Krakens Awaken

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(Elia Martell POV, Firmridge)

Elia walked through the spacious streets of the settlement that had been growing around Firmridge. With her was her daughter and little Edmund, they were going on their weekly walk around the settlement.

Commander Mya, the woman that had saved her and Rhaenys, followed closely behind. A team of royal guardsmen was stationed around them.

Apparently, she and her Contingent had been promoted after their task was done. Mya and a few had chosen to 'come out of the shadows' as Erlend called it and 'embrace the light.'

Her lover had his peculiarities, tending to be melodramatic when the occasion struck. Not the worst oddity to have by any means.

It felt pleasant being able to see this settlement expand and grow. It lacked the chaotic feel that King's Landing had, there was also a distinct lack of shit to be smelt. According to the city planners, it would be a decade or more before it would become a full-fledged city.

The residential districts were situated in their own areas, kept away from the hustle and bustle that filled shops and markets. Giving them a quieter feel. Of course, they were all separated in their own zones, such as one for the nobility and another for the growing 'gentry' class as Erlend called them.

This new status though unofficial largely consisted of Officers and Wardens who had proven themselves in the Conquest and had become more influential over the years, especially around the Riverlands.

There was some fuss raised by the nobility, but it was quieted down over the fact that a lot of them were marrying into the Houses of widowed ladies and heiresses who sought natural deterrents for the snakes that sought their inheritance.

Making them pseudo-nobility, since most of the power actually remained with the Lady, instead of being transferred over.

Erlend explained that the reason they were more accepting of this was to do the fact that a lot of these gentry fellows, came from well-to-do families in the twilight isles.

That wasn't always the case, since quite a few of the smallfolk who had joined the levies during the war, had shown merit and were also regarded as being part of the gentry.

Elia assumed the main reason most Lords and Ladies were accepting of this was because the gentry class mainly stemmed from those who earned martial glory in battle and marriage candidates were needed as a lot of Lords and noblemen had died in the wars.

If it had been copper counters or merchants she did not doubt that they would have resisted more harshly.

Erlend had commissioned the building of public toilets around the settlement, where strict 'health codes' had to be followed. Most didn't mind, since the baths were extremely cheap, and were considered a communal area where many friends gathered.

'Better Clean than Drunk' was a common saying among the womenfolk.

Unlike King's Landing which had been directly governed by the Small Council, Erlend had appointed a trusted steward to administrate the city with the occasional input from himself.

Officially this steward was known as a 'Mayor', the position being by appointment, like the Realm Council, Erlend's version of the Small Council. Their job was to settle disputes among residents collect taxes, and settle the day-to-day running of the settlement. The more significant decisions had to be passed through Erlend before they could be implemented.

"So anything you two want to see." She asked.

"What about the new sept? I heard Dad say it was almost finished." Edmund said.

"Why would you want to see that boring old place," Rhaenys snorted at his suggestion. "Let's go visit the market, I heard they brought new things from Essos."

The two began arguing about which place would be better to visit, their bickering wasn't all that uncommon, thankfully it was more good-natured rather than malicious for the most part.

Mya interrupted the two kids, "It would be more prudent to visit the Market, Your Highness." She spoke, gaining their attention.

"Why?" Questioned the Little Prince.

"The Sept while finished outwards, is still filled with hazards, primarily the construction equipment." She told him.

Edmund sighed in annoyance at that but ultimately agreed to visit the market instead.

As they moved towards Market, the residents bowed in respect towards them. She knew that many felt indebted to Erlend for taking them in. Yes, they had to work for him for a set amount of time, yet not only were they getting paid for it… they were also provided with homes, food, and shelter.

A far cry from the lives they led before the war.

Edmund and Rhaenys waved back at them, with the smallfolk smiling in response. Elia wondered how many had cursed the Targaryens for the war, now they were smiling and cheering for Rhaenys, completely forgetting about her valyrian heritage.

She just hoped it would last.

…

(Erlend POV, Firmridge)

Erlend turned towards his most trusted subordinates, the Feld brothers. "I take it that the Reavers have made their moves."

One was the Commander of the Royal Guard and the other was the Commander of the Shadow Wardens.

The older one nodded and said, "Aye, as we've suspected, they launched attacks all over the Seven Kingdoms."

"Lannisport, Seagard, and Sunspear were all attacked as expected," Raymond spoke up next.

"Any attacks we were unaware of?" He asked.

Turning towards each other, the brothers looked annoyed at that tidbit, raising his interest. "They also tried to attack Twilight Isles, the Arbor, and Bear Island." Ellar finally said.

"That is troubling…" Erlend poured himself a cup of wine, motioning for the two to do the same.

Seating himself down he stared at the map laid out on his desk. "Who led what attack?"

"Euron on Lannisport, Victarion on the Arbor, Aeron on Twilight, Rodrik on Seagard, Maron on Bear Island, and reportedly Balon attacked Sunspear himself," Raymond reported.

"The Ironborn are only capable of raising 20,000 men… the squids must have stripped their Islands bare to launch these attacks."

Confirming his assumption, "Holding them and keeping the Thralls in check is a skeleton army. Frankly, it's only the mental horrors they inflicted on their thralls that are keeping them in line." Raymond said.

"So far, only Sunspear and Lannisport have been remotely successful, and it was mostly limited to the burning of the fleets there and the sacking of its settlements."

"The arbor resulted in losses on both sides, but no clear victor. Bear Island had repelled them with the help of Lord Benjen who had been visiting the Island at the time. Twilight Isles resulted in the death of Aeron and the annihilation of the Ironborn fleet sent there."

A draw wasn't all that bad, it weakened the Redwynes for him enough that it would somewhat reduce their influence, but not to the point that his Royal Fleet would have to pick up the slack for them. He was surprised that they skipped over the Shield Isles, then again those lots were more akin to turtles than anything else.

Benjen probably sought to ward one of his kids in Bear Island, it wouldn't be the first time a stark was warded there

He knew that Aeron was supposed to become a drowned priest or something, looks like he won't become a fanatic this time.

Raymond spoke up next. "Lord Jason successfully held off the Rodrik and his men long enough for our ships to trap them. None of the Reavers escaped alive, including Balon's son."

"I assume the fleet admiral gave a sufficient reason for his presence?" Erlend queried.

Ellar allowed a smirk to show on his face at that, "As far as everyone is concerned, it was a mere stroke of luck that our ships were there to deal the killing blow, having been sailings towards the North for Wood and other such goods."

He didn't want the nobility to realise he was aware of the ironborn's plans. It would destroy whatever goodwill he'd accumulated if they knew he'd allowed them to get away with their attacks.

His Dragons might keep them at bay for a while if they found out, but it would guarantee a rebellion in the future. Thankfully that was unlikely to be revealed.

Only those he trusted knew, and Erlend intended to ensure it was kept that way.

…

Alongside the initial large-scale attacks were various skirmishes launched in its aftermath. Where longships sailed it wouldn't be long before villages found themselves plundered.

The Riverlands remained safe, as the Banners were directed to securing the Western coast. The Vale and the eastern shores were guarded by the Royal Fleet. Aeron's death and his fleet's devastating defeat had been enough to keep them away.

Stannis, Mace, and Benjen had immediately raised their men when he called for them. Tyrion aka Kevin and Doran were far slower in response but had to cave in if only to repay the humiliation of their defeats at the hands of Balon and Victarion.

Oberyn as usual would be leading the Dornish forces and would meet up with the rest of his Vassals at Lannisport. His Western Fleet, Redwyne Fleet, and the combined ships of the Western Shore should be more than enough to ferry them over to the Islands.

Since he could read the tomes found within the Summerswind Manors library, Erlend had sought the extinction of this culture. He didn't care why they disregarded his Dragons. Either way, he would deal with them.

The sheer destruction they had wrought upon Westeros over their entire existence showed that they were a plague. One that remained persistent despite all odds.

Westeros had always been too divided to properly deal with them and when they finally had enough unity to do so. Their King was either unwilling to do so, or unable to do anything.

Erlend intended to take things into his own hands and if anyone had a problem with it, then they could talk to Ardent.

He held no mercy for a culture that glorified rape and enslavement.

'Your reap what you sow.' The Ironborn may not sow, but their actions would certainly come to haunt them.

That is if there are any of them left.