11 Sacrifice

I stood up, dusting my sleeves with a sword in my hand ready to strike, in front of me stood Lorel with his sword already drawn. 'Again' he said and lunged at me.

I ducked under his strike, while thrusting my sword toward him, he weaved out of my attack, and i was expecting that. I changed my grip and brought my sword backwards towards him, he smirked and parried it with the pommel of his sword, while i tried to bash him, but stopped as i felt the cold steel up my neck.

I sighed, i still could not beat him. He could predict my attacks easily. Seeing my expression, he laughed at me, 'you still have a long way to go to beat me'.

'Again' he said, and i lunged.

The earlier bouts had exhausted me. For nearly more than sixteen years, this had been my life, while i knew i was good, i also knew that i would be destroyed against elite warriors. All i could do was stall them, but that was good too, i lacked experience of a real life or death combat. While i had my fair share of fights, i was never in real danger. I was deemed too important, to risk my life like that. And it became obivious, when facing the elites.

No use thinking about it though, as i opened a book and started reading. Books on noteworthy battles, and on battle strategy were my focus. The book was a dull read, but i continued on, as there were many notable battle commanders, who were tried and tested in wars. Stannis Baratheon, Randyll Tarly, Bryden Tully, and many others. Even Tyrion Lannister had proven himself at the battle of Blackwater bay. So i was reading, all available books to me on battles, and Jon Connington was tutoring me on battle tactics. Contrary to my beliefs, there are various noteworthy battle strategies and formations. I was able to recall various war formations from watching movies, as they are implemented here too. I had thought that, they will be quite unaware of advanced military tactics, but it appears i was wrong. Another thing of intrest was that, Essos was more advanced than Westeros in warfare. I think it's because wars occur more frequently over here, and there is a stiff competiton between mercenary companies.

The door to my room opened, and Daenerys strode in. She was distressed, i could tell that.

"So what was it this time, Danny, did you dream of Illyrio this time."

She pouted, as she never liked me making fun of her. As a child, she was scared of Illyrio. She had asked why Illyrio was so large, when i had told her that he ate little children who made mischief, she used to run whenever he would come near us back then.

"It was not HIM, remember i was telling you about my dream, when the red comet appeared. In my dream i saw statutes of dragons. They were so lifelike, that for one moment i mistook them for real ones. And when i wanted to move, i realized i was frozen. When i looked down, i saw that my legs had turned to stone. Slowly my whole body was being petrified, i tried to look towards the dragons, but they were gone. When a shadow fell over me, i raised my head and saw them circling each other in the air.

They then glided down in front of me, i tried to touch them, but my hand passed through them like they were a phantom.

It was then i realized, i was no longer petrified. They then once again took flight and vanished into the skies. I woke up, after that.

Since we had returned to Pentos, she had been having these dreams. Some times, it was a sea of fire, some times it was flying in the skies, she always heard a song, which she could not remember. But she never had a dream like this, and with the appearance of the Red Comet, i know what had to be done. It may be an instinct or whatever it was it only strengthened my belief in what i was going to do.

The camps had been removed, it was just few days earlier that this area was bustling with activity. We were prepared to leave for Valyria today.

We had discussed with the leaders of the golden company for quite a long time, Jon Connington was accompanying us, along with some members of the golden company.

Our days were spent in this manner, as we travelled through Essos. We travelled through the Rhoyne river, towards Valyria.

"Lord Connington, have you made the prepartions."

"I have, your grace, but i urge you to reconsider, our men are wary to be anywhere near the Sorrows. They say it is a cursed place. Especially the city of Chroyane with it's Palace of Love and Bridge of Dreams."

"I know, but it is necessary. And we have a long way to go. What about ships, can we get them at Volantis. I don't want to spend much of our time over there."

"Illyrio is on his way to Volantis, he will procure them for us. In fact he was glad, about it. Just what had you asked him earlier, that spooked him."

"Something we need, that is the reason we are going to Chroyane. Our journey is going to be a long one, but are we prepared for it."

"The journey may be perilious, but we will always find a way."

Daenerys

Something was diffrent this time, she could feel it. She had travelled through various cities in her life, but this time something was strange. Viserys was excited, it was a rare thing for him to lose his composure. She had never seen him display such emotion, as he always kept them in check. She could not remember much about her childhood, but Viserys remembered it. He only lost his composure, whenever he was dealing with something concerning Westeros. It was difficult to read, as her brother kept his stony facade on. But over the years she had come to learn how to grasp it. Whatever her brother was going to do, she was sure it was related to Westeros.

And that confused her, from what she knew they were going near Chroyane. It was a ruin, which everyone feared to enter. Which raised the question, why would her brother plan to go near it.

But he had remained tight lipped about it, no one knew exactly what was going on. Her brother, normally would tell her about his plans, but this time he had not even told her. It made her feel uneasy, and the uneasiness only increased as the time went by. They were getting closer and closer, to Chroyane. And it was not only her, but the rest of their company too felt that way. But they carried on, and soon they could see the Chroyane.

We had finally reached near Chroyane, it was a long journey. But i was in a hurry, because the red comet had finally arrived.

Even now, i could see it blazing in the sky. It was getting bigger and brighter day by day, and i cannot lose this window of oppurtunity.

We set up a camp near the river bank, i could see the ruins of the city from here.

The soldiers were setting a perimeter, around our camp. I could see them running about and shouting orders, but there was a discipline, that they followed.

A sense of order could be seen to a trained eye, in their frantic movements.

I am feeling quite anxious too, wondering about the deviations to the story that i had made already and it's impact.

The hatching of dragons is paramount to my plans, and also my survival. For the first time since arriving in Westeros, i will be putting my life in jeopardy. And death by burning is not a good way to go.

Winterfell

The royal party had arrived a few days earlier, and it was not as he expected it to be. The demon of the trident was a fat drunkard, the queen was beautiful but not pleased to be here, and the crown prince was a prick. He had not seen much of the other royal children. The kingslayer was arrogant, but he felt more like a king then the king himself. The imp confused him, he insulted and then advised him, so he was unsure about him.

Robb was going to be the acting lord of winterfell now, Sansa was never close to him, Bran his heart clenched when he thought of him, he had fallen from the broken tower and was unconscious and no one knew when he would wake up. Arya was well Arya, as wild as ever. She had loved needle though, he had known she would have liked it. Rickon was a little guy, always in tow with Lady Catelyn, he avoided thinking about her. Father was going to be the hand of the king now, he knew father would do it. There was nothing, that father couldn't do. He always felt himself small in front of his father, he was like the wall to him. Always protecting him, and he had lived in his father's shadow for his entire life. A part of him was scared while the other excited, he was going to become his own man now. While he doubted he could ever surpass his father, but he wished he could make him proud.

Uncle Benjen had told him, that in the night's watch everything must be earned, and being a bastard or a trueborn changed nothing there. This was his chance, to prove himself to show everyone, that he was not just a bastard, but someone worthy and that the blood of the Starks flowed through him too.

Chroyane

The preparations were done now, we had captured three of them. It was difficult but we managed to do it, they could really not be redeemed though. Nothing more than mindless beasts, it made me curious though. How did such a curse came into existence, there was a legend about Prince Garin. That he was the one who was the progeny of the curse, but it was not a concrete evidence though. According to the legend, Price Garin led two hundred and fifty thousand men to their deaths against the Valyrians, in order to stop them. He was named Garin the Great for giving the Valyrians pause, the men of Valyria hung Garin in a golden cage and brought him to Chroyane, so he could witness the city's destruction. Garin allegedly called upon Mother Rhoyne to destroy them. The Valyrians mocked him, however that very night, the waters rose from the river Rhoyne and drowned the invaders of Chroyane. From that day, the spirits of the fallen conquerors have said to have remained beneath the waters, it is believed that their cold breath is still said to rise from the murk, to make the fogs that surround the ruined city of Chroyane, in the sorrows. They who were once the lords of fire, were turned to stone in their flesh as their stony hearts.

Chroyane was the largest dumping ground, for those who were affected by greyscale. Mercy galleys are often sent with food, however they bring more stonemen than food though.

The mists continued to rise in our surroundings, as the trail of comet and moonlight clashed in the night.

And the preparations were nearly done for the resurrection of dragons.

The Blood for Sacrifice is ready i just need the Fire.