lemons. Sure, what Cersei did was a major blow to the honour of House Lannister, but he would've preferred a private trial or none at all. Not out of concern for Cersei, but due to the bad image his House got from it. As if the religious fanatics could order him or his family around. However, in this instance he had no choice. Pressed for time and faced with a septon that wasn't swayed by gold or promises of other material wealth everything had been stacked against him. He was lucky Jaime was married to Lysa. 'Why hadn't there been another septon for Tully to ask?' it didn't help that the rest of his family had been present as well during his children's show in the sept.
In contrast Aerys cackled in insane joy.
Sadly, Andromeda had to be a party pooper.
Standing up and clearing her throat loudly, Andromeda declared strongly. "I'll have to disagree with that!" all the while she was the puppeteer of Aerys, commanding him what to speak.
"With what, the verdict?" the Mad King asked loudly for all to hear, silencing the crowd with his words.
The people looked on, enraptured, wanting to see what happened next. Rarely did something so interesting happen. Every Great House was present for it, having been in the great hall as the trial began.
Cersei looked at Andromeda with something akin to hope in her eyes, but in truth she didn't expect much. She was shattered and her whole life was gone, just like that. Even her twin had betrayed her as he testified against her. She knew it was on her father's orders, but she hated Jaime for it nonetheless. No matter how many remorseful looks he sent her way. Hers were only filled with venom and hatred. He should've tried to rescue her, even if it killed him.
Andromeda shrugged. "No, I have no idea if Lady Lannister is guilty or not." she looked at the judges consisting of septons and septas. "However, I nor anyone from my family sold her any kind of potion to do what she did!" her silver-purple eyes never once leaving their targets. "I'd appreciate it not to be accused of complicity without serious evidence being presented."
The fanatic septon, who still preached against them, was the first to speak. Being one of the judges for whatever reason. "You expect us to believe you, monster?"
In response Andromeda commanded Aerys to madly shout. "Mind your tongue, worm!" flailing his arms around the Mad King yelled. "Lest I remove it." nobody questioned that, remembering how he had the tongue of Ilyn Payne ripped out with hot pincers. "Queen Andromeda is an honoured guest and is to be treated as such!" His big crown made out of red gold made to resemble dragon heads and studded full with jewels slipped as he moved erratically, causing it to sit askew on his head.
Having not expected such a reaction the septon could only nod, holding himself back from spewing all manner of insults. No matter how much he would like to glare at the king that practised incest and was no better than the Lannister girl. "Of course, Your Grace." he turned back to Andromeda, giving her the stink-eye.
Andromeda nodded in thanks to Aerys, basically thanking herself. "As I said we hadn't met Lady Lannister..."
Unwilling to let the demon-like woman be, the septon interrupted strongly and vehemently. "This abomination is no lady!" his words caused the girl in question to flinch s if struck. Her new reality only beginning to sink in.
Suppressing her desire to shut this idiot up, Andromeda continued seemingly not bothered. "Before we came to Harrenhal. Not to mention that she was followed and accompanied by her father's men most of the time,. How could we have made contact without even knowing of her existence?" Noble Ladies of Great Houses nearly always had escorts in form of bodyguards or handmaidens.
The arguing went back and forth, with the septon in denial about any evidence presented. That was until the massive doors of the great hall banged open, revealing Harry's arrival together with the rest of their group. They were striding in through the silence of the Hall of a Hundred Hearths not bothered by the attention on them. Harry cut an intimidating figure even with Hedwig on his shoulders glaring at anyone.
"It seems we missed some of the entertainment." Harry commented casually, his voice echoing through the massive room. He was looking directly at the throng of people and Andromeda in particular. He saw her relax immediately now that she knew she had backup. "If someone would be kind enough to explain why my wife is standing before you like an accused, It'd be appreciated." His unique eyes glowed as he surveyed the room, causing many people to look away.
Rhaegar was the first to do so, not wanting to aggravate the people who were giving him the opportunity to right the wrongs done by his father. "She doesn't stand accused of anything." he said as calmly as he could. With Tywin Lannister, his father and that mad septon here he hoped none of them would do something against the Essosi. "Queen Andromeda simply volunteered to clarify some matters concerning Cersei's conviction."
"What matters?" Fleur inquired, being the one most versed in legal matters out of all of them. She crossed her arms, a look on her face that told she expected a suitable and satisfying answer.
Before anyone could answer one of the septons did so, venom coating his tongue. "How you used some vile sorcery to help this disgusting girl" he waved at Cersei, his hands flailing about in his fury. "seduce her brother." The words were all but spat out in disgust.
Fleur frowned in displeasure, glaring at the religious worm. "I take it you're accusing us of a crime. I hope you have plenty of evidence." that man was either insane or stupid to openly challenge a King and expect them to fall in line by submitting to another's authority. By allowing these people to judge them by trial their group was basically saying others could exert power over them without reprisal. "How about you finish whatever judgement you were about to do and let us discuss our response?" without waiting for a retort Fleur turned around, motioned Andromeda to follow and went outside with the rest.
Rhaegar did his best to sooth tempers and convinced the septon to finish the punishment for Cersei. Luckily, Aerys under Andy's control contributed to that, surprising people that he was apparently acting in such a lucid and kingly fashion for once.
Once outside and far enough away Fleur turned around, looking each of her spouses in the eyes as they stood in a circle. "What happened while we were away?" she asked Andromeda after erecting a silencing barrier around their group.
Andromeda told everything as good as she could. From the moment they heard of the trial to the time where she stayed behind to use Aerys to their advantage, right to where the returned from their expedition.
"Okay, obviously we can't submit to another's authority or it'll diminish our own significantly." Fleur said as all others nodded along. That would be disastrous and send a clear signal of weakness. She noted that Hedwig landed on her shoulder but ignored it for the moment.
Marcella chimed in. "However we also can't let such an insult stand." she was clearly displeased at this whole situation.
"So what do we do about it?" Melisandre wondered out loud. Her favourite response was to let these heretics die a death by fire. Though not by dragonfire, that'd be an honour these barbarians were unworthy of.
"An ordinary trial is out of the question." Andromeda gave her two knuts and added. "Even though I am sure the Stark and Martell families will testify in our favour." After all they did for them it would be a huge insult to not return the favour.
"I already have the prefect solution." Fleur claimed confidently.
"Oh, and what, pray tell, is the prefect solution to this?" Narcissa inquired somewhat pointedly, a perfect eyebrow raised in question on her normally impassive face. She frankly had enough of Westeros as a whole and just wanted to to go back home.
"Easy, as you all know I had a look into the juristic system of Westeros." Fleur began explaining. Everyone nodded, knowing that she looked into that and added Guest Right to their list of laws she found useful. "We simply demand a Trial of Seven, which is done in rare instances, such as when someone is accused by multiple people, like we are now. It is in essence a Trial by combat but has a more religious meaning. The septons believe that by invoking the number seven by letting seven champions fight on each side the gods, thus honoured will be more likely to see justice done." Fleur ignored the scoffs from her fellow sister-wives. "We already have a team of seven and I doubt anybody can challenge us and win."
Kinvara said giddily. "At the same time we also show that their gods are inferior to the might of R'hllor." Both Melisandre and Kinvara grinned in a predatory fashion at each other. More than willing to show the superiority of their faith.
"It's settled then. We fight, maim a few people, win and everyone will stay the fuck a way from us!" Bellatrix declared with her usual zeal. There were only a few things better than exterminating Harry's enemies. But Bella was a simple woman with simple tastes, in her own opinion at least.
All of them nodded to each other until Gabrielle looked around. "What do you say Harry?" further words died in her throat as her look around revealed him missing. "Harry?"
All eight of them looked around, searching for their missing husband. "I see him." Marcella pointed towards the crowd that had formed before the entrance to the Hall of a Hundred Hearths. As a group they didn't even try to penetrate the massive crowd. Instead they simply flew over them towards the king and the group of nobles and septons standing at the entrance, who were protected by the Kingsguard and other household knights. Fleur and Gabrielle carried Melisandre and Kinvara.
They arrive just in time to see the Walk of Atonement begin.
Harry had listened only with half an ear to his wives. His attention was on Cersei, wondering if it was true what she was accused of. He only spent a little amount of time with her and couldn't really judge, though in his mind such a punishment was too rough. Then again he was the only one on this world that grew up in the progressive Muggle World back on earth instead of the Magical World. However, the words the septon spoke made the decision for him. Apparently due to the Faith Militant being non-existent they couldn't provide protection against the mob. And no knight would stand to defend a vile girl guilty of incest.
That alone made the decision for him. His saving-people-thing kicking into high gear as he apparated near to Cersei with a silent popping sound.
"I will accompany her." Harry declared with a voice and eyes as hard as stone, looking at all these supposed knights sworn to protect the innocent and women. His words were drawing all the attention on him. Ignoring them Harry put his left hand on Cersei's right shoulder as he stood beside her, giving Cersei what he hoped was a reassuring squeeze. He couldn't stop this without pissing all over their traditions and power, but he would damn well make sure he did his best to defend Cersei from harm.
Cersei stopped trembling a little at his words. To walk through this mass of filthy commoners completely naked too much to bear, much less think about. She could only nod back in gratitude. She was already missing her golden locks tumbling down her back. These crazed fanatics had quickly shaved her whole body before shoving her out the door.
From then on not much time was wasted to get the punishment started.
"A sinner comes before you." The still unnamed septon cried out to the crowd of people that stretched out as far as the eye could see. "Cersei, formerly of House Lannister. Daughter of the Hand of the King, Tywin Lannister." the crowd roared their approval. Every chance to see a Lannister taken down was a good one in their eyes. Tywin was efficient and good as a politician, but he wasn't beloved in the slightest by the smallfolk. "She is found guilty to have committed the despicable acts of fornication and incest by use of sorcery, forcing her brother to be her lover." Again the common people expressed their disgust. Some did so by booing other by lewd comments.
Just then his wives landed beside him. 'Harry, what are you doing?' all of them asked at once, causing the words echo through their bond with urgency.
'The right thing!' he replied resolutely, his mouth set in a grim line. He knew it may be stupid of him to defend Cersei, but he couldn't ignore that. It was his nature, plain and simple. If it wouldn't be then he certainly wouldn't have had so much patience with them in the beginning of their relationship back on earth.
'Please think before you do anything rash.' Narcissa advised him. She may want to leave Westeros, that didn't mean she wanted to lose to these people. 'Some will see it as an admission of guilt should you protect the girl.' All of her sister-wives echoed that statement.
Before Harry could reply the septon untied the knot at the back Cersei's simple and loose, brown dress off, leaving the girl fully exposed to the cheering masses. A trembling mess, Cersei was forced to walk forward by a septa. A veneer of pride and arrogance as thin as parchment on the girl's face. She looked behind, making sure that Harry was still there. She didn't saw him, but a moment later she felt his presence behind her left shoulder, giving her some small amount of support.
Head held high as possible Cersei walked forward with Harry by her side and that annoying septa crying out. "Shame!" over and over again while ringing a bell.
"Whore!" people shouted out towards the former Lannister. "Bitch!", "Cunt!" and "Brother-fucker." among the many insults thrown her way. Cersei slightly flinched at the words, thinking about how every single of her ladies had abandoned her in her time of need. Not a single one stood up for her at the trial. She even saw some of them in the crowd. Then again neither did her family. Words weren't the only things thrown her way however. Dung, mud, rotten fruits and vegetables flew towards her as well.
"Protego!" Harry muttered, an impressive glare levelled at the crowd. The various objects splattered against his shimmering translucent shield. "Don't worry. I'll protect you." he assured her with a smile and utmost conviction.
Cersei could only nod mutely in gratitude. She looked back and saw only the image of him walking behind her in shining armour, his unique eyes gentle and warm as he smiled reassuringly at her. She drew as much strength from him as she could, but she still was only a teenage girl that had her whole world torn asunder.
Each step felt like she wore shoes of stone despite being completely naked. Her legs trembled as the verbal onslaught continued, realisation creeping upon her that her life in Westeros was effectively over. She wouldn't ever be able to show her face in public. All her power and prestige gone in a single day.
She walked along the muddy path, her naked feet slugging through the dirt. Inadvertently she slipped on the slippery ground, falling directly towards a heaping pile of shit left there by some animal. Her fall was stopped before her body could make contact with the disgusting smelling excrement. "I've got you." she heard King Harry say softly as the crowd booed at being denied some entertainment.
Cersei's eyes watered from more than just the vile smell. Instead of giving into the urge to cry Cersei concentrated on her rage and hate. Instead of the crowd's words she focussed on the bell and how much she wanted to rip it out of that bitch's hands and beat her and every single one of these common pigs bloody with it.
'I am a lioness. I will not cringe or cry for them.' she thought resolutely. Still, she was unable to prevent the tears pooling in her eyes. Blinking rapidly, Cersei unsuccessfully tried to get them out of her eyes without anyone noticing.
Cersei had no idea how long she walked or where she was walking to. She couldn't go back to her family's tent, being cast out by them. Neither die she have a place anywhere else. What was she to do? Walk naked around the countryside? That was a sure-fire way of being raped by some outlaws or bandits and made into their whore afterwards. Turning her head around Cersei stated. "I don't know where to go."
This time she couldn't stop her emotions from overwhelming her, bleeding into her voice which choked up completely. Her despair at being left alone by her family. Her fury at these people delighting in her suffering. Nor the sadness of being homeless could be stopped from breaking free.
Harry saw her tears clearly. It only made him more furious with these people. He had an idea what she did but it wasn't such a huge deal, was it? Deciding that she had walked long enough Harry conjured a silver cloak with a red Phoenix on the back. After draping it over her shoulders he closed the front via a sticking charm. Next he picked her up bridal style, not wanting this whole ordeal to take any longer.
Cersei couldn't hold back any longer, her emotion simply pouring out of her. Sobs racked her smaller frame as she clung to her saviour as tightly as she was able. Her arms were slung around his neck with her face in it's crock as she cried where she hoped no one could see to at least keep some of her pride.
Unwilling to prolong the experience Harry kept his shield up while walking briskly. It didn't take long for him to arrive at the tent, which now was guarded by both Arrax and Meleys. Entering promptly, Harry sat the girl down on a comfortable chair, put a hand on her head and cast the hair-growing spell as well as a cleaning spell. Her flowing golden locks were back in seconds and the mud and dirt on her body vanished. "There is a bed in that room over there for you to rest. Adjacent to it is a bath should you desire to wash yourself." pointing towards the guest room. "I'll be back shortly." with that said he made to leave.
"Wait! Where are you going?" the blonde asked completely terrified. Her slightly tearful eyes darting towards the exit as if expecting an angry mob to enter any moment. She had gotten a hold of her emotions somewhat after crying, but she'd prefer him staying with her.
Harry looked back with a smile, saying loud enough for her to hear. "Don't worry you're safe here. I'm just making sure you get what you deserve."
The former lady couldn't get her response out before Harry vanished from the tent. Left alone she could only ponder his words, wondering if he found her punishment too little. 'Then again he wouldn't have helped me if that is the case.' she thought completely confused. She had nothing to give him, so why would he go to such lengths to help her. Before he could've done so to curry favour with her father or to get something from her. Now that she had no power, gold or anything remotely useful Cersei had no idea why a king would help her.
After commanding the dragons to guard the tent Harry flamed towards where he felt his wives were and arrived a second later.
'I assume you have a plan?' Harry asked through the bond. Without waiting for a reply Harry walked towards the royal family and the septons.
'Yes.' Fleur confirmed and explained it to him as quickly as possible. 'Demand a Trial of Seven. Everything else would give them too much power over us.'
Harry nodded his consent, but also had more on his mind than that. He plucked the information of Cersei's crime out of his wives' minds to not lose too much time. A plan formed in his head with the Dothraki witch he had encountered giving him the best idea for it. He put a Sonorous-charm around the whole group of nobles before he spoke. "I demand a Trial by Seven to emend the injustice that befell Lady Lannister!" he called out clearly, his voice a growl that carried far and wide, silencing the crowd.
The reactions were predictable. A few were baffled while the religious zealots were frothing at the mouth at his daring. "She was declared guilty by a council of faith!" more than one of the fanatics cried out.
"Yes, she was, but you did not have all the evidence." Harry countered with deadly calm, crossing his arms and glaring at them. "I know for a fact that magic was indeed part of the whole mess." he began explaining. "However neither Cersei nor my wives or I were responsible for it." he looked Tywin Lannister directly in the eyes. "It was a witch named Maggy the Frog who lived near Lannisport that cursed your daughter. Apparently Cersei went to her in her youth, wanting to have her future told and unknowingly gave the witch the tools to manipulate her and through that her twin as well."
"Why should we believe you?" another septon demanded, just so swallowing the insults wanting to come out. He remembered the king's wrath better than the others and did not take his threats lightly. "You asked us for evidence so where is your own?"
"I have only my word and the knowledge that I speak true, for I already slew the witch." Harry replied with some heat, but utterly confident in his ability to come out on top. "That's why we will let the gods decide." His eyes settled on the septons. "When justice is on your side like you think it is then nothing will change, will it?" he cast a subtle compulsion on the septon with the most hate in his eyes to get him to agree.
"Fine!" his target snarled out. "Seven against seven." a malicious and mad glint entered the man's eyes. "However, if you're unable to find six men to stand with you, you're guilty!" Such were the rules of the Trial of Seven. Should a man be unable to find people to stand with him he was automatically guilty.
Despite his anger bubbling under the surface Harry replied with some confusion. "I already have a team, do I not?" not really comprehending what the man was getting at.
"It means women are not allowed to fight!" another septon supplied with a glare in his direction. "True Knights, unlike the dishonourable rabble you fought before, do not fight against women because it is unchivalrously. You have to find six men to fight for you!"
Annoyed at that, Harry ground out. "Fine!" his eyes were glowing with an eldritch green light. "Then how about seven teams of seven against myself. I am not a member of your Faith of the Seven and will instead fight as the Champion of R'hllor!" In his anger he added. "Why don't we simply modify the melee to suit our needs? Simply select seven teams from before to fight, provided they aren't cowards!" the last words were snarled out. He had thought better of knights. But here they were not lifting a finger to help a vulnerable girl in need.
Due to the Sonorous the knights heard it all and bristled in anger.
Only then did someone else speak up. "If that is the case then the North won't participate in the trial." Brandon called out, with Benjen, Lyanna and Ned at his side. He had heard of the healing of Wylis through his sister and was grateful. That together with Harry helping bring justice to Lord Bolton, healing Jorah's wife and supporting the Night's Watch was enough to paint him in a favourable light for Northerners. It'd be dishonourable of Brandon to fight against such a man. Not to mention that the North wasn't really into the Faith of the Seven. Also Lyanna would cut his balls of should he do so.
Another voice echoed that sentiment. "Dorne won't fight either, if that is the case!" Oberyn said clearly, his typical grin absent. Replaced by a serious expression. He would never fight against the ones responsible for healing Elia without an extremely good reason. A reason he did not have.
With Dorne and the North out that left seven teams. Namely, the Reach, Westerlands, Crownlands, Riverlands, Iron Islands, Stormlands and the Vale of Arryn.
"Then it's decided!" Harry declared. "I'll wait for you on the grounds used for the melee!" with that said he marched off, followed by his wives.
"That's not really what I had in mind." Fleur commented drily as their group walked to the melee grounds. She was more amused by the situation than enraged. After all, Harry could easily win such a fight on his own.
A scoff drew their attention to the oldest red priestess among them. "Showing these heathens the inferiority of their faith was long overdue." Melisandre commented, glad that Harry would show these people what a Champion of R'hllor was capable of. Kinvara was nodding her agreement together with Bellatrix.
"Why did you speak up on behalf of that girl?" Marcella inquired curiously. She was over her fear of losing Harry to younger women, mostly. That didn't mean she would let them simply intrude.
"The outcome would've been largely the same one way or the other." Harry walked with long strides, his anger slowly subsiding but not vanishing. Instead it stayed lurking under the surface. "So I decided to use the opportunity. When I win we will look like defenders of justice and the innocent, while they will look like crazed fanatics judging people without knowing what they are talking about."
"Nice try, Harry." Narcissa conceded with what counted as an impressed expression for her. His reasoning was solid and would she not know him as good as she did, she would've believe him. "But I know that isn't your true reason." she looked him in the eyes, demanding to know the truth.
He send her rueful grin, causing her heart to flutter. Damn him and his smiles. They should be illegal for their lethality.
"True enough." he sighed "You know me. I couldn't stand to see someone be in such a situation. When I prove her and our innocence then she will be allowed back into her family."
His wives wanted to say that it wasn't that easy, but no one spoke it out loud. He had to fight one way or the other when they wanted to keep any amount of respect. Fleeing would see them labelled as cowards, something they weren't. That left only fighting. Now it was all or nothing.
The group arrived at the arena in silence. Andromeda conjured a rectangular table with a chair at the head of it for Harry to sit down on. Two benches followed suit at the sides.
Narcissa popped away and returned shortly with a vial of golden liquid and a carafe full of red wine and nine glasses. Pouring each a glass the youngest Black sister also put the golden liquid in Harry's glass. "Drink, it'll improve your chance of winning." just because she was sure Harry would win didn't mean she was going to take unnecessary risks.
"What is it?" Harry drank a sip from his glass, enjoying the flavour. Normally he didn't drink wine, preferring water or other non-alcoholic beverages, but this didn't taste like alcohol. Instead, sweetness assaulted his taste-buds in a delicious symphony of taste.
"You remember the warlocks and their Shade of the Evening?" upon his nod she continued. "I experimented with the recipe a little and was able to create new potions out of it." she held up the empty vial. "I call this Shade of the Dawn, because it grants the drinker precognitive abilities for up to an hour." She named it that way because the dawn banished the shadows, leaving little uncovered. Just like the drinker was able to see the immediate future. The main ingredients were the pustule from a Clabbert, brain of a Demiguise and wings from a Fairy. All things associated with precognitive abilities.
"Oh, useful." he took another gulp from the sweet drink, smiling at her. "And palatable." most potions tasted disgusting, though Narcissa seemed to have a knack for letting them taste good. Harry could never get his own to do that. His tasted more like rancid and rotten food. "No Liquid Luck then?" he asked with a grin.
Narcissa deadpanned. "Had I known this would happen I would've come more prepared." she took a sip of her wine. She wasn't worried, even when Harry should lose. They would simply fight their way out and be done with it, showing all why fucking with them was a stupid idea of unprecedented proportions.
Quiet returned again as they waited for the whole trial to start. It took a bit for the stands to fill and the forty-nine fighters to arrive.
During the waiting Harry slipped into a trance with the help of Occlumency, wanting to achieve a Battle-Trance. It was similar to the spell he had used during the Siege of Atlantis. Only that it did not require a sacrifice of any sort, neither did it cause him pain of any kind like the spell would do normally.
To relax him Bellatrix took it upon herself to massage his shoulders, making him limber. Not wasting time Kinvara did the same with his hands and wrists.
Soon enough all of them were assembled with the septons in front of them.
A trumpet could be heard from the stands, signalling the start of the whole ordeal.
"In the sights of gods and men." one of the septons began. "We gathered to ascertain the guilt or innocence of Cersei, formerly of House Lannister and these... people, the House Black." it clearly cost him much willpower to not fall back on insults during the ceremony. From then on he droned on about the seven aspects of their god, pleading for their judgement and so on and so forth. The forty-nine knights looked pretty confident in their win. In their eyes Harry may be a good fighter, but they had numbers and good fighters!
Of course, Kinvara couldn't resist to make her own show. After all, she was the representative of the Faith of R'hllor. She walked side by side with Harry and Melisandre walking in front of the crowd. Spreading her arms in a dramatic fashion, she declared. "Lord of Light, look down upon us."
"Lord of Light, defend us." Melisandre took over before letting Kinvara continue.
"Lord of Light, protect us in the darkness." Kinvara intoned. On it went as they spoke in tandem.
"Lord of Light, shine your face upon us."
"Light your flame among us, R'hllor. Show us the truth or falseness of these men. Strike them down if they are guilty, and give strength to your Champion's sword for he is true. Lord of Light, give us wisdom."
Both ended praying with the typical phrase. "For the night is dark and full of terrors!"
Before going back up to the stands Kinvara kissed him passionately on the lips, conveying that she had full trust in his strength and ability. The older priestess followed shortly after. "Show them the error of their ways."
Used to that by now the last Potter nodded and said with confidence. "I will!" then he went to the weapons rack to pick up a dagger. He knew how to wield it, having trained Bellatrix in its usage. He turned and faced his enemies after applying a Sonorous-charm on the arena. Seeing that his wives had vanished the furniture and vacated the arena, Harry was ready. He was sure this was going down in the history books. A trial by combat with two different Faiths on each side. Apart from deciding guilt or innocence the outcome would determine which god was the strongest in many people's eyes.
Harry saw a few familiar faces amongst his opponents. There was the entire Kingsguard for one, as well as a few people he saw during the melee. The males of the Baratheon family and a few more amongst them, even Prince Rhaegar was under them.
'A good choice.' Harry found, no feelings lost between him and the prince.
The prince didn't want to be seen not defending his country's faith. The royal title Defender of the Faith wasn't just for show. Since Jaehaerys I Targaryen negotiated that the Crown would always defend and protect the Faith in exchange for being able to judge members of the Faith. It was Rhaegar's duty to fight Harry or lose a massive amount of support.
Seeing only the dagger in Harry's hand, a fourteen year old, blonde, pretty-boy called out cockily. "What kind of fight will it be, with you only using cutlery?" few of the other knights were as young and impulsive as he was. Two at the blonde's side were snickering, but the rest was stone-faced silence.
Completely relaxed and still in his trance, Harry replied. "I'm no beast that goes all out when hunting rabbits." he shrugged in an apologetic manner, spreading his arms out wide in open invitation. With no defence raised or guard up he was an easy target. "Unfortunately, I couldn't find a smaller sharp instrument than this one." Harry put on a mock-sorrowful expression with his eyebrows knitted in apparent concern for them. Everyone who previously saw him fight knew he could do so, making this an insult meant to mock them by insinuating he could indeed beat them with cutlery.
Hot-headed as he was Marq Piper attacked a moment later together with his two friends, Edmure Tully and Patrek Mallister.
Harry knew what they were doing before they did, his eyes glowing with a soft green light as his precognitive ability from the potion kicked in. That combined with his battle-trance, which allowed him to perceive the world in slow-motion, allowed him to be basically untouchable for their durations.
With that the Trial by Combat began.