Chapter 9: Arthur Valhalla (7): A talk with the ibbenese
AN; after gaining the new companions beyond the wall, Arthur is now going to make some other friends that he hopes will help divert triarch attention away from westeros.
After giving the Loki and jon a map of where I will pick them up at i mount morgoth and take to the skies once again.
The meetings here beyond the wall went far better than I could've predicted. The thenn and Norwood weren't all that different from what I saw in the show of northerners.
Loud, ale drinking, and tough. I guess that makes sense. Much like my Spartan subjects, these people know very little happiness. Something I hope to rectify as soon as possible.
I have mag and the giants who will follow him the plans I have for the mountain. Leaf who'd been listening intently to our conversation had then spoke up about her and the childrens contribution.
The words were, "we sunk the stepstones young Arthur. You think creating a path through a mountain is difficult?"
The laugh that followed was like spring blooming after a long winter. To be honest Leaf was my favorite companion. Mag was too quiet. Probably to help keep his voice from getting raw. From what I understood via leaf it's difficult for them to speak with the way their vocal chords are set up.
Which makes it all the more impressive they can speak a language similar to old Norse from my previous world. A language thst rolls off their tongue like thunder. Everytime I I speak them or leaf and her companions my excitement grew.
I truly loved the fantasy aspect of the world I now inhabit. If nothing else, I would've come here for that alone.
'To go from the 21st century where everything was covered in concrete and light polution, to know flying high above the lands of always winter in the dead of night? What insanity.'
Letting go of these thoughts i spread my arms out wide and yell into the darkness of the sky. This is followed by the alll to familiar alpha call of morgoth. A beautiful and terrifying sound I always appreciate.
I've also been contemplating making my way to ibben. From what I remember In the books, they have very pretentious relations with myr and lys. Which are two of my biggest targets.
I plan to make a deal with the ibbensee. One I hope they take into consideration before just shuffling me out of the way.
'I'll just have to make it worth their while. Maybe bringing my modern knowledge of good, clear glass as well as a Valyrian steel sword for whoever their leader is.'
This will be the carrot. My 'stick?' You ask, well, I'm currently atop him. I'll be Waiting for the ibbense to disrespect me, then have morgoth do a simple fly over. A little show of what could happen should such things continue.
"Old gods if you can hear me, let me make this ibbensesse trip and be back in time to save princes rhaenys," I speak my words and thunder rumbles in the distance. 'I hope that was a yes,' I think before urging morgoth to fly faster.
I cannot delay any longer. I'll already be cutting it close. But ibben will be key to seeing the triarch crushed when they try to sack driftmark.
——————
Arriving back above my island home I make morgoth let everyone know I've returned.
Landing on the ground my castellan and a few villagers are there to greet me, making sure to keep a very respectful distance away from morgoth. Who gives them a deep, rumbling warning to behave.
Chuckling and giving him a pat I move forward and am met with smiles. Confusion must've been evident on my face as I pulled my hood up over a gray and light blue colored cloak in my usual style. The black dragon of my house surrounded by my personal sigil makes it look even more intimidating to my eyes.
(Image)
Putting those thoughts aside for now I speak to the castellan, "tell me what's happened since I've been gone."
The man looks to go to bow but the look I give him stops him dead in his tracks. With a simple nod of his head he speaks to me.
"Of course my lord. Everyone has followed your order to boil any water they are using for anything. This has had the effect of keeping many of the people more clean. Also, the plants you have to many of the ones who had liquid of the ass seems to have helped them immensely."
Ah yes. The peppermint and chamomile. Although not as good as straight up pepto bismol, the two plants definitely help stomach problems.
Nodding along we start to make our way through the village when a group of older looking women approach us. They all look at the steel colored fur and crimson red eyes of frost, who stands taller than all of them.
The oldest of the women slowly approach. And I see she has a cloak in her hands. She carefully presents it as she speaks, "I know it is not of the Same quality as the cloaks you wear my lord. But please. Take this gift from us. A thank you to all the young women you saved from lord Stane."
Momentarily taken aback by the words I approach to get a better look at the gift.
It's pitch black with the red Norse designs they've seen on my other cloaks. And it's surprisingly soft for something I know they threw together. However, the fact that this is happening shows that at least some people here like the changes I'm making.
(Image)
——————
After thanking the women we finally get to the keep so I can begin to get everything ready for my new residents to arrive.
This is where my hopefully new friends from ibben will come into play.
I plan to offer them gold, the ingredients to clear glass, and a Valyrian steel weapon. This should make the council they have happy. Or at least, a majority of them.
Telling my castellan that nobody is allowed to see me I head off towards morgoth with a dragon glass dagger and a vaguely shaped into a short sword high carbon steel bar. I begin by melting both of them down into liquid with a fire I have morgoth start. The white hot flames do their job in minutes.
After the two are mutually melted down I pour them into a clay mould I made for this very purpose. After that I put a drop of my blood into the mixture. Pouring the two, a deeo violet colored flame erupts from the blade, signifying the creation of Valyrian steel.
After waiting for it too cool I dust off the sand and clay I had it in and look at my first real weapon of Valyrian steel.
(Image)
With this in hand i again begin preparations to leave my people. A whale will be provided as well as the information of why I'll be leaving again and where I'll be going.
—————
Admittedly, the villagers seemed more excited about the ibbense coming to Sparta more than the giants. Especially the young people.
I guess I can understand why. The need for new blood on this island is dire. A few more decades and we might get hills have eyes characters on Sparta. Something I need to avoid.
That's why I'm trying to bring so many outside people into this land. Not only will it promote competition between races, giving Sparta an edge in innovation, it also gives the people here the chance to put new strong blood into their own bloodline.
With the hardy attitudes of everyone who has to live in the northern part of the world, finding common ground shouldn't be too difficult for the people.
With this in mind I mount morgoth and begin my journey to ibben.
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Arriving by ship to ibben to keep my identity secret I make my way to the shop builders.
After inquiring about the head shipwright I follow the small man's directions to the middle of the shop.
There I see a man who looks like thorin Oakenshield from the hobbit movies. It takes me a second to regain my thoughts when he speaks to me.
"Why are you here giant boy?"
I laugh, trying to get rid of the lingering annoyance of being called a boy. I may be only 16, but I currently ride the most dangerous dragon in the world aside from cannibal.
I answer him, "my names Arthur Valhalla. I want you and some of your shipwrights to come to my land. Teach my people how to build boats. Stay in my land if you wish and I shall give you a keep and lands to call your own."
I decided to get right to the point. As every second I wasted here hindered my ability to kill one of the hightowers above rooks rest.
The small dwarf like man looked at me trying to see deciet. My gaze was firm and by the way he flinched my eyes had started their whole shtick. It's hilarious to see honestly.
After a few seconds of writing himself he speaks again. "I'm flattered. Lord Arthur. Truly. But I'm afraid the council won't let me go so easily. The only reason I'm still here is of my debt. Something I acquired when I was young and adventurous.
Managed to convince the iron bank to give me a large sum of coin to try and innovate ship building as we know it. But it didn't workout so well. Which left me here"
I try to hold back my smile but it's almost too much to do so. Regaining my serious noble demeanor I answer him. "Then it seems to be your lucky day. For I have a way to ensure your people can pay back the money for the iron bank and even make a deal with them to promote the destruction of the triarchy."
At the mention of the three whores I see balin's eyes light up in hatred. He speaks then with an edge to his voice.
"Anything you can do to step on those damn myrish I'm all welcome for. Let us go. I will get you an audience with the council. Filli!"
Balin yelled out to the warehouse. Within seconds a small ibbense boy who looked remarkably like Balin spoke.
"Yes father?" He asked before catching sight of me and having his eyes widen. Apparently Snow White hair and eyes like mine aren't common In ibben.
Balin breaks my train of thought, "go gather all 3rd and fourth sons. As well as anyone with debts to pay." He begins scribbling on a piece of parchment very fast before returning it to his sons hands.
"Give each of the clan heads this. It'll tell them all they need to know."
Nodding at his fathers word he gives me one last look before doing was he was bid.
Turning to me Balin spoke, "let's go."
Nodding, I follow him out into the streets towards a large building in the middle of the city.
Balin tells me to let him handle it while he slips in the door.
After just a few seconds loud screams reverberated throughout the door. Looking at the two ibbense guards in front of the door with small spears as they flinch tells me this happens quite a bit.
Opening the door after the yelling ceases, balin lets me inside.
Sitting in a semi-circle on a raised Dias is the council of ibben.
All of them have a shade of blonde hair. Ranging from almost shining gold to a dirty blonde wheat color.
The one at the head speaks up, "balin has told us you plan to take our ship builders for your own." A murmer of discontent spreads throughout the conference room.
The next one speaks up after him, "what's next. Do you wish to take our wives and daughters abed next?"
That broke my lighthearted mood. The fact that someone insinuated that about me made me mad. Before I can speak morgoths loud screech echoed off the water surrounding the island.
My response is calm and collected after having seen the fear i was looking for.
"My name is Arthur Valhalla. Had you let balin or myself finish speaking before launching such vile accusations against us might've spared you the fear and knowledge that I could end you and your cities life on a whim. Now, do you wish to let me speak of what I plan on giving you in return for your shipwrights? Or shall I let my companion morgoth do my speaking for me?"
The threat I made was a result of this second man to my left accusing me of being a rapist. Somehting I despise with every fiber of my being.
A silence ripples through the council. I take that as a good an answer as I'll get. Afterall, Seeing a dragon without dragons blood must be terrifying.
So I tell them of my plan. To gift them with the thing that'll allow them to compete and beat myr should they do it correctly.
I also signed a one year trade agreement to have food brought to Sparta. With so many new people coming in morgoth and I cannot feed everyone.
'I need to teach them how to fish. Not just give it to them.'
The pièce de résistance was the sword. No doubt they'll be fighting over that if the greed i everyone of the councilors eyes spoke truth.
———————
After my meeting. I spoke to balin on the kind of shops we would need to ferry giants and mamoths. He clearly didn't believe me but I was in fact telling the truth.
As soon as I have him some ships that were designed in old Valyria I'd managed to snag on my way out of the smoking see, I thought the man Would propose to me.
After getting everything ready and being informed that over 200 ibbense men and 175 women would be coming with me, I jumped atop morgoth and started my way back home. I missed my people suprisingly.
After getting that cloak from the group of women I've felt much closer to them.
'When I get back it'll be time to make preparations to go meet Cregan, and then onto rooks rest.' I think to myself looking out at the starts in the midnight blue sky atop morgoth.
AN:there we go. Finally getting out of the intro stage into meeting the more prominent characters.
Give me ideas in the comments. I haven't edited this yet. Will do so throughout the day. So come back and read if you find mistakes and can't bear the though of continuing my work while it has such egregious errors in it 😂
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