3A quick note before we get into it, anyone who has followed me for a while knows I like doing fan casts and while I don't normally do it for canon characters I've to decide to make an expression for characters not in the show, if any of you don't like that well….bite me.
Monford Velaryon: Henry Cavill
Aurane Waters: Tom Felton
Night Gathers
Gerold Hill
Castle Black, The Wall….
Gerold yawns as he eats his breakfast, he wrapped his cloak tighter around him, there had been a storm last night which made castle black even colder than usual.
"Tired Hill?" Grenn asks, patting the blonde man on the shoulder.
"Sleep refused to take me" Gerold answers wearily.
"Can't blame you?" Pyp says from across the table "I remember my induction last year, waiting to see what you are going to do for the rest of your life"
"As the three continue talking a soft and plump looking man enters the hall.
"Sam!" Grenn calls "Come over here!"
The fat boy hesitates before making his way over to them, Grenn stands and puts his arm around Sam "Sam this Gerold" Grenn says "Gerold this is Samwell Tarly the only decent Highborn fucker here"
"Hello," Sam says with a nervous smile.
Gerold nods and shakes the young
man's hand "Tarly?" he asks "They are the lords of the reach now"
"Yes," Sam says before his smile disappears "My father his Lord Randyll Tarly, the new Warden of the south"
"They Stood against Jon Targaryen in the war didn't they?"
Sam hesitates before answering "Yes"
"House Lannister also stood against him in the war"
Sam looks confused but nods.
Gerold clenches his fist in anger "So one rebellious House is rewarded while another is massacred"
Before Sam can answer a group of three men enters, Gerold recognizes them as the first steward Bowen Marsh, the first builder Othell Yarwyck and the first ranger Stannis Baratheon.
"Alright, you lot!" Stannis announces "You know what day it is, so all recruits get yourselves to the courtyard, the lord commander will assign you your roles'
Half the hall stands and begins making their way to the courtyard, Gerold soon follows.
Minutes later Gerold is standing in a large group in the Castle Black Courtyard, overlooking them on the balcony was Lord Commander Jeor Mormont, two his right stood Stannis Baratheon.
"You came to us as outlaws" Jeor Mormont begins "Poachers, rapers, killers, thieves, you came alone, in chains without friends or honor, you came to us rich, you came to us poor, some of you bear the names of proud houses, others bastard names or no names at all, It. Does. Not. Matter, all that is in the past.
The old man gestures to the wall, "Here on the wall we are all one house, a man of the night's watch lives his life for the realm, not a king and lord and the honor of this House or that House, not for gold or glory, or a woman's love, But for the realm!, You've all learned the words of the vows, think carefully before you say them, the penalty of desertion is death!"
As the lord commander continues Gerold's focus switches to Stannis Baratheon, the middle-aged knight is staring at him intently and with interest, the same way he had been doing so for months ever since Gerold proved his fighting capabilities.
"Do any of you still keep the old gods?" the lord commander asks.
Several men stand up, including Gerold which Stannis looks surprised at "Do bastards from the Westerlands keep the old gods?" the first ranger asks.
"No" Gerold answers "but all the same I'd still like to go"
"Very well," Mormont says "There is weirwood a mile north of the wall, you can go tomorrow"
The old lord commander the unwraps the letter in his hand "You've all been assigned an order in accordance with our needs and your strengths" he says "Duncan to the builders! Todd to the builders!, Jaze to the rangers!, Renord to the builders, Myker, to stewards!, Laory to the rangers!, Karne to stewards, Myle to builders! And Gerold to the rangers!"
Gerold smirks though it came as no surprise, he was already proving to be one of the best fighters on the wall.
The Next day….
Gerold shuddered as he knelt before the weirwood tree with the other recruits, it was unlike anything he had ever seen, the face in the tree was unsettling, but it gave off a certain aura as if one of the old gods was actually resting inside it.
"Say your vows and be done with it!" Stannis commands.
Gerold takes a deep breath and begins the oath.
"Night gathers, and now my watch begins.
It shall not end until my death.
I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children.
I shall wear no crowns and win no glory.
I shall live and die at my post.
I am the sword in the darkness.
I am the watcher on the walls.
I am the shield that guards the realms of men.
I pledge my life and honor to the Night's Watch, for this night and all the nights to come."
"You knelt as boys!" Stannis tells the recruits, "Rise now as men of the night's watch."
Gerold stands and begins walking ahead of the other recruits, back to the wall, when he is stopped by Stannis calling him.
"Ranger!' Stannis calls
Gerold freezes and turns to see the knight marching towards him "Yes Ser Stannis?"
"Why are you here?" he asks, Gerol.d tilts his head in confusion, "These days men only join the watch because they were forced to, so tell me what unfortunate circumstances led Gerold Hill to join the night's watch.
Gerold stares at the man before simply saying "Another man's war"
And with that, the newest brother of the night's watch leaves clenching at the silver necklace that hides under his cloak.
Darron Flynn
Storm's End, The Stormlands….
Darron smirked as he leaned against a stone wall and watched his daughter train with Brienne in the courtyard, Briggite ducked beneath a sword slice, then attempted to ram into Brienne.
The larger woman easily knocked Briggite aside with a backhand to her face, the young woman smashed to the dirt with a pained grunt her none bursting with blood.
Upon seeing this Ser Rennifer steps forward to intervene but Darron gestures for him not to.
Brienne turns to Darron and bows "Apologies my lord" she says "I lost myself in the moment"
Darron pushes off the wall and walks towards his daughter, "What have I told you since you were young?"
Briggite jumps to her feet and wipes the blood from her nose "Every bruise is a reminder of what not to do"
Darron smiles and turns to Brienne "carry on" he says.
As two resume sparing Darron spots his wife and her brother who was guarding her standing a few feet away from him, Melane gesture for him to come to her "Our guests have arrived" she says grimly.
Darron nods, "Very well, let's get this over with"
As he walks past them Melane catches his arm "My lord I urge you one last time to reconsider"
Darron sighs "And I tell you one last time that we need them," he says "My king commanded me to bring the Martell's to justice, I can't do that without more men"
"She Is your daughter!" Melane protests.
"Do you suppose I need reminding of that!" Darron snaps "If there were any other way I would do it but there isn't"
"So you would trade your blood off just to gain approval from the king?" Melane snaps back.
Darron stares dagger's at his young wife "Careful my lady" he says "You seem to forget I am Lord of the Stormlands not you"
The fight disappears from Melane's eyes "Very well I will say no more"
Darron nods and tugs away from his arm "I'm glad to hear it"
Minutes later Darron has made his way to the great hall, where he finds two men waiting for him "Lord Tarly!" he calls as he approaches.
"Lord Flynn" Randyll Tarly responds "You have certainly adjusted to life as a lord"
"It's not hard to," Darron says with a smirk as he shakes the older lord's hand, he then turns to the younger man beside him "You must be...?"
"Dickon my lord" the man finishes.
"That's it," Darron says before turning to Lord Tarly "May I offer you wine? food,?
"I didn't come here to exchange pleasantries Lord Flynn"
Darron smiles "Very well, I'll cut to the point," he says before gesturing to the table, the three of them make themselves comfortable on the cushioned seats before Darron continues.
"As you know the king has tasked me with bringing the Martell's to justice" Darron starts "But unluckily for me, what's left of them are tucked in nice and safe at Sunspear, which means I have to go through Dorne to get to them"
Lord Randyll scoffs "Aegon the conquer couldn't defeat Dorne," he says "and he had three dragons"
"True" Darron nods "But during that time the Martell's had complete control over Dorne, they followed Oberyn into war but Oberyn is dead and his brother is….less respected"
Darron gestures for a servant to come, the boy brings a scroll and places it on the table and unrolls it, revealing a detailed map of Dorne "The Yronwoods have always had a feud with the Martells and recent events have not made it any better, Lord Anders is publicly criticizing Prince Doran's ability to rule"
"Is there a point to this" Randyll demands.
Darron continues "The Yronwoods control the boneway if I gained their support I would have a direct path to Sunspear but I would still need a lot more men…. That's where you come in Lord Tarly"
Randyll snickers "The king tasked you with this mission," he says "Why should I waste my men on you?"
"Power" Darron answers "The Reach once had regency rights over Dorne, I have the ear of the king I could help reenact those rights and once the Martells are gone you could rule as Lord of the reach and Steward of Dorne"
Lord Randyll considers this and leans forward "Alright Flynn" he says "You have my interest, but how do I know you won't betray me and take Dorne for yourself"
Darron smirks "Because, despite my change of status I am not an ambitious man, I have no interest in ruling both the Stormlads and Dorne, but to soothe your fears I offer marriage, my daughter Briggite to Your Son Dickon"
Dickon looks shocked by this and Randyll looks almost insulted "My son and heir to a bastard? you must be joking"
Darron clenches his fist but keeps calm "My daughter is no longer a bastard, she has legitimized by King Jon himself which also makes her my heir"
A look of realization passes Randyll face and Darron smiles "That's right my lord if all goes well your grandchild could be the ruler of the Reach, Dorne, and the Stormlands"
Lord Tarly smirks and stands "My lord you have yourself a deal"
Kind of a boring chapter, but I need to get through them so we can get to the good stuff, anyway see you guys next time