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Raiden's Storm Chapter 100: Death And Life
🕑 Added 2025-01-02 00:12:04 +0000 UTC[Daenerys’ POV]
Not soon after she rejected Hizdahr, just as foretold, the Sons of the Harpy had remerged and their killings continued. Or so… they tried. Dorian had predicted where they would strike and prevented any innocent lives from being taken. Alas, the very next day, they would succeed in slaying a group of freed men before being caught.
It was clear that the shadow war would continue. Since it had come to this, she now had to keep her word and put one of her hostages to the sword. Yet, when she gathered them up, her resolve had wavered. Most of them were but children, innocent of the bloodshed around them.
“They are not sweet as they seem, Your Grace.” Dorian stepped behind her. “Someday, should the Sons of the Harpy succeed, they will grow into the masters of tomorrow who carry on the legacy of slavery. They will not be any different… perhaps, given your revolution, they will be even worse than their elders to counteract the ideals you’ve instilled.”
“...” She took a deep breath, still writhe with hesitation.
"You truly do seek defeat." Dorian sighed with disappointment. "Your will and resolve is comparable to a bridge of sand, falling apart at the slightest wind. Like this... you will change nothing, in the end."
She closed her eyes as he began to walk away. She saw the killings continue without end, with even more zeal. He spoke the truth... if her threats did not mean a thing, why had she taken them hostage in the first place? How are the Sons of the Harpy to fear her if she cannot carry out her word...
The Sons of the Harpy would not surrender to a kind and merciful queen, no, they would only continue their fight... treading on her ideals of peace and freedom for all.
Only a Dragon could conquer them.
"Take one."
She spoke at last, opening her violet eyes.
Dorian slowly turned with an emerging grin.
"Yes, Your Grace."
In the blink of an eye, he tossed a dagger right in the skull of a master's son. The child's head went back as the dagger penetrated right between his eyes. He had been the sweetest of the bunch from her experience, yet he hadn't hesitated for a moment.
"You'd best remove the Sons of the Harpy as you promised... or that will be you someday."
"... Hm." Dorian first took caution with a raised eyebrow, which was followed by a slight smile. "Yes, Your Grace. I shall bring the Sons of the Harpy to heel."
...
The activities of the Sons of the Harpy ended for a time. The death of one of their own children suggested that more would come if they continued. A sort of reverse shadow war had broken out, with masters being beheaded night after night. Each killing was conducted in brutal, terrible fashion that left a sense of dread for all. Where the Sons of the Harpy would've attacked, it seemed that they were too terrified - too focused on defending themselves.
She predicted that only one man could've been capable... yet she hadn't given him permission to act in such a way.
"It's you, isn't it? The one responsible for the deaths of the masters..."
"Mhm." Dorian didn't feign ignorance, nor lie. "It was I. What of it?"
"I hadn't given you permission to commit any of it."
"I gave you my word that I would rid you of this thorn. How do you expect me to accomplish this if I must ask you for every little thing?"
"This is no small thing... you're turning the masters against my rule-"
"And they already are!" Dorian exclaimed, laughing afterwards. "You cannot have your peace while those husks take breath. Most, if not all, of them must die... for they stand opposite to the very thing you seek. In truth, the masters should've been executed the moment you took the city, but here I am, arduously undoing that mess."
"Now, if you give me the Unsullied, I'd only need a day to sweep Meereen clean."
"You've served me for so short a time, yet you are so unruly," Daenerys remarked with a frown. "How am I to know if your actions are just? Do you target just any former master that catches your eye?"
"Not just any, no, only the greatest offenders who could not live without a world with slaves. To that end, I've also uncovered undeniable evidence to support my claim of who the Harpy is..."
He took a book full of letters, documents and contracts, forwarding it to her. She opened it and began reading through the 'evidence'. The more she read, the more bewildered she was by how he was able to uncover so much in so little time. In most entries, they spoke of the 'Harpy', but one let her true name slip.
"There are so many of those masters that one is prone to make a mistake here or there... but no one unwanted would reach their private letters, would they?" He chuckled. "How clumsy. If you want more, I've kidnapped a couple of men who would squeal the truth if you agreed to let them live..."
"Show them."
~
The reverse shadow war had continued for a time, thining the ranks of the masters, until...
The last night had dawned upon the great masters.
The Unsullied were mobilised, and most of the Great Masters had been forcefully seized, which led to great resistance. The Sons of the Harpy rose up in defiance, but were swiftly put down by a storm of spears. Like a tidal wave, the Unsullied stormed the edges of the city and spread forward into the centre until it was swallowed whole.
Daenerys' great warriors all showed their prowess, from Ser Barristan to her queensguard. Though, above them all, was her newest vassal, Dorrian 'Dagger-hand', who commanded with cunning and tenacity - winning the night with hardly any notable losses.
The last place to be struck was the Temple of the Graces, where the Green Grace herself remained with remnants of the Sons of the Harpy. They had sought to use the myraid of chambers to sneak upon the Unsullied, but they only delayed the inevitable. With the direction of Dorian, the Unsullied were wise to such attacks and saw through the deceipt.
Soon enough, they were upon the main chamber where the Green Grace resided.
Galazza Galare sat facing the entrance, a shimmering green silk veil covering all but her eyes, which were of the same colour. They glared at the approaching sellsword.
"Your queen claims to seek peace, yet she hires the aid of the devil who only seeks chaos."
"Only seeks chaos, hm... that is rather unkind. Sometimes, death must come before life. For flowers to grow, the weeds and thorns must be removed." Dorian replied, straight-faced. "A day of chaos for years of peace is a worthy price."
"You think that you will have peace?" The old woman laughed. "I thought you would be wiser after so many years."
"It will not happen tomorrow, but time heals all wounds. Unfortunately, your ilk do not have a place in the new world."
"Is this act driven by your desire for vengeance? Or is it your hatred for slavery? I did not take you for one to be so selfless... you already have your freedom, why would you fight for another's?"
"There are causes greater than oneself."
"This war will not end..." Galazza Galare spoke as he continued to close the gap between them. "The Sons will continue to fight for what they believe is right from the shadows. Even if decades come to pass, they will keep fighting..."
"Dead men fight no battles."
With one swift stroke of his sword, he slit the Green Grace's throat.
...
In the middle of the night, Dorian entered the Great Hall covered in blood and with the head of Galazza Galare in his hand. He bent his knee and presented it before her. His officers followed, kneeling behind him, each presenting a head of a great master.
"As promised, I give you the head of the Harpy."
"With the masters of old slain, your reign can finally begin in earnest without disruption," Dorian stated with zeal. "The futile resistance of their remnants will continue, but they will be no more than flies waiting to be swatted. As I started this endeavour, I shall see it through... as promised."
"Though our methods differ, you have clearly served as the driving force behind their defeat and accomplished what seemed so difficult before. To aid your mission, I shall name you my master of whispers and grant you command over the city watch."
Daenerys annnounced, knowing that Skahaz mo Kandaq, who commands the Brazen Beasts would not wish to be replaced... hence she gave him a different title.
"May you put an end to the Sons of the Harpy and bring peace to the streets of Meereen."
"As you will, Your Grace."
~
[Edric's POV]
To begin erasing any idea of treason, Edric began to uncover those involved with the conspiracy. Whether through his warging into Freedom, Raiden's ghostly abilities, or even outright seizing men for questioning. He found the prime suspects and had them arranged for execution on the same night - rallying every man in the Nightfort.
There were looks of unease amongst some of the kneelers, whereas others looked more determined. The tension in the air was clear. The wildlings greatly outnumbered the rest... if any fighting broke out, they could overwhelm them.
"I know what you all must be thinking." Edric paced along the ten bound prisoners he had seized. "Oooh, there's more of us! We can take him and the crows - we can be free! Doesn't that sound wonderful? Freedom!"
"Oh, how we all yearn for freedom." Edric's eyes flashed a cold violet. "Now, pray tell, do you think I want to be around you lot - shivering in the cold? I shall be blunt and honest, truly... fuck no."
Edric's laughter echoed across the huge yard before he paused and took on a more serious expression.
"What you small-minded people do not understand is the bigger picture. See, in the miracle that you DO kill me, which is already unlikely... and, even more miraculously, manage to evade the wrath of my uncles along with those in the Realm who would yearn for vengeance... who, I assure you, greatly outnumber however many of you there are past the Wall... what then? Well, I'll enlighten you."
"In a year, three years, five years, however many years, the Others will breach the Wall and butcher every last one of you. By then, the Realm will be broken into pieces, with every power-hungry cunt trying to grasp a piece of it. There won't be a single thing any of you can do. There won't be a world for your sons and daughters, or even for yourselves. They, the Others, shall have it all..."
"And freedom? Heh, you will all be free to die and walk the land as the dead. There won't be fertile lands, or summer... everything will be frozen for the rest of time. Do you want that?"
The onslaught of words and the following final question left the men speechless. Of course, anyone short of a madman didn't seek that reality. It was more of a rhetorical question.
"It's either that or you keep the vows you swore and aid me in the coming times. This battle isn't just mine, or yours or the Night Watch's... it's everyone's battle. We will all struggle. Many of us will die, freeze, starve, lose our loved ones, but that's the price of this great victory."
"True, you lot can rise up the moment I leave, but... then what? I chase you all down and execute you for deserters. What do I gain from that? What do you gain? A stroke of freedom for an eternity in the ground."
"I implore you, not as your King, leader or superior, but as a person who seeks the greatest outcome for all." Edric clenched his fist and raised it to the sky. "Give yourselves to this cause, and I will give you a most radiant tomorrow! An endless summer, fertile lands and glory beyond anything you could ever dream of. With all of us united as one, there is no structure we cannot build, no foe we cannot overcome and no ice that will put out our flame!"
"ARE YOU WITH ME?!"
His roar shook across the land as a chain of lightning struck the earth... yet it could not silence the wave of roars that followed. Even the men who had been bound felt compelled to dedicate themselves to this cause. The magic of his charisma had shown itself, inspiring loyalty in those who had not too recently conspired to act for themselves.
"Forgive me, my King for even thinking of betraying you." The nearest on the execution block lowered his head. "Give me a second chance and I will dedicate my life to you."
"You are all fortunate."
Edric warmly smiled, the storm in the skies dispersing.
"I believe in second chances."
He freed all those who were due for execution, immediately dispersing all the tension in the air and winning the loyalty of a great number of those who were ready to draw their weapons against him.
"Though... let it be known that conspiring any form of treason from this point forward will mean forfeiting your life. With that said, you may all disperse now. Tomorrow will be a long day of work."
Edric turned and the wind, like a paid actor, swayed his cloak dramatically.
~
[Aegon's POV]
Ever since escaping Meereen, the dragon Aegon had attempted to bond with followed loosely. Seeing this, he had ordered them to settle on nearby land. The prince took a rowboat alongside Jon Connington and eventually stepped foot on land. The dragon remained in the skies, soaring freely. It saw a wild lamb across the hill and scorched it with one breath of flame.
Afterwards, the beast landed and feasted on its charred corpse. Seeing this, Aegon slowly climbed the hill.
"Move with caution..." Jon had warned him. "One wrong action and the beast can take your life in but a moment... and there would be nothing I could do to stop it."
"Worry not," Aegon spoke with confidence, a strong gust of wind brushing his silver-blonde hair. "Today, we shall be bonded without disruption."
The dragon glanced at him with one of its molten gold eyes, yet he did not hesitate and continued until he had gone all the way around to see its head. The dragon tilted its head with curiosity.
"You remember me, don't you?" Aegon slowly reached out to its head. "That's why you've followed us all the way here."
The dragon did not seem to disagree.
"Bond with me, dragon... and there will be nothing we can't achieve." The dragon seemingly lowered its head, allowing for his hand to touch it. "You and I... Viserion. Together."
The name jumped to him, even though he had not known it.
From then on, they would be as one.
Rider and dragon.
~
[Margaery's POV]
After a short autumn, winter had slowly reared its head. Even in Highgarden, one could see the difference. The days were colder, and some of the luminous flowers that once were had begun to suddenly wilt. Margaery had discovered a strange anomaly within her body... anything she touched for a long period of time would recover.
She sat near a wilted flower and watched it slowly rise from her hand. It was not something any maester could explain, yet she had an inkling of an idea. Her lips curled into a sweet smile as she touched her growing belly. This power was not hers, no... it was the growing child within. How could any child of Edric Baratheon, who could drown kingdoms with his might, ever be ordinary?
It reminded her of the legends of Garth Greenhand, who could bring fertility to the land. It was quite the contrast to its father whose powers solely revolved around destruction. She had begun to wonder what kind of greatness this child would achieve... the kind of joy it would bring.
As weeks passed, her belly grew more and more, abnormaly so - to the point that the maesters believed that she had been more than blessed.
"While His Grace is likely to sire a large child, this kind of growth could not possibly be achieved by one alone..." The maester paused, taking a deep breath.
"You mean..." Margaery's eyes widened. "There's more than one?"
"Yes. Twins, I predict."
"The Gods are truly kind." Garlan Tyrell smiled at the news.
"Twice the joy and twice the risk..." Willas Tyrell looked serious. "If this is true, you must take every precaution."
"What do you know of childbirth, child?" Olenna seemingly scolded Willas. "Every precaution was already taken. It will be more difficult now, however... you will need to be strong, Margaery."
"I will endure." Margaery managed a smile. "They are gentle and benevolent souls. If anything, they give me the strength I lack. It feels as if I am engulfed by His Grace's unrelenting spirit."
"Do not mention that little oaf." Olenna scoffed. "He would not even have you for a wife."
"... Tomorrow remains unwritten, grandmother. What is true today might not be the same in the days that come after."
Though, as time passed, she cared less about the goals her family had set for her and more about the future she could build with her children.
The days couldn't pass swifter as she awaited their birth.
[Author's Note]
Sooo funny thing about this is that originally, the vote decided that it would be a daughter, but then it evened out... so it led to this lil idea. Daughter, son, why not both?
