Sorry for the late upload. Gods, this chapter was a pain in the ass.

Enjoy my suffering.

~ o ~ O ~ o ~

Tyrrak Shyr, the Isle of Faces (284 AC)

Kiara had always been curious. She liked to explore the isle, searching for something interesting. Most of the time it got her in trouble, which is why the other children avoided her, but once in a while she'd find something wonderful.

One summer when she was five, she'd been wandering the woods around Tyrrak Shyr. Her mother had warned her not to venture there alone, saying that there were great beasts that called the forests home. She hadn't been afraid of her mother's words, but fascinated. She'd heard stories from some of the villagers about them hunting and taming the beasts of the isle.

She'd heard there was a great black bear living in a cave somewhere in the woods. The hunters encountered it once, while looking for some game. They said it was massive, at least thirteen-feet tall standing up on its hind legs, and as thick as the oldest tree. Two of the hunters were injured fighting it, but they still hadn't been able to catch or kill it. They tracked it down for days, but still hadn't figured out where its cave was.

Kiara wanted to see it. She'd never seen a bear before. She wondered if it was really as big as the hunters claimed.

So, when the night came, she ventured into the woods alone. It had been dark and cold, the sound of insects prevalent in the air. She was nervous, but she pushed on. She was startled by a raven squawking at her, before taking flight out of the forest.

She'd always been unnerved by ravens. They came in her dreams and in her waking moments, always watching with their beady eyes.

It was a difficult journey, as she had brought no light and had no idea where to go. After an hour of fruitless wandering, she sat down on the forest floor in disappointment.

She decided to try again another time and made to return to the village, but realized that she had lost her way. She could not see the path she had taken in the dark. As fear began to overtake her, she closed her eyes and began to pray. She prayed for someone to find her, for someone to show her the way home.

And suddenly, she could see in the dark. Her eyesight was low to the ground and swept all around her. Her ears twitched on the top of her head, as did her nose; her senses were magnified. She could hear running water and she ran towards it; with a speed and agility she had never experienced before.

When she looked at herself in the water, she did not see her face. She saw a different face, covered in red and white fur, with a long muzzle, red eyes, and long ears. She was a fox.

No. She was a warg, a skinchanger.

She never found the bear, and when she finally made it home her mother was furious with her, but it was all worth it. Because she'd found something much more amazing. And she even made a new friend.

These were the thoughts running through her head as she went and disobeyed her mother once more.

The order of the green men was a secretive people, and hardly ever had visitors. Especially nowadays, when the Faith of the Seven was more prevalent in the country, and the followers of the old gods only living in the north. No one south of the Neck cared about the Isle of Faces, and whoever lived there.

So, when her mother told her someone important was coming to the isle, Kiara had been excited. Then she'd been surprised to find it was a little boy, even younger than her it seemed. She hadn't been sure what made him important, but her mother treated the boy like an old friend. And the boy, Arthos, responded in kind.

Kiara's curiosity was peaked, even more so when her mother had told her that she had allowed the boy a chance to speak with the Wildmother.

Kiara was shocked. Her mother never allowed anyone but herself to speak to the Wildmother, and she herself was always hesitant to do it. Kiara couldn't blame her mother, not after the Wildmother crippled her mother for a simple transgression.

Kiara hoped her mother wouldn't react that badly to her own transgression.

"We must not disturb them," her mother had told her as she led Kiara out of the tunnels. "The Wildmother is temperamental, especially when strangers enter her domain. It's best if he deals with her alone."

So, like a good daughter, Kiara immediately snuck back into the tunnels and quietly made her way into the chamber of the heart of the valley.

She watched from the entryway, peaking inside the chamber. The inside was bathed in the pulsing green light of the mother's heart stone. Arthos kneeled in front of the green stone, eyes closed and mumbling to himself. His hands were wrapped around one of the roots that encircled the stone, his grip so hard his knuckles were turning white.

As Kiara watched, she felt something in the air change. It was a strange, heavy presence that made her knees buckle and she nearly fell on the ground. She felt a breeze pass through her, which wasn't possible so deep underground. The strange wind was coming from the stone, and it carried something with it. Something old. As old as the sea and sky.

Something angry.

Suddenly, Arthos head snapped back, his mouth opening in a silent scream. His body began to writhe in place, as if it wanted to pull away, but his hands remained clamped on the roots around the stone.

Kiara was shocked and took a shaky step backwards. She didn't know what was happening. For the first time in her life, she didn't want to know what was happening. She wanted to run, to go back aboveground and find her mother and hide in her embrace. She was about to do just that, when she turned around to see something peculiar.

There was a raven in front of her. A blind raven. Not in a sense that it lost its sight, or its eyes. If either were the case it would have glassy orbs or empty sockets. This raven had neither, as if it were born without them. It was resting on one of the roots that grew out of the walls and hung in the cavern. Despite its lack of eyes, it observed Kiara curiously, cocking its head from side to side.

"W-what are you doing here, little bird?" Kiara asked nervously.

It cawed at her, pecking its feet before facing back at her. It cawed again and flew into the room, dropping next to Arthos, who was still silently screaming and thrashing about. Kiara felt the ground around her begin to shake weakly, dust and soil drifting down from the ceiling.

The raven turned its head to face Kiara once more, crowing at her again and pointing its beak at Arthos.

"What do you want me to do? I don't know how to help him!"

The raven crowed louder, before flying around the room and landing on the root that Arthos was holding. Its wings spread wide, and its beak open yet soundless. Its head turned towards her, and Kiara heard a sound escape its maw.

Heard was the wrong word. It was strange. It felt like something was pecking the inside of her brain, placing thoughts in her head that did not belong to her. It was a word. Just one word.

Serve.

~ o ~ O ~ o ~

Arthos was not happy.

Though, he very much doubted anyone would be, in his situation. Sprawled on the ground, forced to kneel by an invisible, overwhelming force, coming from an angry primordial goddess, was probably the last thing anyone wanted.

Kovira warned him of this reaction, though, so he wasn't completely surprised. He wasn't expecting such a show of force, but then again, he'd never personally fought a primordial before. Gaea had only ever appeared in his dreams, and when she finally did manifest in his world, it was Jason, Leo, and Piper who defeated her. While in Tartarus, Annabeth and he had met Nyx, who they barely escaped from with Annabeth's trickery. When they met the god of the Pit himself, Percy had been so terrified that he dropped his sword. The only reason he and Annabeth survived was thanks to a giant, a Titan and a cat.

This time he was alone. No allies to help him, no reinforcements to come save him at the last minute. He would have to face this old god by himself.

Which was a hard thing to do with his face being pushed into the ground.

WELL, BOY? SPEAK, the Wildmother said.

Arthos grumbled out some choice words through gritted teeth, letting out a groan as he attempted to stand. It was a difficult process; the goddess didn't let up with her presence. The Wildmother's aura was heavy. It was like trying to stand with a heavy mattress strapped to his body while he was stuck in jelly. But Arthos had once carried the weight of the sky in his former life. Compared to that, this was child's play. It took him a minute, but he finally got back on his feet.

He looked up at the Wildmother. The Wildmother seemed to be within the same power level as the other primordial gods in his old world, but something felt off about her, as if she was only barely with him.

Her hands were crossed; swirling green eyes narrowed at the young boy. YOU HAVE ENTERED THE GREEN, MY SACRED REALM UNDER THE EARTH, WITHIN THE WEIRWOOD ROOTS. ONLY THOSE WITH MY BLESSING MAY RECEIVE GUEST RIGHT HERE.

Arthos raised an eyebrow, crossing his own arms as he stared back at the goddess. "Forgive me, but how was I supposed to gain your blessing without meeting you first?"

Two heavy wooden arms slammed down on either side of Arthos, shaking the ground and making him step back into a ready stance. The Wildmother brought her face closer to him, her wooden lips twisted into a scowl. DO NOT THINK TO BE SMART WITH ME, BOY!

She glared at Arthos, the green in her eyes swirling like a pool of moss and vines. YOUR BLOOD ALREADY HAS MY BLESSING, HOWEVER WEAK AND TAINTED IT IS IN YOU, WANDERER. THE GIFT OF A THOUSAND EYES, A HUNDRED SKINS, AND THE DEEP WISDOM OF THE EARTH. THE BLOOD OF SKINCHANGERS, OF GREENSEERS. IT IS THAT WHICH YOUR ANCESTORS TOOK THAT GIVES YOU ENTRY IN MY DOMAIN.

Arthos let out a breath of relief as the goddess leaned away from him, but he did not relax. He wasn't sure if the Wildmother would have an even more extreme reaction to him. He had to be more careful.

"My apologies if I have offended you, Great Lady," he said in as respectful a tone as he could manage. "I have only come to ask of your knowledge and guidance."

YOU WOULD DARE ASK SOMETHING OF ME, the Wildmother asked, incredulously. AFTER INTRUDING WHERE YOU ARE UNWANTED, WANDERER? YOU DO NOT BELONG HERE, IN MY REALM OR IN THIS WORLD.

Arthos glowered. "I never wanted - "

IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT YOUR PURPOSE OR INTENTIONS ARE. YOU ARE NOT WELCOME!

The Wildmother began to straighten, her eyes glaring down upon him, as her hands rested on the ground beside her. I ALREADY TOLERATE THE PRESENCE OF ONE OF YOUR KIND HERE, IN MY SACRED ISLE. SHE REMAINS ONLY BY MY WILL, AS MY MOUTHPIECE TO THE GREEN MEN. YOU ARE NOTHING BUT AN OUTSIDER. I WILL NOT SUFFER YOU.

Arthos felt a shiver run down his spine, as the Wildmother began to raise her arms, fingers clenching tightly into fists. YOU MUST BE REMOVED.

"Please, let me exp-" Arthos began to say before a searing hot pain erupted all over his body. He could only let out a startled gasp, as his body began to writhe on the ground in horrible agony.

Pain.

So much pain.

Sound disappeared, except for a high-pitched ringing in his ears. Blurred colors and images swam across his vison, flecks of light and shadow. It felt like a fire had been lit up inside him, so intense it seemed to consume his very soul.

No, the thought passed through his pain-addled mind. My soul is on fire. She's burning away my very essence.

Panic began to fill his head. He didn't know how to fight this. None of his powers could protect him from an attack on his actual soul. Nothing in the green would respond to him. This was the Wildmother's spiritual domain. If she wanted to kill him, this was the worst place to be in.

Through his hazy vision, he could barely see the Wildmother, looking down on him calmly. She wasn't moving, except for her continually clenching hands. It seemed she didn't need much effort to destroy him.

Arthos clenched his teeth, trying to think through the pain. He needed a way out, a way back into the physical world. She had no hold there, though Arthos didn't know why and he didn't have time to ask. He needed the Wildmother to let go of him for just a split second.

She wouldn't, of course. He would need to break her hold, but what could break the hold of a goddess with the strength of an entire mountain? What could break a mountain?

Arthos eyes lit up. An earthquake.

He clenched his fists and tried to focus through the unbearable pain. He'd never been very good at channeling this part of Poseidon's domain. Mostly he'd only ever used it on accident, or during a desperate situation. This definitely counted as desperate.

He felt the ground around him begin to shake weakly, but steadily growing stronger. He kept it contained in a small radius around him, he didn't want to tip off the Wildmother and he only had one shot at this. He strained to keep focus, the vibrations becoming stronger and wanting to be released.

So, he released it.

With an angry, breathless yell, Arthos lifted one hand up and slammed it on the ground. The Wildmother's endless field began to shake and crack. It was weaker than he was used to, but then again, this was the first time he'd used it in this life. As the quake reached the Wildmother, she was startled and shaken by the vibrations. Arthos felt the pain disappear, as the Wildmother lost her concentration.

WHAT?!

Arthos took in several deep breaths, as relief and a dull ache encapsulated his entire body. He didn't know how much time he had before the Wildmother's shock disappeared. He began to concentrate, following the instructions Kovira had told him about exiting the green.

He needed to get his physical body to let go of the roots of the tree, in order to escape. It was hard. The pain kept him weak, though it had begun to die down, and, since this was the first time he'd ever entered the green, he was having a difficult time leaving it.

YOU. DARE?! As he started to mentally pry his fingers from the roots, he was struck by the searing pain once more as the Wildmother's rage began to wash over him again.

He'd run out of time. He'd failed, and he knew the Wildmother wouldn't fall for the same trick twice.

YOU WOULD STRIKE AGAINST THE WILDMOTHER? FOOL.

The pain that coursed through Arthos' body was stronger than before. He began to scream silently; the pain having taken the breath out of him. He didn't know how he would get out of this one. Even if he managed to break the goddess' concentration again, he still needed time to concentrate himself so he could escape.

As he tried to think of a quicker way to get out, there was a sudden flash of light and the sound of a thousand ravens permeating through the air, yet also just in his pain-addled mind. Arthos heard the Wildmother gasp, and suddenly the pain disappeared once more, leaving the young lord panting on the ground on the verge of unconsciousness.

Arthos looked up as a pair of human legs appeared in his blurred vision. As his eyes cleared, he saw the form of a young, red-headed girl, dressed in a cloak of leaves. The girl knelt down to face Arthos, her deep-green eyes filled with confusion and concern.

"Kiara?" Arthos asked in a raspy voice.

"Hello," she replied, chuckling nervously. "I'm here to help."

"No," Arthos groaned, as Kiara helped him sit up. "Get out of here! Your mother would be devastated if you died because of me."

"Neither of us are dying today," she said, somehow still looking doubtful despite her words. "Look"

Arthos turned to what she was looking at. The Wildmother had her hands cupped together near her face, her eyes shining, a hopeful smile on her lips. There was something small perched there, too small and far away for Arthos to make out.

MY DEAR SWEET KOVISSA, the goddess said in a tearful voice. YOU'VE RETURNED TO ME.

Once again, the sound of ravens filled the air and Arthos' head. The source became clear when the thing resting in the Wildmother's hands took flight and landed on Kiara's shoulder, startling the girl. It was a raven with no eyes.

WHAT IS IT, KOVISSA? WHY DO YOU GO TO THIS CHILD?

The bird raised its neck high and opened its beak. No sound came, but a thought began nibbling at the edge of Arthos mind. A word. Serve.

The Wildmother's eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed as she leaned down to put her face up near Arthos' and Kiara's. She was focused on Kiara, which made Arthos nervous. He pushed the shaking girl behind him, trying to shield her from the old god. He was in no condition to protect anyone, but he wasn't going to just lay down and die.

THIS ONE? The Wildmother asked. The raven nodded once, then began to preen its wing. WHY?

Potential.

VERY WELL. AND THE BOY?

Change. Restore.

"What's going on?" Arthos whispered to Kiara, while keeping an eye on the Wildmother.

"I'm not certain," the girl answered, still a bit shaken being in the presence of an old god. She eyed the raven on her shoulder, who nudged her cheek with its beak. "But it looks like we get to live a bit longer."

The Wildmother sat down in front of the two children, still towering over them. IT SEEMS YOU'VE EARNED A CHANCE AT SURVIVAL, BOY. BE GREATFUL.

"Many thanks," Arthos said sarcastically, eyeing the goddess suspiciously. "May I ask why you've changed your mind?"

The goddess nodded at the bird on Kiara's shoulder. THIS IS NO ORDINARY RAVEN. IT IS KOVISSA, THE WHISPERER, ONE OF TWO COMPANIONS OF THE GREAT SKY SPEAR. BOTH KOVISSA AND HER BROTHER, VARDR THE WATCHER, WERE A GIFT FROM ME. IT IS THROUGH THEM THAT MY BLESSINGS WERE BASED ON. VARDR, WHO SEES WHAT WAS AND WHAT IS, AND KOVISSA, WHO SEES WHAT WILL AND CAN BE.

MY LITTLE BIRDS HAVE BEEN GONE FOR SO LONG, AND FOR ONE TO RETURN ONLY TO ASK YOUR LIFE BE SPARED? The goddess appraised Arthos, as if seeing him in a different, yet still annoying, light. IT SEEMS THE LADY OF THE SKIES IS INTERESTED IN YOU.

"Great," Arthos said with a sardonic smile, as he got back on his feet with the help of Kiara. She hoisted him up, keeping him balanced. "Just what I needed. Another god who wants to use me."

The Wildmother ignored his comments, turning to Kiara instead. AS FOR YOU, GIRL. YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN FOR A GREAT DESTINY, ONE WHICH WILL BECOME CLEAR IN TIME.

"I'm honored?" Kiara said uncertainly. She was still shaking, though that was probably because she was half-carrying a heavy boy on her shoulders, rather than fear or nervousness.

The Wildmother chuckled, which sounded weird coming from a humanoid tree form, like bark rubbing and crashing against each other. AS YOU SHOULD, CHILD. KOVISSA HAS SEEN YOUR POTENTIAL. YOU WILL BRING GREAT HONOR TO YOUR PEOPLE, AND THE RETURN OF THE OLD GODS. FOR THAT, I WILL FORGIVE YOUR INTRUSION UPON THIS SACRED PLACE.

"How am I to do that?"

The eyeless raven, Kovissa, cawed and caught the Wildmother's attention. The Wildmother narrowed her eyes turning to look at Arthos, but still spoke to Kiara. KOVISSA SAYS YOU'LL FIND YOUR WAY WITH HIM.

Kiara turned to Arthos with a questioning look, which Arthos answered with a shrug and a wince.

NOW, BOTH OF YOU LEAVE MY DOMAIN. The Wildmother waved her hand in dismissal, and Arthos felt himself begin to be pulled backwards. Kiara let out a small gasp as she was dragged away as well, keeping her arm around Arthos.

"Wait," Arthos called out as he struggled against an invisible wall pushing him back. "I came here for your help! How do I use the magic of the children?"

YOU CAN'T, the goddess told him, before nodding to the girl beside him. BUT SHE CAN.

And in a flash of bright light, Arthos found himself thrust back into the physical world. He was thrown back, making him land hard on his back. He let out a groan as he was left with vestiges of the pain he felt in the green.

Arthos sat up and saw Kiara breathing hard, on her hands and knees. In front of her was the burnt-up pile of black feathers, still smoking. The glow of the Wildmother's heart stone washed over them, bathing them in shades of green.

He forced himself to stand, walking over to the kneeling girl and offering her a hand. She looked up at him as she caught her breath. She stared at his outstretched hand for a few seconds before taking it. Arthos hoisted her up, which he regretted immediately as pain crawled up his spine. In the end, Kiara had to catch him and keep him on his feet herself.

"Well," Arthos rasped out. "That wasn't how I expected things to go at all."

Kiara let out a weak chuckle. "Yes. Definitely not what I planned to do tonight."

"Why did you even come down here?" Arthos asked as Kiara helped reach the large table in the room. He let out a relieved sigh as he got to sit down on one of the chairs, while Kiara sat down on another next to him. Arthos is "I thought your mother told everyone not to go into the tunnels while I was here."

"Yes," someone answered before Kiara could. Arthos and Kiara turned around to see Kovira standing at the entrance to the cavern. She looked at them with a disturbingly calm face, which would've convinced Arthos, if her hands weren't shaking as she leaned against her walking stick. "My instructions were quite clear."

Arthos looked back at Kiara, who just stared at her mother with fear, before turning her head down in shame.

"I'm sorry," the girl whispered.

Kovira closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Once she calmed down, she looked around the room, noticing the pile of burned feathers on the floor, and the broken roots at the foot of the heart stone. She let out a sigh, hobbling up to them and taking a seat across the table.

"Alright," Kovira said. "What exactly happened here?"

~ o ~ O ~ o ~

(A Few Days Later)

Kiara stood at the eastern coast of the island, kicking the sand gently as she watched Arthos push a skiff out into the lake. He was having some trouble with the weight. The skiff was weighed down with several bags filled with supplies for travel.

Along the beach were a few of the villagers, as well as her mother. They were there to send them off. The villagers were all too happy with Arthos' departure. It turns out that while he was struggling against the Wildmother, he'd caused quite the strong earthquake throughout the isle. It ruined several houses, and caused a landslide along the western hills.

The villagers didn't appreciate that, nor the fact that Arthos apparently fought the Wildmother. Kiara wasn't sure how that information got out, but the villagers did not want to associate with him, despite Kovira's attempts to mend their perception of him.

The villagers watched Arthos with stony expressions, not wanting to lift a finger to help him. Kiara let out a sigh. She pulled up her bag that her mother had packed for her, and made her way towards the boy.

She plopped her bag inside the skiff, and helped Arthos push the boat along the shore. Arthos gave her a thankful smile as they made a path along the sand to the water. They stopped neared the edge, far enough so the waves don't pull at the hull of the skiff.

Arthos gestured for her to get on, as he started looking the boat over one more time. Kiara got on the boat. As she settled down on the hardwood seat, she looked up to see her mother approaching them. Arthos was wrapping the ropes up when he noticed Kovira as well.

Kovira stopped in front of them, giving them a sad look. "I apologize for my people's attitude towards you, Arthos. Hopefully they'll come around one day and you could visit again."

Arthos scoffed. "I highly doubt they're going to forgive the man who attacked one of their gods."

"Perhaps not, but one can dream."

Kovira then turned to her daughter, who had been sitting quietly in the boat watching Kovira's and Arthos' interaction. Kovira smiled lovingly at her daughter, coming closer and holding out her hand to Kiara. Kiara takes her mother's hand and grips it tightly, afraid to let go.

"I know this feels frightening, my daughter," Kovira said as she gently stroked Kiara's hand. "But you can trust in Arthos, he'll keep you safe. And if you miss me, know that you can always find me in the green. I'll be waiting to see you there."

Kiara wiped away the fledgling tears forming around her eyes. "I'll be alright, mother. I'll make you proud."

Kovira leaned in and kissed her daughter on the cheek, whispering an old blessing in her ear. "I've always been proud."

When they were finally rowing out into the water, when the villagers began to leave and only Kovira was left on the shore, watching her daughter float away, that's when Kiara let her tears fall. Arthos remained silent, choosing to keep rowing back to the mainland of Westros.

Kiara dried her tears, as the shore of the isle became distant. She turned around, looking at Arthos with bitterness, before looking behind him. She could see clear fields, and thick forests and mountains in the far distance. A large stone building, rose like a broken and burned spear reaching for the sky.

She'd never seen anything beyond the God's Eye. Everything was frightening and new. Kiara felt something stir inside her. Mixing with her anxiety, was a wonderful feeling she'd always had whenever she found something new. Kiara was excited.

Kiara was curious.

~ o ~ O ~ o ~

A/N:

Kiara has joined the party.

Sorry again for missing my deadline. Writing Arthos' interaction with the Wildmother was difficult, and frankly I'm not satisfied with the final edit. But since I'm already a week late, I'll just have to do a better job next chapter.

Next Chapter: I Don't Know (I might take a break from writing for a while, I'm drained, and I have more important tasks to do.)