Hey everyone!

One of my favourite scenes in ARC III happens in this chapter!

Enjoy!


Chapter 70: The Iron Price

Half an hour later …

Seastone Chair chamber, Great Hall, Great Keep, Pyke, Seat of Power of House Greyjoy in the Iron Islands


The doors of the Great Hall burst open and only Balon Greyjoy was more shocked than Tywin, although the Westerland Lord didn't let the emotion register on his face, as Lord Royce strode in with an unconscious Kenna curled up in his arms, draped in a Northern fur cloak.

Tywin had already buried her in his mind as soon as the news of Kenna's kidnapping had reached him and he had started strategizing ways to retrieve his North born sons on the journey towards Pyke.

But seeing her alive, even if only barely, reminded him of his complicated and conflicting feelings for the woman. He knew she was a skilled player of the game and her survival was vital for the alliance between the North, the Vale and the Crown to prosper and challenge Daenerys Targaryen when she came west. She was someone the Old Lion would rather have on his side than dead and useless.

Balon let out a yell of despair at seeing Kenna released from the Kraken's Pit and struggled against the Lannister men holding him in place but was swiftly battered into silence by the time Lord Royce had put Kenna down by the unlit fireplace.

"Someone light this now," Lord Royce demanded of anyone and everyone in the room all at once.

Tywin waved his hand and two of his personal guards moved towards Lord Royce and started working on lighting the fire.

Jaime walked to Tywin's side, "It seems the Stranger doesn't want her yet," then inspected his wife's condition further, "but maybe soon."

King Robb entered the Great Hall next with his wolf by his side, and Tywin noted the lack of an outer layer as he suspected it was currently wrapped around the shivering Queen over the Mountains.

Tywin looked to his good-daughter; she was deathly pale, the only colour on her face was the blue and black bruises she had received as a guest of Balon's, her eyes remained shut, and wet hair was plastered to her forehead and was entangled down to just below her shoulders.

His men got the fire lit and returned to his side but he knew that alone might not be enough so he strode over to the fireplace leaving his son standing in front of the Lords of the Iron Islands who were eyeing every movement in the hall.

"What do you think you are doing?" Lord Royce thundered protectively as he felt eyes turn their way.

Tywin didn't reply to Lord Royce but unfastened his own cloak then knelt over Kenna to place the red and gold material over and around the fur trimmed cloak that was mostly padding her back against the cold stone floor. He felt the warmth of the fire on his hands as he made sure his cloak covered her fully and saw in the infancy of the fire's light that she was breathing in shallow bursts as her body slightly shook, fighting to warm itself.

Tywin caught himself hovering above her wondering if this was how the formidable Queen over the Mountains would die, shivering on the cold stone floor of the Great Keep of Pyke.

Kenna opened her eyes and immediately captured Tywin's green ones as he himself was caught in the thought of her death.

"I am .. not dead … yet," she slurred in beat with her breaths reading his pondering expression.

Tywin let out an amused noise as he spotted the annoyance behind Kenna's tired words. Whether it was at her weakened state or at his assumption that she wouldn't survive he did not know.

Kenna experimentally shuffled under the red cloak trying to regain feeling in her limbs, "The siege was … successfully then?"

"We are here aren't we?" Tywin replied down to her, not giving her any leeway in the nature of his response.

"Enough," Lord Royce interjected from above, "she needs to rest and we need to finish this siege."

Quite right, Tywin thought to himself as he drew his eyes and kneeling frame away from Kenna who followed his movement. It was time to put Balon Greyjoy out of his misery.

"Balon Greyjoy," Tywin voice boomed all around the Great Hall as he walked towards the defeated King, "in the name of King Tommen, First of his Name I denounce you to be a traitor."

"I recall saying an oath to Robert Baratheon, not his son," Balon switched his attention from Tywin to Robb who was watching Grey Wind investigate the Ironborn Captains' bodies stacked against the wall, "or Ned Stark's son and definitely not to a Vale bitch."

"I believe you said an oath to Robert under threat of losing your head but this time you will lose your head regardless of what you swear," Tywin said back definitively.

"You orchestrated the kidnaping of Kenna and Jaime Lannister under the threat of killing their new-born babies," Robb thundered taking a few aggressive steps towards Balon so he stood next to Tywin with Jaime and the Ironborn Lords behind them.

"And she killed my brother," Balon shouted back, straining against the rope around his hands.

"That was justified," Robb said remembering the stories his father had told him of Kenna's conduct during the Rebellion. They no longer seemed like the actions of a deranged woman to him, just a wronged one and he could understand the feelings a wronged person might harbour.

"Yes, it was," a young voice cut through the room.

Robb and Tywin both turned away from Balon to see Artys walking through the crowd of gathered soldiers to stand in-between them.

Artys entire attention was firmly placed on his bound uncle, "Euron Greyjoy was a monster, he raped my mother for months and my Aunt made him pay for that."

Balon looked Artys up and down, "You are one of Euron's bastards."

"Euron took my mother as one of his salt wives so I am no bastard, at least not here," Artys waved his hands around and Balon got a good look at the axe swaying on his belt.

Artys followed his eyes and tapped the large axe, "This use to be Victorian's but a dead man has no need of his weapon anymore."

Balon glared at Artys, and the deadly intention between uncle and nephew was clear to all but before the men could spar further a soft but clear voice rung out.

"Kill him."

All eyes shifted to Kenna.

She laboured to a sitting position with Lord Royce's help and rested her hands-on Grey Wind's fur who was now lying in front of her watching the commotion as Kenna had been. The fire behind her draped her in light as it cast her shadow across the floor of the chamber.

Kenna looked directly at her nephew, "Kill Balon, make him the Last Kraken. Make him scream."

Her words seemed to bounce around the Great Hall so every person present heard them. They were not the words of a Lady or a Queen but off a woman in pain, a woman who wanted payback, and wanted it now before the Stranger claimed her.

Artys unhooked his newly claimed axe from his belt, "Take his shirt off and hold him down on the table."


Jaime raised his eyebrow at the young knights demands and sensed his father's surprise as well but the manic look in Arty's eyes was familiar to him. It was the same look that had possessed Kenna when she had stabbed Euron to death.

Some Arryn soldiers complied with Arty's demands and grabbed Balon from the circle of Lannister men, Tywin waved his men away and they let Balon slide past them.

Balon was relieved of his shirt and roughly shoved down on to the wooden table. His arms were pinned either side of him as he struggled under the Arryn men's grasp.

Artys clenched and unclenched his hands around the wooden handle of the great axe he now wielded as his eyes focuses on the bare back of his uncle. No one attempted to stop him as he approached Balon and halted just behind him.

"I grew up at the Eyrie as a servant to my mother. On the good days we played games on the bad days I cut up her food and fed her like she was the child and I was the adult," Artys looked to the stone floor trying to conceal the tears that were welling up in his eyes, "I never once heard my mother's voice, I didn't even know she was my mother until after she had died."

Artys's looked back to his Aunt whose eyes were heavy but were following everything he was doing.

"I have heard she was an adventurous, energetic Lady who could make anyone laugh and smile … but I never knew that side of her," Artys continued fingering the axe as his emotions flared, "I only knew the broken woman she became and I probably reminded her of the pain she endured here every single day. The pain you Ironborn and your fucking Old Way cause to so many."

Artys practically screamed the last sentence and the soft murmur of, "do it," that came from the fireplace tipped him over the edge. He brought the great axe down on Balon's back again, and again, and again.

His uncle's blood sprayed everywhere, on his clothes, on his arms, on his face and in his hair but he didn't stop. Balon's screams were everywhere around him and mingled with his roars of rage but he felt no compassion for the man below him and he continued to carve into his skin, his blows concentrated on the dethroned King's spine.

After a minute of brutal strikes that left Artys struggling to breath he let the great axe fall to the ground. Balon was still moaning in pain as his blood covered the table and the floor beneath him.

It was everywhere.

Artys wasn't finished though, he got closer to the cracked back and started to pull at the cut flesh on either side of the long deep cuts he had made along Balon's spine with his bare hands.

"What the fuck," Jaime gasped as he watched Artys tear back Balon's skin. It was horrific to see, even for a battle harden warrior like himself.

Tywin watched beside his son and after a few moments, it clicked in his head as he saw Artys push Balon's skin back on itself so it looked like wings as the Ironborn wiggled around on the table trying to escape the two Valeman's grip.

"He is making a bloody falcon," Tywin said to his son above the frantic screams of Balon before turning slightly to see Kenna's reaction to her nephew's actions.

Her exhausted demeanour was still there but her mouth was curled into a small smile and her eyes were shining as they took in the moment of extreme violence. Tywin briefly wondered if his eyes and mouth had done the same thing while he watched the water seeping into the underground chambers of Castamere.

Artys stepped back from his uncle as if assessing his work. The young knight was panting at the physical excursion and emotional energy he had just released as he watched his uncle's squirming and screaming began to fade and the former King of the Iron Islands became still, laying face first on the wooden table as his blood dripped down the table, soaking his trousers and reaching the floor to mingle with the already thin coating that was present from the earlier fighting, and steam seemed to rise from the deep open wounds on his back where the cold air hit it.

Artys stepped further back and tried to wipe some blood off his face with the back of his hand but only succeeded in smearing it around his face even more. He took a few moments to regain his breath and composure before turning from Balon's body and walking over to his Aunt, stepping over his bloody axe and avoiding all eye contact as he went.

He was covered from head to toe in crimson liquid, reminding Jaime of another time when an Arryn had been covered in the blood of a Greyjoy.

The Great Hall rested in astonished silence as the only two remaining Arryn's in Westeros converged.


"It is done," Artys said lowering himself to the floor and reaching for Kenna's hand over Grey Wind's body who decided it was time to return to his master.

His hand was warm, or Balon's blood was warm and Kenna enjoyed the sensation as Artys's hand curled around her own. She knew she was cold to the touch.

"Well done," Kenna murmured, "Your mother would have been proud."

"So would my father apparently, according to Victorian."

Kenna took a shaky inhale of breath, "That is probably true but you are nothing like him Artys. You are Alyssa's child not Euron's."

"What happens now?" Artys asked quietly as he leaned over to place his forehead on Kenna's who was still draped in Tywin's cloak and sitting with her back to the crackling fire.

Kenna's face morphed into a sad smile underneath Artys. He reminded her so much of herself when she was younger it pained her to remember that younger version of herself that had been so consumed by rage that she had wrapped it around herself like a tourniquet. That rage had kept her alive, had pushed her to be strong and brave, to do the things her child self would never have thought possible. But she knew that it has also condemned a part of her soul to the Seven Hells and strangely in this moment she accepted that fate. Her revenge had been worth it and she could tell that Artys felt the same with Balon as she had felt with Euron.

"Now you claim Balon's Throne."

Arty's furrowed his eye brows and his confused light blue eyes met Kenna's identical steadfast ones.

"I want nothing to do with the Iron Islands or the Salt Throne," Artys said, anger still coating his words, "this place is where my mother truly died and the savages that live here cause so much pain to so many people."

"I know but as their King you could change that. What better way to honour your mother's memory than to destroy the Ironborn's way of life?" Kenna willed Artys to see her grand vision as he drew back from her leaving a red mark on her forehead and her hand covered in Balon's blood, "To stop what happened to your mother from happening again and again in the future."

Artys nodded at his Aunt's words understanding the logic behind them but he was trembling with the emotion of what he had just done and what his Aunt was asking him to do.

"You are her legacy, you are the man that will expel the Old Way and usher in the New Age for the Ironborn," Kenna strained as the adrenaline of seeing Balon's mauling seeped away.

Artys took a few more seconds to consider Kenna's proposed course of action before rising from her under Lord Royce's watchful gaze and stepping back to the centre of the room.

He looked first to Robb, Tywin and Jaime who were regarding him with something akin to caution, then glanced back at the bloody mess he had made of Balon, and finally he flicked his eyes to the dozen or so Ironborn Lords that now knelt in the mixed blood of Balon and the Captains of the Iron Fleet.

"I am the son of Euron Greyjoy and I claim the Salt Throne," Artys declared at the kneeling Lords who all looked upon his red face with expressions of awe or respect.

After a dozen seconds of silence Artys added, "Are there any other claimants?"

Another dozen seconds passed before one Lord rose with his hands bound behind him and walked to the front of the group to stand directly in front of Artys, "I am Gorold Goodbrother and I claim the Salt Throne."

Artys appraised the Lord, he had white hair and a lean build that was equal to Arty's own but that didn't dissuade him. He picked up his bloodied axe from the floor and rested the edge on Gorold Goodbrother's shoulder so that some of Balon's blood dribbled off the edge onto the man's tunic.

Sensing Artys's unspoken threat the man chattered out, "No Ironborn can spill other Ironborn's blood. It is against our laws."

"I was born in Gulltown in the Vale. I am no Ironborn," Artys's said pressuring his axe downwards so Lord Goodbrother would feel the sharp edge digging into his shoulder, "and I don't know your laws but if you do not rescind your claim I will knock you head off your shoulders and ask my question again."

Lord Goodbrother, seeing the truth in Artys's words, gulped before he sank back down to his knees not willing to die for his pride.

"Are there any other claimants to the Salt Throne?" Artys asked again while wiping more blood off his cheeks but again his blood-soaked sleeves did little to clean his skin.

Unsurprisingly no one rose up but one did speak up.

"I am Rodrick Harlaw," the man said catching Arty's eye, "I do not claim the Salt Throne but according to our traditions only the Drowned Men can crown the Ironborn's leader in the name of the Drowned God. To become King of the Iron Islands and be seen as legitimate you will need their blessing."

Artys eyed the average looking brown haired man, "My Uncle Aeron is a Drowned Man is he not? Where is he?"

"I believe he is in the Guest Keep," Tywin spoke up showing no sign that what he had witness had disturbed him.

"Bring him to me," Artys said to the same Arryn soldiers that had held Balon down.

They both nodded and disappeared from the room, not giving the former King of the Iron Islands a second look as they did.


Same day during the evening under the cover of darkness …

Two weeks after Daenerys's disappearance

Balcony of the Great Pyramid, Meereen, Slavers Bay, South Essos


Cersei looked out from the balcony of the Great Pyramid with a metal goblet of red wine in her hand as she watched the fire blaze from a distance, illuminating all the buildings around it. It was like a beacon amongst a canvas of darkness. The fire was consuming a pink and white pyramid that was less than half the size of the one she currently occupied. It had been the pyramid of the House Pahl, one of the ancient slaving families of Meereen. But no more would their pyramid cast its shadow over the city of Meereen and no more would its female leaders incite the Sons of the Harpy and organize their bloody nights of terror.

Movements such as the Sons of the Harpy normally faded into nothing once their leaders had been killed and Cersei was fairly confident that its leaders were currently burning to ashes as she sipped her wine in peaceful silence.

A silence that wasn't destined to last as long as she would want it to.

"So, the deed is done."

Cersei didn't need to turn around to know that it was Varys who had stealthily crept up on her.

He stood just to Cersei's side observing the same burning sight as she was.

"House Pahl and the Sons of the Harpy are no more," he said as he shimmed up towards the edge of the balcony wall.

"A feat that wouldn't have been possible without your little birds discovering who the true leaders were and where they were all meeting."

Varys inclined his head slightly acknowledging his role in the massacre occurring below them.

"Was there really no better way?" a sweet voice wafted over to the two subterfuge experts.

Both cunning eyes looked behind them to see Missandei standing on the steps of the balcony.

"Daenerys tried to be nice and merciful," Cersei said swinging her burdened body around to face the young dark beauty, "and that approach was only fanning the flames of resistance against her not snuffing them out."

"So, you decided to burn them to death?" Missandei said as Varys approached her with a sympathetic smile on his face.

He reached for Missandei's hand to comfort her, "Sometimes as Daenerys's advisors and Councilors we have to do the things that she will not to secure her reign runs smoothly."

Missandei didn't look convinced by Vary's honey coated words but she conceded to his superior knowledge on the matter.

"Do not worry, "Varys continued sensing that the violent dispatching of their Queen's enemies wasn't the only thing gnawing away at her gentle heart, "Grey Worm will be back soon."

Missandei eyes softened at the mention of the commander of the Unsullied and Cersei couldn't bear to see the puppy dog look that had glazed over the other woman's eyes so she excused herself and wandered back into the Great Pyramid leaving Varys to continue his emotional manipulation of the young Naathi advisor.


Cersei walked through the candlelit large hall that contained numerous pillowed benches and decorations of various gods and goddesses. Before she could exit the room and return to her bed chambers a seductive voice called out to her.

"I take it your devious ploy worked? Hose Pahl are no more?"

Cersei turned slowly and her eyes scanned the candlelit room for the source of the noise. She found Oberyn lounging on one of the pillowed benches.

"Where is Ellaria?" she asked ignoring Oberyn's question, knowing he wasn't really interested in the answer.

"My love is off entertaining herself with some stunning local delicacies," Oberyn grinned back.

"You didn't want to join her?"

"I get bored quicker than she does and my mind has been occupied as of late."

"On what?"

"On my brother's murder," Oberyn said as he rose from the bench and walked towards Cersei.

"A sad day that was," Cersei said diplomatically.

Oberyn let out a rich laugh at Cersei's attempt at courtesy, "No need to feign your condolences."

A silence developed between them as Oberyn reached her and Cersei didn't respond.

Oberyn let out a dramatic sigh then raised his hand, it was wrapped around a full jug of wine, "Care to join me?"

"What do you want?" Cersei shot out, knowing what a bribed looked like.

Oberyn smiled widely before walking to a nearby table and pouring out two cups, "I want to know your thoughts on the assassination of my brother."

Cersei took the offered cup but didn't drink from it until Obeyrn had done so, he let out an amused huff at her antics.

"You know Tyrion and my father were behind it."

"Yes, but who was the inside man, who was the agent of chaos? Who left the crossbow and the uniform of a Dornish guard?" Oberyn prodded.

"I know the court of King's Landing not Sunspear."

"You must have suspicions," Oberyn eyed Cersei over the rim of his cup, "but you don't want to tell me."

Cersei placed one hand on her tummy wincing, "It is not that. I just don't think you would believe me."

"Try me," Oberyn replied but Cersei suddenly bent over with a pained expression on her face and the metal cup clanged to the floor with the contents spilling all around.

"Cersei?" Oberyn questioned grabbing onto one of her arms to steady the doubled over woman.

"The .. the babe .. it is coming," Cersei gasped out, holding her rounded stomach.

"What is going on?" Varys asked as both he and Missandei entered the room, attracted by the noise of the cup hitting the floor.

"She is about to give birth," Oberyn announced before addressing Missandei, "where do we need to get her to?"

"Follow me," Missandei said as she rushed past them.

Oberyn heaved Cersei into his arms to better carry her as Varys shadowed them, "If you think this ends our conversation from earlier you are surely mistaken," he said down to the grimacing blond woman.


Author's Notes

Artys really activated his beast mode here with encouragement or direction from Kenna (although Kenna is hurt here and quite passive, she is still influencing events). He ruthlessly dispatched Balon, killing him Blood Eagle/Bloody Falcon style (thank you NCVII) in honour of his mother and Kenna then claims the Salt Throne, what a day for him ;P The Blood Eagle execution was the scene I have been looking forward to because it has literally been in my head for like a year now :)

We returned to Meereen! Cersei is enacting her form of ruling which focuses more on results than the method, will Dany like that when she gets back? Oberyn is still on the hunt for that Agent of Chaos …

Let me know what you thought of Balon's death please! :D


RIP

Balon Greyjoy (Died due to blood loss after Artys gave him a 'Blood Eagle'/Bloody Falcon styled execution)

This death has been rattling around my head for so long and it was an important one in terms of the Pyke mini arc, and with Arty's and Kenna's characters as well as an objective to bring the Vale, North and Westerlands together. If people have forgotten Kenna's nickname is the Bloody Falcon so the way Artys killed Balon is a bit of a homage to that and I think the Blood Eagle execution style (Vikings) really suits the environment of Pyke as the Ironborn are basically hybrid Viking/pirates.


Reviews:

NightlyRowenTree – You are most welcome :)

Ksyushangel – I think you can actually leave up to three reviews on the same chapter. If not, you are always welcome to private message me :) May I recommend a good bottle of whiskey? ;P Okay well I will try to build up the good emotions :) Oh please don't be worried! I know Tywin and Kenna are a big draw to some people and I have missed writing scenes with the both of them in because the story has had them apart for so long but they are back together now so expect more Tywin Kenna scenes in the future :D But yes a lot of shit is going down around them so romance isn't the main focus for any character really.

What does "collapse of expectations mean?" (anxious emoji)

David Daniel B – Probably a good strategy to take with my chapters :P

Supremus85 – Yes, I agree but I don't think it is an excuse for their actions, especially if some leaders have tried to show the way with more of a merchant fleet focus. Haha who would dare to do that I wonder :P

One Earth (Commented on chapter 16 on 19/10/2020) – Nice :D The story took more of a political focus at this point so hope you enjoyed it when you catch up to the chapters where I have been replying to you.

Lord Demolitions – I don't feel an automatic reload system belongs in the GOT universe in the year AC 303. Tyrion will certainly have some unique tactics up his sleeves if/when the fighting starts with Dany. Kenna has her hidden blades and her archery skills; she won't be wielding a proper sword (it is just not her style) but the sword breaker idea was very intriguing to me and sounds like more of a Dornish, Dothraki or Ironborn weapon. The spring-loaded triple dagger is also cool but I don't think springs on that small scale would have been invented just yet. Yohn Royce already has a set of bronze armor, that is said to be thousands of years old and is inscribed with runes. It is where he gets the nickname 'Bronze Yohn' from. But Lawbringer's armor looked sick!

Guest (Commented 20/10/2020) – Oberyn isn't a child killer but I don't think Varys would have blinked an eye if Kenna's children died as a result of his actions. Cersei absolutely hates her new brothers, that is pretty obvious :( That is a dark thought, I will have to watch Sleepwalkers now to understand the full context.


New Fanfiction writer/story alert – Rohailq64 is writing a new male OC Stark story which is just beginning but I am enjoying it so I thought if anyone else fancies that type of story go check it out, it is called Winter's Wrath.


Next Up: Pyke is left behind, Cersei births another lion cub, Varys reveals a secret with deadly consequences.

Since the last few chapters I have released in quick succession, because I was excited to get to this point in the story, I am going to try to have a 2 week break from Dance of the Falcon then actually return to a consistent weekly schedule. Will be back 5th of November :)

If you are enjoying this story please *Toss a coin to your writer, Oh valley of readers* and review, follow and favorite!