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Chapter 6
Lordsport 289 AC, Ned's POV
The army of the Iron Throne pushed back the Ironborn resistance throughout the day. As the day wore on, the fighting became brutal. Casualties had occurred on both sides, with quite a lot of Ironborn slaughtered asd compared to the combined armies of the lords of Westeros.
Ned parried a blow and slew an oncoming opponent by impaling him with his greatsword Ice. He saw to his left, his friend and his king, Robert fighting with the rage of a berserker as he tore into the Ironborn opposition with ferocity. Ned saw as Robert caved in the chest of Lord Blacktyde as the men led by the reaver lord were routed.
A little ahead in the right was Harry and his band of wolves fighting against the Ironborn. Harry was fighting with his two swords twirling and slashing, but his movements were slightly slowed, mostly due to exhaustion. Harry effortlessly dispatched five ironborn before Ned saw, as Harry went in to challenge Ser Harras Harlaw. The Ironborn knight wielded the valyrian steel sword Nightfall and the dark blade glimmered in the setting sun as he and Harry parried and traded blows.
Harry couldn't seem to land a decisive hit on the reaver knight as they kept fighting for sometime. Ned saw Harry move in a fluid motion as he hammered onto the shield of his opponent staggering the knight. Not wasting time he went for a decisive strike which the knight went to hastily block. Ned's eyes widened slightly as he saw Harry's left arm thrusting the word right into the neck region where the knight was not protected. He swept around and severed the head of the knight who the valyrian steel sword dropped from his lifeless hands. Ned wanted to shout to Harry but his voice would get lost in the midst of the battle but he tried anyway. He saw with dread and horror filling him as he saw his son being attacked by Victarion Greyjoy.
Victarion Greyjoy was a beast of a man who was a fearsome warrior with a reputation. He was a shrewd man and was not above adapting cheap tactics to get an upper hand in battle. He saw the reaver lord scour Harry as Harry finished his opponent. Sensing an opportunity, he threw dust and sand into Harry's face blinding him momentarily. He thrust a spear right into his son's chest. Thankfully the steel plate had helped and Victarion was not able to impale his son with his spear.
Ned moved to save his son as he slew Ironborn with ferocity, all the scum who were in his way. But he need not have worried. Ned saw as Harry turned the tables on the veteran Greyjoy. He saw Harry rally the men around him raising the head of the decapitated Greyjoy. As Ned approached Harry, he saw his son, panting from exhaustion.
"Are you hurt?" Ned asked to which Harry grimaced a little.
"Nothing major or permanent, but I am knackered." Harry admitted. Ironborn around them were routed by the royal army as the last of the Ironborn escaped into Pyke. Pyke was connected by the Lordsport by a narrow corridor. Having lost Lordsport, Balon Greyjoy had decided to make the stand from Pyke where the greater numbers of the Iron Throne could not push its massive advantage due to the narrow corridor.
The battle in Lordsport was over. The injured were being attended to across the town as more sireg weapons were set up to breach the walls of the castle. Maesters and their apprentices could be seen across the town, tending to the wounded. Ned had taken Harry to a Maester who had provided a salve for the bruise on his chest.
Ned was concerned over Harry and thought the boy was hiding his injuries. But to his surprise, Harry was upbeat and energetic the very next day, spending quite some time at the practice yard practicing with his newly acquired Valyrian steel sword, Nightfall. Robert had given his blessing to keep the sword and more so he was genuinely impressed by the martial skills of a boy barely of ten and four namedays.
Ned had expected that Harry would be a little overwhelmed by war, despite him going on in the North and clearing out bandits from the roads. War was cruel and harsh and often would require taking difficult decisions. Ned was a little worried with the lack of nervousness which Harry displayed which made Ned wonder if Harry was ready for this.
Ned need not have worried. Harry was skilled in combat and was a good commander. He could fight with ferocity and rally his men. Harry also deployed complex military tactics effectively which resulted in minor casualties from his end while inflicting maximum damage on the opponents.
As he exited his tent, he saw his son talking to the Lord Paramount of the Westerlands, Lord Tywin Lannister. As he approached them, he could hear the Lannister lord say, "I must say that I have not heard of such a venture being implemented on such a large scale so quickly. The Winter Wolves are quite fearsome in battle."
Harry smiled as he thanked Tywin as he said,"You are too generous my lord. I would say the idea of patrols and troops did come as an inspiration from the standing army that the Westerlands have." Twyin looked startled before his eyes showed the pleasure in the compliment. He saw Ned approaching and said, "Lord Stark, I was looking for you. The King has demanded your presence in his tent. We are all to be there at the earliest." Ned nodded as the Stark Household guards with a few wolves and Harry accompanied Lord Tywin and the Lannister entourage to the King's tent.
They entered the tent and saw Jon Arryn, the hand of the King and his old friend and mentor standing next to the King, who sat on his makeshift throne. Lord Mace Tyrell, Lord Randyl Tarly, Ser Brynden the Blackfish and several other prominent lords were there.
"Ned! Harry!" he boomed. "Well fought." Robert grinned as he looked at Harry.
"Ah yes lad saw you fight as I was bursting open squids", he grinned. "You have killed Harras Harlaw and Victarion Greyjoy in single combat. It is quite unbelievable, makes me think of the old times.." Robert continued on.
"Indeed!" chimed in Lord Mace Tyrell. "I must say Lord Eddard, your son is a valiant warrior. I have heard many tales of the Black Wolf. For one to be so young and yet so valiant, your heir must surely make you proud."
The room stilled at the slip up of the Reach Lord as Ned's eyes narrowed slightly. He saw Robert also stilling and looking thunderous. Before anyone could say anything, Harry seamlessly cut in and said, "Why I thank you my lord, you are most generous in your words. I see why they call Highgarden the seat of chivalry. Your words do me great honor." He looked a little abashed as he continued on, "I believe since we are twins, this might cause some confusion, however Robb is elder to me and as such would be my father's heir." he finished pleasantly.
Mace blustered as he hastily made an apology to the Starks. "No need for apologies, my lord." Harry said amiably, "I am sure you must be very busy with the many affairs of the Reach. I am honored that you have taken the time to speak to me."
The Reach Lord looked very pleased as he apologised once again to Ned who nodded his head and smiled briefly. Ned saw the various lords sniggering behind their hands at the antics of the Reach Lord.
Stannis Baratheon had crushed the rebellion forces at Great Wyk and subdued the castles and taken the lords hostage as he garrisoned the castles with his men. He finished providing the complete report to Robert, who was listening to the reports, half bored.
Ser Barristan Selmy had slain Norne Goodbrother and subdued the forces in Old Wyk. Harlaw had parlayed for peace and had peacefully surrendered. Lord Rodrik Harlaw had not participated in the doomed rebellion, choosing to save the lives of his bannermen. The last resistance remained at Pyke which was to be breached soon.
Another discussion came up which was the situation of the thralls of the Ironborn. The Ironborn did not sow but they made thralls do their menial work for them. Builder, farmers, traders, masons, and even certain administrators were thralls. There were more than 15000 thralls in the islands, who were recovered. The women thralls served a more horrible fate as they were repeatedly taken against their will.
While most lords made commiserating noises, none of them actually cared about what happened to a few thousand smallfolk. So when Harry had suggested the crown hand over the responsibility of the relocation and settlement of the thralls to the North, everyone readily agreed, eager to wash their hands over the problem.
They also got the news that the Ironborn raiders who had attacked at Seagard had been routed and Jason Mallister had slain Prince Rodrik Greyjoy, Balon's heir.
Robert ended the meeting with the plans of breaching Pyke from dawn the next day. As they retired to their tents, Ned wanted the war to quickly end. He wanted to go back home, to his family.
Stony Shore 289 AC, Jon's POV
With the news of the defeat of the Iron Fleet at the hands of the Royal and Redwyne fleets, it was evident that the power of the Ironborn was broken. With the full might of Westeros assaulting the Iron Islands and sieging their castles, the reaver lords could not reinforce their initial raids with larger numbers.
The wolves had slowly surrounded the Ironborn under the command of the reaver lord Dunstan Drumm. An old man but a fierce warrior, Lord Drumm wielded the valyrian steel sword Red Rain. The wolves had initiated guerilla tactics to harass the ironborn as they refused to let the main host scatter.
They had surrounded them and had forced them into a settlement. They let the Ironborn let their guard down as they feasted and they, taking an opportune moment, burnt the food stocks and the granaries forcing the Iron born to forage and hunt, often having to travel to forests where the wolves picked them off one by one.
They had planned to frustrate the Ironborn into making a rash decision as they slowly gathered their strength. Patrols who were stationed nearby were all summoned and soon a force of a thousand Winter Wolves surrounded the Ironborn.
Finn had explained to Jon that without food or water the Ironborn would soon be eager to vacate the settlement. Weak and desperate, they would not be able to fight as hard. And with superior tactics, Finn was sure that they would win easily. Jon hoped that Finn was right.
Eventually, Finn's words came true. After a few weeks of harassing the Ironborn and dwindling almost a fifth of their numbers, the Ironborn were ready to leave the settlement and back to their ships. The Winter Wolves had gathered 600 in number a couple of hundred Yards away from the front entrance of the village. 200 were mounted on horseback with their bows out, a hundred of them on each side of the main host of 400 men who were on foot.
The ironborn were approaching the northern host cautiously with their tower shields up and grouped together closely, in an event if they fired arrows on them. A large warhorn startled the Ironborn as they expected the host cavalry to charge but the army in front of them did not make a move.
Lord Drumm was confused by the war horn which was traditionally used for cavalry charges. Yet the mounted cavalry in front of them was not charging at them. He suddenly looked nervous as he realised that the war horn was sounded by another cavalry force which was not in front of them. Believing that his 900 men stood a better chance before the northern forces got reinforcements, they would lose men but they would be able to get back to their ships.
The Ironborn started to move forward to engage the northern host. The warhorn was sounded for a second time as the two cavalry divisions went in charge at the flanks. The horsemen on the vanguard of each charge carried spears and lances, as they charged towards the Ironborn. The rest of the cavalry rained arrows on the Ironborn. Not many were wounded as most of them covered themselves with the shields.
The vanguards instead of smashing into the flanks veered away, close enough for the ironborn to throw axes at them, but not near enough that they could make a decisive hit. The cavalry surrounded the ironborn, circling theme and raining arrows on them, intent on breaking their formation.
The Ironborn, seeing an opportunity, started hurling axes at the mounted archers who were attempting to engage the rear flank of the ironborn. The Winter Wolves used formidable evasion tactics as they rained arrows on the Ironborn. However, they were lesser in number and could not overwhelm the rear flank and a few horsemen fell as axes felled their horses or them and the disoriented wolves would be slaughtered by the horsemen eventually started to retreat going further away and trying to entice the Ironborn into breaking formation. But the ironborn were also desperate and persistent at not letting the cavalry archers overwhelm them. So engrossed were most of the soldiers in fending off the horsemen that most did not see hundreds of arrows sailing right into their disorganised ranks and many could not raise up their shield in time as the arrows skewered them.
The four hundred wolves along with Jon marched towards the enemy host. They kept firing volleys of arrows into the Ironborn as they approached them. He was moving in the standard formation of the wolves which as Finn told him that Harry had developed. The four hundred men marched in formations of ten rows and forty columns. Each man stood apart in each row with enough space for another man to fight .
The first row consisted of men equipped with shields, longswords and throwing javelins, who used them to engage with the enemy in close combat. The second row which consisted of spearmen, also had shields and javelins and they stood at alternate positions with respect to the first row, such that if the second line moved forward, it would seamlessly merge with the first line. The third and fourth line again had swordsmen and spearmen to reinforce the initial infantry forces who were engaging the enemy. The last six lines consisted entirely of archers who were equipped with weirwood bows. They would pick off the rear guard of forces while the infantry engaged. Using the benefit of the formation, they could even shoot arrows at closer range targets as the first four lines of infantry would continuously move around in formations, causing openings in the ranks of the enemies which the archers would use to rain death on the enemies.
As the infantry engaged the ironborn, fierce fighting broke out in the ranks. The archers, taking advantage of the positions would take out any ironborn who were not shielded or had been wounded and fallen, quickly dispatching them. Jon parried an attack as he ducked around the ironborn reaver before using his bastard longsword to slash across his torso, tearing open his armour and flesh as the ironborn screamed. He quickly finished him off by a hard slice across his face, cleaving the reaver face open in half.
Jon and the Winter Wolves around him engaged the Ironborn with discipline and tenacity. They were slaughtering through the ranks fairly easily as they had managed to mentally fatigue the majority of the forces. As he ducked around another clumsy swipe from an ironborn as he stabbed him in the chest, killing the ironborn instantly, Jon heard the sound of a cavalry charge. Parrying a few blows as he decapitated the next opponent, he saw the cavalry smash hard onto the flanks of the ironborn.
As more chaos spread across the ironborn ranks with the cavalry charge, Jon managed to work his way into facing the reaver lord himself. Lord Dunstan Drumm was desperate as he saw a young boy challenge him. Roaring at the audacity of a greenboy, he charged at him with ferocity.
Jon carefully parried the blows as the reaver lord rained them upon him. Jon sidestepped the blows as he forced his attack on the reaver lord, forcing him on the defensive. As Jon kept fighting Lord Drumm, he realised that the lord due to his old age probably was not as quick to parry blows that came below his waist.
Jon started to increase the power of his blows as he started to make heavy overhead and horizontal strikes aiming strikes on the older man's head and torso. The wolves around him were slaughtering the Ironborn. Some of the Ironborn tried to flee only for the archers and the cavalry to rain death on them.
Lord Drumm overextended and Jon understood that the old man was tiring. Sidestepping Jon rammed his elbow hard into the face of the man, disbalancing him. Taking the opportunity, he lunged forward and aimed for the torso again as the old reaver lord tried to hastily bring up his sword to parry. Jon aimed for the legs feinting and dipping his blade at the last moment as they slashed at the legs of Lord Drumm.
The man yelled in pain as he fell. Jon had already made a strike and made a slash towards his opponent's sword arm as made contact and disarmed Lord Drumm. Jon thrust his blade right into the old man's heart, killing him instantly. Panting at the effort, Jon picked up the sword Red Rain and marvelled at it.
As sound rushed back into Jon's ears, he looked around and saw that the wolves had managed to box in the Ironborn and now were slaughtering them. Jon, heard another horn as another cavalry charge was sounded. The force of three hundred cavalry who were attacking from the rear had managed to overwhelm the rear guard of the ironborn as more than two hundred cavalry charged and smashed into the rear flank of the Ironborn. Within a few minutes, dozens of ironborn were slaughtered mercilessly.
The Ironborn were prideful people. But they also had a sense of self preservation. Seeing their liege lord fall in battle, as they were outmatched, outmaneuvered and overwhelmed by the Winter Wolves, many of the Ironborn threw down their arms.
Those who chose not to, did not live to see the next day.
Siege of Pyke, 289 AC, Harry's POV
At the start of dawn, as promised by King Robert, the trebuchets and catapults were lined up and fired. A particular region of the southern wall which also had a watchtower was targeted. The burning balls of fire and stone were hurled at walls as the day progressed. Barrels of oil were also thrown at the walls so that they caught fire easily. By afternoon, they had the walls down as Thoros of Myr entered through the breach with his flaming longsword, closely followed by Jorah Mormont.
The ironborn were severely outnumbered by now. With continued losses after the burning of the Lannisport fleet, thousands of ironborn had been slaughtered by now. Yet the day trudged in slowly as the ironborn refused to give an inch. They fought across the castle courtyard as Harry dodged and parried a blow before thrusting his shortsword into the man's lungs.
Harry was still getting used to the lightness of the Valyrian Steel. His magic felt connected with the sword. As he had practiced earlier, he had begun to realise that the sword could actually move incredibly fast and often reacted to Harry's subconscious of protecting him. As a result, if he overextended or lay at risk of getting hurt, his magic would flare up and sort of nudge him and the sword to block, parry on strike in a certain direction. As he dispatched another opponent, he realised he needed to work more on this ability.
The day wore on as the royal army breached the castle. There was fierce fighting in the corridors as the last few Ironborn who had not surrendered or been killed tried to embark a futile resistance. As the resistance in the castle was slaughtered to the last man, they breached the throne room of the castle.
As King Robert entered the room with the Kingsguard, Ned, Harry and some of the major lords, an Ironborn rushed towards them, rushing towards the king to make a desperate attempt to land a fatal blow. Harry intercepted the man's path and lazily threw a dagger at him. The dagger struck the man in his legs as he fell crashing onto the ground. With Nightfall unsheathed, he casually walked up to the scrambling ironborn as he slashed at his throat, leaving the man bleeding on the floor to death.
King Robert continued to walk towards the king of the Salt Throne as he removed his helm. Towering over the Greyjoy, his clear voice carried across the hall. "You have some nerve, challenging the Iron Throne. I should execute you right here for treason."
"We bowed to the dragons. You are not a dragon." Balon Greyjoy said.
"Aye, I am not a dragon. But I have smashed the dragons. I killed the Last Dragon at the Trident. Do you know who I am? I am the Demon of the Trident. Kneel before me now and I may consider sparing you." growled Robert.
Balon sensing the hostility from the rest of the lords of Westeros, knelt and renewed his oath as the Lord of the Iron Islands.
Many of the Reach lords as well as Stannis wanted Robert to end the Greyjoy line. Jon Arryn was a vocal opposer of further violence or bloodshed. His father Ned Stark looked to be in deep thought. Finally Robert decided to make the decision by taking inputs from Jon and his father as he asked the rest of the lords to wait at the courtyard.
After a while, King Robert, Jon Arryn, Eddard Stark and Balon Greyjoy walked into the courtyard. King Robert looked across the courtyard which held all the officers and lords of the army of the Iron throne.
"After a lot of deliberation, I have decided that Balon Greyjoy and the Greyjoy line shall not meet its end today. I do agree with what my Hand Jon says as we must be very careful before exterminating a Great House of Westeros." Robert said in a clear voice. "I name you, Lord Balon Greyjoy, the Lord of the Iron Islands."
Balon Greyjoy knelt and repeated his oaths to Robert.
Robert carried on, "We also have to value the valor with which our men fought. Many men have been worthy and as such on this day as I declare the end of the Greyjoy Rebellion, I will knight those who I deem worthy."
Harry saw as various lords and warriors of the Reach, the Stormlands, the Westerlands were knighted. Even Jorah Mormont was given a knighthood which caused a lot of cheer among the northern people. Even though the northerners did not traditionally believe in the concept of knights, they could always understand the celebration of valor.
As Robert was done with the last of the warriors he chose to knight, he called out, "Lord Harry Stark, please come and kneel in front of me."
Harry came and knelt in front of the king, unsure of what he would do with the knighthood. And he was devoted to the Old Gods. He was thinking of a way to refute the knighthood when Robert said, "Ned has told me how you are devoted to the Old Gods. As long as I am King, I shall be the defender of all faiths." He continued, "However, your deeds need to be recognised and let it not be said that Robert Baratheon is measly when it comes to sharing glory. With the fierceness with which you have fought the Ironborn, with the swordsmanship skills with which you slew the Kraken Lord, I Robert Baratheon, first of his name, King of the Andals and the FIrst men name you as the Sword of the North. "
The Sword of the North. Mutters went around repeating the phrase as they tried speaking it out loud. The northmen slowly started to cheer as they all started to chant the "Sword of the North." Harry stood up and bowed to the king and went and stood next to his father who looked immensely proud of him. The chantings stopped after sometime after Harry had waved at the men.
Robert waited for the cheers to die down as he then said, "Also, as assurance, Lord Greyjoy has agreed to let his son and heir Theon Greyjoy to be a ward of the Lord of Winterfell. Lord Eddard has graciously agreed to this arrangement and with this I believe we can call this to an end."
Harry's eyes narrowed at Robert's words. The second son of Balon had died when a tower fell on him during the siege. Theon Greyjoy was a thirteen year old boy who looked scared of the people around him. Harry wondered if the Greyjoy would be able to adjust in Winterfell. He had told his father about reservations seeing that he had killed the boy's uncle.
His father had reassured him that everything will be fine and Eddard would be responsible for Theon. Seeing that his father would not be budged on the matter, he had let it go. He had an inclination as to what his father was trying to achieve. By raising him as his own ward, his father intended to grow an innate sense of honour within the boy, so that when the time came, the Lord of the Iron Islands and the Lord of Winterfell could be allies in time.
Harry couldn't tell why but he felt that this was an exercise in futility. He understood taking the boy as a hostage. But somehow, Harry didn't believe his father would end up achieving what he said. But he shrugged and decided to trust his father's judgement on this.
The war was over and he would finally be able to go home. He missed his family. He wanted to see them.
Author's Notes: I hope you like this chapter as the Greyjoy Rebellion ends. Please do review, favourite and follow if you like my story. Until next time!