Author's Note
Sorry it's a little late. My practical exams are going on and I forgot to post.
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Off the Coast of Lannisport, 289 AC
During the night a fleet with black sails silently crept on the unsuspecting fleet that was flying the banners of a gold lion on red, whose most of the crew was asleep and the few sentries posted were also half asleep. The fleet with sails crept closer, and its crew using ropes and wooden planks silently boarded the red sailed ships and started killing the sentries and then the crew in their sleep. By the time one of the sentries were able to sound the alarm most of their fleet was neutralised, looted and emptied.
Now that their cover was blown, they removed their black sails and hoisted the sails of a gold Kraken on black. This fleet was the fleet of the Iron Fleet of the Iron Islands, and the sails belonged to House Greyjoy whose lord was the Lord Reapers and the newly christened King Balon Greyjoy. And the one who was leading this fleet was none other than the youngest brother of the King, Victarion Greyjoy, captain of Iron Victory and Lord Captain of the Iron Fleet. And the fleet they just attacked was Lannister fleet stationed at Lannisport, whose lord was maybe one of the most ruthless men of Westeros, Tywin Lannister.
All the crew was called back, leaving a few who were ordered to set the ships on fire and ram the burning ships in the Lannisport and jumping into the sea just before the impact. When the men commanding the watchtower heard the warning bell being run from the fleet, they immediately woke up and looked at the sea to see their fleet burning and coming toward them. They tried to clear the port, but the ships came too fast and struck the port, burning wood and debris started flying everywhere, disorienting the Lannister men.
Taking advantage of the chaos, the ironborn landed on the shore and started attacking, looting, raping and burning the city of Lannisport. The city watch was too surprised and overwhelmed to mount a proper defense and the city kept burning, all the men that could be found were taken as Thralls, a fancy word for slaves, and the women as salt wife. And the men leading them was at the forefront of all this in his iron full body armor and kraken shaped helm.
Similar attacks were done on the Shield Island of the Reach who were defeated and captured but were able to pass the news to the mainland. This attack was led by Euron Greyjoy, the second of the Greyjoy brothers, on his ship Silence, named so because the whole crew had their tongues cut. When they came to attack the mainland, the Hightower navy was waiting from them and were able to repel them. They could not even reach the Arbor which was their initial plan. Well, it was a good thing for them otherwise they would have drawn another kingdom in this war of theirs.
Balon's eldest son, Rodrik Greyjoy led the attack on Seaguard Fortress and was able to defeat their small fleet but was not able to breach the city's defences which has been built keeping the ironborn in mind and were always cautious of an ironborn attack. Reluctantly, Rodrik had to resort to a siege of which the ironborn know nothing about, but he could not stay long lest support from the inland houses reach them, so he decided to try to scale the walls, but lost time and again when finally, Lord Jason Mallister, Lord of Seagard sallied out and was able to kill Rodrik Greyjoy in single combat. As the ironborn tried to retreat on their ships, the fleet of Mudds, of Muddhall previously known as the Oldstone came and were able to sink the poorly crewed ships of the ironborn. Few ships escaped and only because the Mudds can't give chase as they have to defend the coast now, as the Mallister Fleet has been destroyed.
Maron Greyjoy, the second son of Balon led the attack on the North. It has been a long time since the Ironborn have attacked the North and they have done poor scouting thinking that if they could bypass the Northern fleet for choping wood so easily than it is nothing to worry about. They were wrong. Lord Frost of Stony Shore, Lord Mormont of Bear Island and Lord Wolfe of Cape of Kraken were prepared for ironborn attack. All three location were prime target of ironborn. Along with them Ryswells of Rill, Dustin of the Barrows and the Winter Wolves at Sea Dragon Point were also pepared for an attack.
So, when he tried to use the same strategy here, that was used on Lannisters, he was surprised to find fresh and awake naval officers instead of sleeping men, as the Frosts have started to devide their men in the shifts for their navy and it was picked up by other lords as well. The various other battle groups of ironborn sent to Bear Island, Cape Kraken and Sea Dragon Point were also quickly routed out and thrown into the sea with minimal losses.
Line Break
A couple of days after the attack on the shore, almost a month after the Harvest Feast the much-awaited message of ironborn attacking the western coast with their ships bearing the ironborn banners came from Frosthold to Winterfell. So, Sam finally called Master Luwin and told him to send the already written messages of ironborn rebelling and calling the banners to put a stop to their rebellion. The Raven sent to Lord Manderly was slightly different as he was ordered to bring half of the eastern navy to the west coast through the Great Canal and protect the western as well as eastern coast from any further attack when the western fleet is attacking the iron islands. All the Lords were asked to come to their nearest western port and to meet at Cape Kraken at the fort Kraken's Bane of House Wolfe for final planning before attack.
Ned Stark was tasked with leading the men, around a third of northern forces, who could not come with the fleet to the Lannisport on foot and come from there with the King, Royal Fleet and Hightower Fleet. It was done so because Sam knew that Ned will never agree with what Sam wants to do. Rather than having dispute, it is better that he will be as far away from the task as possible.
And so, Sam went to the Frosthold and stayed there for a few days to wait for all the lords who will be using the port and took the fleet stationed there along with all the lords that came their and went to Kraken's Bane. He had also called for Leaf to come to the Fort so she can herself tell them about our plan. He stayed there for a few days till all the lords and their men came. After that the strategy was started to be discussed.
"My Lords, we have faced the ironborn time and again and have always thrown them back in the sea." Sam paused for the cheers to die down. "But it is getting repetitive. They attack us we repel them and attack them. How many Northern lives are lost in this. How many of women are raped in this. How many of our people became their thralls, a fancy word for slaves. I say no more. This time we will go there and will kill all of them above sixteen, kill every drowned priest, destroy any symbol of their religion." At that there was loud agreement from the lords. "Not only that, but we can use this for our purpose as well. I told you all in the last harvest feast that Earth Singers will be planting more Weirwood and Heart trees in the North. There is a condition for that. I will let Leaf herself explain this to you." Leaf came forward at that.
"My fellow lords, as you know the weirwood were there before even the First Men migrated here but growing them is not so simple as just planting seeds or saplings like other trees. Weirwoods take hundreds of years to mature fully, and it take more than a thousand-year-old, from the time it matured, weirwood to carve a face in it and make it a Heart Tree." She paused at that. "But there is a way to shorten this process to a handful of years and even allows us to carve the face in younger trees. Sacrifice, and not any ordinary sacrifice of an animal, they will not give the result we want but sacrifice of sentient life. If we sacrifice a human to a weirwood it will mature within 3-4 years and if we sacrifice enough, more than a hundred humans, than within the same time frame the same tree can be turned into a Heart Tree."
"If you can bring enough ironborn, no matter the condition they should be just alive to sacrifice, then they could be used for this purpose. And their Drowned Priests are worth even more. They could work for 5-10 humans alone. So, ten drowned priests can possibly be used to make a Heart Tree from a sapling and if we use the weirwood growing in the wild than even more. I will leave the choice to you." Leaf said and sat quietly. Loud whispering was heard but it was Lord Frost and Lord Wolfe that spoke up first.
"We have been facing their raids since our house was established. In that time period thousands of northern men and women have been taken as thralls and salt wives, and we were unable to do anything. Our lands were looted, pillaged and burnt but we couldn't do anything due to the dragons. What are you all thinking about when the retribution has finally come to their doorstep. What are they to us. Killing them all will lead to a safer coast and more trade for us only. It will give those who died as thralls and salt wives, solace. This is not genocide, this is justice." As they said that Lord Umber was the first to roar his approval, followed by Karstarks and Burleys and then all the Lords followed.
"So, it is decided, all the ironborn and Drowned Priest that are captured alive will be shipped here and will be sacrificed by Earth Singers to plant weirwood trees. Now, here is our plan of action, Lord Wolfe you will be attacking Blacktyde, once we gain a foothold there, Lord Frost you will lead the attack on Orkmont, Lord Umber you will be attacking Harlaw, Lord Karstark and Hornwood you will be attacking Great Wyk and I myself will be leading the attack on Old Wyk. Everyone choose the lords and men you will be needing to complete this task." Sam said. "Lord Manderly, you will use the eastern fleet you brought here for our coastal defence and will be in charge of ensuring the supplies reach us and shipping the ironborn captives."
"Yes, My lord." Lord Manderly said.
"For the North" Sam said raising his sword in the air.
"For the North" The cheer pick up and all that could be heard was.
"For the North"
"For Winterfell"
"For Winterfell"
"For Winterfell"
And with same cheer men started boarding the ships. After all the men boarded and the supplies were loaded, all the ships set sail for the Iron Islands to pay the vaunted iron price of the ironborn. While they men were boarding the ships, Sam went to discuss something with Leaf.
"Leaf can you and your people warg into animals from a long distance." Sam asked.
"If you want us to warg in iron islands than yes, we can. It will be taxing for long duration, but it can be done." Leaf said.
"Great. Then I want you to control rodents and insects to destroy their food reserves and water source. Only then can we completely wipe out the ironborn in time. I cannot take the risk of your people dying there, otherwise I would have taken you there to do this thing." Sam said
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Author's Note
Yes, the chapters have been shorter but bear with me.