Mark_Ward
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Chapter 16: Eggs
🕑 Added 2020-12-27 04:40:36 +0000 UTCWaking up early the next morning, it pained Jon greatly parting away from Ygritte's soft grasp as she curled up snugly against him.
Still he needed to be about his day, so leaving the tent he began to start preparing for the journey ahead.
As he was saddling up his horse and tightening the straps, Jon heard silent footsteps behind him and without needing to turn around, he called out. "Hey, Ygritte." From the corner of his eyes he could see that she was walking sort of properly, usually all the woman he had been with had been confine to there room for a while after their steamy and intense sessions.
But he guessed a wildling woman was made up of more sterner stuff thanks to this environment they were raised up in.
"Don't hey me," the red heard growled, she asked in a quiet tone, "So where you just going to leave without saying goodbye, kneeler?!"
"It's best this way," Jon answered as he put his pack onto his mount.
"You don't get to tell me what's best for me, kneeler. I can decide for my own!"
"I want to save you the heartache, like right now," Jon spoke up, finally turning to look at her. "It's not you I was worried about, I know you are one of the toughest bitches around," he joked. "But I am not as strong as you."
Closing her eyes shut for a moment, she took a deep breath to calm herself. Finally opening them, she held out something for him.
"What is it?" Jon asked out of curiosity.
"Just take it," Ygritte said as she waved her hand at him.
Doing so, Jon turned the gift in his hand and saw that it was a lock of her blazing red hair. "Y-you.." he tried to say, he understood the significance of this very well. Free folk wives or husbands would od this for each other before a battle for good luck, but for the unmarried, this was basically all you needed to show that you were intended for each other.
"Shut up and leave," Ygritte growled, "I do not want to see your ugly mug again. Nor shall I when I join the Spearwives."
"Here," Jon said as he took out a dagger from his belt and tore out a lock of his hair and braided it around a piece of string he had.
Watching as she took it with shake hands, before she could take her hands away, Jon grabbed on to them and whispered to her. "By the Old Gods and New, we shall meet again, Ygritte!"
Jumping on to his horse, Jon bid her a final farewell, "Take care, and pass those trials with flying colors!"
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Riding out to the meeting place after saying his goodbyes to everyone he got to know during his 2 month stay here including the old crone Jorga, the village chief Orrand, and many more people.
Once he got there, Jon saw that his 80 or so men were all there gathered up in neat orderly file. He sent the missing 20 men back to the wall, packed with every last thing they would be taking home. There they would meet back to journey back home.
He also saw his nuncle there along side the two Direwolves, and Nonya who seem to bring along everything for the journey.
"Are you all ready?" he asked as he wheeled his horse around.
This final journey they were about to take really wasn't necessary; Jon completed everything he came here to do. Not only had he got a comprehensive understanding of the free folk like never before in the North as he learned their ways their customs and traditions, their social hierarchy, and much more.
Jon also collected all the crops and plants he wanted and now could excitedly test them out in the Greenhouse. He brought along plenty of animals to domesticated them in the North. He surveyed lots of natural and exotic resources here from woods, ores, gems, ice jades, and black water.
Everything he ever wished to do here was complete, plus he even got plenty of surprises along the way like running into two thought to be extinct Direwolves and learning warning.
However, he made one final discovery here that he needed to pursue no matter what.
Taking out the item that was about to send him on this spiraling journey, Jon stared at the Valyrian steel dagger in his hands.
Recalling how he got it was a thing all of its own....
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"I believe you will need to visit our village's Wise One," Myrne said, "it's better if she explained to you.... your ability."
"Before you do that," Orrand said, "I would like to give you something," he said as he handed Jon a bundle.
Taking the proffered item, Jon curiously unwrapped him and what he saw took his breath away.
"I- is that Valyrian steel?" Benjen asked with a loud gasp.
"It that was you kneelers call it," Orrand chuckled at their reaction. "Well named, it is one of the best works I have ever seen from your people. I tested it on a few steel weapons, and I must say their loss pained me greatly."
"Who else could you blame besides yourself," the big man's wife said, "I would have thought you should have gotten the message the first time."
"I can not accept this," Jon finally said, his voice cutting through the room. "You do not understand what you give me, t-this.... is something very precious beyond your wildest imagination. There is only a handful of these ancient blades left in the world, and they are all sought after."
"You think I care about worldly wealth, boy," the big man laughed. "All I care about is my family and this village. And what you did yesterday helped us secure them both, spectacularly. So this is all I can give in thanks!"
Then reaching over Orrand wrapped Jon's finger around the hilt, and whispered to him, "It's yours!"
Staring down at the priceless dagger, Jon sighed and said, "fine. I shall accept this princely gift. Thank you Chief Orrand," he said with a bow of his head. Jon could see he wouldn't be able to talk the man out of giving him the Valyrian dagger, so best to put on his best face and smile.
Still though, Jon was curious how the village chief got his hands on such a valuable and most sought after item in the world. It was like it was something that grew out of the ground for everyone to pluck from, so he asked exactly what was on his mind, "Where did you get this dagger from any ways, Chief?"
"Oh, that old thing, one of the boys found it. You know kids, love going exploring. You can talk to him about it!"
Asking for direction to the person who found the dagger, Jon decided that is where his first stop would be.
Getting answers to his weird dream would be helpful, but following this lead on the Valyrian steel might net him the greatest windfall in his life.
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The journey to the place where the Valyrian dagger was first found was going to be a long precarious journey. They had to go beyond the Haunted forest and not towards the Icy caves, or Frostfangs, or Frozen shores as you imagined, but a place called the Land of Always Winter.
It was going to be a journey of weeks to get there, but thankfully they had a guide to and them.
The very same boy that found the dagger in the first place.
Looking at the young wildling boy who was near the same age as him, Jon kind of felt back suckering him into all this.
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"So here is Jarlaf tent," Ygritte said as she brought him over to the finder's home.
From the look on her face, the red head wasn't too happy about being his guide, but she had no choice when her father put her up to it.
"Thanks, I will be fine from, here," Jon said with a nod of his head an insufferable smile. Since she wanted to sulk all day he might as well let her.
However she followed him in and the only answer she gave was, "My father made it abundantly clear I will have to stick with you all day, as much as it pains, kneeler."
"Alright do what you want," Jon said as he walked into the tent.
The boy they were looking for was slumbering in his bed rolls, kicking him Ygritte shouted, "Get up Jarlaf, you lazy as bum!"
His loud snore seem to freeze in place as he jumped up and looked around blearily, "Ygritte," he said slowly, then more quickly, he shouted, "Ygritte!" as he frantically got up, Jon could see the slight blush on the boy's face as he asked, "What are you doing in my tent, Ygritte? What would the village think?!"
"They can think whatever they want! Jarlaf, this kneeler here wants to learn where you found that very sharp blade."
Finally noticing him, recognition blossomed on the boy's face, "Y-you are the knee- I mean the man from beyond the wall who lead the raid against the Grim lake tribe!"
Jon could see the evident hero worship on the young wildling boy's face, with a nod Jon answered, "That would be me."
"By the Old Gods," he said breathlessly, "could you tell me how you beat those cannibals. Did you..."
Ygritte kicked him again to get him back on track, "He is here to know about the dagger. Not to fill your head with untruths."
"Oh, sorry," the boy said, then realizing the question asked, he begin to shiver. "If I were you I would forget about it. It was just luck from the Old Gods that I got way from that thing..."
"What thing?" Ygritte asked before Jon could.
"I do not know," the boy said, "it was huge like the size of a hill made of all ice and everything. With blue eyes like glaciers. It must have been its cave that I found the dagger in."
"Do you mean like a giant?" Ygritte mused, "though I never heard them growing to be the size of mountains."
"Giants?"Jon asked, not believing what his ears just heard. Ygritte made it out to be like there were regulars around these parts.
However he seem to be ignored as the boy shook his head, "No, it was on all four with a massive pair of wings."
"You mean a dragon," Jon scuffed, now he knew they were just fucking with him. Giants and Dragons what did they think this was... a fairy tale.
"You must have been seeing things, Jarlaf. Dragons are long dead and gone from the world with the doom of Valyria and end of the Targaryen line. Plus Dragons live near volcanoes not all the way here in the frozen north."
"I got to agree with the kneeler," Ygritte said, "you must a Hillingar (arctic mirages) nothing more. And you did say you journeyed far, right. You know how lonely it can get for a lone hunter, here."
"N-no," the boy said as he shook his head, though Jon could see he was now hesitant about what he truly saw. "I know, I think... Aaaaa!"
"Hey," Jon said as he rested his hand on the boy's shoulder. "What if you just lead us there, you don't have to go into this cave you found the dagger in. In return let's say I give you the full story of the raid and give you some pointers, huh?"
Shaking her head Ygritte said nothing as Jarlaf thought of it all but a few seconds and then said. "Alright, you got yourself a deal!"
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Just as Jo assumed it was indeed a long and difficult journey to the Land of Always Winter. Jon wondered how much it would have been compounded if they were the simple newcomer they day they came here.
He was glad he learnt the ways of the free folk or he and his men would have lone been frozen corpses on the white wasteland.
Even with their now new expertise, it was still trying making their way through this land. They got attacked many times by different free folk groups some noticing that they were strangers to this land and others just acting on their inner nature of attacking all who passed by their land.
Still, they were a mighty force and could stand any besiege, and since no large force could gather against them right away they had no problem handing the few raiders along the way.
At long last, they finally came upon the place that Jarlaf was talking about.
"This is it," he said as he pointed to a cave up ahead.
"How do you know this is it?" Jon asked, 'Did we see plenty of caves just like it along the way and didn't we even camp in some."
"Yeah, but I never forgot this place."
"Well your promise is complete," Jon said, stay here and we will be back in a while.
Getting off his horse and tying it to a dead tree branch, Jon split the ground up leaving three quarters behind to stay with the horses and the rest with him leaving him 20 men. Then descending down the small slope, they made their way to the cave.
Now that he was up close to it he could see how large the mouth of the cave was as it could just about fit Winterfell into it.
Fenrir who came with him growled low in a deep throaty bark. Nonya looked at the large direwolf then at him, "What has him all up in a bunch."
"No idea," Jon said as he scratched behind the direwolf's ear to smooth him.
Holding out his torch, Jon leads the way with his nuncle Bejen right beside him.
Jon had to hold on tightly to the torch as the winds came howling from deep inside. Walking down the tunnels and looking around, Jon noticed how strange the formations were - it was like something racked through here with its claws.
That is when he started getting uneasy feelings, what could do that...
As they made their way deeper inside Jon slowly realized how massive this place was, that cave must have lead into that mountain rage behind made up of ice and snow. He felt like kicking himself, if that was the case then they should have asked for directions on where he found the dagger, or else they might be spending the rest of their life looking for anything here.
Then that was when Jon felt a presence in the back of his mind, it was like all the sudden he got another person inside of his head. Following it, his nuncle called out, "Wait, where are you going, boy?"
However Jon was too focused on tracking down this strange feeling he didn't even give it a second thought what the older Stark said.
Walking down long winding tunnels that took countless turns here in there, everyone tried to keep him from behind him until he suddenly came to a stop after a while of letting them on a wild goose chase.
"Where... the hell.. did you... bring us?" Nonya asked as she panted in and out.
That was when Jon too realized he was panting as well, at some point he must have broke into running.
"I don't know..." Jon said as he looked around.
"YOU DON"T KNOW!!!" Nonya shouted.
"Shh," Benjen said as he looked towards the opening he did not spot.
"So this is where I lead everyone?" Jon mused as he walked into the place which opened up to a large chamber.
"This is it!" Benjen shouted as he came in behind him. Inside the room was what could only be called a hoard.
There was nearly everything; gold, gems, books, swords, armor, jewelry, and so much more.
However what drew Jon's attention more than anything was three eggs in the center.
He didn't even realize it he was walking towards it as his feet carried him while his eyes were glued on them.
Pausing before the eggs, Jon's breath caught. They could only be one thing... dragon eggs.
One was an icy dark blue color with some white mixed in, the second egg was black with some pale blue in it, and the last egg was grey just like his eyes.
Dragon Eggs, Jon repeated in his mind. Real fricking dragon eggs.
And what started him was that he could feel a pulse of life from them. Albeit weak, but somehow he sensed that they were alive and they were what was calling him.
Turning around, Jon saw that Benjen was ordering about the men as he had them organize everything to be carried out.
Finding a box which would seem to do the trick, Jon emptied all the gold and gems inside of it and stored the eggs in them, and sealed it close.
He had so many questions running through his mind, but for now he just would have to save them for later.
Even with all the soldiers emptying their packs out and stuffed as much treasures into them, there barely was even a dent into the hoard.
"Let's go," Benjen shouted, "we will come back for it later."
It was only after a long while of backtracking and double backtracking since they didn't leave careful markings in his wild run.
They finally came within sight of the cave's mouth. All they had left was a few more steps and they were out of here.
However that was when they heard the heavy beatings of wings.
