Chapter 4.4 The -Not Anymore- King of Iron Islands

A thin, hard-faced man with black eyes and long, dark hair, with many shades of gray, was kneeling in shame. The crown with which he had been crowned less than a year ago, lay on the ground, broken; smashed by a hammer.

"I should just crush your head" said a man with a victorious smile on his face, this was Robert Baratheon.

Robert has the classic Baratheon look : black hair and bright blue eyes. Robert has the classic Baratheon look : black hair and bright blue eyes, six and a half feet. Strong, powerful and muscular, with a short, well-groomed beard and rough, hard hands.

"Robert, to take one of your sons to me as a ward will suffice. If you kill him, all the Iron Islands will erupt into even greater chaos than they are now," Ned Stark answered him, a serious look in his eyes.

"And what would be so bad about that? The rebellion was over too quickly. That's not even what these useless squids are good for."

"Robert, the rebellion ending quickly is a good thing."

"Bah!" exclaimed the man, as he waved his hand dismissively. "But that's all right, I'd better let him live. See if he has the balls to rebel again. He'd lose another one of his sons."

As he was humiliated, Balon Greyjoy could only clench his jaw tightly, but he did not change his posture; he remained kneeling before King Robert Baratheon.

"I, Balon Greyjoy, Lord of the Iron Islands and head of House Greyjoy of Pyke, swear allegiance to Robert Baratheon, first of his name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm" swore Balon, but Robert did not show a change of expression; he did not care about the loyalty of the squid in front of him, Robert just wanted to swing his hammer.

But that was not the important thing, since the Greyjoy Rebellion, quite fleeting in its function, was finally over. Stannis Baratheon, brother of Robert Baratheon, Lord of Dragonstone and Captain of Ships, joined his royal fleet with the Redwyne Fleet of the Arbor, and ships under the Hightower, and smashed the Iron Fleet led by Victarion Greyjoy, in the Strait of Fair Isle. Aeron Greyjoy on the other hand, son of Balon, was captured and imprisoned at Casterly Rock.

With the Iron Fleet decimated, the forces led by Robert Baratheon were able to mobilize their troops in ships to the Iron Islands, and began to conquer all the fortresses of the Ironborn.

The final battle was on the island of Pyke, led by Robert and his childhood friend, Eddard. The nearby castle of Botley was destroyed, as was the city of Lordsport below it, before the main attack on Pyke Castle was launched. Robert's forces attacked the south wall with siege engines, smashing the main watchtower and tearing down parts of the surrounding wall. Maron Greyjoy , the second of Balon's three sons, died in the breach. Thoros of Myr was the first to cross the breach wielding a sword covered in Valyrian fire. The fighting in the castle was fierce, but finally the castle was taken. Jorah Mormont , lord of Bear Island , who was shortly behind Thoros, and Jacelyn Bywater , who lost a hand during the fight, were knighted by Robert for their bravery.

It was thus that Balon ended up kneeling in front of Robert.

Each Lord returned to their lands, but when they arrived, more than one of them found... important surprises. The facts reached Robert's ears, but the King did not give importance to it, he felt too depressed by the end of the war, he felt that he should have taken better advantage of it.

Eddard Stark also received the news, from Maester Ludwig himself, and although his first reaction was of joy, for the discovery made by one of his bannermen, then an uncomfortable feeling ran through his body. Was it right for his bannerman to concentrate so much power? Especially, if with that subordinate he didn't have too positive a relationship.

'I have to do something to improve our relationship' thought Lord Stark, and he had to start acting soon, before it really became a problem. However, the wolf was too much of a northerner to deal with that sort of matter, so he went to consult with his wife.

The third figure to receive the news was the one who put on the grimmest face; someone was messing with something that belonged to them, and he would not stand idly by. That someone was... the Lion of Casterly Rock, Tywin Lannister.