The Greedy Frog
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Hey, I Ruin Stories! Chapter 46
🕑 Added 2024-06-21 13:53:57 +0000 UTCChapter 46: To the Cold Desert
[Five Days Later — The Small Council, Red Keep]
Beyond the issues of finances and the rising crime rate, we have one more issue to consider, Your Grace.”
Joffrey, the young king, seemed the least interested in any of these matters, and it didn't take a genius to know that he was only a puppet, a cover while someone else ruled from behind.
“It is not the first time Westeros has seen such uprisings, and it will not be the last. We will be unscathed,” the Queen scoffed. “Her army might be a hundred thousand strong, but how many of them are trained warriors? How many have been to real war, and how many can face the might of the royal army?”
“She has three dragons, Your Grace,” Grand Maester Pycelle tried to reason with the Queen.
“Lizards, smaller than a human child.” Her statement silenced everyone, but the acting Hand of the King looked toward me.
“That can only be confirmed by our sorcerer friend,” Tyrion smiled at me. “Isn't that right, Darius?”
Finally, I was to add my two cents to this meeting.
The Small Council, a council held to inform the king about everything happening within and outside the kingdom, was held in the presence of the king and every individual that held powerful positions within the kingdom.
As for me, I was the only sorcerer in the room—purely magic-focused, unlike the maesters.
So, I too was invited to be a part—despite the Queen’s little suspicion.
“The dragons,” I began, considering I was made a part of this meeting, “are small, as my lady here said."
This made the Queen smile, however, she wasn't entirely correct.
“However, the dragons grow at a terrifying rate. In the few days, weeks that I stayed with the Targaryen girl, I was able to see how fast they grow.”
This brought everyone’s attention to me.
“Meaning?” Petyr asked, curious about the dragons.
“Meaning that if left unchecked, they can grow to be bigger than an adult male in just a couple of months.” I looked around. “And the history of Westeros is proof of what large dragons are capable of.”
Dragons grow bigger according to the freedom they get. The dragons of the conqueror and his sister wives grew monstrously large because they were never restrained. The same was true for Daenerys’ dragons, and if they had freedom for long, those dragons too would be larger than castles.
“Yet they have not grown that big yet,” the Queen said. “And her army is not as capable as she believes. So, for now, we should not be overly concerned with a little girl and her pets, and instead focus on strengthening our political connections.”
I did not agree with her entirely, but I did agree that building strong political bonds was necessary.
She looked at her son. “So, I suggest a marriage for my son, a marriage pact that would bring powerful families to our side.”
This got everyone focused, surprised, and stunned.
“But Your Grace…” Tyrion frowned. “What of the Stark girl? She was to be wed to Joffrey months ago.”
The Queen laughed at this. “Don’t be foolish, Tyrion. My Joffrey cannot marry a traitor’s daughter who is worse off than a slave. That marriage proposal fell apart the moment my husband died, and do I need to remind you that she is no more than a prisoner to us?”
Everyone went silent.
Everyone knew, but most didn't dare speak due to the promise made between the deceased king and his friend Stark. But that promise shattered with their death, and Stark’s daughter was reduced to an imprisoned canary.
“She is still the sister of the Young Wolf, and harming her would cause chaos with the North,” Varys added, worried that the Queen would make a dangerous decision.
“Our forces are facing the Young Wolf as we speak, and we will win.” Cersei Lannister was adamant. “And my decision is final.”
And just to make her claim stronger, she looked at her son—the King.
“Isn't that right, Joff?”
Of course, the king did what everyone expected of him.
“Me? Marrying that filthy Stark?” He scoffed, showing his superiority and throwing a tantrum. “If possible, I would have liked to see her beheaded like her dog of a father—”
“Joffrey.”
It was funny, extremely funny.
“Control your words.”
Tyrion was Joffrey’s uncle, but before that, he was a servant of the king, and never had I seen anyone other than him being this adamant and brave in front of Joffrey.
Of course, him being the acting Hand of the King gave him the right to make decisions, but the way he talked to the king was never respectful.
It was as if Tyrion loathed Joffrey.
Quite interesting.
“How dare a mere ser—”
“This mere servant is your uncle too.” Tyrion frowned. “And no matter what, Robb Stark holds enormous power in the North, and you would do well not to make enemies of the North.”
“I stand with Lord Tyrion on this matter, Your Grace.” Grand Maester Pycelle added. “We should wait for the matters of the North to settle before making a choice such as this.”
The Queen was ready to argue with Tyrion, quite distasteful toward her brother, but sat silently on her seat.
The Queen.
Funny that she wasn't the Queen but the Queen Regent, the Queen Mother—but no one dared to call her anything except the Queen.
“And if this topic is done being discussed, then I have another suggestion to make.” Tyrion took a deep breath as everyone gazed at him. “The Watch has been requesting more and more people to be with them.”
“Tell them we cannot.” The Queen immediately rejected. “We already have enough at our hands that we cannot deal with the pesky issues of some wildlings beyond the wall.”
Wildlings.
The people that live beyond the wall are free from the control of the Kingdom and often clash with us from the outside.
“They say that the threat is bigger than just Wildlings this time.” Tyrion frowned deeply. “And they have been writing letters weekly for help.”
“Surely the threat cannot be that big that we waste troops instead of focusing on the North issue?” Petyr raised an eyebrow. “Can this matter not be solved another way?”
“That is what I am hoping to do.” Tyrion finally explained. “I plan to make a visit to the Watch, assess the situation, and then make a decision.”
“But you cannot.” Grand Maester Pycelle frowned. “You are the Hand of the King, and as such, it is your duty to remain beside the king.”
“I am only the acting Hand of the King. And it will not be for long. I will be assessing the situation and returning immediately, as the Watch is also important to the kingdom.”
This made the people in the room protest, but the Queen had other thoughts.
“If your going there would stop them from begging for more manpower, then it is a good enough trade to make. A few days with you there rather than sending our forces for God knows how long.” The Queen smirked. “And I believe any of you can be the acting Hand of the King for that time.”
She looked outside. “Even my brother—”
This instantly made Tyrion object. “He is a Kingsguard.”
“I didn't say that Jaime would be Hand, I simply suggested that he too can add his opinions in your absence, as the king’s uncle.” The Queen looked at the council. “Or is the council incapable of handling matters in Tyrion’s absence, just for a few days?”
“We—” Pycelle was still reluctant, but someone else agreed.
“We will, Your Grace.” Petyr agreed instantly. “Lord Tyrion can handle the issues with the Watch, and we will make sure that everything works perfectly well, just like we did in his previous absence.”
This certainly irked Tyrion, but he remained quiet.
He was absent for some time, and I am not sure what he did in that time. I should ask him when the time is right.
“Then it's decided.” The Queen made the decision. “Tyrion will be moving to the Watch for the time being, and the kingdom will work as it has been.”
“May I suggest something else too?” Tyrion added, making everyone curious and the king annoyed—bored of sitting in the same place.
“What else?” Joffrey asked, at which Tyrion looked at me.
“May I have Darius Safar accompany me during this travel?”
“Pardon?” This drew even me by surprise.
“The journey to the Watch is dangerous, and I was hoping to have him escort me, protect me from the beasts there.” Tyrion suggested, and I saw Varys and Petyr stand to object—but they couldn't.
“Granted.” An impatient King had had enough of the meeting. “And I believe all matters have been discussed for today?”
Tyrion smiled instantly. “Of course, Your Highness.”
“But—” Petyr frowned, but Joffrey wasn't in the mood to listen.
“This meeting is over.” Joffery said, standing up. “Everyone is free to leave.”
Even the Queen was surprised, but she too seemed to have had enough of these talks.
Leaving two annoying men and a grinning dwarf staring at me.
Ah, this is going to be amusing.
…
…
[Three Days Later — Beyond Northern Valleys]
It was quite risky for Tyrion to travel through the North, passing through the lands of the Starks.
If it were any other family, any other person, their heads would have been separated for walking through enemy territory.
But the Starks were different. Robb Stark was still the son of Eddard Stark, and he valued the law. Because this journey to the Watch involved the safety of the entire kingdom, no attacks were made along the way.
“There are eyes all around us,” Tyrion said. “You can sense them better than I can.”
I could indeed sense more than just eyes. I could feel arrows aimed at our heads.
It was not to kill us but to immobilize us in case we made a move to harm the North or did anything other than proceed to the Watch.
“The Night’s Watch was founded by Bran the Builder and the Starks thousands of years ago,” Tyrion told a tale. “During the Age of Heroes, it was established to protect the common folk from the wildlings and the beings that dwell beyond the Wall.”
“If it was made by the Starks, why are they not hostile towards us?”
My question made him smile. “The Starks have been foolishly honor-bound, Eddard the most.”
And that cost him his life.
“But after the creation of the Watch, it was made a rule that the members would leave their family, their name, and everything else. They would live solely for the Watch and die for the Watch.”
He looked around, aware that we were being watched.
“For them, the Night’s Watch is the brotherhood, their family, and matters of the outside world mean nothing to them.”
Following this explanation, we traveled in silence, observing the beauty of the North.
Cold but peaceful, terrifying yet beautiful.
“But…” I looked at him. “Is it still the truth now?”
He smiled. “You are smart enough to know the truth.”
Of course.
Nothing was as peaceful, as kind as it seemed.
“How much worse is it than I expect?”
“If you are expecting murderers, rapists, traitors, lowborns, bastards, and every sort of criminal forced to live as members of the Watch, living a false fantasy of honor and prestige, then you are spot on.”
That bad, huh?
“Where does the trust come from that they will not desert the Watch and run away, living life according to their will?”
My question made him think. “I used to think the same. They will definitely be executed if they walk the kingdom, but they could certainly escape to another kingdom if they wanted to live.”
“I get it.” I understood what he had learned. “They cannot reach the other kingdoms; there is no way for them out of Westeros.”
A prison in which they were trapped.
“They cannot go to another kingdom unless they are lucky,” he laughed. “Jorah, whom you must have met, escaped.”
He knows Jorah?
Of course, he does.
“But not everyone is as lucky. So, to keep their lives, they join the Watch.”
“How dangerous is it beyond the Wall?” I asked, and he went silent for a long while.
“If a dozen men go out, one man’s limbs return.”
This answer left me silent in return.
“Of course, there are exceptions. People who have lived to tell the tale, but most don’t. And even for the Watch, when they go on scouting and ranger duty, they do not cross certain areas as beyond them is promised death.” He took a deep breath. “And look, we are already in the Watch’s lands.”
The Gift.
That's what the map showed.
“This place was gifted by the Starks to the Night’s Watch ages ago. From here onwards, it is not the land of the Starks but the Watch.”
And true to that, I could not feel any weapons aimed at us. Instead, I felt certain ominous feelings.
A sense of death, betrayal, and hatred hung in the air.
“Have you been here before?”
“It has been longer than I can properly recall,” he answered. “And even then, I despised this place.”
“Yet again you came here.” It made me smile; a man would do everything to calm his raging mind—even walk into danger.
“Their duty is to protect the realm from outside threats, and our duty is to protect them from the inside and to strengthen them.”
Fair.
And amidst that discussion, we did not even realize the distance we had traversed.
Crossing The Gift and reaching well near the Watch’s stronghold—Castle Black.
More of a run-down, scattered small town than a castle.
But still an enormous place.
“This place does require some funds from the kingdom.”
Hearing this, Tyrion scoffed. “Oh, the king would rather splurge on his tomfoolery than spend on the needs of the kingdom.”
“Quite dangerous words you speak about the king.”
This made him smirk. “And who is going to tell him? You?”
It was a joke, and we both knew it.
Neither of us could be bothered about the king. He was a good pawn to use, just not entertaining enough.
There were certainly other options that could be used.
“And looks like there is at least someone to welcome us.”
As he said that, I saw a certain young boy, barely a year or two older than Daenerys, walking towards us.
“The Night’s Watch welcomes you, Lord Tyrion,” the boy spoke, turning to me and being surprised. “And…”
“Darius Safar, a servant of the kingdom.” I made things easier for him, at which he nodded.
“The Watch welcomes you, Darius Safar.” The boy said, looking back at Tyrion. “And we have been awaiting your arrival.”
Tyrion smiled. “Then lead the way, Bastard of Ned.”
This statement made the boy annoyed a little while I looked at them, surprised.
Bastard of the dead Eddard Stark, huh?
This was going to be quite interesting.
