Tenth Month of 285 A.C. The Narrow Sea
Lord Stannis Baratheon
A war, two years since the rebellion had ended, and here they were at war again. Though Stannis supposed they were not truly at war not properly. An alliance of pirates led by one Saaladhor Saan had formed together in the straits of the world and had come together with one mission to take the Stepstones. Normally this would be the work of the free cities, but they were all too busy fighting one another over land or some such mediocre thing. Initially Robert was not going to bother doing anything, but then when word reached them that Valerion Dracaerys the infamous and most feared pirate king of all was setting sail and had in fact taken Tarth and put it to the sword, that was when Robert's wrath had been invoked. And this was the reason Stannis had manned the royal fleet and they were setting sail for Tarth they just had to get past the bloody pirates first.
There were other things that being at sea gave Stannis to think about. Life at court was hell, all the intrigues and fools and flatterers trying to worm their way into Robert's good books by giving him their daughters and their wine and their food. Stannis was surprised there weren't more bastards roaming around King's Landing. And then there were the Lannisters, golden haired menaces clawing their way into the Red Keep and court, filling the king's ear with poison and sweet talk. He was sure it was the Lannister woman who had convinced Robert to give Storm's End to Renly and Dragonstone to Stannis, why else would his brother be so foolish as to ignore the work and the right for Stannis to hold their ancestral seat. So many grievances and not enough time to address them just now.
"My lord, the enemy has been sighted 2 miles south of our current position." His squire Ser Andrew Estermont says.
Stannis nods and then says. "Send for Lord Laenor Velaryon."
Andrew nods and then walks away returning a few moments later with the lord of the Driftmark. A snivelling man who Stannis distrusts entirely. "Lord Laenor, what reports do your men have of the enemy?"
The man is silent for a long time before he finally says. "They hold some 50 war ships and that number is growing in counting, as they take trade ships. Soon enough their numbers will match our own."
"And what of their commander? Is this Pirate King Saan here?" Stannis asks.
"I… I know not my lord." Lord Laenor says.
Stannis grits his teeth then. "And what of your cousin the traitor Lucerys? He has made his living as a sell sail now has he not? Will he be here for the battle? I am sure you two still keep in touch no?"
The man begins stuttering and stammering. "My lord…. I would never keep in contact with a traitor. My cousin has broken his ties with my family. And we have broken our ties with him."
"And yet you were hesitant to bring your modest fleet to the king's aid when he called for his loyal lords to do him service. Why would you be hesitant unless you knew something?" Stannis asks.
Lord Laenor has no answer for that except to say. "My cousin was a lickspittle who did what he could to gain favour and power in Aerys court. He has always been a grasping man. I know not whether he will be here, but if he is, I promise you it will be me who kills him."
Stannis snorts at that. "And become a kinslayer? I highly doubt it. You Velaryons have too much pride and honour to allow for that. Now leave me before I begin questioning you again."
Velaryon nods and bows out, and soon enough his squire returns. "A message from Ser Davos my lord. It would appear that the pirate alliance is moving quicker than they had first thought. Battle has engaged on the right side. And there are likely to be more ships coming in from the left."
Stannis curses under his breath and says. "Summon Lord Celtigar I would hear his views on this matter."
Lord Adrian Celtigar waddles over some five minutes later and asks. "You sent for me, my lord?"
"Yes. You have fought in a number of naval battles my lord. I would know what you think of this new information. Ser Davos reports that the pirate alliance has engaged in fighting with our fleet on the right. He believes there will be fighting on the left soon enough. How soon and with what intensity will the pirates attack do you think?" Stannis asks.
Lord Adrian is an old man, but he has vast seems of knowledge which comes into play now. "I do believe that they will break up into two different parts, and attack us from the right and centre. As they have already attacked the right, they will need to break us on two different fronts. This is clearly a diversion tactic, to slow us down and to figure out where King Robert is. I suggest leading a forward assault and actively searching them out."
"Would we not just be falling into their trap then my lord?" Stannis asks.
"Yes and no. We would not need to bring the full might of the fleet with us. We could not do that anyway, for the right is under attack. The left and the centre however would be divided into two separate parts. As you have command over the flagship of the fleet take lead of the centre and give command of the left to Velaryon and allow him to serve as a distraction." Celtigar says.
"Velaryon? Why on earth should I trust that man with such an important task?" Stannis asks incredulously.
"Because that way the man will be doing something important but running right into the storm. Better to see him off and dead, than allow him to commit treason later on in the battle." Lord Adrian reasons.
Stannis is about to respond when he hears a deckhand shout. "Enemy ships starboard bound. 50 of them."
Stannis sighs then and says. "I guess we are about to find out the truth behind their strength."
With that both men part ways, Stannis barks out orders for his armour and for preparations of the battle to come, and sure enough when the first ships begin throwing arrows at them and other such things, he and his men are ready for them. It begins with arrows and rocks being hurled to and throw, Stannis sees enemy ships breaking and being brought down low under the weight of the rocks being thrown at them. Soon enough, when enough ships have been brought down and they are close enough for actual hand to hand combat, Stannis draws his sword out and roars a command.
The enemy descends on them two and three at a time, swinging their swords and their weapons in a mad frenzy, Stannis has never understood the enjoyment his brother and uncle got from battle, and now in this moment he thinks he understands some of it. Swinging his sword, hacking and slashing, cutting, ducking and dodging. Sparks fly as steel clashes on steel, hacking and using all of his strength to do damage to the pirates coming at him as hard as they can, he swings and dents a few men's armours, killing more and more men as the battle progresses. Seeing the light leave their eyes is an unnerving experience and one that he hopes he never has to live through again and yet he continues swinging his sword, cutting and hacking through men left, right and centre. His sword is covered in blood as he progresses through the masses, the Fury is where he stands, pushing men back with his men and not allowing them to progress further then where they board.
Stannis and his men manage to break through the frenzy and begin the retaliation onto enemy ships. Stannis cuts through a lynseni man and then begins swinging his sword again, losing track of the faces of his opponents. Swinging his sword, hacking and slashing, putting one foot in front of the other becomes more important than remembering the faces of the dead. But the enemy it seems have picked up on what Stannis is about, for they begin ducking around his blows and feinting left, right and centre, attacking him and his men as they progress through the battle and the different ships. He takes a fair few hits as the pirates retaliate, his movements become slower as the battle progresses, his armour stained red with blood and brown with mud. The battle wages on and Stannis knows that one of the two forces will need to break soon enough, or they will not be able to keep fighting.
Stannis eventually comes face to face with a big brute of a man swinging an axe, who with three or four blows manages to knock Stannis to the ground, and just when the killing blow is about to come he blacks out. When he comes to, it is clear that the battle has ended, the sound of swords clashing against one another is no longer there, but the drifting of the sea is also no longer there. He starts when he hears a voice say. "At least you are finally awake now Lord Stannis."
"Where am I?" Stannis asks, unable to clearly see the person he is talking to.
"Oh you're on an island, far away from King's Landing and the battles that brought you here have ended rather badly for your king." The voice says once more.
"What do you mean? Who are you?" Stannis asks, through the throbbing pain in his head.
"Why my lord, you are in a safe place and that is all you need to know. As to who I am, well surely you must recognise my voice? Then again you were but a child when your father brought you to court last." The man says. Before a torch is lit and Stannis sees silver hair and violet eyes. "Lucerys Velaryon at your service."
"I had thought you were turning tricks in the basilisk Isles my lord. What are you doing here?" Stannis asks calmly.
"Why I have come to question you about your brother my lord." Velaryon says with a smile, before drawing a dagger out of somewhere and advancing towards Stannis. "Now answer me truthfully and I shall not have cause to injure you too much. Answer me wrongly however," the dagger drags across Stannis's skin and grits his teeth.
"What do you wish to know?" he asks.
"Where is your brother planning now that the royal fleet is through the straits?" Velaryon asked.
"I do not know." Stannis says, for truly he doesn't.
The knife drags across his skin, drawing more blood and he grits his teeth. "I know you are lying Stannis. You are his master of ships, you would know. Now think hard."
"I know not. All I know is what I was commanded to do. Take the fleet to the Stepstones and defeat Saan." Stannis says.
"Saan? Your brother was worried about Saan? That man is a glory hunter who wanted the Stepstones so he could go back to Braavos and fuck the Sealord's daughter. No other reason he is not the true threat." Velaryon says, and then the dagger drags across Stannis's skin. "But you knew that didn't you. Where was your brother intent on going? Tarth?"
Gritting his teeth, Stannis responds. "I know not what my brother was planning on doing. Why are you so interested anyway?"
He can feel the dagger drawing more and more blood from his skin. Velaryon smiles and the smile is slightly mad looking. "Wouldn't you like to know my lord? An eye for an eye. You tell me and I'll tell you."
Stannis grits his teeth. "I am telling you I know not what my brother was planning. Nor would I tell you if I knew."
Velaryon smiles and this time plunges the dagger into his face when he says. "Wrong answer."