The Smiling Knight's grin stretched far across his face as he looked at the utter despair that Daemon seemed to be falling into "Don't feel too bad Lord Silver, this is Rhaegar's world and we are just living in it," he said as he stood up with his dagger in hand as he started to approach Daemon "You'll be put out of your misery soon enough, sadly I'll have to keep living under his thumb," he added before walking behind Daemon and grabbing his hair and lifting his head.
However before he could place his dagger on the man's neck his instincts warned him of danger, and he quickly flared his aura and jumped out of the way barely avoiding a trident that seemed to be composed of water. The Smiling Knight focused on the tree line for a moment before several more tridents composed of water were flung at him; though was able to parry them all with his dagger that he had enhanced with his aura.
"Come out, you won't defeat me hiding in the trees like a coward!" He shouted to the would-be ambusher.
Not having much choice the ambusher revealed himself; none other than Howland Reed stepped out from the bushes with his trident in hand and a look of determination etched across his face. The Smiling Knight took one look at Howland and started laughing "You've crawled far from your mother's tit boy!" He taunted before laughing once more.
Howland was used to being insulted by people so he ignored the Smiling Knights taunts —only looking to Daemon whom he had come here for. Howland needed Daemon despite his status as a traitor; he would happily live as an enemy of the kingdom as long as he was able to get the proper care for his sister. He was also a man of his word and he had made an agreement with Daemon, as such he must serve as the man's squire.
"Leave now... I do not wish to fight," Howland said in a low voice that despite his determination showed his low confidence.
The Smiling Knight shook his head. "It's a shame you had to come across us, boy. I am to leave no witnesses..." he said before rushing towards Howland in a burst of speed, slashing his dagger against the boy—intent on ending his life. Howland barely even saw the Smiling Knight move until he was right in front of him. Fortunately, he was able to bring his trident up in time to block the slash from the Smiling Knight—though the force of it managed to send him flying back, straight into a tree.
Howland crashed through the tree and rolled across the forest ground, but he couldn't relax as the Smiling Knight was on him again slamming his foot down where he lay. Howland pushed himself out of the way but was unable to defend himself from the slash that immediately followed.
'Water Form'
The dagger slashed through Howland's body but due to his ability, he was able to prevent any injuries from taking place. Howland then took advantage of the Smiling Knight's confusion and stabbed at him with his aura-infused trident; while the Smiling Knight was distracted he was still one of the best warriors in the kingdom and he grabbed Howland's trident with a single hand preventing it from piercing his skin.
"An interesting ability boy..." the Smiling Knight said before whipping his hand around and throwing the trident along with Howland into the air. Howland was tossed back into Daemons camp landing roughly but despite the pain, he still got up and held his trident towards where the Smiling Knight was.
"Where are you looking?" He heard from behind him, though before he could turn around the dagger was already plunged into his body. Luckily for Howland, he hadn't deactivated his ability so he was able to avoid grievous injury again.
The Smiling Knight was starting to get annoyed at the boy and so sent a punch directly at his face; the punch managed to hit him and send him tumbling backwards much to the Smiling Knight's surprise. He was now starting to form an idea of how Howland's ability worked, and once he did that he'd be able to get passed it and kill him. Howland himself was trying to formulate a plan that would get both him and Daemon out of this situation, but as things were looking they were pretty dire. The Smiling Knight knew he could kill this boy eventually if he kept on tiring him out but he was quite impatient and wanted to get this over with so he decided to activate his ability.
'A Thousand Swords'
He reached behind him into his large quiver of low-quality swords and picked one at random. His ability bestowed a random effect on each sword; whether it was good or bad he wouldn't know until he drew it, and he couldn't draw another sword until this one was broken. This was why he only kept low-quality swords on the verge of breaking, as a few times in his life he'd been stuck with sword effects that were useless.
The Smiling Knight grinned maliciously as he held his sword up in the air. Howland prepared himself as he picked himself up from the muddy ground and focused as much aura as he could on defending himself. The Smiling Knight brought his sword down in a quick and smooth motion releasing a slash of wind that was headed straight for Howland; the young lad spun his trident releasing a slash of his own —only his was composed of water— both their techniques met and the Smiling Knight's slash quickly overpowered Howland's. But the young crannogman had already jumped out of the way; the Smiling Knight however wasn't finished and he pointed his sword behind him releasing a gust of wind and sending him flying towards Howland who he kicked in the side of his stomach before he could activate his ability.
'I was right, his ability must be too draining to maintain constantly so he has to consciously use it,' the Smiling Knight thought to himself as he watched the young boy roll across the ground once more. Howland was breathing heavily as he stood up once more 'This man is overwhelmingly strong... but this should be enough,' he thought to himself as he felt his body protest as he held up his trident once more.
'Water Trap'
Howland had not been idle while he was being tossed around like a rag doll; he took the opportunity to lay pieces of his aura down in certain locations eventually forming a trap around the Smiling Knight. Much to the Knight's surprise a sphere of water emerged from around him and engulfed his body, and he started to drown.
Howland couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief as he now assumed the fight was over; he placed the butt of his trident on the ground and leaned on it as his body was still racked with pain.
*BOOM*
Howland felt himself once again get thrown backwards only this time he smashed against a large boulder cracking the rock and severely hurting Howland who had let his guard down. The Smiling Knight rolled his shoulders as he looked at the handle of his sword that no longer had a blade attached to it —he had released a large explosion of wind to escape from the sphere of water, but the sword couldn't handle the stress of such a thing and gave out.
"A shame it was a good effect," he said to himself. He then looked towards Howland who was barely able to lean himself against the rock let alone use aura to defend himself "You did better than most would've done boy, but in the end, it wasn't enough," the Knight said as he reequipped his dagger and approached him. Howland tried to flare his aura but he couldn't; he barely had any left and if he tried to force it then he would probably pass out —all he could do was wait to be killed.
However, as the Knight approached him and went to bring the dagger down on his head he was swiftly stopped. Daemon whose eyes were blazing red had the Smiling Knight's wrist in his grip, as he looked at the man with a grin "I'm sorry I took so long Howland, removing the ability from my body took longer than I thought," he said apologetically.
The Smiling Knight looked sat Daemon with utter shock "Impossible..." he commented. He was then surprised once more as Daemon's fist connected with his face launching him back a dozen feet —though he was able to remain standing despite the force of the punch. "You made the mistake of talking too much, and for that, you will die," Daemon said before his aura exploded out of him and he rushed towards the Smiling Knight.
The Knight tried to stab at Daemon with his dagger, but the silver-haired man deftly parried it off to the side with his arm before swinging his elbow across the man's jaw knocking him into a daze. He then kicked the man's leg from underneath him and grabbed him by the throat slamming him to the ground —though he didn't let go of him— he then brought him back up and lifted his free arm to the knight's stomach. A large sphere of aura started growing from a single point in his palm; Daemon shot the sphere straight into the Smiling Knight's stomach which sent him flying backwards once more crashing through multiple trees as he did.
Daemon kicked up his Valyrian steel sword to his hand and flourished it. He then channelled some aura into it and started swinging it and sending various large aura slashes into the forest where the Smiling Knight was —all while laughing. However much to Daemon's surprise, he found himself defending against a thrust from the Smiling Knight who moved too fast for Daemon to see. Daemon frowned before lifting his blade and ending their clash by kicking him in the chest; the Smiling Knight seemed to want this as he then held his sword in a thrusting motion before the tip of it started to shine. Once again Daemon had barely a second to defend himself against a thrust from the Smiling Knight who moved too fast for him to see; he'd be been a less skilled swordsman then he would've most likely already been skewered by his opponent's sword.
Daemon deflected the man's blade off to the side before arcing it around and aiming to decapitate him, but the Smiling Knight was able to duck and push himself backwards where he took the thrusting stance once again; the familiar spec of light that appeared last time once again shone on the end of his sword 'The light must mean he's about to move,' Daemon thought to himself.
Deciding to test the theory Daemon sidestepped just before the light was at its brightest and a moment later the Smiling Knight appeared where he was just standing with his sword thrust out. Daemon quickly swung his sword at the Knight who hastily tried to defend himself; however, due to the difference between the quality of swords as well as their aura the Smiling Knight's sword shattered and Daemon was able to slash through his armour carving a large gash in the man's skin.
The Smiling knight grunted before jumping back and quickly drawing another sword —just in time to defend himself against another slash from Daemon. The Smiling Knight kicked at Daemon to get some space he then rushed at him and swung his sword down which Daemon naturally blocked. However, Daemon found himself being flung back at the force of the blow 'What in seven hells!' He thought to himself before he flipped and landed on his feet —skidding across the mud.
The Smiling Knight only laughed as he rushed towards Daemon once more slashing at him with his sword. Daemon dodged the blow time and time and was surprised to see a crater form where the Smiling Knight had hit the ground with his sword. Daemon quickly started to understand what the Knights ability was 'Every sword he pulls out has a different ability... quite versatile,' he thought to himself.
Aura Mimicry: Aerys Targaryen
Daemon decided to stop playing around as his aura exploded out of his body in hot orange flames. He took advantage of the Smiling Knight's surprise and rushed towards him swinging his sword as he did —which sent a slash of fire straight towards him. The Smiling knight avoided the hit but wasn't able to avoid Daemon who grabbed him and started tackling him through various trees in the forest before slamming him down to the ground.
"I am truly sorry that Rhaegar did this to you, rest easy knowing that you will be avenged..." Daemon said with sincerity before slamming his foot down on his chest which prevented him from standing. He then intensified his flames until they started to turn from orange into yellow and from yellow into a greenish colour —though still nowhere near the same level as Aerys himself.
The Smiling Knight went to stab Daemon with his sword but found his sword melting before it even made contact with his skin. He then just started chuckling to himself "Kill that bastard for me..." he said before he stopped struggling. Daemon nodded before directing the entirety of his aura down at the Smiling Knight turning him into ash.
Daemon sighed as he looked at the ashes being blown away by the wind 'We were all just puppets in his game,' he thought to himself. Though one thing Daemon couldn't understand was why Rhaegar had chosen now to betray him; he considered the cause to be what he and Elia had done, but he knew Rhaegar better than that and he was prepared to let his wife die without even seeing her.
Daemon cast these thoughts away and walked back to his camp. He approached Howland who was still leant by the boulder breathing heavily; he crouched next to the boy and released the aura from his body once more.
'Poppy's Embrace'
Howland felt his injuries and pain melt away and he couldn't help but sigh in relief "You did well Howland, though I must admit that I didn't expect you to follow me out here," Daemon stated.
"We struck an accord, it would not be honourable for me to not follow it, plus you are the only one willing to help my sister so I had little choice in the matter," he replied, which made Daemon chuckle in amusement.
"Don't worry I'll keep my promise, I'll help your sister as much as I can," he told the boy.
"But first I must gather some help for the situation I now find myself in..." Daemon said as he stood back up.
"Who will be willing to go against the king for you?" Howland asked. Daemon looked down at the boy who was only picking himself up now.
"I have friends in Essos..."
(AN: This is the last chapter the next one will start Robert's Rebellion. I've been dreaming about getting to this point for so long and I'm glad it'll happen. Also what did you guys think about the smiling knights ability?)
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