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283 AC
Artos Stark's point of view
an hour after waking up
I've been lying here on my bed for an hour. I've been watching Ronald the Healer check on me. Of course, I've also been checking the memories in my mind. Although the memories of Thomas and Artos were merged, some of Thomas' memories and feelings were fainter and harder to remember than Artos' memories. Artos' personality was definitely the dominant personality in this merger. As I was going through Thomas' memories, I noticed something that made my eyes widen momentarily and I had to restrain myself from jumping out of bed. Ronald must have sensed my sudden convulsion as he nervously tried to speak to me. "Sir, are you okay. Are you in pain."
"I'm fine, Ronald."
"Please let me know if you have any pain. You suffered a severe blow to the head and have been unconscious for about two months. Even the slightest pain can be important."
"I'm fine, Ronald. I just want to get out of this bed as soon as possible."
Ronald looked at me skeptically, but he just nodded and went on with his work without further ado.
Unfortunately, Thomas had never read the ASOIAF books or watched Game of trhones, but the series and the books had become so popular that he knew a few things. First of all, he knew nothing about me. He knew nothing about Artos Stark, Rickard Stark's second son and Brandon Stark's twin brother. He didn't even know about my father and Brandon, but he knew one thing. Lord of Winterfell and paramount lord of the north, Eddard 'Ned' Stark.
When I realized what this knowledge meant, my heart felt as if it had been squeezed with a steel claw. There was only one way for my younger brother to become Lord of Winterfell. Brandon and I had died without leaving an heir. I had died under normal circumstances from the wounds I received from the pirate raid, but Brandon, the thought of my twin brother dying prematurely terrified me. He was my other half. The times we ran through the corridors of Winterfell or explored the north were some of my happiest memories to this day. When I pushed Thomas's memory a little further, I vaguely remembered something else about a rebellion, but nothing about how my father and brother had died.
No matter what, I had to get back to Westeros as soon as possible and save my father and Brandon's ass.
Just then Alyana came in like a raging storm. The moment she saw me awake, her eyes widened in surprise and then indescribable joy appeared on her face. Alyana, the owner of my heart.
My father Rickard sent me to Essos with a similar intention when he sent other members of the family south to forge alliances and make marriage arrangements. My main purpose in Essos was to establish contact with the Rose mercenary group and, if necessary, to secure their loyalty. The Rose mercenary band had been founded after the conquest by Brandon Snow, the bastard brother of the kneeling king. The same man had founded House Rosestark in Essos as a branch of House Stark. After the Dance of the Dragons, the Rose mercenary band grew to its current size, swallowing the Wolf Pack mercenary band, also founded by northerners. With around seven thousand soldiers, it is the second largest mercenary group in Essos. In addition, many northerners who came to Essos joined the company and helped the company to establish strong ties with the north.
After joining the company, partly because I was a Stark, I quickly climbed the ranks and met Alyana, the only child of the former lord commander Barthogan. I think I fell in love with her at first sight. Soon she fell in love with me and we were married. Unfortunately, just a few months later Barthogan died on a mission and I was named the new lord commander. Then came the trade expedition and the pirate attack. If the gold company had elephants, the rose mercenary group had ships. It was by no means a large armada, but it could carry about two thousand men if necessary.
I was trying to get up to hug Aly (Alyana) when she threw herself on my chest and I found myself back in bed with Aly slamming into my chest. Poor Ronald could hardly get out of Alyn's way.
Aly could barely speak through her sobs. "I, uh, I, uh, I thought I'd lost you."
I did the only thing I could think of to calm her down. I stroked her head gently and whispered, "I know, I know, but look, I'm fine and I'm not going anywhere."
We stood there in silence for a while and when Alyn finally pulled herself together she lifted her head from my chest and turned to Ronald. "How is he? Is he all right?"
"He's fine, my lady, maybe he just needs some rest, but miraculously he's fine."
I interjected, sounding offended. "You know I could have answered that question, don't you? I know my own body."
Aly and Ronald turned to me and raised a single eyebrow. Okay, there may have been times in the past when I ignored my personal safety and health, but I certainly didn't deserve this kind of treatment. For now, I will be magnanimous and forgive them.
Artos said, "Ronald, when can I travel. I want to get back to Westeros as soon as possible, and I think it's time for Aly to see my home."
And then it happened. All the smiles died. Oh no, no. Aly turned to me with that look on her face. You know, the look you get just before you tell someone some terrible news. No, please don't.
Aly, "Everybody out. Leave us alone."
I watched as the maids and Ronald started to come out with tense expressions. After everyone was out, I spoke nervously. "Aly, what's going on. Why did you let everyone out."
Aly turned to me and took my hand and began to speak in a low voice in reply.
"Artos, promise me you'll calm down."
Please let it not be what I think it is. Please, please, by the old gods, please.
"What happened?"
"A few weeks ago we received some news from Westerost. It was about your family."
And then Aly began to tell me what had happened. How Rhaegar Targaryen kidnapped Lyanna. How Brandon and my father traveled to King's Landing and were brutally murdered there. How Eddard, Jon Arryn and Robert Baratheon summoned their banners and rebelled.
Damn you Aerys Targaryen, damn you Rhaegar Targaryen, you will pay for this.
We stood there in silence for a while, and I could barely speak under the overwhelming sense of sadness and anger that gripped my heart. "Is the Company with me?" My voice was so low that Aly didn't hear me the first time. "Aly, is the Company with me? Will it come with me to Westeros?"
Aly was more confident when she spoke this time. "Of course we will follow you, you are the Lord Commander. I've been preparing the company since I got the news, we can leave whenever you want."
"How many men do we have?"
"Six thousand, the rest must stay in Essos. Both to protect the more vulnerable members of the company and because there are still some missions in progress."
"Send five ships disguised as merchants to the king's lands in advance. Wait for my signal to infiltrate and attack the gates from the inside. If the city is already closed, have them wait for me near Duskendale."
Aly spoke with a frown. "Are you going to attack the king's city directly?"
I shook my head no. "That would be suicide. In the event of a siege, infiltrators will support us, but the real siege will begin when we join the rebel armies."
"What will you do with Winterfell? Fight for the lordship against your brother?"
"As soon as Eddard realizes I am alive, he will voluntarily hand over the lordship to me."
"Surely, Lord of the North is a great title and can corrupt the most honest of men."
"I know Eddard. He'll be fine. Besides, who knows I'm awake?"
"Not many."
"Keep the ones who know silent."
She looked like she wanted to protest, but without another word she left the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.