(20) War Plans
( POV Thorin Stark )
After taking Pyke I called for the surrender of the remaining Iron born, they did so quickly after finding out that Euron was dead and Pyke had fallen. I had them sail to Old Wyk where I would meet them to win their loyalties. I chose Old Wyk specifically, because it was where the Kingsmoot is typically held. It was also where Nagga's bones rest. Nagga was a giant sea dragon from the age of hero's that was killed by the Grey King, the most famous Iron born King.
So by calling the Iron born there and showing them a bones of Eurons sea dragon I will be sending a message, the show of force should strike fear into the lords but fear doesn't mean loyalty. But I also chose Old Wyk for another reason, this was the island that I raided with stolen Iron born boats they might call me green lander but I was making them pay the iron price before I had hair on my chin.
During the meeting the lord of Old Wyk Lord Dunstan Drumm, he was a young man only recently made a lord when his father fell ill before the start of the War. He challenged me to a duel to restore his fathers honour for my raid all those years ago. We fought on the shore as the tide came in. He wielded Red Rain his houses Valyrian steel sword and I wielded Chillrend.
He was better than most Iron born but still the duel didn't last long, I severed both his hands and took his sword. As I was about to plunge his own sword through his heart his uncle came and begged for mercy. Lord Rodrick Harlaw, Lord of the Ten Towers begged for his nephews life and i granted him the request but I kept Red Rain. I gifted the sword to my wife as a late Wedding gift.
After that small interruption the Lords of the Iron Isles swore fealty to me and my brother before I ordered them to restart construction of their fleet. I told them that one day when this war was over they would learn to sow, but until then they shall raid on my orders. After the meeting I placed my wife in charge and prepared to sail for Seagard, I must meet with my brothers to discuss the war.
And so I sailed aboard the Howling Wolf a few days later with a an escort to transport the sea dragon bones to my new Keep of Harrenhal. Among my escort was Martyn Silverswan my new Captain of Guard, and we had become friends these past few days. He had a good sense of humour and could hold his drink that put him in my hood graces.
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( POV Robb Stark )
I was on the docks of Seagard as The Howlimg Wolf sailed into the harbour along with a small escort and the carcass of a giant sea dragon. The dragons soured overhead and they roared in greeting as they got closer, the Direwolves howled back. Fenrir could barley sit still as the excitement of meeting Thorin again over took him.
The Howling Wolf docked and Thorin debarked, beside him was a man in full plate with silver swans decorating his armour, he had a large two handed axe secured on his back. This must be the new captain of guard they Thorin mentioned in his letter. Fenrir rushed to Thorin as soon as he touched land, and after he greeted me and Jon we retired to the Lords Solar to discuss our next actions.
"So how did it go Thorin?" Jon asked
"Well enough, as you could see there where some complications." He replied talking about the sea dragon
"And what do you mean to do with the body?" I asked.
"I'm going to have the scales fashioned into armour for the guards of Harrenhal, and I intend to make a throne out of the bones, and to hand the skull in the great hall." He replied
"Speaking of your new castle, I told you about the transformation in my latest letter, and I was thinking that maybe you should rename your new castle." I said to him
"Give me some time to think of a name." He said
"So what is our next moves brother?" Jon asked me and I took out two scrolls
"This says that one hundred thousand wildlings are marching on the wall, following a new King beyond the wall, Mance Rayder."
"The wall won't be able to stand against soo many wildlings brother, if the wall falls we will have to march back North" Jon said
"Exactly that's why you are going to negotiate, in my name before the Wall falls, they must accept me as their king and follow my laws or you are to kill them all." I told Jon
"And what does the other say?" Thorin asked me
"This one says that Stannis' fleet was burned in the Battle of the Blackwater and that his army was defeated by the Westerlands and the Reach." I told them
"So the Reach has knelt to the Lannisters. What am I to do?" Thorin asked
"The majority of your fleet is to go to the Reach while some of your fleet is to go West." I commanded him
"I'm to take Lannisport and Casterly Rock?" Thorin questioned, he always was quick to catch on to my strategies.
"Aye thats the plan, then your to secure the West, any who doesn't bow down, your to burn." I ordered
"And you brother?" Jon asked
"I'm going to offer the Storm Lords revenge, many refused to follow Stannis after they saw the shadow with his face kill Renly and they still hunger for vengeance for the death of Robert Baratheon, he was a well loved man even fifteen years after the rebellion." I explained
"And if they except your offer?" Thorin asked me
"Then I'm going to march on Kings Landing." I told them.
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{ Authors Notes }
No action in this one sorry
I've just watched house of the dragon and it's great
I've decided on the name Erebor