(3rd Person POV)
A few months had passed since the Knights of House Arryn rode against the Black Ears and scored a tremendous victory. The Vale Knights had their ego stroked and could boast about their victory. It had been a long time since a victory like it had taken place for the 'lowlanders'. The Vale Mountain Clans are fierce and proud, and they know their land like the back of their hand. It was a miracle in itself that very few died. An ambush was the obvious and most logical way for the Black Ears to go about it. The knights were wearing armour and didn't know the terrain as well as they did, making them easy to pick apart and strike from the shadows. Jon had no business winning as he did, and the rest of the Vale came to hear it. The bards were already singing about the glorious victory over the evil and barbaric Mountain Clan.
It wouldn't have been possible had Eddard not been on their side. He was the key to victory, and what a clean victory it was. Eddard was happy with the outcome of the 'mission' in more ways than one and had no problem with the exaggerations the Vale was celebrating. On the contrary, he saw that as the best thing that could have happened to him. Despite what Eddard says and does officially, he is a very special young man. Ever since he arrived in this world, he understood that he was different. He wasn't aware that he was the product of an amalgamation of two souls. He is a Primarch and even more than that. No one truly knows how things came to be, but the differences between the current Eddard Stark and the original Corvus Corax are obvious.
For one, he grows at a normal pace, not at a Primarch pace, which saw them grow beyond a mortal human's height in mere years. His speed, strength, reflexes, durability, endurance and intelligence are all heightened. But the biggest change, and the one factor that is the most unknown, is that while he used to get his 'Warp power' from the Immaterium or Warp, in this life, it was inherent. This begs the question, how far can he take it? What's his limit? We shall see.
When Eddard devoured all the knowledge he could in the Winterfell library, he knew he would have a significant advantage in this world. Information is very valuable, and his capability to take in and process it would serve him greatly. So he took his fosterage at the Eyrie as a chance to learn, grow and experience the world in the South. And in these few years, Eddard was presented with great opportunities to bite into the political body of the Vale, thanks to being fostered by Jon Arryn, the Warden of the Vale. He acted as the quiet observer, the smart child who knew many languages, another thing he couldn't explain. Jon Arryn took advantage of Eddard, and he knew it, but that was exactly what Eddard had wanted. He wanted to be taken advantage of as it would allow him a lot of information if he proved useful.
And he did prove to be useful. Very useful.
Eddard translated documents, wrote letters Jon dictated, and helped organise anything for the Maester. This proved valuable. The longer he did this, the more he gained insight into the political standpoint of the Vale. When Eddard met Ezio, he saw a young boy who needed help. Eddard possessed a great sense of justice, be that because he was Eddard Stark or that he also had Corvus Corax's soul. But he was no idiot. He knew that as he was now, he couldn't achieve anything. The world wouldn't accept his ways and ideas; after all, not even his father did. So, he recognised a great way to get what he wanted. He asked Jon Arryn for a place to stay. The honourable Jon Arryn would never decline such a thing and gave Eddard what he wanted. That was the foot in the door, the first step for Eddar,d who had plans, big plans.
The run-down cabin turned into a lucrative inn where the people went to spend their money for good food and drinks. But it also turned into an information hub and temporary headquarters of his Raven Guard. Tongues were loosened when they drank alcohol, and that was useful. Eddard gained a place to stay, to train Ezio and a profitable business.
Then, the day arrived when Jon wanted to attack the Mountain Clan. Again, this may have been multiple things hidden in one package, but Eddard was just too far ahead. Jon wanted to eliminate a dangerous clan, help his smallfolk, and keep his reputation intact. Eddard saw this as a chance to gain more followers of the Raven Guard. The Black Ears would, in time, turn into the biggest potential thorn in the Vale's side. Jon wanted justice, but he wouldn't have thought twice about eliminating the entire clan and taking the young ones as 'slaves' to end the threat. Eddard managed to resolve this matter peacefully.
Cheyk accepted his proposition, and as a security measure, Jon demanded that her daughter, Chella, would go with them and become his ward. This was an outrageous demand in the Clan's eyes but a normal one from Jon's viewpoint. Hostages were not called hostages in Westeros, at least not the political ones. They were called 'wards.' Cheyk would never agree to this, but once again, Eddard managed to placate her worries. He told her that Chella would be placed under HIS care and that he, as a First Man, would protect and teach her.
.
"Are you certain, Corvus?"
"Why wouldn't I be? Do you think women are better off cooking, getting raped and being used as broodmares but not fighting? I don't see where the problem is, Ezio."
Ezio had arrived back at their headquarters. The last couple of months had been hectic for them, and he had been busy for a while. Eddard had been going back and forth between the Eyrie and the Black Ears with material. He was not only instructing them how to improve their way of doing agriculture. He brought a lot of seeds and materials from the Eyrie to sow and reap. But that wasn't all he did. Eddard also spent much time teaching the Black Ears how to create better weapons and armour. This was not something Jon had signed off on, but something he did either way. Eddard had plans for the Black Ears, which was also why he taught them how to fight.
Through this, Eddard grew a lot closer to Cheyk and the others. They started to trust him more. He had spent some time with Chella, and they had gotten used to each other. Now, it was time to introduce her as the newest member of the Raven Guard. But Ezio was uncertain about all this.
"I am not talking about her gender. She is an unknown variable. We know nothing about her."
"I do know about her. That was the reason I spent all that time with her and her family. For this reason."
"But that was barely a few months. How long did it take for you to trust me enough to tell me about the Raven Guard?"
"I didn't tell you about the Raven Guard so late because I didn't trust you, Ezio. I knew that I could trust you in the first few minutes. The reason I didn't tell you about the Raven Guard was that you weren't ready to be told. We were working on the inn, and you needed some time off."
"So you thought I was not strong enough?"
"Why are you interpreting my words? I am telling you, you weren't ready to be told, and that's all there is to it. Now, we are two people who can stay here and take care of things. Chella is a good woman and will certainly grow into a very skilled fighter and member of the Raven Guard. You can trust me on this."
"If you say so, I trust you. Forgive me for questioning you."
"Nonsense, that's good. I told you that you should do that. I understand your suspicion, and after what happened, you are correct to do so. Naturally, we will make sure that she's loyal. However, you know my plans for the Black Ears."
"I do know them, but I don't know theirs, so I am cautious until proven that she can be trusted."
"Good. Then let us begin."
.
Chella, daughter of Cheyk, was the first of her people to walk the path of the Raven Guard. She was a small woman, dark and hard, built of determination rather than softness. As a former Vale Moutain Clanswoman, she was used to her people's harsh conditions. Flat as a boy, some might say, but her size served her well in the art she was about to learn. In silence and darkness, size meant nothing—only speed, precision, and will. Eddard had no prejudices and taught her like he did Ezio. There were biological differences between the two, but Eddard adjusted her regimen in a few minor ways. Chella was not supposed to measure up to Ezio; it would be hard to find any man who could do that. The young man was a true genius when it came to stealth, parkour and assassination. And he would only continue to improve.
Chella was serious, a woman of few words, though when she did speak, her voice was low and husky, carrying the weight of her situation, which she was well aware of. There was something sharp in her gaze, an edge and disapproval for most she encountered. She did not smile often, but when she did, it came as a throaty chuckle, dark and knowing, as if she knew things the rest of the world was blind to. It took a while, but she eventually started to trust the two men who took care of her training. Ezio was about the same age as her, but it didn't matter much. He held himself back from judging her and only looked for signs of betrayal. Chella, however, never intended to do that, and the two eventually got used to one another.
They trained far from the prying eyes of knights and lords of the Eyrie, deep within the hidden alleys and, at first, outside the castle, where only the ravens bore witness. Chella was taught how to cook despite her great disapproval. She was not skilled at it, but Eddard taught her the importance of 'fitting in. ' If they wanted to hide in the dark, they had to know how to act in the light and knowing a craft was the best way to go about it. So she learnt slowly. She enjoyed fighting and was skilled at it, but Eddard had to spend some time channelling her cruelty into something else and gradually changing her character. Chella visited her mother and the clan often. She was determined to prove that she was not treated badly and that her life was now much better than before.
Jon was also coming around and leaving all the organisation to Eddard. He was getting good results, and according to their calculations, they would experience financial growth in the coming years.
.
Chella stood barefoot upon the wooden floor in the dark room underneath their inn, a dagger in each hand, her breath slow. Across from her, Ezio crouched, a stern expression on his face as he observed her. The room was designed and created by Eddard for the purpose of learning how to live in the shadows. It was meant to get used to it and have the eyes adapt to the environment.
"Fear Not The Darkness, But Welcome Its Embrace. Again."
Chella sprang forward in a quick, agile motion, her blades slashing in a deadly arc. But Ezio was faster and more experienced; the otherwise far too deadly training method was nothing to him. He sidestepped, bent low, and swept her legs out from beneath her. She landed hard, biting back and cursing.
"Too slow."
She rolled to her feet, her frustration burning in her eyes, but she said nothing. There was no room for excuses here. Only learning, only becoming something more. She had learnt that when Eddard introduced her to the Raven Guard. The young woman thought herself skilled already, and while she was spirited, there was nothing that could have prepared her for the dread she felt at that moment. Nothing strikes fear into the hearts of men like that which can't be seen.
This time, Chella did not lunge — she pretended. Ezio dodged, expecting the strike, but she was already moving the other way, her dagger flashing toward his ribs—a kill, or so she thought. Ezio grabs her hand and twists it, pushing her away using her own momentum.
Ezio grinned. "Better."
She learned the ways of the unseen, how to step where the planks did not crack, how to climb where others fell, and how to move like shadows themselves. She trained her body to be quicker, sharper and deadlier. She learned that one man or woman in the dark was deadlier and potentially more destructive than a thousand men in the light. It was like Eddard demonstrated, that which we don't see can cause the greatest terrors. Chella took that to heart.
Ezio observed his newest companion. He nodded his head and spoke the words.
"Nothing is true; everything is permitted."
"We live in the dark to serve our light." she completes.
The newest Raven has taken flight.
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