Eddard's POV
They will pay he thought. He and Robert had showed Balon mercy once before, but he would not get it this time. The small council, plus Edmure Tully and Tyrion Lannister, who was there more as a resource than as a decision maker.
More ravens had come into King's Landing since yesterday when the news had first broke, informing them of more Ironborn attacks. A fleet of longships had attacked the shield islands, but had not counted on the Tyrell and Royal fleet retuning so soon and they were crushed in an overwhelming easy slaughter. Another raven from Seagaurd, from Jason's son Patrek, revealed that the Iron Fleet had been raiding all over the North of the Riverlands, up and down the Flint cliffs, and the Bay of Eagles, even threatening nearby villages to Seargard. Their small defensive fleet could do little but hold them at bay and destroy singular ships. A raven even arrived from Casterly Rock, to reveal that more Ironborn had assaulted the northern Westerlands, capturing Fair Isle and storming the Crag, and had snatched women all along the coast and burning villages. They had also kidnapped Jenye Westerling. The Lannister Fleet was currently moving north to retake Fair Isle and defend the Westerlands.
Lord Mallister leading the Royal and Tyrell fleet were restocking their supplies on shield island then would return to attack the Iron Islands, the raven had said, but they were awaiting more orders and instructions.
"Lord Stark don't worry, your main army left from Riverrun a couple of weeks ago so they will be in North soon enough," assured Ser Barristan standing over the map of Westeros they had laid on the table, with wooden figures representing predicted fleet movements and intelligence they had.
"I must leave immediately today, two ships are waiting in the bay to take me and my soldiers in the capitol swiftly to White Harbour and then ride to Winterfell," he announced anxiously desperate for this meeting and his responsibilities as Hand to be over.
"Lord Stark, I can't allowed you to go," Renly corrected, and held up his hand as he was about to protest, "Eddard, I know your wife is injured and your children missing, but I need to your advice and counsel hear, to hold these seven kingdoms together. Your son has proven himself a worthy commander, he can handle this with the help of your bannermen."
"Your grace, I agreed to serve as your hand, though reluctant, but you will allow me to journey North to Winterfell or I will resign, I will leave Lord Karstark to serve as acting hand until I return," he insisted," have ships meet my banners at the Torrhen Square as soon as possible, I will join the fleet invading the iron islands when I know my family is safe."
Renly sighed, "Fine, you have my permission. You will represent me on the field of battle and issue the terms of their surrender when they lose. They are outnumbered even more than the Lannisters were," he chuckled then noticed Tyrion glaring at him.
"What will your terms be?" asked Oberyn mysteriously, not really having taken an interest in proceedings until now.
"The Greyjoys, should be sentenced to death, all of them. They have rebelled twice in two decades," Matthis Rowan advocated profusely.
"Yes, and we should install someone as lord of the Iron Islands who is loyal to us, perhaps from the Reach maybe one the Paxter Redwyne's son," suggested Mace hoping to install more loyal reachman in powerful positions.
"Are you a fool Lord Mace? Iron Islanders won't follow a southerner, they will only follow on of their own, one who worships the Drowned God," snorted Oberyn laughing at Tyrell's stupidity.
Mace just huffed and didn't say anything. He simply turned to look back at Renly.
"I suggest we send a raven to another lord in the Iron Islands, perhaps the house of Harlaw, they are powerful, if we offer to make them lord of the Iron Islands," offered Oberyn.
"You have obviously not had much interaction with the Ironborn. They pay the iron price. They will take it as an insult if we offer to give them the Lordship, but if we offer to assist them in taking it they might be more prone to agree. Although the Harlaws are loyal to the Greyjoys, with Lord Harlaw's sister being married to Balon Greyjoy and the mother their children, they wouldn't accept the offer," Eddard said.
"Well perhaps Baelor Blacktyde. He was raised in the Reach and has accepted the faith of the Seven rather than the Drowned Gods," recommended Lord Rowan.
"Thank you, I will take all these options under advisement now to the battle," ordered King Renly.
The rest of the meeting went quickly with mainly him, Lord Bolton and Rowan and the Lord Commander suggesting and deciding most of the strategy; as they had the best minds and most experience in war.
Then he was given permission to get ready to travel north. His daughters would have to stay here. Sansa would soon be travelling to Highgarden to meet Wilas and marry when she flowered and Arya would remain in King's Landing under the care of her Speta and Lord Karstark.
Lord Roose Bolton came and saw him in his office in the Tower of the Hand, as he was finishing the final preparations to travelling.
"Lord Stark, I am going to send a raven to Dreadfort, and get my bastard to lead 200 men to Winterfell to help in the chase of the Ironborn and the defence of the North," offered Roose.
"No," he rejected, "I have heard what your bastard has done with Lady Hornwood, that letter arrived a day before the Ironborn news. He has kidnapped Lady Donella Hornwood and forcefully married her. Now if she is not alive by the time I reach the North he will die. You will send a raven ordering your bastard to hand himself over to the men of White Harbour and release Lady Hornwood or he will be executed by my hand. Command your men at the Dreafort to fall under Lord Wyman's men commands as they leave to Winterfell," he ordered furiously not caring about Roose's protest.
"You have shown great loyalty to me Roose, but do not betray me. You are master of Whispers and sit on the small council. tTake another wife, Robb tells me you agreed to marry a Frey, take one of them and have another trueborn son because as long as I or my son lives I will never let Ramsay Snow become Lord of the Dreadfort," he told Roose truthfully and then dismissed Roose to go and send the raven.
There had always been a rivalry between the Boltons and the Starks for thousands of years ever since there were Kings in the North and the Boltons flayed their enemies alive. Centuries ago the Boltons had rebelled along with the Greystarks, close kin of House Stark. The rebellion had failed and the Boltons had dipped the knee the House Stark and had been banned from flaying their enemies. Even so many years later there was still a rift between the two houses. Eddard knew Roose desired power and position, he had to be wary of him.
He had journeyed to the port in King's Landing where his soldiers were gathering to board the ships he had been given to journey quickly to White harbour rather than trekking for a month up the King's Road. He had to get to Winterfell as soon as possible then lead his forces on to Pyke and force Balon off his seastone chair. He would find his sons and make sure his loving wife was okay. All they knew was she had been injured badly in the right shoulder with an axe from an Ironborn Lady who lead the charge.
Why? Why was he so far away when things happened to his family? He wished he was able to resign as Hand, but even he knew there was no one else at the moment who could help Renly stabilize the Seven kingdoms. He longed to at home in Winterfell. To watch his sons grow up and care for his wife, but now all his children were growing up and three of them were already betrothed. They were growing up too quickly.
As he walked up to the ship he saw the group of Westerland nobles who were being sent to the Wall. All looking to Ser Kevan for instructions and someone else, whom Eddard could not see as he was facing away from him, but he was tall with blond hair and had a strong and majestic stance about him with the way he stood in red and gold armour. Then as he walked closer he was shocked to see who it wasIt was Ser Jamie Lannister!
"Ser Jamie what are you doing here?" he asked rather hostile, blaming him for the latest war. Eddard had no respect for him. Sure he was a formidable fighter, but he took an oath and he forsook it; killing the one man he swore to protect. Then he shed any honour he had left by laying with his sister and fathering bastard children who they claimed had a right to the throne.
"I'm taking the black," he replied sounding rather surprised himself.
"But you won your freedom, you don't need to take the black," exclaimed a confused Eddard.
"Where would you have me go? I have lost the woman I love. Tyrion is Lord of Casterly Rock and he deserves it. I never wanted it. I could go serve him, but my presence would probably do more harm than good. All my life I have followed a decision no matter of the consequences and shirked my oath. Now I have nothing left to live for, but still I fought for my life. I only then realised what was the point. Ser Barristan came and talked to me, he reminded me of how a true knight was meant to act, what I had once strived to be. This gives me a chance to right those wrongs and to earn back the honour I lost. Taking the Black is the best way that I know how to do it!" He barked back fiercely.