[Chapter Size: 2200 Words.]
Third Person POV.
White Harbor.
...
...
The scream of people running along the pier echoed, men jumped into the water even from their ships with various sounds of the water stirring with the impact of their bodies, while others leapt from the planks, some from the deck itself to reach the other side, clinging to anything that would not let them fall into the water, before running into the city, exclaiming in fear.
The enormous dragon was there, destroying the roof of one of the port warehouses, the tiles began to slide down its side, falling to the ground.
Daemon was on its back, staring at the entire frightened crowd, waiting for the Manderly men to appear.
Soon the port was completely empty, with several faces staring at them from a distance in places where they felt safer away from the creature. It took a while, but soon the guards arrived, hastily sent to the area where Daemon was, cautiously watching the enormous creature standing still.
Among the men was a Manderly whom Daemon recognized as Wendel, one who had withdrawn from the war by Robb's orders, remaining in White Harbor. His older brother, Wylis Manderly, had been killed at the Twins, but what drew attention were the other men coming right after, finding his uncle among them alongside Lord Royce.
Lord Stark's eyes trembled at the obvious sight of his nephew atop the enormous white dragon, calmly watching them. Daemon's purple gaze was fixed directly on his uncle's. Ned knew that his nephew, even after being saved in King's Landing, still sought vengeance and debts he had carried for a long time.
The men seemed uncertain about how to approach the creature, even stopping fifty meters away. The dragon stared at them angrily, and it would take only one command from its rider to act against everyone around that place.
Someone ran among the gathered crowd, it was Arya, who had fled after her father shouted for her to stay in the castle when he heard the enormous roar of the dragon coming from outside the walls, when it had landed at a distance, in Stannis's camp.
They were already preparing on the walls before the dragon itself had flown to the port, she had also fled, wanting to go to the walls to see the dragon and her cousin whom she hadn't seen since King's Landing, she ran towards the port behind her father's men in hiding.
Looking at her cousin from a distance mounted on the creature that looked like a version of Ghost, with white scales and red eyes, the wolf he had taken from Winterfell's barn along with a horse more than a year and a half earlier before her. Only now it was like a version of Ghost with wings, scales, and a size much greater than any direwolf could reach.
Arya couldn't help but swallow hard. She also worried about her father. Her cousin certainly hadn't come there with the best intentions.
"You are Daemon Targaryen!" Exclaimed the Manderly man, Wendel, taking a step forward, straining his voice to reach Daemon.
"You are right, my lord Manderly." Daemon answered with difficulty, his voice carrying across the place without needing to shout like the rider.
"Why did you invade the city of White Harbor? I don't recall our house being hostile to you, and we would even be going to Winterfell now if it weren't for our gates not being fully surrounded by Stannis's men!" shouted the Manderly man.
"I am not here to declare war on you or to do harm. I am sure we can settle the damages caused by my dragon." Daemon replied, pausing before continuing. "I am here only to have a brief conversation. I would like to speak first with the representatives of the Iron Bank who are in the city. If you do not mind having a dragon nearby, I give you my word that I will not harm them." Daemon said.
Wendel looked at one of his men and nodded. "Find them, give them the proposal. Tell them Daemon wants to speak with them." he ordered.
It was the only thing they could do; after all, there were two monsters there — one a giant with wings and dozens of tons, and the other, mounted on it, who could be as terrible as the first.
"Your majesty, I heard you drove all the Ironborn ships away and exterminated most of the northern barons." Lord Manderly said, after exchanging a look with Lord Stark, who had said nothing. It was not inviting; but he was going to ask about his children.
"Yes. The last resistance is on the western side of the realm, about five thousand men led by Tormund of the Free Folk and some members of House Tallhart," Daemon said once more.
"Jon!!" Lord Stark interrupted at that moment, and took a step forward.
Daemon narrowed his eyes. There was only one group of people who were called that, and Lord Stark was not among them — only people close enough who were called that by their friends in Skyrim. Thus there was a scowl on Daemon's face, as he always did when he heard that name from his uncle's mouth.
"You'd better call me Daemon, Lord Stark. I have told you that before." Daemon said, in a threatening tone. The audience swallowed hard; it seemed that, even after King's Landing, his nephew did not mind acting that way toward him. Nothing had changed. Ned knew, inwardly, that Daemon might be right and that he deserved all that anger.
"Daemon!!!" Lord Stark corrected him immediately, shouting: "My children! Robb is on his way to Winterfell and will arrive in the coming days. I also want to know about Bran and Rickon." he said in a careful and sorrowful tone.
"I said in the letters I sent across the North that I would never harm a child for the actions of his father." Daemon retorted. "I am not you, who treated me like a plague in Winterfell just because my parents made mistakes. You promised you would take care of me because of my mother, but you did not. However, do not compare me to you. I do not act like that... even if those children are the sons of the man who hated me and mistreated me when I was a child!" Daemon snarled, leaving the men quite uneasy.
"Robb arrived at Winterfell this very day. Before I came here, I offered him your old room, bread and salt. Your other two youngest sons are coming from the North; they are being cared for by Benjen Stark, and your brother is coming with them," added Daemon, despite the many looks upon him.
Daemon's fury against Lord Stark was quite famous in the North and the Seven Kingdoms at that point, and for that reason many lords were cautious, but hearing these words while Lord Stark recoiled revealed much.
"I also want to speak with you, Lord Stark, but after I speak with both the representatives of the Iron Bank and with Lord Manderly." Daemon informed, as a group of men approached and the guards made space. Daemon nodded and rose from the dragon's back before leaping, landing heavily on the roof and then jumping to the ground from a height of about six meters, falling calmly and without seeming hurt — the men, astonished, saw his abilities for the first time; it was unsettling.
Daemon stepped away from the dragon and walked through the port, now completely empty. This encouraged the representatives of the Iron Bank to approach.
"King Daemon Targaryen, it is good to see you again; it hardly seems that so much time has passed." Said one of the men from the Bank, who preserved a lasting impression before those men.
The deal made had been that Daemon should present his strength — a strength capable of reclaiming the Iron Throne or placing him in its seat at King's Landing — and they would support him.
At the time, they did not because they wanted some guarantee; Daemon had said that all would see in the coming days. That happened when the Wall fell and one hundred and eighty thousand free folk moved south; with him atop a dragon, there was no better proof than that.
At least, at the time, we cut all financing to any other king who sought the Iron Bank, waiting for Daemon to appear and ensure he would pay the Crown's debts, besides having the best claim to the throne the bank could support.
"Hello, ser Tycho Nestoris. It is Tycho Nestoris, correct?" Daemon asked with a smile, trying to recall his name.
"Yes, my lord." Tycho replied, opening a cheerful smile. "We were quite surprised when we heard about your conquest of the Wall and the army you brought. It was quite peculiar, but soon the stories came: you defeating your enemies one after the other. Not even Stannis had a chance when you burned all his ships. And this dragon, she is a female, isn't she? She is a magnificent beast. I never imagined I would see one of these creatures in my life after the war between the Targaryen family. After all, they were all extinct..." He said, turning his gaze to face Daemon.
"I thank you for your words, my lord. If you want guarantees, I have shown them. In any case, I would like to invite you to a formal meeting at Winterfell — I do not want to discuss anything serious here. There we will be able to formalize any support and contract before the other northern lords." Daemon said, while the men exchanged glances for a moment.
"My lord, we would very much like to attend a meeting; however, there is an army on the other side of these walls' gates." said Tycho, carefully, offering a cautious smile.
"Do not worry about that. I had a little conversation with Stannis before coming here. I can be quite convincing with him. I will demand that he clear a path for you to pass and I will oversee so that he does not interfere. Otherwise, I burn fire on them and seize their ships." John explained, while the men whispered, asking whether they should accept or not.
They turned to Daemon. "If you guarantee our safety, we will do it." said Tycho at last, and Daemon felt satisfied. They were men of the Iron Bank; no one of that sort acted without thinking twice — even if the bank was already declaring support for Daemon, it was not wise to provoke them. Not having the Iron Bank's support in the future would be even more dangerous than not having it now. So Daemon thought not only to send the bank's representatives, but everyone who needed to be present at the meeting.
If Daemon could gather all the necessary men, the lords' meeting would make many things easier: he would need Lord Manderly, Lord Stark, and the Iron Bank representatives to resolve pending matters and judge those who owed explanations. All the North's problems would be handled at that meeting in Winterfell.
"Guaranteeing your safety has my word. You may go — I want to speak with Lord Manderly now." Daemon said, as they withdrew and followed where the men spoke directly with Lord Manderly, who swallowed hard. The man did not seem courageous, but he sighed and stepped forward.
At the same time, someone ran through the alleys near the dock and stepped out alone, staring at Daemon and the dragon. Daemon turned his gaze to the girl, raising an eyebrow.
"You're here!" she said, pointing at the dragon. "He is huge… she is, isn't she?" she asked, curious, as Lord Manderly approached Daemon.
"Arya, get out of there!" exclaimed Lord Stark upon seeing his daughter in front with stunned eyes.
"Yes, that dragon is a… she." Daemon smiled.
"So Bran and Rickon are well? Robb arrived at Winterfell?" she repeated the same words Daemon had said before, but with youthful curiosity, still wanting to hear it from Daemon's own mouth.
"Everything I said before is true. Your brothers are well. I do not intend to hurt anyone — but my business is with your father, and only with him. But do not expect mercy; your father will pay for what he did to me." Daemon said, making Arya frown.
"And Sansa? Do you know anything about Sansa?" she asked, ignoring Daemon's threat. "Is she with your father?"
"A little. She is still imprisoned in King's Landing; that is all I know." he replied.
Daemon certainly knew that Lady Stark's likeness was suffering mistreatment in the capital. He had sent his birds not only to deliver the letter, but to be his eyes and ears.
The court in King's Landing was in despair — the old lion was in despair, the Queen of Thorns was agitated and almost remorseful. The Red Keep was restless; everyone noticed that the queen mother had not been well since Daemon had exacted certain satisfactions, she had become a rather cruel woman after Daemon's runes not only took away touch, but also other senses, like smell and taste.
Arya stared at him for a moment, nodded and then ran to her father, while Lord Manderly passed near her, looking cautiously.
"Lord Manderly, let us have a little talk. After all, I asked your house to take care of the food stocks I sent here, did I not? If you had looked after them, you would be well rewarded, but that does not seem to be the case from what I could see... Everything that has happened so far was planned by me and I expected we would reach this point; I will collect this from you." Daemon said, in a threatening tone, and Lord Manderly swallowed hard.
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