Chapter 17: Arthur Valhalla (10) Corlys Velaryon (2): progress and revelations
AN: in this chapter we'll see a small time skip. Arthur and his people finally begin to create their kingdom. Weirwoods are planted, mammoth shit helps fertilize the ground, and Arthur makes sure none with Ill feelings can go unnoticed when stepping foot onto Sparta.
On the island of Dragonstone, a sea snake makes his return. And with it come revelations from both he and the family he's missed while away. A long overdue talk with his wife sets up the future for house Velaryon.
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Sparta, the bay of seals, 130 AC
(Arthur pov)
The lands inside the mountain were truly breathtaking. A temperate Forrest with streams and lakes all around. Not only that, but the water is so clear. Many of my people thought this meant no more boiling water. I made sure to put a stop to that.
With only about 3,000 total people on the island I know many many more will need to be brought in to truly get Sparta where i want it to be.
Another thing I immediately implemented once we made it inside the mountain was to plant the peppermint and chamomile as my stash was running thin.
Those two little plants helped out tremendously with stomach problems that came from starving people finally getting good portions of food. As such, they couldn't stop themselves from gorging causing issues.
That and the not drinking any water that isn't boiled has brought the number of deaths via dehydration down to 0. An accomplishment if I do say so myself.
Of course, we didn't throw up an entire kingdom in the moon we've been here. But, there are a few houses built in the style of the breeze homes from Skyrim. I feel it matched northern aesthetic of my island well.
Now that people have been fed, given health regulations, and have stopped dying from the two I decided it was time for someone else to play doctor other than me.
Finding a midwife who had birthed many babies was as far as I could go to get my first 'nurse'. She's currently being taught by Leaf and her companions on both how the earth singers or nymphs as I've decided to call them and myself want medical things done. By the end of it she'll be more qualified than any grandmaester.
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Now we move onto getting my army ready to at least defend themselves should we be invaded.
Using exercises from my previous life, such as running, push-ups, sit-ups, pull ups, I've started making true Spartans out of these starving people.
The sword fighting will come later. After I feel they've progressed enough in fitness it will be time to teach them how to kill a man without a blade.
How to snap a neck in milliseconds,how to press onto different parts of the body to make someone do what you wanted them to, how to camouflage themselves to blend into the environment to evade or ambush all this will be taught by me eventually.
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Next was my need to find people magically inclined. My plan is to have a dedicated force of wargs from all over the north. They will keep an eye on suspicious activities on the island while I keep one on the mainland through lord Reed.
For this I will need to speak to my people. Giving slim a message to gather everyone i ready myself by putting on a new style of clothing the seamstress made. 'Something to wear during those meetings with the southern lords' she had said.
And she was right on the money. The design looked like the one shay wore in Ac rouge. A mix of Templar and assassin wear that I loved.
(Image)
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(Villagers pov)
For the moon since lord Arthur made good on his promise, we Spartans have been more happy than any other time in memory.
He actually brought giants and earthsingers from beyond the wall. As well as nearly 2,000 clansmen. And even some ibbenese.
While we were at first weary of the clansmen, the more time we spent around eachother proved we were not as different as originally believed. While they have some odd customs, so do we.
another incredible thing we found in the mountain bowl is the skagcorns that have faded into legend amongst our people.
Huge, furry beats with a spike at the front of their head. Not only are they huge, but their temperament is even more volatile than lord Arthur's dragon.
(Image)
Lord Arthur showed us how to tame them. Simply always keep food in your hand when you approach and the skagcorns or 'rhino' as lord Arthur calls them, will love you forever.
Lord Valhalla claims these beasts will do what he originally wanted mamoths for, to pull heavy things and plow fields for grain. Not only are they useful as mounts or beasts of burden, but lord Arthur also claims that even in the dead of winter they should be okay eating the evergreen grass that comes up no matter the season in the north.
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We've been informed lord Arthur has an announcement to make, and that we're to make our way to the beginning of the now named, 'red river' after the children planted weirwood trees all along the bank.
As we arrive we see lord Arthur, lord thenn, lord mag, and lady leaf.
Lord Valhalla clears his throat and speaks, ""is there any of you who've ever had strange dreams? Seeing through the eyes of an animal?""
At his words many of us are dumbfounded. But 3 small children step up and make themselves known. Lord Valhalla walks up to them, bends his legs so he's looking them in the eye before speaking again.
""And what animal did you dream of?"" He asks each child.
The first one said he was a huge white bear, the second said he was atop a mountain eating a deer. Said he had black stripes. Lord Arthur seemed to know what he spoke of.
Lastly, the small girl said she dreamed of flying. At this lord Arthur let out a true smile that showed his perfect teeth, something all of us envied. There was something lord Arthur said about trying to make a soap for your teeth, but such a thing hasn't come to fruition yet.
What he did say helps is taking water and sand, swish them in your mouth then spit it and wash your mouth again with just water.
After informing everyone that was all he needed we returned to do our jobs. Whether that be building houses and bathhouses, or doing those weird exercises lord Arthur said will make us strong.
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The narrow sea, Dragonstone, 130 AC
Corlys Velaryon pov
Arriving back on the docks of Dragonstone is such a relief. For half a year i have sailed the world. All in an effort to get resources and gold for the war we find ourselves in.
It truly started almost 6 moons ago, when the kinslayer aemond slew my grandson lucerys. Although I was gripped with rage when I found out, I was halfway across the world. What could I do other than stay on task to help my remaining family?
I had grieved in my own way for lucerys death. A way I wished not to have. For my grieve already got me into a situation I don't know how to handle.
I have a son, Alyn. With a ship captian named marlida of hull.
I've seen the boy a few times. He looks just like me. Even more than lenor. If anyone who knew me saw him, they'd know instantly who's son he was.
It's not like i didn't wish to be a father to him. In truth I was scared of my wife. What my beautiful Rhaenys would think of me should she learn of his existence?
The anger and guilt I felt at having Laena and laenor died so soon after eachother left my heart cold and bitter for a time. This resulted in Alyn.
Sighing as I try to come up with a way to tell my wife and family while also telling Adam who I really am I see my family upon the docks to greet me.
This makes my already forced smile even more forced.
But it's the look my wife is currently showing me that has me on edge. Even more than the sling her arm currently resides in.
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Rhaenys it seems wished to speak to me posthaste. Ordering my grandchildren away before I could even greet them properly in the keep, we make our way to the gardens flanked by two of my guards I left in her charge.
Sitting in the chair across from my wife I finally see the tears fall. This tells me all I need to know. She's found him.
I don't speak to try and stop the tears, for it's already too late for that. When my wife speaks, it's the first time since our children died that I hear just how hurt she is.
(Why?)
That simple question makes my heart freeze. Taking a deep breathe I decide to lay everything on the table.
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After informing Rhaenys of my actions that led to Alyn and the one I indulged when I heard of Luke's death, I am first slapped across my face.
As I clean the blood from my lip, she speaks to me again. (I love you and always will Corlys. This is the last time you do this and I forgive you. I will not condem your son because he had no part to play in his conception. You will however present him to the court and be a father to him, for he should be raised up and honored. Not hidden beneath the tides.)
With that she leaves me. And all my plans of informing my family about the rare journal I found was pushed to the back of my mind.
AN: hope you enjoy the chapter. Decided to Intro Alyn
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