Chapter 3: The Year Before It Went Down Hill

Year 281 AC

It has been two years since that day the knights I wished for from God arrived at Frosthold, although everyone was frightened at first and thought they were under attack. Once my father went out to grasp the situation and found out they were here to pledge allegiance to me, it was safe to say that he could not speak a word for the rest of the day due to the shock of it all.

(Flashback two years ago, Tharren's POV)

Making his way on top of the walls over the front gate, the first thing that kept in Tharren's sight was a contingent of well-equipped knights on the finest horses he had ever seen. Seeing them stationed below in an orderly formation was intimidating, to say the least, as he had no idea what they could be here for, and he was sure he had not offended anyone as of late.

As Tharren was lost in his thoughts, one of the thirteen knights in front of the contingent stepped out of line and came closer to the front gate, only stopping a few paces away before speaking.

" Lord Tharren, we have come from distant lands on order from the Old Gods to serve our Lord and his family until his last day and ours." the Knight shouted firmly but with respect.

Feeling a little perplexed at the sudden statement, Tharren could not help but be puzzled at what was happening. 'The Old Gods sent them to serve me and my family? Is this true? A million questions started going through his mind before he gathered himself enough to ask in return.

"Are you sure the Old Gods ordered you to come to the far North to serve me and my family?" 

But what the Knight said in response shocked and confused him even more.

"I think you have misunderstood, my Lord. We are not here to serve you but for young master Aerian as he shall be the gods chosen champion in the coming years, and we shall be there to aid him in his endeavors."

Hearing what the unknown Knight said subverted his worldview, as his son was only three days old right now and had not even been out of the vicinity of the Aurelius lands. So, was this caused by the Old Gods choosing him as their champion? ' But then, it raises another question: Their champion for what or against who? Either way, I am not sure I will like the answer.

(Flashback end)

Looking back at it now, it must have been a crazy time for my parents to digest everything that was happening, but it all worked out for the better since our house now has a thousand more very well-trained and skilled contingent of knights that make us a significant force in the North more than we already were.

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(present time, Frosthold, Training Yard)

The training yard of Frosthold Keep was alive with the rhythmic clang of metal on metal and the shouts of men honing their skills. Today, however, attention was drawn to an unusual pair: Ser Gareth, a veteran knight known for his unmatched skill, and young Aerian Aurelius, a five-year-old boy whose natural talent and mysterious gift had already become the subject of hushed whispers throughout the keep.

Adrian stood in the center of the yard, clutching a wooden practice sword. His eyes, sharp and focused beyond his years, studied Ser Gareth intently. The Knight, though imposing in his armor, regarded the boy with a mixture of curiosity and respect.

"Are you ready, young lord?" Ser Gareth asked, his voice steady and encouraging.

Aerian nodded, his small hands gripping the hilt of his sword with surprising confidence. "Yes, Ser Gareth. I'm ready."

The Knight gave a nod, signaling the start of their sparring session. Ser Gareth began with a basic strike aimed at Aerian's left side, fully expecting to guide the boy through the motions. However, to his astonishment, Aerian reacted with the speed and precision of a seasoned fighter, raising his sword to block the strike perfectly.

"Impressive," Ser Gareth murmured, quickly adapting his approach. He followed up with more complex attacks, testing the boy's reflexes and technique. Each time, Aerian met him with flawless counters, his movements fluid and intuitive.

"How...?" Ser Gareth began, but Aerian was already on the move, launching a counterattack that forced the Knight to backpedal. The boy's strikes were precise, each aimed with a purpose that belied his age.

The onlookers, initially skeptical, now watched in awe as Aerian matched Ser Gareth blow for blow. The Knight, realizing he was dealing with something extraordinary, decided to push the limits further. He executed an advanced maneuver that would test even the most skilled sworders.

Aerian's eyes seemed to flash with understanding, and he mirrored the move perfectly, his wooden sword clashing against Ser Gareth's with a resounding crack. The Knight, now fully engaged, couldn't help but smile despite his growing astonishment.

"You're a natural, Aerian," Ser Gareth said, his tone a mix of admiration and curiosity. "But this... this is something more than talent."

Aerian, breathing steadily, lowered his sword slightly. "I just... know. When I see a move, I understand it completely."

Ser Gareth nodded, accepting the explanation even if he didn't fully understand it. He resumed the spar, this time mixing in feints and unpredictable strikes. Aerian responded with the same uncanny mastery, quickly adapting to each new challenge.

Minutes passed, and what began as a training session had evolved into a display of pure skill and mastery. Finally, Ser Gareth called for a halt, lowering his sword and stepping back.

"Enough," he said, his voice tinged with exhaustion and admiration. "You have a gift, Aerian, unlike any I've ever seen. But remember, with great skill comes great responsibility. You must use your talents wisely."

Aerian nodded, his expression serious. "I understand Ser Gareth. Thank you for teaching me."

The Knight placed a hand on Aerian's shoulder. "It's an honor, young Lord. I look forward to seeing the great things you will achieve."

As the sun continued its ascent, casting a warm glow over Frosthold Keep, the training yard buzzed with the excitement of what they had witnessed. Young Aerian Aurelius, with his remarkable gift, had taken his first steps toward a destiny that promised nothing short of legendary.

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After washing up and getting rid of all the sweat, dirt, and grime from his daily sword training, Aerian went to the dining hall to have dinner with his parents and younger sister. Loreth Aurelius was born in 280AC and is now a one-name day-old babe.

'Ah, how time flies'. He thought to himself, letting out a small chuckle.

Arriving at the door to the dining hall, the guards stationed at the door gave a slight bow before opening the doors. He gave a slight nod in return and continued to walk inside.

"Greeting Mother, Father, and to you too, little Lor," he said, kissing baby Loreth's head as he passed by his mother, who was in her arms, causing the baby to giggle. This also earned Lady Lilliana a smile as she was happy that she had a wonderful family.

Looking at his son, Tharren nodded proudly at his eldest. "I heard what happened in the training yard today; it seems that my son is going to be quite the swordsman and warrior when he's older," he said with a smile.

"It's nothing, Father. I'm just doing it to the best of my ability as I should." Aerian replied with a slight shake of his head, a smile edged on his lips.

"Haha, as that may be, it is still wonderful to hear when you make accomplishments that other children your age could not hope to achieve, speaking of how are your projects going along?" his father asked with intrigue.

Swallowing the food in his mouth and drinking some water to wash it down, Aerian wiped his mouth and replied, "They are going pretty well; the hundred soldiers that you gave me have been progressing smoothly and probably have already caught to the lower ranks of those of the knights and should be ready to be indoctrinated into them by next year at the latest. On the other hand, Maester Thalric and I have been doing experiments to create a soap that has been fruitful and should be ready within two moons to be sold and traded with the merchants and other houses."

He said, giving a detailed report of what had been going on over the past year. He had been utilizing his training system to train a hundred soldiers fast, tracking their progress to the level of the rank knights, and using his knowledge of science from earth to create soap to start generating more income for the house, as they would need it in the years to come.

"That's good; I am proud of you, son. Now, onto other matters, this message has just come in today from Lord Stark." Tharren handed in a letter with the Stamp of House Stark on it.

Unfolding the letter and reading it, Aerian's brows furrowed a bit as he realized the gravity of the situation that would occur in the realm. "A tourney at Harrenhal castle, huh? And shall we be attending, father?" Aerian asked, closing the letter and placing it back on the table, sliding it to his father's side. 

"We should, as all the other houses of the North are sending representatives to join Lord Stark on his way down south to the tourney," he said, although you could hear the reluctance in his voice. As honorable as House Stark is, The recent generations haven't been up to the standards they should be as wardens of the North.

"How many of us?"

"Me, you, your uncle Dorian and 50 knights"

"I will have Ser Lancelot pick out his 50 finest and have the rest of the round table stay here to guard the keep."

" I will never understand why you insist on calling yourselves that silly name."

"Trust me, Father, one day that name will echo throughout the realm and across the seas to the east along with the name of House Aurelius," Adrian said with a glint that showed his determination to make it happen in the future.