Daemon walked through the corridors of the Red Keep with purpose, his body ached but he put that to the back of his mind, he needed to once again curb the King's impulses lest he execute everyone who was on duty when the Brotherhood snuck into the castle. While he was sure some of them were guilty it wasn't exactly hard to blame them, The king was a mad tyrant and if someone made promises of salvation then it would be hard to ignore such a thing. 

Though what is much more likely is that they were given gold and silver, whether it be greed or wanting to take care of one's family people's desires and character always shined through "What do you plan to do Daemon?" Lewyn asked as he walked in step with him. 

"The King is a vengeful person, at the moment he is redirecting his rage onto the servants as he has no one else to punish" Daemon explained as they walked through the corridors. 

"That much is evident, but how will you stop him, he is the King, he does whatever he wants that much is clear" Lewyn replied. 

Daemon nodded his head, he had a few ideas but he doubted that any of them would work, the only thing that would work was bringing the Brotherhood in and letting the King direct his rage towards them, he didn't feel too badly about bringing them in as they had tried to hurt people he cared about, so he didn't particularly care if their cause was just. 

They eventually made it to the doors of the Throne room and were immediately let in by the two guards who recognised both knights. When Daemon walked inside he was immediately met with the familiar stench of burned flesh, something that made him grimace, It never failed to remind him of Duskindale one of the worst mistakes of his life. Even to this day, he didn't know why he saved the King, he should've let him die. 

The throne room seemed to be full as various nobles were off to the side while the guards contained various serving staff and other guards, he saw the royal family who sat in thrones of their own near the bottom of the Iron Throne steps. When he made eye contact with Elia and Rhaella he thought they might jump out of their seats to come and greet him but they were able to contain themselves. He walked through the centre of the throne room to where a young woman was kneeling before the King "Please your grace! I would never betray you, I'm only a kitchen hand" she pleaded desperately as tears formed in her eyes. 

The King just started to laugh "You expect me to believe the lies of a wench like you, I bet they spread your legs like a whore and you had all seven of them" he mocked only making the young woman cry more. 

Daemon pushed his way through the crowd of nobles before appearing in front of the King, he roughly pushed the young woman aside and knelt before the king which amused Aerys greatly. While he didn't like treating people like that it was the only way to get her out of the situation she was in, otherwise it would've certainly ended with her death "My knight and champion Lord Daemon Silver, I'm glad to see you've recovered, it would've been a loss to the seven kingdoms should you have died"

"Especially when the child ended up being so Dornish," he said while barking with laughter. In the corner of his eyes, he could see Elia clench her fists, though she didn't do it too hard as she had Rhaenys in her arm. He could tell that it hurt her that Rhaegar did not come to her defence on his father's comments. 

"It is my duty to serve the royal family, I'm sure your granddaughter will be a dragon in all the ways that matter, she might even share her grandfather's eyes" Daemon stated, The king paused and contemplated for a moment before nodding his head "I suppose you are right, after all who thought a no name bastard such as yourself could rise so high, the girl shares my blood so it is clear she will be strong, good breeding stock" The King stated

There were a few gasps in the audience at his words, to hear the king so openly talk about a Lord and his granddaughter in such a way, though Daemon didn't care much, the king had done much worse "Your grace I believe these trials are a waste of time, it could better be served by going after the culprits and dragging them back here"

"Oh? And how do you suppose we do such a thing 'Lord Silver'" he asked though he was clearly mocking him. 

"The Kingswood will most likely be where they've set up camp, it's close to  Kings Landing, they have multiple villages they can acquire resources from and its thick woods make it a good place to hide" Daemon replied. 

"It seems we are of similar thoughts on the matter, I will simply burn the forest to the ground with them inside and be rid of them," Aerys said with a loud laugh. 

"If I might council, it would be wiser to send a small force of knights to take them down. We wouldn't want to get rid of the Kingswood it belongs to you after all" Daemon reasoned as he still knelt and had his head low. 

"Wise council yet again, if only my advisors would speak such wise words, then so it shall be. You, Arthur, Barristan, Oswell shall lead a small contingent and bring the Brotherhood to justice" Aerys commanded. 

"As you command your grace" Daemon replied and stood up, though before he could leave someone he hadn't seen in a long time stepped forward. 

"Your grace I wish to join the contingent, I am squiring to Lord Sumner Crakehall and I believe it is my duty to try and rescue him," Jaime Lannister said as he stepped forward and knelt. 

The King looks at him "Come closer boy" he commands and Jaime does so stepping to the first steps of the Iron Throne. 

"You don't look like much, but perhaps you could serve as a suitable servant to the real warriors that will be going," Aerys said with a chuckle, he looked to his hand and stood off to the side, though Tywin had no noticeable expression on his face he was positively seething inside at his son being so openly mocked at court.

"I'll be glad to take him as my temporary squire until Lord Sumner can be rescued" Daemon offered

"Very well, though it will be on you should the boy die" Aerys stated, seeing that Tywin did not respond to his mocking he quickly lost interest and moved on. 

"Leave as soon as the troops and provisions are ready, I want these traitors to the Iron Throne brought before me," Aerys said before descending the steps of the throne and leaving the room, Everyone else started to file out as soon as he left taking his departure as a dismissal. 

Rhaegar descends from his throne "Daemon I am glad you have recovered, it would've been a shame to lose a warrior of your caliber" he said as he clapped him on the back before leaving.

Rhaegar then leans forward and whispers into Daemon's ear 

"Would you please make sure Jaime Lannister returns safely, even at the expense of others" 

Daemon nods his head "Of course Rhaegar" He was pissed at the man for how uncaring he had been about his wife and child but he still had to follow orders, and it wasn't like he wouldn't have protected Jaime anyway. 

Daemon sees Elia signal him, She gestures her head in the direction of the exit, and he nods back understanding she wished to speak with him in private so he would meet her in her chambers. But before that he approached Jaime Lannister who had grown tall and strong "It seems as if I'm talking to a different person than the one I met so long ago" Daemon said with a smile as he clasped his hand.

Jaime smiled back though it was a slightly cocky smile "I've surpassed everyone at the Rock and Lannisport, I wouldn't be surprised if I could give could beat you as well" though Daemon could tell his words were good-natured. 

"Mayhaps you could, I'm not as strong as people seem to think, Ser Barristan could probably still knock me on my arse" Daemon lied, though he didn't do this out of malicious intent because he wanted his true strength to remain a secret until people couldn't do anything to prepare for it. 

"I hope you'll honour me with a spar once our task is complete," Jaime asked 

"Of course what kind of Knight would I be if I didn't train my squire" he said with a smirk. 

"Good, I'm looking forward to showing you my Aura ability, My father believes it has the potential to become unsurpassed" Jaime stated with pride. 

Daemon nodded "Lord Tywin is an intelligent man, if he believes in your abilities and potential then you should endeavour to not waste it" he replied. 

"Now you should go and get ready, We'll be leaving soon, I'm sure you wouldn't want to be left behind," he said with a smirk, Jaime quickly nodded his head and left the room. 

"Arthur!" Daemon said loudly to the knight but the man had a stiff expression and ignored him as he left to room presumably to get ready for the task at hand. Daemon couldn't help but find it strange, they were usually on good terms with each other and he'd been unconscious for a while so he couldn't imagine he'd done anything wrong. 

He shrugged it off and left the throne room and made his way to Elia's chambers. 

"Lord Silver!"

"My Lord!"

"Silver knight!"

Daemon was greeted by those who had attended court nobles and servants alike he nodded cordially to them all giving them all a charming smile, though if he was honest with himself he hated the attention. He sometimes wished he never left Riverrun, he'd enjoyed the time he spent there much more than he had. While he'd never regret the friends he'd made and the people he met, he wanted to sit on that tower again and look at the sunset. 

He pushed those thoughts of longing to the back of his mind and focused on the present, he washed the door to Elia's chambers and knocked. 

"Enter!" He heard her shout, so he opened the door and walked in only to see she wasn't alone, Rhaella was with her and she was holding her granddaughter. Elia immediately rushed Daemon and jumped into his arms and began to cry "I-I... have no words that would do how grateful I am to you justice" she stuttered as she sobbed into his chest, Daemon wrapped his arms around her and she melted into him. 

"You have no reason to thank me, princess, I could never stand by and let you die like that," Daemon said as she hugged him tightly. 

Though at her words she lifted her head with a very upset look on her face "No! You will call me Elia! Like you did before" she commanded making Daemon chuckle. 

"Because of you I can watch my daughter grow up... there is no way to repay a debt like that," Elia said once again becoming tearful. 

Rhaella stands up and lays Rhaenys down carefully on the bed before approaching them both and putting her hand on Daemon's cheek "I'm so happy you're healed" she said with watery eyes. 

"You've made the Red Keep a much more bearable place for me over the years, I wouldn't know what to do if I'd lost you" She continued and then hugged his side. 

Daemon let them both cry on him while he rubbed their backs and comforted them, though he noticed that there seemed to be someone who was missing "Where is Ashara?" Daemon asked, he felt both Elia and Rhaella go stiff and then felt Elia hug him tightly. 

Rhaella was the one who answered, Daemon could tell he wasn't going to like what she was about to say just from the look on her face "Daemon... she was one of the noble ladies taken by the Brotherhood" He felt his whole body stiffen and a deep bubbling rage start to emerge from his depths 'She had been taken and they had not sent out any contingent to track her!' He thought to himself with anger. 

"I'm leaving now... the rest can follow behind" Daemon stated, Though he was technically still recovering he couldn't stand the idea of Ashara being in danger. 

Elia went on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek "Be safe and please bring her back" 

He nodded his head at Elia and then looked towards the Queen, she stared at him with such intensity. They needed no words or actions to convey what they felt, he then turned around and left Elia's chambers and headed towards his own. 

———————————————————-

In a damp and dark cave in the woods, a group of people could be seen cowering and huddling together, the only sound that could be heard was their crying and the rattling of chains as they shifted around. At the mouth of a cave stood someone with a broad and dark smile, every once in a while, he would chuckle to himself as if he'd just heard something amusing. He wore a mix of dark leather and steel armour and on his back was a large quiver, though this quiver wasn't one where he kept arrows. In this quiver, there were numerous different swords, each one completely identical to the last. 

Everyone in that cave was afraid of the man who watched them, at least everyone but one person. Ashara Dayne sat away from the group of cowering nobles, She berated herself for letting herself get captured but in the end, she thought it was worth it, It was because only because she had claimed to be Elia Martell that they even taken her in the first place, though they quickly found out that she was lying as the leader of this little group knew what the Princess looked like. 

Ashara looked at the man who paced at the entrance to the cave, The people called him the Smiling Knight, no one not even the leader of their group called him by anything else, it was as if he had no true name at all. She had seen the man make quick work of Lord Crakehall, it was over before it began, and she'd only seen such swordsmanship from her brother and Daemon. 

The Smiling Knight loved to look at her, since she had been captured his smile had not once faltered, it was as if it were stuck that way. She had not shown any fear since she had been captured so she had caught his special attention, though this had been limited to being stared at like an exotic animal. 

The Smiling Knight walked over to the group of hostages, the nobles and Lord Crakehall all shifted back going as far as they could into the cave, the only one who hadn't moved was Ashara who had the same blank expression on her face that she had since she'd been kidnapped "You... woman, do I not frighten you ?" He asked as he crouched down in front of her. 

Ashara looked at him with no visible emotion "You do not..." she simply said in return. 

While this shouldn't have bothered the Smiling Knight it did, As a knight his reputation was paramount and if a simple woman wasn't afraid when she saw him it made him look like a joke "Oh? And why is that? Perhaps I ought to show you why people are afraid when they hear my name" He said with a malicious smile. 

"Your leader isn't stupid enough to hurt any of us, that's why we are being kept here," She said with a deadpan expression. 

However she began to smirk as she looked at the Smiling Knight "And who are you but the leader's mad dog he sets loose sometimes, I believe I'm more afraid of how I'll smell after not bathing for so long than I am of you"

*Crash*

The Smiling Knight with his smile still broad punched the cave wall behind Ashara, his aura ignited and flared 

 dangerously "Hahaha, you shouldn't mock me, girl, We may not be able to kill you but I could bring Ol' Ben in here and he could have his fun with you" 

Ashara flared her own aura, while not even close to as big as The Smiling Knight's own aura it still surprised him how big it was "Anyone who plans to touch me whether with the hands or cock will lose it... that I vow" she said in a low dangerous tone. 

The Smiling Knight's smile faulted for a moment, it wasn't as broad as it was previously, He understood the meaning behind Ashara's words and it sent a shiver down his spine. When people make their aura abilities they place restrictions to make them more powerful, the more strict the restriction the more powerful the ability will be, but this doesn't just apply to aura abilities. An aura user can make a contract with themselves sacrificing something for more power, however, people are usually not mad enough to do it because it is assuredly a fate worse than death. The Smiling Knight had only encountered someone who did this once and it was a squire of a knight that he had just killed. He almost killed the Smiling Knight, that was how much power he had gained, Had he more battle experience or experience with a sword then it's possible the Smiling Knight wouldn't be standing. 

Needless to say, this was why Ashara's words sent shivers down his spine, she saw the look in her eyes and saw no hesitation, it tempted him to kill her right there and then and not risk her following through on her words. But no, he had his orders and Simon had not steered them wrong so far, he would just have to back down and make sure no one bothered her. 

Ashara smirked as the Smiling Knight backed down and went to stand by the cave entrance, though as soon as he was out of sight she let the facade drop, she had to grip her hands to stop them from trembling 'Arthur, Daemon, please come soon...'

———————————————————-

"Seven hells!" Jaime shouted as he once again itched the back of his neck not used to the rags that he was dressed in. 

Daemon couldn't help but chuckle "I'm afraid we have no comfortable linens for you to wear Lord Lannister"

"Fuck off!" Jaime said with a scowl, They both walked through the Kingswood, and as soon as Daemon had discovered that Ashara had been taken he grabbed Jaime and left. They were currently dressed as small folk as Daemon knew that the Brotherhood must've been getting help from the locals, so two knights dressed in armour looking for them would get them nowhere. 

Daemon could probably get the information he wanted through intimidation, though he would leave that as a last resort. The people who live in these woods do have genuine grievances and it is not their fault that the Brotherhood take advantage of that, nor is it their fault that the King had placed them in this position in the first place. 

"Get used to the outfit Jaime, The small folk will recognise you're not one of them if you keep itching" Daemon stated. 

"I don't know how they derive any comfort from these blasted rags," Jaime said as he tried to pull them away from his body. 

Daemon shrugged "It's the way things are for most people, they are just thankful they have something for when winter arrives" 

"How are you so damn comfortable in these things," Jaime asks once again pulling the rough woollen colour away. 

"I am Lord Daemon Silver now but don't forget not that long ago I was Daemon Rivers, I grew up in the Riverlands forests" He replied. 

Jaime nodded "I remember you told me when you came to the rock"

"Speaking of the Rock, how are your family? Tyrion must be around eleven name days now" Daemon asked

Jaime's face falls slightly and he seems less energetic than before "Things have been... different since our mother died, Cersei hated Tyrion before but was accepting of him for our mother's sake. Tyrion is a smart lad, he is already smarter than I ever was at that age or even now" Jaime explained

"I hope I'll see him again," Daemon said wistfully as they walked under the shining sun. They continued walking for a while, It was a hot day and they both sweat under the intense heat, though Jaime was having a worse time of it as he was not used to the clothing they had to wear. 

"Why couldn't we at least take horses" Jaime asked with annoyance in his voice. 

"Most small folk don't have horses, for them if they want to travel they walk, and I don't want to risk our cover being blown just so we can't sit on our arses" Daemon replied. 

"Why not set ourselves up as merchants then? It wouldn't be so strange for them to make their way through the Kingswood" Jaime asked

"Ah! A merchant who leaves Kings Landing to sell his goods in the surrounding villages" Daemon said with amusement in his voice. 

"No need to be a cock! I just hate how long this will take us" Jaime replied. 

Daemon stopped walking and looked at Jaime "Very well, let us get there faster, try to keep up" Daemon said before he started running. Jaime silently cursed as he ran after him. 

Jaime and Daemon ran for the next four hours, something that was pretty easy. However even Jaime struggled to run for this long, he was out of breath, sweat soaked into his clothes and there was a wet sheen across his entire face. In complete contrast Daemon looked as if he’d just started warming up, he had a light sweat going but was otherwise unaffected. 

“The village is just over that ridge, we’ll walk from here,” Daemon said as he slowed down giving Jaime a chance to catch his breath. They both walked and were greeted with a small village just off the road in the Kingswood, There were many of these in the woods but this one was a little bigger than the rest. Jaime was surprised at how poorly maintained the place was, a lot of the wooden houses were in poor condition and some had partially collapsed but were still in use by the villagers. 

Daemon put his hand on Jamie’s shoulder before he could approach the village, he then reached down and got a handful of dirt before smearing it on his face and hair “What in hell are you doing!” Jaime said as he pushed him off. 

“You’re too clean, villagers won’t believe for one second that you’re one of them… actually you should stay quiet the entire time we are there” Daemon stated as he kneeled and smeared some dirt across his own face and hair. 

He had several rabbits that he had acquired while they ran through the Kingswood tied to his belt, offerings of food will gain you fast friends in most places “Jaime, stay on the outskirts and keep an eye out for any suspicious behaviour, let me know if you see anyone leaving the village” 

Jaime nodded his head in slight relief, he wasn’t the best mummer, In fact, anything not relating to his martial abilities could be said to be below average.

Daemon approached the village while Jaime went off in his own direction to find a place to keep a lookout. Villagers started to come out of their houses as they saw Daemon approach, They were naturally suspicious of strangers though when they saw the rabbits he had on his belt they licked their lips and looked with obvious hunger and envy. 

“Hail stranger!” One of them shouted, a tall man with greying hair and a large beard, he had the build of someone who had worked his entire life, though it was clear that he was quite underfed, which could be said of all the people in this village. 

“Hail, I am looking for the leader of this village,” Daemon asked as he held his hands up to appear non-threatening. 

“You’ve found him, I am Halmar, what business do you have with us” Halmar said with suspicion still in his voice. 

“Well met Halmar, I am Daemon Rivers, I was with a group of people but was separated, I’m not used to life in the wilderness so I hoped you’d allow me refuge for tonight, I’d be more than happy to share what I managed to catch” Daemon explained. 

While his story was full of holes, the food on his belt went a long way in convincing people that he spoke the truth “Well met Daemon, we would be glad to offer you refuge and we thank you for offering to share your food, as you can see our village has fallen on hard times”

“It seems to be the common story nowadays” Daemon replied getting a nod from the old man as he led him into his home. 

———————————————————

Jaime was bored as he sat on the branch of a large tree, he was eating an apple that he had in the small knapsack he carried, he was desperate to fight, especially this Brotherhood as he had heard many stories about the different people in the Brotherhood and how skilled they each were. 

While he did want to save Lord Crakehall as well he couldn’t say he cared too much about him, he had long since surpassed the man in his skills though he had yet to gain any meaningful experience. However, that would change now and he would finally get to test how strong he was. 

Jaime frowned as he saw a small kid run into the forest, While this wouldn’t be too unusual these weren’t exactly normal circumstances, Jaime used ‘Suppression’ and jumped from the tree landing on the ground, he then followed the kid who kept running into the forest. 

Jaime became more and more suspicious as he went, the kid was clearly going somewhere, no kid who was just playing would do so by running in a single direction. 

After an hour of following the kid, they finally came to a rocky area with a large cave, in front of the cave was a camp that had been set up. Jaime stopped at the tree line and watched as the kid ran to the camp. 

A man with light brown hair and dressed in armour stood up as the boy approached him, he knelt next to the boy as he whispered in his ear. A frown marred the man’s face as he stood up and shouted, though Jaime didn’t hear what was said. 

Jaime’s heart began to beat fast as he realised this must be the camp where the Brotherhood had set up and he immediately turned around and began to run back to the village to tell Daemon. Not even he was arrogant enough to believe that he could take on the brotherhood by himself, he even had doubts that he and Daemon could beat them together. 

Jaime felt a shiver down the back of his neck and immediately dove to the ground just in time for an arrow to shoot past him, Jaime looked up and saw the arrow had pierced through the tree in front of him making a pickhole in its bark ‘Hells’ he thought to himself as he flared his aura and turned around withdrawing his sword as he did so. 

Behind him were seven people who each had their auras surrounding them, they all looked strong but a few of them looked as if they could kill Jaime without a second thought. He knew he was in trouble but he would rather fight to the death than run away and be shot in the back. 

The one in the centre, the armoured man with light brown hair stood forward “And who might you be? Oswyn here reckons you’re a spy, while Wenda thinks you’re just a squire trying to make a name for himself, Regardless, I am Simon Toyne” he said with a small bow. 

When he looked back up he frowned “It is considered rude not to introduce oneself when greeted, perhaps you are a spy” Simon stated

Jaime gritted his teeth “I am not a spy, I am Jaime Lannister the squire of Lord Crakehall” 

As the words left his mouth two of the men groaned while the woman cackled, The two men each handed her a sack of coin “I knew it” Wenda stated. 

“Well as you were truthful I will allow you one request before your death, While I could take you hostage I doubt a man as hard as Tywin Lannister would give me anything without trying to kill me,” Simon said as he fingered his own sword. 

Jaime considered it for a moment, he then had an idea, one that might let him live passed the next few minutes “I want a fair fight” He said clearly, it made some of them chuckle while others just shook their heads. 

Simon just shrugged before withdrawing his sword “Very well, I suppose I can grant you a warriors death” 

He then looks to his companions “Ben, Wenda, Dick, and Ulmer go to the village and get rid of his companion” They all nod their heads and leave while the Smiling Knight and Oswyn stay. 

“Smile, Oswyn do not get involved just stay back and guard the prisoners with the others” Simon commanded, The Smiling Knight with his ever-broad smile looked disappointed but followed the orders he was given. 

“Now boy, let’s see what you can do”

———————————————————

Daemon sat around a fire pit as the soup was made, he had made conversation with different villagers and it seemed they all had the same grievance. The King had taken away much of their rights in the past few years, while they used to be able to hunt a certain number of stag each year, this was taken down to zero on the King's order. They have also been restricted in the amount of farmland they can use as the King wanted his Forest to be flawless. They had been surviving the past year on small game and gathering what berries and nuts they could though it wasn’t enough. 

Daemon knew these people weren’t unique, many suffered under the increasingly worse rule of Aerys. While he couldn’t do anything for them now but feed them, he hoped in the future he would be able to improve their life “We can’t even repair our own homes as the King has decreed we may no longer fell trees in this forest” Halmar complained as he spooned some strew into his bowl, he did the same for those around him finally giving Daemon one as well which he thanked him for. 

“We are in difficult times my friend, though I am sure they will not last forever,” Daemon said as he lifted the bowl to his mouth to drink. 

“No, they won’t… change is coming,” Halmar said mysteriously. 

Daemon looked at him with confusion and a hint of suspicion “What do you mean by that?” He asked. 

*Knock*

*Knock*

“Soon the Kingswood will be free from the corruption of the throne,” He said as he stood up around the pit and went towards his door, Daemon felt a shiver down his spine as he also stood up. When Halmar opened the door he was met with someone who looked familiar, It was Ben, the man who had shown up in Kings Landing and attacked the carriage when they transported Elia to the Red Keep. 

“So that’s how it is…” Daemon said with a sigh, while he couldn’t exactly blame these people it didn’t make him any less unhappy about the situation. 

As Ben opened his mouth to speak, a sudden surge of energy filled the rickety wooden house. Daemon's aura flared brilliantly, its intensity radiating through the confined space. Without hesitation, he lunged forward, his body a blur as he executed a powerful forward kick.

Ben, momentarily taken aback by the sudden surge of energy and unable to respond in time, was caught off-guard. The force of Daemon's kick struck him squarely, propelling him with incredible velocity. He was sent hurtling out of the doorway, his aura flaring in an attempt to protect himself, but it was too late to prevent the impact. With a deafening crash, Ben crashed into an already collapsed house in the village.

The splintering of wood and the dust cloud that followed the collision told of the devastating force of the impact. Ben lay amidst the debris, dazed and battered, the remnants of the shattered house now his unwilling refuge.

Daemon turned towards Halmar “I understand why you side with them, but the King will not, Stay out of this fight, if you refuse to then I will let the King know of your disobedience” his words were delivered with the coldness of ice and Halmar could only find himself nodding as he walked backwards falling into his seat. Daemon turned outside and began to walk towards Ben intent on finishing him off quickly after asking a few questions, however as he did so he felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise. 

Daemon reacted with lightning-fast reflexes, his aura-enhanced instincts guiding his every move. The first arrow, pulsing with lethal energy, whizzed dangerously close as he executed a quick sidestep, the shock of air disturbance grazing his skin. He moved with a dancer’s grace, a fraction of a second determining life or death. The second arrow, aimed with deadly precision, missed his head by a hair’s breadth as he instinctively ducked. The third arrow, an ominous harbinger of death, sailed perilously close, and Daemon executed a breathtaking flip in the air, his lithe form twisting gracefully to evade the deadly projectile.

The arrows, suffused with potent aura, struck their targets with unerring accuracy. They embedded themselves deeply into whatever they struck, an eerie testament to the malevolent power coursing through them. Yet Daemon couldn’t afford to dwell on the remarkable accuracy of these attacks. His senses tingled with anticipation, alerting him to impending danger. He spotted Ben, undaunted by the failed arrow assault, charging toward him with his massive Warhammer clutched menacingly in his grip.

Daemon and Ben squared off, their contrasting auras crackling like an impending storm “Unsheathe your sword boy, I don’t want you to die too quickly” Ben growled as he gripped his Warhammer

Daemon smirked at him and patted the sword on his belt “I don’t think I’ll need him for someone as simple as you,” 

Ben, a hulking behemoth of a man, swung his colossal Warhammer with earth-shaking force. His strikes, while terrifying in their ferocity, were met by Daemon’s litheness and aura-wrapped precision.

As the Warhammer descended like an executioner’s blade, Daemon calmly stepped to the side, his aura-enveloped body moving with an almost unnatural grace. The massive weapon whistled through the air, leaving a gaping void in its wake. It was an awe-inspiring display of power and speed, yet Daemon seemed unfazed.

With a deceptive nonchalance, Daemon launched his counterattack. His fist encased in a shimmering aura, surged forward like a cannonball. Ben attempted to block with his warhammer, but Daemon’s strike hit home. The impact reverberated like thunder, sending shockwaves through Ben’s burly frame. The force of the blow was enough to lift him off the ground and stagger back, his aura wavering “Would you still like me to use my Sword?” Daemon said mockingly which only served to piss Ben off even more and he flared his aura even more launching into a flurry of swings. 

Intriguingly, Daemon didn’t dodge every blow; sometimes, he welcomed them. When Ben swung his Warhammer horizontally, aiming to break Daemon, Daemon calmly extended his hand. The Warhammer, crashing towards him, met Daemon’s outstretched arm, which was cloaked in a protective aura. The collision between the Warhammer and Daemon’s aura sent sparks flying, but Daemon remained unyielding.

In another exchange, Daemon’s speed defied comprehension. As Ben lunged forward with a devastating overhead swing, Daemon sidestepped the weapon’s path and, in the blink of an eye, delivered a punishing punch to Ben’s exposed side. The impact created a sickening thud, and Ben grimaced in agony as his aura flared in a futile attempt to absorb the shock.

Daemon’s punches and kicks were not just incredibly strong; they possessed an uncanny precision. His strikes targeted the chinks in Ben’s formidable aura, exploiting vulnerabilities with ruthless efficiency. 

As the battle raged on, the field around Daemon and Ben became a gruesome tableau. The echoes of each bone-shattering impact seemed to blend into a macabre symphony, their auras clashing in a fiery crescendo “It seems I was mistaken to even honour you with my hands, I’d say next time I could try and cover my eyes but I’m afraid you won’t be leaving this village” Daemon said coldly. 

Daemon, now with a calculated fury, evaded Ben’s lumbering strikes with an almost balletic grace. His movements were fluid, a mesmerizing dance between life and death. Ben’s once-imposing Warhammer seemed more a burden than a weapon as Daemon deftly sidestepped or parried each blow.

But the battle took a more gruesome turn. With each collision, blood sprayed through the air, as both combatants bore the marks of their violent struggle. Daemon’s knuckles were crimson, and Ben’s body bore a patchwork of seeping wounds “Now tell me where your camp is and what you’ve done with your hostages, do so and I’ll allow you a quick death” 

Ben spat blood on the floor “Go Fuck yourself!” He shouted through bloodstained teeth. Amidst the chaos, three hidden archers, their faces obscured by shadow, continued to loose aura-infused arrows at Daemon, their sinister intent clear. Just as one of these arrows whistled toward Daemon, his instincts screamed danger, and he gracefully twisted his body to avoid it.

Then, in a feat of unparalleled skill, he snatched another incoming arrow out of the air with his free hand. The arrowhead gleamed malevolently, its aura-infused tip shimmering with deadly intent. With a savage grin, Daemon drove the captured arrow straight into Ben’s massive shoulder.

Ben let out a guttural roar, his aura flaring wildly in response to the searing pain. Blood gushed from the wound, staining the earth beneath them as if an offering to some ancient, bloodthirsty god “You have one last chance before I rip off one of your arms” Daemon said in a voice that made Ben shudder. 

Despite the arrow lodged in his shoulder and the threat he had been given, Ben refused to relent, his eyes wild with a savage determination. He swung his Warhammer with renewed fury, but Daemon, his movements now honed to a deadly precision, danced through the onslaught.

Each of Daemon’s strikes was a masterstroke of brutality. He zeroed in on the gaps in Ben’s weakening aura, exploiting them with ruthless efficiency. Bones snapped, skin tore, and flesh gave way as Daemon continued his relentless assault.

As the fierce battle raged on, Daemon and Ben found themselves locked in a deadly struggle, the very air around them tinged with malice. Daemon’s strength and agility were proving to be insurmountable advantages against Ben’s brute force.

With a resolute focus, Ben swung his Warhammer with all his might, but Daemon’s movements had become nothing short of mesmerizing. With a fluid grace, he slid inside Ben’s guard, using the warhammer’s own momentum against its wielder. In one swift motion, Daemon caught the massive weapon and, with a herculean effort, heaved Ben into the air.

Ben’s colossal form soared through the sky before crashing violently onto the blood-soaked earth. The impact sent shockwaves through the battlefield, and the hidden archers’ sinister arrows found only the empty space where Daemon had once stood.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Daemon rolled Ben onto his stomach, his heel finding its place on the man’s back “Please! Stop please!” Arrows rained down upon him like a relentless storm, but Daemon’s aura-infused senses allowed him to sidestep each deadly projectile.

“I told you this would happen but you did not listen” With a surge of raw power, Daemon seized Ben’s arm and, with a brutal twist, ripped it free from its socket. The gruesome sound of tearing flesh filled the air, accompanied by Ben’s agonized screams that cut through the clamour of battle.

The once-formidable warrior lay helpless and maimed, his body a grotesque testament to the unyielding brutality of their encounter “Now will you speak or will I have to remove the other arm” Daemon asked as he knelt down next to him. 

However before Ben can answer Daemon sees a singular arrow being shot into the sky, however when it reaches the apex of its height it starts to glow. And all of a sudden before his very eyes, what was once one arrow was now one hundred. All of them were infused with aura and each one was headed straight for him. 

‘An Aura ability’ Daemon thought to himself as he slightly cursed, he grabbed Ben by his neck and breeches and held him up into the sky, The man was not dead yet so he still had his aura active, nothing else would be strong enough to shelter under. 

*Thud*

*Thud*

*Thud*

*Thud*

*Thud*

*Thud*

Ben screamed as each arrow made contact with him though it wasn’t too long before he stopped screaming and went silent ‘There goes my information’ Daemon said with a sigh as he threw him to the floor as he heard the last of the arrows hit the ground. 

‘Scout’ Daemon aura filled the village and reached out into the surrounding forest he could feel where the three of them were but then immediately felt them disappear. They probably never expected that he could extend his aura so far and so didn’t bother hiding themselves properly. 

He draws his aura back into himself and then pushes off his feet explosively running forward, dirt is kicked up as he runs. Each stride was a testament to his mastery over his aura. He propelled himself through the forest with astounding speed, his movements fluid and deliberate. Leaping effortlessly from root to rock, he reached a massive tree and, with an agile bound, landed on one of its sturdy branches.

From his elevated vantage point, he spotted the three archers in the distance, still unaware of the relentless force racing towards them. Swiftly, he grabbed a fallen branch from the forest floor and, with a touch of his aura, transformed it into a deadly projectile.

The enhanced stick whizzed through the air with lethal precision, finding its mark with ruthless efficiency. The unfortunate archer on the left, their aura dormant, was struck with brutal force. The stick pierced through them, ending their life in an instant.

The archer crumpled to the forest floor, life extinguished. Daemon's fierce resolve remained undeterred as he turned his piercing gaze towards the two remaining adversaries. 

“Oh fuck! He got Dick!” The man shouted as he flared his aura in defence. 

“What’re you doing you idiot! If you use aura he’ll find us” A woman shouted at the man. 

“You stupid BITCH look at Dick! He’s already found us” He shouted back at her. 

“He’s right,” Daemon said as he landed on the ground having been stood on a tree branch above them. They both cowered as they saw two of their strongest get killed by this one person who had yet to draw his sword. 

The woman who was young and fair scowled at him as she knocked her bow “We won’t tell you a damn thing!” She shouted at Daemon. 

“We will see”

———————————————————-

*Clang*

*Clang*

*Clang*

*Thud*

Jaime was once again thrown to the floor by Simon Toyne. Whether it be skill, strength or experience Simon had Jaime outclassed in all of them and it was a bitter pill for Jaime to swallow, as he believed that he’d been making huge progress over the years he wasn’t as good as he thought. 

“I thought you’d be a better boy, Even I heard stories of the Great Lion warrior emerging from the Westerlands, perhaps they were exaggerated,” Simon said with a smirk on his face. 

‘I’m going to have to use my ability’ He thought to himself, he had hoped he wouldn’t have to use it as he wanted it kept a secret until the right moment but as of now he didn’t have a choice and so he flared his aura. 

Simon raised an eyebrow “Oh have you been holding back? Good I'm just about to deal the finishing blow, Let’s see if you can entertain me” 

Jaime growled as he looked at Simon fiercely As Jaime flared his aura, a radiant glow enveloped him, he activated his ability, ‘Lion Embodiment: Lion Heart’ and the pain that had been gnawing at his body seemed to dissolve into the ether, he also gained a rush of determination and unwavering confidence in his abilities.

With another surge of aura, ‘Lion Embodiment: Lion's Strength’ his muscles responded with newfound might. They bulged and hardened, infused with power that promised devastating force. Jaime's senses sharpened, his focus honed to a razor's edge.

With renewed vigour and a lion's ferocity, Jaime charged forward, his strides powered by an amalgamation of his enhanced abilities. His every movement became a testament to the embodiment of a lion's spirit – fearless, relentless, and unyielding. The world around him blurred as he locked onto Simon Toyne, the man who had dared to cross blades with the Lion of Casterly Rock.

Jaime and Simon continued their fierce duel amidst the darkening woods, the clash of their swords punctuating the tension that hung in the air. Jaime, aware of his disadvantage, relied on his aura abilities to level the playing field.

With his aura shimmering like a protective barrier, Jaime moved like a predator, ready to strike. He used short, explosive bursts of movement, closing the gap between him and Simon with astonishing speed. It was as if the lion within him had unleashed its full might.

Simon’s skills remained impeccable, his blade moving with grace and precision. He parried Jaime’s strikes and tried to exploit any openings, but Jaime’s newfound agility kept him one step ahead.

In a heartbeat, Jaime lunged forward, his aura-infused muscles propelling him with an unexpected burst of energy. His sword struck true, and a gash appeared on Simon’s side. Blood trickled from the wound as a pained grunt escaped Simon’s lips “You bastard!” Simon shouted as he charged towards Jaime. 

Jaime’s blade, a deadly instrument in his skilled hands, was wielded with precision and finesse. He utilized short, explosive bursts of speed to match Simon’s agility, his aura flaring brilliantly with each calculated move. Their swords met with a resounding clang as they pushed the limits of their strength and skill.

Simon, a formidable adversary, countered Jaime’s every move with the grace of a seasoned swordsman. His aura enveloped him like a protective cloak, allowing him to parry Jaime’s relentless strikes. Leaves rustled in the wind as the forest bore witness to their intense battle.

Jaime attempted a low sweep, his aura-infused strikes relentless. Simon leapt gracefully over the blade, his aura guiding him with precision. As he descended, Simon’s blade whistled through the air, seeking an opening in Jaime’s defence.

The forest around them seemed to hold its breath as the two warriors clashed relentlessly. Each strike from Jaime was met with a precise parry or a fluid dodge from Simon and a counter which more often than not managed to catch him. 

Jaime was having trouble, even with his ability active. He normally couldn’t handle having three embodiments active at once but he was willing to do whatever it took so he gritted his teeth and flared his aura once more ‘Lion Embodiment: Lion’s Grace’ he felt a deep pain resonate through his body bypassing ‘Lion’s Soul’ completely but he could handle it and so he gritted his teeth and charged towards Simon. 

With an explosive burst of movement, Jaime appeared before Simon with his sword raised in the air, he then brought down the sword with the intent of cutting the man in half. However, Simon easily sidestepped the swing and swung his sword in line with Jaime’s waist. Jaime however leaned backwards bending his body in half almost unnaturally. While ‘Lion’s Strength’ made him stronger ‘Lion’s Grace’ made him more flexible and agile allowing him to twist and turn his body in ways that weren’t natural. 

From the bent position, Jaime kicked upwards managing to land a hit on Simon’s face though it didn’t do much but annoy the man “You’ve proven that you’re a formidable warrior, in other circumstances I may have even tried to recruit you, but it’s time to end this” Simon said with a cold look on his face before flaring his aura. 

‘Leader of Men’

Simon activated his ability, it was an incredibly dangerous one that had the potential to put him in the ranks of the strongest. Jaime’s eyes widened as he watched Simon's aura grow to nearly x3 of its original size. By marking people he considers to be his closest friends he can draw from them and use their aura, however, it only works if they agree to be marked and while he is using their aura they are effectively placed in ‘Suppression’. They also have to be in close proximity to him which is why Simon could only use Oswyn and The Smiling Knight. 

“Now this is the end, I apologise for having to cut your life short but know you die for a good cause,” Simon said with sorrow on his face. As Simon Toyne rushed towards Jaime with the intent to deliver a deadly blow, time seemed to slow. Jaime closed his eyes, resigning himself to what he believed was inevitable as he could barely react to the speed at which Simon moved, the sensation of his heartbeat echoing in his ears.

But then, a miracle happened.

Jaime's world shifted, and when he cautiously opened his eyes, he was met with a sight that defied his expectations. Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning, stood before him, like a beacon of unwavering resolve. His eyes were pools of steel, his presence commanding and formidable.

With unmatched agility, Arthur raised his gleaming, milky-white blade, Dawn, as it radiated a powerful aura. The blade intercepted Simon's vicious strike with a resounding clash that seemed to shake the very earth. Sparks flew as the two swords clashed, sending echoes through the forest.

Simon, who had been so confident only moments ago, now found himself facing a force beyond his reckoning. The Sword of the Morning was a legendary figure for a reason, and his aura-forged sword was a beacon of unparalleled power.

“I was wondering when they would send you… Prince Rhaegars lapdog” Simon said with a scowl. 

Arthur did not reply and looked towards Jaime “Where is Daemon?” He asked calmly, though to Jaime it felt more like a command. 

“He is back at the village, I only came here on a whim, so I did not feel the need to inform him” Jaime stated. 

Arthur nodded his head “The rest of the Kingsguard should’ve arrived at the village, When we saw you had left we quickly followed you leaving the other men behind, I decided to take a different route and came this way when I heard the sound of fighting” 

Simon got angrier and angrier as he was being ignored by them, he clenched his fists and tried to push Arthur back however he failed to as Arthur remained steadfast. 

“Go and get the others I will deal with them” Arthur simply said before flaring his aura and pushing Simon back hard enough to lift him off the ground. Jaime nodded his head and ran into the forests heading back towards the village fighting his aching and injured body. 

Simon growled as he flared his aura, The ground seemed to kick up and the air seemed electrified as they stared each other down “Is my sister here?” Arthur asked his voice remaining calm. 

“She is, though that knowledge won’t matter much when you’re dead” Simon replied. 

“I am afraid I do not have time to duel you as I am worried about my sister, so I will have to finish this quickly,” Arthur said

‘Sunshine’

Arthur activated his ability which could arguably be the strongest in Westeros. It always him to transmute the energy from the sun and make it into his own allowing him to use it in various ways. However, being such a powerful ability its restrictions are heavy. He can only use the ability during the day, he can only use it if he is holding Dawn, and if he lets go of Dawn at any moment he will be burned by his aura. However, the strictest ability he placed on himself is the one where he will only be able to use the ability if he remains the greatest sword in Westeros, should he be proven to be less skilled then he will lose the ability. 

But even with these stipulations, when he uses this ability he becomes someone who could meet the King in battle and have a good chance of beating him.

Arthur inhaled and exhaled as his aura started to become thicker and larger. Simon started to sweat as he felt the heat start to emanate from Arthur, he gripped his sword and flared his aura before rushing at Arthur with a battle cry. Arthur did not move and parried the strike that Simon swung at him, he parried it so hard that Simon’s sword flew out of his hand and went flying into the tree. 

Simon stood there defenceless as Arthur whose aura kept on growing stood before him. He went to turn and run but Arthur grabbed him by the hand, which made Simon scream as Arthur’s aura started to burn him. The Brotherhood members at the camp could do naught but stand there and watch as Arthur’s aura engulfed Simon turning his whole body red, They then watched as his skin evaporated off of his body and blew away into the wind before muscle and then bone, but Simon was already long dead by then. 

Oswyn and The Smiling Knight finally had access to their aura again, but before they could do anything Arthur jumped into the air and seemed to float there, he held up Dawn its milky blade shining in the sun. 

‘Sunshine: The Morning Star’

What the people in the camp thought was the sun behind Arthur was a large ball of white-yellowish fire, Arthur then directed his sword down and the sphere fell onto the camp. They all tried to run, but the only one who was successful in doing so was the Smiling Knight who used his ability to get away. 

The entire camp exploded into flames so hot that no one could even scream before they died. When Arthur descended to the ground it was just in time for Daemon, Jaime and the rest of the Kingsguard to arrive. Ulmer and Wenda were held by Barristan and Oswell, they were shivering and looked battered and bruised. 

Daemon looked at the camp that had effectively just been turned to ash, he had never seen Arthur use his ability before but now that he had it made him frown. Even now he could feel the intense heat coming from him and it made him wonder how a fight between themselves would turn out, though he had bigger things to worry about at the moment. 

He ran up to Arthur ignoring the intense heat coming from the man “Arthur is she here” he asked and the Knight simply nodded his head, before walking away into the woods. 

Daemon ran to the entrance of the cave before looking inside, he saw a group of people who were cowering at the back of the cave “Ashara!” He shouted, his voice echoing throughout the cave. 

“Daemon!” He heard a shout at the back of the group and ran inside, the people parted and Ashara was finally revealed to him, she was dirty, her face was marred with dirt and grim but he didn’t care he picked her up and took her into his arms, she held onto him tightly before pressing her lips to his and kissing him deeply. Daemon was surprised at first but in his emotional state at her being alive and unharmed he allowed it and even deepened the kiss.

She breathed heavily as she detached her lips from his “I won’t wait anymore, I’ll make you mine whether you want it or not” Daemon couldn’t help but chuckle at her antics and just pulled her in tighter for a hug. 

“It’s time to go home”

(