Man of ice woman of fire

Chapter 3

Dorne a kingdom of sand, stone, heat and beauty since the war of the usurper dorne had known peace but now that had been shattered by the ironborn thieving raping and raiding along the sea of dorne. Ellaria Sand of house Uller stound at the walls of hellholt watching more common people enter the castle, as ironborn had attacked villages at the mouth of the brimstone.

She turned to walk away but was startled by her 'father' Harmen Uller the Lord of Hellholt and head of House Uller. 'Ellaria' he called father she answered, 'how long' spoke Ellaria 'two days, a week if the winds and tides change, I want you to asset the maester Warrick'.

''Yes father'' Ellaria called as she walked to the maester tower she was no stranger to war or to ruling as she served as lady of hellholt in her father's name during the war of the usurper as Ellaria made across the courtyard to the maester tower she stopped by her uncle Ser Ulwyck Uller who came out of the tower.

'Uncle' she greeted him, Ellaria greeted Ulwyck. 'Is something wrong' she asked 'your father has asked me to send letters aid to Lords Quentyn Qorgyle, Daeron Vaith, Edric Dayne, Tremond Gargalen and Anders Yronwood these are their replies' said Ser Ulwyck.

'What did they say' asks Ellaria, 'Lord Quentyn has sent out a force 100 spearmen to aid us that will be there in a month away', 'Lord Daeron can give us 300 spearmen but will take time to cross the red dunes and Lords Edric and Tremond can't help us as they also have ironborn bearing down on them and the Yronwood's have ignored our pleases'.

'Is there no one else' asked Ellaria, 'there has been talk of a fleet carrying 12,000 northmen coming south but when they will be here no one knows' answered Ulwyck.

Ellaria left her uncle and continued to maester Warrick room with her uncle words and numbers on her mind House Uller could raise 300 spearmen to defend hellholt and with the 100 coming Sandstone could hold against the ironborn until the reinforcements from Vaith arrive.

Ellaria came to maester Warrick room. 'Maester Warrick' called Ellaria entering the room she had fond memories in this room maester Warrick was Ellaria teacher in both numbers and letters and help bring her into this world he became a surrogate grandfather to her.

'Ellaria there you are called' maester Warrick coming round from behind her 'could you be so kind to take this box and follow me', Ellaria grad the box and followed maester Warrick to the battlements. ''Maester Warrick you studied warfare at the Citadel'', called Ellaria yes 'I did answered' Maester Warrick ''then what do you know of the Ironborn'', Spoke Ellaria.

Maester Warrick sighed and turned and said 'the iron island are grouping of islands numbers thirty-one, with the seven major isles being Pyke, Great Wyk, Old Wyk, Harlaw, Saltcliffe, Blacktyde, and Orkmont. The archipelago is named after the abundant iron ore on the islands, the Iron Isles can field between 15,000 to 20,000 men their greatest advantage is the fleet five hundred longships. This make it hard to wage war against them as they prefer raiding as it make it hard for a land based army to untie find and fight them. The only thing that can stop them is siege warfare as ironborn have no tactics for it'.

Ellaria continued to follow maester Warrick to the aid station listen on what he said she had thought them nothing more than pirates and thieves, as she herself has heard of the old way. ''Have the ironborn ever tried to conquer lands before''. 'Under House Hoare the iron islander ruled from Bear Island in the far north to the arbor in the sunset sea, and the riverlands, since house Greyjoy became the rules of the iron island they have tried to return to their way of raiding several times over the centuries', maester Warrick finished speaking entering the aid station placing the boxes on the table followed by Ellaria.

'I have something for you to' said Maester Warrick opening a box and bring out a vial handing to Ellaria, ''what's in it'' she asked. 'Nightshade', answered Warrick 'a poison a fast poison the ironborn keep women prisoners as whores, if the ironborn get over the walls promise me that you will that this better to die a free women than live as a slave'.

Ellaria took the poison from the maester hand ''yes'' she said ''better to die a free women than live as a slave''. She turn to leave ''thank you'' she said walking back to her room she laid down on her bed think over everything she learned looking at the vial she put it down on the bedrest see closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Ellaria awoke o the sound of yelling and the Nosie of a war horn rising from her bed running to the battlements to see what was happing, she arrived that the wall the same time as her father and uncle looking down the brimstone to see ships with black and gold sails the ironborn has arrived.