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TION

"Once again, you have my deepest gratitude lord of Greyjoy."

Tion watched with vague amusement as lord Crakehall scurried around the massive Iron Islander who looked as if he would have happily buried his axe in the old man's grey speckled head. The Lannister wondered what it was that was stopping the man from doing just that, certainly the Ironborn had never shown such restraint before and neither have they ever shown willingness to aid anyone else in the Seven Kingdoms. And yet they had singlehandedly crushed the Pirate fleet.

It was said to have been a marvellous thing to behold, though Tion himself spent much of the battle unconscious from his wounds. From what he had been told the Iron fleet had snuck just beyond the shoreline and split in two, striking the Blackfyre pirates in the rear and left flank simultaneously with a brutality that the seafarers had never known before and quickly scattered across the sun set sea.Pirates getting beaten at their own game, the thought made Tion smile.

"Old man I am short on patience, if you continue to pester me then I'll have my Drowned Priests sacrifice you to the God." Quenton Greyjoy, it seemed, did not mince words.

Hundreds of Ironmen were scouring over the battlefields now, taking anything and everything of value from the dead, swords, jewellery, and even pieces of the brightly coloured cloth worn by Tyroshi. Likewise to the west of Crakehall the Sunset Sea was littered with ships baring the Golden Kraken of Greyjoy as they took the captured enemy vessels on as their own and drowned the prisoners. At first Lord Crakehall had voiced his concerns about the brutal act but Tion subtly reminded the old man that it was miracle enough that the Ironborn had kept their attentions solely turned onto the Blackfyres rather than them and that they had better not press their luck with the Lord Reaver.

The big man pointed to Tion and gestured for him to come forth, which the Lannister did, as best as his bandaged body would allow. As soon as he stepped forward he could feel the Lord of Pyke sizing him up, yet he tried to ignore it.

"Lord Quenton, you have the thanks of House Lannister."

Greyjoy narrowed his dark grey eyes on Tion. "There are few things that I need and thanks from a Greenlander aren't one of them. When is your dragon king going to arrive?"

"The last raven said he had just arrived at the Golden Tooth, hopefully he should be here in a few days." He hoped so at least.

Quenton gave a grunt in acknowledgement before sitting himself down on one of the chairs in Lord Crakehall's solar and began to take a long swig of ale. "Well, then I suppose we best get comfortable."

ADDAM

The king had beaten three men to death when he heard what happened in the Westerlands. Addam watched on with trained indifference as Maelys beat the remnants of the captains' skulls into the stone floor; he had found that little shocked him anymore.

The encampment had become a storm of activity when the broken remnant of the Serpent's fleet returned. The pirate lord himself had ordered the last of his ships to retreat after the Ironmen had savaged them and set their vessels to flame, and where they once had over a hundred ships to their name now they barely had fifty. We were fools to try and stir the Krakens, Addam thought distaste. We have only made ourselves another foe…

When that beast in human skin walked back into the King's chambers Addam was certain that Maelys was going to tear the Serpent's heart out, and perhaps he would of if not for the Ebon prince whispering words of promise in the Blackfyre's ear. Addam found that the Summer Islander and several of the other Tyroshi lords had begun to swoop around the king like vultures, waiting for the right chance to sway him this way or that now that his spirits were low and to confound the matter the king had begun shunning the advice of the Gold Company in favour of his eight compatriots.

"Ser Addam? We'd best get ready." Ser Humfrey touched his shoulder gently. "If we hold off any longer then the boy will be stuck here in the middle of a war zone."

Addam turned to look at the man. "Aye, let's not waste any more time." The king and his eight would be at their meetings for a few hours more. When they emerged it was usually to pass out information to the various legions and to instruct the captains on the change in stratagem. Addam was just thankful that Maelys no longer commanded his presence during such meetings; he was unsure how much more he could take of those demons.

On his way out of the camp with Ser Humfrey he caught sight of his Company Sigil; the golden skulls of commanders come and gone, going right back since the time of Bittersteel, who was grinning madly with the rest. Will my skull look so cheerful if Maelys discovers me? He shook the cowardly thought away and walked a bit more quickly. Humfrey kept pace, matching his strides to Addams own, his short fat legs having to work twice as much.

"You have secured a ship to Lys?" Humfrey asked.

"Aye, I still have some friends among the Lyseni…they will see the boy to his kin."

His friend hesitated a moment. "But….are you sure he'll be alright? He's so small and Lys is so far away…"

Addam stopped and looked down at his comrade and made himself smile. "The sons of Aerion Brightflame are this boy's family, while they may not be close with their kin in Westeros they will not let the boy come to harm. It'll be alright Humfrey; he'll grow up away from all the madness and war that the Iron Throne brings."

Humfrey frowned slightly but eventually gave a nod of acceptance and they continued onwards out of the camp to their secret tent, the wet-nurse stood near the flap wrapped up in a green woollen dress, the babe in a sling around her shoulders. The stress was apparent on her face but quickly gave way to relief when she saw them approach.

"Are we leaving my lords?" she asked in her rich accent.

Addam nodded as he approached her "The ship is this way my lady, we must make haste."

The four of them walked down a dirt path until they came across the two horses Humfrey had left earlier. The woman handed the babe to Addam as she mounted up and tiny purple eyes peered up at him, eyes that seemed much older than the few days the babe had spent on earth. The child reached up with small hands and the white knight let them grasp onto his finger, wrapping around it instinctively. For a moment he just stood there and watched the babe before breaking himself out of reverie and handing him back to the wet nurse before climbing up behind her and taking the reins.

Felling the woman pressed against his chest as they rode stirred up many feeling that Addam had long since given up and ignored when he swore himself into Maelys Kingsguard. For the first time in his life Addam started to question himself and the life he had chosen, a burning pit of guilt bubbling in his stomach.

Finally they arrived to one of the small ports that sat on the opposite side of the small island. From what he had heard it was used frequently by smugglers when transporting goods in and out of Westeros and would serve as a decent escape route for his friend's small trading galley. It was that same friend who now stood for him at the docks with his ship behind him; Iryano Potas, looking much like he did the last time Addam had laid eyes on the man; thin and tall as a tree with bright red hair that frizzled about like the mane of a lion. He was wearing a baggy green tunic that looked three sizes too large for his stick like frame yet he moved with a comfort of a king.

"Addam, by the gods it's good to see you again my friend!" he announced cheerfully.

"And you Potas," Said Addam with a slight laugh. After he dismounted he held up his hand and took the child from the wet-nurse as she climbed down. Once Potas saw the babe he walked over and inspected the infant with his large blue eyes.

"So this is the boy? The prince born on the sea?" he asked with a sad smile.

"Aye, and his wet nurse," said Addam. "I trust you'll treat them gently."

The smuggler bowed his head low. "My cabin is theirs, though we'd do well to leave now before your king's pirate fleet stirs itself."

Addam looked down at the boy one final time. The child was fussing now, as if aware of the long journey ahead of him, his little face watching the knight cautiously. A prince, he thought sadly. I have no crowns or golden fleeces to give you. Instead the boy would have to make do with the tattered cloak that he was now bundled in.

"Be safe little prince." He gave the child a soft kiss on the forehead before relinquishing him over to his wet nurse and Potas. His smuggler friend brought his bony hand to his chest in salute before leading the woman and child onto his waiting vessel.

The white knight gave them one final look before turning back towards camp.

DUNCAN

Duncan Targaryen sat in Lewis Crakehall's solar alongside his father and youngest brother, drinking wine and breaking his fast with the Lord Reaver of Pyke himself Quenton Greyjoy, something, that he had not expected when he had set out with news of Blackfyre attacks in the west.

"So…" the Iron Islander's voice was a deep and tired rumble. "When do you Greenlanders plan to strike against the black beast?"

The King crinkled up his eyes. "As soon as Lord's Stark and Baratheon arrive and we are at full strength."

Quenton gave him a crooked grin. "Afraid to fight your bastard cousin are you?" he downed half his cup. "You Greenlanders were always soft but I thought that Maekar's son would at least have some stones."

"No, I'm just not so foolish that I would risk the lives of my men without giving them the best possible chance."

The two elder men stared at each other for a very long time, dark grey against bright purple. Duncan anxious wished that his namesake were about so that he could stop the two from trying to attack each other but was shocked when Greyjoy gave a low chuckle. "You have spirit, if nothing else. The Iron Islands will set sail whenever your perfumed lords can find the time to go to war," his face darkened. "But no man commands the Iron Fleet but a man of the Iron Fleet."

Duncan's father gave a nod of assurance. "That seems reasonable."

"And the plunder," growled Quenton Greyjoy. "We are to take what is ours from the corpses of every Blackfyre man we slay in battle, ships and gold too."

Aegon shifted uncomfortably at that. Duncan knew his father was not the sort of man to condone needless brutality or atrocities in time of war but this was not any ordinary situation either, the Greyjoys were the best possible weapon against the legion of pirates that had fallen in with the Blackfyre pretender. Finally he gave a sad nod.

Quenton drained the rest of his wine before rising to his feet. "Then I look forward to killing Black Dragons with you….your grace." And with that he marched out of the room without a second word, leaving the three Targaryens quite befuddled.

Aemon frowned. "Was that wise father? You know what those people can be like when their blood is up, what's to stop the Ironmen from turning against us after they've defeated the Blackfyres?"

"When faced with a difficult situation it's always better to trust the devil you know over the one you don't, and….." the king trailed off and rubbed at his temples. "Gods' help me I trust the man to keep to his word."

Duncan laughed at that, long and loud. "Who would have thought a kraken and a dragon could make such good friends." All three Targaryen's laughed at the absurdity of it all.

Finally Aegon stirred himself and left to see lord Crakehall, doubtless the old man has never held court for a king before. Lord Crakehall's father supported Daemon Blackfyre during the battle of Redgrass, he reminded himself. Doubtless the man is eager to prove that he does not share his father's predilection for betrayal.

Aemon was standing by the window, a cold expression on his pallid face. That won't do. Duncan missed the days when his brother would laugh and joke and enjoy himself in tourneys, but those days seemed long dead. He never smiles anymore, Duncan realised sadly.

"Did you see Lord Greyjoy's daughter as we were entering the keep? She was a pretty thing and she kept giving you the eye." he made himself chuckle and hoped that his little brother would do the same.

Aemon did not laugh however, and nor did he smile at the jape. "She's beautiful. There are many beautiful women in the world, but what of it? I have seen the sun, felt its warmth on my face. How can candles replace that? No I'm done with love brother."

Duncan gasped at that. "Don't you think you're being…..I don't know, rash? You might find someone else."

Aemon smiled sadly at his brother then. "Those same words were said to you a long time ago, and you followed your heart just as I am following mine."

His little brother gave him one last look before he too left the room. As he sat alone in the ruins of Crakehall Duncan considered the choices that lead him to this moment in time, and the woman he had given up a kingdom for.