Chapter 12: Arthur Valhalla (8) Cregan Stark (2): A meeting between two Wolves
(Arthur pov)
After leaving balin and filli, I stayed for the night in an ibbeneese inn overlooking the water that surrounds the island.
My thoughts turn to what to do after rooks rest should I survive it.
A couple of things can be done from here. But it all depends on what happens at the rook. For if rhaenys still dies, I will burn the keep to the ground before leaving, can't have someone yapping to the Targaryens about me If I fail to win their gratitude.
I may not wish to kneel to them. But I also would like to avoid conflict with them. Because regardless of my situation, there's not a chance I'd be able to stand against the entirety of the seven kingdoms should they turn their gaze to me.
My ultimate goal is for my family to be another marriage option eventually. I hate the whole wedding brothers to sisters thing. Call it 21st century morality all you wish, but I can never condone such things.
With these thoughts going through my head as I watch morgoths shadow fly circles around the city in the darkness, i then begin to compile the families mine own could marry into.
The reeds and starks are definitely going to be in the mix. As no stark aside from Brandon the breaker that I can recall has ever had mental issues. The reeds have childrens blood, which will amp up the already potent magical blood of my own lineage.
As for those south of the neck... well the Targaryens and velaryons obviously. Dragons blood and all. Pretty self explanitory. After that is where things begin to be tricky. As all through history there's examples of someone in every major family being there own version of the mad king.
Those I will definitely not treat with are the lannisters, tullys, tyrells, or baratheons.
The lannisters are known for treachery and backstabbing. It's what won them the rock from the casterlys in the first place by the man who started the house- Lann the clever.
The tullys in my opinion are out as well. Upjumped servants who are expert opportunist's. Anyone who knows the rebellion history of the future will tell you that. Hoster Tully forced Eddard stark to marry his daughter for his support against the mad king.
Hell, he married Lysa Tully to jon Arryn. A man who was the same age as himself. I never liked him or his stupid son. The only decent one in that family was the blackfish. And even he was a fool.
Now into the tyrells. Good gods is there anything that needs to be said other than their name? Not to mention at this time they have only been In power for less than 150 years. No. In fact? The entire reach is out. I'd sooner burn them all to a crisp. Creating harrenhalls across the entire region.
And lastly the Baratheons, a line of treacherous bastards. In my opinion they're just differently named blackfyres. Their lineage can be traced back to Orys Baratheon. Bastard brother of the conqueror.
Not only that. But the current lord, borros Baratheon, allowed his blood, prince lucerys Targaryen to die under his guest right. Ugh. The more I look to the south the more treachery I find.
That's not even mentioning dorne. Nothing else to be said about it. Other than the fact that they currently aren't apart of the 7 kingdoms.
Maybe smaller houses can be risen up after the rebellion. I never understood why so many families got to keep their lands and titles after openly rebelling against the iron throne. Maybe because the king was a boy who had several regents from different factions fighting over one another?
Well, I'm here now. Things will change. Hopefully for the better. With this in mind I fall back into my pillow to rest for the night.
————————
(Cregan pov)
After meeting with prince jacaerys and returning to winterfell, I decide it's time to treat with the Valhalla.
Writing a missive to the moat for lord Reed, I hope the two make quick about it. From what I've been told there's no way queen Rhaenyra let's the death of her son slide. The realm is about to burn for the first time in over 100 years.
Anyone in this situation would be scared. Who's to say the hightowers won't appear above my men and I? What could we do?
Letting out a sigh as I feel dusk brush against me, I finish the letter with the stamp of house stark and make my way to the ravens to let it go.
————————
1 week later
After waiting for almost a sennight, I finally received the raven I've been hoping for. Lord Valhalla is prepared to meet me. According to the letter, we will treat at long lake near the umbers land. A good a place as any.
Looking to dusk I can see she's incredibly excited. Wonder why? 'Jagen did say that lord Valhalla had stark blood. Maybe she's excited to see another wolf?' I thought before patting her beautiful black fur and making my way out the door to get my things prepared.
————————
(Arthur pov)
Arriving back in my lands I'm greeted much more warmly than any other time.
My castellan and I are mobbed while moving through the village. Which has almost succeeded in building the first bathhouse.
Im impressed. As the people here, although know a few trades such as carpentry, many of them are too busy just trying to survive. So the fact that they've already made so much progress reaffirms my believe that these are the people I want following my descendants.
I also began teaching slim, my castellan, funny name I gave him because the man is so damn skinny- how to read. By teaching him, who is my voice when im gone how to read, he can slowly teach others how to do it while im off building alliances.
I received news that Cregan is becoming restless, so I agree to meet with him. Thankfully Denlen will be there to make sure we don't lock teeth as those with wolves blood are want to do. Jagen informed me he had started towards winterfell when I left their lands.
Packing my bags with a few new cloaks I had made by the group of women who gave me the first one. After seeing what they could do with subpar fabric I gave them better quality material to use.
And I wasn't disappointed. Putting on a slate gray robe and cloak. Beautiful designs on the hood that ended like all the others, in a point resembling an eagles beak.
It also had fur along the shoulders and around my wrists to keep them warm.
These women would be making every single idea I had. Thanking them and offering them quarters inside the castle as the lords personal seamstress' I informed my people of what was happening and who I was meeting.
Many were nervous. The stark name truly held power. I guess that's what 8,000 years of ruling will do. Somehting I hope my own descendents can replicate.
Climbing up morgoth and snuggling frost across my legs, we make our way back into the heart of the north. Frost seems excited for some reason. Maybe seeing another with stark blood will be fun for him.
I wanted to meet Cregan with the children present. But I thought better of it. I'll use them as a trump card should I need. Besides, I don't think I have enough time to get to them and meet with Cregan while also saving rhaenys.
I've been here for a month in westeros, and it took me nearly 2 months to get here. From what I gathered, prince lucerys was killed 1 month before my arrival.
I know Rhaenyra won't sit on her hands for long. She'll wish to go clear rooks rest, but will be persuaded by rhaenys to allow her instead. Which will lead to her demise.
Not only that. But not even a year later the triarchy lands in driftmark. Paying Corlys velaryon back for every drop of blood he spilled on the stepstones.
That battle of the gullet woild also take the life of jacaerys velaryon.
After delivering my news I took off to go meet the hungry wolf.
AN: cliffhanger. Next time we'll see the meeting and some more introductions to some characters.
Love the support. Don't know how to change the second duplicate chapter to a new one so you're gonna have to bear it for right now.
Drop some comments and suggestions 💪🏼❤️
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone