(Princes Pass)
The sounds of hoofs hitting the ground echoed out through the night air as dark priests traversed across the battlefield looking for their prey. The tracks ended at the battlefield so they knew that Robb had either doubled back, managed to find a way to hide his tracks or he was currently hiding among the dead bodies that had yet to be cleared.
The smell coming from the battlefield was putrid, the smell of rotting flesh and death permeated the air. And right now Robb Stark was underneath a body that had maggots crawling throughout it, he had to stop himself from gagging, he couldn't afford to make a single sound or risk being captured once again. His mind was still hazy and he had trouble keeping his thoughts from straying, he narrowed this down to the effects of whatever had just happened to him.
*STOMP*
Robb stilled as he heard a skull crack under a horse's hoof near him, he kept his body as still as he could make it. Though he couldn't help his heart from beating out of his chest, the worst part about these dark priests was that they didn't seem to talk, all Robb could hear were whispers on the wind, in a language that he couldn't even begin to comprehend.
*STOMP*
Another skull was crushed as the horse took his rider closer towards where Robb was hiding 'They're going to catch me!' His mind raced as he thought about what they might do to him, but he calmed himself down as he remembered something more important. He had to find out what happened to Jon and make sure he was safe, he couldn't afford to get caught here, he wouldn't fail his brother again.
*STOMP*
The horse was right next to Robb now and the rider jumped off before drawing a sword from beneath his cloak, he then started to stab the bodies with his sword as he searched for Robb 'How do they know where I am!' He thought to himself as his breathing started to get more and more ragged. The only option he could think of now was to jump up and attack the priest hoping he could incapacitate him before stealing his horse and leaving.
Sweat was looking around his neck as he heard the footsteps coming closer, however before he could think of standing up he felt his mind go fuzzy and his vision started to darken 'No! I can't!' Were his final thoughts before he lost consciousness once more. However a few seconds later his eyes snapped open and he gained awareness, he froze in fear as he realised that he wasn't hidden anymore but out in the open, he could see Dark priests scouring the battlefield for him as they stabbed their swords into the corpses that littered the field.
Robb noticed his vision was now exceptionally good, almost as good as it was during the day, he looked down and noticed that he had four powerful legs with hoofs at the end 'I'm a horse now?' He thought with confusion. He had to admit he didn't know much about how this kind of magic worked, just the stories about wargs and skinchangers that Old Nan used to tell him. He put these thoughts to the back of his mind as he refocused, from the horse's point of view he could see the priest getting dangerously close to where his body was hiding.
Robb did the first thing he thought of and he charged the dark priest in the body of the horse. It felt incredible running as a powerful Dornish sand stead, and it felt even better when he clashed against the priest who had not turned around in time. The man was thrown to the floor by the thousand pounds of pure muscle that hit him from behind, but Robb didn't stop there, rearing back on his back legs he stomped down his forward hooves smashing them on the priest's body. He did it until the priest stopped moving and even then he only stopped moving because his legs and arms were shattered beyond repair 'What are these people...' Robb thought to himself as he consciously tried to sever the connection he had to the horse.
It was difficult and took a moment but he managed to do it and with a gasp, he was back in his body, he already missed the sensations and power that he had as a horse but right now he had more pressing concerns. He pushed the rotting corpse off his body taking a gasp of air that hadn't passed through the putrid meat that was concealing him, he then quickly pushed his aching body up and rushed to the horse. He looked around and saw that no one had noticed what had happened yet, though the battlefield was pretty big so it was understandable and it's not like Robb is complaining.
Getting to the horse he quickly jumps up on the large beast and kicks it into a gallop, unfortunately for Robb, this was seen by the rest of the Priests and they immediately mounted their horses and gave chase. Robb had to be careful with how fast he went otherwise his horse might meet the same fate as his previous one. Once he got past this field of bodies he would be in a much better position.
His pursuers did not seem to share the same worries as him as they ran their horses as fast as they could, when he turned back Robb even saw some of the priests being flung from their horses as their mounts tripped. But the main issue was they were gaining on him, taking his sword out he got ready as the first Priest reached out to drag him from his horse, swiping upwards Robb managed to nearly cut the man's hand clean off only leaving it hanging by a few tendons. However, very much like the priests he encountered at Skyreach, this did not stop them and he continued trying to dismount Robb.
Robb spurred his horse faster despite the risks involved, he was about to be caught so it didn't much matter if his horse tripped. On both sides of his horse Priests and their mounts rode both trying to rip him off his horse. Robb apologised before raising his sword though instead of going for the priest he went for the horse and managed to sink his blade deeply into its neck. The horse whined before rearing up on its legs and falling over, Robb smirked 'That's one down, one to-' Robb was brought out of his thoughts as he was tackled on his horse, the other priest jumped from their horse onto his and tried to pull him off.
Robb only stopped himself from falling by grabbing tightly around his horse's neck, though in doing so he messed with the direction of the horse and made an already dangerous path nearly deadly. The priest wasn't done with Robb yet, the young Stark screamed as he could feel the priest's hands grip him hard enough to almost crack his shoulder bones, no matter how many times he sent his elbow into the priest's stomach it made no difference and the man's grip only tightened. His situation only got worse when he heard the familiar sign of a dagger leaving its sheath, the priest brought his hand around him intent on stabbing in in the chest, Robb grunted as he caught the hand that held the dagger before it was plunged into his heart.
He wound his head forward before smashing it against the priest's face but it made no difference, the man didn't even flinch 'What are these people!' He thought to himself as the knife got closer and closer to breaking through his skin. Having no other option Robb did something stupid and dangerous, he wrapped his leg around the stirrup before using his weight to drag them both fully off his horse, the priest took the weight of the fall and was quickly left behind while Robb was dragged behind the horse.
He managed to grip onto the saddle to avoid hitting any of the corpses and with a little bit of effort, he managed to get back onto the horse. As he did he finally cleared the battlefield and so he spurred his horse on at full speed trying to get away from those who were still pursuing him.
———————————————————-
(Sea of Dorne)
Oberyn stood at the wheel of the ship as it sailed through the of Dorne, Aegon was still unconscious and placed in the captain's cabin. Oberyn had a lot of time to think as he sailed the ship through the calm night seas, he couldn't help but worry for the men he had left behind as well as his daughters, he had left them behind because he believed that the creature masquerading as Rhaenys wouldn't wish to blow her cover and risk losing the loyalty of both Dorne and the Golden company by hurting anyone. At least that was what he thought, he didn't know if he was right and it gnawed at his mind ever since he left.
"Lord Martell."
Oberyn looked to see Lord Stark walking up the steps to the top deck, he couldn't help but tense slightly as in his mind this man was still the enemy and had done much to put his niece and her children in danger "Lord Stark." He replied.
"How long till we reach Sunspear?" Ned asked.
"Three maybe four days," Oberyn replied.
Ned leaned against the edge of the ship as he appreciated the cold breeze, while nights in Dorne could get cold they couldn't even compare to the Northern blizzards and cold snaps, it was something Ned missed more than he cared to admit 'Starks never do well down south,' the words of his wife echoed through his mind and he couldn't help but find them true now.
"Can you answer me a question Lord Stark?" Oberyn asked as he stood at the wheel.
"If I can." The man replied.
"How did you so easily abandon your family, I have met your nephew and he is an honourable man, more honourable than most," Oberyn stated.
Ned had a lot of time to reflect on his actions both during the campaign and in his captivity and he could only come to one conclusion "When I was a younger man I chided Robert for hating the Targaryens so much, I thought him holding onto so much anger for them would not serve him in his rule and he should forget the ones that fled across the sea," he stated.
"But I've had time to think while I was imprisoned and I've found that I am just as guilty as he is. Even if I never realised it I hated Lyanna for so long, not just for running off with Rhaegar and hurting Robert but for other reasons." He continued.
"Had she stayed true then perhaps my brother and father would not have died and then I wouldn't have had to marry his betrothed for the sake of maintaining the Tully-Stark alliance. Perhaps I could've married the woman I loved and yet this option was taken from me, King Aerys had called for our heads so I had no choice but to bring the Tullys into the rebellion." Ned said with a sigh.
"I abandoned my family, I abandoned Lyanna's only son and the gods seemed fit to punish me by taking my own. I can only hope to make amends by doing what I should've done in the first place." Ned finished as he wiped his eyes.
"Your son was brave, to go against his father and rally the whole north to fight against the King, he would've been a good lord," Oberyn commented.
Ned let out a sad smile "Aye that he would've been,"
———————————————————-
(Volantis)
Daeron sat in his cabin on the boat as he touched his wounds, while he could still feel a bit of pain from them it wasn't even close to what he should be feeling and this concerned him, it seemed that his body might be dying even without the continued use of magic. He didn't have a lot of time left, he needed to get to Valyria quickly otherwise he'd just be another wight.
Daeron lay on his bed with his hands behind his head, he thought about Ashara and their interaction earlier today. He had to admit she was indeed a beautiful woman both in mind and body, he felt comfortable around her and wished that she hadn't left as he had gotten used to sleeping with her 'Should I say anything to her...' he wondered to himself. He didn't want to cause Ashara any pain and she looked to be confused about how she was feeling at the moment, Daeron decided to wait for now as he was sure that Ashara would bring it up with him when she was ready.
Daeron closed his eyes and almost drifted off to sleep when he felt a chill run down his spine, which seemed like an impossibility considering his condition but to Daeron it only meant one thing "I haven't seen you in a while Adara." Daeron said aloud before he heard the sound that could only be described as giggling.
The pale blue, white-haired woman floated towards Daeron's bed before lying on top of him "I was waiting till you could finally understand our language," she replied as she placed her chin on Daeron's chest.
"I suppose that means I'm nearly dead then?" Daeron asked.
"As dead as people like us can be," she said with a grin.
"Why have you followed me so far from your home?" Daeron asked the question they had been gnawing at his mind since he first discovered her.
Adara reached a hand up to Daeron's face and her finger began tracing the curve of his jaw "I am alone, I was born alone and have existed for thousands of years alone."
"Are the White Walkers not your family?" Daeron asked.
"They don't talk to me, they only listen to him. Though they honestly don't make much for interesting conversation." Adara said as she stared intently at Daeron.
"What about Coldhands?" Daeron asked.
"He believes I cursed him for turning him into what he is today, perhaps he is right or perhaps it is his own choice that cursed him," Adara said.
"Do you want me to be the same as him?" Daeron questioned.
Adara shook her head "Had I wanted that I would've turned you into one already. No, I want the same thing that your fire god wants." She stated.
Daeron narrowed his eyes and sat up pushing Adara off him and onto the bed "How do you know about her!?" He asked sternly much to Adara's amusement.
She looked at him with a mischievous smile "You believe she is the only one capable of traversing your dreams? Though, surprisingly, she didn't know I was there." She said as she lay on the bed spreading her legs wide and showing her sex to Daeron.
Daeron with his still narrowed gaze looked at Adara, though he couldn't help but look at her flawless skin and curvaceous body "So you'll assist me in my quest?" Daeron asked.
Adara sat up and moved towards Daeron, her face came within an inch of his own "Have I not been helping you so far Daeron?" She asked.
"While I admit you helped me in Old Town I have not seen much of you after that, I could've used your help during the battle in the prince's pass," he said a little bitterly.
"I was there." She commented.
"Then why didn't you do anything!" He asked.
"I did more than you know, though I can't tell you what now as it will only distract you from your quest," she said before placing a kiss on his lips.
"Goodnight." She said before she faded into a cool breeze and left the cabin.
Daeron breathed out a sigh before lying back down, it wasn't fair to blame her for Robb's death, the person responsible was the King and no other. Or at least that is what he tried to tell himself, he still found that if he had been faster or stronger or more skilled maybe Robb would still be alive. But he wasn't and like Ashara had told him many times he needed to move in lest he live in the past forever.
Daeron closed his eyes and drifted off into another dreamless sleep.
(AN: Next chapter they are back on the road and heading towards Valyria, Robb is escaping the dark priests and Oberyn is getting closer to discovering wtf is happening in Sunspear. Hope you enjoyed the chapter.)
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