Robb breathed heavily as he kicked his feet into his horse, he'd been riding hard for nearly a day and yet it didn't feel like he was far enough yet. His heartbeat felt in sync with the galloping of the horse as it beat out of his chest, as he looked back every shadow he saw seemed to move and follow him only inflaming his paranoia even further. His hands were sweaty and it felt like he might lose grip on the reins altogether, his whole body ached from riding for such a long period of time while having only barely recovered from his previous injuries.
But he rode on, he did not know what those dark priests would do to him if they managed to catch him and so he road across the rocky desert landscape, but he could feel his horse start to slow and whine, he knew it wouldn't be much longer until it gave out and either kicked him off or collapsed 'Just a little longer...' he thought to himself as he rode down the princes pass towards the reach, he'd considered going through Dorne and taking a ship which would admittedly be much quickly but navigating the desert would be dangerous for someone like him who wasn't used to such conditions, it was safer to head back north through the reach where fresh water and food wouldn't be hard to find.
Robb looked down as his horse started to whine, if he wanted to keep this horse alive he'd have to stop but right now he was in the open and had no place to take cover. However the decision was taken out of his hands as his horse tripped over something and he was sent flying over the horse and crashing into the ground, he rolled over the rocks cutting himself on a few sharpened ones and then hitting his head on a large rock passing out. Luckily his horse landed in a different direction from him otherwise he'd be crushed underneath the large animal.
Robb lay there for a few minutes unmoving before he gasped and regained consciousness. The first thing that hit him was the awful smell that stung his nostrils, it was foul and putrid and it was as if he was lying right on a rotting body.
As his eyes adjusted to the dark he looked down and saw a half-decomposed face with a rat crawling out of its mouth "Hells!" Robb shouted as he pushed himself off the corpses only to fall into another one. As he looked around he realised he was surrounded by dead bodies going on for what seemed like miles, he quickly realised he was on a battlefield.
His head started to pound as he looked around at all the dead bodies, he screamed as he grabbed his head in pain. But it got worse as he looked over to a certain group of men who wore the sigil of House Stark, the pain became so great as flashes of memories started to appear in his mind, it was as if months of memories flashed in his mind in only a few moments, it became so much that he found himself losing consciousness again.
"Jon..."
Those were the last words that came out of Robb's mouth before he fell to the ground and passed out once more.
...
When Robb awoke he was no longer on the ground but in the skies, he didn't know how long he was awake but it must've been a while as the sun had not yet risen and it was only starting to lighten.
'I must still be dreaming.' Robb thought to himself as he realised that he wasn't himself... but a bird of some kind, his vision was incredible he could see for miles in such clear detail. He no longer had arms but instead, wings that he spread wide as they cut through the air, he felt free for the first time in such a long time. Though it was bittersweet as he knew that all good dreams would end and he'd be back to...
The memories that had caused him to pass out had finally hit him and he finally remembered the situation he was currently in 'I need to wake up!' He thought to himself in a panic.
However his newly enhanced vision spotted something down below, Robb couldn't contain his shock as he saw himself lying on the ground with white eyes, though what was worse was that less than a mile away from him was a group of soldiers riding on horses being lead by a dark priest.
'I need to wake up!'
'I need to hide!'
'WAKE UP!'
Robb's vision darkened before it lit up again, he looked down and realised he was awake 'If that was wasn't a dream... what was it.' He thought to himself as he pushed himself up on his arms and tried to spy on the people he saw from above but he no longer had the enhanced vision he had in his 'dream'.
However, he wouldn't take any chances so he did something that made him gag and he rolled onto his back and dragged the corpse of a man on top of his body hoping that if his dream wasn't a dream then he'd be hidden.
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(Oberyn's Ship)
Oberyn clenched his hands around the handle of his spear as he eyed the Northern Lord in front of him "You seem to have gotten lost Lord Stark, I remember your quarters being a lot more confined." He said as he kept an eye out for any sudden movements, while he may look unarmed he managed to get out of his prison somehow so Oberyn would not take any chances.
"I have not come to fight..." Ned said in a tired voice as he leaned back in his seat water still dripping from his body.
"I'm sure you can see how I'd find that hard to believe, tell me why you have come here and how you escaped your cage," Oberyn asked though it was more like a command.
"I escaped the same way I helped you escape from that creature you keep in your camp," Ned replied.
Oberyn didn't understand what he meant. "The Hawk." Ned added which jogged Oberyn's memory though it also caused him to snicker as he held his spear forward "Do not lie to me, Lord Stark." He warned.
Ned shook his head "Those with Stark blood are sometimes gifted with the ability to skin change, it is how I escaped my cell." He explained bluntly. While his words seemed fantastical and false, as of late Oberyn had seen much more unbelievable things than this, there was also the look on Ned's face that made Oberyn believe him. It was the look of a defeated and tired man who had nothing left "Why have you come here Lord Stark and why did you help me?" Oberyn asked again.
Lord Stark who had been gazing at the floor till now looked up at Oberyn, the Dornish Prince could see a cold fury in his grey eyes that could freeze a man solid "I escaped for two reasons, the first was to get away from that woman." He stated.
"And the second?" Asked Oberyn.
"To kill the King."
———————————————————
(Volantis)
Daeron stood at the bow of the ship with Viserys and Daenerys as they looked out upon the ancient city of Volantis, the first daughter of Valyria it truly was a splendid city "It's been so long since I've been here." She said wistfully as her gaze drifted to the large wall that stood prominent in the eastern district of Volantis "Indeed, we were lucky the Old Bloods were kind enough to take care of us for a while, I will have to see if we can somehow repay them for what they did for us." Viserys said as he leaned against the front of the ship.
"That may not be possible..." Daeron said as he smiled sheepishly at his Aunt and Uncle.
They both frowned "Why not Daeron? It would be the polite thing to do." Daenerys replied.
Daeron just looked at them as he laughed nervously.
*****************************
"And don't think I haven't forgotten about you" Jon yells up to the image of a red dragon the size of a large dog carrying a sack that's currently overflowing with gold.
'What did I do!!!' Shiera says to him through their link.
"You stole a bag of gold straight out of the merchant's carriage!!!" Jon shouted as he hopped over another building taking his knife out, he heard the whistling through the air and he turned and slashed the crossbow belt before it could hit him in the chest.
'Oh come on that guy recognised Arthur it was already over' Shiera says casually.
"They were about to let us go!" Jon shouts back.
"Until a winged creature landed on their cart and stole their gold" he continues.
'Well... I'll make sure to buy you something nice' Shiera replies.
*******************************
"We should just try and stay out of the eastern district," Daeron replied before walking away from the duo to the stern of the ship, he walked past the guards and the servants from the ship as they ran around preparing to dock. At the wheel of the ship was Arthur who was currently speaking with Rhaella, they seemed to be joking about something as they were both laughing which made Daeron raise an eyebrow at the two as he climbed the steps to the upper deck.
"Is something amusing?" He asked as he joined the two of them.
Both Arthur and Rhaella looked to Daeron slightly embarrassed but they quickly regained their composure "I was just informing Rhaella of the last time that we came to Volantis." He said with a slightly nervous smile.
"Is that right..." Daeron said with narrowed eyes.
"Indeed and might I say you're very lucky to have had such a dedicated Kingsguard to save you from such a terrible situation," Rhaella said as she placed her hand upon Arthur's arm.
"You know my memory of the event is hazy, why do you not tell me what happened Grandmother," Daeron asked though he didn't take his eyes off Arthur.
Rhaella not catching onto the intense atmosphere smiled "Of course Daeron, from what Arthur told me it all started when-"
*****************************
"PLEASE HELP ME," Daeron screamed as he ran down the street with a large number of Volantine guards running after him as he'd managed to anger a rich merchant lord.
Arthur stood on a building looking below, he knew he would be recognised by the people here as he had quite the reputation both as the Sword of the Morning and a pit fighter, so there was no way he'd risk anything by trying to negotiate with merchants in person...
Arthur jumped off the side of the building and stabbed Dawn into the side slowing his descent before hopping onto the road below "Arthur I'm so glad you're here, look at what I've done, I've messed up so badly, they're all chasing us because of me!" Daeron said in a panic.
"Do not worry your grace, your Kingsguard has come to protect you," Arthur said gallantly as he flourished Dawn and faced down the nearly hundred guards that came rushing to capture Daeron.
******************************
"...." Daeron looked at Arthur with a raised eyebrow while the man refused to make eye contact with Daeron.
"Yes... whatever would I do without my loyal Kingsguard..." Daeron said in an emotionless tone.
However Daeron chose to let it go as there were more important things to consider at the moment "Once we get to Volantis we will need to find a workshop, we will need two large wheelhouses one for us and the other for the guards and servants, get a small cart for any supplies." Daeron instructed.
"Pay extra to have the wheelhouses reinforced and even offer to hire any of the workers at double the rate," Daeron continued.
Arthur rolled his eyes "Yes yes Daeron I know what I need to do." He said.
"I'm serious Arthur I want the wheelhouses to be like moving castles, we have no idea how dangerous the road to Valyria will be." He warned.
"I wish you'd reconsider Daeron, to go to such a dangerous place surely there is another way?" Rhaella asked but Daeron shook his head, if there was another way to reawaken his magic then he didn't know of it so all he could do was follow Nissa's advice.
"I wish there was a Grandmother but I don't have time to discover one, Rhaenys and the rest of our family are waiting for us." He told her.
"Where will you be going while I get the wheelhouses?" Arthur asked.
"Buying supplies for the journey, it'll be easier to go alone and pay extra for the delivery, hopefully, we will leave just before sunset," Daeron explained.
Arthur nodded "Take a few guards with you." He told him.
Daeron chucked "I don't need guards, keep them with the family they'll be of more use there." He replied however both Rhaella and Arthur gave him a look of displeasure.
"Daeron... you will take a few guards," Rhaella said sternly.
Daeron could see the look of worry Rhaella had on her face, most likely inflamed by the story that Arthur had just told her. He sighed "Alright Grandmother I'll take two guards." He said, the smile on his face told him that he'd appeased her and so he turned and made his way back down to the bottom deck to prepare for docking.
———————————————————-
Daeron was walking on the Long Bridge of Volantis with two guards at his back, he was just coming back from the eastern district of Volantis where all those who had enough gold lived. The reason he had to go there in the first place was because the food suppliers in the western district could not handle supplying the food he wanted in the quantities he needed, they would be travelling a fair distance after all and wouldn't know when they will have a chance to resupply. After asking around he was told that the Western District has food suppliers who deal with large enough amounts of food that they could easily supply Daeron for his journey. He also managed to get a good deal as well as he had such beautiful Valyrian features or so the shopkeeper told him.
"Keep an eye out I'm not sure if we will have any problems." He told the two guards behind him.
"Yes, My Lord." They both said as they tightened their hands on their spears.
Daeron also palmed his sword as he pushed past the crowds of people on the bridge, he didn't know why but he had a pit in his stomach that wouldn't go away and it did nothing more but inflame his already heightened paranoia.
Daeron and his guards had made it halfway through the bridge before he found himself being grabbed by someone, he took his hands off his sword and grabbed his dagger before unsheathing it and holding it up against the culprit.
"Apologies my friend." The man said in Valyrian.
The man was a shopkeeper though looking at his stand he didn't sell just one thing, on his stand were necklaces and daggers and even some baked goods "What do you want?" Daeron asked bluntly.
"I simply wish to show you my goods, I'm sure a man such as yourself has coin to spend on my wares." He said in a slimy voice as he gestured to his table.
Daeron barely needed to look at the table to see that most of it was trash though his eyes were drawn to an old book on one of the shelves, the front was tattered but he could recognise the symbol of Rhoynar which was a woman with two animals beneath her, though only the old man of the river was visible "How much for the book?" He asked with feigned disinterest.
The shopkeeper held up five fingers on his hand so Daeron took five gold out and handed it to him before putting the book in his satchel however before he went to leave the man grabbed him again "Are you sure you do not need anything else." The man said eager to get some more money out of Daeron.
"What about this." The man said as he held up a golden goblet that was polished to a remarkable shine. Daeron just rolled his eyes as he looked at the goblet though his eyes widened as he did and he quickly dove out of the way of a spear that was about to pierce his heart through his back.
Standing up Daeron was shocked as the man who had attacked him was none other than one of the guards he'd come with "Are you mad!" Daeron shouted though in response the guard thrust his spear again even faster this time giving Daeron shorter and shorter intervals to dodge them.
He did get a break when the other guard tried to stop the guard that was attacking him but a swift swing of the shaft knocked him out cold and left Daeron alone with the guard however it did allow him to draw his sword.
"Who are you and what do you want..." Daeron asked with narrowed eyes.
"A man has no name and he has come to give you a gift..." he replied
(AN: so now we are moving on with the plot, Robb Stark has finally got his memories back and Oberyn is now on a boat with Ned, nothing much is happening in slavers bay (Who could've guessed). But yeah soon the Valyrian mini arc will begin and then we can finally have Jon back to his full power. Hope you enjoyed the chapter)
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