Preparations

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(Seagard, The Riverlands)

As a moderately large town located on the western shores along Ironman's Bay. Seagard had long since been the primary defense of the Riverlands against Ironborn Invasions. The booming tower within the tower contained an immense bronze bell that warned of attacks.

Its castle was the seat of House Mallister, a proud and noble House that had consistently done its best to withstand the Ironborn. It had recently repelled an attack led by Rodrick Greyjoy with the aid of the Western Fleet, with Lord Jason slaying the Krakenspawn during the storming.

"This town looks like a right mess," Yohn noted beside him.

Erlend agreed with the Vale Lord, the town looked like it had seen better days. While his Good Uncle had been successful in defeating the Ironborn, it did come with a certain cost.

Surrounding the town were tents of the Houses that arrived before them, mainly from Northern and Riverlands Houses such as the Starks, Dustins, Ryswells, Ryger, Piper, Blackwoods, and many more.

It had taken longer for Erlend to arrive, as he awaited for the Valemen and Riverlords closer to him to merge with his Banners before moving westwards.

Mind you it hadn't taken all that long to arrive at Seagard,  a significant portion of the men had been transported through smaller vessels that were transported using the Rivers his Kingdom was famed for. 

Similarly, this is one of the primary reasons why his Projects were now near completion so swiftly as construction materials were transported using this system.

It was quickly becoming one of the most popular transport methods within the Riverlands due to its speed and relatively cheaper cost.

His forces were able to assemble far quicker than the Host gathering at Lannisport, which was put under the joint command of Oberyn and Stannis. He didn't trust the other Lords to pull off the task without messing up.

Motioning for his Officers to settle the men, Erlend, and his Lords made their way towards the seat of House Mallister.

Awaiting his arrival was his Good Uncle Jason Mallister, brother to Aunt Dalia, standing with him was his son and heir Patrek Mallister. Standing with them were the various lords that had already arrived such as Benjen Stark, William Dustin, Rodrik Ryswell, Tytos Blackwood, and Jonos Bracken. 

Dropped from his horse, Erlend made his way toward the Lords as they all bowed before him. "Your Majesty, Seagard is Yours," Jason said.

"You can get up Uncle, we have much to do." Erlend spoke, turning to the others he said, "Lord Stark, I see you and your men arrived quite early."

Benjen merely shrugged, "The attack of Bear Island had alerted us quick enough, figured you'd want us to be ready as soon as possible."

Acknowledging the Stark Lord's logic, Erlend greeted the other Lords, it didn't hurt to be polite.

"Lord Dustin, Lord Ryswell, Lord Blackwood. Lord Bracken. It's good to see you all again. I hope no trouble has found itself your way." He told them.

"A pleasure to see you, your Majesty, we're doing quite well." They replied.

"So when did you two arrive?" he asked the two Riverlords, knowing the northern ones likely had come with Benjen.

"Just a few ago your Majesty," Tytos responded, turning to glare at his rival, "We'd have been quicker but Jonos decided to dawdle a bit."

"I did not dawdle, there were some issues I had to deal with…" Jonos shot back annoyed.

"Like a certain fair-haired issue, hmm?"

"Oh Piss off you feathered cunt."

"Make me you horse-muncher."

Wisely ignoring the two, Erlend turned his attention back to the wolf. "How is Lady Bethany and your son, Lord Stark," Erlend asked.

"They are happy as could be Your Majesty. Jon has just reached 5 this year and is overjoyed at the news that Bethany is heavy with our second child. Always wanted another sibling he says." Benjen replied.

"Mayhaps he could meet with Edmund after this war, they might befriend each other." He said to them. Rodrik, Jon's grandfather, and Benjen's father-in-law perked up at that. Not surprising, as he was one of the more ambitious northerners. Erlend didn't mind though, Jon could be a reliable ally for Edmund in the future.

As they talked with each other, Jason guided the party inside the castle, occasionally joining in with his input.

…

It was the hour of the owl at the moment and Erlend was nursing a cup of tart wine from the quiet Isle. Jason informed him of what had been some rather interesting information.

During the battle, Rodrik Greyjoy who had assumed that he had Seagard by the ropes had boasted of how his Uncle had gotten ahold of a Dragon Horn. How he got it he didn't specify but the fool had been pretty smug about it, even when he lay dying.

This would have been rather troubling news, had Erlend not known a specific little info, that most people were unaware of.

Dragon horns were tied to specific dragons and bloodlines.

No one outside of a specific Dragonlord bloodline could use a horn on just any Dragon, it had to be for the same Dragon that had been originally tied to the horn.

To make it simple, Only one House could use the horn, which would only work on one Dragon, usually their most powerful one.

Otherwise, the news of the existence of such a tool would have never left Valyria itself.

The true reason they allowed its existence to be revealed to the outside world, was because it attracted ambitious enemies who would have been fairly troublesome to find on their own.

Simply put, it was a trap carefully laid out by the Valyrian's out of sheer laziness.

Why go after your enemies hiding in the shadows when they could come themselves?

An admirable thought process all in all, even if they were assholes.

Jason had panicked about that little reveal from the Greyjoy for quite a while, it was one of the main reasons he had been so silent at his arrival.

The man seemed to visibly relax when Erlend mentioned the fact that the Horn couldn't work on his Dragons.

As expected of Ironborn, always looking for the easiest way out of a problem they created themselves.

…

A week or so had passed, as all the lords arrived with their hosts. Combined with the Host at Lannisport, this would be the most significant amount of men raised, since the Dance.

Many of them had wondered why precisely the Ironborn were so foolishly throwing their lives away for a cause so stupid, Erlend didn't care, he had the justification needed.

Jason had kept mum about the horn, just because it was useless against Erlend's dragons didn't diminish the fact that some idiot could use it to cause discord in the ranks.

The lords had gathered around the Great for a War Council. Erlend allowed them to discuss among themselves for a few minutes.

"Any news on the Ironborn?" Erlend asked.

"Balon Grejoy has declared himself the King of the Iron Islands. With Rodrik dead, Maron is now his heir, though it's contested by his brothers Euron and Victarion." Yohn spoke.

Benjen raised his eyebrows at that, "They're fighting against all of Westeros and they're still squabbling amongst themselves!" he looked incredulous at that.

"You could never accuse an Ironborn of being smart," William said.

Ignoring the byplay between them, Erlend motioned for Yohn to continue. "It will take a moon's turn for the Lannisport Host to arrive at Great Wyk. By the time they complete the goals set out for them, we'd already be besieging Pyke." Yohn concluded.

The other lords looked interested in Yohn's words, as for how they'll be getting to Pyke and the Islands around it, one only needed to look across the shore to get their answer.

"Thank you, Yohn. Any other news concerning the Ironborn?"

Horton stood and answered, "They're mostly on the defensive at the moment. Their attacks on Lannisport and Sunspear might have been a success, but their other attacks have either failed to get a result or ended in the death of the Greyjoy responsible for it."

"So what do we do now?" Benjen asked as everyone looked towards Erlend for an answer.

Erlend stared at the gathered Lords for a few seconds, "I'll leave Blacktyde to you and your Men." He said to Benjen. "Yohn, you'll be securing Orkmont. While myself and the Banners will take Harlaw."

"What if they don't surrender your Majesty?" Greatjon questioned.

"If they do not surrender or lay down their arms you kill them. I want every drowned priest cut down. Every temple of theirs destroyed to the point that not even ruins remain. Every book or parchment that contains even a sliver of the drowned god burnt and Every Thrall and Salt Wife freed!" Erlend rose as he gave his orders.

"That seems a bit harsh your Majesty." William Mooton protested, earning him glares from some of the lords gathered, including his good brother Marcus.

Erlend snorted at Mooton's foolishness, "Unless you wipe out their worship of the drowned god stem and root, they will never change their ways. Their whole culture is built on reaving and enslavement. If you want them to stop. You get rid of the source first. " Erlend explained.

Surprisingly, It was Benjen who supported his words first, "My Lords, His Majesty speaks true. If we refuse to do anything about the Ironborn now, will they not just rise again in the times of our children and ravage the lands as they've had for several millennia!"

A chorus of ayes followed as support for Erlends and Benjen's reasoning grew.

The Ironborn would find no mercy among those gathered here.

…

After a bit more planning and discussions, the lords dispersed to get their men organised and prepared for the invasion of the Iron Islands.

The next day would see thousands of men boarding the fleet, as they prepared to depart for their destination.

Logistics and supply had to be organised, ships had to be inspected, and men had to be equipped, it was a monumental task that few would envy.

It was agreed that his good Uncle Jason would remain within Seagard, guarding the coast of both the Riverlands and the North, in case the Ironborn tried something.

Patrek and his mother would be moved to Firmridge,  where they would be safer, though his cousin assumed it was for him to be squired off to Lorimas, who was charged with the home front.

As their vessel prepared to sail off, Horton asked a rather crucial question, "What will become of the Iron Islands after the war?"

Erlend simply stared into the horizon, "Depends on their response to this counter-attack. If they refuse to surrender, they cannot blame us for what happens next."

Horton went silent at that, bowed his head, and left towards his cabin.

As the ship sailed away, Erlend understood that this war would change Westeros, for better or worse, it would usher a change few would comprehend until it was too late.