12
Chapter 12 – What is dead may never die
Fair Isle was an island not far from the coast of the Westerlands. It held its allegiance to the Lannisters and despite an uncomfortable tension between House Farman the ruling house of the island and the Lannisters there had never been open conflict between the two houses. After the Greyjoy's last failed rebellion Tywin Lannister had stationed many of the Lannister War Galleys there to protect it from future attacks by the Iron Born which the island had suffered for centuries and too make sure that Lord Farman did not forget just who he owed allegiance too.
Those ships now burned in the harbour of Faircastle as did the holdfast and the town that surrounded it. The screams that the people had let out sounded inhuman as the ships baring the golden kraken had arrived. The unprepared islanders were hit with the force of a hurricane as the Iron Born raided the island and looted all of its wealth. Young women and even little girls taken to be salt wives while the rest including the entirety of House Farman were brutally slaughtered. The members of the former ruling house lay near the burning ruins of their former home with their chests cut open and their organs spilling out for all to see. Those few that survived this attack and were not taken by the Iron Born as sex slaves would be haunted by what they had just experienced for the rest of their lives and shivered in wherever they had managed to hide.
The Iron fleet sailed away from Fair Isle and back to its lair in the Iron Islands as the women they had taken cowered below decks, the Iron Born were jubilant in their celebration above them. It was the biggest raid in their recent history and was sure when the prizes were divided between them they were going to return home as rich men. At the head of the fleet, the commander of the attack Victarion Greyjoy smiled as his family's ambition of independence took its first major step forward. He had not felt so alive since his brother's last rebellion where his spirits had been at their highest, but also at their most low after their defeat. Especially his own at the hands of Stannis Baratheon which the mere recollection of knocked the smile off his face and brought a fuming anger to his features. He was broken from his trip into the past by his helmsman asking him.
"Course sir?" The boy was too young to have served in the last war and had the eager spark of youth in his eyes. Eager for prizes and glory. Victarion Greyjoy gave the young man a smile and told him.
"Where else? Home. Our success will be a cause for much celebration when we return. Then we can begin our invasion of the coastal keeps and reclaim all that was stolen from us. This is a great time to be Iron born lad. Treasure it." He said completely certain that this was going to be a golden age for his people and himself. The helmsman grinned at his captain's words.
Over in Slaver's Bay Jon was facing his own challenges. With the conquest of Astapor, Yunkai and all the towns and villages between, his army had swollen to twenty thousand strong. They lines up for battle as they approached the plain in front of the largest of the Slaver Bay cities…Meereen. This would be Jon's last conquest before he had the entire area under his control. He peered out his tent at the large and imposing walls of the city and managed to suppress his apprehension. He was not going to allow himself to be ruled by fear, he swore sternly. This would be a bloody attack but once it was completed he would finally have the area freed of slavery. That was a worthy enough goal on its own, never mind his kingdom or his supposed throne. The dismantling of the oppressive regime here was more than enough justification for what he was doing. The dead slave children nailed every mile along the route they had taken by the city's leaders had not scared him off as they had hoped, only hardened his resolve to finish the job he had set out to do.
He turned around to see the members of his inner circle as they stood standing around the map of the local area. Daenerys was smiling glad to see they were finally here whereas Ser Jorah Mormont at her side was scowling slightly at the flirtatious smirks being sent at his aunt by Daario which also made Jon scowl slightly. Who his aunt took to her bed was her concern alone but it galled him slightly to see her involved with such a man. Missandei stood at his aunt's side looking far more relaxed in her role as companion than she had when they had freed her in Astapor.
Also present in the tent looking very intimidated by the fierce expression of the face of Grey Worm was his newest adviser Samwell Tarly. He also looked slightly afraid if intrigued by Ghost who stood at Jon's side. The dragons at present were still too small and would be hidden until they were at least big enough to protect themselves if needed. That time though would hopefully be very soon as they were now the size of a dog and he had been reading the existing texts on dragons along with his aunt and half-sister which said that young dragons would be relatively well natured if treated with kindness and affection but the rider must establish themselves as the dominant one early on or it would be very difficult to control the dragons as they matured. So he and his aunt had been feeding them at certain times to get them into a routine and using treats as rewards for good behaviour and withholding it as punishments.
"Any words on our demands?" Jon asked Ser Jorah as after encountering the dead slave children he had sent a message to the slavers of Meereen telling them that if they killed any more children then he would exact a punishment on them that would be greater by tenfold. However if they surrendered now and freed their slaves then they would be spared and perhaps able to continue living in the city depending on how they had treated the slaves they owned.
"None my lord. I assume that they stand in defiance against you." Ser Jorah told him seriously. Why they had thought this best Jon did not understand. Already two other cities had fallen to him and many slavers like them killed so why they would not take the out he had given them escaped him.
"My lord, there is an armoured rider waiting outside the gates. He bares the flag of the city." A guard said outside the tent. Jon turned to his advisors for any ideas why the city would send a single man on horseback and Daario told him with a sneer when the others failed to answer much to the other men's annoyance.
"It's a challenge. They want a champion of yours to fight theirs in hope that you will leave if theirs wins. But even if whoever you choose wins they will probably still hide behind their walls. But if you ignore the challenge they will use it as an opportunity to label you a coward. So choose who you will send my lord." Daario said mockingly as he assumed that naturally he was going to be chosen. Ser Jorah and Grey Worm immediately however objected.
"My lord you would be far better served by someone who has been with you longer. I shall fight for you." Ser Jorah said quickly with an affronted expression that a sellsword like Daario might be chosen over him, he had after all served House Targaryen for some years now. Grey Worm did not speak however he did look at Jon intently for a moment. However Jon was thinking on something that Daario had said, about being considered a coward.
He had never allowed fear to control and it made his hackles rise slightly too even be thought of as a coward by the likes of the men in that city. He might let some comments like those of Lady Stark fly over his head as he kept it bowed but never would he allow someone like slaver who preyed on the innocent and those that could not defend themselves just to line their pockets to name him craven. His decision was made right there and then.
"Ready my armour, I will fight him personally." Jon told them with a calm expression.
The reaction in the tent was immediate. Ser Jorah, Daario and Grey Worm were all quick to voice their objections while Daenerys looked ready to speak looking alarmed at the idea of Jon taking on the champion from Meereen alone. Samwell however managed to get in the first word.
"It is a good idea." He said surprising everyone and becoming rather self-conscious as everyone turned their attention to him. He was about to stutter for a moment before he managed to keep his voice steady. "If Jon fights the champion himself then not only will our enemies not be able to label him a coward but he can inspire our own army by fighting by himself rather than choosing a champion." Samwell immediately fell silent at the end of his sentence but Daenerys although politically she saw sense in his words had another opinion.
"Jon if you die here then everything we have hoped for dies with you." Jon however told her back.
"And if I cower behind other men how long will I rule? Who will follow me if I am hiding behind them? No I will do this and that is the end of the matter." He said firmly and was surprised at how effective his command was because everyone in the room stopped in their tracks and Jon walked out of the command tent to his own where he strapped on his light armour and checked Blackfyre and his short sword that he kept for close quarter opponents before turning towards the gates of the city where he could see rider already charging at him and walked forward. He saw Ghost get ready to follow him but he held up his hand to stop the direwolf and petted the whining wolf's head before he walked away with his wolf staring mournfully after him.
At the edges of the camp the members of his inner circle all held their breath as the two faced each other. Daenerys swallowed nervously as her nephew stood ready to face a man on horseback alone and seemingly without a plan. She looked to Ser Jorah who had picked up a bow and arrow ready to shoot the champion's horse if something went wrong.
Jon stood still as his heart beat faster, preparing to meet the champion's attack. Rather than draw his long sword he pulled out the short sword and as the knight went to try and impale him on his spear he ducked and rolled forward drawing his small sword and slashing as he rolled at the horse as it passed him. Although he did not want to hurt the poor creature he needed to knock it down so he could face its rider on an even level. The poor horse fell as the cuts Jon made it fall over on its side while the unnamed champion grunted as he fell straight onto the ground with his steed. Jon then got to his feet and sheathed his short sword in exchange for Blackfyre. He waited for the unnamed warrior whose features were masked by his helm to get to his feet, like him he drew his sword and again like Jon he had no shield. Jon held his sword ready as the champion charged again. His movement however was sluggish as he was weighted down by his heavy armour and the slight injuries of the earlier fall. Jon easily sidestepped his swipes before returning the favour with a barrage of hard strikes that forced the champion onto the defensive. Jon sweated as the hot sun beat down on him as he battened away at the champion's defences. His instincts and training taking over as his mind focused on his next few moves and all his worries seemed to fall away.
The unknown man sagged under the strain of Jon's attack before desperately going back on the offensive which Jon from hours of practice in the yard of Winterfell easily deflected before sidestepping so his opponent stumbled forward instead of meeting Jon where he had expected too. Jon then stabbed backwards into the knight's exposed back. The enemy champion cried out in pain as he fell forward when Jon withdrew the blade. The champion did not get up after he fell and Jon without a backwards glance returned to the camp where he heard the cheers of his men greeting him and his male advisors gave him looks of surprised respect at how well he had dispatched the enemy champion while Daenerys gave him a relieved smile.
He retired to his tent where he was greeted by a very happy Ghost who leapt and stood up on his back paws so he could lick Jon on the face. Seeing his usually solemn direwolf so happy brought a smile to Jon's face as he petted his wolf's head. The tent's entrance parted and his aunt Daenerys walked in, she laughed at the happy wolf and patted his head before turning to Jon and telling him with a smile.
"The men are impressed, they want you to join them tonight for a drink I take it you will be accepting their invitation?" She asked curious if he would accept. Jon nodded with a slight smile before telling her while he gave Ghost some meat.
"Of course. Hopefully after we taken this city and this campaign is over I will have more time to spend with our troops." Jon said and Daenerys suddenly laughed surprising him before saying in a slight mocking voice.
"Poor boy. If you think the campaign ends with the conquest of Meereen then you are in for one hell of a surprise. It is one thing to take over a kingdom, quite another to keep it." She told him with a small smile. "Taking Slaver's Bay is the easy part, keeping hold of it and making it into a workable launching point for our retaking of the Seven Kingdoms is going to be a far harder nut to crack."
Hadrian had stopped at Silverhill while he made his way back to Casterly Rock when he heard about the attack on Fair Isle. Immediately he left and rushed back to his own castle at best speed, in case of a raid on Lannisport but thankfully no attack came and he was able to ride straight to Casterly Rock where he was greeted by his uncle Kevan and his aunt Genna. Wasting no time he leapt from his horse before he asked them.
"How bad is it?"
"Bad." Kevan said grimly despite the fact he was happy to see Hadrian home where he could reassure the people who were terrified at the thought of the Iron Born and imagining they were already here. "From what we can tell the town and castle have been burnt to the ground and many hundreds are dead with many young women missing presumably taken by the Iron Born and the complete annihilation of House Farman down too its youngest babe. And there is the matter of our fleet there…" Kevan said with a sad tone at all the destruction and death.
"They burnt them." Genna said getting to the point. "All of our ships stationed there."
"Damn." Hadrian said angrily. The ships harboured at Fair Isle had included most of their largest and most powerful war galleys nearly a third of their fleet in all, without them it would be near impossible to try and take on the Iron Fleet in a head on battle. He had other ships including the newer ships spread across the Westerland ports with another large concentration here in Lannisport. Brought together they still represented a powerful force but it would take some creative thinking before he could risk a fight at sea with the Iron Born. He turned to Kevan and told him. "Put the rest of our fleet on high alert and marshal them at Lannisport. I will not lose any more ships to those murdering raping thugs."
"But at least we were not the only ones attacked. Yara Greyjoy led a raid on the Arbor which failed dramatically." Kevan said with a slight smile despite the fact it left the Redwyne fleet as a considerable threat to them as well. "After what happened to Old town Paxter Redwyne has had his fleet patrolling the Reach coast and lookout stations posted for any signs of another attack."
"Perhaps since they are also threatened by the Iron Born we could try to ally with them for the time being." Hadrian thought out loud. He would send a letter to Lord Redwyne immediately and ask if he would consider it. Hopefully he would but for now Hadrian had to get his people ready for the storm that had finally arrived and it would not be Stannis or Renly that would be his first opponent as he had long assumed, but the Iron Born instead. As he and his aunt and uncle walked into the castle he gave an order.
"Now they have successfully attacked us then some of their captains might get ideas about raiding our coastline. Give Sandor Clegane four hundred men and have him patrol the areas closest to the Iron Islands. That will be where they strike first. Tell him that I do not care how he deals with the Iron Born so long as they do not raid our coast with impunity. Also set up look outs along the coast so we can detect any Iron Born ships intent on raiding our shores and call together our remaining fleet here, we need to take stock of what we have before coming up with a plan to deal with the Iron Born."
"Understood." Kevan said with a nod and went off with Genna to carry out their nephew's orders while he went to the tower where the ravens where kept, he had a letter to send.
As he arrived in his room he sat at his desk with quill in hand and the parchment ready when he was stopped from writing when he saw three of his daughters; Cassia, Joanna and Sabine enter the room looking nervous.
"Is everything alright my girls?" Hadrian asked wondering what had upset his daughters that their usual high confidence had deserted them. Both Cassia and Joanna looked reluctant to say anything but Sabine blurted out what was worrying them.
"Do not go father please!" She cried as tears started forming in her eyes and in those of her sisters too. "Why do you have to go and fight for that nasty vicious twat Joffrey? Let him hang." She implored him desperately and his heart felt a deep ache for the fear that his girls must be feeling if they had come to him like this. He got up from his desk and stood in front of Sabine gently putting a comforting hand on her shoulder as he spoke to her.
"Sweet heart, this is not about Joffrey. If it were then I would just leave the little snake to fend for himself. This is for our family and our survival. People out there that want to hurt us like Stannis and Balon Greyjoy have to be stopped and as the leader of our family I must be the one to lead the charge. But I promise you my girls." He said kneeling down so he was level with them and said seriously. "I will use every means at my disposal to come back home to you and your brothers and sister. I will do my best to come back as soon as possible. I will be here to watch you grown and I will be the one to give you away at your weddings although I hope that day will not be for a long time." He swore to his girls who looked like they took some comfort in his words although he knew that nothing was ever certain however what he had said was true, he would use whatever means he had too so he could get back here and be with his family be it magical, political or scientific he would bring those that threatened his family down hard and without mercy. If Balon Greyjoy thought he had suffered badly in his last pathetically executed rebellion, then he was about to learn that you never cross a Lannister and live Hadrian thought darkly.
He would also have his spymaster Alys start spreading rumours apparently from Renly that Shireen, Stannis' daughter was in fact the product of an affair between Lady Selyse and a stable hand or something to that effect. It should enrage Stannis enough that he would go after Renly first and either he would kill Renly or Renly would deal with Stannis for him. Underhand it might be but hopefully it would turn the playing field to their favour.
Arya meanwhile was in the castle's gardens playing with her direwolf Nymeria. The wolf eagerly yipped and jumped around as Arya spent time with her wolf. Now that her magic was getting stronger however she was able to feel the emotions of her wolf and in her dreams occasionally see through her eyes but she had yet to achieve that while awake. But for the moment she was content to simply enjoy time with her wolf while she took a break from her lessons.
She had to admit though while they annoyed her at times she was starting to understand the world was a far more complex place than she had previously thought and how brutal politics could actually get as she received lessons on the subject from Lady Genna. It made her head spin at times but she began to see how the world was not in fact a place of black and white…good and evil but in fact shades of grey. Lord Tywin her betrothed's grandfather for example, he was a cunning and cruel lord to many who had been widely feared especially after the brutal way he had disposed of the Reynes and the Tarbecks when they had risen up against him. Even more so when he had sacked Kings Landing at the end of the rebellion but now she could see that he was merely practical in many cases, taking the most effective and perhaps quickest approach to deal with the situation in front of him. He had brought much needed order and stability back to the Westerlands after his father's ill-suited approach to ruling had left its mark. Later as the Hand of the King he had created widespread prosperity across the realm until his relationship with King Aerys had deteriorated. He had also been a man devoted to his family, ensuring they were safe and well cared for. She now had to admit at least to herself that things were far less simple than she had envisioned before coming here.
Arya was brought out of her thoughts when Nymeria accidently knocked her off her feet and started slobbering all over her face. She giggled and struggled to get to her feet as the wolf acted like an over affectionate dog. She hugged the wolf and laughed as she felt Nymeria lick her face. She was disturbed from her quiet time with her wolf when she heard footsteps and looked over to see Richard Lannister approaching looking rather glum with a message in hand.
"A raven arrived from the North addressed to you. It's from your father." He told her looking rather serious. It dissipated the earlier happier atmosphere immediately as she took the letter and Richard left to continue reading the new books being added to the library of Casterly Rock. Arya slowly opened the message with a mounting sense of dread. She knew her father had been released from Kings Landing and returned home to Winterfell but there had been no mention of what had happened to Sansa or any other members of her family and she worried that the letter might contain bad news. When she read it that fear was only confirmed and her eyes widened with shock as the words were absorbed.
My dearest daughter,
I write to ensure that you know that I am alive and well and now grateful to be home at Winterfell. I can only apologize for not writing to you sooner. However I must inform you however much in hurts my heart to tell you that your sister Sansa has been banished from Winterfell and the North as a whole. While this must seem like a cruel and horrendous punishment I was left with no alternative after the events in Kings Landing. I know my daughter that you must be outraged at my doing something such as this to a member of our own family but I hope that you will allow me to explain my reasons before cursing me.
When I learnt that Robert was dying and soon Joffrey would sit upon the Iron Throne I was concerned for the safety of our retinue in the capital and especially for your sister so I hoped to send them home until the dust had settled. However your sister did not want to leave the city and her betrothed Prince Joffrey, so she went to Queen and told her of my intentions. The moment that the King died she set a vicious band of Mountain men upon myself and our retinue in Kings Landing to prevent us leaving. Her intention was to gain hostages to ensure that the North would comply with her son's rule and in the process with the exception of myself, your sister and Jeyne Poole all of our servants were slain by her thugs. While Sansa and Jeyne Poole were confined in the Red Keep I was taken to the Black Cells before thankfully Lord Lannister arrived in the city and arranged my release. While I have now safely returned to our ancestral home with Jeyne Poole as my newest ward because of your sister's actions in Kings Landing I was unable to bring her home and instead dispatched her to Highgarden where she is to marry Ser Loras Tyrell. She as I am sure you understand has effectively committed treason under Northern law and if she were to return to the North the lords that are my vassals would surely demand her head as would the families of the men that died. This was the only way that I could save her life and I hope my daughter that you understand why I have done what I have although it breaks my heart to see my own child denied her true home and exiled for the rest of her life but I did it with the best of intentions.
I wish that you find it in your heart to forgive me as I fear your mother might not. Already she has left to see her in the South. I truly hope to hear from you soon my sweet wolf.
Your loving father,
Eddard Stark.
Arya could not quite believe the words that were written in her father's steady scrawl. She had known Sansa could be silly at times and even blind to a person's true nature, what had happened at the river with Mycah and Joffrey had proven that…but the idea that she would actually betray their family albeit in what must have seemed to her like a trivial matter was a shock Arya found hard to accept. Then however anger began to rise in the young Stark girl and her hand crushed the letter into a ball of ruined parchment. Some of those servants had been with her family since before Arya had even been born and they were all now dead because her stupid sister and her idiotic ideas about love and golden princes. She stormed off and a concerned Nymeria follow sensing her mistress's mood and upset slightly that their play time was over.
A week or so later…
At Dragonstone Ser Davos Seaworth was climbing one of the towers of the castle to visit someone that was very close to his heart. Already he could hear the young voice drifting down the long winding stairway singing away with pure childish abandon. He reached a door that few were permitted to enter and in truth however much it angered Davos, few wanted too.
He slowly pushed the door open and saw as he quietly entered a young girl of about nine or ten years of age playing with a small doll. He could only see her back and her long dark hair but that soon changed when she heard him enter. The girl whipped around and ran over to him. Her face brightened and she smiled which made Davos forget his earlier bad mood and smile too. But also her black damaged skin on half her face became visible, the result of contracting greyscale as a very young girl however unlike many others including the girl's own father and mother Davos did not let that put him off and he kneeled to her.
"Princess Shireen." He said referring to her by her new title causing the small girl to giggle at him which brought a smile to his own face. He got to his feet and showed her a gift he had acquired for her. "I have something that I hope might entertain you while your father busy with his duties as the King." He passed her a book which contained legends of Old Valyria that he hoped the girl would find enjoyable. Seeing the cover with different coloured illustrations of mythical creatures that had apparently existed in the Valyrian Freehold, Shireen admired the book and told him with a happy grin.
"It is perfect Ser Davos." She said before saying. "I wonder if Maester Cressen might tell me some more about Ancient Valyria…" She suddenly stopped when she remembered that the old maester that had served House Baratheon longer than anyone could remember ever since Robert had been born had been killed trying to rid Dragonstone of the Red Woman with poison only for it to kill him instead.
"He was always nice to me. He said he would protect me from the Red Woman and the dragons I dreamed would eat me." Shireen said sadly. However much she loved her parents, it was clear that they saw her as a mark of shame rather than a child to cherish. She was by large confined to this tower with few visitors except for Ser Davos or the Onion Knight as he was known. The only other regular visitors she had was Maester Cressen and her fool Patches who more often than not frightened her with his ramblings. Her parents visited her rarely, but now that the Red Woman was here the nightmares that had plagued Shireen all her life seemed to intensify and she wished she could turn to her mother and father for comfort but neither had bothered to come by her room. She sat on her bed holding the book to her chest as she was confronted with the feeling of loneliness that often struck her. Ser Davos sat next to her and said hoping to lift the girl's mood.
"He was a brave man and he cared about you very much princess." He said warmly. "He would not want you to be sad at his passing. He would want you to go on with your life and become the fine lady he was sure you would be." He said and immediately felt her small arms wrap around his middle and he put his hand on her shoulder. He then said with resolve to the girl that he cared about as deeply as one of his own children.
"I will protect you princess. I will fight the dragons if they come and I will keep you safe from the Red Woman." He swore to her and she hugged him tighter. And he was devoted to the oath he had just sworn to the little princess. He would do his utmost to protect her from all the monsters out there and even those vile rumours started by the traitor Renly about the little girl and her paternity.
Below them in the castle's map room Stannis studied the map of the Stormlands while his hands gripped the letter about the rumours Renly had started about his daughter Shireen so tightly that beneath his gloves the skin had turned white and his eyes burned with a furious rage. When his castle's steward Ser Rolland Storm entered the room he wasted no time in giving his orders.
"Ready a ship. I must deal with my errant brother and bring his army to where it really belongs." He said and left with his hand subconsciously on his sword thinking very much about swinging it into Renly's head.
At Pyke, the capital of the Iron Islands there was jubilation as men and women in the main hall feasted like there was no tomorrow in celebration of their victory at Fair Isle. At the head of the long table in the centre of the hall the Lord Reaper of Pyke or the King of Salt and Rock as he was now called Balon Greyjoy sat with a large smile on his face as his brother Victarion the Captain of the Iron Fleet sat at his right in a position of honour. He too had a large smile on his face and was taking a hearty gulp of ale with all the men around him. Balon decided to make a speech as his mood now was much improved due to his brother's success. As he got to his feet the rowdy men in the room all fell silent as they waited for their king to speak.
"My Iron Born, today is a day that is a most proud time in our history. Finally after so long we have declared our independence and returned to the Old Ways which will restore our islands to their rightful glory and we take what is ours by right and punish those that for too long have scorned and humiliated us. To the Invasion of the Mainland!" He cried out with elation and the men in the room all cheered at the top of their drunk voices.
However at the back of the room Yara Greyjoy sat quietly, not cheering alongside the others in the room who were so drunk they did not even seem to notice. Rather than her rightful seat at the main table next to her father she had been sat as far from him as he could arrange without actually banishing her from the room. Her failure at off the Reach's coast nagged at her but she still fervently believed that it was not her fault she thought leaving the hall and retiring to her room quickly as her anger built. Once there she punched the wall in frustration which only caused her to feel worse as her fist ached.
Her father had been so impatient to strike against the mainland that he had not been able to just wait a little longer to ensure their victory. Most of the mainland kingdoms still had their armies at home and would be ready to repulse any invasion the Iron Islands could launch. Not to mention although the Lannister navy had been somewhat complacent enough to strike, it was too spread out to destroy in a single attack and the Redwyne fleet had been ready for her when she had sailed to the Arbor where her fleet had suffered a humiliating defeat at the hand of Paxter Redwyne. Her ships had not been ready for a sea battle while his had been on high alert after the attack on Old town earlier this year. Her father had been furious at her failure despite her being outnumbered nearly seven to one and after enduring a slap across the face which she could still feel slightly he had made her sit at the back of the hall where everyone could laugh and mock at her failure.
Her anger built again as she threw herself down on her bed and let out a growl of annoyance. Now their invasion of the mainland was compromised before it had even started. The Redwyne and Lannister fleets remained operational and the Iron Born had announced their intent to the other kingdoms before the main obstacles had been removed or were distracted fighting each other. It would be nearly impossible to take and hold a castle against a mainland army. At sea they were nearly unrivalled but on land they were no match for the larger and more organised mainlanders. She only hoped that her father's impatience had not doomed them all, a thought that worried her as she lay back on her bed and tried to sleep.
A few days later…
Sandor Clegane rode his horse at the head of the column of soldiers he had been given by the Lannisters to patrol the coast line in case the Iron Born decided to start raiding the towns and villages on the shore. He snorted at his troops who were already lagging behind him, they were as wet behind the ears as he could imagine and had probably only just stopped taking their meals at their mother's breast. He knew they were going to get cut to pieces to the Iron Born but they were what he had been given so he would whip them into shape or kill them trying.
From his position at the head of the group he saw the four long ships appear on the horizon using the telescope he had been given and urged his horse on towards the coastal village that the Iron Born seemed set on raiding. He heard the groans of his men as they tried to keep pace with him. Sandor paid them no mind as he rode on now seeing the long ships rapidly closing in on the village.
The Iron Born were full of glee as they came ashore to the sound of screaming from the panicking village people. Immediately their thoughts turned to plunder and women as they rushed forward into the village intent on paying the Iron price as they called it, which in reality was just an excuse so they could steal whatever they wanted from those that had truly worked for it. The thoughts of what they might take from the village blinded them from looking around for possible threats. The leader of the raid, the second son of Lord Drumm, Donnel who was overly eager and with his axe in hand grabbed a rather good looking daughter of a fisherman. She screamed as she tried to pull away from him only for him to force her to the ground and rip the front of her dress open exposing her young tight body to his hungry eyes.
He was so caught up in this sight and trying to open his breeches that he failed to noticed Sandor riding up behind him quickly and had no time to react as the Hound swung his great sword and cleaved Donnel's head from his shoulders. The poor fisherman's daughter cried out as the Iron Born's blood was spattered all over her but Sandor paid her no mind and rode on. His men following on slightly behind were momentarily taken aback by the brutality of the Iron Born's attack but saw their leader riding into the fray without any hesitation and followed him nervously. Unlike their leader they were terrified of their opponents and attacked them wildly. The Iron Born stopped their raiding when they realised they were under attack and turned their attention towards the newcomers. In terms of numbers Sandor and his men had the edge by more than three to one but unlike the Lannister troops the Iron Born were not intimidated in the slightest and attacked with vigour.
Sandor provided his troops with a figure to rally around as he had the time of his life cutting his way through the savage Iron Born. He had not enjoyed himself this much in a long time as he swung his sword cutting through the Iron Born with ease. The Iron Born tried to overwhelm him when five tried to attack him at once but Sandor swung his great sword in a wide arc catching two of them in the chest before impaling a third and swiftly pulling out the blade to block the other two attackers who suddenly with fear in their eyes looked like they might retreat but instead they swung their axes only for Sandor to cut another one of them down with a cleave before swinging around with his sword still impaled in the Iron Born's shoulder so that the axe of the other Iron Born hit his friend with his crazed swing instead. While his axe was still lodged in his friend's back Sandor pulled his sword out and with a strong slash cut the last of the small group's head from his torso before moving on to the next target.
His men and the villagers were amazed at the speed with which he killed the raiders and his men found themselves feeling braver as they saw how strong their leader was and began to attack with less fear beginning to turn the tide against the Iron Born who realised that the odds were now definitely against them and with their leader dead they intended to retreat back to their ships but Sandor was having none of it. He pressed his attack and fought his way to the beach followed by his men and whatever villagers had managed to pick up weapons charged after him where they caught the Iron Born on the run and slaughtered them without pity. Not a single raider managed to escape.
Turning around to face his tired and somewhat terrified men, some of whom were actually so unsettled by the fight that they were throwing up, Sandor told them as his heart raced with the thrill of the fight.
"Get off your knees, stop throwing up and show some fucking backbone. Today is yours, treat it like your last day because it could very well be. Get drunk, find a willing woman and enjoy tonight because tomorrow I am going to whip you fucking pansies into shape and by the time I am done you will wish the Iron Born had gotten you." He told them with a stern expression. He turned to go find his horse which he had dismounted during the fight and heard a noise from the village. He wondered what on earth the people could be saying that loudly but as he came closer he was surprised to hear them chanting his name.
"SANDOR! SANDOR! SANDOR!"
Hearing the chanting brought a strange feeling to Sandor, he was not sure whether he welcomed it or not. A sense of pride that he was being cheered so openly on the one hand when he had previously been derided to his face by such people on the other. But that led to another feeling which was annoyance. These fucking idiots when the Iron Born had landed had not even tried to defend themselves, they had screamed and cowered not even trying to run away or pick up a weapon to fight with. So as his temper started to build up again he shouted out to the town's people.
"You people got lucky today that I and my men were here to save you. Next time those raping murdering pirates will take you in the arses and fuck up you up. Why because you did nothing to defend yourselves. Pick up a fishing spear, break a chair or table leg, grab a broken bottle do something other than stand there and scream…fuck even run away further in land but do not just stand there and let them stomp all over you. If you cannot beat them then take as many of the fuckers with you as you can before they get you." He told them firmly. While the chanting did stop as the town's people considered what he said Sandor felt that he had gotten his message across. Then however they started chanting his name again and Sandor nearly groaned.
Meanwhile off the coast of Essos…
On the bow of his ship Prince Oberyn Martell was coming into Pentos harbour with two objectives, the first was to secure this city for his own countrymen and establish it as their own province of the larger empire.
The second objective however was far more personal and important at least to him, he intended to find his missing nephew Prince Quentyn Martell, the current heir to Dorne and bring him home. He was hoping that he would find him here in this city where he had travelled to see how likely their army would be to succeed when invading this city only for that blasted pirate and slaver Horus to attack. Since then there had been no sign of his nephew and now Oberyn was hoping to ease the aching worry for his family that had formed in his chest as it had in the rest of his family too. Once before he had felt this pain and worry, in the immediate aftermath of the sacking of Kings Landing. He had worried terribly for his sister Elia and her children and had been devastated when news of what had apparently happened to her had reached him. He had flow into such a rage that even Ellaria and his daughters had not been able to calm him and had to be physically restrained from grabbing his spear and leaving Sunspear to murder every single Lannister and Baratheon he could find even if it cost him his life. But when the letter from Elia arrived telling them that she was safe along with his beloved niece he had felt to so relieved that he had sat down in a chair holding the letter and cried tears of pure joy as he stared at the words written on it. When he had finally seen her in the flesh alive and well he had grabbed her in such a tight hug that he had nearly strangled her in his relief at her being safe.
Now however as his thoughts returned to the present as now it was his nephew that had him worried. His feelings were not made any better when they arrived in the harbour and saw the cages where pirates were normally hung all full of decaying corpses being picked at by birds. In the largest of all the cages Oberyn saw the twisted body of Illyrio Mopatis with his features still recognisable despite the birds having gorged themselves on half of his face. It was a grim spectacle that only made the worry for his nephew intensify as his ships landed in the harbour which was surprisingly intact. But as he and his soldiers started moving into the city he was soon to revise his opinion of the lack of damage. The burnt out remains of several buildings and corpses littering the streets that no one had yet made the effort to clean up made a very unpleasant odour that filled their noses. At his side Obara, the eldest of his daughters did her best to ignore the foul stench just like him. From the windows of both the damaged and the untouched buildings they could see the eyes of the residents of the city that had survived. The sights of their broken and distrusting faces made Oberyn want to swear. He and his allies had always planned to conquer Pentos as part of their plans for building the empire, but they had always hoped to take the city without causing too much damage or loss of life but the pirates it looked like had taken the heart and soul of the city and killed it with their brutality.
This was highlighted moments later when Obara discovered a group of dead children hung from the side of a building where a man and a woman presumably their parents had been tied to stakes and apparently forced to watch their children die before their throats had been slit. The scene brought a hard lump to the throats of all who saw it and made Oberyn's temper soar when he saw the dead children personally. Child slaying was a crime that he was violently against, when he had encountered it on his many travels he had always responded by killing those responsible. In Dorne it had made him something of a hero, protecting the young and the innocent. The rampant and cruel slaughter of so many in this city made Oberyn's blood boil.
But the worst, at least for House Martell was yet to come.
When they came to the city square near the burnt out temple where the city's people had worshiped the Red God, R'hllor they discovered all of the priests and older priestesses had been burnt in large pyres probably to mock their own practices and the smell of the burnt human flesh was so overpowering that it brought tears to the eyes of those around them and they dared go no further. But in the centre of all of these burnt bodies, strung up on a wall was a young man of Dornish descent with his chest cut open and his bowels were hanging out of his body further down. The face was still recognisable however and the men around him as well as Obara all gasped in horror at who it was strung up on the wall. Oberyn himself nearly fell to his knees at the sight of his nephew, dead and his body desecrated. He felt numb as the image in front of him was carved into his mind forever. Tears leaked from the corners of his eyes as his head fell as his grief overcame him.
In his mind's eye he could still see the boy that he had watched grow up. He had been a decent lad, nothing like Oberyn himself though. He had been sober, sensible and followed his father's lead wherever it had taken him. He had always been scared around girls despite all his uncle's efforts to break him from his fear. Many considered him solemn and not handsome but instead of a pleasant if quiet nature and was really well spoken. And he had been so clever speaking and writing other languages that many struggled with including Volantenese, Ghiscari and High Valyrian. And his nature was cautious, again unlike Oberyn himself and so full of self-doubt…terribly afraid of disappointing his father and letting down his friends and family. How was Oberyn going to tell Doran and the rest of their family he dreaded to think especially the condition of Quentyn's body? However soon his grief was swallowed up by red hot anger as he grasped his spear and threw it at the rope that was hanging his nephew's corpse up the wall. The spear travelled through the air before severing the rope in a display of accuracy that would have impressed anyone if the situation were different. The body of his nephew fell swiftly to the ground and Oberyn turned with a face that was twisted by anger and said quickly, delivering his words with the same deadly accuracy that he used his spear.
"Take my nephew's body back to the ship and have it…repaired as much as it can be before we return to Sunspear, I will not have his father and brother see him like this." He said his grief coming through briefly before his anger lifted him out of it again. "Then have the men secure the city and hand out food to the people. I want the basic utilities restored and what remains of its defences manned until my niece arrives from Braavos." He said quickly before he left with his anger still burning to try and find someone he could take his rage out on while he swore a vow to himself much like he had done many years ago, against those that had butchered his blood and pledged to himself that he would kill them slowly and painfully.
Obara watched her father go and worried for him given the anger on his face, she hoped he would not do anything foolish, their family had already lost too much. She while still dealing with her own anger and grief set about taking control of the relief operation as Pentos was secured. Soon her cousin Rhaenys Targaryen would arrive from Braavos with the supplies and funds to rebuild the city courtesy of her husband who had strong ties to the Iron Bank. It would be good she thought that a Martell even one that bore the name Targaryen would rule this city and that finally their house would have one of the Free Cities under their control but as she saw some of their men carrying away the desecrated corpse of her cousin she wished dearly that it had not come at such a high price.
Back in Kings Landing Tyrion was settling into his new office as Hand of the King and while was somewhat intrigued at the power that was now within his grasp he was already feeling the pressure from his sister who had as predicted seen their brother's leaving as an opportunity to assert her own dominance over matters at court.
The matter that had brought his sister to his rooms this time however was the letter that Stannis had sent around all of the kingdoms declaring not only that Joffrey and his siblings were not in fact Robert's children but that of the Queen's own brother Jaime and therefore bastards born of incest rather than heirs to the throne. Stannis had then named himself the rightful heir to the throne. Something that had Cersei screaming with rage, Tyrion just sat there as the insults just spewed from her mouth that were actually not aimed at him for the moment flew over his head.
"And what would you have me do about it?" He asked her calmly not dignifying her lack of control by responding with anything other than quiet and measured calm. He actually was somewhat amused to watch his sister acting like an enraged animal rather than the proud and haughty queen she portrayed herself as. Her response to his question was as quick as it was angered.
"Shut him up! He called me a whore! He insults my children and I want every single one of those notices destroyed!" She raged at him but Tyrion only raised an eyebrow before telling her while maintaining his calm exterior and mentally sniggering at Cersei being confronted with the fall out of her actions.
"If we take any actions like that then all we will do is add fat to fire and make them seem legitimate." He told her calmly knowing full well the accusations against his sister and her children were true but decided that it mattered little. The children were critical to maintaining control of the throne and he knew that both Stannis and Renly would use this as an excuse to destroy his family so even if he cared little for Cersei or Joffrey, he would protect his reign for the sake of the rest of their family that had been nice to him. Tommen and Myrcella were good children and they did not deserve to die or be cast out on the streets to stave as beggars. He would protect them if nothing else.
He could leave at any time he wanted to go and live with his wife and children in Braavos and maybe even get a job at the Iron Bank or as a merchant but he could not in any good conscience leave his other nephews and nieces to die at the hands of the Baratheons so he would continue to do his best to defend their hold on the throne. "The best thing to do is simply do nothing and ignore it. Unless of course there is a grain of truth to his accusations." He said warningly. Cersei paled briefly before regaining her fire and snapping back at him.
"Oh course it is all lies! You miserable little troll." She yelled at him but Tyrion from years of practice ignored it and told her.
"Then we simply will do nothing. Now you had best get back to your son, I believe he is currently enjoying a combat." Tyrion said smoothly and got off his own chair and walked out of the room leaving a flustered Cersei behind him who swiftly regained her wits and strode past him to the field outside the Red Keep where the combat was being held. When Tyrion arrived he was exasperated although he did not show it at seeing Ser Meryn Trant and Ser Preston Greenfield the only remaining members of the late King Robert's Kingsguard to keep their positions trying to drown Ser Dontos Holland in a barrel of wine. He was naked except for his breast plate and helm and Tyrion sighed briefly before walking forward with his mask of calm once again set in place. Cersei was taken aback as she looked at the scene not sure what the hell was going on.
"If Ser Dontos was in need of a drink I am sure that he could obtain one without the need for the help of the Kingsguard. May I ask why you are trying to drown him?" Tyrion asked as soon as he got close enough to the boy king. Joffrey swelled up with anger at being questioned and screamed at his much smaller uncle.
"HE CAME TO MY TOURNAMENT COMBAT DRUNK! HE INSULTED ME AND I AM GOING TO MAKE HIM PAY IN A WAY I FIND FITTING!" Tyrion could feel the spit of Joffrey hit his face but despite his disgust at his nephew he calmly wiped his face clean with his sleeve and told him as Ser Dontos managed to break the hold of the two weak knights long enough to get some air before they tried to force his head back into the barrel.
"If Ser Dontos is foolish enough to arrive for a tourney drunk then perhaps the role of a fool is more suited to his…talents." Tyrion said out of pity for the knight who looked rather pathetic standing there in only his breastplate while two men tried to drown him in a vat of wine. "Make him your fool at court and you can be the one laughing at him your grace." He suggested carefully and Joffrey seemed to respond to the idea of continuously mocking Ser Dontos rather than a quick burst of pleasure at killing him. Joffrey's face gained an almost demonic grin and he nodded quickly before saying.
"Finally a good idea from you imp." He said disturbing many with the sadistic joy he took in tormenting others. Tyrion however disturbing as he found it managed to suppress any reaction and turned away as the two knights of the Kingsguard released their victim reluctantly. As he exited the small tourney ground he saw someone hanging around the edge of the field with a yearning in their eyes at the knights in their armour atop magnificent horses. Curious Tyrion walked over to see who it was and discovered it was a rather skinny looking boy of about fourteen years of age and was dressed rather poorly, perhaps a very low squire. He jumped at the sight of Tyrion and was about to make his escape when Tyrion stopped him.
"Move any further and you may end up cleaning out the privies of this castle." The threat stopped the boy in his tracks and he turned around with his head bowed and looking absolutely terrified. "What is your name?"
"Poderick Payne my lord." The boy said and Tyrion understood immediately. Payne was a house in the Westerlands, where the Royal Executioner came from in fact and Poderick had been born to one of its lowest and poorest branches. When his father had died, his mother had abandoned him for one of his father's cousins and he had been passed around many members of the family before finally being cast out on his ear when Ser Lorrimor had been sent to the Wall for trying to steal from House Daniels. Feeling somewhat sorry for the young lad who had not had one person to properly care for him his entire life Tyrion said.
"You will come back to Lannister House where I will find a role for you." Tyrion said and Poderick looked up astonished and quickly said eagerly.
"Thank you my lord! Thank you!" The big smile that lit up the boy's face was enough to bring a small one to Tyrion's face as well.
While Tyrion was faced with his own problems at Kings Landing, one young man was faced with a private dilemma at Winterfell. Theon Greyjoy sat up on a bed having enjoyed a night with his favourite whore Ros only for his mind to remain troubled.
His family had once again risen for themselves and here he was stuck in the North. He really wanted…nay was near yearning to be there with his family that he had not seen in nine long years, to be the heir to his father as was his right. To lead their forces in claiming their independence but here he was…in the North a prisoner. If he wanted to escape however it would not be difficult, he could easily slip away during one of his hunts with Robb but for some reason he could not bring himself to do it. The reason for his unexpected reluctance eluded him but as he put his clothes back on and retreated back to Winterfell which was in a somewhat strained mood after the return of Lord Stark he could not figure out why he did not leave. He could, according to some he should. So why could he not bring himself to do it?
As he entered the castle he saw someone was waiting for him, the castle's maester Luwin. The old man stood there as still as a statue but his eyes were studying him intently and it made Theon feel like a child being scolded by an annoyed parent.
"Young lord Greyjoy, we were about to send out a search party." The old maester's eyes were like an eagle's, sharp and piercing.
"I was just down the pleasure house." Theon defended himself, goodness knows it was uncomfortable to be around Lord and Lady Stark right now. The awkward silence that now hung between them was near unbearable and it was not just him that found it hard to deal with. Robb, Bran and Rickon were all spending time in the training yard or with Luwin for their lessons rather than be around their parents. Lady Stark had thankfully left for the Reach to see her eldest daughter which had made things somewhat easier but still Lord Stark was far from his old self. He had always been somewhat grim but he had a sense of humour before whereas now there was a genuine aura of sadness that seemed to hang around him.
"Did it clear your mind?" Luwin asked suddenly making Theon's eyes dart around nervously hoping that Luwin had not guessed what had been distracting him recently but Luwin then made his worst fear a reality. "You want to join your family in the Iron Islands?"
"How did you know?" Theon asked worried that Luwin could have him confined since he was still a hostage against his family but Luwin said while shaking his head.
"I have known you since you first came here. Now you have a choice to make; go back to the islands where you will have to fit in with a culture that you have never known and a family that is hardly supportive to one another or you stay here with the family that has accepted you and treated you as one of their own. The choice is yours I will not stop you. Lord Stark will not be able to stop you either as he and Robb are riding for the Wall which is reporting trouble there. There will never be a better time." Luwin told him honestly and Theon felt more conflicted than ever as he wondered what he should do.
A part of him ached to go back to Pyke, to see his sister Yara and his father. To sail his own ship and pay the Iron Price taking what he wanted, when he wanted. It had been his dream for many years, ever since he had been old enough to dream and listen to the legends of the Iron Born at his father's feet. But as he leant towards that option he found himself remembering the times he had spent here at Winterfell. Hunting with Robb and his father, attending lessons with the same Maester standing in front of him right now with Robb and his brothers. Trying to teach the Stark children archery something that Arya had picked up just by watching them. Other times when he had honestly been happy here at Winterfell and was actually prepared to name Robb his best friend, near a brother. Could he simply abandon them when they needed him, if there was trouble at the Wall he should be there to help. The dilemma confused him immensely, his old dreams warred with his experiences as he walked back to his room with Luwin looking at him with concern in his eyes for the boy he had taught. It was a painful decision to make but it was one that Theon had to make alone.
The next day as Lord Stark got onto his horse alongside his son and the young blacksmith he had sent up from Kings Landing named Gendry and the rest of the men that would be accompanying him up to the Wall Theon appeared in the courtyard and dressed in his armour climbed onto a horse and pulled up alongside Robb. The heir to House Stark nodded with a smile, glad to have his friend with him.
Theon smiled back however his smile was somewhat conflicted, he knew that if he left then he should at least make sure that Robb was going to be okay before he went and if he were staying then he should be at his friend's side any way. Surely this would not take long and they would soon be back in Winterfell.
However while Theon was somewhat confident that the matter at the Wall would be resolved soon, Lord Stark was not so sure. He told Bran who wanted to come with him.
"No Bran, there must always be a Stark at Winterfell." He did his best to smile for his son which was a rare occurrence from him these days. However he then turned to Ser Brynden Tully and told him quietly.
"If something happens to me and Robb, help him please." Brynden nodded slowly hoping that it would not come to that. The Stark family had received too many upsets recently and did not need anymore. With that Lord Stark led his party off to the Wall.
Completely unaware of what he would find when he got there.