291 AC – Casterly Rock
Two days had passed in a blur of shouted orders, clanging armor, and the ceaseless creak of loading cranes down at Lannisport's repaired docks.
The Rock had become a living fortress of war. Messengers ran through the corridors day and night. Lannister galleys and cogs crowded the harbor below, their decks swarming with men-at-arms and sailors. Northern longships lay alongside them, wolf-headed prows staring out toward the Sunset Sea. Supplies were stacked in endless rows in the lower levels—barrels of salt beef, casks of arrows, coils of rope, pitch for fire-ships. The air even up here carried the faint scent of tar and freshly sharpened steel drifting up from the city.
I was in the high hall with my father, Tywin and the rest of the lords when the messenger burst in.
He was red-faced, breathing hard from the long climb.
"My lords, Your Grace," he managed between gasps. "There are ships incoming. A large fleet."
Tywin's head snapped up from the map table. "How many?"
"Dozens, my Lord. It looks like it's a royal fleet."
Stannis.
Robert straightened a satisfied grin split his face.
"That's my brother," he said. "Let's go meet him."
We mounted immediately and began riding down to the Lannisport.
By the time we reached the quay, the fleet was already entering the harbor.
Stannis Baratheon's flagship led them in. The Baratheon banner flew high. Behind her came rest of the royal fleet.
Stannis stepped onto the quay first. He was shorter than Robert and thinner. He wore sea-dark armor chased with crimson, the stag of Baratheon on his breastplate.
Robert strode forward to meet him, and for a moment, the two brothers simply looked at each other.
Then Robert clasped Stannis's forearm in a rough grip. "Stannis."
Stannis returned the grip. "Brother."
"Report." Robert said
Stannis inclined his head in a small gesture of acknowledgment.
Stannis didn't waste words. "The Iron Fleet is broken. Victarion Greyjoy led forty longships against us off Fair Isle. We burned twenty-three, sank nine, captured four."
The gathered lords erupted in cheers.
But Stannis did not smile.
He stood unmoved by the celebration, waiting for it to die down.
When silence returned, he continued, his voice flat. "Victarion escaped. He slipped away on a single longship under cover of smoke and made his way for Pyke."
Robert's face darkened."Escaped? How in seven hells did you let him escape?"
Stannis's jaw tightened, but before he could answer, Ned laid a firm hand on Robert's shoulder.
"Robert." Ned's voice cut through. He stepped forward, placing a firm hand on my father's shoulder. "Calm yourself. Stannis destroyed their fleet. That was the objective besides we know exactly where Victarion fled to and we're sailing there anyway."
Robert exhaled through his nose, shoulders dropping. He looked at Stannis again, this time clear-headed.
"You've done well, brother. Your victory over their fleet was decisive."
Stannis gave a single nod of acknowledgment.
Robert turned to the assembled lords, voice ringing across the quay.
"Now let's finish preparations. We sail at first light. We're going to rain hell on those Iron Islands bastards."
As the crowd began to disperse, Stannis's eyes found Lyonel's.
He was smiling widely.
Stannis shook his head with his expression unchanged and he thought:
What are you grinning at, you brat? You should be safely inside the castle. Don't you realize you were nearly taken by them?
He looked at Lyonel again only to find him grinning even wider.
Stannis let out a short and sharp exhale that was almost a snort and then turned away, following the others toward the war council.
Lannisport - Before Departure
Lyonel's Pov
The fleet was ready.
Sails were furled, oars shipped, decks cleared for battle. The last supplies were being loaded. Men said their goodbyes to their wives and exchanged rough embraces with their brothers.
I stood on the quay with my father.
Robert looked down at me, gauntleted hand resting on my shoulder. His voice was low, steady, almost gentle.
"When I come back, I'm gonna take you home," he said. "Back to King's Landing. Mother misses you greatly..." he looked at him and added slowly "We all do."
I smiled. "Okay, Father. Please promise me you'll come back safely."
Robert chuckled and then he pulled me into a brief and hard hug.
"I will," he muttered. "I promise."
He released me, ruffled my hair one last time, then turned to the others.
Jaime was next. I stepped up to him without hesitation.
"Uncle Jaime," I said quietly.
Jaime's eyes softened and he dropped to one knee.
"Nephew," he replied with a small smile. "I'll come back whole. I promise."
I threw my arms around him in a quick hug. His arms came up immediately, hugging me back just as tightly.
"Be careful and come back safe," I whispered.
Jaime chuckled softly against my ear. "When was I not careful?"
I pulled back just enough to look at him, smiling as well and lightly punched his shoulder. "You know what I mean."
He laughed under his breath and rose giving my shoulder a quick squeeze, then stepped back into line.
Ser Barristan was next.
I stepped up to him and nodded.
"Ser Barristan," I said. "Please come back safe."
Barristan's face softened with a small and genuine smile. He placed his hand on my shoulder.
"I will, Prince Lyonel," he replied. "And you need to stay safe here. The realm needs you safe."
Stannis was already aboard standing on the quarterdeck, staring out to sea.
The horns sounded.
The fleet began to move first the royal ships, then the others. They slid out of the harbor one by one, towards the Iron Islands.
I stood on there long after the last sail vanished over the horizon.
Tyrion stood beside me and Ser Arys and Sandor at my shoulders.
Tyrion looked up at me now taller than him at seven namedays and patted my back.
"They'll come back safely and victorious," he said. "You'll see."
I smiled, still watching the empty sea.
"I know that. I'd be more worried about the Ironborn. Even Grandfather went with them."
Tyrion chuckled. "Aye. Poor Balon, he has no idea what's coming for him."
The last ships disappeared.
We turned away from the water, got on our horses and started our ride back to the Rock.
The Ironborn will soon be crushed.