Not even two days after my successful trade with the son of Stark, I felt the runic array carved on the tree trigger again. It was a simple thing, basically a magical tripwire that would alert me when somebody disturbed it three times in under a minute.
After checking out who it was, I excitedly returned home to our island, because staying in the town undetected had become a hassle after Stark started looking for us.
"Pyra! It's an ambush! We're going to be ambushed by Stark and his men. Isn't that exciting?" I vibrated with anticipation. Finally, Stark was making a move.
"*sigh* So our merchant days are over? I was having fun." Pyra said with a sad sigh.
"Over? Nah, we're still going to continue doing it. I just have to make a deal with this Stark." I said nonchalantly.
"You? You're going to make a deal?... You know what? Why not. Things have been a bit too quiet around here."
"Now what's that supposed to mean?! It's going to be a great deal, you'll see." I said with an indignant huff.
"Hehe~ I know, I know… just don't burn the place down, okay?"
"... I wasn't going to do that."
"Mhm. I will act like I believe you. But why are we wasting our time here? Don't we have a trap to walk into?"
"Yes, and we have to set the tone. I'm going to do the shinigami thing and walk in the air, and you will fly next to me. Bring out your sword, I'm going to do the same."
"Shock and awe. Nice." Pyra said with a grin, much too similar to mine.
One teleport above the tree tops, and we had the full view of all the assembled men. There looked to be around fifty guardsmen, led by Eddard Stark, Jory Cassel, and Benjen. Though it seemed like Benjen was arguing about something with his brother.
"Huh. Just when did that guy arrive?" I muttered to Pyra.
"Most likely just now, look at him, he looks like he barely slept at all. Must have run his horse ragged."
"Do you think it's because of us?"
"Noooo… it must be a totally unrelated matter. Of course, it's about us!" She said sarcastically and then hissed the rest.
"Makes sense, I guess." I shrugged, and Pyra rolled her eyes and mockingly mimicked me.
"Anyway. Let's spook some peasants." I started to slowly walk down, as if I were using invisible stairs.
It took the guards a moment to notice us, but when one of the archers at the back did, the poor man didn't even manage to make a sound. He just stared blankly.
"Lord Stark and Benjen. Are you interested in my wares?" I spread out my arms and made all of the jewelry in the chest float around me. Honestly, I would give myself ten points for style.
The sound of my voice made all the men look up, and in their eyes I saw fear. Fear and reverence. Even Eddard's impassive face changed. Not much, but I saw it clearly. The brief look to his brother, the silent 'I told you so' from Benjen, and the flash of understanding.
"I wouldn't have guessed you were a merchant, Lady Emily." Benjen spoke first, as he was the one who was somewhat used to my presence.
"I am many things, Benjen Stark. Being a merchant is one of them."
"I assume I have you to thank for the guards snooping around in Winter Town, correct?" I asked him, even though the answer was fairly obvious.
"Yes. I did what my Gods asked of me." He said with a brave face.
"Hmm… And you, Lord Stark? What is it that you want from me? Or was it just your brother's fear that made you seek me out?"
"I– My Lady, apologies for asking, but what are you?" Eddard suddenly snapped from his stupor. What he implied was obvious.
"You're actually the first person to ever ask me that, you know? Humans always love to just assume things."
"As I said, I am many things. I can tell you, but not here." I didn't want to reveal anything in front of so many people. At least not now. But telling a partial truth to a guy who is basically a king? And from what I've heard over the last two weeks, a good one? That was another story entirely.
"And if I don't agree?" He asked cautiously, but with steel in his voice.
"Then I'll just walk away, and leave you forever wondering what if… What if I listened to her back then? Would things be different? Would they be better? I'm sure your brother told you of his worries, and they are correct. I am dangerous, but I'm also a good ally to have."
"What does somebody like you get out of this?" Now we're getting somewhere. Just what I wanted.
"I've been in Westeros for roughly a month, and during that time, I've never settled down somewhere for more than a couple of days. I want something more permanent here in the North. But if you want a full explanation, talk with me in private." Was I doing all this just to live here hassle-free? Yes, but I actually quite like it here in the North. The nature was nice, the people were friendly, in a rough sort of way, and the weather was just to my liking. Cold.
"I know making a choice like this isn't ideal, so go consult your family, and when you have an answer, call me using the tree." The man looked positively baffled that I offered him a choice.
"Thank you… I will have an answer ready for you tomorrow morning." Eddard said, and dipped his head low.
"Tomorrow then." I dipped my head as well and walked back into the sky, leaving the men to stare at me as I departed.
As soon as we were out of sight above the tree tops, I opened up a portal and we went home.
"Ugh… Pyra… I had to use my brain… my head hurts. Make it better." I groaned exaggeratedly and plopped belly up on the bed.
"Haha~ Annnd, she's back. That was uncanny, you know? Seeing you act all serious." She said with a chuckle.
"Yeah, well, the guy thinks I'm some sort of god, so I had to act accordingly."
"You had to? Yeah, right. The real reason?" She snorted, sat next to me, and started running her hand through my hair.
"The switch-up will be funny." I admitted.
"Hmm~ it probably will. And the other stuff? You really want to settle in the North?"
"Yeah, I wasn't lying, you know? This place is huge and mostly empty. Ideal place for our base of operations."
"What operations? We're just lazing around. You don't need a base for that."
"Not for that, obviously, but we will become known, and some people will inevitably want to follow us. I think that befriending people who seek the same kind of adventure as we do would be nice."
"That came out of nowhere, but I get it. You want friends, and honestly, so do I. We just need to agree on it, okay?" Pyra nodded in agreement.
"That's a given. This is your adventure as much as it is mine."
—
Tomorrow morning came by fast, and we were already impatiently waiting for Stark to come by. I thought that a man like him would be up at first light, doing lord stuff, but it seems like that was not the case. It was nearly lunchtime when he finally arrived.
"Good morning, Lord Stark." I greeted him, and this time there were no theatrics. I just appeared from behind the tree.
"Good morning to you, Lady Emily." He greeted me back, and there was an awkward pause. Both of us waited for the other to speak first.
"How about we spare each other with the song and dance and get right to it? Do you want to know more, or are we parting ways?" I cut right to the chase.
"*sigh* You put me in a precarious position. I trust my brother, but the things he claims he's seen? I find them hard to believe. I saw you fly, but that could have been a trick. So before I commit, I would like to see the supposed destruction you can bring about with my own two eyes."
"I don't mind showing you, but for that, we have to go somewhere else." I instantly opened up a portal leading beyond the wall. To a place devoid of life.
"What is this? What are you showing me, and why does it feel so cold?" Eddard took a few startled steps back, looking warily between the portal and me.
"This is a doorway to where I can let loose and show you. If you truly want to know, step through it." I said and walked through it myself.
"Where does it lead?" He asked once he stepped close to the opening.
"Beyond the wall."
"WHAT?!"
"Why do you act so shocked? You already suspect what I am. Is this so out of the realm of possibility?" Somehow, that managed to calm him down a bit. Why? I had no idea.
"I suppose not. Is it safe?"
"Yes. I have no reason to harm you, Eddard Stark. That, I swear."
"Very well." He had the look of a person who was about to jump into a pool of cold water. I'm surprised he didn't hold his nose when he stepped through.
"See? You're fine, and Winter Town is still right behind you." I said with a chuckle when the astonished Stark looked himself all over.
"Commit this to memory, Eddard Stark." I said and used shunpo to move about half a mile away from him. The heat that I would unleash would be more than enough to hurt him if he were that close.
"Reduce all creation to ash, Ryujin Jakka!"
I would be lying if I said I didn't like the look on his face when he saw all the fire emerge. A look of pure astonishment. That look, however, had nothing on the one he had when I simply started blasting everything around me. Mostly because I had no clue how to show off my power when I was not fighting anything. I felt kinda silly, like I was performing a dance of some kind.
When I felt like I'd shown the man enough, I dispelled my Zanpakuto and shunpoed back to him.
"Did I satisfy your curiosity, Lord Stark?" I asked him curiously.
"*ehm* Y–Yes, you did. That was more than enough, Lady Emily." He said with a shaky voice.
"That's good, but please, do not fear me. I am not a monster."
"Then… was I correct? Are you truly a god?"
"Yes, I am." Technically.
"I know it's not my place to pry, but I must. What are your designs for the North?" He asked fearfully and dipped his head down.
"I have none, truly. I simply want to live there with my companion, meet people, and have a good time. There is no grand design, no secret plot or anything like that. The only thing I ask of you is a piece of land where I can put my home. That's all."
"But I think that this discussion is better saved for your office, and not the freezing cold, is it not?" I said with a small chuckle.
"Aye… it is."