Chapter 134 (Patreon)
Content
It was liberating to burn away my fears, or to be more accurate, to burn away my emotional baggage, with the fire engulfing me, I felt peace, peace within myself, I was finally free of the chains I had put on my own mind. I was finally free.
*That was awesome,* Neltharion hissed, excitedly.
“It was,” I chuckled, seeing the ashes that were all that remained front the training camp, good thing I trained here only with Neltharion.
*Free you are, move forward you must, Yrsss.* Roda commented, flying above me.
*I knew you had it you motherfucker,* Nick Fury cawed, happily.
Now all I had to do was train my mind and body to face the last wall between me and peace, for I had to be ready to burn everything on my path to achieve that.
With determination, I focused on bending the flames of the infernal fire within me, combining it with the natural flames that still lingered around the training camp, noticing that now it was surprisingly easier, after all, I had nothing stopping the flames within me from burning away.
“It seems I can now summon the flames with ease,” I smirked, as I held a fireball within my hand.
*Once you break that wall, the fire spreads, setting your very core in flames,* Neltharion hissed, *You started a fire, within the forest of your soul, a fire that can't be put down, that's how our fire works.*
A fire within the forest of my soul, huh, Neltharion has a knack for poetry, “I don’t mind, it’s mine anyways,” I smiled, this fire, was mine, I made it mine.
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[Ned Stark POV]
I had finally arrived at the wall, concern being my motivator, with the North being the first line of defense, things were very dire, the others could come at any second now, and we barely had a plan, not that I blame Ronard, he was fighting and planning two wars at the same time, if anything, I respect him even more.
A because I respected him and cared for the North, I was concerned that my plans alone would prove to be useless against the others, but it's better to try and fail, than to simply accept defeat.
“Lord Stark, to what do we owe this pleasant visit?” Allister, the current Lord commander of the night’s watch, said taking a small bow.
“I want to see the state of the wall, I have some concerns about it,” I answered going straight to the point.
“It would be an honor to give you a tour,” Allister smiled, as he gestured to me with one hand to follow him.
As I followed I noticed the deplorable state the watch was, nothing but a few warriors, and they didn’t look like much, no wonder Ronard tasked me with this…. As how the wall is now… there is no way they can withstand an attack.
“As you can see… the wall has seen better days, but I’m making sure things go back to the old days of glory,” Allister commented as she showed me around.
“Where is my brother?” I inquired.
“He is cleaning the stables,” Allister answered, as he kept walking.
“I need to talk with him,” Why was the first ranger of the night’s watch cleaning stables? That didn’t make any sense, Benjen was one of the best and most trusted members of the watch, something here was wrong.
“He is busy right now, Lord Stark, we can’t have him lose focus now can we?” Allister smiled, but there was some venom on his voice.
“I want to see my brother, now,” I ordered.
“Like I said… he is busy Lord Stark… need I remind you… only the King can order me?” Allister grinned, “Now do you want that tour… or do you want to leave? Either way your brother is busy,”
How fucking dare he?! “I have come here… under my King’s command, Ronard Mormont, first of his name, breaker of chains, father of dragons, son of the north, King of Essos, and the ruler of the known world, you will lead me to my brother, or I will break this castle down finding him, your choice,”
“I know no King by that name,” Allister hissed at me.
“I will take that as treason,” I growled, unsheathing my blade, “I am the King’s justice in the north, and you will taste my steel,”
“The King Joffrey will not allow this,” Allister barked, as he too unsheathed his blade.
“Protect Lord Stark!” My soldiers shouted, readying their swords.
“Threatening a lord… really, did you hit your head with my old desk that much…” I knew that voice, Jeor Mormont, the former Lord Commander of the Watch.
“He might be a lord, but he doesn’t hold any power here, only the King does and he seems to be believing your grandson is the King,” Allister smirked, “A delirious thought, that’s for sure,”
“Insulting the King, is a crime that is paid with life itself,” I would not let anyone disrespect Ronard, I owe him my life, and much more. I was a knight of his round table, that alone meant something.
“So my grandson manage to do it… impressive,” Jeor Mormont commented, “Stand down Allister, you are making a fool out of yourself with all this charade,”
“You no longer hold power over me, Jeor, so stay out of this,” Allister barked at Jeor, as he started to walk towards me with his blade ready, “I promised to protect the wall from its enemies, and Lord Stark is an enemy of the crown------!” but someone stopped him, one of the watch members behind him approached him silently and using a long knife, he opened the throat of the commander making the former fall on his knees, holding his throat tight with desperation with no avail. Allister blood ran out onto his clothes, and a few seconds later of slow agony, he died.
“A man talked too much…” The watch member commented, looking at me, “A man works with Ronard, so a man has no need to fight you,”
“Who are you?” Jeor Mormont inquired, with concern.
“A man has no name, but a man is known as a faceless man,” The man answered.
“Why did you kill him?” I asked, not that I wasn’t going to do it myself.
“We have no time… to waste with this type of person…. Time is of essence, and we must act,” The man answered.
“He killed our commander!” One of the night watch soldiers growled angrily.
“He tried to clash blades with a Lord that was sent by the King himself… he was dead a long time ago,” Jeor Mormont sighed, “Now… you wanted to see your brother Lord Stark?”
I looked at Jeor for a second before nodding, “Aye, would you take me to him?”
“Sure, though I can’t walk as fast as I would like… but you can tell me about my grandson along the way… breaker of chains… what an interesting title he has,” Jeor Mormont chuckled.
“It would be my pleasure,” I smiled.
“To think my grandson would clean the family name to such extent, truly the best possible thing I could ask for,” Jeor Mormont smiled, “Now follow me, your brother is a bit far away from here… for me at least,”