A/N 1:This has been rewritten as of 13/11/18. To Ara, the light of my life 😊
On a dark, stormy night a squadron of warships made their way to the outer realm of the westerlands, the wind and rain driving them on as if the drowned god himself were personally escorting them.
On one of the ships, Lord Bydern Blacktyde was personally going over the strategies his close chain of command were coming up with while receiving and sending messengers to relay their plans to the other ships via lantern signals.
With everything sorted out a while later, Bydern excused himself and went to get some fresh air. Travelling down the corridor he saw his various crew checking their weapons and mock fighting each other.
If you were to ask his most trusted friends what his attributes and personality were they'd say he was a credit to his house; shrewd, energetic, witty and a follower of the status quo. He was a young man, with black hair cut tidily, brown eyes that didn't miss a trick and an unremarkable nose and mouth.
Once outside in the turbulent wind and rain, he felt refreshed and ready for whatever may come. Going to the bow of the ship and returning the salutes his crew and junior officers gave to him, he saw Crakehall for the first time.
He'd read about the castle, terrain and inhabitants from reports sent by spies and rangers but with it looming ahead and in such foul weather, he felt a hint of doubt.
No, I won't let it show, Bydern thought fiercely, I'll just visualise the attack as it'll go. He pictured his ships each offering a salvo of broadsides in the castle's direction, mercilessly reducing their defenses.
Then, with a ship offering covering fire, the rest of his ships sailed and docked on the shore. With that, the men would begin to form up, officers and NCOs keeping them in line while issuing orders. The reserve ship would stop and join in shortly, while on shore the men there would fast march under covering musket and bow fire.
Victory was assured, his plan was tactically sound and allowed for enough wiggle room should things go wrong.
As it turned out, that was the result. Every man doing their part to dominate the battle and all while keeping disciplined as the adversary turned tail and ran or fought on desperately, their numbers ever dwindling.
Now only a few pockets of separated resistance was holding the ironborn and their allies off from total victory, but not for long.
As Bydern explored a recently captured section of the castle he came across a hidden door that his crew somehow missed. With a breath to prepare himself, he lifted his one-sided axe and brought it down, crashing close to the door lock.
After a few tries he pushed the door open and took in his surroundings. Seeing only a young woman standing frozen in fear with a bucket in her hands close to her chest, he walked over to her, keeping his intimidating mask on while brandishing his axe.
The woman was wearing a long dress colored green that may have been more prominent but repetitive washing had faded the color. Her hair was like liquid mahogany flowing down to her shoulders. Sea green eyes, a slightly large nose and lips that quirked up a little when relaxed, as if ready to bestow a smile at any moment, rounded out her features.
Snapping out of her fear and looking at the bucket in her hands, she flung it at him. He was moving out of the way when he was hit by slippery water, covering the whole front and side of him and making him drop his axe. Trying to get his footing back, he slipped and fell, hitting his head and making him see blurry images.
"Ahhh... " Bydern groaned, feeling nausea every time he tried to focus his eyes. He saw some one moving into vision and kneeling down, get something from their right side.
This is it, Bydern thought, I'm about to die. The anger he felt to be undone here gave him the strength to try and rise up, but after feebly trying to get up and looking like a landed fish, he gave up and fell back down with a soft splash.
He heard suppressed laughter coming from the person and, with his vision less erratic, distinguished that the sound was coming from the woman, covering her mouth with both her hands, one of which was holding a tablecloth.
"What's so funny?" he asked slowly, trying to get his thoughts in order. That fall must've scrambled my brain worse than I thought, he remarked silently.
"I've just never seen anyone flail so badly before." She replied still chuckling, the sound filling the room.
She got herself under control and leaning over him, cloth in hand, checked his head for any bumps or bleeding and clumsily drying his hair and face. When she felt nothing threatening but a small bump to his head, she got back up and moved to the door, barricading it as best she could.
When she had leaned over him, Bydern had been frozen by her captivating beauty, her caring expression and gentle treatment of him. She can't be that bad, Bydern thought, she could've killed me when I was disoriented. He couldn't understand why she'd still help him when she was threatened like that a moment ago.
The more he thought about it the more he got confused. He let out a growl of frustration and closed his eyes. Trying to still his turbulent thoughts.
A moment later he heard her move back to his side. "I just wanted to close the door so none of your raiders could barge in and see you this way. They'd surely laugh at you." She said truthfully. "I've seen the struggle for power you nobles get up to, and I can tell which choices can be beneficial and which ones aren't."
Hearing her wise words, he finally snapped out of his thoughts and opened his eyes, seeing her look at him. "You're very perceptive." He appreciated. "What's your name? So I can recall the flower who doesn't only attract with her beauty but also offers such fragrant breaths."
She blushed slightly before saying, "my name's Darnella and I'm not as wise as you may think. Are you going to hurt me?" she whispered fearfully.
"No," Bydern replied thoughtfully, "you helped me. And there's just something special about you that I don't what to see get lost to the evils of the world. I'm still a little sore right now but I'll make sure you come to no harm in my care." He stated honestly. "My name's Bydern by the way."
They gazed into each others eyes seeing honesty, fear and something more. That was all she needed to see to trust him, and standing up and offering her hand, he grabbed onto it like a lifeline.
With help from her he got his footing back and offered her his cloak in exchange, hiding her features from the ransacked world she'd suddenly found herself in. And together, with an arm around each other, they cleared the door and made their way outside.
A/N 2: If you have the time please review my work and let me know what you think, good or bad. Thanks