Set sails
Edmure POV
Twenty warships were all that was left of the Lannister fleet. Even after seizing three dozen merchant ships, it was not nearly enough to do anything. I could do nothing but wait for the Redwyne fleet to arrive at Lannisport. Seagard and the North have about a hundred warships combined, and with two hundred warships of the Redwyne fleet, it should be enough to take on the Iron Islands.
I wanted to be done with them fast. Winter was coming, and some enemies were still in hiding. For now, I could do nothing but organize the loot of the Casterly Rock and Lannisport to be transported to Riverrun and King's Landing. With the gold my campaign to the west earned, it would be enough to rebuild a portion of King's Landing.
Maybe the Greyjoy revolt would bring some good things. It wouldn't be hard to convince the rest of the Kingdoms to annex the Iron Islands to the North without it. At the same time, the Riverlands can take the northern part of the Westerlands. Then Stormlands could be taken as new Crownlands, and the marches would be a good gift for Dorne.
First time in three hundred years, the Seven Kingdoms will face such changes. No, it might be the first time in its history. The Riverlands and the North will become unimaginably stronger, as will the Crownlands. I only hope that Tyrells won't ask too much in exchange. So far, they have done the least for the war and get to marry the King. They should be satisfied with what they got.
I have sent the Hound to take care of all the small houses scattered in the Westerlands. I do not doubt they will all surrender now that Casterly Rock is mine. As I watched the sunset over the sea, I started to think of my family and how much I missed my children. After this is over, I should spend more time with them.
"A drink?" Patrek walked up to me and offered me a bottle of wine. "Lannister sure knew how to enjoy themselves. Best what Arbor could offer."
"You always knew when to offer me a drink," I replied, smiling, and took the bottle.
"What are you thinking about now?"
"The past, the present, and the future."
"Of everything, you mean?" Patrek asked. "I always said you should relax more. The Westerlands are ours now."
"There are still the Iron Islands left," I said.
"And soon they will be gone too. But it is funny that we are returning to the Iron Islands after all those years. Do you think they have already forgotten why you are called the Redfish?"
"If they did, then I will remind them."
I stayed with Patrek talking about nothing and drinking until nothing to drink was left. I enjoyed the moment. It was hard to find a peaceful and refreshing evening such as this. I enjoyed it so much that the next day I woke up on the streets of Lannisport. It was embarrassing to wake up being guarded by five knights of the Riverlands. They just laughed and said they didn't want to disturb my sleep.
…
Sometimes I never want to wake up, as, in my dreams, I live a peaceful life. Yet sometimes, I don't want to sleep, as, in my nightmares, I see a never-ending night. Now I am looking at the Redwyne fleet sailing to the port. Two hundred warships and twice that number of smaller merchant galleys and cogs. It was an impressive fleet.
"So, there they are," Patrek commented. "Will you wait for your hound to come back?"
"There is no need," I replied. "My sword is cutting down the last resistance in the Westerlands."
"Then we should prepare."
And so, we prepared. Men started to line up by the port, awaiting the ships. Weapons and food were delivered and ready to be transported to the ships. Part of the Redwyne fleet will go a bit north to take the men of the North. I decided to strike and take control of some ports in the Iron Islands now.
The information I received from Robb told me that most of the men of the Iron Islands were driven out of the North, so now they should be returning defeated and tired. Their morale would be at its lowest. There won't be a better time to strike than now. We had enough ships and men. There was nothing to be afraid of.
"We should go," I said when the first ship landed.
"I think that is Lord Paxter Redwyne?" Patrek pointed at the freckled and orange-haired man who climbed down the ship.
"Let's go," I nodded in agreement and walked to the man.
"Lord Edmure Tully, I presume."
"Lord Paxter Redwyne, it is good to see you in good health."
"I should thank you," Paxter said suddenly.
"Thank me for what?"
"I heard you were the first to storm the Red Keep. My sons were held hostage there. If not for you, they might have died."
"I only did my duty," I have heard of hostages kept in the Red Keep, but I didn't care for them as I had to worry about other things. "Now, let's talk of the blood we will need to spill in the Iron Islands."
"I want honor, not blood, Lord Tully," Lord Paxter replied as he led us to his ship.
"Everyone wants honor Lord Redwyne, but not everyone is prepared to pay the price for it."
"And what would that price be?"
"Iron price, we will pay the iron price for our honor," I told him. "Now, the day has just begun. We should prepare to set sails as soon as possible."
I didn't want to waste more time than needed. I wanted to be done with it as soon as possible and return to my family. I was ready to spill some blood for the honor. Land and power were just something that just came with honor. Heh, Ned would probably curse me for my thoughts about honor.
Asha POV
Where it went so wrong, from the start of the campaign, taking lands off the North was a mistake. Of my thirty ships, only twenty-five returned. It could have been worse. Of uncle's Iron fleet, only about half are left. Who could have known that the western shore was so well protected? The fleet my father worked so hard to prepare was mostly gone.
Our raiding wasn't a surprise for the North, with towers built to oversee the sea. We shouldn't have thought that the North was unprotected. It had enough men to defend until more came. And more came. We couldn't even set foot into their lands properly before they were upon us.
Robb's wolf probably ate all those left behind in the North. Well, our time was coming in too. The news of the Redwyne fleet moving has already reached us. Now is only a question of how much time we have until combined forces of the Riverlands attack us, the North, and the Reach.
"Take the ships and leave, Asha," Uncle Rodrik Harlaw suggested. The old man was the only one who cared about my safety.
"And leave my father, my mother?" I would run away like a coward.
"There is nothing you can do, and we still don't know what happened to your brother. He might be dead by now. Take your ships and leave. Go to Essos, find a better life there."
"Who will follow a craven woman?" I asked.
"Sensible men will," Uncle said. "When the Redfish comes, he will not let you live, Asha. He will kill all of the Greyjoys. At least it would help if you survived, do it for me, for your mother. For the Iron Islands."
"I will return," I said, grinding my teeth. I knew it was the only choice left for me. "I will not let the Greenlanders rule the Iron Islands. I will return, I promise."
"I will be waiting."
Damn it all. I never thought a day would come when I needed to run away from home. I needed to convince as many men as possible to run away with me. Tristifer will listen to me, and Qarl too. But for how long? Will they listen to me when we arrive in Essos? If they see a weakness in me, I will be done.
Well, it was no use thinking about it now. I needed to act. I didn't know how much time we had until the Redwyne Fleet came. If I wanted to slip through them, I needed to act now. Tristifer was the first one I found after leaving the Ten Towers. He was one of the few I could fully trust.
"Asha, are we returning to Pyke?"
"No, we are leaving the Iron Islands."
"What?" Tris asked, shocked.
"Gather everyone. I will tell them that we are leaving for Essos."
Tris was still shaken a bit about my decision, but in the end, he nodded and left to do as I had tasked him. For now, I should spend some time with my mother, as I am sure I won't see her once I leave. Maybe I won't see the Iron Islands ever again.
…
"Nineteen ships is better than we could have expected," Qarl the Maid commented. "I suspect few might leave us on the way to Essos, though."
"It is fine," I replied. "We rebuilt our fleet and returned stronger than ever. After all, what is dead may never die, but."
"But rises again stronger and harder," Tris finished my words. "We can sell our services as Sellsails. After gathering enough gold, we could buy more ships and men."
"It will take years," Qarl responded.
"Even if it takes decades, I will return to take what is rightfully mine, no matter what."
"And we will be with you," Tris replied.
"Good, set sails while the wind is on our side."
"Set sails." Qarl delivered my orders to the rest of my men.
The Black Wind and eighteen more ships left the Iron Islands. Damn that Redfish, damn the North and the Seven Kingdoms. I will return one day and repay you all with the iron price. With so much iron that none of you could ever be able to hold.
A.N. Thank you for reading, and as always, If you want more, up to five advanced chapters, you can support me on pa treon. com \ ironwolf852.