Chapter 21: Meet New People
Olivia watched the creature carefully wondering what do they want with her. "When I heard 'children of the forest I thought it would be faries or elves. This is new." Olivia opened the gates and gestured for them to enter.
She took them to the meeting room where she and her council members all sat along with the visitors on the table. "My name is leaf. We have come with a proposal for you Olivia Snow of Winterfell." One of the children of the forest said in common tongue.
"First I am Olivia Snow of the haunted city. Second, What proposal?" Olivia asked in a typical Olivia way.
"This place was our home once. Men came and started..."
"Please, if you say you want me to move I will lose my temper."
"No. That is not why we have come. There is a war coming and we would like you to fight in it."
"Is this war to take place in these lands?" She moved a tree branch and whipped a black crow away from the window. She is creeped out by them.
"Yes. The others are already here, they have been laying in wait here for thousands of years." Leaf said.
"Are you saying that place I planed on putting down my roots belongs another?"
"Their goal is to go south after killing everyone here and grow their army."
"Then I can just go a broad and wait it out." Olivia said ruthlessly.
"We are aware which is why we came. To try and convince you to stay and fight."
"How many of you 'children' are there?"
"Less than ten."
"Why? What happened to the rest of you?"
"We died out in the last war."
"With whom?"
"The others. They were targeting us mostly because of out magic if we are gone, they can take over the world because humans are weak."
"The others, what exactly are they?"
____
"So, let me get this straight, you were fighting humans and losing. So you created an abomination which got out of your control and massacred your race? Now, 8 thousand years later you are hoping a 15 year old will help you kill something that your powerful magic couldn't defeat?" Olivia asked incredulously.
"Yes."
"What do I get out of this deal?" Olivia asked.
"What?"
"If I am to aid you in finally killing the thing. What am I getting? It better be good." Olivia said.
"We don't have anything to give."
"Hehe..for an old peraon you don't seem to understand humans. Let me help you there, we are selfish and most importantly we are greedy. I want to learn your magic. Teach it to me and then maybe I will wear my hero hat and go slay a ten thousand year old fella for you." Olivia explained.
"You can not learn our magic."
"Are you sure?" Olivia tilted her head.
"But I can teach you your own magic. Your blood is boiling and you have no way of controlling it. You have two powerful ancient bloodline inheritance if you don't handle it well, you will explode."
"Excuse me?" Olivia blinked
"Why did you awaken both bloodline? Usually only one awakens."
"Don't ramble, talk openly."
"What is this power full of life you possess? Is it green seer?"
"I can shape wood and grow trees." Olivia stopped her before she irritated her further.
"Grow trees?" Leaf is stunned. "Show me!" She practically ran outside.
Olivia followed and sent her power to a young tree helping it bloom. Leaf stood there with a sad expression then tears left her eyes.Not just her, the two others cried alongside her.
"What's happening?" Dixon asked in hushed volume. Olivia shook her head showing she doesn't know either.
"How do you have the power of nature?" The question came after the crying.
"I just do. What's it to you?" Olivia frowned. Olivia became a little defensive because this is the power of her spirit root. But she can not say such a thing incase she brings suspicion on to herself.
"We will help you since you are welcome by our gods. We will teach you the ways of our magic. It shouldn't be a problem since the magic you used is the same as ours." After a long pause, Leaf finally said.
"Are you saying you will teach me spells and stuff?" Olivia asked trying not to sound too happy.
"Yes. We will teach you nature magic." Leaf said the other children of the forest seem just as surprised.
"Cool...cool.." She schooled her expression and went back inside.
"But first you need to be able to release the fire safely." Olivia had fire spells but she mostly used them for medicine concoction.
"We also need to discuss the war and your participation in it." Leaf said.
"If you do as you say and teach me to use magic and spell, I will gladly participate in a war for you." Agreed without hesitation.
"Really?" Leaf is incredulous.
"Why are you surprised?"
"It will mean you could die. Humans are cowardly on matters that concerns their lives."
"We are also very violent. Besides, this war will be happening in my door step." Olivia said.
"I will teach you but you mustn't use it to harm innocents."
"Who according to you is an innocent?" Olivia asked her. Leaf didn't answer but looked at her to see if she is joking.
"We are not going to train here. It is too comfortable. We leave tomorrow morning at first light."
"How long will this take?" Olivia felt dread.
"As long as it takes." Leaf said.
"Fuck." Olivia called for a council meeting.
"Dixon is in charge of the city's medicine. She holds the castle of the healers and reigns over a small town where the main focus is healing and providing medication to the sick." It is essential a hospital. Luckily Olivia's medicine is plentiful and they won't be patients living in thcastle.
Her role is also the improvement and strengthening of the city's army. The others were envious that she was the first to be granted a castle was her but her role is unequivocally essential to the entire city.
Caine, Veer, and Bhullheart, Gina and Enym all of which are Olivia's generals are in charge of the second largest castle with the biggest territory in the Haunted city.
It is the castle and housing district where the city's soldiers reside. Therefore it is very large.Their castle is designed for training and sharpening of battle skills. Unlike the other Castles their territory doesn't have a small shoping district.
"Bellamy is the master of knowledge and scholers." Olivia gave him a castle and a territory so that he can be incharge of the education of her people. There is no special requirement for getting educated and children are required to attend by the order of the Mistress.
As one may expect, this territory is tailored for students and is therefore one of the most peaceful territories in the entire Haunted city. It wasn't hard to get workers here. What they need is books and scrolls to study. Olivia is stealing them from the Citadel through bribery.
"Seun and Arkar are both Master of ships and weapons respectively." In truth, the weapons are only developed in the white main castle and they can be installed into ships in the castle under Seun and Arkar.
"There is the master of food and welfare. Farmlands and food stock will be under this person's duties. Vince. Olivia is making it a castle master's duties because food in the North is a very important resource. They will share a territory with wealth and trade. Ginyr is in charge of wealth and trade.
Food and welfare should be on someone else's hands. She nominated a man who has been so poor he couldn't afford basic medication before. Someone who will be able to know when people are struggling and come up with ways to improve their welfare. Vince from Dread town. His assistant will be Broady also from the streets previously.
"The last castle belongs to the master whose responsible for documenting and keeping track of the Haunted city's population, wealth and other significant documentation. It is where information about this city and the rest of the world will be kept, Bree will be responsible for this one.
"This was not ment to be shared yet but since we don't have time, there is a paper factory in the castle the man named Alan will show you how to do the entire process. This is where our paper will come from. In the future you may box and sell the rest to whoever." Olivia explained.
"If you need something to fulfil your assigned duties, contact each other. For instance, Bree is in charge of collecting books stolen from the Citadel therefore if the scholars are in short supply then it is Bree's fault." Olivia smiled when she saw Bree frown her delicate eyebrows.
"Ginyr you and Bellamy are in charge of my income from the North. The supply I have in stock for soap should be enough to support demand for a few months but I will leave the mysterious steps with Dixon to produce it if my training takes longer than that."
"Caine take the soldiers on training missions often and make sure they take turns. The adaptation medicine will ensure whatever training they take is assimilated in their muscle memory. If wildlings wantt to stay here, let them. But watch them closely. Lastly remember the rules of the city."
"Are you taking the dragons?" Enym asked.
"I am taking them with me. Even Lola. Although I am pretty sure she will run away from me out there."
The next morning Olivia took a small bag with a sleeping bag a toothbrush a towel and a few change of clothes. She is really leaving her home to go with strange creatures to an unknown place.
...
"Did you find them?" Doran looked at his son and daughter who are a good distance away then his gaze shifted to his brother.
"I found them. But brother, Veserys is mad, like his father." Oberyn frowned remembering the young boy.
"Are you sure?" This is put a damper on the plans.
"I met Aerys brother I know what Targaryen madness looks like. We can not marry our princess to a mad man!" Oberyn Martel shouted in a low voice to make sure the siblings outside can not hear them.
"Then what do we do? Do you have another plan?"
"Actually I do. We find your doctor maybe she can help." Oberyn suggested.
"Have you ever heard anyone able to cure madness?"
"We also thought you would remain seated forever. I have a feeling given her eyes that she would help." Oberyn said.
"Its been 2 years since we last saw her. Its as if she disappeared into the dust, I haven't heard anything about her." Doran said skeptically.
"We can start with looking for her in the North." Oberyn said.
"That precious time wasted. Even with our army at full capacity we are still not enough to crush the Lannisters for good. We need an ally. A powerful one." Doran said.
"We can find a way to cause conflict between house Lannister and another big house." Oberyn offered.
"Like which house?"
"It should be a house big enough to stand against Lannisters like the North or the Reach."
"I suggest we wait. Even if we go against the Lannisters it means nothing if a man like Robert seats on the Iron throne. A storm is coming. Lets wait." Doran said.
"I am tired of waiting." Oberyn gritted his teeth.
"Trust me, brother. Please."
"Fine." Oberyn went out in a huff.
As soon as he left the room a man came out from inside the house "He lacks vision, your brother." Varys said lightly.
"It is not only him who is dissatisfied with my tactics. So your plans better work or Ill have to answer to all of Dorne."
"You will have your revenge. With fire and blood." Varys declared. "That plan though, it's not a bad one. Having the Lannisters go up against the North. It will help weaken them both so they can not go up against the siblings when they come back."
Doran looked at Spider plotting and sneered. "Pray your plans are not discovered by that little girl if they involve the North."
That day Varys plotted to have the hand if the king tickle the lion. He made a passing remark about how the royal children look nothing like their father, perhaps they would make better kings.
But then be sighed and said Jeffrey is more like the mad king for some reason. Aerys was sick because of incestuous relationships but why would a Baratheon and a Lannister union give a mad child?
The hand quickly became engrossed in his investigations sloppily that the queen found out of his movements. She didn't waste time doing exactly what Varys expected of her.
The king will either call on his brother Stannis or Ned Stark to serve as hand to the king. Once Ned Stark comes to the pit, a little push should set him against the house Lannister. Let the games begin!
.....several months later
"He was a good man." *sorrows* Varys said to a grieving Lysa Tully in the Septa as they both look at Lord Arryn's dressed body.
"Indeed. I happened to find someone that may help you in your grief Lady Arryn. I found him injured and distraught in the streets, poor thing must have been a victim of bandits. He was your friend and in a time like this, you could use a friend." Varys has to admit that what he has just done is perhaps the cruelest thing to an enemy a person can do.
But can blame him? Little finger is such an eyesore. This woman was once obsessed with him perhaps she will want him back? It will be entertaining to see what the little wizzle cooks up against the suddenly powerful Starks.
As he predicted, the woman jumped and wept at the sight of her childhood friend. "Petyr! Is that you? Oh my God!"
Lysa Tully. Sigh. This woman really is unhinged. She is still infatuated with Petyr Bealish even when he is like this?
Varys had just wanted to mess with Petyr one last time but who knew this woman hasn't let go of him. He hadn't even bothered to wash Petyr before presenting him to the woman but she doesn't seem to care. He doesn't know if he should be envious.
"If you may excuse me Lady Arryn." The spider exited the room leaving Lysa and Petyr while getting a hateful glare from the mute Petyr.
"Who would do such a thing to you my dear? We should kill whomever did this. Tell me who it is and I shall avenge you." Lysa forgot about her dead husband and clung to her lover like a baby kangaroo.
Petyr who couldn't use his glib tongue to get her to behave became helpless with the woman who began taking off his pants wanting to have him fuck her right in the Sept next to her dead husband.
Fortunately Little finger's little finger is dead. Never to awaken much like her husband.
The hand of the king is dead, killed by the queen when she found out he was investigating her children.
....