Lord Eddard Stark POV
He walked through the rubble of the once strong and sturdy castle and watched as some of the men dragged away the corpses of the Ironborn while the others cheers and celebrated.
The castle of Pyke still stood. But everything else valuable in this Island was gone. The Port leading to this Island? Destroyed. The Port Town holding the tradespeople of this Island? Burnt to the ground. The Bailey that once stood outside the castle? Razed until nothing was left. And even the sturdy walls protecting the main castle were now being pulled down at the orders of his friend Robert.
A similar fate was shared by the other Ironborn houses. All their main towns and ports have been burnt to the ground. And all their shipyards were put to the torch.
Tywin even went as far as the salt the lands and collapse the mines of the islands he attacked.
Most importantly, all the Drowned Priests have been put to the sword. Robert and the lords hoped that the removal of the Drowned Priests, as well as the infusion of the Faith into the Ironborn culture would be enough to put a stop to their bloodthirsty ways. But he was skeptical about how successful this measure will be.
And even though he personally found all this wanton death and destruction a bit distasteful, he could also understand why this was being done.
The Ironborn went too far this time. And now they'll pay the price that'll cripple their economy for the upcoming decades if not centuries to come.
He found little sympathy in his heart for these Ironborn, but he still couldn't help but think of all the children who'll die in the upcoming Winter due to a lack of food or shelter. It made his heart bleed and he questioned why Balon would put his people through something like this.
Was glory and riches more important to these people than a stable and peaceful realm? Did they start this war and not realize that their actions will have consequences? Or did they just not care.
He was dragged out of his thoughts as a knight walked up to him and said. "My lord. His grace has summoned you."
He nodded and gestured for the man to lead the way.
They entered the first tower and he saw while the corpses have already been removed, the blood, viscera, and… other things still remained.
They crossed three rock bridges and went through two other towers before they finally arrived at the Great Keep. The largest tower among the several others that put together made the famed castle of Pyke.
And just as the previous ones, the corpses had been removed from this tower as well, leaving behind only the blood stains that told him of the fierce battle that took place here.
The unnamed knight led him through a long corridor until they finally arrived at the Great Hall which held the infamous Seastone Chair. The black seat of the Ironborn rulers of old. And the throne that Balon Greyjoy used to sit upon, as he ruled over the Iron Islands in his 15 moons long tenure as the King.
It was not Balon who sat on that throne now, but Robert Baratheon. Robert's usually cheerful and boisterous face held an impassive expression and a driftwood crown danced on his fingers while a decrypt, middle-aged man lay on his knees in the middle of the Great Hall, held there by Ser Mandon Moore and Ser Preston Greenfield of the Kingsguard.
He looked around and noticed over a dozen lords and knights standing around in a semi-circle. Lord Stannis Baratheon, Lord Tywin Lannister, Ser Kevan Lannister, Lord Hoster Tully, Ser Bryndan Tully, Lord Yohn Royce, and a few representatives of the armies of Reach, Crownlands and Stormlands.
He went and stood on the side as Robert spoke to Balon.
"-not so easy to win a rebellion. Though I admit you did a better job of it than most of your forefathers. Or should I say… your brothers did a good job, while you hid here in the safety of your castle." Then Robert let out a dark chuckle. "The King who hid. That's what they'll call you."
"Someone needed to rule these Islands while my brothers went out to win their glory." Balon said, his words coming out with some struggle. The voice of a man who knew he'd lost and was now at the mercy of his victors. But there was still a hint of defiance in his eyes as he glared at Robert. "But what about you, Demon of the Trident. I did not see you in the battlefield. Where were you when your men fought my own. Were you at the frontline? Or did you hide behind your army like the coward you proclaim me to be?"
Robert stared at Balon for a long moment, a dark look on his blank face before he leaned back on the chair and grimaced.
"Not a comfortable seat, this one. Almost as uncomfortable as that blasted Iron Throne." Robert announced before his eyes fell upon Balon Greyjoy once again. "We've both rebelled against our Kings. The difference between you and me Balon, is that I did it to overthrow a Tyrant, while you did it so that your men will be able to rape and reave their way across Westeros."
"I did not rebel against you!" Balon said and Robert raised an eyebrow before gesturing for him to go on. "No Greyjoy ever swore an oath to a Baratheon. You may have my head but you cannot name me a rebel."
Robert stared at Balon impassively for a long moment before he let out a scoff. "Is that your defence. That you did not swore an oath to me. Do you really think that it'll save you now?"
"I do not do this to save myself." Balon snarled, struggling against his captors. "And you're wrong."
"About what?" Robert asked, looking almost bored by Balon's continued defiance, something that enraged Balon even more.
"You're wrong about the differences between you and me." Balon spoke "The only difference between you and me, is that you won and I lost. That's all that matters in the end. If your blasted nephew had been an hour late, then it would've been you mourning your children as my brother took your queen as his salt-wife. It would be you who lost."
He could see the enraged expression on Lord Tywin's face at the reminder of what almost happened. But Robert's face didn't show any emotions. In fact, his face almost looked like it was carved from stone as he stared at Balon for a long moment before he nodded to himself, as if coming to a decision.
"Bring him in!" Robert bellowed and there was silence in the hall before the door opened and two Stormlander knights brought a young man into the Great Hall.
The young man had lost his right arm, his face was swollen black and purple, his hair was bedraggled, his clothes unwashed and his legs were weak as he was all but dragged to the front of the throne and put on his knees alongside Balon Greyjoy.
He frowned as he struggled to remember who this young man was. Though Balon's next words put a name to the face.
"Maron." Balon let out a choked gasp at the sight of what he now realised was Balon's second son.
Maron either didn't heard his father or he had decided to ignore him as he continued to stare listlessly at the ground in front of him. The loss of his arm and his subsequent brutal imprisonment probably having robbed him of any and all defiance that he once might've held.
"That's your son." Robert said as he got up from is chair, his Warhammer in his hand as he walked down the dice and came to stand in front of the two Greyjoys. "The other one is already feeding the fishes in the Trident."
"Curse you for this Baratheon! Curse you. And curse your family!"
"Curse me?" Robert asked with a dark chuckle. "And I thought that you knew that you were the loser and I am the victor. It seems like you don't really understand what that means. Here, let me help you understand."
His eyes widened in horror as he realised what Robert was about to do. But before he could say or do anything, Robert had already done it.
Robert raised his Warhammer in a wide arc and then brought it down on the head of Maron Greyjoy.
The Warhammer broke through Maron's skull and lodged itself into his brain. Maron's skull shattered to the point where his face looked like a horrifying rendition of a child's drawing of a human face. The eyes, the nose and the mouth were still there, but the proportions were all twisted and wrong.
One of his eyes popped out its socket and hung down his face and the corpse of Maron Greyjoy gasped for a moment, his mouth moving up and down, as if his body didn't realise it was dead and still wanted to take one last breath.
Then Robert took out his hammer from Maron's skull, some of his brain matter still sticking to the hammer, and Maron fell to the ground with a disgusting squelch, dead.
Blood started to pour on the cold hard stone floor and he heard one of the knights puke to the side at the gory sight. But all of his attention was on Balon Greyjoy right now.
The man looked like his soul had left his body. He stared at his son in utter despair before he looked up at the ceiling and let out a hysterical wail. As if cursing the gods. Then he looked at the corpse of his son once again and tried to reach for him. The Kingsguard held him to his place though, and he finally shed his Kingly persona, and broke down into tears... openly crying for the death of his 2nd son.
It was a terrible thing to behold. To watch a father cry for his dead son. And as much as he disliked Ironborn King, he disliked Robert even more at that moment for putting the man through something so cruel.
It was like watching a child pull the legs off an insect. A needless cruelty that they all could've done without.
Balon cried at the corpse of his son for what seemed like forever until his crying turned into sobs and his sobs eventually petered out until only tears were left in his eyes.
Then he looked up at Robert. A rictus of fury and hate carved into his face as the Ironborn glared at his friend.
"kill me. Kill me. Kill ME!" Balon screamed. "Kill me now Baratheon. Or I swear! I'll hunt you down to the end of the world. I kill you! I'll kill your children! I rape your wife. I'll destroy everything you ever held dear. I'll-"
Balon's words were cut short as Robert swung his hammer once again and smashed his head hard enough that his entire skull popped like a watermelon. Blood, viscera, and brain flew everywhere in the Great Hall as the Ironborn King was finally put down once and for all.
The two Kingsguard, now covered in blood and gore, finally let go of the Ironborn King and allowed his corpse to fall forward, coming to rest beside the corpse of his son. And suddenly, he was not in the hall of Pyke but in the Great Hall of the Red Keep, standing in front of the Iron Throne as Tywin Lannister presented two tiny corpses to Robert, covered in Lannister Red.
Bile gathered in the back of his throat as stared at the two corpses, blood slowly pooling beneath them. Reminding him of yet another memory from the past.
Blood pooled on the bed and the words softly whispered to him 'Promise me Ne. Promise me.'
So great was his shock that he almost missed the next few words spoken by Robert until he heard some words that finally brought him back to the present.
"-are the children?" Robert asked.
"They're at my ship your grace." Stannis replied. "I brought them back after Lord Harlaw-"
"Bring them to my tent." Robert said, cutting off his brother. "I'll deal with them there."
And then he wiped the head of his Warhammer over Balon's tunic, a final insult to the Ironborn King before he strode out of the Hall. The Kingguard running behind him in order to catch up.
There was silence in the hall for in the departure of the King before Tywin Lannister finally spoke up. "This was well done." A hint of approval in his eyes and a content smile on his lips.
"Aye" Lord Hoster said. "A bit gruesome. But it'll serve as a good example for the next person with traitorous thoughts in his heart."
He stared at his fellow lords in horror. His horror increasing when he saw the other lords nod in agreement.
Only Lord Yohn Royce seemed to disagree with them, if the solemn look on his face was any indication to go by.
"This was not well done." He found himself speaking as the other lords turned to stare at him. "This was not justice."
"You believe the King should've spared the Greyjoys?" Lord Hoster asked an unamused look on his face. "After all the Greyjoys have done to the Riverlands?"
"No. But they should've been executed. Not… not this."
Tywin scoffed at his words. "You're too soft on your enemies Lord Stark. Pray that you compassion doesn't come back to bite your face in the future."
Then Lord Tywin turned and walked out of the hall. Kevan Lannister following on his wake. With the other lords doing the same a moment later.
Within a few moments, the entire Great Hall was empty except for Lord Yohn Royce who came to stand beside him and continued to stare at the corpses of the Ironborn king and his heir.
"What do you think Lord Yohn?" He asked after a moment. "Do you think that what Robert did was right?"
Lord Yohn remained silent for a long moment before he replied. "I do not know. What his grace did was not honourable. But... war is not honourable. In fact, honour is often the first casualty in a war. And who am I to judge the King."
With those words, Lord You Royce turned and walked out of the Great Hall, leaving him alone with the two corpses to contemplate those words.
—
"You cannot be serious about this Robert!" He shouted and Robert glared at him.
"I can and I am. The Greyjoy line ends today. And that's final."
"They're kids! Are you going to dishonour yourself with the blood of children once again?"
"They're not children." Robert said, looking at him in annoyance. "The girl is Five and Ten years old. And the boy is Two and Ten. They're old enough to know between right and wrong."
"And old enough for you to smash their heads in. Is that what you want to say?"
"Aye! Old enough for me to smash their heads in. There! Are you satisfied now!"
"No!" He shouted but before he could say anything else, the flap of the large tent opened and Ser Preston Greenfield peeked inside to check if everything was alright.
"Fuck off!" Robert said, glaring at his Kingsguard and Preston quickly ducked out of the tent, leaving them alone to bicker with one another.
"You cannot mean to-"
"Shut up Ned"
"Robert. I won't let you kill-"
"Oh for gods sake. Shut your trap for once in your life and listen!" Robert shouted and his tirade came to a halt as he looked his friend. Truly looked at him.
Robert seemed tired. Not just physically or mentally tired. But a tiredness that went deep into his soul. As if he wanted to fall asleep and never wake up.
Robert plopped down on a chair and took out two cups before pouring Arbour gold into both the cups.
"Drink." Robert said as he passed one of the cup to him.
"I am not interest in-"
"Drink! Your King commands it."
He scowled at his childhood friend before he sighed and gulped down the contents of the cup before he glared at Robert once again.
"There. Are you calm now?" Robert asked, and his glare increased in intensity.
"Do I look calm to you?"
Robert sighed at his question. "No. I suppose not." He said before he finished his cup as well.
They sat in silence. And he waited for Robert to say his piece. But seconds passed and Robert continued to stare at his cup until his patience finally broke.
"Do you have anything to say or are you just buying time?" He asked and Robert glared at him.
"Fuck off Ned. I'm thinking." Robert said before he exhaled all fight seemed to have left him as he fell further back on his chair, his eyes still locked on the cup with a hollow gaze.
A long moment passed in between them before Robert took a breath and spoke up. "I almost lost my family."
He nodded at his friend's words. He was still in campaign deep in the Riverlands while the Battle of Kings Landing took place so he didn't knew the exact details of it. But he did hear numerous rumours about what happened. Even a song or two.
About how the Ironborn had broken inside the Red Keep. And how they would've breached Maegor's Holdfast and killed the Royal Family if the reinforcements were just a little late.
At the time when he heard of this, he was glad that Jon Arryn as well as everyone else of value had survived. But he'd forgotten to take into account just how this news would impact his friend.
In hindsight, that was foolish of him. If he he ever heard that Wildlings had breached Winterfell, and would've killed his family if not for reinforcements, then he couldn't even imagine how he would feel.
What a shallow friend he made. To not even give a single thought to his friend. Robert's rage and the gruesome deaths of the Balon and Maron Greyjoy made more sense now.
But… he still couldn't allow Robert to kill the children. Yes, what the Ironborn did was wrong. But two wrongs don't make a right.
He sighed and took a chair beside Robert before he took the pitcher and poured the wine into two more cups.
"They're safe now Robert. Your family is safe now." He said as both of them emptied their cups at once.
"So you say Ned, but are they?" Robert asked giving him a side glance. "What would happen to my family the next time someone decided to Rebel against the Iron Throne. What would happen if Viserys Targaryen returns to the Westeros with an army on his back."
"Then I'll be there to support you. As will everyone else who is loyal." He said with conviction.
Robert chuckled at his words. "Aye. Never change Ned. You're a fool. But you're also the best of us. Never change."
He stared at Robert. "Does that mean that you'll spare the kids?"
Robert sighed at his words. "I can't Ned. Even if I want to spare them, I can't. I need to make an example out of them. So that others will realise the price of rebelling against House Baratheon."
"Those are the words of Tywin Lannister."
"Aye. But Tywin knows how to keep his vassals in line." Robert said. "Do you think his lords would be as respectful of him as they are now if Tywin had spared the Tarbacks and the Reynes. If the singers didn't sing the 'Rains of Castamere' to anyone that'll listen."
"Perhaps not. But he would also not be disliked by everyone else." He said before he put a hand on Robert's shoulder. "Think Robert. Do you think that any single one of his lords would ever stand by his side if House Lannister ever fell into decline?"
"They will. Because they fear Tywin more than they fear their enemy."
"Is that all that you think of now. Fear. That if you terrify you vassals badly enough then they'll stay in line. Is that it?"
"What else do you want me to do Ned!?"
"Be yourself." He said "Be the man who defeated his enemies and then raised them up with the hand of friendship. Be the man you've always been. Not the man that others want you to be."
Robert looked stricken by his words and for the briefest of moment, it seemed as if he had reached his friend and dragged him out of his bottomless pit of self loathing.
But then Robert's eyes dimmed once again and he shook his head. "I can't Ned. I need to do this. I need to see this through or there's no point to any of this."
So that's what it'll come down to in the end.
He rose from his chair and looked down at his friend who seemed intent on avoiding his gaze.
"Robert. Look at me."
Robert did and he stared coolly at his long time friend.
"Do you remember that time 7 years ago. When we reached the Iron Throne, and you were presented with those cloaks by the Lannisters."
"Hard to forget something like that."
He nodded. "Do you remember how wroth I was with the death of those children?"
"They were Dragonspawn Ned… you need to-"
"Do You Remember, what I said to you before I departed?"
Robert licked his lips but nodded. "Aye. I do."
"I forgave you back then Robert, for I had lost my sister, and you had lost the woman you loved. We grieved together over her death. And I forgave you."
Robert remained silent at his words so he continued.
"These are kids you want to kill right now Robert. I joined you because it was my obligation. Because I swore an oath to you. And because I wanted to protect these lands from the Ironborn. I did not come here to murder children."
"They're not children Ned."
"I forgave you once Robert. But this time, there will no forgiveness on my part. Kill these children, and you'll destroy any semblance of friendship we ever had. Do this, and you'll lose the right to ever call me a friend, let alone a brother."
Robert stared at him and he stared back at his friend, resolute in his decision.
They continued to stare at each other until the flap of the tent opened and Stannis entered the room with two kids and a few guards.
"Your grace." Stannis said and only then did they break their stare down in order to glance at the commander of the Royal Fleet and the two children standing beside him.
True to Robert's words, the kids weren't truly kids. The girl was old enough to have been married off by now. And the boy was old enough to serve as a squire.
But that didn't mean that he'll condone them to their deaths. Or allow Robert to kill them without facing his displeasure.
The tent fell into silence once again as Robert stared at the two kids.
The older girl looked defiant despite being in the midst of enemies. No, she was ready to face her death and was doing her best to hide the fear she was feeling, while also trying to shield her little brother from them.
The younger boy was not as brave as his sister and there was a look of palpable fear on his face as he tried not to stare at anyone for too long.
Robert stood from his chair and picked up his Warhammer before he walked over to the kids.
The tension in the room increased as Robert raised his Warhammer…
And gently brought it down over the shoulder of the girl.
A silent moment passed before Robert sighed. "Very well, you honourable fool. I'll spare the kids."
The girl let out a relieve sigh at those words as Robert turned to face him. "But I can't just let them go without a suitable punishment either. So tell me, what kind of punishment would you suggest for these two."
He looked at the two children and thought of a few punishments until he settled on one that wasn't truly a punishment but should do the job well enough.
"You can send the kids to serve as wards for other lords until they come of age." He said. "Living under the roof of one of the Westerosi lords might instil some honour in them. And once they are of age, they can come and rule these Iron Islands."
"Wardship huh." Robert said as he stared at he two kids before he nodded. "Very well. You can have the boy."
He blinked at that and then pointed at himself. "Me?"
"Yes. This entire thing is your damn idea. So you might as well see it through." Robert said "You'll take the boy with you. See if you can turn in him into an honourable man. And when the time comes, he can come back and rule these blasted rocks however he wants."
He thought on it for a moment before he nodded. "I'm honoured with this task and will see it through the best of my abilities."
Then Robert turned to the girl and sighed. "Now what to do with you?"
The girl stared back at Robert unflinchingly. "I want to stay with my brother."
"And I wanted to marry Lyanna, and the not the bitch I'm currently saddled with." Robert replied. "Does this look like a world where we get what we want? No. You won't go with your brother."
"Then where do you want to send me?" The girl asked.
Instead of replying, Robert turned to look at him instead. "Well, what do you suggest Ned?"
He thought over all the options they had.
He won't send the girl to Tywin Lannister. He doubted that Tywin would lower himself to harm his own ward. But he still didn't feel it safe to send the girl to Tywin's halls.
He could send the girl to Lord Hoster Tully, but despite being his father-in-law, he never trusted that man. And despite what his family words might say, he doubted that Hoster Tully cared about family or honour. No, the girl won't go to that man if he had any say in it.
He could send the girl to Lord Yohn Royce. But despite how honourable the man was, and despite how well he led the Vale army in this war, Lord Yohn Royce was not the lord of a Great House. And sending the daughter of a Great House to the Lord of a Lesser House of another Kingdom would be seen as an insult.
He didn't even think of sending the girl to the Tyrells. As they're just as ambitious, grasping and honourless as his father-in-law Hoster Tully.
He also decided against sending her to Dorne. Not only did they not participate in this war. But sending Asha Greyjoy to them seems like a disaster waiting to happen.
The only option he could think in the end was Storms End. The origin of House Baratheon. And a place where the girl would be under the protection of a Great Lord.
The only problem here was that Renly was a young man. And sending the young woman from an enemy house, to a lord that young… it left him uncomfortable.
So what to do…
It was then that he looked at the stoic face of Lord Stannis Baratheon and realised that he had yet another option in front of him.
Sure Lord Stannis wasn't a great lord, but he was the brother of the King, which in some instances was an even greater seat.
And Lord Stannis was not a young man so he didn't need to worry about sending the young woman to his House either.
So after thinking on it for yet another moment, he nodded and looked at Robert.
"Well, here is what I think…"
...