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(Picture - Aeden Black)
Once the peace had been restored and the masters dealt with, Aeden asked for a gathering in the middle of the city in the same evening.
The skies were purple and gray at the same time, the wind gathering speed as the night was crackling in.
Torches and large mystical burning objects were lighting up the entire city, the long darkened streets and corners of the markets and living quarters being brought back to life with each passing moment.
Many people were lost during the madness unleashed by the craze of the living embers, but many lives have also been saved.
The White Guard managed to lose a considerable amount of enchanters on the front, but nothing a large army such as theirs to not be able to recover from. It would cost resources to train and regain the numbers, but all that was gained outweighed the costs.
As the free folk of Valheen gathered in the middle market area, northerner guards kept the city in check. No one knew what connections the masters had, and especially, no one had any idea of how the other city, far to the West would react to the news of Valheen being liberated.
They could very well decide to lay siege themselves or stay quiet for a while. In both cases, Aeden had no intention to leave the city defenseless. He and his mages set wards and arcane bombs all over the boundaries around Valheen. A good percentage of the White Guard’s spellcasters would stay behind once the Lord Commander and the rest returned in the North. They would guard and control the city in their absence answering to the Lord in the North and his orders only.
“Milord,” one of the mages addressed himself to Aeden as they were heading for the market. “The wards are in place, and our golems were put dormant all around the city.”
“Very good,” Aeden told the man as they made their way through the crowd. “I don’t want anything like last night to happen ever again. You’ll do everything to keep this city safe Haleron. I trust you with that.”
“Milord.” Haleron bowed as he watched Aeden climb the stairs which led to the temples above the mountain.
He stopped half way turning around as he faced the crowd.
He could see fear and both respect in their eyes, but most of them were unsure how well would this new rule, and at the same time new ruler over their city be. Will it bring them prosperity and peace? Probably not. But it would bring them a better life, a safer one. One without slavery and inhumane acts. It would give them freedom.
“Citizens of Valheen.” Aeden began as he glanced over Drah’kar flying above the city, far above. “We have not come here to conquer. We are not your masters, and we shall never take their example or their traditions. The North doesn’t abide by any Eastern rules, and we will never take away anyone’s freedom. You’re born with it, and you shall die in peace with it. In order for you, the free folk of this city to respect us, we must do the same to you. We must respect each other, and work together in order to prosper and build a better world. The Lord of the North, Kol Velaryon, demands nothing from you. Live your lives as you’ve done until now, and be sure that we will keep this city safe. Away from the masters and anyone who dares raise a weapon against us. All I ask of you is to obey and respect our Lord Velaryon and his rule.”
When Aeden finished his speech his gaze lowered toward the crowd, glancing at Isaac, Haleron and the others from the White Guard suddenly a female raised her voice and shouted.
“For Kol Valeryon, the true Lord of the North!”
Some turned their attention toward her, with surprise displayed on their faces. Some just stood there, but not for long.
“For Kol Valeryon! The True Lord of the North!” They started cheering. “For the Lord in the North!”
**
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“I am leaving with nothing to bring home,” Aeden told Isaac as they were heading for the way gate outside the city.
“You’re bringing a regained city milord. And future allies.”
“They will need to regrow and expand first. Few of them are capable of using magic, and even fewer are fit for battle, captain.”
“Still a victory. We did as you asked. We did as our Lord asked.”
“That we did,” Aeden told him as they stopped in front of the cliff looking back at the city. “I hope they’ll be safe when we’re gone.”
“The city rests in the White Guards hands milord, they shall do their best to protect them.”
“Aye.”
As they finished talking, their attention was caught by the dragon above them heading off into the West roaring powerfully as he disappeared in the stormy clouds.
Drah’kar was not fit to travel with the rest of the Guard since his sheer size would not allow him to pass through the way gate. He would be home in two days anyhow.
** Ramin Djawadi – Winter is Here
A hazy shade of winter covered almost the entire Northern pastures, the icy view of the land reflecting its snowy beauty in everyone’s eyes. Wherever they looked.
The winds have stopped blowing at Skyhold, but the cold air outside was more than enough to freeze anyone who would dare travel alone and without supplies, out in the wilderness.
The trees were frozen solid as their bark changed its colors from dark brown to a whiter gray. Quiet and peacefulness ruled over the northern lands as the cold winter had set in. Smoke trails were rising from the villages close to the immense castle, the houses’ chimneys giving life to the lands below.
Farmers and gardeners were all tending to their animals and wheat, setting them in their shelters preparing for the long winter that had to come.
Many meisters said that the long winter would come one day, but no one believed it would set in sooner than it was predicted.
It could be the longest winter in the history of all kingdoms and it would also be the harshest.
As Kol entered the frozen gardens below the main keep, he stopped in the middle of the paved path inhaling deeply. He could feel the icy cold air enveloping his lungs, his sky blue eyes reflecting the large frozen branches above him.
He felt no cold, wearing his large wolf pelt coat. The coat covered most parts of his neck’s back, flowing down almost to his feet, its large dimension insulating every part of his body.
The snow below his feet crunched and shifted as he stepped further, stopping in front of a large gravel statue. It didn’t symbolize anyone or anything in particular. It had a weird shape and at the same time, it wasn’t the most beautiful hand crafted statue ever seen. But it had a purpose and symbol behind it.
He knelt in front of it taking off one of his gloves. His fingers swept gently under a snow lily’s pure white petals as he smiled.
The lilys grew only around the gravel statue; masking their presence and their existence in the coats of snow, their fragile bodies, and flowers resembling the white environment almost completely.
They were very rare flowers, found only in a few restrained locations far in the North; used only for white magical practices and their incredible healing capabilities. It was written once in a meister’s notes, that a snow lily could remove and cure any corruption, illness or infection. The means of how were never revealed nor written anywhere, but they were believed to be true.
“I was almost sure I’d find you here.” He heard a very familiar voice coming from the large garden’s entrance.
He didn’t turn to look, as he kept looking at the snow lily in front of him.
“It didn’t go as planned, or so I’ve heard,” Kol told Aeden slowly putting his glove back.
“I apologize Your Grace.” Aeden shortly replied bending the knee in the frozen snow.
Kol turned to face him without taking a step further.
“The city is safe?” He asked Aeden looking at him expressionless.
“Yes. We’ve rebuilt what was lost in the battle, and saved as many as we could. The wards and golems are in place, and they are a shadow raven away from us.”
“Good.” Was Kol’s answer as he started walking toward Aeden. He stopped a few steps away, watching him as he kneeled. “Get up.” He said in a low tone.
Aeden was now wearing the same clothes as Kol was, his lips red from the short and abrupt temperature change due to the way gate travel.
They looked at each other seriously, both their eyes studying each other deeply.
“I am just glad you’re safe,” Kol told him as he embraced his closest friend strongly.
“I am glad I am safe as well,” Aeden replied laughing shortly.
“I am also glad I didn’t listen to you,” Kol added as they were still holding each other’s shoulders. “If it wouldn’t have been for Drah’kar you would have pissed yourself in the middle of the chaos.”
Aeden didn’t find the right words to reply.
“You don’t do well when taken by surprise do you?” He asked Aeden. “One of your less endeavoring ‘traits’,” Kol told him smiling. “If I could say so.”
“Thank you,” Aeden replied in the same tone.
Kol took a step back as he raised his gaze toward the gray sky.
“Do you believe the Great Winter has truly come?” He asked Aeden as he gazed upwards.
Aeden took a few steps further stopping behind Kol as he lost himself watching the immense valley below the castle.
“I am afraid I cannot say. But if it did, we might as well be sure we’re ready. The long night was prophesized a long, long time ago. Not sure how many of the meisters scribble’s we can trust, but I am somewhat sure of what they wrote about ten or fifteen years ago, can be considered at least close to being accurate.”
Kol lowered his gaze as he turned to face Aeden.
“I will go to the Fortress. Lord Commander Greywatch asked for my presence.”
“Wait, why? Why would you go to the Fortress?”
“We both know Greywatch doesn’t ask for such things if it’s not something either completely necessary or something he cannot wrap his head around.”
“It might as well be nothing. You and I both know what the winds far up beyond the wall can do to a man.” Aeden tried to make sense of what Kol wanted to do.
“We do,” Kol replied as he took a step further stopping in front of his friend. “But we also know, what the North CAN do to a man, and gods know how many things we don’t know of yet. Things and places we haven’t seen.”
“With all respect Your Grace, Kol, whatever name you want to be addressed with. I strongly advise you not to go.”
“And what do you want me to do?”
“Nothing,” Aeden answered in a cold tone. “Sometimes doing nothing is better. Let me send a shadow raven back and ask for a less ambiguous explanation.”
Kol sighed lowering his gaze as he looked at the snow lily.
“Sometimes doing nothing is worse than trying and failing, dear friend. You are my Hand, in my absence Skyhold and the North are yours. Be the warden I’ve always wanted you to be.”
And as he finished saying those words, Kol turned around and made his way toward the gate leaving Aeden to reflect on his words, and the only reply he could give:
“I will…”
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