(Oberyn's Camp)
It was the dead of night when Oberyn and Aegon walked through the camp with only their weapons and a knapsack full of their personal belongings. Oberyn had ordered the boat to be prepared ahead of time and in secret, he trusted his daughters with the task so he knew that it would get done.
"Uncle, are you sure that we should leave without saying anything?" Aegon asked as they snuck through their camp.
Oberyn nodded "No one can know where we are going, if something has happened in Sunspear then it would be unwise to let them know we are coming." He explained, Aegon nodded in understanding as he adjusted his sword belt.
*Clang*
Oberyn grabbed Aegon and dragged him behind a tent, he looked around the side to see who was approaching but he saw nothing. For a moment he waited just to make sure that there was no one there, however as he inspected his surroundings his gaze was drawn to a glint that was moving across the ground, squinting his eyes he saw what looked to be a rat with something metal in its mouth.
Oberyn breathed a sigh of relief, while it was likely one of his men would be wandering around he didn't want to take the chance that 'Rhaenys' caught both of them trying to leave. The fear of them being caught made him chuckle to himself, that the Red Viper of Dorne would be scared of a mere child but he couldn't control the shiver that ran down his spine every time she looked at him, it wasn't logical or fact-based but he believed that if she caught them two trying to leave tonight then something bad may happen.
"Let us go." He whispered before they emerged from behind the tent and continued on their journey towards the bay, their ship would take them along the Sea of Dorne where they would go into the Narrow Sea and straight to the port of Sunspear. Oberyn would find out what has happened to his brother, he just hopes that he's not too late.
"Uncle I do not feel it is right for me to leave Rhaenys while she is pregnant with my child, I should at least let her know that I am leaving," Aegon whispered to Oberyn as they walked side by side.
Oberyn turned to Aegon and grabbed him by the shoulder losing his patience "Think about something else other than a wet hole for you to put your cock in!" He whispered back loudly "My brother is in danger, Rhaenys has the protection of the Golden Company, we do not need more people knowing we are travelling once more than five people know it may as well no longer be a secret." He said chidingly to Aegon.
While Aegon looked to have taken Oberyn's words on board he spotted a look of guilt on his face, Oberyn grabbed him by his collar "What did you do!" He said no longer bothering to whisper. The look of guilt on Aegon's face intensified making Oberyn even more concerned "What did you do Aegon!!!" He shouted again.
"I-I left a letter for R-Rhaenys, telling her we would be leaving." He stuttered out as he looked at the panicked expression on his uncle's face.
"Did you tell her where we are going..." Oberyn asked.
"Why what-"
"Did you tell her where we were going!" He shouted
"No! I just said we would be undertaking a secret task and that I must go with you." He said.
Oberyn breathed a sigh of relief but he was still concerned as at any moment 'Rhaenys' could see and read the letter, and they were not yet on the ship. He let go of Aegon and pushed him in front of him "Let's go." He said coldly before they continued.
However something seemed to change in the atmosphere, the sounds of insects and animals ceased, and the sounds of men who were still awake and talking ceased. Oberyn felt a chill run up his spine, he looked around and saw the torches go out from where they had just come. Oberyn had never run from anything in his life, not from lords or knights but then again he had never seen or felt anything like this before.
"Run!" He said to Aegon before grabbing his arm and dragging him along as torches started to blow out one by one. This was ridiculous, he was the leader of this army and yet he was running out of his camp like a scared little girl, though he rationalised it by reasoning that he couldn't confront 'Rhaenys' right now she had too great a hold on Aegon and Dorne needed the Golden Company. However nothing was stopping her from getting rid of Oberyn, it was only Oberyn's feigned ignorance of 'Rhaenys' that kept him safe from her, however, that protection was lost the moment she laid eyes on the letter.
Oberyn breathed heavily as he ran to the ship hoping it would be a haven "Uncle why are we running!" Aegon shouted as he was being dragged along by Oberyn 'This boy is a simpleton.' He thought to himself as he dragged him along.
They left the camp and jumped onto the beach where the rowboat was on the sand "Push!" Oberyn commanded Aegon. The boy didn't know what was going on but he could feel something wasn't right, he did as his uncle commanded him and pushed the rowboat towards the water. Oberyn looked behind him and saw... nothing, it was as if the world ended behind him this wasn't darkness but... nothing "Hurry!" He shouted as he strained his muscles pushing the boat as fast as he could.
They got the boat to the water and Oberyn grabbed Aegon by the collar and pushed him into the boat as he kept on pushing. When Oberyn looked behind him again, the nothing was right behind him only now he could see 'Rhaenys' emerge from the nothing with a smile on her face "Where are you going uncle..." she said in a voice that seemed distorted and wrong to Oberyns ears.
*CAW*
A hawk flew down and attacked 'Rhaenys' scraping its talons along her face, it didn't distract her for a long hit it was long enough for Oberyn to get on the boat and start rowing "Uncle what are you doing? We can't just-"
*Thunk*
Before Aegon could finish Oberyn punched him in the face knocking him out cold. Oberyn looked back to shore to see 'Rhaenys' looking at him the eery smile still on her face 'What in seven hells is she.' He thought to himself as he went back to rowing towards the ship.
Once Oberyn got to the ship he had ready in the bay he dragged Aegon up and threw him on the deck while still keeping an eye over his shoulder. 'Rhaenys' was still at the shore watching them but had made no move to follow, hopefully, it would stay that way.
The ship that had been supplied for Oberyn to take to Sunspear was a small and fast caravel belonging to a local lord who used it for pleasure cruises. Oberyn chose this as it meant he could handle sailing it by himself or with the help of Aegon.
Oberyn knew that the ship was meant to be empty, so it was both curious and concerning that there was a trail of water leading from the edge of the ship to the cabin. Unholstering his spear from his back Oberyn carefully walked to the door that led to the captain's cabin and with the tip of his spear he pushed it open.
Oberyn didn't expect what he saw next, sitting down next to a candle was the soaking-wet form of someone who shouldn't have been there.
"Prince Oberyn."
"Lord Stark."
———————————————————-
(Skyreach)
"I say you have healed remarkably well my Lord, in a few weeks I'd say you might make a full recovery." The Maester said as he inspected Robb's body, his legs had been getting much better recently and he found it easier to breathe. This was all the confirmation he needed that the girls had been dosing him with something that made him weak. Since he found out the truth he'd made sure to remain alert and had been successful in tricking the girls into thinking he'd been eating everything they gave him.
"Can I start training with the sword again?" He asked, the Maester just sighed and shook his head in disapproval "There should be no further concern that you may hurt yourself further, though I would recommend you do not spar with anyone as we wouldn't want to get any new injuries would we." The Maester replied.
Robb saw this as his chance and enacted his plan "Maester I've been having trouble getting to sleep as of late I was hoping you had a sleeping tonic in your stores." He asked while trying to hide his nervousness.
The maester looked at him for a moment and frowned, his grey bushy eyebrows lowered to his eyes. For a moment Robb thought that the Maester had caught onto him but then the Maester's expression returned to normal and he just sighed again "My Lord you really should've informed me if you were experiencing such sleeplessness, especially after such severe injuries." He said as he grabbed Robb by the chin and gently pulled it down so he could inspect his head. He then walked over to his cabinet and pulled out a small blue vial "Add three drops to a drink before you sleep and you should fall into a dreamless sleep." The maester instructed as he went to hand the vial to Robb.
However, before Robb could take it the Maester pulled back "No more than three drops my Lord as any more could have some very severe side effects." He warned before handing it to Robb.
"Of course, thank you Maester," Robb said as he got up from the chair he was in. He was still a bit stiff but his legs had mostly recovered, however, his breathing hadn't improved much though that was to be expected with the large dent in his chest. He walked out of the Maesters solar and headed toward the courtyard, he needed to get back into shape as he'd spent such a long time lazing around and eating.
He hoped now that he was off whatever they were giving him that his memories would start to return, but he hadn't had much luck with that as of late. Though there were a few things that had been happening as of late that were quite strange, while what he said to the Maester was a lie it wasn't a complete lie.
At night he'd been having strange dreams that left him feeling restless when he woke up. He dreamt he was able to fly and he was looking down on Skyreach from below, he also dreamt that he was many times smaller than he was now and he wandered around the castle slipping through holes and cracks. It was all quite strange but he didn't place much meaning behind it, they were just dreams after all.
"Oh look who it is sister."
"Can it be?"
"I believe so."
"But Robb Stark died how else could you explain his lack of attention to both of us."
"You're right sister, perhaps a ghostly spectre of him haunts the castle."
Robb laughed nervously as his way was now blocked by Jennelyn and Jeyne Fowler "I saw you just this morning." Robb said trying to placate them.
Jeyne stepped forward with her eyebrows scrunched together "You know it's considered poor manners to release your seed inside of someone and leave." She said as she crossed her arms pushing out her breasts.
"Without even so much as a goodbye kiss," Jennelyn said while shaking her head.
"And I thought we'd managed to snag an honourable man who'd be able to handle us both," Jeyne said with a sigh.
Robb raised his hands trying to calm down the situation "Girls I promise I will make it up to you, however, you want." He told them though the smile that appeared on their faces did make him shiver slightly.
"However."
"We"
"Want/Want?"
"Very well you Northern Brute, we shall devise the perfect way for you to make it up to us," Jeyne said with a grin before she and Jennelyn walked past Robb and further into the keep. Robb couldn't wait any longer, he had to leave and he would do it tonight.
———————————————————
Robb slipped out of the bed he shared with Jennelyn and Jeyne, however as he did he accidentally knocked one of their legs. He cursed as he looked to see if he'd woken her up luckily he didn't 'Seems the sleep tonic the Maester gave me works well.' He thought to himself as he started to put on his clothing. He'd given each of the girls four drops of the tonic just in case, considering what they'd done to him he didn't much care if they suffered any ill side effects.
Robb then got down on his hands and knees and grabbed a knapsack and sword from under the bed, he'd stashed these beforehand so he could get out of here straight away, though he'd need to steal a horse unless he wanted to walk across the desert.
Robb attached the sword to his belt and carefully walked towards the door still paranoid that the girls might wake up. He opened the door and slipped out of the room into the empty castle corridors, and he silently walked towards the courtyard where the stables were.
As he walked he couldn't help but feel a slightly eery atmosphere surround him but regardless he continued, he made sure to check around each corner to see if there were any guards, servants or worse one of those Dark Priests. However, it seemed Robb's luck wouldn't last forever as the next corner he turned two of the priests were merely a few feet away from him.
"Hells!" Robb shouted before turning on his feet and running back the way he came, he looked over his shoulder while he ran only to see that the priests were not chasing him. However that didn't give him much relief and he still kept running, however, at the next corner he took another priest who was converging on him, he backed up as one tried to grab him and then he drew his sword out and cut off the hand that tried to touch him before slashing the priest from shoulder to hip.
Robb thought that was the end of it however the priest kept moving and took advantage of Robb's shock grabbing him with his remaining hand. Robb tried to pull away but the priest was a lot stronger than he looked, almost inhumanly strong, which was shown even more when he pulled Robb towards him which sent him flying down the corridor his sword clattering along the ground.
Robb felt his chest tighten and his breath start to shorten as he struggled to breathe properly, however, he pushed himself off the ground grabbing his sword as he did and continued running. He struggled to breathe as he ran down the corridor, he came to another turn only to discover it crawling with the same black-robed priests all walking toward him. He was trapped, he had nowhere to go and he was surrounded by the priests who were converging on him.
Robb held his sword up, he wouldn't go out like a coward and he'd kill as many of them as he could before he took them down. The closest one to him was the one he'd already slashed, as he got close Robb raised his sword to attack him but the priest surprised him by lunging at the last minute. He grabbed Robb by the arm completely overpowering him and stopping his attack dead, Robb struggled in his grasp by grabbing him and trying to push him away while walking backwards.
However, due to the situation he was in Robb wasn't aware of the fact that he was headed right to a large window, at least not until he fell out of it while still grappling with the priest "AHHH." He screamed as he fell but it seemed luck had not fully abandoned him yet as in the air while the priest and Robb were still grappling he managed to get the priest under him meaning they when they hit the ground the priest broke his fall.
*cough*
*cough*
Robb threw up on the ground as the fall had made his ability to breathe even worse, he rolled off the priest as he pushed himself back to the feet. However he almost screamed like a lady when the priest grabbed his ankle, Robb stomped on his head repeatedly and yet the priest's grip didn't loosen "Let go!" He shouted as he grabbed his sword and sliced the handoff.
"What is this..." Robb said as he backed up away from the priest. This was impossible, he had cut off both of the priest's hands, carved him from shoulder to hip and he'd fallen from a great height and he still gets up as if it never happened.
"Robb Stark."
Robb turned to see a Priest walking out of the castle with Lord Fowler next to him. Only this Priest was different, his hood was down but his eyes looked unnatural as if they were the sky on a moonless night "You have a gift Robb Stark." The Priest said to him.
"Stay with us and realise your full-."
Robb turned around and ran towards the stables, he wasn't foolish enough to let the man finish his sentence "Bring him to me, as long as he's breathing it doesn't matter what condition." He said casually as Robb grabbed a horse from the stables and mounted it before galloping out of the courtyard and into the night.
———————————————————-
(Narrow Sea)
(A Week Later)
Daeron clashed swords with his uncle before pushing him back and kicking him in the chest making him fall to the deck of the ship "You're doing better uncle but do not be afraid to use more than just your sword in a fight, sometimes it'll mean the difference between life and death." He explained as he offered his uncle his hand.
His uncle took the offered hand and Daeron pulled him up "Thank you Daeron." Viserys breathed out as he walked over to the edge of the ship and leaned against it.
Daenerys walked over to them with two cups of water and gave them to them both "You're improving brother, you lasted a minute this time." She said enthusiastically but somehow that didn't make Viserys feel better as he laughed self-depreciatingly.
Daeron smiled before walking up the stairs to the wheel of the ship where Arthur stood "How long until we reach Volantis?" He asked.
"Not much longer I imagine," Arthur replied. For a moment they stood in silence until Arthur turned to him "Daeron what will we do once we reach Volantis." He asked.
Daeron looked at him cooly "The plan stays the same, we resupply and then travel overland towards Valyria, though you'll only join me for part of the journey, I can't risk all of your lives for something that isn't certain." He explained.
"But you find it agreeable to risk your own life?" Arthur asked rhetorically.
"If I was born to be King then I'll make it back and if I wasn't then you already have another King right over there," Daeron said gesturing towards Viserys who was talking to Daenerys.
Before Arthur could reply Daeron interrupted him "It will be fine Arthur, I can feel it in my gut that I will be able to travel Valyria and survive... but I cannot make the same guarantee for any of you." He said bluntly.
"Just be careful Daeron, in the hundreds of years since the doom no one who has ever gone to Valyria has ever returned," Arthur stated.
Daeron smiled "There is always a first Arthur."
(AN: Ughhhhhhhhhhhhh I hate these chapters, but i have to set up the rest of the Arcs, writing four separate storylines at once is kinda hard to do, but it will be important for later arcs especially during the Long Night as it won't be happening in just Westeros this time.)
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