[Just to be clear, this is a Game of Thrones world with some extra elements from the books. I repeat, this is NOT a ASOIAF fanfic. I don't mean to judge, but G.R.R. Martin can be quite extreme. Did you know that in the books Daenerys was only 13 years old when she was basically sold as a broodmare to Khal Drogo? What the hell, man?!]
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281 AC
The Red Keep, King's Landing
The room I had just emerged in was spacious, tastefully decorated with vivid tapestries, burnished furniture and warm-coloured silks. The walls appeared to have been fashioned from some kind of pale red stone, hence their colour. The gold and silver candle holders on the tables screamed luxury, although judging by the screams I could hear coming in through the open window, the residents of this place might not be having the time of their lives right now.
Speaking of people, I had to do a double-take at the Salma Hayek look-alike lying on the floor. She seemed young, in her mid twenties at best and looked gorgeous, even with the angry red bruise on her cheek. She was silently directing her gaze back and forth between me and what appeared to be a crumpled heap of medieval armour on the other end of the room.
I turned back to the little girl with her back pressed against the wall...the one who was most likely the reason for my arrival here. She looked barely three or four years old. The poor thing was clearly terrified, her face wet with tears, her eyes bloodshot. She was watching me with wide eyes, as if waiting to see if I was friend or foe.
I slowly went down on one knee to be on her eye level and tried to offer a disarming smile.
"Hello," I said softly. "My name is Benjamin Carter. May I have your name, young lady?"
She looked slightly relieved by my gentle behaviour. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up straight and tried to answer with as much dignity as her childlike self could summon.
"I-I am Princess Rhaenys Targaryen."
Targaryen?
Even though it's been a long time, almost two decades, I still remembered that name from Game of Thrones. It was after all, the most famous fantasy show of my time. Once again I looked around the room, this time trying to determine where exactly in the timeline I had shown up.
A grunt drew my attention to what I had wrongly assumed to be a heap of metal. It turned out to be a man, one easily over 7 feet tall, kitted out in full heavy armour. His face was scarred with a permanent scowl etched upon his features. Although not as big as Hagrid, he still had arms the size of my thighs! I remembered this was one of the main antagonists in the show, a Lannister bannerman nicknamed The Mountain. Although for the life of me, I couldn't recall his actual name.
He got up slowly and shook his head, looking as if he just had the wind knocked out of him. His eyes roved across the room and found me near my Anywhere Door. Picking up a greatsword lying close by, which I can only assume was his, he started advancing on me.
"Who are you?" he growled at me with a voice that sounded like stone breaking. I stood up straight while Rhaenys fearfully scuttled back to avoid the wrath of the angry giant.
"Me? I am just a tourist, mate," I replied cheerfully. "And who might you be?"
"Death!"
So saying, he swung his almost 6 ft long greatsword at me with both hands. Rhaenys and (most likely) her mother let out terrified screams, while a look of grim satisfaction appeared on the man's visage. Alas, he had celebrated too early. Were I an ordinary 13 year old boy, or even a full grown man, my fate would have been sealed. Unfortunately for my opponent, I was not.
"Hmm...funny. You don't look like death," I lightly commented, holding his weapon captive with a telekinetic grip. He looked surprised as his sword stopped moving above my head. Not willing to give up, he redoubled his efforts. But no matter how much strength he applied, he just couldn't bring it down the rest of the way to smite me.
"Who are you?" he asked again, this time actually curious.
"The right man in the wrong place at the right time. Now hush," I hit him with the Full Body-Bind Curse and he went as rigid as a board. "I need information, and this is the quickest way. It might hurt a little, so... thanks for volunteering."
"Legilimens!"
I dived into his mind. Ah yes, Gregor Clegane, that's his name. As expected, the man was an impulsive brute with little control or discipline, and as such his mind may as well have been an open book. His latest memories informed me when and where I was - the sack of King's Landing, where just hours ago Tywin Lannister had assigned him the task of killing Elia Martell and her children.
After skimming through the man's memories for a few moments, I couldn't help but feel utter disgust and deep loathing for this vile beast. Gregor Clegane was a man who made Bellatrix Lestrange look like a perfect little angel in comparison. The bastard burnt his 7 year old brother's face on a brazier when he was 11, just because the young boy was playing with a toy that was gifted to him. He didn't even care about that little trinket, all that mattered to his sick twisted mind was that Sandor had dared to touch something that belonged to him.
That act itself was horrible enough, but it wasn't at the top of Gregor's list. Oh no, just a couple of years back, he killed his father and made it look like a riding accident so he could come into his inheritance early. Worst of all, the bastard killed his little sister because he didn't want to pay her future dowry out of his money. In fact, the only reason this psychopath hadn't murdered his entire family was because his mother had died while he was still a child and his brother was smart enough to get the hell out of dodge in time.
Knowing what this beast was planning to do to the beautiful dornish princess after slaughtering her children in front of her, made me want to crush his skull and make modern art with his blood and grey matter. I really wanted to kill him right now, but could I risk it?
On the one hand, it would be very simple to modify Clegane's memories and make him believe that he had already killed Elia Martell and the royal children. A few ghastly transfigured bodies would perfectly support his story. He would present them to Tywin, who would in turn present them to Robert. No one would ask anymore questions, and Elia and her children could go into hiding in Dorne and live their lives in peace.
If Gregor was found killed or if he simply disappeared; then even if the desecrated remains of the royal family were present, Tywin being the cautious man that he is, might suspect foul play and continue to investigate the events of tonight.
On the other hand, by letting this monster live I would indirectly be responsible for every life he would take from this day forth. Even now at only 17 years old, the number of people he had killed, including women and children, was horrifying. I have no doubt that the number would only continue to rise as time went on.
So I made my decision.
"Gregor Clegane, I find you guilty of the crimes of conduct unbecoming of a knight; of the murder of innocent men, women and children; of killing your own father and sister in cold blood." I pronounced in a clear voice.
With one hand, I propped up the magically frozen knight, the only sign of agitation being visible were his wide moving eyes. With the other, I prepared a powerful Diffindo. Turning around, I saw that Rhaenys had managed to crawl over to her mother while I was busy with Clegane, and now they were both huddled around young Aegon's crib. Elia seemed to have an idea where this was headed, and to my relief, she shielded her daughter's eyes from the upcoming spectacle by holding Rhaenys close to her chest.
"I, Benjamin Carter, sentence you to die."
With a small wave of my hand, there was a soft zip followed by a dull thump. Blood sprayed out across the room's carpet as Gregor's severed head impacted the floor. It bounced off a couple of times before stopping, a stupefied expression frozen on his face. I stared for a moment at the man's head...the man I had just executed, before vanishing all his remains with an Evanesco. And thus ended the tale of The Mountain That Rides before it even truly began.
I turned around to find Elia looking in great surprise at the spot where Clegane's head had fallen just a moment ago. She was so distracted by the mystery of the disappearing man that she had released her hold on her daughter, who was now looking around the room wondering where the armoured giant had gone.
"I am sorry you had to see that, my lady," I said to the dornish princess. At my words, Elia visibly pulled herself together and focused back on me.
"Please don't apologise, ser," she said, putting her hand on her daughter's shoulders, as if to reassure herself that her little girl was still there. "My children and I live because of you. If you hadn't arrived when you did..." She shuddered at the thought. "I cannot thank you enough for what you have done for us this night." She tried to smile but it turned into a grimace because of her aching cheek.
"That looks painful," I said, gesturing to her swelling cheek. "May I?"
She didn't understand what I was implying, but nonetheless stood without flinching as I approached her. I placed my hand over the bruise and cast a MinorHeal. Surprise coloured her features as she felt the pain disappear. She raised a tentative hand to feel her face, only to be greeted back by flawless skin.
"How did you do that?!" Rhaenys asked excitedly, looking back and forth between me and her mother's healed face.
"I would very much like to know that as well," a soft voice carried over from the ruined doorway.
A plump bald man stood there. He had a smooth round face and was dressed in a lavender silk gown. He appeared obsequious with a soft smile, although any who underestimated him would do so at their own peril.
"Lord Varys!" exclaimed Elia at his silent arrival.
"Your Grace, it gladdens my heart to see you alive and well. When Pycelle convinced the king to open the gates and let the Lannister army in, I feared the worst," he said smoothly with honest relief in his tone. "Thankfully, the gods saw fit to send a brave protector to defend you in your hour of need," he smiled, looking at me.
I gave the man an honest smile. Varys was one of my favourite characters in the show. He was a survivor, did what needed to be done, wasn't cruel and worked for the good of all. His only flaw was that he would rather work around his employer than confront them head on about their wrongs. And that's what got him roasted in the end.
"Thank you for the compliment, Lord Varys. However, you are mistaken about one thing," I said. "The gods aren't the reason why I am here. She is." I pointed to Rhaenys.
Both Elia and Varys turned their gazes onto the little girl, who in turn just blinked owlishly at me.
"Me?" she asked, confused.
"What do you mean?" said Elia, with her hands still on her daughter's shoulders.
I walked over to the Anywhere Door and put my hand on the side casing.
"This is called the Anywhere Door. It allows people to travel anywhere... even across worlds. That's where I am from - another world," I said to their amazement. "These words" - I pointed to the Runes on top - "mean Help will always be given here to those who deserve it. That's the concept on which I built this artifact. In the moment of peril, Rhaenys must have projected such a strong wish for help, that my artifact was able to hear her plea and divine her location across the void of spacetime."
Elia and Varys seemed to be lost in thought regarding the powers of the strange door, while Rhaenys kept looking at it with wonder in her eyes. Meanwhile I looked at the entrance of the room where the sounds of fighting seemed to be coming closer. Varys followed my gaze and seemed to have the same thought.
"As fascinating as it all seems, perhaps we can save this conversation for another time," he said with a hint of urgency in his voice. "By now, King Aerys is most likely dead. Your grace, it is imperative that you leave King's Landing before any more Lannister soldiers show up," he said to a flustered Elia.
"But how?" said Elia in distress, before thinking of something and turning to me. "Ser Benjamin, would it be possible to use your...door to travel to my home in Dorne?"
"Unfortunately, when it's not in my native worldline, the Door takes three days to recharge after every interdimensional travel," I said apologetically. "I am sorry my lady, but it cannot be used again right now."
"That's quite alright, Ser Benjamin," said Lord Varys in a genial tone. "Your grace, I have already secured a ship that will discreetly take you and your children to Sunspear. There are enough provisions and supplies on the ship to last you comfortably for the length of the journey." He told Elia, who seemed greatly moved by this act of loyalty.
"Lord Varys, I don't know how I can ever thank you enough for your help," she said with a tearful smile.
"You can thank me by living your life well, your grace. You and your children," Varys said with a smile. "Now, you must leave." He turned to me. "Will you accompany her grace on this voyage, Ser Benjamin?"
"I believe I will," I said. "I came here to help Rhaenys with her problems. Seems only fitting that I stay long enough to make sure they are all completely safe."
"Very well. You should get your travelling cloaks, your grace," said Varys.
Princess Elia made her way over to the wardrobe. Taking a small blue cloak she wrapped it around Rhaenys' shoulders, then took a saffron coloured one for herself. Finally she took a small yellow blanket and wrapped it around young Aegon. Carrying the babe with one hand, she held Rhaenys' hand with the other.
Meow!
We turned to see a black tom-cat sitting regally on the window sill, looking extremely bored.
"Balerion! There you are!" exclaimed Rhaenys in joy. She shook off her mother's hand and rushed over to her pet. "It's alright now. The bad man is gone," she gently said to the cat. Taking it in her arms she returned to her mother's side.
"Good," said Varys. "Let us depart."
But Elia seemed to have thought of something else.
"Lord Varys, what will happen when they discover that we have escaped? Will they send assasins after my children?" she asked in trepidation.
"Unfortunately your grace, that will most likely be the case." Varys confirmed her fears. "I will lay down some false trails...try to divert their attention and you'll be safer in Sunspear under your brother's protection than anywhere else; but going forward, you'll have to be extremely careful."
"What if they had conclusive proof that Princess Elia and her children are dead?" I asked. "Bodies, for instance?" Varys looked at me closely before answering.
"That would certainly stop any further investigation regarding their whereabouts," he said. "Why?"
I strode over to the window and looked down on the burning city. I heard the pain-filled screams of people as the armies of the Westerlands acted like a Dothraki horde; pillaging, burning, raping and killing everything in their path. Trying not to think about those I couldn't help right now, I summoned some rocks from down below.
They came zooming in through the open window and laid themselves on the floor. I looked at Elia and her children, taking in their features; before I transfigured the barren rocks into lifeless replicas of the royal family members.
"By the gods!" exclaimed Varys, alternating his gaze between the alive Elia and her children standing by our side and their motionless doppelgangers lying on the floor. "How did you do that?!" he asked in astonishment.
"Magic." I smiled, and Varys visibly flinched. It was then that I remembered how Varys had become a eunuch after being tortured by a so-called sorcerer in his youth.
"Lord Varys, in my world magic is taught freely to those born with the aptitude for it. It's not a malignant force, rather it's wonderfully convenient. I want you to understand that I'm not like one of those Essosi amateurs that fancy themselves wizards, while engaging in taboos like demonic exchange," I said, looking him in the eye.
"Perhaps," he said softly, although he looked conflicted. "In any case, we should get going."
I walked over and stored the Anywhere Door in my ring, before joining the rest of the group. At the doorway, I paused and turned around. With a wave of my hand, wounds and stab marks appeared on the fake bodies. Blood stained their clothes, spilling all over the floor. I made sure to put enough power that the transfigured bodies will stay that way for atleast a couple of months. Then I telekinetically broke a couple of chairs and upturned a nearby table to give the appearance of a destructive force passing through the room, laying waste to everyone in it. Satisfied with my handiwork, I rushed to join the others.
We followed Varys past tapestries, down serpentine steps, along a long hall and across a hidden courtyard. The Master of Whispers seemed to have the layout of the castle memorised, for he never once faltered, and with each step we moved further and further away from the sounds of fighting.
Soon, we reached a pitch dark cellar, but Varys simply retrieved a torch from a wall. Striking a couple of flint rocks a few times, he produced some sparks that landed on the torch and lit it ablaze. With the light of the single torch, our journey continued through an underground maze of tunnels for what seemed like miles.
Finally, after following a tunnel with foul smelling water running down the middle, we emerged into the night air. The tunnel opened up near a riverbank where the sewer emptied into the river. Waiting on the bank of the river was a solitary boat manned by two rowers, while further back in the river awaited a ship with three decks.
"This is where I leave you, your grace," said Varys. "I must return to the Keep now to maintain appearances."
"Lord Varys, once again I thank you for everything you've done for us," said Elia with clear emotion in her voice. "My children and I will never forget this kindness you have shown us, and neither will House Martell. Know that you will always be welcomed as a friend in Dorne."
"Thank you, your grace. I hope the next time we meet, it will be under better circumstances." He smiled, before looking at me. "Ser Benjamin, please make sure that her grace and her children reach their destination safely." he requested.
"Rest assured, Lord Varys, I will make sure that no harm comes to them." I promised.
"In that case, I will say farewell... and good luck." He smiled one last time before turning back. Picking up the torch from where he had left it, we watched as he reentered the tunnel and started his long trek back to the castle to profess his allegiance to the new king.
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In case anyone is wondering why Elia and Varys refer to Benjamin as Ser, it's because of his attire and his accent. Ben is still wearing his school uniform, which would seem like high quality clothes to a person living in the medieval age. Plus they are mistaking the Hogwarts crest on his cloak for his family's coat of arms. And needless to say, as a Brit his accent and pronunciation makes him sound like a man of letters. Hence, why the Ser.
The author has bowed to popular demand and recasted two important characters. Also, some new images of recurring characters have been added to the roster. Do let me know what you think 😊