Chapter 23: The Kraken's Due and the Wolf-Lord's Laurels
The journey back to Winterfell was a triumphal procession. Lord Aelyx Volmark, accompanied by his heir Torrhen, and his now-renowned warrior children, Visenya and Maegor – the 'Ice Witch of Skagos' and the 'Skagosi Berserker Prince' as Northern balladeers were already beginning to call them – were met with cheering crowds in every village and holdfast they passed. The news of the overwhelming victory at Torrhen's Square, the annihilation of Dagon Greyjoy's fleet, and the capture of the Reaver King himself, had spread like wildfire, fanned by the tales of the Volmark fleet's prowess and the seemingly divine storm that had sealed the Ironborn's doom. Aelyx, ever the master of appearances, accepted the adulation with a grave, humble dignity, always redirecting praise to the courage of his Skagosi warriors, the resilience of the Northern people, and the wise leadership of King Torrhen Stark.
Winterfell itself was ablaze with light and celebration when they arrived. The grimness of the war council had been replaced by an air of jubilant relief. Banners of all the great Northern houses fluttered from the battlements, but the wolf-and-kraken of House Volmark was displayed with particular prominence beside the direwolf of Stark. King Torrhen Stark, his stern face softened by a rare, broad smile, greeted Aelyx not merely as a kinsman and vassal, but as the North's savior.
The Great Hall, scene of the tense war council weeks earlier, was now transformed for a victory feast of epic proportions. Torches blazed, casting flickering light on the ancient tapestries depicting Stark heroes of old. The long tables were laden with the bounty of a grateful North: whole roasted oxen, herds of deer, mountains of game pies, and rivers of ale and strong Northern wine. Minstrels sang new, hastily composed epics of the defeat of the Ironborn, their verses invariably highlighting the valor of the Skagosi fleet and the almost supernatural fortune that seemed to follow Lord Volmark.
Aelyx and his children were seated at the high table, in the places of highest honor beside King Torrhen, Lady Arra, and their sons. Lyanna, Aelyx explained with feigned regret, was still recovering from the recent birth of their newest son (another fabrication to explain her absence while she managed Skagos and their younger children) but sent her deepest respects and joy at the North's victory.
The feast began with a solemn toast, led by King Torrhen, to the fallen – Northmen and Skagosi alike – who had given their lives to repel the Kraken's scourge. Then, the mood lightened, and the celebration began in earnest. Speeches flowed as freely as the wine. King Torrhen rose, his voice booming through the hall.
"My lords, ladies, warriors of the North!" he declared, his gaze sweeping over the assembled nobility. "Tonight, we feast not just to celebrate a bountiful harvest, but to hail a great victory! The Ironborn, those wolves of the sea, who have plagued our shores for generations, came seeking to bleed us, to plunder our homes, to carry off our people. They found not timid sheep, but a united North, a land of unbroken spirit and unyielding steel!"
A roar of approval answered him.
"Many brave Northmen fought and fell to protect our homes," the King continued, his voice tinged with emotion. "We honor them. Houses Mormont, Glover, and the stalwart defenders of Torrhen's Square stood firm against the tide. Lord Manderly's ships patrolled our waters with diligence. But let no man doubt that the decisive blow, the crushing defeat of Dagon Greyjoy and his cursed armada, was delivered by the might and foresight of our noble kinsman and staunchest vassal, Lord Aelyx Volmark of Skagos, and his indomitable fleet!"
All eyes turned to Aelyx, who inclined his head with perfect, modest deference.
"Lord Volmark," King Torrhen said, his voice resonating with sincere gratitude, "warned us of the coming storm. He offered his counsel, his wealth, and the unmatched strength of his Skagosi warriors and ships. His children, young Lord Torrhen, the fierce Lady Visenya, and the valiant Lord Maegor, fought with the courage of true Northern heroes, their names already legend. And when the final battle was joined at Torrhen's Square, it is said the Old Gods themselves unleashed a storm of an intensity not seen in living memory, a storm that shattered the Ironborn and delivered them into our hands. Truly, the gods favor our alliance with House Volmark!"
Aelyx rose, the cheers echoing around him. "Your Grace, my lords," his voice, calm and resonant, cut through the adulation. "You honor House Volmark beyond its due. We did but our duty, as loyal subjects of the King of Winter, as kinsmen to the noble House Stark, as sons and daughters of the North. The true victory belongs to the unbreakable spirit of the Northern people, to the valor of every warrior who stood against the reavers, from the shores of Bear Island to the walls of Torrhen's Square. The storm at the battle's height was indeed a marvel; let us offer thanks to the Old Gods, whose protection extends to all who dwell beneath their ancient gaze. Skagos is but a part of the North, and its strength will always be at the service of its King and its people."
His humility, his deflection of divine credit, and his emphasis on unity played perfectly to the Northern lords. He was not just powerful; he was wise, respectful of their traditions, and, seemingly, blessed by their gods.
The feasting and revelry continued late into the night, but the following days were dedicated to the more formal proceedings of victory: the division of spoils and the bestowing of rewards.
The spoils of war from the Ironborn were, in truth, somewhat meager in terms of intrinsic value to Aelyx, who possessed the Philosopher's Stone. There were several dozen captured Ironborn longships, mostly damaged. Their weapons and armor were generally crude compared to Skagosi or even standard Northern steel. The true prize was the crushing of their naval power and the liberation of Northern captives and goods.
In a grand assembly in Winterfell's courtyard, King Torrhen Stark presided over the division. He decreed that the captured longships, once repaired, would be distributed among the western lords who had suffered most, to form the nucleus of a more permanent coastal watch – though all knew the Volmark fleet remained the true maritime shield. Aelyx, when offered his pick, selected only five of the sturdiest longships, claiming he wished to study their unique construction for "improving Skagosi fishing vessel designs." In reality, they would be taken back to Skagos, dissected by his house-elf engineers, their secrets of speed and shallow-draft navigation analyzed and potentially incorporated into future, specialized Skagosi craft for his hidden purposes.
Recovered plunder – sacks of grain, bolts of cloth, livestock, and household goods stolen by the Ironborn from Northern settlements – was meticulously returned to its original owners or their kin, a task overseen by Maester Walys and stewards from various houses, including a discreet contingent from House Volmark ensuring fairness and efficiency. Freed thralls, their faces etched with trauma but also dawning hope, were given aid and passage back to their homes, or, if their homes were destroyed, offered sanctuary and a new life on Skagos by Lord Volmark's agents – an offer many gratefully accepted.
The greatest "spoil," Dagon Greyjoy himself, along with a score of his most notorious surviving captains, was paraded in chains before the assembled lords. The Reaver King, once so arrogant, was now a broken, filthy wreck, his eyes filled with a mixture of defeated rage and terror. King Torrhen Stark, his voice like cracking ice, condemned them all to death for their crimes against the North. Dagon Greyjoy and his chief lieutenants were to be beheaded in Winterfell's square, their heads then sent to adorn the walls of Torrhen's Square, Bear Island, and other ravaged settlements as a grim warning. The lesser captains and crewmen who had been captured were offered a choice: the Wall, or a swift death. Most chose the cold, lonely life of a black brother. Aelyx observed these proceedings with a detached interest, noting the raw, brutal justice of the North.
Then came the bestowing of rewards and honors by King Torrhen. To Lady Lyra Mormont, for her island's valiant stand, went a substantial chest of Skagosi silver (a gift from Aelyx, presented through the King to enhance Stark magnanimity) to aid in rebuilding, and a personal gift of a finely crafted weirwood shield from the King, its boss a snarling bear's head. Other western lords who had fought bravely received similar tokens of recognition and aid.
But the highest honors were reserved for House Volmark. King Torrhen, in a formal proclamation, declared Aelyx Velaryon, Lord Volmark of Skagos, the "Shield of the Sunset Sea" and "First Sentinel of the North," titles honorific yet carrying immense prestige. He reaffirmed all previous grants and trade concessions to House Volmark and added new ones, giving Skagosi merchants preferential access to certain Northern resources and markets. He gifted Aelyx a magnificent ancestral Stark greatsword, 'Winter's Bite,' its ancient pommel a snarling direwolf, a blade said to have been wielded by Kings of Winter in ages past.
To Torrhen Volmark, the King bestowed the title of "King's Envoy to the Western Marches," acknowledging his crucial role in diplomacy and coordination, and gifted him a fine Northern destrier and a suit of newly forged Stark plate armor. For Visenya and Maegor Volmark, their battlefield prowess now legendary, King Torrhen had no traditional Northern honor quite fitting for young warrior-lords who were also, in Visenya's case, a lady. Instead, he presented them each with a personal banner, woven by the ladies of Winterfell: Visenya's a silver direwolf on a stormy sea, Maegor's a bronze wolf amidst shattered kraken shells. They were also granted honorary captaincies in the (largely symbolic) "King's Western Fleet," acknowledging their naval commands under their father. These honors further cemented the Volmark children's places within the Northern aristocracy.
Aelyx accepted these accolades with his customary grace and humility, reiterating his unwavering loyalty. But during the private audiences and less formal gatherings that followed, he was hard at work. He met with Lord Manderly to discuss expanding Skagosi trade through White Harbor, offering investment from the "Heir's Hoard" to dredge the harbor deeper and build new warehouses. He spoke with Lord Karstark about joint ventures to exploit the ironwood forests bordering his lands, with Skagosi gold funding the operation. He even had a surprisingly productive, if chillingly polite, conversation with Roose Bolton, discussing "matters of internal security and the swift administration of justice," each man recognizing in the other a shared appreciation for ruthless efficiency, though their ultimate aims were vastly different. Aelyx was weaving a web of economic and political influence, ensuring that Skagos's prosperity and security were inextricably linked with that of the most powerful Northern houses.
He also made a grand gesture towards the rebuilding of the western coasts, publicly pledging a vast sum from the "Heir's Hoard" – ten thousand golden dragons – to a fund administered by King Torrhen for the relief of ravaged communities and the strengthening of their defenses. This act of extraordinary generosity silenced any lingering whispers about Skagosi wealth and cemented Lord Volmark's image as a true benefactor of the North. The gold, of course, was a triviality to him, but its impact on his standing was immeasurable.
The tales of the Battle of Torrhen's Square, particularly the "miraculous storm," grew with each telling. Minstrels composed ballads, some attributing the storm to the direct intervention of the Old Gods, angered by the Ironborn sacrilege; others whispered that Lord Volmark himself, with his Valyrian blood, possessed some hidden mastery over the elements, a notion Aelyx subtly discouraged when it grew too specific, preferring the vaguer, more awe-inspiring aura of divine favor. The legend of House Volmark, the North's staunchest defender, blessed by gods and gold, was now indelibly etched into the Northern consciousness.
Internally, Aelyx was deeply satisfied. The Ironborn War had achieved all his primary objectives. The immediate threat was eliminated. Skagos's (public) military and economic power was demonstrated and respected. His influence over the Northern lords was significantly enhanced. His children had performed exceptionally, gaining invaluable experience in command and diplomacy. And most importantly, his true, magical power remained a closely guarded secret, its occasional, deniable manifestations only adding to his mystique and the perception of divine blessing.
As he, Torrhen, Visenya, and Maegor finally prepared to depart Winterfell, laden with honors and the profound gratitude of the North, Aelyx looked towards the future. The vision of Aegon's Conquest, decades away but inexorably approaching, remained a stark reminder that greater challenges lay ahead. This victory over the Ironborn was but one successful campaign in a war that spanned centuries, a war for the survival and ultimate ascendancy of his hidden, eternal dynasty. The North was now a secure, loyal, and increasingly dependent power base. It was time to return to Skagos, to the dragons, to the sanctuary, and to the quiet, patient work of preparing for a future where true dragons, not just krakens of salt and iron, would once again dance in the skies of Westeros. The Wolf-Lord had earned his laurels; the Dragonlord now looked to a vaster, more fiery horizon.