Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Game of Thrones.

Sorry that this chapter was delayed but it will probably be a bit longer between updates for awhile as I have had some issues with my real life and they need to be dealt with promptly. Sorry! Especially to those that reviewed the last chapter, you guys are the best!

This chapter will be quite fast paced and I have brought forward a few events to get the story moving. The first part of the chapter deals with everything else that is going on before going to Harry in the second.

I have also made some changes to House Hightower, Lord Leyton is still in charge but he has three sons and a daughter in this order; Baelor, Gunthor, Garth and Alysanne. Lynesse was a cousin to them.

Chapter 21 – Iron Born Rising

A month later

Winterfell, the North…

The casket containing the body of Eddard Stark had arrived, Bran and Rickon looked on the body of their father with tears in their eyes as did most of the castle. The much respected ad honoured lord that they had served was dead long before his time and the sight of his two young sons so sad when they should have been so full of life at their age, sorrow seemed to surround them especially Bran who of course could no longer walk or run.

A letter was handed to each of them, their father's words.

To my brilliant son Bran,

When these words reach you I will be long dead.

But do not mourn for me, live for me. That might be a strange thing to say but I want my children to live their lives and only join me where I now watch over you when you are a grown man who has done all he could in his life. Your will is stronger than any man that I have ever met, to survive what you did and wake up from a sleep that everyone thought was forever but I know you can overcome any challenge you are set. I only wish I could say more but I fear that my time is short and there is not enough parchment in the world for all I wish to say.

Know that I love you and will always be proud of you.

Your father.

Bran felt tears well up in the corner of his eye and Rickon at his side was just the same as he read his own letter. The two brothers hugged to comfort each other and swore a silent oath together that they would honour their father.

-x-

Not far away a Greyjoy son was plotting to take Winterfell to prove himself to a father that had no love for him at all and was impossible to reason with in his own ego, especially after his sister Yara had taken Moat Cailin and Deepwood Motte and would surely be the favoured sibling when they both returned to Pyke.

But Theon would soon be followed to Winterfell by a quiet and subservient bastard that was in reality anything but with a pack of rabid hounds.

A week later

The Golden Tooth, the Westerlands...

Robb sat at the table a week later of the solar he had commandeered after taking the castle, he looked at the letter from the North telling him of the Iron Born invasion even the capture of Winterfell and the murder of his younger brothers. His anger rose inside him like the wolf's snarl that his house used as its symbol, he had treated Theon like a brother and he had been betrayed. Already he had sent men back to the North to force the Iron Born from his homeland via ships at Port Maril which would sail them to White Harbour.

A letter was brought to him by the castle's maester, he opened it and was struck dumb by the words inside.

Robb,

I hope these words reach you before too long, I know that I am not long for this world and there is so much to say.

First of all know that I love you and a man could not be prouder of his son than I am of you, you are calm and steady with a genius on the battlefield that rivals Robert Baratheon or Randyll Tarly but I beg you my son be careful. Snakes rarely let you know that they are there before they bite you and you will no doubt have many around you so be careful.

Be fair to your men, we are all but humans with our flaws and everyone makes mistakes. Honour and justice sometimes must take a step back to see what the needs of the situation are. Trust your own judgement but temper it with patience and wisdom, safeguard yourself with the wisdom of your councillors.

You will be a fine lord of our home and of the North, I will be watching you from the hereafter with the rest of our family. I only wish I could help you more but my time grows short, do not worry for Arya she is safe as I can only hope Sansa is.

Your loving father.

Robb sat back in his chair, stunned. He had no idea how his father had died only that his body had arrived at Winterfell awhile ago and letters announcing it had reached him before that, that it said that Arya was safe did seem strange but welcome to him. Sansa he knew was a prisoner of the Lannisters and he had thought Arya was too but his father said otherwise, Robb was not sure that he believed that but he trusted his father's word.

That he had lived long enough to make this short letter was a blessing and curse, that he and Arya too it seemed had been rescued from imprisonment at the hands of the Lannisters unlike his other sister and hopefully been free of pain and torment was news that calmed his troubled mind. However the weight of expectation to live up to what his father had believed he could.

Castle Darry, the Riverlands…

Castle Darry was an old, small but simple castle, built in the days of the Andals arrival in Westeros and it had been the seat of House Darry for centuries and even after their decision to fight for the dragon during Robert's Rebellion it had remained their home, until it was seized by the Lannisters in their initial invasion of the Riverlands and its lord killed his sons only alive because they had been squiring for Lord Boros Wallian at the time.

As night fell grain supplies arrived at the castle to feed the garrison left by the Lannisters after they had taken Darry, no one questioned the men that delivered the large sacks or bothered to check them as they had the orders in hand signed by their own liege Lord Brax.

So in the dead of night in the storeroom, no one noticed when the sacks began to move and men pulled themselves out of the bags. Then they made their way to gates as the majority of the garrison slept and gutted the few guards there were on watch before sending a signal to the hidden strike force nearby, throwing open the gate and allowing them entry overwhelming the unprepared Brax soldiers and retaking the castle for the sons of its former lord.

Lord Boros Wallain nodded grimly as Brax men were executed, his duty was grim but it was a necessary one to kick the Lannisters out of his homeland and one awarded to him by his new King Robb Stark, who had named him the Defender of the Riverlands and given him command of all the remaining men left behind while his grace attacked the Golden Tooth and the army of new levies assembling there. A job made easier by the arrival of Ser Lothar Brune and his company of four hundred free riders who had swore themselves to House Stark, meaning that one by one he was liberating all the Lannister held castles in the Riverlands and picking off their men. That was how he had gotten his men into Darry after all Boros thought without humour, intercepting a supply convoy bound for Darry, killing its men and then dressing his own people up in the Lannister armour.

The Red Keep, Kings Landing…

Sansa was just as miserable as her siblings if not more so as she realised that she was just a little songbird in a cage and saw those she had formerly admired for who they really were. Joffrey and the Queen, not regal not in anyway, glorious or worth an honour of any kind.

Instead they were monsters in human form, all her servants and family guards...butchered on the words of the queen. Her father dead and Arya missing.

Never had she felt so alone in all her life, never had she wished so much that she could just turn back time and go back to Winterfell the way it had been before her father had been named Hand of the King. Where she had had friends, a dire-wolf, her own bed and her large and loving family around her. Her misery only growing as she realised that could never be and that she was trapped here, never having realised how lucky she was all her life to have had that warm and loving home at all, those memories were her only solace now she thought with despair.

To be dragged naked in front of the Iron Throne and beaten for Joffrey's amusement.

To be sneered at and insulted by Cersei.

To be constantly insulted and told her family were worthless traitors, just like her and that they could execute her any time they wanted. Only the Hound and Lord Tyrion showed her any kindness and even that could be fleeting.

She had done nothing to deserve their scorn and yet they heaped it on her anyway, a part of her felt she deserved it for being so naive and not appreciating what she had been given. Oh how much she wished she could have spent more time with Bran, Rickon and Arya. How she missed being able to talk to Robb or her mother? How she wished she had been nicer to Jon who had been and was still she hoped more gallant than any knight. How much she wished for her father to just hug her again like he always.

She was broken from her miserable thoughts when a letter was slipped under her door, she looked up startled at first but seeing it was only a letter and one delivered with the wolf crest of her own house she rushed over and opened it quickly.

My dearest daughter,

I hope that you are safe when you read this but I fear you might have fallen into the clutches of the Lannisters, I wish that I could spare you the life you are almost certainly living under the golden haired bastard Joffrey born of incest between his mother and her brother but it seems I cannot help you...in body at least.

The trials that you are experiencing will no doubt be the worst of your life but you are stronger than you know my dear girl, the blood of the First Men and long lineage of House Stark runs in your veins. I only wish I had never allowed that Septa to come to Winterfell or your mother to fill your head with stories of how a 'real lady' behaves so that might have learned your true self before this all happened. You are a Wolf Sansa, fierce and cunning that can endure the harshest winter and stand tall when all around is chaos...never forget that. Whatever they say or do they only have power over you if you let them, your consent to be afraid and show that fear.

You are a daughter of the old Winter Kings, Brandon the Builder through the millennia to you now and the pack will survive my girl even if the lone wolf falls. You are a real Northern woman underneath the southern finery, pain and fear are all a part of being alive but you do not have to fear death because it is a release from suffering and what worst can they do to you but that? If they threaten to kill you, show them you are not afraid and if they turn to a lesser threat then you have called their bluff and taken back the power from them. Fear is a natural instinct but if you can still be afraid and do what you must then you have conquered your fear.

I will be watching you my beautiful and brilliant daughter and know that I am proud of you, no matter what I love you and I always will.

Your loving father.

Tears fell from Sansa's eyes as she read and reread every word, even after she had all but ignored him in favour of the supposedly sophisticated Southern nobles he still loved her. That he thought she was a true Northerner and could be brave and strong like him and all their ancestors...except she thought to herself she couldn't. Hadn't she already proved that by showing such cowardice in the face of Joffrey and the Queen? Sansa did not want to let down her father but how could she be the woman he thought she was?

It was impossible.

And yet those words that were becoming burned into her memory, she felt a sense of calm as she repeated them again and again in her head, despite her fear that she could never be strong like a Stark she did feel something inside her stir at those words. Something primal and strong, like a wolf she thought. After hiding the letter so the Lannisters could not take that from her too she stared at her reflection in the mirror and looked intently at herself, she resembled her mother physically and she had been told that often enough but she did notice a few things that had escaped her notice before.

She and Arya had the same nose and their cheekbones were nearly identical, the only reason she had never noticed before was she had a slightly different shaped face than her sister and she had never really looked. Both of them had been the same height at that age and Arya might well catch up to her if she still lived, something Sansa dearly hoped was true. Her supposedly blue Tully eyes were more closer to the grey of her sister and brother Jon than the bright blue her mother had.

Sansa raised an eyebrow and was struck again as it looked a lot like her father had when he had made the same gesture.

She was not completely Tully in appearance at least, there was some Stark in her on that level at least so maybe she began to hope there might be something of the wolf deeper inside her after all.

-x-

Tyrion Lannister meanwhile in a nearby chamber was mulling over the situation his father and sister had left him in, perhaps he thought I should drown myself in a vat of wine or have a whore kill me as I enjoy her services, at least I would die with a smile on his face which would be far more preferable than dealing with Joffrey he thought sarcastically.

The death of Eddard Stark had been a disaster, aside from starting the war that they were now embroiled in, his letter to the Lords Paramount denouncing Joffrey as Jaime and Cersei's bastard and not Robert's son had disgusted many against allying with them. In truth they only had the Westerlands thanks to their father's reputation and their oaths of fealty, without a confession from the late Lord Stark that he had 'lied' about Joffrey's parentage to gain power or some other such nonsense they had little hope of gaining allies, which was in any case Tyrion thought with scorn

as likely as snow in Dorne thanks to Joffrey's behaviour anyway.

His own worries were not eased by the capture of his brother Jaime who he could only hope was being treated alright, as long as they held Sansa the Northerners would not hurt him which meant he had to keep an especially closer eye on Joffrey. It would be a disaster if that little monster seriously injured, scarred or killed her, almost certainly it would bring the end of Jaime if the North ever found out.

Jaime's capture to save his men had Tyrion thought strangely made him something of a hero in the eyes of the Westerlands, surrendering to save his men and refusing to run and leave them to die. Their father had fumed and called him foolish but the more Tyrion thought about the more he realised that it had become a source of inspiration for their men, this high born son the golden child had given himself up to save them. They admired him and fought harder in his name, even here in the city which Tyrion thought was a blessing given how difficult it had been so far to keep order in Kings Landing at the moment.

The dismissal of Ser Estermont had been another of his sister's idiotic blunders he fumed, all the smart and capable officers had gone with Ser Estermont but to give command to their foolish and moronic cousin Lancel, Tyrion thought with a massive amount of irritation at the particularly stupid move shaking his head at his sister's incredible stupidity. He might have supported removing Ser Estermont for someone that they could more readily trust but only if that person had been capable, Lancel hardly knew his head from his arse or his cock. Under him corruption and disorder had returned at an alarming speed except now it was just pure chaos without anyone in control at all. It had forced him to take a loan from the Faith (which had taken all the persuasive powers he possessed) to hire a sellsword company known as Bronn's Bastards to take control of the situation. Bronn the leader and founder of the company had taken over as Commander of the Watch and gotten things in hand while Tyrion had made Lancel Master of Ships to their small and insignificant couple of ships where he could cause no more trouble.

Thankfully Tyrion thought the sellswords would be a boon to the city's defences and getting the newly expanded City Watch trained and ready for the attack that must surely be coming, not to mention getting him a capable right hand man.

Pyke, the Iron Islands…

Balon Greyjoy was feeling more alive than he had in years, ever since his first attempt to claim a throne of his own and rule as his ancestors had generations ago before the Targaryens and their cursed dragons came. Already word of Yara's successes had reached him and he was glad that he had managed to instil some iron in her veins, his failure of a son Theon had proved as worthless as he feared though failing to take and hold Winterfell, well he thought with a disappointed shrug let the boy hang he is of no use to me.

So instead of trying to rescue his worthless son he stood with all his lords in attendance to bask in the glory of his triumph and look where they might reave next, he was so caught up in this that he failed to notice as a tall figure entered the room although his lords did and stared at the figure with a mixture of fear, unease and pure shock.

"What is dead may never die. Isn't that how it goes brother?" The man said, causing Balon to look up slowly as if not believing his own ears and in his own arrogance at being surrounded by his own lords just looked dismissively at the figure of his own younger brother Euron who just smirked with the utmost confidence as he spoke although the smarter of the lords present noticed Euron had more grey in his hair than was usual for a man his age. "Aren't you supposed to repeat the words or has the custom changed since I've been gone?" Euron asked with a mocking that irritated Balon who still did not feel at all threatened by the return of the brother he had banished, largely due to his own arrogance and self-delusion.

"I thought you'd be rotting under some foreign sea by now." Balon said, half hoping that his smarter and more dangerous sibling would have done just that. "You can mock our god without my help." Balon said with a sneer of loathing.

Pirates came up behind Euron making many of the lords wonder if they were going to try and kill them, however one of them a tall and vicious looking Summer Islander was carrying two large buckets filled with water. While they were puzzled at the sight of them, Euron just smirked at his older brother and said.

"I don't mock the Drowned God brother, I' am the Drowned God."

He said it with complete conviction, not a shred of doubt or humility like it was an honest truth like the dawning and setting of the sun each day. Many of the Iron Born were affronted at the claim until they saw what Euron did next.

He raised his arm and the water from the buckets rose with it, forming two impossible tendrils of water that hung in the air above the buckets. Even Balon was struck dumb at the sight of it, not able to believe it until the tendrils lunged forward with a flick of Euron's wrist.

The water still floating in the air enveloped Balon's head before he could react, he was in shock for a moment before he desperately tried to slap the water away from his face, moving his head violently to get clear of it but no matter what he did the water refused to move from around his head. He looked to his lords for aid but none of them moved to help their king, they were still gripped by fear and awe at what they were seeing.

As his breath grew less and he felt himself go light head, falling to his knees and just as his vision darkened with water filling his lungs, he got a glimpse of Euron laughing like a madman.

As Balon's drowned body fell to the floor, Euron turned his mad gaze at the rest of the Iron Lords and one by one they all knelt before him which made Euron laugh even louder in triumph. No one noticed Aeron Greyjoy, the middle brother who had sworn his life to be a priest of the Drowned God slip away to send a message on their swiftest ship to Yara on the mainland.

Moat Cailin, the North…

Yara's hands shook as she held the message from her uncle Aeron, his word of her father's death and Euron taking kingship of the Iron Islands with the power to control water although she had a little trouble believing that last part but still that Euron had returned was enough to shake her.

Terror as she remembered just how dangerous he was and all the words of him they had heard since, worst was the mentions of his 'designs' on her she thought which her uncle had warned her of. She could in her mind's eye see the looks he had given her as a girl and was immediately revolted at the implications of what those words could mean. Aeron had only one word of advice for her…

Run.

Run as far away as she could and never look back.

She might be a raider, but one thing Yara had never been was someone to just give up. It went against her very nature to give up on her claim to the Seastone Chair and never see her homeland ever again. Leaving Theon to die. The last one left a particularly bitter taste in her mouth, however much he had changed he was still her younger brother and in her own way she loved him and was already planning to rescue him when she could find out where Ramsay Snow was holding him.

Then the box from House Bolton arrived containing her brother's cock and the threat that her skin would soon join it written by the bastard Ramsay Snow, if she stayed here either her skin would be made into a cloak by the Boltons or Euron would come for her and only the Drowned God knew what might happen then. She leaned against the wall and her shoulders sagged as she realised the only real option she had if she wanted to live.

I'm sorry Theon she thought with the only real tears she had ever cried running down her cheeks as she called her men together and sailed to Essos and as far away from Euron as she could get.

Bloodstone, the Stepstones…

Harry and his people watched the unfolding chaos that was spreading across Westeros from their safe position and while some felt that they should get involved, many did not think it was their fight. Harry and Rhaenys ignored the multiple ravens from Renly Baratheon who demanded no less that their entire army come to join with his enormous host that was making their way at an excruciatingly slow pace towards Kings Landing, although they had all joked by the time they got there Renly would have a son.

They meanwhile improved their own defences and equipment. Harry, Rhaenys, Aeron and Daena were all examining the new dragon rider gear and were enjoying it but their joy was broken as a servant admitted a new visitor to the island.

Harry who had been smiling as he saw his two younger lieutenants eagerly testing and trying out their new armour and weapons, instantly tensed as he saw just who had come through the door.

"Just what the hell are you doing here?" At his side Rhaenys tensed as she too knew just who the visitor was while Aeron and Daena who had never met 'him' before looking on with confusion.

"You have taken a girl in." Jaqen H'ghar said without any expression or worry at their reaction to him. "She is my purpose here."

The mention of a girl instantly reminded both Harry and Rhaenys of their new ward, Arya Stark. Harry's hands went to his swords with anger brewing inside him while Rhaenys narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

"You will not bring your order's 'gift' to her." Harry said with gritted teeth, his mind now wondering who might know that they had Arya here. He had intended to tell his grandmother for the sole reason of recruiting her in the girl's training but as of yet he hadn't sent the raven, so either a spy was in their midst or the girl herself had sent a message without telling them. Both of which Harry had to consider however much he doubted each option.

"No, you altered her path." Jaqen said, it might have been accusing if he had not delivered it without any emotion at all. "She was to wander for a time before coming to us in Braavos and learn our ways, skills she would have depended on to survive, the Many Faced God is certain training her is essential so here the man is to teach her." Jaqen said calmly.

Harry was surprised at his words but did not trust them at all, he had sworn a vow to the girl's father to protect Arya and ensure her welfare and had no intention of putting her in the hands of an assassin who changed his face. He had seen the admittedly impressive combat skills the man had shown at the Battle of the Summer Isles and if he could be trusted, he could certainly be a boon to the girl but still he felt uneasy about it.

"She has a Braavosi Water Dance master and my own people training her already, why should I accept you as well?" Harry asked with caution, wanting to see just what the man was offering to teach her. Arya was grieving and he did not want her to hurt by the Faceless Men messing with her head. Jaqen however was as matter of fact about his answer to that question as he had to all the others.

"I can teach her to fight without eyesight and to use every one of her senses, to blend in with others around her and how to kill without leaving a trace of her presence, to fool people with mummers' tricks and while she cannot learn here to steal faces from the dead she can be taught to disguise herself. Can you truly teach her these things?" He asked and Harry's eyes narrowed, not liking the idea of using Arya as some kind of assassin however useful some of those skills could be. He did not sigh in resignation or any such thing to show his reluctance but instead said.

"You will be closely watched here and in any interactions with the girl, if I see anything I don't like...I'll send you packing faster than you can blink." He warned causing Rhaenys, Aeron and Daena to look at him in surprise while Jaqen nodded.

"The man understands your concerns but be assured the man means no harm to the girl, however you should be informed that the mad pirate with one eye has returned and taken control of the Driftwood crown with a fleet of pirates at his back and the ability to control water. While his brother had intended to only attack the North the mad pirate intends a far larger conquest of Westeros coast." Jaqen told him and Harry scowled visibly at the mention of the mad pirate with one eye which to him could only mean one person, Euron Greyjoy.

Harry nodded and left the room to head to Alwyn and the ravens, if Euron was planning an invasion of the coast he had to warn the Reach coastal houses and Gunthor who was managing his holdings there, not to mention the Shield Islands. As he worriedly rushed down the corridor he only hoped they were not too late.

-x-

In the training yard below him two young people were trying to cope with the changes in their worlds, Arya being raised as a noble was used to being in a castle and having her own room even to training once her father had hired Syrio to teach her as he was doing now. Gendry the young apprentice blacksmith was not. In Kings Landing he had shared with three other boys but here he had a room to himself and was now working alongside a smith that would put his old master Mott to shame in all that he could do with metal, as much an artist as a metal worker, Gendry had learned more about making steel here in the last month than the previous year put together.

That being said he was still in awe and fearful in equal parts of his new lord's powers, the Seven taught that all magic was evil and needed to be destroyed but then again Gendry thought with angry so he was called an abomination created out of sin and lust and was sure to steal from proper children born within wedlock. So he did not give their bloated and corrupt opinions any consideration, that magic had saved not only his life but many others as well. The dragons here though that had been a surprise he thought with admiration, Lord Tyrell and his wife had brought back an extinct species and tamed them and while Gendry did fear the great creatures he could see the beauty with which they moved through the sky, they were not all about to destruction.

His attention however was stolen from the admiration of dragons towards a more normal creature, the daughter of the late Lord Stark Arya. She was a few years younger than him but her fierceness was intriguing...it called to him on some level but he shook his head as he reminded himself she was a high born lady and a princess now her brother had declared himself king.

She was way out of his league, why would she be interested in a blacksmith anyway he thought with sadness. He had been cautioned many times by his old master about thinking beyond his station, so Gendry tried to reign in his own wants and remain grounded. However he mouth went dry as she came over.

"Your Gendry right? The blacksmith?" Arya Stark said to him more as a statement than a question and for a moment Gendry was struck dumb by her warm but fierce grey eyes, before he managed to nod feeling like an absolute fool.

-x-

Arya looked at the taller Gendry and if she had not been told that he was Robert Baratheon's son it would have been hard for her to compare him to the fat king that had gotten her father killed by dragging him south, then see the similarities in the slim younger man like his hair and eyes not to mention there was something in the face that reminded her of the dead king. Her fury at the Baratheons and Lannisters for getting her father killed had finally chilled to a level where she could control it but it was still simmering inside her grown even deeper now that Bran and Rickon had died too, Lady Rhaenys had been as good as her word and Needle was as good as new but Arya was taking much better care of her possessions now she had seen how breakable things were especially things that actual meant something to her.

The discovery of Lord Harry's magic had surprised her though, she had learnt tale from Old Nan that magic was a corrupt and horrid thing that destroyed everything it touched but she was of the First Men and the early Starks were supposed to have used magic to build the Wall and Winterfell so it must not be all bad. And she had seen the young children of Lord Harry and Lady Rhaenys practice their own powers under their father's watchful eye, nothing she had seen was evil looking or destructive...more a tool than a weapon.

She was about to say something to Gendry who was just staring at her in a way she had not really seen before, not directed at her anyway. Some boys had looked at Sansa like that saying she was the most beautiful girl that they had ever seen but never at her and Arya was unnerved to have a boy looking at her like that. It was a new experience and she was uncomfortable at being the centre of attention, she unconsciously took a step back from Gendry and was glad to see Lady Rhaenys approach with a man who had both red and white hair, his eyes caught hers and he seemed to smile at her for some reason.

"Arya this is Jaqen H'ghar, a Faceless Man from Braavos who has come to aid in your training. He has skills which might be useful to you." Lady Rhaenys told her and Arya looked the man up and down, like Syrio he did not look like a warrior but as she had learnt from being here already looks could be deceiving, Syrio gave the Faceless man a bow of respect which was returned as both men coming from Braavos knew of each other's abilities.

-x-

Rhaenys looked down at the Stark girl and felt a familiar pang as she saw the ghost of pain in her young eyes, a much loved father dead, two brothers too and cut off from the rest of her family it was something she knew all to well she thought and took a firm grip of the girl's shoulder and told Syrio and Jaqen to prepare a plan for her training together while she steered the young girl to the gardens. Arya looked at her with curiosity but Rhaenys sighed, not liking what she was going to have to say.

"When my mother and brother died, I was all alone in the world or I thought I was. Yet I could not stop feeling pain and angry, so much that it made me put one foot in front of the other, to eat and in my dreams were filled with so much hate that every night I imagined ways of destroying my enemies but..." Rhaenys stopped there for a moment her eyes moistening slightly, familiar echoes of how she had felt back then. "Anger can like a fire destroy and poison everything you do and slowly kill you inside, all you live for is your rage. I was lucky as Jothos and his wife were there to help me find a way to deal with my anger without it destroying me, and I think you might need that too. The pain never really goes away but it does not have to define your life." Rhaenys said, calling on days that she seldom liked to think of, when everything had seemed so bleak.

Arya stopped and looked up at her sharply with eyes and nostrils flaring with anger at someone saying that they understood all the pain she had stabbing at her all the time, she tried to pull away but Rhaenys held firmly onto her shoulder and looked her straight in the eyes. The Stark girl kept struggling for awhile but Rhaenys would not let go of her. Eventually Arya stopped fighting and averted her gaze as tears gathered in her eyes that she had been trying to suppress since news of her younger brothers' death had reached them. She could not stop them as they started to roll down her cheeks or stop herself from trembling as she looked away, not able to meet Rhaenys' gaze.

"So what did you do?" Arya asked her in a voice that sounded so low and depressed that it broke Rhaenys' heart.

"I made them a part of who I am, I hold the memories of them in a special place inside me so when I really want too I can remember them. I channel my energy into other things or avenge them by surviving, there is no simple answer and no one thing that will make this right. Only you can know what will help you heal Arya." Rhaenys told her hoping to give the girl something that might help. "What was the best thing about your father and your brothers?"

Arya thought hard for a moment before saying.

"My father always loved us and never wavered, Bran was daring and thoughtful and Rickon was always stubborn but he loved to laugh." Arya's gaze fell to her feet as the pain of losing them all came back.

Rhaenys could not help but smile slightly as she said. "Well you have the stubbornness down." Arya despite her sadness blushed slightly at that. "So be as steadfast as your father and as daring and thoughtful as Bran, maybe laugh like Rickon. Carry a part of them with you as you live your life and they are never really gone. That is what I did with my mother when she was murdered, I made her love, her cunning and her care for all those around a part of me."

That made Arya look up at Rhaenys as if to judge her words, the two stared at each other for a moment with Rhaenys giving the girl a sad smile. Rhaenys decided to then and there to get Harry to go and find the girl's direwolf so she would have a companion again.

"Write a letter to your mother and brother, let them know how you are and I will ensure they get it. After all you will have much to learn before you are ready to go home." Rhaenys said leaving the girl so she could get her husband. A plan started to unfold in Rhaenys' mind aside from a feeling of kinship with her, with the girl's younger brothers dead and her older sister a hostage of the Lannisters Arya Stark was now crucial to the survival of her house and a potential ally in the times ahead so she would need to be taught and her bond with them tightened.

But Rhaenys thought if something happened to her eldest brother which was entirely possible with the situation Robb Stark had found himself in, it would fall to Arya to regain the North for the Starks. With Jon Snow bound to the Night's Watch and Sansa was by all accounts too timid to manage it on her own and would no doubt in time be married off to a Lannister which ever one Tywin picked, it would be up to Arya to restore her house to their proper place. Rhaenys knew how she would feel if her uncle's family perished and it fell to her to take their place so she decided to make sure the girl was strong and smart enough to gather support but able to rule the North effectively.

The next morning as the girl hugged the direwolf that had taken Harry all night to find Rhaenys smiled, not just with the touching scene but with her own ideas developing she did not of course want to harm the girl as they were in some ways very much alike. Arya would be ready when the time came, she would make sure of it.

Westeros Coast…

That same day it started.

The Iron Born invasion of the Western coast.

From Bear Island in the North to Seaguard in the Riverlands, from the Crag in the Westerlands to Cornfield of the same country a vast armada of pirates and Iron Born descended on Westeros. Bear Island and Flint's Finger managed to force them back to the sea while the Glovers reclaimed their home thanks to Robb sending them home via Port Maril and the Mallisters with the help of Boros Wallain repelled their attack but the Iron Born were persistent, coming again and again forcing Robb and Boros to take men from the front to garrison their coast.

In the Westerlands it was even worst though, so many men had been drawn away to fight in the Riverlands and the attack so unexpected that those that were left had been completely overwhelmed. Nowhere was safe as the Iron Born and their pirate allies swarmed across the coast, Crakehall, Lannisport and many other places were raided with only the great castle of Casterly Rock managing to repel their attack. Tywin Lannister however knowing Robb Stark would descend on Kings Landing if he moved to defend his coast was forced to stay where he was or find himself surrounded on all sides however much it angered the lords with coastal holdings who had to sit there as their homes were being razed to the ground and their families threatened.

However when Euron's fleet descended on the Shield Isles he found them garrisoned and ready, having been warned of the coming attack by Harry Tyrell. Even with a good number of men away at Renly's enormous camp they held their walls against the invaders with a fierceness not seen of them in generations. Their siege weapons on the walls setting ships that dared come close to the islands ablaze forcing them to sail either far west and risk the Sunset Sea or east towards the coast where the remnants of the Shield Isles fleet engaged in hit and run attacks against them.

Until Ser Harras Harlaw arrived on Greyshield, the most westerly of the Shield Isles.

He dug his standard into the ground and said he would fight any seven challengers that dared face him in a trial of the Seven, the Lord Grimm had at first denied his challenge but the castle's septon accepted it and sure enough all seven had perished at the hands of Harras and Nightfall. Despite Lord Grimm's protest that he had never accepted the challenge the septon ordered that it was the will of the gods that the guards should open the gates and surrender the castle, and so great was his influence that the guards did as they told regardless of the pleas of the smallfolk that had taken refuge in the castle.

Rape and slaughter quickly followed as the Iron Born rushed in and House Grimm was made extinct that day while Harras Harlaw became the new lord at the behest of his king Euron. Now with control of the Island the Iron Born fleet made its way past towards the rich pickings of Reach coast.

-x-

Oldtown, the Reach…

Harry held in his hand the letter from Falia describing how bad things were up at the Shield Isles and while he was glad that some of his earlier work to reinforce the Islands had not been in vain he dearly wished he could strangle that septon with his own bare hands, why had he had to interfere? Harry raged, they could have held the Iron Born off if not for that idiot's ridiculous decisions.

However with the small force of eight thousand men that he had drawn from his own islands while the rest of his Reach holdings were defending themselves against the Iron Born, Harry was responding to a warning of a large fleet sighted off the islands led by Euron himself and only one holding was valuable enough to warrant a strike force that large which had yet to be attacked, Oldtown itself.

It would provide them plenty of plunder Harry reasoned darkly, with many people that they could sell to the existing slavers over in Essos for more gold. Worst because of Renly's idiotic decision to take all the Reach soldiers with him in his lazy journey to Kings Landing, the Hightowers only had five thousand men to defend their home with. Their troops and other Reach coastal houses had against Renly and Mace's express wishes (who did not seem to even realise just what was happening) called their soldiers back but it would take at least a week for them to get here even with a hard march. So they would just have to make do Harry thought as his men entered the city's gates.

Lord Leyton Hightower his old foster father was already dressed in his armour, he was grim but glad to see him.

"Lord Tyrell, while I am still annoyed at your running away when you were my ward it is a relief to see you." Lord Hightower said with a slight smile, looking like he had aged over twenty years with his hair now white as snow and his faced lined many more times than when Harry had last seen him. He might never have been close to the man but it was alarming to see someone ageing so rapidly, he was only just turning fifty this year Harry remarked to himself!

"Well to avoid potential civil war in the Reach, I thought it was the best decision." Harry said offhand with a grin which only made him, Gunthor's elder brother Baelor 'Brightsmile' and Gunthor's younger brother Garth 'Greysteel' who were standing behind their father smile too. Gunthor would have been here too but he was holding the Ring.

"Indeed." Lord Leyton said with an amused grin that did take a few years off his face. "And I am grateful for all you have done for Gunthor but right now we have more serious matters to attend to, your men mean this will at least be a battle rather than a slaughter." Leyton said grimly and Harry nodded.

"What preparations have been made to defend the city?" Harry asked now all of them becoming serious as they planned their strategy, it was Baelor who answered him though.

"The men are either manning war machines on the walls that guard the harbour or in positions around the city to repulse the Iron Born when they try to land. Any suggestions?" Baelor said knowing they were facing a battle like none of them had ever seen before, Harry looked around and when he caught a glimpse of the enormous castle/lighthouse Hightower itself he had an idea.

"Can we put war machines on Hightower?" Harry said pointing at the large tower, the three and Kanoro looking at him surprised. "I brought some collapsible ones with me and the height would greatly aid their range." Harry said and the Hightowers frowned at using their home like that but he was they realised right and they needed every possible advantage they could get.

Harry meanwhile was sad that he had not returned to Oldtown under better circumstances, many of his happy childhood memories were made here and it was here that he had learnt many of the skills that had saved his live and made his journeys possible. He had always intended a return to come full circle and it were but all the events and projects over the last few years had meant he had put it to the side, however it brought a measure of pride to him that he would be here now to save his childhood home.

-x-

The darkness came quicker than they would have liked but thankfully it was a clear night so they could see easily with the bright full moon in the sky, men stood in their armour looking nervous as the anticipation of battle grew worst and worst whether on the walls, under cover in the city or on Hightower itself.

This Harry knew was always the worst part, the waiting. Battles were chaotic and during a fight there was little time to think, the aftermath was also easier to deal with as the senior and more seasoned men could always counsel the younger and less experienced ones when the battle was over. However when you knew what was coming things became so tense, all your worst thoughts and feelings came to the surface as you imagined what was about to happen and thinking of the absolute worst that could happen.

Using eye glasses from the top of Hightower, spotters kept watch for the enemy. They scanned the horizon constantly until finally they saw the Iron Born/Pirate Fleet coming up Whispering Sound. The sheer number of ships struck them dumb for a moment before they regained their senses and started ringing the bells to announce the enemy was in sight.

Everyone in the city tensed, the soldiers held their weapons tighter while the civilians all huddled in their homes and prayed to the gods for protection. From his position near the walls where he could co-ordinate their defences Harry waved his torch in the air, the men on the walls and on Hightower who were told to watch for the signal all acknowledged with a wave of their own torches. Spotters estimated the range and elevation to their catapults before finally setting their projectiles alight before on command, letting them fly.

The large barrels, boulders or whatever else they were using flew through the air. The pirates and the Iron Born either took cover, tried to steer themselves around the incoming projectiles or kept sailing hoping they would miss. Some did indeed miss their targets by either a big margin or mere inches but a good few found their mark, smashing into ships with great force. Men screamed as they were crushed or set ablaze regardless of where they hit but the Iron Born/Pirate fleet sailed on.

As they found the range and the bearing the defenders got better at aiming their shots and many ships were either damaged or sinking as in places the impact had critically damaged them but still ships made their way through through the flack and then they started firing back with their own catapults.

Their shots went wide of their first targets, one soared high over the walls and right towards the city where it hit the tall and imposing Starry Sept. The men and women who were hiding inside screamed as they struggled to escape the fire that quickly took hold and started to destroy the thirteen hundred year old building of black marble and large arched windows.

The men at the front however could not even think about that at the moment as they unleashed their scorpions and then the archers as the ships came closer to the walls, the Iron Born/Pirates doing the same but from their slightly better position on the walls the Reach men were more protected, resulting in slightly fewer casualties.

Unlike in Volantis there was no gate or barrier to prevent ships from entering or leaving so aside from the gauntlet of fire being sent at them the Iron Born and the Pirates were unhindered as they approached the docks, dropping planks to let hoards of screaming, bloodthirsty men ashore or over other ships to get to land.

The Reach men all trembled at the sight of the approaching hoard except for Harry who wearing a rather distinctive green cloak with his usual armour, he and his men were the only ones not trembling with fear but instead looked at the enemy with deadly intent. Harry turned to Kanoro and nodded who returned the gesture before shouting over the cries of the enemy.

"SOUND THE DRUMS!"

Men behind the Reach lines heard the order and began to start playing.

Loud and booming drum battle music sounded across the lines, the Reach men all looked around slightly before its evocative tune started to stir their blood and their determination to defend the city ignited their own personal fire, incidently drowning out the Iron Born and their vicious cries. Harry nearly smiled but instead called out as the Iron Born were nearly upon them.

"SHIELD WALL!"

The men were so anxious and hyped up that they did not even think about it before they obeyed his order, their shields coming up to create a makeshift wall of interlocked shields with their spears or swords ready to impale their enemies when they came.

Flesh and bone collided with the wall mere seconds later, the sheer force of impact actually drove the Reach men back a step before they dug their feet in harder to stop them and with a great heave, forced the Iron Born back. Spears and swords lashed out at the stumbling Iron Born and Pirates, stabbing or slashing at any place they could. The invaders screamed out as hard steel cut them down but there were more to take their place, soon they were pressing against the shield wall again now trying to break through and attack the defenders behind it. Some of them even managed to wound or kill a Reach soldier or two but their large and strong shields by large stopped any weapon in their tracks.

Then the Reach went on the offensive, over the top of their shields they stabbed at the Iron Born and the pirates who wore little actual armour, preferring to use quick hit and run attacks rather than a prolonged fight where full plate provided a critical advantage. There was a reason that the Iron Born stayed close to water and their ships, it provided a quick escape if things did not go their way and the pirates were just the same way.

A choice they were now regretting as the Reach soldiers started to gain a crucial advantage, trampling bodies of dead or wounded Iron Born or pirates as they started pushing forward inflicting great casualties as they pushed them back to the water.

-x-

Euron from his ship watched in anger as he saw his men getting forced back towards their ships, seeing the distinctive green cloak of Harry Fucking Tyrell and seeing red figuratively. He raised his arm and channelled his will to make a large orb of water rise from the sea next to his vessel, freeze it into vicious looking shards of ice and with a laugh of demented amusement hurled them straight at the Tyrell.

-x-

Harry saw the ice shards coming towards him and his men and did not hesitate as the chaos of battle meant no one would see him when he dealt with it. He might have been caught off guard by that gauntlet last time he and Euron had met but this time Harry was ready for it, armed with some Chroyane water magic.

Raising his other hand that had his ring on he evaporated the water and directed it right back at the lines of Iron Born and Pirates, enveloping them in a cloud of extremely hot water vapour. Euron's men screamed as their skin was scolded, many dropping their weapons in an attempt to shield their face and eyes from more hurt. The Reach men were shocked but took immediate advantage and attacked the injured Iron Born without mercy.

-x-

Morgan Twelvetoes was one of the few Iron Born/Pirates that had not been injured by the water vapour although he was shocked and worried as he saw the mainlanders start to gain the upper hand, he followed Euron because although the bastard was a complete madman he was smart and capable of delivering the spoils he promised, now though he was not so sure. That thing just now with the ice and the steam was enough to get him reconsider his position as either there was another magic user against them or Euron had scolded their men on purpose or else by accident.

None of which were good news for him he thought, deciding it was time to get out of here. The former Summer Islander went to return to his ship and get the hell out of here but then stopped when he saw an old man fighting with the younger Reach soldiers, foolish twat Morgan thought dismissively an idiot that old should be at home instead of getting in the way. His elaborate and expensive armour and the jewel encrusted gold chain he wore caught Morgan's eye, stoking his greed and lust for gold that had gone unanswered in recent days and like the infamous magpie he was smirking as he made his way over, Sky Spike his special spear in hand.

The old man did see him coming and swung his large and cumbersome sword at him but Morgan with ease dodged it and started his rather acrobatic style of combat, ducking and weaving his way around the man as he smacked or jabbed at his target. The older man who Morgan noticed had the symbol of House Hightower on his elaborate armour and a sword made of the same metal as his own spear Valyrian steel but it would not save him Morgan thought with a bloodthirsty grin as he impaled the old man's leg, enjoying the cry of pain as the old man fell as his leg gave under the pain. His heavy armour now a hindrance the old man glared at Morgan who just smirked, dragging his spear point over his breast plate until he hooked it under the elaborate chain that had been given to the Hightowers as a gift by the Gardeners when one of their number had married into their house.

Morgan was licking his lips with anticipation and about to thrush his spear into the old man's face when suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his back as cold steel was thrust through his largely unprotected torso, he had been so focused on the old man that he had not noticed the man's squire Rickard Rowan, coming up behind until he had stabbed his sword straight through Morgan's back. Morgan was surprised for a moment but grinned again as blood leaked from his lips and he fell to the ground.

-x-

Euron was shocked at seeing the battle turn against them to quickly, his magic should have dealt with all the Reach soldiers and let his men gain access to the city to rape and reave as they wanted but something had happened to his ice, it had melted and turned into hot steam that had scolded and weakened his own men. Already the Reach bastards much to his anger had taken advantage and were slaughtering the landing force and despite his confusion and anger at his attack being so harshly thwarted, Euron drew on the power of the gauntlet again to send more ice shards at the enemy but just as he was raising his hand he felt a sharp and unexpected pain in his chest. He fell to his knees and although his men did not move to help him as he would have killed them if they had, they did look at him in surprise and concern as he grasped at his chest, wincing at the hard and quick pain.

Euron could not care less about the men in the advanced force, even if his right hand man Morgan had been leading them but this sudden loss of control and feeling as weak as the feeblest child struck fear into even him.

Then just as Euron managed to stumble to his feet, the ship nearest to him was struck by a flaming barrel. Not strange given that the catapults on the walls and Hightower itself were still firing at his ships but this one had come from their rear, Euron and his men turned and looked and saw at least two dozen warships flying the flag of House Redwyne coming up the Whispering Sound inlet behind them, firing their own catapults at the vulnerable rear guard.

Euron fumed, this was not what he had willed. The Storm God himself must have sabotaged him Euron swore and turned to his men and barked out his orders.

"Turn the fleet around, sail back to Greyshield and regroup." His crew did not hesitate to do as he ordered and the Iron Born/Pirate fleet turned around and back up Whispering Sound and to open sea. The Reach ships and catapults did their best to harass them but there were too many for them to stop completely although some were too slow to escape or men who were abandoned on the land, many just throwing down their arms and surrendering as they realised the game was up.

On shore Harry and his men cheered as did the city, the bells ringing out in victory.

The next night, Hightower…

The arrival of the men who had returned from Renly's ridiculously slow and useless army was a sigh of relief to the men guarding Oldtown and the rest of the Reach coast as finally their beleaguered reserves were bolstered with the strength of thousands of men, the lords that led them were gathered here tonight at Harry's request. In front of them already Leyton Hightower had handed his family's ancestral blade Vigilance over to Baelor Hightower, saying his time fighting battles was long past given his age and injury.

Now in the main hall however ten men knelt before Harry, all Reach men that had done exceptionally well in battle and had been gathered here to be rewarded by him. The first nine had either been knighted or received a reward of some kind already so now he turned his attention to the youngest of them, Rickard Rowan the squire of Lord Leyton Hightower. Harry nearly smiled as he saw how anxious the teenager was but kept his face straight in front of the men.

"Rickard Rowan, Lord Hightower informs me you have always been a devoted and attentive squire who has attended his duties with the utmost loyalty and shown daring where given the opportunity to be brave. All are good marks of your character." Harry said which made the young man blush slightly, causing some of the men to laugh. "But your greatest sign of good character was when you risked your own life to fight alongside Lord Hightower and his family rather than leave and be safe at Goldengrove and your biggest achievement was saving the life of my old foster father Lord Hightower and killing one of the worst and most ruthless pirates to have ever cursed the seas." Harry said now allowing himself to smile and said as he drew his sword, making Rickard very nervous and the rest of men gathered look at him questioningly and several looked alarmed like he as going to kill the boy right there and then.

Instead Harry tapped Orphanmaker on Rickard's shoulder, causing a relieved sigh to go around the room and Rickard to look like he was going to start hyperventilating.

"In the name of the Warrior, I charge you to be brave. In the name of the Father, I charge you to be just. In the name of the Mother, I charge you to defend the young and the innocent. In the name of the Maid I charge you to protect all women. Arise Ser Rickard Rowan." Harry said with a smile having preformed the boy's knighting, Rickard got unsteadily to his feet and was overwhelmed as the entire hall applauded him.

Harry stepped back and allowed the young man his moment, while lords could not knight men if they had not been knighted themselves Lord Leyton had actually knighted him at his request before this meeting so that he could knight Rickard while Lord Hightower had knighted the other nine earlier. Harry wanted to reward the young man that had saved his foster father and create some good standing with the Reach lords that were present and with House Rowan but he was not done yet.

Once the applause had died down Harry took the spear Sky Spike that had been collected from Morgan's body and held it out to Rickard who stared at in shock.

"As a reward for your actions I also give to you Sky Spike to keep and do with as you see fit, a trophy of your first battle." Harry told Rickard who was now completely dazed and Harry actually had to press the spear into his hands before Rickard took it. Harry gestured for Rickard to return to his seat which he did do but only while being led by Baelor Hightower who was gently patting the boy on the back.

"As many of you know." Harry said drawing their attention back to him. "The Starry Sept was set ablaze by the Iron Born during the battle, once the centre of the Faith it was one of the city's greatest accomplishments." Harry said sadly, causing many men including the Head Septon that had survived the fire and who sat with them tonight to look both sad and angry at what had happened. "I have put aside funds to rebuild the Starry Sept and restore it to its former glory."

That got everyone talking and the Head Septon actually had tears running down his face and got up personally to thank Harry who accepted with good grace and shook his hand, it was however on Harry's part a political move. Many lords doubted him as he had not formally enforced the Seven on his lands and this he hoped would convince them of his commitment to honour the core principals of their culture even if Harry had little to no respect for the Seven and would never live his life by their rules, in addition it would hopefully bring the Faith to respect him all of which would be very useful if and when he had to take over Highgarden one day.

With that done Harry turned to the men in the hall and started to speak.

"Not in centuries has anyone dared to attack Oldtown, the richest and greatest city that Westeros has ever had. They came here with the intent of killing us all, taking our women and all the wealth they could lay their thieving, lazy and grubby hands on." Harry said seeing the rage and hatred grow in the eyes of the men before him, even Kanoro was nodding in support having referred to the Iron Born in private to him earlier as the seafaring equivalent of the Dothraki. "They still assault our coast, they sit in Greyshield as if it were their by rights after raping and killing all the Grimms...WELL I WILL NOT STAND FOR IT!" Harry said deliberately raising his voice for the last bit as he wanted to stoke that anger and could see well it was working when they cheered slightly at his declaration.

"I will fight them all the way back to Greyshield, I will drive them from our coast and I will not rest until our people are safe again, till our homes are free of the Iron Born forever and I would be proud if any of you would stand with me and force their insane king and all his band of thieves and rapists back to the out of our home and send them crawling back to their miserable islands once and for all." Harry said and a cheer went up through the room, making him smile.

To himself for the moment though he intended to go a lot further than that though.

Well that is it for Chapter 21 and the beginning of the Coastal War Arc.

To let every know in advance the Reach houses that have joined Harry are:

Hightower, Redwyne, Blackbar, Bulwer, Cuy, Costayne, Serry, Chester, Beesbury, Oakheart and Redwyne of Oakenshield.

Next Chapter- Harry and his allies go on the offensive.