(Third-person perspective)
Aermir and Daisy stood in a secluded grove of trees, surrounded by the soft rustling of leaves and the whisper of the wind in the distance. The gentle moonlight bathed everything in a silvery glow, enveloping the entire scene in a magical atmosphere.
As Dacey gazed into Aermir's eyes, a warm feeling flowed between them. She leaned in and gently kissed his lips. Aermir, a gentleman, gently pushed her away, his eyes revealing chivalry and concern.
" Dacey, I appreciate your kindness, but I can't repay you in the way you want," Aermir said, his voice tinged with regret.
Dacey looked at him understandingly. "I know, Aermir. I don't expect you to have romantic feelings for me. I've always known our paths are different, but tonight, I want something, even if it's fleeting and superficial."
Aermir hesitated, considering the delicate situation. " Dacey, this isn't right. I can't take advantage of..."
Dacey grew up as a warrior; at an age when most girls received dolls, Dacey received a morning star. Therefore, she was a woman who always spoke her mind and acted on her impulses. She was always very direct. She gently interrupted him. "You didn't get anything out of me. I wanted it this way, it was my choice. I've never felt this way with anyone before, and if I were to give myself to someone, I want my first time to be with you."
Aermir was torn between his principles and the undeniable physical attraction, but he didn't want to complicate their relationship. He sighed. " Dacey, you're a beautiful woman, and your desires are reasonable, but I can't..."
Dacey boldly removed her dress, revealing her silhouette in the moonlight. "I don't ask for your promises, nor do I ask you to be my husband. I only want you, Aermir. At this moment, lay down your burdens and be with me."
Her skirt fell to the floor, revealing her slender figure. Her ample bosom seemed excessively large; her waist was thin, her hips wide, curving into a rounded bottom. Her well-defined muscles made her figure even more alluring; Aermir couldn't resist and hugged her tightly. A few seconds later, he too was naked.
Aermir couldn't stop himself, like a floodgate that had been opened and couldn't be closed. The cool night breeze did nothing to affect them; as Aermir continued to cast spells, magic in the air formed a Air Bubble around them. Their lovemaking lasted for hours until the first rays of dawn appeared.
The Dawn light filtered through the dense canopy of the forest, casting a soft glow on the verdant surroundings. Dacey jolted awake from a passionate night with Aermir, her senses gradually stirring. The air was crisp, carrying the subtle fragrance of pine and earth, while the babbling of the nearby brook provided a soothing backdrop to her waking moments.
As Dacey turned around in their makeshift nest of leaves and moss, where they had found solace, her gaze met the dappled sunlight filtering through the forest floor. Silence reigned, broken only by the rustling of leaves and the occasional bird call in the distance—a stark contrast to the heat of the previous night.
Noticing Aermir's absence, she felt a pang of vulnerability. The shared passion still left her body aching. Recalling the past, Dacey blushed, running her fingers through her disheveled hair, trying to pull out the leaves and other things tangled in it. The excitement of creating the Magic Heart spurred her to seize the opportunity to bridge the gap between them. Although her body ached afterward, she felt no regret; instead, a sense of newly discovered power lingered.
The ground beneath her feet felt cool and supportive, giving her a sense of groundedness after a night filled with vulnerability and power. She could clearly feel the magic flowing through the ground, the air, and within her own body.
Lying in the morning light, Dacey acknowledged her feelings for Aermir. She understood the limitations of their relationship and accepted the thought that perhaps she couldn't be his wife, but for now, being his lover brought a different kind of satisfaction. She resolved to savor the moment and allow herself a gentle smile.
A few minutes later, Aermir returned with food. An awkward silence fell between them. Since last night, their relationship had changed for Dacey, and for Aermir as well. He might not love her, but he wasn't a playboy who would be casual after having sex with a woman.
He had some feelings for her, but he was sure it wasn't love, because he'd been in love in his past life and knew what that felt like. It was more like infatuation. To be honest, he still felt very hungry, but judging from Dacey's actions, he felt he'd gone a bit too far last night.
After breaking his fast, Aermir cast a healing spell to ease Dacey's aches and pains. He sat down beside her and said...
"Isn't it beautiful tonight?"
Dacey's cheeks flushed again; she felt embarrassed. She didn't know what to do; she had learned to be outspoken from her mother.
"Oh, don't act like a Southern knight in shining armor! I'm in love with you, that's clear, and I'm not some Southern Lady trying to sweet-talk you... I might be shy for a while, but I'll get used to it. Don't push me away until you find someone to marry."
Aermir didn't understand why she did that.
"Why are you doing this? You are a noble lady from an ancient aristocratic family; you will have many suitors in the future."
She shook her head. "I know who I am. I may not be a stunning beauty, but like you said, I am beautiful. At the same time, I am outspoken and assertive, and I have strength. I don't mean politically or otherwise, but literally, my physical advantages."
She clenched her fists, feeling the continuous flow of magic within her.
"Now, I'm stronger. Nothing makes men more powerful than a woman, and more likely to make them tremble. At first, they might say they're good at it, but over time, they'll lose all their confidence and masculinity."
Aermir spat out the water he was drinking, Dacey burst out laughing, "No man will truly love me for long. They'll feel too insignificant next to me, and I'll feel the same way. I feel that if a man is weaker than me, I can't truly love or respect him. At least for now, I want to be with a man who won't back down when he sees me."
She took a sip of water, glancing at Aermir's crotch, and said, "You definitely didn't back down either; my aches and pains prove it."
Hearing this, Aermir stumbled, thinking to herself that she must be Mormont's daughter. Dacey stood up and placed Morning Star on her shoulder. "Let's go find the other two; you must know where they are."
In the heart of Vale of Arryn, more than a week had passed since Aermir's audacious offensive plan, and the lords of Vale of Arryn were caught off guard and unprepared for the looming threat. Jon and his colleagues, after their failed attempts at peace with the Druid army, remained at a loss.
Furthermore, the Vale lords, including Jon, were misled by their own assumptions and continued to conduct routine reconnaissance missions, believing that the Mountain Clans's army was roaming the high mountains surrounding Vale of Arryn. They discovered hundreds of Mountain Men crossing the mountain paths.
Unbeknownst to them, Aermir's mountain army had secretly redeployed in the mountains west of Strongsong. Aermir's ability to conceal his troop movements with the help of his familiars led the Vale Lord to misjudge the situation.
In addition, before leaving the Vale of Arryn, Aermir left behind a small detachment of 1,000 men as a feint attack. This detachment used a strategic shift along mountain paths, launching hit-and-run attacks while moving southeast, successfully drawing the attention of Aermir's main force.
The two old war gods had placed Crow within the diversionary force, acting as silent strategists to ensure the squad would never be surrounded. This was exactly what Aermir wanted, making a war of attrition perfect for him; thanks to the Vale's harvest, he had ample food, and the Vale itself needed to purchase expensive grain from the Reach.
On the other hand, Jon was squeezing every last drop of hair from his already lavish army, which did nothing but squander its wealth; every day, hundreds or even thousands of golden dragons would be wasted.