Riverlands, Somewhere in the sky?
Neferion
It took him much less time to get back to the Riverlands on Arax's back, and it was more comfortable than running through the air and much less effort. It took him only a few hours to cover almost 1500 miles.
He didn't spend much time in Sunspear, for after sending the archon and his fellow Valyrian lord on Caravex's back, who was supposed to take them to Tyrosh and return to guard Sunspear and Nymeria, he set off almost immediately. The troops of the Riverland lords loyal to him had already set out for Stone Hedge, the seat of House Brecken, several days ago.
He circled the Riverlands high in the clouds so as to remain out of sight of the humans below while seeing what was happening below.
He truly wondered how the Valyrians hadn't conquered the entire world yet. Dragons were not only a powerful weapon in this world but also excellent scouts. A few flights opened up strategic and tactical possibilities that others could only dream of. There was also the quick movement around their domains.
The only answer to the current state of affairs was the fact that Valyria was more divided internally than it showed externally. Besides, hearing Tyris Vael's words to Vaegon about their fellow dragonlords confirmed his thesis. Archon had as much power as the other lords had given him.
What could be worse than nobles and politicians? That was obvious. Nobles and politicians flying on gigantic beasts breathing fire.
"This world is truly lucky that by some twist of fate I ended up here. Someone has to clean up here. You wouldn't agree, Arax?" He said, patting the dragon on one of the spikes sticking out of its neck.
The dragon let out a prolonged growl, expressing approval.
"Exactly. I see we make a good team... We could actually think of some new names for you and your brother. After all, it wouldn't be fitting for my dragons to be named after those Valyrian lords' lizards. You'll eventually become something more," he said, rubbing his beard in thought.
"What do you think about naming you after my dead brothers? I absorbed their souls, life forces, and consciousness. So the name remains. And names in Dovahzul have power."
The dragon didn't react, but he could sense its approval.
"So what name would suit you best? You are now my companion for better or for worse. I know, I'll name you after the dragon, the only one who resisted my cry of Bend Will, although I admit I was much weaker then, and my understanding of this thu'um was much worse."
"Zu'u du'ul hi VUL-THUR-YOL" (I name you Dark, Overlord, Fire)
The thu'um echoed through the heavens, and the air filled with a gong-like sound, causing the entire world to tremble. Neferion did not know what exactly happened, but this naming changed something in the very foundations of how this world worked.
Something similar to what had happened when he had come to this world happened, though on a smaller scale. The world reacted, but not by attacking him again, but Vulthuryol, who had suddenly begun to writhe in pain beneath him.
Without hesitation, he focused his will on shielding the dragon from the threat. Their wills clashed, but the duel did not last long, for as the dragon was attacked, the bonds holding the Dovahkiin's own powers in their grasp began to weaken, and as he tried to weaken them altogether. The presence or consciousness of the world reacted in fear and abandoned its attack on the dragon to stabilise their ongoing, suspended clash.
A moment later they began to fall as the golden dragon was unable to stay aloft, but within seconds Vulthoryol began to regain his senses and slowly levelled off. However, Neferion could sense that something unusual had changed within him.
"Dovahkiin, Kiv nii navak? Zu'u lost sizaan. Hin Thu'um lanev mul." (Dragonborn. How is that possible? I have lost. Your Voice proved stronger.)
"Vulthoryol"?
"It's impossible. I've consumed your soul," Neferion said in disbelief. The voice of his former adversary echoed in his head.
"What is this body? And why am I so weak? ... How is it possible that I'm alive?" The dragon's thoughts bombarded him with questions. After recovering from the shock, the Dovahkiin began to think about what could have happened, and the only conclusion was that by giving the dragon a name, he had implanted the consciousness of Dovah in him, which had somehow survived in him.
The dragon's thoughts continued to flow; however, the anxiety and uncertainty so alien to these beings accompanied each of them. "Why is my soul so weak, barely smouldering?"
"It's a longer and more complicated story. Land in that basin on the right. We'll talk there." Neferion replied, sending Dov a view of the place he had observed.
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Reach, Oldtown
The Father
Still unused to mortal flesh, he settled into the comfortable Hightower throne, looking down at the head of the traitor and heretic lying nearby. How could the fool have thought they would simply watch as he attempted to destroy their primary place of worship?
Because of these traitors, as well as the Dragon's unusually quick actions, they had to speed up their actions, and he himself took over the High Septon's body when he would have preferred a younger, more agile, and above all, someone of greater faith.
To his disappointment, the Dragon priest had managed to escape, but Hightower was his, and the rest of the Reach would follow.
He glanced at Mother, who was occupying the body of the dead lord's young wife, who was looking at him expectantly. "So what now? Do we wait for the others to make their move?" she asked, her voice empty and emotionless.
He shook his head. "No, the king will mobilise the army, and we will go to the Riverlands. The rest will join us there. There we will face the dragon. Weakened as he is now, even with his terrible powers, he will not be able to oppose all of our Seven."
"If we do not kill him now, we will not be able to do it later." She agreed with him.
"More and more people are starting to believe in him as a god. A living, walking and performing miracles god is easier to worship. Soon he would be able to throw off at least some of the chains that bind him."
"We will manage." He ended this conversation. However, a faint cry reached him from the left. Turning his head, he noticed a lying infant, whose grotesquely crushed body lay near one of the walls. Yes... the son of a traitor. Earlier, he had torn him from the man's hands and thrown him against the wall of the hall.
Sighing, he pointed his hand at the creature, and a white flame emerged from his fingers, which flew and immediately incinerated it. He was surprised that it was still alive.
Well, he judged that the boy deserved to die. Soon he would pass judgement on all heretics and traitors and finally on the Dragon.
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Kingdom of Rock, Casterly Rock
The Stranger
The whole of Casterly Rock was like a huge anthill; servants, guards, and soldiers were moving in all directions, preparing to march. He watched with satisfaction as more and more units gathered in the bottom and foothills of the Rock.
"In two or three days we will be ready to march, my lord. The ravens have also returned with a reply from the lords under me; they have begun to mobilise. Although it will be a while before they are ready to march." King of the Rock, Cerion, spoke up a few steps behind him, his trembling tone not even hiding the fear he felt.
His childish mouth opened in an unnatural smile as he looked at the weak man.
"Father, are you afraid of me?" He asked in a hoarse voice, like grain being ground on a millstone. The king's face was immediately pierced by a spasm of pain, clearly hearing the terrifying voice that escaped his son's mouth; it was too much for him.
A loud cackle escaped his small mouth, and the shadows filling the chamber seemed to lengthen and become livelier, clearer. The only source of light was the window he was looking out of.
However, when his laughter stopped, the chamber returned to normal. "You know, you should feel honoured," he said after a moment, enjoying the man's torment. "Your god used your son, the heir, as a vessel of his power. Many would die for that honour."
In the silence that fell, he heard the man's gnashing teeth and his heavy breathing. He felt him trying to calm the fury burning within him. He turned around the king and looked at him with his eyes as black as the abyss.
"Remember, if you fail me, not only your heir but his brother and your entire House will perish into oblivion, and in death I will make you my playthings. Do not disappoint me, Lannister."
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Kingdom of Mountain and Vale, The Eyrie
The Warrior
He looked with approval at the gathered Vale Lords before him, who knelt before him as one man, seeing his strength when he shattered the stone pillar with one blow. The weak body of the king, which he now possessed, had gone far beyond human limits.
Their weak followers had long forgotten what true strength meant and had forgotten how powerful He, the Warrior, was.
"My children, you have already forgotten who led you to these lands, who rose against the thousand-fold cursed gods of these lands to give you your kingdoms. It was I who beheaded the Green One, and it was I who stained the entire Riverlands with the One-Eye's blood."
Slowly building tension, he looked at each of them, awakening their inner fire and arousing in them the desire for battle, war and glory. "Now, I call upon you to remember your lineage and the legacy that flows through your veins. Rise, my warriors, for it is time to reclaim what is rightfully ours and to honour the sacrifices made by those who came before us."
"My faithful warriors, just as I led your ancestors against the First Men and their demonic deities, so now I stand before you in the body of your noble king to lead you against a new enemy, more dangerous than any that has gone before."
"Holy Warrior, My Lord, do you mean the Dovahkiin, the Lightbringer?" Eran Waynwood asked him. "How can we fight against one so powerful?"
He approached him, placing a hand on his shoulder as if in a gesture of encouragement, while using his power to inspire courage and a desire to fight. Then he said, "Show more faith, Eran. Our enemy is powerful, but so am I. But above all, I am not alone. Do you not pray to the Seven who are One?"
"My other aspects are gathering other kingdoms of the faithful to strike at the Dragon, and I tell you it will fall before our combined might."
"My God. Lead us, and we will follow you faithfully!" Rodmar Grafton declared loudly, and the others followed, shouting their approval. If before some might have had doubts, now, spurred to fight by his power, they were ready to give their lives for their cause, even those of little faith.
"My sons. Call out the troops; every man able to bear arms must come. This is a holy war from which there is no escape and no turning back."
"FOR THE VALE, FOR THE WARRIOR, FOR THE SEVEN!" His powerful voice rang out not only from the throne room but throughout the Eyrie and echoed across the mountains and valleys, rousing all his followers to fight and fight a holy war.
The lords, carried by his power, answered. "FOR THE VALE, FOR THE WARRIOR, FOR THE SEVEN."