Rodrik 'The Reader'.
Lord Rodrik Harlaw, standing among the assembled nobility of the Iron Islands, surveyed the scene before him with a discerning gaze. His eyes, sharp beneath furrowed brows, were fixed on Damian Stark, the young lord who had just sworn fealty to King Robert Baratheon. Rodrik's mind was awash with conflicting thoughts upon witnessing the scene.
'He has the look of a leader, no doubt, but he is young,' Rodrik mused silently, his voice a mere whisper in the sea of murmurings that filled the great hall. 'Seven men fell before him. He took on Dunstan's Redrain and still came out on top. There is power in such a feat... and danger.'
Rodrik had always counselled prudence to Balon Greyjoy, advising against the reckless path of rebellion. Yet his words had fallen on deaf ears, drowned out by Balon's blind ambition and the roar of the sea. Now, Balon lay dead, slain not in glorious battle but by treachery, his dream of a free Iron Islands crumbling like so much driftwood against the relentless tide.
Though spared the sword, his sister's family faced a future fraught with uncertainty. 'Alannys will be shattered, no doubt,' Rodrik thought, his heart heavy for his kin. And Theon... the boy was not ready to rule, perhaps never would be. But to lose his birthright in such a manner... Well, it was never his right if his brothers were still alive.'
Turning his attention back to Damian, Rodrik's scholarly mind began to assess the situation with the detachment of a Maester combing through the pages of a dusty tome. 'He is not of the Ironborn, and even with support from his Stark brother and the King, it is doubtful whether he could establish himself as Lord of Iron Island," Rodrik reflected. 'A dangerous precedent, yet perhaps a necessary one. Power respects power, after all, especially here.'
Rodrik Harlaw lingered as the hall emptied, the weight of the day's oaths and declarations hanging heavily in the air. He watched young Damian Solstark with a thoughtful gaze, the sea lord's sharp mind parsing every move and word of the newly anointed lord.
Harras Harlaw, standing a few steps behind, had followed his uncle's lead with a stiff reluctance. It was Rodrik's counsel that swayed him after hearing the news—advising patience and prudence, urging him to watch and wait. 'The sea's currents are unseen, and so are the true mettles of men.' Rodrik had told him quietly before the ceremony.
Now, as the echoes of the day's promises faded, Rodrik approached Damian with a stride that spoke of both caution and a seasoned leader's openness to alliance. His greeting was cordial, his voice imbued with the resonant tones of the Iron Islands—rough yet compelling.
"Lord Solstark," Rodrik Harlaw declared, his hand outstretched not merely in greeting but as a fragile bridge of potential peace. "I wish you well on your days ahead. May your reign be of peace and prosperity for the Iron Island,"
Damian Solstark, tempered by the day's demands, answered with the same refined grace that had characterized his every gesture and word. "Lord Harlaw, your wisdom is as famed as the tomes that line your vaults. I would indeed be a fool to forgo your counsel support in the days ahead."
"I don't think anyone would risk going against you now after you have dissolved 7 houses of Iron Island, my Lord." Harras interrupted.
"This is my Cousin, Harras Harlaw of Gre Garden." Rodrik introduced. he looked at Damian if he had taken an offence but saw none.
"It needed to be done for the stability of the realm, Lord Harras, the Ironmen do not listen to words alone." Damian said smiling, " His grace may have appointed me as Lord of Iron Island, but I do not wish to suppress the houses here on might alone to further my rule. For your assurance, I would like to lead by developing the economy of Iron Island and give each men and woman a fair share in its prosperity. The only thing I ask in return is loyalty, stability and peace among each other.
Lord Rodrik looked for any deceit but found none on the young man's face. If what he said is true, then it would be ideal for Iron Island future but will it be so. Many Ironmen themselves, like Balon's father had tried to further trade and piece but they had always remained unsuccessful. The Ironmen always revert back to their culture of taking the 'Iron Price'. But If the young Lord truly managed to accomplish that then he might just have the support of House Harlaw though he needed to know one more thing.
"A noble thought, Lord Solstark." Said Lord Rodrik, "I want to ask you about something else."
"Ask away, Lord Harlaw"
"I would know your designs for my sister's line," pressed Lord Rodrik, his tone tightening with the weight of the unspoken. Traditional expectation had poised Damian to wed Rodrik's niece, thereby securing his grip upon the Iron Isles. But the fates of Rodrik's sister and her son, Theon, dangled like a sword above Damian's nascent reign. Rodrik braced for the demands; yet, the words that came were not as he had foreseen.
"Should your sister desire, she may take her leave to your hearth," Damian began, his voice steady as the stone towers of Pyke. "Yet her offspring must remain upon these shores, under my guardianship for the stability of the Islands. She may visit, or dwell amongst us if it pleases her—I hold no quarrel with her choice."
This pronouncement, measured yet resolute, bespoke a deeper stratagem. Damian sought not only to secure his rule but to weave new ties with those whose loyalties might waver, much like Rodrik Harlaw who is known as the reader. In granting the mother freedom while anchoring her children to the Iron Islands, Damian entwined their fates with his own ambitions, ensuring that the roots of his power would sink deep into the rocky soil of this fiercely proud land.
"Your nephew Theon, he shall live on Pyke. I will look after him and promise not to bring him harm unless he is foolish enough to challenge my rule in the future."
"As for your niece, Asha, she shall also live here on pyke and be treated with respect due to her birth. As for marrying her, I believe such decisions should be made with consent, not coercion. I seek to rule with justice, not through fear or forced ties," Damian continued, his words careful yet candid.
Rodrik considered Damian's words, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. This was not the answer he had expected, and it spoke of a different kind of leadership, one that might indeed foster peace rather than perpetuate cycles of vengeance and rebellion. "That is a noble path you choose, Lord Solstark. One that is rare in these harsh times," he acknowledged, his tone conveying a mixture of respect and reserved optimism.
"Indeed, Lord Harlaw. The Iron Islands need a new beginning, and I intend to provide that. Perhaps, with time, all wounds can be healed," Damian responded, his voice resonating with a sincerity that seemed to reach not just Rodrik, but others who lingered nearby, listening.
As they concluded their conversation, Rodrik gave a slight nod, a sign of tentative trust in this new lord. "Then I will hold you to your word, my Lord. For the sake of the Iron Islands and my family," he said formally, extending his hand once more in a gesture of truce and possibility of an alliance.
Damian accepted the hand, the clasp between them sealing not just a personal understanding but a public display of unity that might pave the way for a smoother transition of power. As Rodrik turned to rejoin his kin, a sense of cautious hope lingered in the air, mingling with the salty breeze—a hope that perhaps, under Damian Solstark, the Iron Islands could indeed forge a new, less tumultuous path.
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24 Chapter Ahead.
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