285 AC
It was such a small thing, innocent, fair-skinned, thick-lipped and murky-eyed. But she knew what the thing would become, the kind of monster that would be let loose in the world. She brought the child out of the mill, the sun shining yet it was a cold day. That wasn't unusual for the place they lived in. The river was peaceful to look at, clean and clear and reflective. The child in her arm cooed and she knelt by the river and held the babe towards the river. The babe cooed and gurgled at the sight of his reflection. "Not this time" she muttered and plunged the babe into the river. The child struggled in her hold, water bubbling around his head. She held it under the water until she felt the thing stop squirming, at which she took it out. The babe did not cry, it did not move. She placed the child on the ground and from the edge grabbed a stone. "Not this time" she raised the stone high and brought it down on the babe's head.
His bones hurt to move. A man of seven and seventy he was and he was feeling every year of it. Climbing the steps at his age was not something he should be doing. Yet he had to, he needed to be up at the top of his home. Eventually, he did reach it, huffing and puffing and in pain. But it was worth it. From here he saw it all, the sun, the great river his home was built on and lush lands on either side of it. He waddled to the edge and looked out at the scenery. He took it in for a moment, eyes closed and breathing steadying. He then climbed on top of the edge and jumped into the roaring river below.
289 AC
"It's been such a long time since we've been to battle like this. How long has it been?"
"About six years. I think I'd prefer if we meet up when the threat of war is not looming over our heads. Less chaos gives us more of a chance to actually catch up" the Lord of Winterfell spoke and The King laughed. "You're getting fat" Ned added, looking at his growing belly. It was nowhere near the size it would eventually be, but it was a start. Ned wanted to avoid it. He needed Robert in better shape for the war to come.
"Bah shit like this happens when you're King. Sit all day and listen to people blabbering on about their problems" Robert grunted. Ned wanted to point out that Aerys before him was not a fat king, but thought against it. "You on the other hand are doing a better job" The King elbowed Ned on the shoulder. "Fitter than I remember, built up more muscles as well. And I hear you're building another port, elevated a lesser house to a Lordship. Hell Ned, you even got The Skags back in The Seven Kingdoms! I told you, you should have King."
"And I've already told you why I can't and you have to be" Ned smiled at his friend. "The port is still a while away from being complete. The strongholds there though have been successfully converted into a castle of sorts, it isn't as big as one but it is larger than a Keep. Ser Rodrik and his family moved away there not too long and I'm receiving ravens with updates at the port. Your small folk migration helped as well. We got more men to work all around the North" Ned smiled. There was also the case of The Gift being repopulated and utilized. The lands took a year to prepare and now were producing crops for profit. Over at The Mountain Clans, the Houses had found minerals like Iron, Copper and Silver in the mountain ranges. Before now Silver was only found on the lands of House Manderly and iron in The Greater North. Copper was a new addition to these resources. Adding the export of these with the fur and wood export that The North did previously, made their profits grow. And it grew, even more, when Skagos was brought back into the fold of things in The North, with their fishery, pelts and Dragonglass export. And a deep look into their lands had provided veins of iron there as well. Ned believed that in time they would not have to import iron in the near future.
"I've heard you've melted your family sword. What was that about?" Robert questioned.
"Ice has been more of an execution sword in the family for a long time. The Starks of old could probably use it for battle easily, but it's far too big for me. And to keep it as a token was a waste of Valyrian Steel. So I employed the services of Tobho Mott, who I've heard good things about. He lives in Kings Landing so it took him a while to come North and work on the sword. He melted and re-forged it into two Longswords" Ned explained, patting the sword on his waist. The swords were both Longswords, one a little bigger than the other. They both looked identical, retaining the looks of ice. The hilt was iron with a leather grip and a pommel was a wolf's head, grey with dark eyes. The bigger one Ned had kept while the slightly smaller one he had gifted to Benjen as a wedding gift. He was a Stark as much as Ned was and deserved a piece of the family's ancestral blade.
"Enough about all that, tell me about your family. How are your brothers? And your wife? How about your son?" Ned asked, changing the subject to more personal matters.
"Stannis married that Hightower girl you suggested. The two had a son he named after our father. Strong little thing, all Baratheon. Stannis even smiles a little more these days!" Robert laughed, genuinely happy for his brother. "Renly's been at court, being training with the men at the barracks" Robert gave a small shrug.
"You could have him foster somewhere" Ned suggested. "The Eyrie has been good for us. Why not look for someplace for Renly?"
Robert seemed pensive for a moment before nodding. "Aye, I'll look into it. Now tell me about yours! How are Cat and the children? I hear she's given birth just a few days past."
"Little Arya yes" Ned laughed. "We had a daughter, all Stark this one. She's healthy and that's all that matters. Sansa is happy with finally having a little sister to play with. Robb and young Brynden seem a little downcast at it not being another brother. Jon though seems happy with a sibling that looks like him for a change" Ned smiled. Rob and Jon had grown up together and were inseparable. With Catelyn knowing Jon's secret, she encouraged the friendship between Robb and Jon. A surprise was Catelyn's second pregnancy, where she birthed twins. One of them was a girl that they named Sansa. The other was a boy with Tully features. But the thing about the babe that drew the most attention was his birth mar. It started from the right side of his chest and went up to his right cheek, red like wine and the blotch almost looking like a raven. Ned remembered that birthmark and he had named him Brynden Stark. Catelyn thought he was named after her uncle, but Ned had named him after the man who he suspected was reborn as a Stark.
"We're here" Robert spoke and Ned looked forward. The Iron Islands were in clear view. "Let's prepare ourselves, Ned."
"Aye" he muttered, the two walking away to prepare for battle. "Robert, if Balon bends the knee-"
"Show him mercy? Aye, I've been told."
"No," Ned shook his head and Robert gave him a startled look. "Keep him alive now and he'll only boil in this humiliation and strike back again. Leave his brothers alive and they'll want vengeance for their elder brother. Keep his children alive and they'll inherit the malice of their mother and one-day rise against you. If not you then your children. Or even your grandchildren"
"Ned are you suggesting-"
"Kill them all and send the boy to the wall and the girl to become a silent sister? Aye," Ned muttered. "Leave nothing of House Greyjoy standing" he added. If Balon is kept alive now, he will always try to think of ways and wait to crown himself again and begin another conquest. Ned was not about to let that happen.
"When did you get this bloodthirsty?" Robert questioned, a smirk on his face.
"The things we do to protect our families and our Lands" Ned smirked back.
It had been Euron Greyjoy's idea to land a surprise attack on Lannisport and destroy the Lannister fleet. The plan was led by Victarion Greyjoy, the captain of The Iron Fleet. The victory there had given Balon the courage to storm Seagard. His son Rodrik died in the storming, slain at the hands of Jason Mallister.
The counter from the Iron Throne had superior numbers and resources. Stannis, master of laws at the capital, was given the duty to lead the naval forces of the Royal Fleet. The Master of Ships Wyman Manderly was a little out of shape to take part in actual combat. The ships from The Arbor and Oldtown joined with The Royal Fleet. Victarion's Iron Fleet was smashed at the Straits off Fair Isle, where both Victarion and Aeron Greyjoy were captured during this battle. With this victory, the crown forces were able to cross the green lands to The Iron Islands. Stannis went on to subdue Great Wyk in Robert's name, while Ser Barristan led the attack on Old Wyk.
The final battle of the Rebellion happened on the island of Pyke, led by Robert and Ned. Botley Castle was destroyed as was the town of Lordsport. The royal forces assaulted the southern wall with siege engines, shattering the watchtower and bringing part of the surrounding wall down. Maron Greyjoy died in this siege.
Balon Greyjoy was brought before Robert in chains, the iron crown still on his head. Ned stood beside Robert, watching in silence. "We Do Not Sow. Those are the words of your House, no?" Robert asked but Balon did not answer. "Balon Greyjoy, for the crimes of rebelling against The Crown I sentence you to die. Your brother Victarion, Aeron and Euron too shall die for their hand in this rebellion. Your only living son Theon will be sent to The Watch to take the vow to be a black brother, and your only daughter will be sent to The Silent Sisters to take their vow."
"You can't do this" Balon Greyjoy tried to stand, but a tug at the chains had brought him back down to his knees. "You rebelled against Aerys and get a Kingdom! I rebel and I get death? That doesn't sound fair!"
"Fair you say?" Robert grunted, his onyx eyes glinting with anger. "I rose in rebellion because The Mad King's son stole my bride. I rebelled to rid of The Targaryens permanently. And why did you rebel? Because you wanted to be king?" he spat. "You lost two sons to your folly and now your brothers will be lost thanks to your foolishness. Your children will be lost to time as well and your house will be nothing but a memory" he declared harshly. Robert held his hand out and Ned passed him the sword in his hand. Another tug at the chain and Balon's head lowered. And then in a flash, his head came off his body. Robert handed the sword back to Ned, who accepted it and the two began their walk back down. There were honours to give. Lord Jorah Mormont and Jacelyn Bywater were knighted. But the question of who would be the new lord of The Iron Islands remained. Robert had taken Ned, Tywin and Stannis aside to discuss it. It was decided that The Iron Islands will be under the jurisdiction of The Lord Paramount of The Trident, making it a part of The Riverlands from this point on.
"Come, Ned, I think we deserve a celebration for our victory here. A tourney sounds like a good idea" Robert thought out loud, Ned beside him shaking his head in amusement. Some things just don't change he supposed. He'd need to work around this.