Stannis Baratheon POV
He walked through the once pristine port which had now turned into a battlefield. Or the aftermath of one, in this case.
The stench of rotting corpses littering the street was a familiar one to him. Having dealt with multiple pirates, smugglers, and slaver ships in his tenure as the Master of Ships. But the view of dead children, burned homes, and raped women who now huddled together for safety was a new one.
The once beautiful and pristine port now looked look a scene right out from one of the seven hells.
'And all this happened because I wasn't fast enough.' He thought, gritting his teeth in guilt and anger.
A knight rode back to him at that moment and he glared at the man.
"My lord. We've captured and executed the last of the Ironborns in the port city. But according to the reports, there are still more of them that've entrenched themselves in the villages outside Ryamsport."
"How many more?" He asked.
"We don't know my lord. But from the reports we've gained from the survivors, it seems that there may be 500 to 1000 more Ironborns, hiding in about 3 villages that are North of here."
He nodded. "Go to Lord Messey, Lord Velaryon, and Lord Caltigar. Tell them to take a 2000 men each and flush out these stragglers. Take their surrender if they offer one, otherwise, kill all of them."
"Right away my lord." The messenger bowed and left.
Once the messenger left, the sight, smell and sound of the ruined port town came back to haunt him once again. And 'what if' scenarios rang in his mind.
He shook them off with some difficulty. No point in thinking on it now. He could only look to the future and make up for his shortcomings by dealing with the Iron Fleet once and for all.
A few moments later, he heard the sound of horses once again. Except this time, it was not one but not one but many.
His guards tensed but he knew that he had no reason to fear whoever was coming toward them. The Ironborn had no horses, and even if they did found some in this island, most of them don't know how to ride one. So he was sure that whoever was coming toward them wasn't the enemy.
And just as he'd guessed. The riders soon came into view and they were knights who wore the heraldry of House Redwyne.
The horses came to a stop a few feet away from him and the rider in the lead stepped down to meet him.
Now that they were closer, he could see that the Knight seemed tired and covered in blood and grime. The other riders looked to be in a similar state. No doubt having fought their fair share of Ironborns ever since they pillaged this town.
"Lord Stannis. I'm glad to glad that you've finally arrived. Without you, it would've taken us far longer to get rid of these Ironborn scum." The Knight said, his fists clenched in genuine anger and sorrow.
He guessed that the Knight had lost someone close to him in either the Battle of Arbor, or the sack that followed afterwards, but he didn't care about that right now.
"Who are you?" He asked curtly.
"Ah… I'm Linten Redwyne my lord. A distant kin to Lord Redwyne and the captain of this cavalry group. We've been fighting these Ironborns for the past few days my lord. But it's been hard."
He nodded. But he was more interested in what actually happened here than the knight's personal story.
"The Ironborns remaining in the Island are done for. We've confiscated their ships so they have nowhere else to run. They'll either surrender or they'll face the King's Justice and die." He said. "Now, tell me Ser Linten. Where is the main Fleet of the Ironborns? Have they retreated back to the Iron Islands?"
Ser Linten shagged in relief at his earlier words but straightened up at his question. "That, we do not know my lord."
"What do you mean you do not know?" He asked, narrowing his eyes at the captain. "Tell me of what happened after the battle."
"The Ironborns came from the Sunset Sea my lord, perhaps hoping to surprise us. But we were ready for them and gave battle. The battle was going well until Euron Greyjoy managed to slay Lord Redwyne. Seeing the Arbor Queen being taken broke the morale of the Redwyne Fleet and they were swiftly scattered by rest of the Iron Fleet after that."
He gritted his teeth, sensing some lies in Ser Linten's words.
If the battle was going as well as the knight claimed it to be. Then even if Lord Redwyne fell, the Redwyne Fleet would've continued fighting. After all, it was their homes that they were protecting. A place filled with their loved ones.
No, it was more likely that the Redwynes were already losing or that the battle was already lost at that point. Nothing else make sense.
But never mind, he'll just question a few others before ascertaining the truth of this battle.
"What happened after that?" He asked.
"From the Ironborn we managed to capture and interrogate, we learned that the captain of the Iron Fleet, Victorian Greyjoy, died in the battle. And his younger brother Euron Greyjoy managed to take command in the aftermath." The Knight said, and then a look of pain and guilt flashed over his face as he looked at his surroundings.
"After that… they attacked Ryamsport. We were ready for them of course and gave them a good fight. But we were outnumbered. And the Ironborn broke through and sacked the town." Ser Linten said, his lips quivering at the thought of something. "After sacking the city for a day and night, most of the Ironborn fled back to their ships and vanished into the Sunset Sea once again. But some of them remained."
"And why is that. Did these men not agree with Euron Greyjoy's leadership?" He asked.
"That's what they said upon being interrogated my lord." Ser Linten nodded.
"And these men you interrogated… do they know where the rest of the Ironborn went?"
"I'm afraid not my Lord." Ser Linten said. "But even though the Ironborn did managed to win this battle, it was a hard won fight. They lost at least 1/4th of their ships. And with those ship, the men on those ships. Then they lost even more men in the siege of Ryamspart and in this aftermath. I would assume that they've gone back to the Iron Islands to regather their strength."
'If only things were so easy.' He thought and shook his head.
"I doubt it." He said but decided against explaining anything to this captain. "Who is in charge of Arbor right now?"
"That would be Lady Rhaena Redwyne my lord. Who rules in the name of her grandson Lord Horas Redwyne, since the young lord is only 8 years old right now."
'Only a year younger than my son.' He thought. Though he had a feeling that if he died in this war, then his son would be more than capable of ruling in his stead. A thought that filled him with pride.
"Ask her to come and meet me here. I would like to discuss further things with her."
His words got an awkward look from Ser Linten who hesitated for a moment before he spoke. "Eh… I don't think that'll be a good idea my lord."
He narrowed his eyes at the knight and said "Explain!"
"Pardon my lord, but Lady Rhaena is old and sick. And is suffering with gout. She has trouble walking and has to be carried around by her servants. Travelling to Ryamsport would do great harm to her body, my lord."
He gritted his teeth but nodded. "Very well then, I'll go and meet her myself. Send a messenger informing her of my arrival. But till then-"
The sound of a horse galloping toward them halted his words and he turned to see yet another man ride up to him.
"My lord! Some of the Redwyne ships that were routed in the battle have finally returned!"
"Those cowards!" Ser Linten exclaimed suddenly, taking the messenger by surprise and getting a scowl from him. "They run away when we needed them. And now return when the enemies have already left!"
"Calm yourself Ser Linten. You're a knight and not a child." He said before turning to the messenger once again. "How many ships have been sighted?"
"About 20 my lords."
"Are you sure that they are being used by Redwyne men and not disguised Ironborn who want to launch a surprise attack on us?"
"That…" The messenger paled at the thought and he grunted in annoyance.
"Go. Tell the Royal Fleet to be ready to face these ships in case they turned out to be the enemies." He said "And if they're not, then order them to send the captains to me. I would like to hear of the first hand accounts of the battle."
"Yes milord." The messenger said and galloped back to the Port.
He himself was not all that worried about the Redwyne ships turning out to be enemies. The chances of such a thing happening were low. And even if those ships turned out to be filled with enemies, his Fleet would be more than capable of dealing with them.
Now, he just needed to met Lady Rhaena Redwyne and see if she'll allow him to take these ship and add them to the Royal Fleet for the remainder of this war.
—
"Absolutely not." Lady Rhaena Redwyne was a small, old and decrepit woman who looked like a gust of wind would blow her away. Her words were barely audible and by body shook with exhaustion, but there was great strength in her eyes as she outright rejected his request.
He gritted his teeth at the woman. "You do know that the Ironborns are still a threat, right? Having the remaining Redwyne Fleet would go a long way to defeating them in this war."
"I know *cough cough* and you still won't get those ships." Lady Rhaena said, her coughing making it seem like she would pass out any moment now.
Normally, he would be loathe to worry a woman as old as her but right now, he needed those ships.
He was confident that his Royal Fleet would be able to defeat the diminished Iron Fleet as it was. But a war is never so simple. And merging the remaining Redwyne Fleet with the Royal Fleet for the remainder of this war would increase their chances of victory.
So he tried another method.
"Do you not want to avenge your son? And all the men that House Redwyne has lost?" He asked. "Do you think that House Redwyne will be safe if the Ironborn managed to defeat the Royal Fleet as well?"
Lady Rhaena glared at him. "My grandchildren are all that I have now. *cough cough* And if you lose to the Ironborn, or they return while you're absent, then those ships will be all that'll stand between those monsters and my grandchildren. *cough* So don't presume to tell me what I want and don't want to do."
"And what if the Ironborns start to raid the coastal settlements in Reach?" He asked, trying another approach. "I doubt the Tyrells would be happy to hear that you intentionally held back men and ships from participating in this war."
Lady Rhaena scoffed at his words. "Mace is a buffoon. A squealing newborn babe would know more about war than him. And Olenna, that old banshee, will shriek from her seat, forgetting where she came from. *cough cough* Let them. House Redwyne has done its part in this war. We'll do no more."
"And that's your final decision?" He asked, glaring at the woman.
The woman glared back at him with equal passion despite her frailty. He could almost respect it. "It is."
He gave a reluctant nod at that. "Very well then. Pray that you don't come to regret this decision Lady Redwyne."
"Yes, yes." The woman said with a dismissive gesture and he gritted his teeth once again before he turned and left, thoroughly frustrated with the meeting.
—
"The remainder of the Redwyne Fleet will not be joining us." He told his captains at the meeting and his captains nodded, probably already having heard of the meeting from the rumours.
"What are we going to do now my lord? Where are we going to sail next?" Lord Velaryon asked.
"Wherever the Iron Fleet is." He said, though the words had little meaning since he had no idea where it actually was at the moment.
The Iron Fleet could be halfway down to the Summer Isles for all he knew. Because as long as those pirate scum travel away from the shores, they'll remain undetected.
It galled him to admit it, but the Iron borns were indeed excellent sailors, to be able to stay away from the coast for so long, and yet follow it with such great accuracy.
"And where do you think they are my lord?" Lord Celtigar asked and he gritted his teeth.
If he had any inkling as to where they'll appear next. Then he wouldn't be sitting here right now, and would be going after them instead.
"They would retreat back to Iron Islands." One of his ship captains said with confidence. "With how many losses they've suffered in this battle. And how many ships we've confiscated. Where else could they go but back to their home to lick their wounds and gather reinforcements to fight us. My lord, I suggest that we sail North immediately. If we do so now, then we might be able catch them before they reach Iron Islands and start gathering their strength."
"And what if they decided to go the other way instead?" Lord Sunglass asked. "Then we would be sailing up the Sunset Sea while those pirate scum will be free to raid and pillage through all the settlements in the Eastern coast of Westeros. Worse, the way to Kings Landing would be wide open to them."
Shouts of alarm rang in the thought of the Ironborn attacking Kings Landing. And he had to admit to himself that the thought worried him as well.
Because if the Ironborn attacked Kings Landing and did succeed in getting to the Queen and the royal children… then though would be end of the Royal line of House Baratheon right then and there.
And it would be his fault that it came to this.
Worse… if the Royal fleet is not there, then Dragonstone would be wide open for attack as well. The mere thought of his children being harmed both terrified and enraged him in equal measure.
"The walls of Kings Landing are strong. They'll not fall to these undisciplined pirates." Lord Bar Emmon said.
"It is not the walls that protect the city but the men guarding them. And last I saw, the gold cloaks were a weak and corrupt bunch." Lord Velaryon said "They'll drop their weapons and run away from the walls before these battle hardened Ironborn even reached their gates."
"Kings Landing can gather levies from nearby holdfasts." One of the captains said.
"Are we talking about the same levies that King Robert took with him to the Riverlands." Another captain asked.
"But he didn't take all the levies with him."
His lords and captains continued to bicker with one another as he stared at the map, his heart filled with indecision.
On one had, if he allowed the Iron Fleet to go back to the Iron Islands then they'll have the chance to repair their ships and recover their strength.
But if they sailed up to the Iron Islands, and the Iron Fleet went East instead, then the Iron Fleet be able to sail up the Narrow Sea unchallenged and attack Kings Landing without anyone there to stop them. 'Or they might attack Dragonstone.' He thought, his heart once again being filled with unease at the thought of his children being in danger.
After thinking on it for a moment, he made his decision and looked up to see that his captains and lords were still bickering with one another.
"Enough!" He said and the men in the meeting room quieted down at once and looked at him for his decision.
"We'll stay in Arbor until we get further news about the Iron Fleet's movements." He said, and that was that.
He just hoped that he'll not regret this decision as well.
—
LORD ULRICK DAYNE POV
He was going through his daily paperwork when there was a knock on the door.
"Come in." He said and the door opened a moment later to show Maester Daron looking at him with slightly nervous eyes.
"With is it?" He asked.
The Maester walked up to him and spoke in quiet words. "My lord, there is a fisherman at our gates. He said that he has information on the Ironborn."
"Does he?" He asked with a frown, then thought on it for a while before he spoke. "Bring the man to my solar. And order the guards to remain silent about this. No one else can know."
The Maester looked at him in confusion but nodded and left his solar.
The Maester returned a while later with a scraggly looking man.
"Milord." The man said with an awkward bow while giving nervous glances to his guards.
"Fear not my good man. For you'll not be harmed while under my roof. Now tell me, what is your name?" He asked.
"Me name is Yandel my lord."
"Yandel… my maester informed me that you have information on the Ironborn, is that true?"
Yandel became even more nervous at his question but nodded. "Yes, milord. I think so."
"Well then, tell me of what you know." He ordered.
And so the man did.
He wove a tale about being one of the best fisherman in his village. Mostly because he went the farthest out in the sea and caught the largest and tastiest fishes in the deep waters.
But when he went out to the sea this time, instead of catching fishes, he caught the sight of dozens of ships sailing in the far horizon. A good few leagues away from the area where they'll be visible to the shore.
Apparently, Yandel was so spooked by this that he quickly fled back to his village and ran all the way to Starfall to give him this information.
"You did a good thing coming here and telling me this Yandel. Here is your reward." He said and handed a gold dragon to the man.
Yandel's eyes went wide open at the sight of the gold, greed apparent in his eyes and he sighed inwardly. Hoping that the man won't get himself killed by foolishly showing off that coin to others.
"But…" He said and Yandel quickly hide the coin inside his clothes, as if he was going to snatch it away, "You must not tell this to anyone else, is that clear?"
"Yes milord."
"Good. Because if I learned that other people in my lands know about the Ironborn, then I'll hold you responsible for it. And you won't like that. Do you understand?"
Yandel looked like he was about to piss himself but managed to give a shallow nod.
"Very well. I trust you'll see yourself out." He said to Yandel, and the man quickly made himself scarce.
Once it was only him and his Maester left in his solar, the man asked. "Should I draft a letter to Kings Landing, my lord?"
"And why would you do that?" He asked, sending a glare at his Maester.
"To inform them about the Ironborn my lord." The Maester replied.
"What Ironborn?" He asked, feigning ignorance.
"The ones that man just told us about."
He scoffed and waved his hand dismissively. "The man was obviously crazy. There's no way the Ironborn would sail past Starfall. And even if they did, House Dayne has no knowledge of it. Is that clear?"
"But my lord he-"
"Is that clear?" He asked, giving a stern glare to the maester who gulped but nodded.
He leaned back on his chair and sighed. "Tell me Maester Daron. If, hypothetically, the Iron Borns did sail past Dorne, then what would be their destination."
"Planky Town?" His maester guessed, looking unsure of his answer.
"Planky Town is indeed the largest port in Dorne. But in the grand scheme of things, it is nothing special. There is nothing that can be found in that place, that cannot be found in our own port. If the Ironborn did not attack our port, then they won't attack Planky Town." He said with confidence before he leaned forward on his chair. "Now, think again. What would be their destination?"
The Maester frowned and thought on it for a moment before his eyes widened in shock. "They… they want to attack Kings Landing."
"Most likely. It is the only target that makes sense. Otherwise, if they only wanted to raid and pillage, then why bother with all this secrecy?"
"But my lord. If they succeeded in attacking Kings Landing then-"
"Then what?" He asked, narrowing his eyes at his Maester.
"Then… they might kill the Queen and her children."
He smiled at that. "And who is the Queen maester Daron?"
"Cersei Baratheon."
"Cersei Baratheon." He scoffed. "And what what the Queen's name before her marriage."
The Maester gulped at that. "L-lannister my lord."
"A Lannister… Hmm. Are these the same Lannisters who saw to the death of Princess Elia and her Children?" He asked, some of his anger leaking through in his voice.
He personally did not have any strong feelings for her. She had been a friend once, yes, but they'd grown distant with time.
But for the Lannisters to think that they can rape and murder a Princess of Dorne, and then get away scot free with it… Not if he had anything to say about it.
"Queen Cersei's father led the army that attacked Kings Landing, yes." The Maester said, sweating a bit now as he smiled.
"Then anything that happens to this Queen and her children, will be justice. Won't you agree with that my good maester?"
"I- I would my lord."
"Justice that'll be denied to us, if Kings Landing somehow learned of the Iron Fleet's movement in advance and prepared for them."
"Ye- yes my lord."
"Good. The fisherman saw nothing. You saw nothing. I saw nothing. Is that clear?"
"Yes my lord."
"Good, you're dismissed." He said and the maester quickly escaped the room.
"Yoren!" He called out once the Maester was out of the hearing range and his trusted guard entered his solar at once.
"My lord?"
"I trust you heard all that."
"…yes my lord."
"Good. Trail the maester. And if you find him sending a letter to anyone… then make sure that he trips and falls down a set of stairs."
To his credit, Yoren only hesitated for a moment before he nodded. "It'll be done my lord."
"Good." He said and dismissed his guard.
An hour later, when he heard about the Maester's death by falling down from his rookery, he didn't bat an eye and calmly wrote a letter to the Citadel, asking for a replacement.
He hadn't expected the Maester to betray him. But the man was from Reach and he long since learned to never trust someone from the Reach.
Though now he wondered, if the Ironborn will actually attack Kings Landing. And if they did, then would they even succeed?
He supposed that only time will tell.
With that, he started writing a letter to the Martells, telling them of this new development. He'll probably have to send it with a rider now that the Maester is dead. But a rider would be safer and more discreet so he didn't mind.