Chapter 187: Solution?
Beyond the Wall, True North
POV of Domeric Bolton
"More rules. You southerners really like to make rules. I don't know what you're talking about. Explain this 'I love you' thing to me." Ygritte said.
"Because in the north of the Wall, the strong rule. But here, people are governed by a system, and rules are essential for the system to function." Domeric said and continued.
"As for words that need to be repeated in a relationship, like 'I love you,' for example, if one partner says 'I love you' to the other and the other doesn't reciprocate, this can lead to the partner thinking the other side no longer loves him or her. This can lead to trust issues between the partners."
"As I said, relationships in True North may be built on strength, but here they are built on trust. And if trust is broken in a relationship, those relationships usually don't last long, or many problems arise between the partners."
"I think I understand." Ygritte thought for a moment before speaking, then continued.
"Then I promise you again. As long as we're together, you're the only man I'll love and be with. My one and only. And I will never betray you."
"Thank you," Domeric said, smiling at her.
"Also..." she said in a low voice.
"Hımm, what is it?" Domeric asked.
"I love you too… You said you loved me when we talked earlier, so I'm saying it back." Ygritte's voice grew quieter as she spoke. If Domeric hadn't improved his hearing after the body-enhancing ritual, he might not have heard her.
This was the first time Domeric had ever heard Ygritte speak so softly. And what surprised Domeric even more was the blush on Ygritte's cheeks.
This was a rare sight for Domeric. He had never seen Ygritte like this before.
The tent fell back into silence as he leaned forward and touched her lips with his own.
Unlike their previous make-outs, this one was of a far gentler quality, and he cherished every moment of it before they inevitably broke apart.
"You are cute, Ygritte." He said after breaking the kiss.
"Cute? Me? Did you hit your head, Domeric Bolton?" she said. Apparently, she has returned to her usual self.
"Uhhh…"
"No, but my headache is back. However, that doesn't change the fact that you're cute." Grimacing as the headache returned once again, he lay on her lap and closed his eyes.
"Did you find anything this time?" Ygritte asked a few seconds later, and he shook his head.
"No. The Candle's range is too small. I need to find a way to amplify it."
"Can you not use the Heart Trees for it?" she asked. "You seem to use them for everything else. Planting them around like a little gardener with the Children of the Forest following behind you as ducklings."
He chuckled at the mental image her words brought to his mind before he shook his head, "No. I've thought of that. But the magic of the Valyria, which is used for the Glass Candles' creation and the magic generated by the Heart Trees, is so different that… I just can't make it work. At least not like…" he froze as something else came to his mind.
"Like what?" Ygritte asked.
"Like… did I tell you about how I managed to succeed in my magical ritual?"
"No."
"Well… Dragon egg. That's the answer." He said.
"Why is…"
"I'll return in a moment." He told her and pecked her on the lips before he separated and used a portkey to go to the top of the Wall, from where he used another portkey to get to his underground base.
He was in the long corridor once again with three doors in front of him.
He went to the left one, which led to the stadium-sized treasure room with enough gold to buy the Iron Throne a few times over.
For some reason, this room always reminded him of the Room of Hidden Things.
That room was unfortunately burnt down due to Vincent Crabbe's foolishness and recklessness.
Using the cursed flame without control leads to disastrous consequences.
He ignored all the gold and treasure lying around and went to the section that was filled with more than a hundred dead dragon eggs.
He went there and picked up the one that he had used for the ritual.
Even after so long, the egg was still brimming with power.
The sacrifice of 143 healthy adult animals was no small thing after all.
The theories about how he could use the power inside it to amplify the range and power of the Valyrian Glass Candle were already coming to his mind.
The only problem was that when this egg ran out of power, he had to perform an animal sacrifice to recharge it.
To be honest, he didn't want to sacrifice any living creature unless absolutely necessary.
But right now, he couldn't think of another solution. Perhaps he could perform a blood sacrifice ritual using blood from animals without killing them.
The effect would be less, but collecting blood from more magical animals like direwolves could offset the difference.
He decided to think about that later. Right now, he had a few theories to jot down and a girl that he had kept waiting for long enough.
He left the room, closed the door, and used two portkeys to return to his tent.
"Is that a dragon egg?" Ygritte asked as soon as she saw what was in his hands.
"Yes. Did I never show it to you before?"
"No. You only mentioned it a few times." She said as she held the egg, almost dropping it to the ground, before he helped her with it.
"It's heavy," she said after examining it from all sides, "And beautiful. Though I still don't understand why someone would pay enough to buy a fleet for just a beautiful egg. And why does it feel like stone?"
"Unlike other birds, dragons sometimes don't hatch for years, if not decades. To save itself from dying, the egg changes into stone and only changes back when it's in condition to be hatched once again. Though admittedly, if the egg is left alone for a long time, then it dies and becomes stone permanently."
"Is that what happened to it?" she asked. "Is the dragon inside dead?"
He nodded, "I found it and many other eggs in Valyria. Only a few of them survived. And even that is a miracle itself."
"You think you can make it work?" She asked him when she returned the egg.
"We'll see." He replied.
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Next Chapters' Name:
Ch.188: Unexpected Delay
Ch.189: Strange Footprints