Dragons and Thrones: A Dark Shadow Looms

Chapter 13 of my crossover story, enjoy.

Boris Yeltsin: Thanks.
raw666: Okay, you already asked this and I already answered it; they can't do anything at the moment they are still recovering and to try and help the Night's Watch would be to leave the North vulnerable to attack itself. Who is to say word has not already reached the Northern Lords, right now however, they are still recovering from the problems close to home they faced.
Thewritter1996: Thanks :)
Marina Ka-Fai: Thanks.
Wolfgirl2013: Thanks :)
coronadomontes: Thanks :)
Veridissima: Thanks; glad you enjoyed it :)

Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: Game of Thrones belongs to George R.R. Martin. Dragon Age belongs to Bioware.

Varric

Varric sighed and shook his head as Balon began issuing instructions to his daughter and others who were present; the Iron Islands were rallying for war.

'Rallying, without even knowing their opponent.' He reflected. 'They're either very brave or very foolish...I don't know which is worse.'

He knew he couldn't, shouldn't, stay silent about this. So he approached Balon.

"You're being very reckless here, Lord Balon." He remarked. "Is it common for you and your people to go charging out into battle without first knowing your enemy?"

Balon gave him a derisive sneer. "When I need your opinion, Dwarf, I will ask for it. We are Ironborn, on the water, we are unbeatable."

Varric shrugged. "Against other humans and I'd wager Dwarves and Elves too...But these enemies, don't fall under any of those categories."

"You think to tell me about battle, you think I cannot see just what I'm fighting?" Balon spat.

Varric shook his head. "Appearances are deceptive, they're not..."

Balon cut him off sharply. "Enough, I don't need anyone telling me how to defend my home. Now, stay here and watch as I show you how battle is fought. Then we'll discuss your deal for your Lyrium."

With that he left the room, accompanies by his warriors. Varric groaned, just hoping this bout of pig-headedness wouldn't get everyone killed.

Standing by a window which gave him the best possible view of the upcoming battlefield; Varric found he was not alone, he was joined by a man who he had heard of while here.

"Decided to watch as we send these foolish invaders to the Drowned God, Master Tethras?" He queried.

Varric shook his head. "No, Aeron, I came to watch as your brother gets sense beaten into him as this fleet of his is decimated by those monsters known as Red Templars."

Aeron scowled, instantly flaring up. "You dare have such a low opinion of us…?!"

"No; I simply know who you're fighting and know that right now, your brother is leading his forces into a trap." Varric replied as he watched.

The Ironborn fleet surged forwards towards part of the Red Templar fleet; aiming for two of the weakest ships.

Aeron grinned. "I see no trap, I see us exploiting a weak point in the enemy army."

Varric nodded. "True, because that's what they want you to see."

Aeron scoffed, but soon his mood changed as the first Ironborn ships reached the two smaller Red Templar vessels.

It soon became clear that the two vessels were in fact empty; of Red Templars at least.

With a powerful blast, both ships suddenly exploded, destroying the attacking Ironborn ships completely and damaging those nearby, the explosion had come from Red Lyrium set up within the ships to blow up, the moment the ships were rammed by the enemy.

The damaged ships were crippled and as such, the Red Templar attack vessels soon caught them and began fighting.

"What did I tell you." Varric replied. "An out and out massacre now."

It was truly a massacre, the Red Templars were merciless and destroyed the ships they attacked, killing everyone on board. It was only after such slaughter that Balon seemed to realize his hard losses and call a retreat. Aeron stood frozen, in utter shock as Varric turned to him and raised an eyebrow.

"Well; I guess your Drowned God didn't protect those men." He remarked. "Perhaps you'll all be more willing to listen to me now."

Aeron just glared and followed Varric as they made their way down to meet up with the defeated army.

Varric sat calmly, checking his latest work. It had been two days since the battle, since then, there had been no further attempts to fight. The Red Templars seemed to be holding back for some reason and not attacking either.

Supplies were limited due to the blockade set up by their enemies. But Varric had put this time to productive use, explaining and even, where he could, demonstrating the value of Lyrium. His latest work was a host of Lyrium bombs.

"You are certain these will help us in battle?" Balon inquired; still in a foul mood.

Varric turned to him. "So long as they're used correctly; I'd say they'd about even the odds."

He looked around at the other people in the room; the only one who had spoken to him on a regular basis was Asha. The others remained distant or, in Aeron's case, hostile.

"Something troubles you Master Tethras. Just say it." Victarion said at that point.

Varric sighed but nodded; recently he had indeed been troubled. "I've been hearing a lot about you and your people, your way of life so to speak...Quite frankly I'm appalled."

That drew gasps from those gathered and many glared.

"You dare insult us!" Balon thundered. "We do not idly..."

Varric rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes, blah, blah, blah, Iron Price and all that. That there is your problem, your so called Iron Price...How massively flawed it is."

"It is our way of life, we…!" Balon shot back."

But Varric had decided enough was enough.

He stood up and explained.

"You are enslaving people; destroying their lives for your own amusement." He spat. "You do all this, then wonder why no one respects you all; why they treat you the way you do. It's because you are all nothing but a bunch of sea-faring gang-raping slavers...Maybe you deserve to be left to this fate."

Any other time, Varric would have held his tongue, or put some poetic spin on his response.

But after learning about the Ironborn history, he was disgusted and beyond enraged. He also knew that he was safe, for he had in fact crafted only one Lyrium bomb, if he was killed; they wouldn't be able to get any others, or even the Lyrium itself.

His helpers were under strict instructions, should anything happen to him, the ships were to be destroyed, taking the Lyrium with them. He noted however that his words seemed to have had an actual effect.

At least on Asha and Victarion who both looked troubled and seemed to give serious thought to his words. Balon, upon hearing this, merely sighed and turned away. It was, predictably, Aeron who immediately tried to challenge Varric.

"You dare, Dwarf, you cannot think to get away with this; the Drowned God gifted us with our strength, our Iron Price, everything, yet..." He thundered, clearly trying to offer that as proof.

Varric however smirked. "Really; I see...So you follow a God that demands you enslave and murder people, pillaging like a common bandit...Just like those Red Templars out there; so eager to commit genocide, in the service of their 'God'...The very being I told you about, Corypheus."

That drew a very tense silence.

Again Varric could see his words had an effect; now Aeron looked troubled and had clearly no further words to add. However there was no time to dwell or think, for at that moment they received word, the Red Templars had readied themselves for attack, the battle was due to begin again soon.

End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.