Highgarden

Eddard walked through caverns, they were frankly unrecognizable, the mages had opened another gate that spanned the ceiling allowing fresh air and sunlight into the cavern. A kwama queen had been moved into a side cavern and was getting settled. As he walked through the cavern he watched a few dunmer mages, conjure earth and turn over the ground. Where there was once either smooth rock or bat excrement had been turned into soil and seeded. While the dunmer were used to arid earth, they most definitely had learned to appreciate colour in their lives. It infused the caves, golden wheat, shinying sunlight, reds and blues of the workers garb.

Down went two the passages he had only barely explored the last time he had been in. The ceiling gate hadn't reached this far yet, but the air had vastly improved. Taking the rightmost passage it led into a temple to the Daedra. There were the three god ancestors of the dunmer and Hircine.

He found his queen in her northern furs kneeling in a meditative position before the black statue of Hircine. Rather than disturbing her, he sat beside her, crossing his legs. He expected his hips to protest, but then he remembered the new youth his queen had given him. He felt limber, it was easier to get up in the morning and the aches that came with age were completely gone. He rested his elbow on his knee and his chin in his hand, tilting his head to watch her.

Herian was serene, not blank but at peace, save post coital cuddles she was rarely this passively happy. He liked the look on her, his gaze drifted to her stomach, she had explained her charm against pregnancy and he respected her opinion. He was rather sure he would never be able to get to her gain any weight, didn't mean he wouldn't try. She was healed and was starting to look much healthier and was eating more, but she didn't have an ounce of surplus fat on her. He was quite content to give her the time she needed, after all he would be sharing in her centuries long life now, time was something they had.

His Queen opened her eyes and shifted to sit on her rear beside Ned, and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Hello love."

Ned leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Good morning. The others are gathering in the courtyard, are you sure about this?"

The Dunmer purred softly, resting her head against his chest. "Yes, and it would be rude to change our minds without reason now."

"Since when do you care about being rube?" Eddard asked raising a brow.

Herian smirked. "Since I have to at least attempt to get along with our neighbours."

Ned wrapped an arm around her, his hand falling on her hip. "There was a raven from the Wall this morning."

"Oh?" She asked looking up at him.

"The Rangers brought in two corpuses of their brothers that came back to life overnight. One was killed in the courtyard by setting it on fire the other attacked Jeor Mormont and was destroyed by his Valyrian steel sword." He sighed and pulled her closer. "And Benjen is missing."

Herian was silent for a moment, she wasn't sure what to do with this news. "What are you going to do?"

"Monsters are your area beloved." Ned said.

"Well, undead are pretty easy as these things go. Fire has proven to already work, and this Valyrian steel. There is very little of that right?" Herian asked.

"Very little and no one knows how to make it, but there are some smiths that can reforge it." Ned said.

"Hmm, I purpose after the visit to Highgarden, that you send Jon north. He is almost ready to start on The Path alone and this could make for a good first task. While he goes north, I will go south to Old Valyria and see what I can stir up." She made it sound so simple.

Ned tightened his arm around her on reflex. "No one ever comes back from Valyria."

"I haven't tried yet, besides I know when to run away. There is much we don't know and this Valyrian steel sounds like a good a place to start as any. Jon can contact you by raven and you warg me when I sleep, we can keep in easy contact with one another." Herian snuggled to him.

Ned did not like this idea at all, if she had to go, he'd rather her go north it was closer to start with but she was much better equipped to go south then Jon. He sighed deeply and said. "Alright, I'll have Luwin gather what writing we have on Valyria."

Herian leaned up and kissed his cheek, she could feel how much this cost him. "Thank you."

Eddard turned his face to share a kiss with her. "Just come back."

The Dunmer purred happily. "Always."

With that they departed and headed out to the courtyard, the rest of the party was waiting. Jon; Robb and the Ranger Team for the Reach, a small wood elf vampire by the name of Aerin and the Redguard werewolf Stargel. Aerin wore mages' robes of grey and red with a hood pulled down low over her face, she carried no weapons. Stargel was of medium height, weight and monkish but he had adopted northern garb to stay warm, he carried to dwarven scimitars, not that they deep elves had made them but crafting dwemer was not very difficult. At the sight of their commander the Rangers mounted their steeds and waited.

Jon and Robb embraced their father and followed suit, Herian and Ned embraced one last time before parting.

Herian took lead her escort fanning out behind her, Ned watched from the gate till they disappeared from sight, then headed up to watch them from the bell tower.

Luwin and Rodrick found him there, leaning against a wall watching there horse take them farther and farther away. Even from here he could see the tumbling red locks of his ladys' wild mane.

The King's road was quiet this day, the only sound was the wind and Jon and Robb asking the Rangers questions.

Herian remained quiet and when Winterfell had finally disappeared on the horizon, she changed to the pace to an easy trot. She wanted to make this trip as short as possible, with no Sansa or Arya to slow them down she was sure they could cut down on the travel time involved.

Jon picked up easily on Herian's silent dower mood, he was a little surprised as she had often wanted to travel. Perhaps she preferred to travel alone or it was the nature of this trip that was bothering her. He let her be instead enjoying spending time with his brother and the Rangers. Aerin had explained vampirism much to Robbs' shock that such creatures could even exist. Jon and the Rangers had only laughed and launched into an explanation of were creatures.

Needless to say by the time they reached the Reach, Robb had a head full of stories and monsters and was thoroughly traumatised if a bit wiser.

The Reach was a rich land full of people, with many keeps, town and cities. Everything was bright and flush, a polar opposite to the North that entranced Robb.

It reminded Herian rather vividly of Toussaint and the Summerset Isles, the Rangers escorted them as far as Highgarden before departing to start on their mission. The white marble of Highgarden was almost blinding in the midday sun and as they headed up the road it screamed to Herian. Of being a place for people who had too much time on their hands, the place stank of wealth and idleness.

The people they passed all paused to stare at the Northeners, as many had never seen a northman before. While Robb was the more handsome that made girls giggle as he past, Jon received attention as well. Herian ignored them and kept their pace steady so the teens didn't get distracted.

Highgardens' courtyard was just a lush and extravagant as the rest of place and two stable boys collected their horses.

Margaery Tyrell is the one to greet them, she is fall fair smiles and is quick to invite them in for lunch with her grandmother. On the way through the white marble halls, she regaled them with the plans for Robbs name day celebration. They meet Olenna in an fine garden, food awaiting them though some is fresh arriving.

Herian gave the eldest Tyrell a small polite bow. "Many thanks for offering this opportunity Lady Tyrell."

Olenna waved a hand dimissily. "Yes, yes, do sit down you came just we were settling for lunch."

The group removed their cloaks and the boys fussed over their fine dark grey velvet tunics, having dressed in their finest that morning.

Herian wore much the same garb as there was no way, anyone would ever convince her to ride in a dress. The only thing her boots however were Daedric and she set her weapons with Jon and Robbs aside on a bench.

Once they were all seated, Margaery began the conversation. "How was your trip?"

"Very quiet." Robb said helping himself to the fine foods and wine. "I've never been out of the North before, the colours of this place are amazing."

Margaery smiled warmly. "I'm glad you like it."

Herian ate sparingly and was content to be silent as they boys spoke with Margaery. When the meal was done, Margaery offered to take them for a turn through the garden to which they both readily agreed.

They rose together even if Olenna was the slowest of the lot, when Herian moved to follow the three teams. "Stay with me, I'd rather show the lady friend of the King of Winter around myself." Somehow she managed to mock both titles without doing so directly.

Herian pursed her lips.

"No harm will come to them." Olenna picked up her cane and leaned on it. "I have as much interest in keeping them safe as you do."

After a moment's contemplation, Herian offered the elderly Lady her arm and said. "I rather doubt that."

Olenna took the offered arm transferring her cane to her free hand. "This is the first time since the war that Starks have been in the Reach, as well as the first time they have been here without obligation. It would look poorly on Highgarden if anything were to happen to its guests."

They started walking following the teens, Olenna set the pace, slower than Herian would have liked. The garden was paved in gleaming marble, grass was perfectly maintained and the air was filled with the scent of flowers as they bloomed around them.

"How is King Eddard Stark?" Olenna asked with a sly smile.

Herian resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Very well, thank you for asking."

Olenna found this elf amusing, so very different from the thin fragile creature she had first met. "Has he put a child in you yet?" She asked bluntly.

The Dunmer pursed her lips. "No."

"Can he even?" The elder woman asked.

"I fail to see how that is any concern of yours." Herian had to work hard to keep her ire from her voice.

Olenna smiled at her like she was some small child. "It's been everyone's concern, I hear you are a hot topic in King's Landing, many a Lord is wetting himself at the idea of having your bloodlines merged with the Starks. Tywin even has Cersei trying to seduce some Altmer that appeared in his lands. Though so far she hasn't managed to catch his child yet."

"Altmer? How long ago was this? What's he look like?" Herian asked worried.

"Male, tall dark golden skin, black hair, gold eyes, his armour has an eagle crafted into it. Hmm he's been in King's Landing some months now, I'd guess around a four months ago." Olenna watched Herian carefully.

Fury flashed over Herian's face and she couldn't help but snarl, "Thamlor." she took a breath to rein herself in. "At least I don't have to worry about Cersei becoming pregnant."

"Why is that?" Olenna asked.

The Dunmer looked down at her and didn't bother to hide a sneer. "No Thamlor would lower himself to sire a child upon a mortal human woman." Herian turned her gaze back to the flowers, the Thamlor would be a challenge for another time.

"Is that how you see us? Lessers?" Lady Tyrell asked, though she found it unlikely.

Herian sighed and rubbed her temples with a hand, why she was having this conversation she did not know. "I judge people based on themselves not their species, Thamlor however are believers in elf supremacy. A Thamlor would sooner commit genocide upon the non-mer races, then have a child with one. This Thamlor is probably just bored and using Cersei accordingly."

Olenna had to work to keep the smile from her face, now that was one juicy little morsel. Not only did it give her some much needed insight into the Altmer in the south but it cleared her question from before. Herian could carry King Starks child, but she had the option not to as well, the Dunmer was not very good at this game.

With that the game began, Olenna plucking information out of Herian with ease as the elf was too used to having to explain everything.

Jon, Robb and Herian meet in her solar after the evening meal, the later with a headache she had never had the likes of before. She rubbed her temples already wishing to be back in Winterfell, she left strangely cut off from magic and it was making her ill.

"Not enjoying Lady Tryell's company?" Robb poured them all wine from a glass pitcher.

Herian swirled the wine, what she wouldn't give for some shien. "No, and here I thought my Grandmother had a sharp tongue. I swear my ears are bleeding."

Jon chuckled. "Well Margery was very nice, the gardens amazing here."

Robb took a sip of the wine. "I'm glad we came."

Herian drank as well and felt the rings on her hand light up. Her eyebrows shot up, "Robb!" She raced forward as Robb's throat turned purple, he reached up to it coughed once, acid started to burn away the flesh. She caught him in time for him to die in her arms.

Jon had raced over to her bags and returned with the Golden Oriole, when Herian started to cough her rings glowing. She had a smaller sip then Robb, but she fell over and started to cough up blood. She heard Jon calling for help but as her vision spotted she knew no more.

I'm sorry! But Olenna has been kicking my ass for months and I've just given up, I want this over and done with, if anyone wants to step up and help me then I will revisit the scene. Now you are all going to hate me, *preps umbrella* this is the end of this story. There will be a sequel but here is the bit where you are going to hate me, it will come out AFTER at least the Winds of Winter. While I have thoeries and plans, the fact of the matter is I need more information on the A Song of Ice and Fire front. I want to go to Old Valyria to the Land of Always Winter, I NEED to know what the White Walkers want, there is just so much I need and don't have. This story was about setting up for a Conjuction of Spheres, its ready for the real shit to hit the fan and for the world to blow up. Which will happen in the sequel.

Now this actually isn't that bad a thing to do, I will be the first to admit I made A LOT of errors in this story, mostly because I went from using A Game of Thrones to A Song of Ice and Fire. This gives me a chance to clean up my mess, I already have character sheets, outlines, maps, you name it. Which I will probably release to you lot, think of it as a great housecleaning!

Thank one to everyone who reviewed! And again I am sorry to do this too you, but I think I will be able to make the best story I can after I get more information. I have other stories, have at! I'm a bit of in a RWBY mindset right now but I love the lighter elements of it and the cast that lends to so very many AUs. Most of those stories can be found on Archive of Our own, I won't recommend any as they are rather niche. Be it a test for me in sheading up a characters soul and making them live with the consquences of their evil alteregos actions. Or a little study in BDSM, or a francly HUGE study in age gap pairings, types of relationships and frankly as many fun things people get to do once they hit eighteen (at least thats it where I live). Or a love story based more on the intellectual then the physcial, plus magic. I will try to revist my other Elder Scrolls stories but I am kinda burned out on them, I'm very slowly getting back into it but it will probably be a while.

Again THANK YOU FOR READING! There will be more Eventually, blame Martin.