Chapter 3 Autonomy or Independence?
The night that Quellon allowed his bannermen and sons to go to battle at Robert's Rebellion marked Theon's new era of mischief. Mischief that immediately made him enter the Game of Thrones and he's not really happy with that.
For starters, he wrote a booklet explaining autonomy. Then he used his mini printing press to distribute it to the whole Iron Islands, to the lords and ladies and smallfolk and maesters and drowned priests, it is propaganda at its finest. It became the talk of the Iron Islands, a lullaby making them dream, until Quellon opposed it of course which the whole family 'helped' him realize its true potential.
Before his nuncles and bannermen rode for the rebellion, Theon managed to print-press at least 12 books of the 'New Era' wherein it is a socialist institution which he signed Quellon's and Balon's name as the "Founders" of their new government. Half the book is where he stated new rules and ways to govern while half of it protects the rights of the nobles and smallfolks especially their trade.
If Robert allowed it, the Iron Islands will have Executive, Legislative and Judicial Courts. Executive wherein the noble families is the only members, Legislative wherein there are nobles (especially Greyjoys) but mostly smallfolk making new laws based on their needs and trade, and Judicial wherein the two branches merge to collaborate on judging a person's crimes or victories.
Theon's 'socialist' is not 100% socialist, more like 85% socialist, 10% capitalism, and 5% dictatorship and/or monarchy.
In the Executive and Legislative he have the Court of Seniors (60 and above name days old), Court of Leaders (30 to 59 name days old), Court of Young Adults (20 to 29 name days old), and Court of Youth (10 to 19 name days old). Each court has their own Department of Needs and Trades to deal with. Theon managed to add the Court of Women and the Court of Men separately while adding the Court of Queer (it's the Iron Islands little secret, that they're as open as Dorne when it comes to homosexual relationships and he took full advantage of it).
He managed to convince Quellon to allow reaving and raiding only beyond the Wall and will be used as a celebration event to placate his bannermen who are still on the Old Ways. And he succeeded.
He will only need to wait for 9 months for the results of the rebellion, so while the men are away he quickly made a degree (with Quellon's enthusiastic approval) and made it Quellon's degree to make the women of the Iron Islands train from the age 10 to 60 to always defend the Iron Islands.
Some protested but Quellon only let them choose to be overtaken by Greenlanders or let the Ironwomen defend their home, many chose the latter.
Seven months later and every girl and women are skilled in whips, axes, spears, bow and arrows, daggers, the rapier (which every woman has because Quellon standardized it and it gave birth to fencing), poisons and antidotes, tridents, fan metals, bladed skirt (wherein a circular blade can be clipped at the skirts hem) and toe steeled knife heels (all are Theon's creations).
The fan metals, knife heels, and bladed skirts along with a thin metal necklace the shape of an inverted rainbow with precious stones embedded in the middle which can turn into a crescent blade birthed the "Dance of the Iron Maidens". Theon made the chainmail dress and a titanium bodice to complete his fantasy of an armored lady under her dress, they can be deadly and beautiful at the same time.
He also worked with the smiths and tailors to make more bodice both for men and women in nobility but also for the smallfolk and sailors. He's real intention is to raise an Iron Islands' Armada and Military.
Two weeks nearing the end of the Rebellion, he dreamt about the Sack of King's Landing. At that night he thought he would dream and forget it since Quellon and Rodrik get rid of the homeless and have them live in stone cottages they built and gave them jobs, next they already finished the renovations for the sewers so not only do they have organic fertilizer and fertile land but also decompost pits, Theon managed to tweak the burial ceremonies into creating a theory of burning the bodies and letting the ashes scatter into the sea (the theory is the lost page on their "bible" and Death gave him the secret through his dream), and they found potatoes growing on their cliffs.
Anyways back to the dream, he dreamt that his father get in through the Red Keep by the sewers with nuncle Victarion and some of their men. Euron somehow eavesdropped at Tywin and somehow concocted in his head that Elia and her children better be alive to get Dorne to heel to the Iron Islands which his nuncle planted on his father's head. Balon agreed and sent Euron with Aeron to capture the Queen Rhaella and kids to boost their campaign on getting their independence while him and Victarion would smuggle the Princesses and Prince back to their camp, they would present the Royal family when it is trial time and rewarding time (something Quellon wrote when he heed Theon's advice and drilled into his sons heads). They ended up in victory while Jaime still slayed the King Aerys.
Theon's POV
I woke up almost screaming but I held it in, for fuck's sake I'm four name days already! And I fucked up big time in staying under the radar, what with creating Iron's Herald (a half monthly issuing newspaper in the whole Iron Islands and to their fleet with the rebellion) containing not only some gossips but also their everyday life and new policies with proof (he invented the camera wherein his grandfather is really impressed and they have family pictures everywhere in his grandfather's solar, his father and nuncles took it as a hobby and a page always pictures them on their battles celebratory poses). That and the four of them (Rodrik, Maron, Asha and him) managed to create an airship, it works like a hot air balloon but with the sails as a big balloon plated with titanium (seriously the Iron Islands is abundant with titanium and iron and magnesium and marble then a cave of bloodstones and diamonds in each island, they also discovered saltpewter and sulfur wherein Theon bought charcoal in bulk so they have gunpowder) and their ship hangs with steel cables and the ship is coated with 4 inch iron above the ironwood. They called it the Kraken's Thunder, thanks to Rodrik's gift on the artillery making (Theon showed him some designs and he magically made it come true) with cannons and muskets and handguns and rifles and fireworks and flares and dynamites and Rodrik's recent baby; the pistol sword. Honestly, Theon is regretting giving Rodrik a cannon diagram because he only wants cannons but Rodrik have a brain that wants it smaller and on swords or shape of swords so his brother spent the last almost nine months on his models (thank drowned god it's only models for now) and couldn't stop badgering their grandfather and father to manufacture them. BUT… He has his cannons.
I got up and dressed took a bath that the maidens already prepared, laid down so I could sink my face and hair then up again as I grab my soap and started scrubbing my face and body, I then poured shampoo on my head and dunked underwater again.
After that I dressed myself with a sweater and pants then put my boots on, lastly I put on my black cape with a hood and golden kraken printed on it. I sat on the bed and remembered that I already found the coconuts and rice along with coffee and some civets, the coconuts are used as soaps and shampoos and common to the Iron Islands now when I planted them. The rice are in some of the Iron Gardens my mom ordered to be built by my request and became a staple food because they surprisingly thrived here, the coffee and civets are in the Forbidden Island which Maron renamed as Coffee Isle also by my request and trade boomed when they finally know how to take care of the Forbidden Island here in the Iron Islands. I just need to find the chocolate and I'm ready to take on the world.
Fashion also evolved these past months, with my sweaters and hoodies along with button ups and pants and trousers, cloaks and capes are also in the trend along with boots, sneakers, dress shoes, wedge heels and arched flats. Printed shirts also made way when I played on printing black shirts with a golden kraken or a map of the Iron Islands.
Rice cakes and plain rice, cookies with nuts, cakes, ice cream, Spanish bread, potato fries, sweet potato fries, buttered and breaded vegetables with a ketchup and mayonnaise sauce, candies, ketchup, mayonnaise, salted and smoked ham, hamburgers, hotdogs, buttered seafood, sushi, cocktails, and popcorn made their way to our menus in the Iron Islands. All courtesy of me and my mother with the cooks I ordered to.
I rolled around my bed and wrapped around myself my favorite blanket, then stood up and walked to the Great Hall. As I walked there, my mind is on full gear on taking Lyanna the Foolish She-Wolf to the Iron Islands. She started the war, the least she could do is warm Robert's bed.
As you see I'm not really a fan of her, she believed a married man and ran away with him to have a prophesized child. She chose a cheating married man who betrayed and dishonor his wife rather than a womanizer who have a bastard girl who's willing to change for her. All in all her options are not great but I'm on Team Robert on this one, Lyanna's a hypocrite. She didn't want a womanizer who will have mistresses but snatched a married man and be the mistress? Ok girl, you do you.
I sat on the table, luckily it's only Rodrik, Quellon and Mother on the table. I spread some peanut butter on my bread as I struggle to order my sentences.
"Grandfather." I said after I sighed and I caught everyone's attention. He nods for me to continue as he raise his cup to take a drink.
"I know where Lyanna Stark is." At that he spitted his cucumber drink as Mother gasped.
"She's at the Tower of Joy in Dorne and heavily pregnant, she might give birth in two months and might die in childbed. We should help her mother, grandfather. To ensure our independence from the crown, she's the start and she should end. Please. I really want to use Kraken's Thunder for that purpose." I pleaded as I eye contact with Quellon.
"Theon dear-"
"Mother, I know you're confused but if she's abducted then she's raped and nuncle Aeron said whenever a cock sword went in a maiden's sheath she'll get pregnant unless there's moon tea."
Maron face planted on the floor while Asha burst out laughing when they entered and heard the whole conversation, Lady Lanna Piper hushed her and helped Maron up. I'm still looking at my mother with a sincere smile as I also said the following words.
"I also don't know what a cock sword is and what a maiden's sheath is but isn't a rapier's sheath smaller than a sword men use?"
"That is why Theon, we should be very careful in sheathing." Rodrik quipped with a salacious smile.
"I'm very good at it though." I beamed and act innocently as possible to my brother.
Rodrik fell off his chair as Maron guffawed with Asha, Lady Piper and my mother are red in the face while Quellon calmly sips his juice again.
Later that night, Quellon bid farewell to my mother who promised she'll be back with the She-Wolf of the North. I then sneaked into Rodrik's room and slept on the foot of his bed, later I felt being moved correctly and surprised that Maron and Asha joined us.
I'm in the middle of Maron and Asha, Rodrik settled behind Asha and whispered go back to sleep then he blew the candles light.
Behind my closed eyelids, I tear up a little because this is how we should be but never given a chance to on either the book or show. Whatever this is, this is our new reality.
I woke up after Rodrik who's already on his shirt with words: What is Dead may Never Die, but Rises again Harder and Stronger in cursive, he zipped his pants and put on his boots. He saw me looking lost and still sleepy as he chuckled and ruffled my hair, I yawned then kicked both Maron and Asha on their thighs then proceeded to step on them to get to my bath. Rodrik laughed because the two didn't even stir, he then touched Maron's nipple who bolted upright so fast and looking angry already at Rodrik who continue to laugh. I have a coffee candy and let the sleeping Asha smell it, next thing I know she have the candy in her mouth. I shrugged as I left them with a smirk, my smirk turned into my most impressive banshee shriek of Mother and I ran to her awaiting arms.
"Wait what?!" I heard Asha exclaim and I wonder how she hadn't choked on her candy as Rodrik also hugged our mother just sandwiching me between them.
Asha and Maron also joined the hug not long after which make our mother laugh with merriment as Rodrik gushes how cool it is for the Kraken's Thunder to be so fast while Maron agrees with him. I surveyed the people behind my mother and saw her very own squad whom I dubbed 12 Sirens since they can sing very well, pointing various weapons at the three tied up and weaponless Kingsguard and assisting Lyanna Stark who's on a wheelchair while grandfather watch us with amusement.
As soon as I'm free of the hug, I walked up to Arthur Dayne and pulled out a dagger from his boot.
"Sorry Ser Dayne, can't have you have this. We're not going to hurt or kill our prisoners, we never liked damaged goods."
Grandfather hummed in approval as I walked to him and asked to be carried, I laughed as he playfully hoist me up and settle me on his shoulders. I gently grabbed his chin to somewhat anchor my balance, I felt eyes on me and I looked down to see Lyanna Stark looking at me amused. I feel sorry for the girl then, she's only six and ten name days old. Yes, her actions are wrong but I should really blame Rhaegar on his head full of prophecies. I sent her a dazzling smile then looked at the three Kingsguard then my mother.
Rodrik cleared his throat while already carrying bread and salt and boiled water that cooled, he approached the three Kingsguard and ordered them to be free. The Sirens do as he bid but they still pointed their weapons at them.
"Lord Commander Gerold Hightower, Sers Arthur Dayne and Oswell Whent, Lady Lyanna Stark. I'm Rodrik of House Greyjoy, eldest son of Balon and Alannys Greyjoy. Second Heir of Lord Quellon Greyjoy and Captain of the Kraken's Thunder. I welcome you to Pyke… yes all of you are political prisoners but we'll protect all of you from certain death or from suicide, so let us break bread since all of you don't have a choice in here if Lady Stark does not have a master and midwife she will die and we can ship Ser Arthur to Dorne and be branded a traitor for protecting the Prince's mistress and the cause of the Princess of Dorne's dishonor then have Sers Gerold and Oswell shipped to Dragonstone to protect their Queen or to Essos as slave knights. Your choice our visitors." Rodrik said seriously as I smirk feeling proud like a father, he got that frankness from me after all.
The three Kingsguard take a look at each other, communicating as if it's the first time they realize what their job really is. They nod to each other and break their warm breads while sprinkling salt on them, Lyanna ducked her head in shame but also break her bread.
"Grandfather you can put me down now, I don't want to hurt your back."
Quellon laughed as he secured me on his shoulders. "I'm not that old Theon but thank you for the concern Laughing Kraken. Now that is over we should break our fast at the Great Hall even if the three of you are fresh from bed."
I giggled as Maron groaned about his clothes not being appropriate while Rodrik smacked him for being a sissy on complaining about his clothes that got nothing wrong on them while Asha dashed to get her hoodie and I'm surprised she got my sweater which she tossed to my face, I just wear them quickly since it's gotten a little chilly and Asha also slapped Maron's coat to his face which turned my giggles to full blown laughing with my grandfather and my mother snickering with Rodrik.
We're already seated in the Great Hall, Rodrik and Quellon discussing what to put in the newspaper and how to handle a crisis if Robert still refuse to give us our independence and what would our four visitors fate will be.
"I had a dream that Balon and Victarion along with our bannermen will be invading the Red Keep and taking Princess Elia and her children to their camp, Aeron and Euron will be heading to Dragonstone where the Queen fled with her children and also managed to capture them along with Ser Willem Darry. If my dream comes true, what will we do?" I dropped my fork as my mother Alannys just said that out of the blue in the middle of my grandfather's and Rodrik's discussion.
"You too mommy/mother/mom/mama/Alannys?" me, Quellon, Rodrik, Asha, and Maron asked at the same time (as you guys could guess mine is mommy, Asha's mother, Maron's mom while Rodrik's mama. It says a lot about us kids.).
"Does that means we have greensight because First Men descendants have it?" I asked.
"Who knows, we can be wargs too." Asha quipped.
"It's just coincidence." Maron stated.
"You're really hot headed, Summer." Rodrik japed at Maron.
"And you really have an ice pole stuck at your asshole, Winter." Maron teased back.
"I'm Spring and Asha's Fall, because mommy said I bring hope to them and Asha causes many hearts downfall if she grows up some more." I whispered conspiringly to Ser Dayne and Ser Whent who's at my left side.
"I can see your sister will be a rose with thorns someday." Ser Whent whispered to me leaning over Ser Dayne as I giggled.
"Well then I will come to these realistic conclusions: Sers Gerold Hightower and Oswell Whent will be allowed to be free from the Kingsguard or serve once again when we lie that they had come to give up Lady Lyanna in order to bring her back to the North where she truly belongs while Ser Arthur Dayne will also be allowed to be free to protect the Princess of Dorne and will stay in Dorne possibly forever. Ser Willem Darry might still be the master-at-arms of the Red Keep, the Princess of Dorne Elia Martell will be given back to Dorne but her children Princess Rhaenys and Prince Aegon might become political prisoners or the new King Robert's wards that may have accidents and what not. Queen Rhaella maybe exiled along with her children Prince Viserys and her unborn child, while Lady Lyanna will be wed to Robert Baratheon and become Queen of Westeros and her child… may also be a ward to the New Crown. Of course there is also the possibility to the knights to be stripped of their status and then join the Night's Watch." Quellon finished his speech and then he drank his cucumber juice again.
"And what if Lord Robert wanted the children dead, calling them dragonspawn with contempt?" I looked at Asha who asked the question.
"Tell the New King that Lyanna's child is Brandon Stark's bastard. Everybody knows his reputation." I quipped as I rack my brains to help Princesses Rhaenys and Daenerys with Princes Aegon and Viserys.
"That, and we can have them fostered here. We're going to be a new kingdom after all when we get Lady Lyanna back to the New King. We can show them that as a new kingdom we will relieve them of the burden on raising the former Royal Family." Maron said as mother immediately contradict him.
"We can't do that Maron, as much as I want them to live we will only be seen as a kingdom who helps nurture a threat to His Grace crown."
"The Iron Islands is the Land of Many Kings. A Captain of His Own Ship is a King on His Own. It can also be rephrased to be A Captain of Their Own Ship is a King or Queen on Their Own." Rodrik stated as I nod.
"The dragons are gone, it is the only thing they threatened us with. It is what forced our ancestors to bend the knee. And we our not our ancestors." I spoke quite loudly to get my message across.
I heard Quellon take a deep breath while my mother's breath hitched, Rodrik hummed as Maron smirked with a glint in his eye, me and Asha looked at each other and nod. We looked at our Grandfather Quellon as he rose on his seat.
Lady Betha Blacktyde, Lady Brienne Botley, Lady Maria Drumm, Lady Felicia Goodbrother, Lord Rodrik Harlaw and Lady Mione Harlaw, Lady Rose Hoare, Lady Jeyne Humble, Lady Kianna Kenning, Lady Shae Merlyn, and Lady Yanna Sparr listen attentively with the three Kingsguard and Lady Lyanna Stark to what he will say.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is true that the reign of the dragon is over. And finally, finally! We will gain our independence once again!"
Cheers erupted on our table, not only by us but also the servants and sail guards.
"Theon is right! The dragons are gone and we are not our ancestors! Our independence will give us freedom! We will achieve it through ignoring the New King's reign and/or legally achieving it as the spoils of war! We will once again be Kings in our own right! And we will achieve it! Not by the Old Ways! We will forge our own path and make our own history! We will make the Iron Islands great again through the New Ways! This I swear to all of you in the Great Hall of Pyke, in front of the Seastone Chair and to the Drowned God! What is Dead May Never Die!"
"But Rises Again Harder and Stronger!"
Everyone rose except for Lyanna and the three Kingsguard, we took our swords and rapiers (though Rodrik have an axe with Asha, Maron has a sword shaped like a drill intended to make his victims bleed to death and I have a similar rapier) placed them on the ground and knelt before him.
"ALL HAIL KING QUELLON THE WISE! ALL HAIL KING QUELLON! ALL HAIL KING QUELLON THE WISE!"
As we chant, I swear to myself that when I stepped on the Red Keep. It's to bring back the Nagga Crown.