"In the Dawn of the Fifth Era, King Emeric of Northpoint, known to chroniclers as 'the Evil,' orchestrated a calamity whose motives remain shrouded in enigma, though whispers suggest a hunger for wealth tied to the Khajiit fur trade, coveted by Northpoint's nobility. In league with cunning illegal merchants and a witch versed in occult sorceries, Emeric unleashed a profane curse upon all Tamriel's livestock—cattle, swine, and fowl—imbuing them with sentience and the power of speech, such that they pleaded for mercy from their keepers. This upheaval plunged the province into chaos, for imperial edicts prohibited the slaughter of "beast-folk"—defined as creatures of bestial form endowed with reason. The Empire, pressured by Emeric's allies in the Elder Council, passed a contentious decree, sanctioning the killing of these articulate beasts for sustenance, unaware of Emeric's true motives. Emeric, now with law on his side, slaughtered all Khajiit present in Northpoint and skinned them for their fur. His machinations enraged the Ruby Throne and brought the dragon's furious wrath upon High Rock's realms, inviting the Emperor's legions to seek justice. The results of such a ploy changed Tamriel for the manifold kingdoms of High Rock, once a hundredfold in their diversity, were forged into a singular duchy beneath the imperial scepter of Tamriel."
Excerpt of " The Court With No Kings"
Jon-
A snowflake fell on Jon Snow's face as he walked through the cobbled roads of Wintertown.
The muddy roads and weathered stones made Jon's mind think of Leyawiin, the southernmost county of Cyrodiil never managed to remain clean due to a combination of the marshy and sea environments that surround it. Wintertown did not face the same challenges, and its architecture was quite different; however, a mage's mind is not always logical.
At his side, with her arms intertwined with his, stood Calanye, her black hair dancing as she walked. Tiberius' youngest was five years his elder, but like all those of elven blood, she did not look her age. The Dragonborn's daughter smiled at the smallfolk that gawked at her, and look at her they did, some with fear, others with awe, some with pleading eyes but none dared to approach her, not with her Blades escorting her.
" Your little gamble paid off, it seems, Jon." Calanye said suddenly. Jon looked at her and tilted his head in mock confusion, the expression too innocent to be real in a man's face.
" Oh, I know not what you speak of, Your Highness…" Jon said and Calanye raised a delicate eyebrow at him; the dry disbelief in her face almost made Jon laugh. "All right… It needed to be done; I love my family and the sooner they understand how magic changes the game, the better. You will most likely have to the same in King's Landing… or not… Grahkrindrog should be enough to make many reconsider any plots they might have." Jon said, making Calanye hum at his words. Four days had passed since Calanye shouted the dragon's name, and soon it would arrive, the first dragon to fly in the North's sky since Vermax.
"Oooh, is that venison? It's been ages since I've eaten that… ever since Glinda Galerion broke Emric's foul curse…" Calanye said as she dragged Jon toward the market stand nearby. Despite being an archmage, Jon could not match Calanye's immense physical strength, a trait she inherited from her father. All of Tiberius's daughters had an ungodly amount of strength; Morihatha was often seen "wrestling" with the mammoths near Whiterun.
" What does Emeric's folly have anything to do with the deer protection law?" Jon asked and Calanye looked at him as if he was a particularly idiotic child.
" Venison were not affected by the curse, Jon… they were nearly hunted to extinction during the four years the curse was active…" Calanye spoke, and Jon nodded in agreement.
" My good man, how fare you?" Jon said as they arrived at the venison vendor, his proud products were hanging in the stall; some were even smoked, one of which Calanye immediately grabbed and ate, even letting a small hum escape her mouth. The vendor was an old huntsman; his white beard and jolly eyes reminded Jon of Grandmaster Blaise.
"I fare well m'lord… huntin' in the wolfswoods been good. Plenty o' game afoot." The man said, his accent was thick by any northerner's measure, but the simplicity and contentedness in his eyes were contagious and Jon could do nothing but match him
" Well, thats great, for you see, the Princess right here is found of venison… And when royalty makes a request, we have no choice but to comply, which leaves me with silver to spend and a princess to please," Jon said, his words making Calanye glare at him; she hated it when Jon used her status against her. The old huntsman, for his part, failed to hide his surprise, as his eyes widened to such an extent that one might wonder how it did not hurt him.
" Well, your grace, I insist you take anything as a gift." The man said, and Jon noticed the tightening of his eyes. He did not want to part with his wares, but it was rare for the common people to survive displeasing a royal. This was a major problem in Westerosi society: the lack of empathy for the people who gave them their power.
" You insult me, kind sir." Calanye began, much to the man's despair "I am no thief, and my empire has more than enough coin to buy venison… Now, sell me your wares, kind sir." Calanye finished; her authoritative tone left the man no choice but to comply, prompting him to list the items he had for sale. In the end, Calanye bought a whole cooked deer leg and gave the man a whole gold septim.
" You do know that gold septim is going to last for the rest of that man's life… right?" Jon said and Calanye nodded beatifically, much to Jon's chagrin.
" I am a royal, dear Archmage of Ice and Fire… Spending gold needlessly is in my nature," Calanye said and Jon chuckled. " Now… do indulge me. How has your father reacted to our little spar? You have not been forthcoming with me about that." Calanye asked and Jon chuckled, already expecting the question.
" Father understood the message I tried to convey… " The archmage said, his smile softening on his face. " Despite wishing to convey such message, I feel It was not a message I needed to convey, not here and not the the Northerners… my people are isolationist… The North is not like those below the Neck; the gods are different, and so are the priorities. The challenges I'll have here will not be the same as you will have in the capital, I fear." Jon said as he looked into Calanye's eyes, the princess's blue orbs reflected Jon's grimace as a mirror, and the calmness within the dragonborn daughter did not waver at the mention of challenges.
" Ah… the joys of straightforward northern politics. I would ask Father to switch our roles if the Starks were not your family," Calanye said with a smile. " Well… I am a calm and reasonable person and politics are nothing new to me. I am certain I shall be able to achieve the goals the Elder Council expects." Calanye said and Jon nodded.
" Who will seat the Ruby Throne while Tiberius fights Velehk Sain?" Jon asked as he looked at Calanye; her dark curls and pale skin looked almost ethereal in the snow-covered landscape. " hopefully the old cow will be in Skyrim…" Jon japed, his words drawing a small chuckle from Calanye's lips.
" Mori is young." Calanye protested half-heartedly and Jon scoffed
" For a redwood tree perhaps," Jon offered and Calanye had to look away to avoid her own laugh.
" Father was right… Your little insult war with Mori was the best thing we have ever witnessed in our lives," Calanye said, her voice softer and wrapped in nostalgia. Tiberius was certainly fond of the little war Jon had with Morihatra; he would often laugh openly whenever it happened, much to his wife's ire, who had to deal with a shaking castle. " But to answer your question, my mother shall seat the Ruby Throne in Father's absence." Calanye said and Jon nodded; it made sense in the young archmage's mind, Ardtelle was a very capable individual.
"Good, I feared for Calandor's well-being if Tiberius were to throw even more responsibilities on the poor Altmer," Jon said, once again earning a chuckle from Calanye.
" It is his own folly… His effectiveness and proactiveness only invite more work for him." Calanye said, her voice melodious. Even as she inspected another merchant's stand, this one was more generalist. His stand had vegetables, leather, and even some herbs and flowers Calanye immediately grabbed a blue rose, unique even by Tamrielic standards. " What a beautiful flower… What is it called, good man?" Calanye asked the merchant, whose smile grew as he eyes landed on what was a 'ridiculously rich noble girl' in his mind
" These be winter roses, milady. Me own son found it deep in the Wolfswood." The merchant said and Calanye nodded as she brought the flower to her nose and smelled it. "Ooh, this is good. Try it, Jon," Calanye asked and Jon obliged. The smell was indeed good, less sweet than roses but more notable as well. It reminded Jon of the smell of foxglove, which made Jon dislike the flower immediately.
" Horrible… It smells like foxglove," Jon said, which caused Calanye to immediately start laughing, much to Jon's chagrin and to the merchant's confusion.
"Are you still sulking about having to harvest foxglove? It was such a light punishment from Father," Calanye said and Jon scowled deeply.
" He teleported me to the Nibaney Valley and left me with nothing but a note and a sack! I was eleven!" Jon said and Calanye laughed again.
" You set father's mahogany table on fire… It was an heirloom from the Reman Dynasty!" Calanye said and Jon looked away, his face and neck going red at the reminder.
" It was an accident." Jon said weakly and Calanye chuckled
" Father warned you about casting spells in his solar… It was a reckless incident at best and you know it," Calanye said and Jon shook his head in denial. Calanye was correct; it was Jon's fault and he knew it, but an archmage's pride is not easily beaten.
" Let us agree to disagree… but it changes not the fact I did not like the flower's scent." Jon said quickly, as Calanye seemed to enjoy Jon's discomfort too much for his taste.
" I shall buy them, good man; hopefully, I can use them to make a perfume…" Calanye told the man, after which her eyes turned to Jon. "Perhaps it will change your mind once I have it with me," Calanye said, her eyes mischievous. Jon couldn't help but agree with her internally; outwardly, he merely grimaced because it wouldn't do to have Calanye think his hatred for foxglove was anything but deadly. Calanye said nothing more and simply paid the man with another gold septim, much to the man's everlasting gratitude.
Jon and Calanye's small tour of Wintertown continued for another hour or so; there wasn't much to be seen in Wintertown. Calanye would have far more to see in King's Landing, Jon imagined; it was one of the few places with a strong Essosi presence in Westeros; along with Gulltown and Oldtown; or so Maester Luwin claimed.
Jon and Calanye arrived in Winterfell's courtyard around the same time Grahkrindrog flew over the castle. It was curious to see the reverence people paid to dragons. Jon was certain he could fight Grahkrindrog to a standstill or even win if the circumstances were favorable but something about a dragon's majesty made people respect them more than they would a mage of similar destructive capabilities.
"By the old gods and the new!" Jon heard Robb say his brother had his new hammer and a sword in his hands, and across from him stood the miserable-looking Roderick and Jory Cassel, both undoubtedly having had their asses handed to them by Robb, no doubt. " That beast is massive… where has it flown to?" Robb asked and Jon chuckled at him, as did Calanye, who had a small smirk on her lips.
" I would not call him a beast… Dovahs are quick to offend and slow to forgive." Calanye commented, gaining a nod from Robb.
" He most likely will land in one of the nearby mountains… It is not yet time for the princess to depart south." Jon said and Calanye nodded at Robb, who looked at them with a questioning look on his face. " We are going to talk to Father right now; do you wish to accompany us?" Jon asked and Robb shook his head in denial. He used the sword in his hand to gesture at himself, as if to point out the dirt and sweat on him.
" By your leave, then, brother, I shall see you later." Jon said and Calanye curtsied at Robb as they walked towards his father's solar.
The walk in the Winterfell halls was a calm one; the halls of the northern stronghold were not as cold as the day outside, and the servants were as respectful as Winterfell was old. Jon and Calanye enjoyed a comfortable silence that lasted until they were at the solar's door, the two guards at the door saluting Jon and bowing their heads at Calanye.
Ned Stark's solar was precisely what Jon imagined it would be. There was a brown bear pelt on the floor in the middle of the room; to its left was a hearth that illuminated the room, and to its left on the wall was Ice, standing solemn in a sword stand, and behind the pelt there was a large oak table with direwolves, weirwoods, and some soldiers carved on it. Jon's father sat quietly on a chair behind the table, his dark hair tied in the back and his face blank like a block of ice. On Ned's left was Maester Luwin, his demeanor friendly and energetic despite his old age.
"Father," Jon said, his voice chipper and casual.
" Lord Stark," Calanye said as she curtsied, her voice calm, melodious, and sweet, just like the woman herself.
" Jon, Princess." Jon's father said, his voice was calm, but Jon could not glean much from it. "Please take a seat," He said as he gestured to a chair.
" I hope your time in Wintertown was a good one." Father said as Jon and Calanye sat down. Jon merely smiled at his father and Calanye nodded.
" That is good." Father said with a smile, and then he grabbed a paper and showed it to Jon
"Sea Dragon Point … I've decided to restore the ruins of Castle Warg and raise a town in its outskirts," Father began, his eyes glued on Jon. "I will allow your East Empire Trading Company to have a presence there as long as their forces are no larger than one-fifth of the man-at-arms in Castle Warg." Father continued, his voice firm to let Jon know he would not be convinced on that particular topic. Calanye, who no more than two days prior brought the EETC's request and sold the idea to his father, seemed to like the arrangement.
" It is a reasonable restriction, Lord Stark…" Calanye said simply and Father nodded. Jon remained silent as he, like Calanye, found the restriction reasonable.
" I shall also allow one representative of this… trading company to have a… advisory position within the new House's household, to help him avoid blunders with your Empire." Father said, his eyes on Calanye. Tiberius's daughter merely smiled at Jon's father and bowed her head as to show respect for the gesture. " However, I shall need your empire to recognise that Northern law is to be observed in Northern soil and that your empire shall enforce said law if a crime is commited in my lands by one of yours… This includes any attempts to unlawfully cease power by your trading company." Father said, and Jon could not help but smile at his father's blunt yet iron-tight approach to politicking.
"A fair proposal, I shall not lie." Calanye began, her expression betraying no feeling. " If you would have it written, I shall sign it right now… Everything you've demanded is, even if in parts or convoluted, already part of the Foreign Policies Act of 5E 12." Calanye spoke, and Father nodded at Maester Luwin, who handed a parchment to Calanye. Tiberius's daughter read the words in silence, signed and branded them with her imperial seal. Calanye then handed the paper to Jon, who did the same.
Calanye, Jon and Ned talked for a few more minutes before the princess excused herself; Jon knew she would have a talk with Calandor as soon as she could, as the High Chancellor had deemed the EETC's request a priority. So Jon found himself alone with his father and Maester Luwin.
" Lord Forrester shall arrive soon, not before Princess Calanye's departure towards King's Landing." Father began and Jon nodded. Jon would have to be the one to talk to Lord Forrester. "I plan on raising his third son, Ethan, to be the master of Sea Dragon Point." Father said.
"Will his new House be sworn to House Glover as well?" Jon asked, his voice allowing his father to know he did not find the idea a good one. Father snorted at Jon's words as soon as he understood them.
" No, they will be sworn directly to House Stark… Sea Dragon Point is Stark land after all." Father said this, and Luwin nodded in agreement. " I plan on betrothing Ethan and Eddara Tallhart… if their heads of houses approve of it." Father concluded and Jon drew a small map in his mind. Glovers and Mountain Clans to the north, Stark lands to the east, and Tallhart to the south. Houses historically very loyal to House Stark and a threat to the Ryswell-Dustin-Bolton power block. It was a brilliant move by Lord Stark, all things considered.
A/N: A shorter chapter than usual, just so I don't leave you guys with nothing. I have a few more chapters before a time skip. Next Chapter should have Calanye in King's Landing and the Start of the Velehk Sain little war arc (shall be no longer than 2 chapters…)
Also… review and let me know if you are confused about anything so I can flush that before the time skip.