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wildchildalr · 7 years ago

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In 1916, Tsar Eddard II hosts a ball at Winterfell to celebrate the Stark tricentennial. His wife, the Tsarina Catelyn Tully has just returned from Riverrun and gives a music box and a necklace inscribed with the words “Together in Riverrun” as a gift to her eldest daughter, 8-year-old Grand Duchess Sansa. The ball is suddenly interrupted by Petyr Baelish, the royal treasury advisor of the Starks. Before all of the gathered nobility and visiting dignitaries he declares that he and the Tsarina are in love and have been since they were children together. Amid the scandalized gasps Catelyn venomously denies his claims and questions if he has consumed far too much alcohol over the course of the night to take such a drastic leave of his senses.

The Tsar questions if Baelish knows that his declaration is surmountable to treason. He replies that he does and mocks the ruler claiming that the Tsarina gave herself to him before she ever made it to her marriage bed. Eddard grimly replies that his wife was a maiden upon their wedding night to which Catelyn surmises that it was her sister Lysa, now married to an elderly Italian Duke, with whom he had shared a bed. Ceased by the Palace Guards Petyr is forces to his knees on the ballroom floor. Fixing him with a steely gaze the Tsar decrees that Baelish stands accused of treason and slander, the punishment of which is death. However, he decides to be merciful and banish the man due to his years of faithful service as well as what childhood friendship he did share with the Tsarina. Should Baelish return though, he would be killed on sight.

Seeking revenge for his unrequited love and embarrassment, Petyr sold his soul in exchange for an unholy reliquary, which he uses to place a curse on the Stark family, sparking the War of the Five Kings; a conflict where four other Noble families questioned whether the grand dukes and duchesses were truly of royal blood; each family setting up their own candidate for the line of succession. During the siege of the palace, the Tsar and the three grand dukes are assassinated. Only Catelyn, Sansa and the youngest grand duchess Arya are able to escape with the aid of a young noble named Jaime, who shows them a secret passageway in Sansa's room. Petyr confronts the royals outside on a frozen river, only to fall through the ice and drown. The trio manage to reach a moving train, but only Catelyn climbs aboard while Sansa and Arya fall, hitting they’re heads on the platform and suffering amnesia.

Ten years later, the country is under communist rule and Catelyn has publicly offered 10 million gold dragons for the safe return of her daughters. Jaime and his friend/ unwitting partner-in-crime Brienne search for a look-alike to bring to Riverrun and pass off as Sansa and Arya so they can collect the reward. Elsewhere, Sansa, now 18 years of age and using the name "Alayne", leaves the rural orphanage where she grew up, still suffering from amnesia. Accompanied by a fellow orphan who showed up at the same time as she named “Nymeria” the pair decides to head to Winterfell, inspired by the passage on the necklace Alayne still has. They are unable to leave due to not having exit visas, but an old woman advises them to see Jaime at the abandoned palace where he has made residence. There they encounter Jaime and Brienne, who are impressed by the pair’s resemblance to the "real" grand duchesses and decide to take them with them to Riverrun. Before they leave Brienne questions Jaime if he truly believes the pair to be the missing girls, vowing to abandon him if he is trying to con the former Tsarina. Jaime assures her he has the utmost faith that they are the true heiresses but Brienne seems unconvinced.

As the group leaves the palace they cross over the frozen lake and beneath the ice Petyr’s dormant reliquary is suddenly revived by the girls presence; it sinks through the earth to limbo, where Baelish survives. He is enraged to discover that Sansa and Arya escaped the curse, and because they survived, he was not able to die completely, and has been stuck in limbo as a rotting corpse. Using the reliquary Baelish sends his demonic minions from the reliquary to kill them.

Alayne, Jaime, Nymeria and Brienne board a train headed to Riverrun, but end up having to hide in the baggage car when their passports' coloration is overheard to not match the proper color. Baelish's minions also intend to derail the train, but the group manages to escape before it plunges into a canyon. They continue on foot, with Brienne telling of the Dowager Empress' brother Edmure, who questions anyone claiming to be Sansa and Ayra. The pair become indignant that no one told them they had to prove they were the grand duchesses. Brienne convinces them that there's nothing for either of them back in Winterfell, and that Riverrun could hold something special. She tells that her father had been captain of the palace guard and the guilt of the royal family's deaths had tortured him until his death. Before his passing though he made Brienne promise to try and find the young girls if they were still alive, and return them to their mother. Her words convince them, and they begin going over proper etiquette and Stark history. Eventually, they take a ship from White Harbor to Riverrun, where both Jaime and Alyane perform a waltz, which seems to bring the two a bit closer together. That evening, Baelish invades Alayne’s dream, but her exit from the cabin wakes Nymeria who alerts Jaime. The enchanted dream causes her to almost sleepwalk over the edge of the boat, until Jaime saves her.

After two failed assassination attempts Petyr decides to travel back to the surface, contemplating that perhaps Alayne would be a replacement for Catelyn.

The group eventually reach Riverrun and go to meet Catelyn, who has given up the search: having been nearly fooled numerous times by impostors. Despite this, Catelyn’s brother Edmure, quizzes the girls to confirm her identities. Though they offer every answer taught to them, Jaime finally realizes they are the real grand duchesses when they (without being taught to) vaguely recollect how he had saved them ten years prior. Edmure, also convinced of the girls identities, arranges a meeting with Catleyn at the Palais Garnier Opera house. There, Jaime tries to establish an introduction but Catelyn refuses, having already heard of Jaime’s initial scheme to con her. She also recognizes him as Count Tywin Lannister’s son who had offered Jaime up as a “replacement” for Catelyn’s eldest son Robb in the line of succession. Jaime tries to explain that he never wanted the crown but Catelyn cuts him off describing the horror of seeing her eldest child being cut down by Jaime’s father during the sacking of the palace. She then accuses him of plotting to place a woman who is likely his mistress within the royal family in an attempt to gain back some of his family’s once great wealth and tittles. As he is physically removed from the theater box Jaime reminds Catelyn that it was he who aided the escape of herself and her daughters, to which she replies is the only reason she had not ordered his death upon the beginning of their meeting.

Sansa overhears the conversation and angrily confronts Jaime before leaving, feeling used. She informs Arya of the scam and the pair decide to pack their belongings and strike out on their own. Jaime meanwhile kidnaps Catelyn and takes her to see Sansa and Arya, showing her the music box he recovered during their escape. The girls finally meet Catelyn and regain their memories as they converse, convincing the empress of their identities. The three are joyfully reunited.

Catelyn offers Jaime the reward money, but to her surprise, he refuses it and leaves for Highgarden. She thanks him saving them that night and assures he shall always have a place at her hearth and table. Brienne is knighted and offered a place within the Stark household, which she humbly excepts. That night at Sansa and Arya’s return celebration, their mother informs them of Jaime's gesture, leaving Sansa torn between staying or being with him. Arya, bemoaning having to wear such a restricting dress suddenly runs off; Sansa chases her to the Pont Rickard III, where she is trapped and attacked by Baelish who attempts to abduct her to make her his bride. Jaime returns to save her but is injured and knocked unconscious. In the struggle, Arya manages to get hold of Petyr's reliquary and Sansa crushes it under her foot; killing him.

In the aftermath, Jaime and Sansa reconcile; they then elope, and Sansa sends a farewell letter to Catelyn and Edmure, promising to return one day. Arya travels with them but quickly becomes disgusted by their constant displays of affection and soon sets off with a young adventurer named Gendry.

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wandering-chronicler-blog · 7 years ago

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The Wolf of Farore - Chapter 14

An Ongoing Zelda/Witcher Fusion Fic - Updates Wednesdays/Thursdays

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Summary:

War has come to The Kingdom of Hyrule. The people cry for a savior as monsters and spirits stalk the once green fields of the provinces. Famine grips the populace as the Gerudo Tribes and their blin allies strike along the borders. Hope for peace begins to drown in the blood spilled in No Man’s Land. But Hyrule doesn’t need another hero. It needs a professional.

The Story So Far:

A brief respite on Death Mountain has Link and Midna discussing what will happen next as he prepares to head to Snowpeak to try and convince the zoras to not join the war. Nothing is ever simple though and in the journey, he finds himself adrift and swarmed by skullfish before blacking out...

CHAPTER 14: A DEAL WITH RALIS

When he was fully conscious, he found he was standing stripped to his shorts and bound in manacles in a wet cell. A pair of zora guards wearing scale armor and large, mask-like helmets stood outside it, talking quietly. He still had the wolf around his neck at least. Link glanced about and listened.

“Why would Labrynna send a spy anyways?” one of the guards whispered. It echoed against the stone walls of the dungeon enough that he could hear. Their coral spear clicked against the floor as they moved slightly.

“I don’t know,” the other said. “Maybe they’ve heard the rumors.”

“I hope they’re just that.” They shook their head. “Do you see all those scars?”

“I recognized a couple skullfish bites and he was bleeding when they found him washed up. Recognized a couple more too. Deku babas on the arms and stomach, couple on his chest. And the scratches on the back…”

“Those looked like dodongo claws. And the burns. What was that one on his collar?”

“I don’t know, it still looks recently healed.” They must’ve been referring to the one from the dead hand he reasoned. Link glanced around as carefully as he could without drawing their attention. This was definitely one of their cells. “If he’s not a spy though, he could be one of those berserkers from Holodrum with the sort of equipment he was carrying… Or a monster slayer. Maybe specializing in the preternatural? Why else would he have that strange wolf and the silver crossbow bolts?”

“I don’t think so. He could be an assassin.” Link saw one of them lean in a little more to their companion’s ear. “He had those bottles. And the one the witch called venomblood. Said it was a horrible way to go.” There was a creak of a door opening. The two guards immediately quieted and stood at attention. They spoke quieter than before. He got a glimpse of who they were talking with. The zora was shorter than the other two, and his coloration was different, more a shade of grey than the blues of the guards. He was dressed similarly, but lacked the helmet. Link did spy jewelry around their neck and the two fins that hung to the sides of his face had more as well, including a pair of coral earrings at the end. He had never met them, but knew instantly it was the young prince Ralis for he had seen him once during a visit with Zelda when he served as an agent of The Crown. It had been years ago though by now. If Link had to take a guess, Ralis was now around the same age he had been when he’d earned the blue and white tunic.

The smaller zora pushed the cell door open. The guards entered first and kept their spears trained on Link. He looked the hylian over slowly. Link didn’t react. He watched carefully though, looking for an out in the event he needed one.

“We’ll keep this simple,” Ralis said. “You tell me your name and what you were doing clinging to the bottom of the Prince of Hyrule’s riverboat.”

Was he too late? Had an alliance already been signed? Honesty though he thought in some areas would work better at least. He took a deep breath. “I heard the zoras were going to join the war against Ganondorf,” he said. “If it was true, it could cause the Storm Sea Zora to get involved as well. That could drag The Empress and Labrynna into the conflict. Did not want to be detected by the Hyrulean forces.”

“Surprisingly well-versed in current events, whatever you are. And you are not a Labrynnan in spite of the armor you wore.” He watched Link closely. “You still didn’t tell me your name.”

“Link.”

“Well, Link. You carry some very interesting equipment as well.”

“Pays to be prepared.”

“And what does a man like you need things like venomblood or skulltula venom for? Or a variety of different bolts for a small crossbow? Or a subrosian-forged arming sword all the way from Holodrum?”

He wasn’t going to tell them what he had once done, but the two guards earlier had given him ideas. “I’m a problem-solver. I solve people’s problems, they pay me.”

“So you’re an assassin.”

“No.”

“You carry plenty of tools to be considered one.”

“I try not to kill people.” He rolled his head a little. “Only monsters. Draconids like dodongos and forktails. Hybrids such as griffins, lynels... As well as the undead and necrophages like drowners and ghouls. That’s what the venomblood is for.” He looked at one of the guards. “You wanted to know the one on my collar? Dead hand. The bites on my right calve? A redead that had been blown in half by a bomb. And you were right. Those three on my back were from a king dodongo.”

Ralis nodded slowly. He looked to one of the guards for a moment and then back to Link. “Perhaps then we can strike a deal. Your life for a demonstration of your skills.”

“Can you remove the manacles then?”

“Not yet.” He raised a hand. “There is a monster at one of our holy sites. And we would like to see it taken care of. Can you kill it?”

He sighed. “I would need information. Reports, scouts, past encounters… Might even need to contact an information broker on what it is. In which case I’d need funding to pay them for their services.”

“I thought you said you went after monsters.”

“I might do that, but I’m not stupid about it. I’m not like a knight going off at a dragon because his lord asks him to. I need to know what I’m going after. Need to know its habits. Its weaknesses, track it…”

“I see.”

“You want it done right, I need information and resources.” He looked them right in the eye. “And my equipment back. All of it.”

There was a pause as the zora noble looked to the guards. “Release him.”

“Your highness, are you sure?” the guard asked.

“I’m sure.” He looked back to Link. “You’ll be unarmed until we leave here though.”

“Understandable,” Link said. He watched as a zora undid the manacles. He rubbed his wrists for a moment once free. The feeling had come back quickly. “Now, what can you tell me about this monster?”

“It’s unlike anything we’re familiar with,” Ralis said. He headed for the cell door. Link followed with the remaining guard behind him. “When we first encountered it, it was like a chu, drifting in the water. But it had something inside it.”

“That’s not uncommon. Chus usually engulf prey. And they can get pretty big.”

“That something though seemed to move and direct the creature,” the guard said. “We chased it into the Lakebed Temple, but lost it in there. Eventually it found us though.”

“How so?”

“There were six of us. We entered one of the larger chambers and it attacked us. It had turned the water in the room into a part of itself. We did manage to wound it. The core, the object inside it bled. But it broke a grate and escaped deeper into the temple.”

Link began to think how it could have done such a thing. “How long between the initial encounter and this attack?”

“Took us about a day to find it again?”

“And how long has it been since then?”

“A week.”

“So this thing could be even bigger now.” He looked to the guard. “How many survived the attack?”

“Just me,” he said. He bowed his head a little and then looked at the hylian. “When it was down to three of us, we drew straws. One of us would go back and report what we’d found. I don’t think they’re still alive.”

“If they are, I’ll find them.” They came to a guard’s room then. The other of the two guards had already set out Link’s armor and clothes. They were still a little damp, but not soaked through like when he’d been in the river. He picked it up and started to get it back on. “Can it leave the temple?”

“No,” Ralis said. “It’s trapped there. It’s a concern though that it’ll find a way.”

“Makes things simpler.” He pulled his pants on and then quickly did the boots. “I will need at least four frost bombs. Clockwork timers instead of fuses.”

“Frost bombs? You realize how dangerous those are.”

“Yes I do. I’ve used them before.” Admittedly though, he had never used them on another living being. However, the circumstances dictated he’d have to. He just hoped it wasn’t as terrifying to watch as when he’d watched Lana freeze a pack of drowners and proceed to shatter them into scything and bloody chunks with a burst of wind magic.

“I’ll have a guard get them to you when you enter the temple. And not a moment before.”

It was a small relief to him he wouldn’t be carrying the devices until he truly needed them. “Fine by me.” He pulled a shirt on and tucked it in before slipping a belt on. “I’d assume then we’re close to Lake Hylia.”

“You are.”

“Good.” He pulled the tunic on then over his head. “I’m going to need to visit the Cardinal Inn before I go to the temple. Maybe a local has seen the creature or heard something you haven’t.”

The last time Link had been to Lake Hylia had been during The Conjunction with Ravio and Midna. During his time there, they’d slain an archgriffin that had been terrorizing the populace and closed the last portal between Hyrule and Lorule. On the outside as he walked through the paths between simple huts, it didn’t look like it had changed at all, apart from the fact the inn they’d stayed at had been burned to the ground. Another one had taken its place not far from its location though. It had a bright red cardinal weathervane on its grass roof. A similar sign hung over the door. It was a recent addition and the paint was still fresh on the walls. Link pulled the facemask up over his face to help conceal his identity as he pushed the door to it open. He could smell something cooking as he entered. The downstairs was fairly empty apart from a couple locals who were congregated around a table. One of them glanced over when they saw the new arrival but they were soon back to their tankard. Link approached the bar. Behind it was a young man cleaning it. He looked barely old enough to have facial hair. There was also a very large fluffy cat lapping up a saucer of cream.

“Do you have any milk?” he asked.

“For thirty.”

Link dug into his wallet while the young man got his drink. He slipped them a purple rupee and took a long drink. “Keep the change.”

He grinned at seeing his payment. “Anything else?”

“I wish to speak with the proprietress as well.” He glanced at the cat then. “I’m sure Louise can vouch for me.”

The cat glanced up when he spoke. Her eyes followed his every move then. The young man quickly rushed into the back of the tavern. Link had caught a look of worry on his face at mentioning the cat. He took a drink of his milk and looked at the cat then. She had started to become alert. He saw her moving and her hair starting to stand on end, making her look even larger than she already was. He watched even as the cat’s pupils dilated and her tail swished.

He looked the cat right in the eyes for a moment, but broke contact and went back to his milk. She followed suit though and returned to lapping at her saucer. Link however, heard footsteps from behind. He slowly moved his hand, ready to pull the hidden knife from his bracer if he had to. “Can I help you?” he asked.

“Can help the lot of us,” one of the locals said. To his right, Link saw a poster placed on the bar. A quick glance was all he needed to see his face on it and a bounty of a thousand rupees. “Just come quietly.”

Link took another drink and turned to face them. They were dressed simply and it was clear they had no rank. One did hold a club in their hands, but the other two were unarmed. A quick glance was all he needed to determine the way to take them. “You are aware of how devalued the Hyrulean Rupee has become because of the war, yes?”

“That can still feed our families!” the one with the club said. “And no one likes deserters!”

“Do you three really think they’d put out such a high bounty on a single deserter?” a woman said. They looked to their lefts. Link glanced that way as well. Telma stood with her arms folded under her chest. Her dark red hair was back in her usual ponytail and the apron she wore was bloodied. Link also spotted a meat cleaver hanging from the apron. “If you three think going after someone with that sort of price on his head is smart, you’re cut off for today.” She looked at Link then. “I hear you want to speak with me.”

“Somewhere private, please,” Link said. He looked back at the three men. “She’s right though too. The price might be that high because of the danger.” He grabbed his milk and walked over to her. She turned then and they headed into the kitchen. Telma pushed the door open and waited for him to enter. It swung behind them.

“By Din, Link,” she said, giving him the look of a scolding mother. “Are you insane?! There’s posters of you all over from here to the South Seas! And all I’ve been able to get from the usual suspects is that you’re a traitor!”

“Do you believe them?” he asked.

“You’re not working for Zelda anymore, I know that much.” She removed the apron and meat cleaver to hang on the wall. Link spied a slaughtered boar on a table. Two other people were at work preparing it for a meal. “And if that’s the case, I don’t think I can help you. You had the Royal Treasury to draw on.”

“Then why even talk to me if you’re so sure?”

“Call it a professional courtesy, hun.” She folded her arms. “You made sure you paid in full whenever you came by. Never ran up a tab either. And you got a couple of your Chosen buddies to help make sure the rioting didn’t burn down my old bar with me still in it.”

He leaned against the wall then and took another drink of his milk. “Well, for the moment I have access to a royal treasury, just not Hyrule’s. Which is why I’m here. Prince Ralis of the Snowpeak Zoras has contracted me to handle the monster in the Lakebed Temple. Told him I needed a broker to get some extra information.”

“Monster? In the temple?” She narrowed her eyes. “You’d better step into my office then…” Telma turned and Link followed her into a back room. It had the curtains drawn and a simple desk in the middle of the room. She sat down behind it. The cat, Louise, had followed her in and jumped on the table. “We’d heard rumors from some of the zora guards of something in there, but nothing you could call reliable.”

“And why is that?”

“Because none of my agents have gotten down there to get a look at it.” She gave Louise a pat. The fluffy white cat purred.

“As expected…” Link pulled a chair up and sat down. He rested his arms on his legs, leaning in. “Now, I’ve also heard rumor that they might be joining the war. How much of that is true?”

“It’s not a rumor. It’ll be true in a couple weeks I’d expect. Even Zelda herself has been up there talking with the king and queen.” She scratched Louise behind the ear. The cat lay on the desk then, looking quite content. “A lot of the senate up there though have voiced concerns that the king and queen are thinking with their hearts rather than their minds in regards to this.”

“How so?”

“The king’s daughter from his first marriage, Ruto, has gone missing. Hyrule is offering to use their information network and a couple Chosen to find and return her. In exchange, the zoras let them use the large rivers and lakes for their armies. This includes plans for new irrigation to help prepare more food as it’s looking like this war will continue another year.”

“Terrific…” He finished his milk and put the glass on the table. “What about Labrynna?”

“There has been… Vocal protest by the sea zora ambassadors in the court. Conflicts like this have happened in the past and it always ends in tears for both sides. Worrying that this will affect their trade even more than it already has. They’re not having any of it. And… I could have an agent find out what Empress Ambi’s thoughts are on the entire matter. It wouldn’t come cheaply though. And I doubt Ralis would like you spending his money that way.”

She was right about that. Even though the prince was probably only in his teens, the way he’d handled the interrogation was impressive. “Do you know if they tried finding her themselves?”

“I do. But no word on if it was successful.” She removed her hand from Louise, who let out a mew in protest. “I’d expect it failed though. And that there’s more going on than they’ve told you.”

Link thought on what he’d been told. If this was all true, he could be looking at more work to rescue the princess. He’d be willing to do it if it prevented the risk of Labrynna entering the war. “Do you have any leads on where she could be? Just yes or no. Not if you actually know.”

“I can find out.”

“We may have this conversation again then.” He stood up.

“That all you need, hun?”

“For the zoras, yeah. But I do have something that may require me to start a tab… Personal interest.”

Her eyebrows rose. Louise even looked up at him. “Never thought I’d see the day. What kind of personal interest?”

He looked back at her. “I need information on polymorphic curses and Majora’s Mask. Preferably how they’re related and methods of breaking them.”

Telma inspected him carefully then. He was aware of how insane the request sounded. “I’m not sure if you’re serious or you hit your head on something. That’s just an old story.”

“But every story has a grain of truth to it. Even if it’s archeological information, I need it.” He took a deep breath. “And I have a friend who is afflicted by such a curse. I promised to help. The Mask is the only lead we have.”

She was quiet for a minute, writing down a note on a sheet. “Must be some friend if you’re willing to chase fairy tales.” Telma finished and put her pen down. “Alright. I should have something then soon. I have an agent or two who could get that for you.”

#Link #Ralis #Telma #AU #Zelda Fics #The Legend of Zelda #Zelda/Witcher Fusion Fic #The Witcher #The Wolf of Farore #Influenced Heavily by The Witcher

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