Game of Thrones Chapter 4

Chapter 4

The night after the joust and melee Harry was dressed in his best tunic and pants that made him feel slightly ridiculous, but he was going to be one of the guests of honor so Lord Stark insisted he dress more traditionally.  Lord Stark asked him if he had a companion he wished to bring to dinner tonight, and when Harry said no he asked if he was open to taking anyone.  This made Harry shrug, and Ned patted the young man on the shoulder as he walked out of the room, “Be ready shortly I will come back with the woman who requested your arm tonight.”

“Requested my arm?  Ned, what does that mean?” Harry shouted after him.

On a normal circumstance Harry always addressed the man as Lord Stark, but when he felt like he was being pranked he thought a first name basis would be justified, and considering only the giggling of Sansa and Arya was heard after he figured it was okay.  Septa Mordane helped Harry finish getting ready as she puffed out his shirt a little bit that he had tucked in, and made a few traditional fashion adjustments.

Shortly after Ned departed he came back with a knock and Harry answered the door to see the most breathtaking woman he had ever seen in his life.  A bombshell of a blonde woman with a slim but womanly figure stood in the door.  She was wearing a long light blue gown that hugged her around the waist and torso, but loosened up around the waist.  It was a beautiful gown, but she definitely made the outfit look good.  Her large blue eyes were piercing Harry from the moment the door opened, and for a moment Harry forgot how to speak.

Ned Stark saved Harry from embarrassment however and said, “Harry this Lady Margery Tyrell.  You saved her brother’s life out there today, and asked for the pleasure to be on your arm tonight for the feast.”

Harry immediately bowed to the woman, and took her hand, kissing in gently, “It will be my pleasure to escort a Lady as beautiful as you are Lady Tyrell.”

The woman smiled brightly, “You were extremely brave out there today Ser Harry, and fierce with that sword of yours.”

Harry put a hand on the sword of Godric Gryffindor’s ruby encrusted hilt, smiling softly, “It has served me well for many years, so I trust it with my life.  Shall we stroll to the feast my lady.”

“Yes of course.  Thank you for showing me the way Lord Stark.” She said graciously, giving the man a smile and a short curtsey.

Ned patted Harry on the shoulder, and said Sansa and himself would be behind them shortly, and the two departed the hall.

“Tell me about yourself, Ser Harry.  I heard you were from Essos?” She inquired with a smooth melodic voice.

Harry nodded his head, “That’s right.  Though I have to say I am not a Ser.  Just a commoner that had enough talent with a sword to attract someone as powerful as Lord Ned Stark's attention.  I am pretty good at investigating and hunting people down, which is how Lord Stark and I became close.  He liked my skills, and I was close enough to his older children’s age that we made good training partners in the yard, and I enjoyed teaching them as my skills progressed past theirs.  Even little Arya I have spent many hours training with a blade.”

“A little lady with a blade.  Some women are just born for it, and I greatly admire the ones that do.  I know her aunt Lyanna Stark was said to be fierce with a blade, and a fine archer.  It runs through some of the Northern family’s blood I believe, but not just northerners, have you ever heard of Brienne of Tarth?” She asked, sounding very intelligent to Harry, and also felt his respect for the woman not condemning Arya’s desire to train with a sword like most lady’s were increase even more.

“I can’t say I have?  Is she a skilled warrior?” Harry asked curiously.

“Very skilled, and she plans to even compete in a tournament in High Garden sometime in the coming months.  Perhaps you might find yourself on my side of the continent and compete in my family’s tournament.  My brother has won it the past few years, but perhaps you might surprise a few people.  The prize money is quite nice, though after today I am not sure you will need it!” The woman said with a smile.

The young man conceded her point.  Ned hadn’t told him the prize money for the melee was 20,000 gold dragons, and he quite frankly had nothing to do with accept place it in the royal bank. Of course he planned to oversee this so he could apparate in and out to take the money as he needed, but that was not for anyone else to know, “I can’t comment on that I am afraid my lady.  I have never seen your brother battle with a sword, but if he's anything like he is with a joust then I am not so sure I could defeat him.”

Margery laughed, “A man with some humility.  You aren’t a knight yet, but you should be.  I will admit my brother is even better with a sword than he is with a joust, but even on his best day he wouldn’t stand up to the Mountain like you did.”

“Were you watching?” Harry asked.

“I was and for a moment I thought I was going to lose my brother before a handsome young man jumped into the arena forfeiting his life to save my brothers.  Imagine my shock when you not only stopped the man from killing my brother, but then battled him to the point I am sure you could’ve taken his life had the King not interfered.  My family and I are very grateful to you.”

Harry felt his cheeks heat up at her praise.  Back in his time he was expected to do things like that, because everyone knew him as a hero.  It was nice here to be recognized that he was just doing with Gryffindor’s do, and that was be brave.  He didn’t want money, or any sort of prize, but thanks and recognition were far more valuable to him, especially from someone as beautiful as Margery Tyrell, “Lady Tyre-“

“Please just call me Margery.  I am not married, and there is no need to be so formal.  Would you grant me the same pleasure to just call you Harry?” She asked, batting her eyelashes a bit.

Smiling at the young woman he said, “Of course please I am sorry I didn’t offer that before.  Margery.  Your family owes me nothing.  I put myself between the Mountain and your brother because it was right, not because I wanted reward.  I feel that it might taint the act of…if I may, heroism, by seeking a reward.  Believe me having such a beautiful woman on my arm is FAR more of an award than I would’ve ever asked for.”

This led to another beaming smile from the blonde girl, and they had finally arrived at the entrance hall where a man announced his arrival, “The Champion of the melee Harry Potter has arrived with his guest Lady Margery Tyrell of Highgarden.”

This led to a blast of applause and Harry raised his hand in appreciation waving at people feeling a little awkward, but trying his best to keep his discomfort off his face.  The king waved him over offering a handshake for the boy and motioning for him to sit next to him.  Harry pulled a chair for Margery next to him before he pulled his own seat and King Robert began speaking immediately, “I have to thank you for what you did out there.  The death of Loras Tyrell, an heir to a prominent family in the Seven Kingdoms could have been very messy.  The call for the Mountain's head would’ve been very high, and I can assure you very bloody.  You have my thanks, Lad.”

The King handed him a cup and toasted to him, and they both took a long swig of it, and Harry slammed his on the table when it was empty just before the King did, “Oh I like you Lad.  Lancel Lannister more wine swine.”

The young lad with blonde hair quickly bustled off for another pitcher of wine, while Harry spoke, “I just didn’t want anyone killed in an unjust attempt.  The fight was over and Ser Loras had won.  It wasn’t right what the Mountain attempted, and I was determined to stop him.”

“Determined eh?  I saw the fire in your eyes boy, you have seen battle.  Where did you do it?  The North?  Overseas?”

“Overseas sir.” Harry explained feeling bad that Margery was left in the quiet.  He was thankful that another lovely young woman arrived and the two started chatting animatedly.  He caught the tone between the two and figured this was one of her handmaidens.

“It sounds like you have a good story.  Let’s hear it.” The King commanded.   As he did, Ned and Sansa showed up causing the king to rise to his feet and with open arms hugged Ned excitedly, “This is what I brought you down for Ned.  Debauchery, and fighting, our favorite things!”

This caused Ned to stiffly smile at the man and nod at Harry, which Harry returned with a grin.  The green eyed boy could tell Ned did not fully appreciate this version of Robert Baratheon.  I think he much preferred the bloodthirsty warrior he knew as a younger man.

When everyone found their seats King Robert prompted him to tell his story, “Why don’t you start with how you got that scar on your forehead.”

Harry’s hand immediately went to his head when he was reminded that the scar was still there.  Sometimes it was more visible than others, but it never hurt like it used to.  He figured the Horcrux in him was certainly dead,  and thought Voldemort was still alive in his world or time, there was no possible connection to them left anymore, and he doubted his possibilities of ever seeing the man again.

“I got this scar when I was a baby.  When I was just over a year old my parents were slaughtered in the night by a very powerful ValyrianSorcerer.  He claimed to have been descended from the Gods, and my family opposed him.  They were Lords and Ladies in their lands before they fled to Essos and had me.  I am afraid I am not entirely sure where, because there are no remains of my family.  I am the last living survivor and heir of the Potter family.  We were told to be famous blacksmiths, and the only thing I have as my heritage is the sword that is on my waist.  I spent my whole life training to avenge my families’ murder, and when I was seventeen years of age the man disappeared.  I hunted him for three years, and killed every single one of his followers I could find before I finally called it quits.  I needed a fresh start where I wouldn’t be so driven by vengeance so I left for the continent.  I met Lord Stark within a few weeks of my arrival.  I am just lucky he didn’t string me up.”  Harry said with a chuckle.

Robert looked startled by this, “String him up?  What did you catch the boy doing?”

“He was hunting on our lands, your Grace.  I told him the laws and the boundaries, and he was quite clueless.  I was going to just let him off with a warning when his Dire wolf approached us threateningly.  I took it as a sign from the Old Gods that Harry would arrive on my lands and befriend the first dire wolf seen south of the wall in hundreds of years.  So I took him in and asked him his story.  For a little over two years he had been doing work for me that needed a more deadly hand.   He is very good, a master of stealth, and a champion swordsman as you saw today.” Ned said with a raise of his glass towards Harry.

The young man raised his glass back and Margery grabbed his arm tightly, “You have a dire wolf?”

Harry chuckled, “I wouldn’t say I own a Direwolf.  No one truly owns one, but I have befriended one that follows me everywhere I go.  Lupin will be out in the woods just outside the capitol.  If I were to leave he would know somehow and immediately seek me out.  I think he has bonded to me somehow a lot like they did for the Stark Children when Lord Ned Stark found a litter of them.”

“I thought I heard something about all the children owning a dire wolf, but I thought it was just a rumor.” The girl said, gasping.

“Oh no they are very powerful, and very proud creatures of the night.  Lupin has been with me for three years and has saved my life more times than I care to count.” Harry said with a fond smile.

“I would love to meet him.” Margery said, batting her eyelashes at him again.

Harry gave the girl a light grin, “I would love to introduce you.  Very friendly creature when he isn’t eating.  When he is, you better watch out, because he gets real cranky when he is hungry.”

She leaned in close to him allowing him a look at her rather prominent chest, “He isn’t the only one.”

She laughs and Harry does as well, while the King and Ned discuss the glory days, and such.  Thankfully not many more pushed him to talk, but he did have Renly Baratheon personally thank him.  He claimed that himself and Loras were the best of friends, and that he would’ve been devastated over his loss.  Harry suspected there was more to all that than it seemed, but figured the don’t ask don’t tell policy would be fine in this case.

Another odd case that occurred was the site of Thoros of Myr.  Harry nearly spat his drink out when he saw the man wander into the hall.  Margery only briefly caught this and followed his eyes to see the same man he was looking at.  If she thought anything of it she said nothing, but Harry felt the scream of rage from Death tremble inside him.  That man had somehow cheated Death or, there Lord did it didn’t matter.  Death always held dominion, and it was furious that it had been defied.

Wisely Thoros stayed clear of Harry all night, and the young man briefly feared his secret being leaked.  Soon however the dancing started in the hall Margery immediately shot to her feet asking Harry to dance which he easily agreed to.  Thankfully dancing was something that wasn’t so different in this world, and something he had gotten a lot better at when he took up the way of the sword.  Fighting and dancing both required a certain rhythm that complimented each other, so he danced and danced away with Margery as she proved to be a stunningly skillful dancer.

At the end of the night of dancing, food, and more wine than Harry probably should’ve drank he found himself with Ser Loras who begged him to come to the tournament in High Garden that he was champion of.  He promised he would make it worth his time, and Margery was also quite insistent about the matter.  Harry in turn promised that if it was all possible he would be there to compete in said tournament, and this made both the Tyrell’s smile at him.

Margery asked him to go for a walk through the castle when it was over, and he excused himself from the King and Lord Stark.  They walked through the castle, and Margery spoke, “A man of your ability and skill should have all the titles, and money he should desire.  Should you ever grow tired, or should Lord Stark ever not have need of you I beg that you remember the name Tyrell and come search us out in High Garden.  We are very open minded people, and would consider it an honor to have you.”

Harry froze at these words.  Open minded…at first his thoughts flitted to the unusual relationship that he figured Loras Tyrell and Renly Baratheon had, but that was definitely not what she was speaking about, “I sense a great power in you Harry.  I have always been able to sense it in people like you.”

Harry’s jaw dropped and he stopped walking, “What do you mean?”

He could tell that he stuttered the words out but Margery smiled, “Thoros of Myr has always been someone I could feel the power in.  He claims it was from the Lord of Light, but in comparison to you he was merely a candle in the moonlight.  When I sense your power, it is like a blinding sun in a dark world.  I don’t know what it is, or what you do with it, but I sense honor in you.  Saving my brother today, and fighting with honor in melee made me believe that the power was rightfully inside you.  I think anyone would be lucky to have you on their side for I believe we have only seen a fraction of your potential Harry Potter.”

Reaching out to the girl's mind he could detect the faintest of magical auras.  Something that felt like it was just stronger than a squib.  Perhaps Margery was capable of magic, and she was especially sensitive to Magical auras, “Have you sensed this power in others my lady?”

“Only a few, and most of them were great.  I once met Aegon Targaryen when I was a little girl, and I could see it in him.  Though his gift was a lot darker, and a lot less powerful.  When you add what you did for my brother, your victory in the melee, and your kindness tonight I thought you would be a powerful ally.  I hope we get to become good friends, and can learn to trust each other.” She said honestly.

Harry gave the girl a light smile, “I think I would like that.  No one knows of…let’s call it a gift, but I would eventually like to tell someone.”

He wasn’t sure if it was the wine talking or, if the fantastic night he had was just loosening his tongue, but whatever it was it was worth it as the girl looked radiant with happiness, “The Starks are a good people and long time allies to my house.  Perhaps one day you will trust them, and myself.  I promise I am good at keeping secrets.”

This Harry caused Harry to keep his smile and asked her to write him as they found her way back her chambers.  She promised that she would be around for a few more weeks, and that she would visit while they found a way to write back and forth.

When Harry made it back to his room with a small smile he considered the possibilities.  One with Margery’s ability could be very valuable to him, and if he could befriend her and possibly even teach her any sort of magic that would be a dream come true for Harry.  Maybe he wouldn’t be so alone in this world after all.

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