[Chapter Size: 2100 Words.]
Third Person POV.
North.
...
...
As Daemon stated, he spent the night at the camp and now first met with the leaders at nightfall, asking for information about how the North was, while they were inside a large tent.
"Well, we haven't had any more problems, although most of the people in the northern villages have abandoned their homes to flee from us," Mance commented.
"I want to know about the free folk. We still haven't taken the food stocks that are in White Harbor, and we have a few more moons' worth of food," Daemon said to Mance.
"The people are starting to plant on the lands, as you had requested. But with winter coming, I don't think we'll have great results even on that land," Mance commented, and Daemon had to agree.
"Yes, when winter comes, most of the crops will be dead in the first days. Even so, I want them to have something to do. The free folk need to be prepared, because after the winter that land will be cultivated by you," he said.
"Anyway, no new problems. That's good. Any sightings of ironmen on the coast?" Daemon asked.
His ships were still there. He had left all those who managed to sail the ships to Bear Islands ready to be used as soon as they could. What would happen at this point, after Daemon sent a letter both for the Mormonts to go to Winterfell, use their own ships, and keep them ready further south, for they would be used in the attack on Pyke.
Daemon and his allies had captured even more ships, and they would use them all for a single attack.
"No, no ironman has been seen after those you destroyed... As for the ironborn, we've heard that you were destroying any of them when facing them in the south..." Vance commented, and Daemon nodded.
"We've had our battles here in the South. Anyway, we're almost ready. That's why I've already called you, to prepare to advance to the southern kingdoms. We will gather in Winterfell before launching the final attack," Daemon said with a more serious tone, while his gaze turned to his uncle, who was also there. He himself had invited him to the meeting, even though he was a man of the Night's Watch.
"How are things at the Wall?" Daemon asked Benjen.
"We've been receiving a large number of men in the last moon at the Wall. I can't say much, but we are managing Castle Black well," he said.
Daemon nodded. "That's good. There will still be a large number of men that will multiply with the men who will go to the Wall, as soon as the Bolton men are sent there," Daemon said, before returning to the main subject.
"One more thing... Any movement north of the Wall? Any sign of our enemy approaching?" he asked.
"There is no movement, nothing to the north, Your Majesty," Benjen said. Daemon noticed how the man felt a bit strange when saying his title, but that was what he was now.
"Are you sending some patrols?" Daemon asked.
"Only near the Wall. After everyone confirmed the army of the dead, we are having trouble finding people willing to advance far beyond the Wall," Benjen said.
"I understand. Well, I can't blame them. After all, finding a group of dead is certain death, especially if there are White Walkers." He paused before continuing.
"I will send a message to the Lord Commander to keep an eye on the North more than ever. I am sure that soon he will be able to send some men to check the situation..."
"...I had hoped that at least some tribes would appear at the Wall wanting to cross it, but if everything seemed motionless on that side... it means that everything north of the Wall is dead," Daemon said with some regret, before turning back to his uncle once more.
"I will write that as well, but I also want you to know: do not bring any corpse from the North. None. No dead living being, not even animals," he said, while all eyes turned to Benjen attentively.
Daemon could feel a shiver run through the free folk there, about what he had just said. It wasn't hard to assume that everyone was dead, but it was a harsh reality. If there was any tribe that had likely survived and not joined Mance, they must be hiding in some places in the North. For Daemon, these people were dead now... and walking alongside the enemy.
In any case, he had to think strategically. He knew how to deal with the Others and had known the South for a long time. He would have to split his forces, and there would not be as many men as he would like. Not that it would make much difference in the final outcome, not when he had a dragon... and was the Dragonborn himself.
In any case, Daemon would not interfere in Mance's advance to Winterfell when things were relatively calm.
"If you have anything to add for me, Mance, you can do it now. Otherwise, I will leave you still in charge of the camp," Daemon said calmly, tilting his head slightly.
"No, Your Majesty. I have nothing to say," he said, and Daemon nodded.
"All right, then I'll leave the rest to you."
With that, Daemon left the tent, still having to take care of some matters regarding his march to the South with the other men. Benjen followed him, since the meeting had nothing to do with him — he was still a man of the Night's Watch.
"Daemon," Benjen called, as Daemon stopped to let him catch up.
"What is it, uncle?" Daemon asked.
"Can you really help Bran...? I know you are angry at Ned, but he is just a child..." Benjen said, but Daemon interrupted him, knowing the man only wanted him to help.
"I have already decided to help him, uncle. Don't worry, I do not take out my anger toward the child, reflecting the anger I feel for the father. I can help him, yes," he said quietly, and Benjen nodded, satisfied.
"Thank you, Daemon. You are a more generous man than anyone could say. Your mother would be proud," he murmured, and Daemon nodded.
"I'm glad for your words. Why don't you go to him and invite them to dine with us, and if they agree, you and the others can also come to me," Daemon said.
Benjen walked away after agreeing with Daemon, heading to another tent with the men. Jon went alone, dismissing any security, since Daemon's direwolves were scattered throughout the camp. One of them appeared in front of him, and Daemon crouched down. He lifted his hand over the animal's fur to stroke it firmly, feeling a bit silly at the touch.
This made Daemon remember Ghost, who was still in the Wolfwood hunting all the remaining ironmen. Initially, he had tried to hunt Asha, who had managed to escape. He no longer knew where she was, but there was nothing he could do about it, only hope to find her when he went to Pyke and finished what he had started.
He began walking again toward his tent, remembering his uncle's words about his mother. Soon, he would have a rather strange conversation with her ghost. For some reason, that made him a little nervous, and he mocked himself for feeling that way, when he had already dealt with all sorts of spirits in Skyrim.
In any case, he entered the tent, where he found Daenerys and Lucis preparing something to eat, working together.
"Prepare plenty of food. We'll have seven more guests, or eight if Lucis wants to call Lafy," Daemon said, while the latter nodded and Daenerys gave him a sweet smile.
Lucis left, and Daemon stood watching Daenerys work gracefully with the seasoning he had taught her.
He shared his journey and talked with the two throughout the day. At night, they would simply relax. Daemon took the opportunity to review his plans; he stopped watching Daenerys and opened the map while his two wives continued preparing the meal. He analyzed what he would do starting tomorrow, when he left the camp.
He would go straight to Skagos, speak with the magnar, then return to the West, already having the impression that the mountain clans would be more stubborn, even though they had served House Stark for some time and were considered more civilized than the people of Skagos, who were rumored to be cannibals. The mountain clans would seem even more stubborn.
In any case, his girls prepared a meal with boar meat, also using part of the stocks, since the elk meat had been eaten by Winter, after Daemon had made a deal with her.
His cousins arrived soon after, with Hodor, Meera, and Jojen. His uncle Benjen also came, and even Mance with Della, bombarding him with questions about his sister, while Lafy had already come with her sister.
After everyone began to sit at the table and serve themselves, Daemon simply explained that Val was well and that she had obtained a Valyrian steel sword through victory in battle.
Of course, that alone would not give her the right to have a sword, but when a house was destroyed, things were different. Daemon intended to do the same when he went to Pyke. The sword would serve no one but Val, as it was a famous, named sword—Nightfall.
Daemon looked at Hodor, who was eating shyly. He had just left Bran and was preparing to go, but Daemon stopped him, saying that he was also invited.
"Hodor..." the big man murmured something with a bit of fear at feeling Daemon's gaze on him.
Daemon smiled. "Hodor. I met the Old Nan in Winterfell. She's taking care of some things for me. She may be a storyteller about White Walkers, but she also knows a lot about the castle..." Daemon said, while Hodor looked surprised, as did Bran and Rickon, who also held the Old Nan in high esteem.
"Hodor..." the man replied.
"Is she the only one alive?" Bran asked carefully.
"Basically, yes. There are also many servants who had already worked in Winterfell before, but they are few. Know what happened to Ser Rodrik and Maester Luwin," Daemon said.
It was not with love that he spoke of those two men, for they were not people who had helped and supported Daemon in his suffering as a child, but at the same time, he found their deaths quite dishonest.
"Theon Greyjoy..." Bran murmured with hatred.
"Yes, I know the Greyjoys are to blame. And I captured him, if that makes you feel better... He's in my dungeons... if you can even say that's still 'Theon'," Daemon said calmly, seeing the astonishment of the others.
He took the opportunity to tell the story of what Theon had become, and Bran's hatred turned into a perplexed, stunned look as Daemon vividly described what kind of creature he had become under the hands of the sisters and the Boltons.
"Uncle Benjen said he's going to try to do something for me," Bran said to Daemon after a brief silence. "When are you going to heal me?" Bran asked, with some hope.
"When we get to Winterfell. I'll need more than a few Springers to heal you," he replied, while Bran felt hopeful.
"And Lafy, I also have a proposal for you." Jon turned to the other boy, Bran's age.
The boy immediately raised his head beside his sister, looking at Daemon.
"We're going to follow a southern custom. You will be my squire when we march to war in the south."
"Squire?" he repeated, not quite knowing what it meant, while Benjen and the others were surprised by it.
"A squire is a kind of helper while I train you," Daemon explained.
"That's a bit unexpected..." Mance commented.
"Yes. I intend to take you to the Seven Kingdoms as a king's squire. I'm sure that will greatly minimize some problems that may arise in the future," Daemon said, and the boy nodded, understanding a little.
In the end, they left the table, and Daemon went to bed along with Daenerys and Lucis, after having been some time without their intimacies.
Daenerys whispered, letting her warm breath out in his ear, asking him for a child, and Daemon could only grant the request, while also giving attention to the embarrassed Lucis in bed as well.
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