At Harlaw…
Several hours had passed since Lord Roose Bolton and his bannermen stormed the beaches of Harlaw, the wealthiest archipelago of the Iron Islands. Reinforced by the combined Lannister–Glover men-at-arms and Redwynes ships, the Bolton army had gained a strong foothold in the region despite the loss of over 3,000 men. Beyond the horizon, Roose could see the Ten Towers keep, the seat of House Harlaw – dominion of Balon Greyjoy's wife's family. And according to the latest intel, they had been keeping Lord Galbart Glover's brother Robett prisoner. As such, Galbart himself had taken to the field in the hopes of rescuing his brother.
Roose folded his arms as he watched from the hillside as the scene below him unfold: the screams and shouts, steel clashing against steal, and the fires and smokes that littered the battlefield as Bolton soldiers raised their banners in triumphant as the Harlaw banners depicting a silver scythe on a black field being torn down and burned. Riding up to his side was his bastard son Ramsay.
"The scouts report that Harridan Hill and Grey Garden have been put to the torch, father," Ramsay announced. "Locke and his men are already set on demolishing the Tower of Glimmering."
Roose remained stoic as ever. "That leaves only the Ten Towers to remain. We can expect Lord Rodrik Harlaw to mount a strong defense around his lands before our forces charge into his holdfast."
"If I may, father," the Bolton bastard reached into his pocket, "I believe I have a suggestion for inflicting warfare intimidation."
Roose looked at Ramsay as he pulled out a small piece of skin and three fingers hooked onto a chain around it. The Lord of the Dreadfort observed the flesh-ridden trinket before meeting his bastard son's gaze.
"Where did you get that?" he asked.
"A few dozen ironborn we've captured were… slow learners, but I've trained them, took some pieces off before making an example of them. The ironborn who saw it pissed themselves before running away with their tails between their legs. They didn't make it far though. Not that any of it matters in the end."
"You mean you flayed them."
"Only a few bits," Ramsay nodded as he smirked. "A few others, too, but like I said I made sure the ironborn got the message in the end. They're well aware of their fates now that we've come ashore."
"A choice of instilling psychological fear on the battlefield, but I did not give my consent for you to do so. Your lack of discretion with Bolton practices is becoming rather infamous as of late."
Ramsay frowned. "We've been flaying our enemies for a thousand years, father. The flayed man is on our banners!"
"My banners, not yours," Roose calmly yet harshly corrected him. "You're not a Bolton, you're a Snow. I can only hope you've done nothing to Balon Greyjoy's surviving son and heir; we need him whole for the final push."
Ramsay felt his lips curl into an angry sneer upon being reminded of his bastard status. While most bastards content themselves with life, Ramsay had larger ambitions: he considers himself a true Bolton despite his birth and is highly resentful of his bastard status and will violently correct those who refer to him otherwise.
Lord Bolton stepped away, shaking his head. "The King's directive was clear: lay siege to the Iron Islands, one by one, and when the time comes… the Iron Islands are to be utterly destroyed, every holdfast torn down and its archipelagoes washed away beneath the waves. Our armies were to drain away any and all resources Harlaw had. Our prisoners were not your personal playthings."
"I know what the Oathkeeper's instructions entailed, father," Ramsay said. "Perhaps we should've demanded that Theon be—"
Roose let out a harsh sigh, moving to look Ramsay in the eyes once more. "I thought I made myself clear. I need Theon Greyjoy whole. I need his mind intact, meaning you are not to touch him."
Ramsay didn't back down. "Theon is an ironborn. Theon is our enemy. But once we're done here, I'll make sure he never betrays us."
The Lord of the Dreadfort disappointingly shook his head. "I placed far too much trust in you. Choose to act like a wild animal, and you will be treated as one."
Ramsay stiffened, swallowing anxiously. His confidence faded… only to be replaced by something else. Watching his father look away, Ramsay clenched his fists tightly as Galbart Glover rode up to Roose.
"The men have cleared the path to Ten Towers," Galbart reported.
Roose nodded. "And your brother?"
"He's still being held by those damned ironborn. Remember, Lord Bolton, Robett's safety is of paramount importance. For his sake, I'm taking my men in to save him. I'll need your men to provide cover whilst I break him out."
"You will have it. Go."
Galbart kicked the side of his horse and rode down the hill to join the charge as Bolton, Lannister and Glover men-at-arms laid siege to Ten Towers. Beyond the smoke and fires, Roose looked up and observed his surroundings; noticing the Redwyne fleets sailing around into their assigned strategic positions, Roose calmly turned to his bastard son.
"You want to prove yourself a Bolton?" he asked.
Ramsay nodded.
"Then send ravens to each of the captains aboard those ships. Tell Kevan Lannister now is the time to begin bombardment. Do this for our family, and I'll reconsider your position."
Ramsay smiled wickedly. Not only was his father giving him a second chance to prove himself, but surely there would be a reward for him as well. As he watched his father move his troops to begin loading the ships with valuable cargo and plunders they've procured from the island of Harlaw, Ramsay moved to two of his trusted lieutenants.
"Get this message to the King's great-uncle," he simply tells them. "Leave no tower left standing, and spare no one."
######
Inside the Ten Towers…
Galbart Glover fought his way inside Ten Towers, the seat of House Harlaw in the attempt to locate and free his brother Robett from captivity. The battle to make it this far had been bloody as it was costly; whilst besieging the Ten Towers' gates, Galbart lost more than half of his men – more than previously expected.
*SLASH!*
*CLEAVE!*
*CLASH!*
One by one, Galbart slashed and cleaved his way through the halls of the Ten Towers before encountering Lord Rodrik "the Reader" Harlaw, Lord of Harlaw, and the surrounding areas of the archipelago as well as captain of the recently destroyed Sea Song. An average-looking man, Rodrik has brown hair and eyes and a short, neat beard that is grey. Nicknamed "Rodrik the Reader" for his love of reading, uncommon amongst the ironborn – Rodrik was prepared for the inevitable outcome surrounding his lands.
"And so it has come to this," Rodrik spoke plainly. "It appears that my niece Yara was right after all. The fate of all ironborn are sealed, history and all. I advised King Balon not to rebel against Robert Baratheon the first time. I advised him not to take up arms against his son as well, but the krakens were always a proud, stubborn bunch."
"Enough!" Galbart roared. "Return my brother Robett, along with his family to me at once!"
Rodrik shook his head. "You already seek answers to questions in which you already know the outcome. But fine, both are in the cells of my hall."
"Then get them!"
"I'm afraid I simply cannot do that," he calmly said unsheathing his blade. "As weary as I am of this foolish rebellion, I fear I must perform my duty as an ironborn. Prepare yourself, mainlander."
'So that's how it's going to be. Very well,' thought Galbart as he assumed the fighting stance.
For what seemed like a tense moment, both Glover and Harlaw felt the Ten Towers keep shake and tremble with such tremendous force.
*BAM!*
*CRASH!*
*RUMBLE!*
Galbart and Rodrik equally shook as they started clashing swords, exchanging blows whilst they noticed the stones around them giving way under constant pressure from the outside.
*POUNDING!*
*CLATTER!*
"Oof!" exclaimed Rodrik as Galbart kicked him back.
Galbart regained his balance as fireballs launched by trebuchets, scorpions and spitfires continued bombarding Ten Towers. Once they had a good short distance from one another, they both equally looked outside to see the Redwyne fleet bombarding Harlaw and its surroundings, the faint sounds of screams barely reaching their ears.
'Such slaughter…' Galbart realized. No wonder why he hadn't seen any reinforcements from Roose Bolton or the Lannisters. They kept the Lord of Deepwood Motte hidden in the dark of their plot. Their real plot!
"Never take your eyes off the fight!" Rodrik pointed out as he charged again, Galbart barely able to deflect it in time to parry and counter.
Even as the fleet rained fireballs around them—destroying the settlements and demolishing holdfasts alike—both Glover and Harlaw fought fiercely as the Ten Towers itself was slowly being brought down around them.
"So you intend to kill us all," Rodrik realized. "If this is indeed my fate, then I'll take you down with me!"
"Not so long as a Glover continues to draw breath!" Galbart retorted.
Their blades clashing again, both were unprepared for the stone floor around them to start giving out.
"What the…?!" Rodrik exclaimed surprise as each stone was falling out of place below them. Before long, another trebuchet catapulted a bombardment on one of the Ten Towers foundations which caused the ground beneath Rodrik and Galbart to give way. Galbart was fortunate enough to jump back a bit before the Ten Towers floor fell out from beneath. Rodrik the Reader, however, wasn't able to escape as the stone his right foot stood on slipped out of place.
"DAMN YOU!" Rodrik screamed as he fell to his death, the stones of Ten Towers crumbling away to crush him on the waves below.
Galbart had no time to think about such tactics, he had to find his brother and his family and escape from Harlaw before they're crushed. Rushing down the main hall, through the library as more and more of Ten Towers infrastructure began crumbling away. Finally after a grueling search, Galbart found the passage to the cells and ran down the steps – albeit stumbling and slipping in the progress.
"Damn it!" he cursed. "The Boltons keep this up, this whole blasted keep will come crashing down all around us!"
As he trekked the final steps, Galbart finally arrived at the cells and saw his brother Robett, his sister-in-law Sybelle, and their children Gawen and Erena Glover behind bars.
"Robett!" Galbart called out.
Robett snapped his head upwards, still slightly disoriented and bruised at the treatment he suffered, recognizing his elder brother's voice.
"Brother!" he called out, gripping the iron bars.
"Uncle Galbart!" Gawen and Erena cried out in tears, happy to see him.
"By the Gods, bless you Galbart!" Sybelle praised.
"Please, uncle, get us out!"
Galbart looked around briefly. "Where are the keys?"
"Over there," Sybelle pointed towards the crushed jailer.
Galbart turned and ran over, grabbing the number of keys from the jailer as more stones crumbled around them. The Glover children squeaked as they moved away from where the objects fell. Sybelle held her children close as Robett motioned Galbart over once he finally acquired the keys he'd been looking for.
"Hand on, brother," Galbart reassured him. "I'm taking you all home."
"Hurry, uncle! Please!" Gawen pleaded.
Galbart fumbled around putting each key into the lock, growing increasingly frustrated whenever the chosen keys wouldn't pick the lock on the cells. More and more stones crumbled away, one momentarily landing mere inches near Robett's left leg. The Glovers exclaimed as Galbart searched through six more keys before finally inserting the last key into the lock. Turning the key towards the left, Galbart heard the lock machinations click.
*CLICK, CLUNK!*
*CREAK!*
Feeling the cells unlocking, Galbart and Robett swung the cell doors open – freeing the captive Glovers, allowing a brief reunion. Hugs and praises aside, the Glovers quickly turned to evacuate Ten Towers before the keep collapses on top of them. Rushing back up through the library and into the great hall, an unfortunate moment struck when, during the escape, a stone fell from above and struck Galbart on the head, briefly disorientating him. Robett looked over his shoulder.
"Brother!"
Before Galbart could recover, a heavy load of stone and wooden support beams came crashing down – pinning Galbart down as he spat blood across the beam.
"GRAAAAH!" he shouted in pain.
Robett and Sybelle ran towards the fallen Galbart, each trying desperately to lift the heavy fallen debris off of their family member. Gawen and Erena joined in, each straining trying to save their uncle.
"Nnnagh! It won't budge!" Robett strained.
Galbart gritted his teeth, shutting his eyes tight before opening them to see more of Ten Towers crumbling all around them.
"It's no use! Get out of here!" he called out, blood staining his teeth.
Robett shook his head. "The fu… No, brother! We're all going home to Deepwood Motte! That includes you!"
"Don't be… *cough, cough!* don't be foolish," Galbart spat out blood. "You know that I… I can't make it. The bloody debris is too heavy! If you stay here, you'll all be killed."
"But uncle—!"
"But nothing!" Galbart strained in agony, moving to take the signet ring of House Glover off his hand before grabbing Robett's hand and placing it into his. "Take this, Robett. Take your wife and children and go back to Deepwood Motte without me!"
Sybelle shook her head in disbelief. "But Galbart…!"
"Robett, I'm not going to let you all sacrifice yourselves for me," he continued – his voice slowly getting weaker. "You are Lord Glover now, brother. Return home to Deepwood Motte. Make our house proud. Make the North proud."
Robett felt his grip slipping away, a moment of sadness behind his eyes as his brother named him his successor in what appeared to be their final moments. The last time he might see his only sibling again. Begrudgingly curling his hand into a fist, Robett took the signet ring and held Galbart's hand.
"I won't forget you, brother," Robett swore.
Galbart nodded. "Nor I you. Now… now go. Go, go!"
"No, wait! Uncle, no!"
"Father! We have to go back! We can't leave him!"
Robett and Sybelle ignored the pleas of their children as they yanked them to their feet and made their escape as Ten Towers underwent enough bombarding pressure from the Redwyne fleet for the entire structure to come crumbling down. Watching his family escaping to safety, Galbart Glover never broke eye contact as the keep came crashing down.
'May the Old Gods protect you. And remember that you are never alone. I will always be with you,' he thought as all became dark.
*THUD!*
*CRASH!*
Outside, Robett and Sybelle watched on from the Redwyne ship Queen's Thorn in disbelief as the keep that was once Ten Towers was utterly demolished, none of it remained standing. The island of Harlaw lit up the skies as fire and smoke devoured the archipelago. As the Glovers mourned the loss of their leader, Ramsay looked on as more of his lieutenants loaded the vessels with plundered wealth and resources they managed to procure during the siege. Feeling pleased with himself, Ramsay ignored the cries of the Glovers.
"A naked man has few secrets; a flayed man, none," he whispered silently.
Roose Bolton observed from the vessel with Kevan Lannister. "And so Harlaw has been completely destroyed," he concluded.
Kevan nodded. "That it has. I'll have the fleet set sail for Pyke to join the King and his men. We'll reinforce him in less than a day."
"Very well," the Lord of the Dreadfort nodded. "I'll have Ramsay escort the Glovers to Deepwood Motte. They'll need time to mourn the loss of their lord, after all."
Kevan nodded and left to inform the captain of their new directive. Roose, meanwhile, looked onto the horizon with Ramsay approaching his side.
"It's done, father. Harlaw is no more. Its wealth and resources are at our disposal."
"Distribute them among the men. They fought very hard today."
"We're to set to sail to Pyke now?" Ramsay asked.
"Have your best hunters ready," Roose informed him. "Hit the ironborn with a viciousness they've never seen before."
######
Author's Note: Well guys, here's a short chapter depicting the siege of Harlaw. It's not much, I know, each chapter is usually a bit longer – but I'm doing my best. Just want to get this over with as much as possible. Some collateral damage we've seen. A bit of a harsh tactics deployed by the royal forces to bombard the Iron Islands and butcher every ironborn they come across as noticed by Galbart, but we'll leave that to the readers to comment about such mindset.
What do you guys think of the short dialogue between Roose Bolton and Ramsay? Of Galbart Glover and Rodrik Harlaw? Were there any differences you might have seen in comparison to the TV series or the novels?
Hear My Fury: What Roose did at Harlaw is actually staying in character with the books at least. I seem to recall in the books at the Battle of the Green Fork he unleashed arrows on his own men as well as the Lannisters so, this is nothing new. I hope Ramsay gets axed off soon. Maybe Daveth can sweeten the deal with Walder Frey and have Roose marry Walda and get rid of Ramsay, so that way Roose can have a trueborn son.
—The Boltons are as cruel as they are cunning, especially if one in particular is a beast wearing human skin.
God of war: Another nice chapter but I have a question after this will deavth deal with wildeng army and then daneryas
—He'll have either the Northmen, the Night's Watch or even someone else to handle the wildling army, but he'll primarily focus on Daenerys herself.
Patty 4577: Well at least Ramsay is being productive.
—Productive in his own way, yes.
Supremus85: Knowing Rodrik Harlaw, he would have surrendered without fighting.
—He probably would've considered if the order to kill every ironborn wasn't enacted.
RHatch89: Awesome update :)
—Thanks.
The Three Stoogies: a great chapter but is roose going to be called into question if the glovers find out what he did
—The Glovers are going to be so pissed if they found out what the Boltons did.
BioHazard82: Another good chapter.
—Thanks.