Queen of the Iron Islands Chapter 13
Asha ascends to the Seastone Chair and issues her foreign policy in response to new developments in the North: the arrival of King Stannis Baratheon and news that Moat Caitlin has fallen to Ramsay Bolton. This chapter is told from the point of view of Ila, the Wildling girl, who helped to alter the course of Ironborn history. All ASOIAF characters rightfully belong to George R.R. Martin and HBO. This is solely a work of fan fiction for exploring an alternate history of the World of Ice and Fire. As always, please read and review.
Ila: The Queen of the Iron Islands
Two weeks later…
News of Euron's defeat and Asha's ascendancy to the Seastone Chair had been carried throughout the Iron Islands by ravens. Ravens were used throughout the Seven Kingdoms to carry messages and had been introduced to the Isles by Quellon Greyjoy, Asha's grandfather. With the support of her surviving uncles Rodrik the Reader and Aeron Greyjoy and the blessing of the late Victarion, Asha had contested the Kingsmoot and won. Her sole contestant had been Donnel Drumm, the son of the late Lord Dunstan Drumm who had distinguished himself in combat against Euron's minions during the Battle of Old Wyk.
Asha had beaten her opponent not through the sword but through words. First, she displayed the heads of Euron's warlocks as proof of her combat valour and worthiness to rule. Per Ironborn tradition, her men had also brought gifts but not of gold, silver, jewels or diamonds. Instead, she had brought chests containing cobblestones, pinecorns, and turnips to symbolise the many losses and few gains they had made in waging war on the North. Asha had then ending with a rousing speech urging her people to make peace with the North in return for land and peace. The masses, exhausted by Euron's recent bloodbath and respecting her family's name, overwhelming elected her as the new "Queen of the Iron Islands."
Her uncle Aeron, who had previously opposed the idea of a woman sitting on the Seastone Chair, had crowned her with a driftwood crown. Per Ironborn tradition, every Ironborn King wore a crown of driftwood which symbolised their kingship over the Iron Islands, Ironborn, and all their domains. In the olden days, the crown was tossed into the sea whenever a king died and a new driftwood one was made after a new king had been chosen by the kingsmoot. It resembled an elegant wooden tiara decorated with jewels and gold. Now, Asha was formally called Asha Greyjoy, the First of Her Name Since the Grey King. In addition, she also held the titles of Queen of Salt and Rock, Daughter of the Sea Wind, Lady Reaper of Pyke and Queen of the Iron Islands and the North. But she would always be Lady Asha for Ila.
Following the kingsmoot, Asha and her followers had set sail for Pyke to place her on the Seastone Chair. Crowds had lined the docks and streets of Lordsport to greet her. They then made the journey overland to the Greyjoy castle of Pyke. Most of the guards and servants welcomed them with open arms since they were happy that Euron's reign of tyranny over the castle had ended. Euron and his men had ravished several of the maids and killed several cooks and guards for refusing to bend the knee to the Crow's Eye.
After endless days and nights of fear and worrying, Ila was delighted to learn that her mother had survived Euron's brief reign unharmed. Apparently, the Crow's Eye had overlooked her since she was "too old" and "plain." However, he had taken a liking to her cooking and she was immediately promoted as a cook after Euron had boiled three cooks alive in their own cauldrons for staying true and loyal to their liege, King Balon Greyjoy. Her mother had taught she was dead and was overjoyed to learn that her sweet daughter had survived. The new Queen Asha enjoyed Orla's cooking and had made her mum her personal chef.
It was the second morning at Pyke since they had returned from Old Wyk. A large crowd of nobles, reavers, fishermen, oarsmen, sailwrights, shipbuilders, warriors and high-born ladies had gathered in the Great Hall of the Great Keep of Pyke to listen to their new Queen, Balon's trueborn daughter. The great stony hall was so packed that Ila and her mother had to watch the proceedings from the wooden upper tier.
From the balcony, Ila and her mother peered down at the Seastone Chair. It was a great block of oily black stone carved into the shape of a kraken. According to legend, the ancestors of the Ironborn had found the object on the shores of Old Wyk when they came to the Iron Islands. For centuries, the Seastone Chair had served as the seat of the Lords and Kings of the Iron Islands. Asha's family had obtained the Seastone Chair in the political upheaval that followed the Fall of the Black Line of Hoare at Harrenhal during the Targayen Conquest.
For her grand address, Asha had worn an elegant purple tunic laced with gold embroidery in the shape of a kraken. On top of that, she wore a brown sleeveless leather jerkin. She also wore brown woollen and a new pair of leather boots. Per Ironborn tradition, Asha had bought these garments with the Iron price. She had seized them from Euron's great golden tent as booty in the aftermath of the Battle of Old Wyk. Asha looked majestic with her elegant driftwood crown. The gold and diamonds shone under the glare of the stained glass window above the throne.
The Great Hall of Pyke was lined with the banners of every house, great and small, in the Iron Islands. There were the golden kraken of House Greyjoy, the vairy green and black arms of House Blacktyde, the silver shoals of House Botley, the silver codfish of House Codd, the white skeletal hand of House Drumm, the black warhorn of House Goodbrother, the silver scythe of House Harlaw, and the cloudy lightning hand of House Kenning. Once again, the Iron Islands was united under a Greyjoy, who happened to be the last surviving offspring of the late Lord Balon.
Standing on Asha's right was Aeron Damphair, who stood out like a sore thumb with his waist-long beard and his rough woollen garments. Beside her stood an old woman with long white hair and thin skin. That was Asha's mother Alannys Greyjoy. Once she had a strong face, but she had grown frail and sickly since the deaths of her two older sons, Rodrik and Maron, during the Greyjoy Rebellion. However, she had mustered the strength to attend her daughter's grand address. On her left stood Lord Rodrik Harlaw the Reader, looking majestic in his neat short-beard and rich scarlet silk robes. Beside him stood another old lady, his older sister Lady Gwynesse Harlaw.
After Aeron Damphair had given a brief address in his typical gruff voice, Asha stood to address her lords and bannermen. Asha opened her viewed with a homily to the Drowned God and praised him for delivering them victory over the schemes of the Crow's Eye. With the aid of the Drowned God, she and her family had delivered justice for her father Balon Greyjoy and triumphed over the Crow's Eye and his warlocks. Many good men had fallen during the Battle of Old Wyk including her uncle, Victarion Greyjoy, the Lord Captain of the Iron Fleet. Asha also promised to stay faithful to the Old Way and to preserve the Iron Islands' independence from the lords of the Green Lands.
Next, Asha went on with the task of delegating positions to her families and supporters.
"No King or Queen no matter how powerful or wise can rule the Iron Islands alone," said Asha "Even the kings of the Green Lands had men to help them rule. Hence, I am creating the first Small Council to help me rule these fair isles in the name of the Drowned God. With the powers vested in me by the Drowned God, I name my Uncle Aeron Greyjoy High Priest of the Drowned God. He will continue to ensure that the Drowned God has a voice on my Small Council. May he continue to serve as a good shepherd who guides the people in the Old Way."
Aeron Damphair bent the knee, his long greying hair and beard shining against the sun. The crowd kept and cheers rang from the crowd. The Damphair stood up briefly to address the crowd.
"I promise in the name of the Drowned God to guide our people," he announced "To make sure that they stay true to the straight and now path of the Old Way. I also promise to guide my niece, the Queen, in the ways of the Drowned God.
Next, Asha named Rodrik the Reader as the first Hand of the Queen.
"Rodrik will serve as my chief advisor and the executor of the Queen's commands throughout the Iron Islands," announced Asha "He is the most knowledgeable expert on the affairs of the Green Lands and the Wider World."
Asha then named the other members of her small Council. Tristifer Botley was appointed Master of Coin while Nute the Barber was appointed the new Lord Commander of the Iron Fleet. Harras Harlaw was also named Master of Laws while Ralf the Limper was named Master of Reaving. Finally, "Red" Ralf Stonehouse was named as the new Captain of the Guard. These men stood tall around the Seastone Chair and Asha.
The Queen's next order of business was to pardon Lucas Codd and Germund Botley. Both men had been stripped of their former lands, titles, holdings, and powers. The two men came before her, now dressed in rich clothing, and kneeled.
"These two men, Lucas Codd and Germund Botley, have acknowledged their wrongdoing in helping to slay our rightful King Balon," said Asha solemnly "However, they have redeemed their names through blood and steel by slaying Euron's warlocks, the minions of the Storm God. While we cannot forget their crimes, we can forgive them. Rise, Ser Lucas and Ser Germund."
The two men rose to their knees, trembling in awe and fear at the majesty of their new Queen.
"As Queen of the Iron Islands and the North, I pardon you of your crimes and the penalty of banishment," said Asha "However, I cannot have you living within these walls again. I instead assign you to serve as Captains of the Silence and Iron Victory. These ships have lost their captains but remain seaworthy. Captain them well and bring glory to the name Ironborn."
The two men bowed and departed. Asha's next order of business was to summon Jaya along with Euron's other saltwives and offspring.
"My father decreed that there would be no kinslaying within these halls and I intend to honour my father and my promise to Jaya," announced Asha "Hence, I will allow my half-cousins and their offspring to live within the walls of this castle for the rest of their lives. They will lack neither for food, shelter of warmth for the rest of their days. They may be Euron's salt-wives and offspring but they are innocent of his transgressions. These are my extended family and I intend to treat them as such."
Jaya and the other salt-wives and their offspring all prostrated themselves before Asha and thanked her in person. Some of them, including Jaya, wept tears of joy. Two of the Crow's Eye's salt-sons had survived the battle. When they came of age, Asha might appoint them positions within the Iron Fleet.
The last order of business for the day was the matter of two letters, which had arrived by raven mail last night. The first letter had arrived from Deepwood Motte. It was a letter from King Stannis Baratheon, one of the claimants to the Iron Throne, seeking homage. Now, this put Asha in a quandary since the Ironborn were a proud and fiercely independent people who did not easily bend the knee.
This Stannis was also a worshipper of R'hllor, the Lord of Light. Most of the other Kneelers who followed the Faith of the Seven regarded R'hllor as a red demon and Stannis as a devil-worshipper. In the eyes of the Ironborn, Stannis was also a devil-worshipper since he did not acknowledge the Drowned God. Asha read Stannis' ultimatum aloud which elicited defiant roars and shouts from the Great Hall. Several audience members called for Asha to wage war on King Stannis and to drown him as a sacrifice to the Drowned God.
In the presence of her lords and bannermen, Asha opened the second letter. Later, Ila learnt that it was a letter from Ramsay Bolton, the recently-legitimized son of Roose Bolton, Lord of the Dreadfort and the new Warden of the North. This was the man who had murdered his liege-lord, King Robb Stark, in cold blood during the Red Wedding. Peering down from the balcony, Ila saw a look of grief and horror on the faces of Asha and those around her.
Her mother Alannys started weeping and cried, "My son is alive!"
The crowd began muttering and rambling. After consulting her small council, Asha rose from the Seastone Chair to address her lords and bannermen. She clutched Ramsay's letter in her hands.
"This is a letter from Ramsay Bolton," announced Asha "This scoundrel has the audacity to boast the he skinned and mutilated our fellow countrymen at Moat Caitlin after tricking them into surrendering. Here's what he wrote: Asha Greyjoy, Lord of the Iron Islands and Invader of the North. I give you until the full moon to order all Ironborn out of the North and back to those shit-stained rocks that you call home. On the first night of the full moon I will hunt down every Islander still in our lands and flay them living the way I flayed the fifty Ironborn scum I found at Deepwood Motte. In this letter you will find enclosed a skin from Theon's pinkie finger. He cried when I ripped it of him. Leave the North now or I will send more of Theon to you. Signed Ramsay Bolton, the natural-born son of Roose Bolton, Lord of the Dreadfort and Warden of the North."
Asha paused to regather her thoughts and voice. Ramsay's letter elicited a roar of cries and outrage from the crowd. Several audience members began chanting Free Theon continuously while others called on the Queen to let loose the wrath of the Ironborn on the Northmen. After Aeron had called for order and the crowd quietened, Asha turned to address her lords and bannermen once again.
"You have heard the demands of two warlords in the North," announced Asha "They demand that we Ironborn yield and forsake the Old Way. One of them is even profane enough to torture and threaten the life of my brother, Your Prince and Balon's rightful heir. He has shed the blood of our people at Moat Caitlin after tricking them into laying down their arms. As long as I am your Queen, I will not rest until we have freed Theon from the Northmen and brought justice to this Ramsay Bolton, the bastard offspring of Lord Roose Bolton, a man who turned on his own liege lord and murdered him in cold blood."
The crowd erupted into cheers and roars of joy.
"We cannot let Ramsay's challenge go unanswered of we want the Green Lands to know our strength and terror," continued Asha "We will march on Winterfell, where the Boltons have set up their base, and free my brother and extinguish the name Bolton from lore and song. When my brother's health and faculty have been restored, I will step aside from the Seastone Chair and let him rule as your King, Balon's last trueborn son and rightful heir. But we can't afford to fight two foes at the same time. So, I propose a way of killing two birds with one stone."
The entire audience was listening attentively to Asha's words. It was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop to the floor.
"The so-called King Stannis Baratheon may be a devil-worshipper but he has not murdered any Ironborn," continued Asha "All he calls is for us to hand back Deepwood Motte, Torrhen's Square, Moat Caitlin and the lands that we have rightfully taken. Instead of sending more men to die away from the sea, let us send an embassy to negotiate with this King Stannis. I name Lord Baelor Blacktyde as ambassador to King Stannis. As a former ward at Oldtown, Baelor is most acquainted with the ways of the Green Lands. He will be accompanied by Lady Glover, the Lady of Deepwood Motte. I charge them with negotiating a diplomatic solution that will allow us Ironborn to maintain our independence while preventing more blood from being needlessly spilled. If Lady Glover were to accept this, I will restore Deepwood Motte and her lands to her and House Glover."
The crowd responded favourably to Asha's speech. Lord Baelor Blacktyde and Lady Glover stepped forward and knelt before Queen Asha. Lady Glover wept tears of joy and kissed Asha's hand. Asha also charged Nute the Barber with preparing a force of Ironborn warriors to march on Winterfell and rescue Theon.
Last but not least, Asha made a heartfelt plea for Ironborn warriors and reavers not to ill-treat their thralls.
"These thralls may be the spoils and booty of war," said Asha "But they are still people like you and me. When you see their wives and children, think of your own rock wives and children. Treat them well and do not beat them or work them to death. The Drowned God decreed that we should write our names through blood, fire, iron, and song. But he did not call us to be cruel slave masters. I fully support the Old Way and will never stray from the Drowned God. I just call for us to be better Ironborn reavers and warriors."
Many clapped and cheered but not as loudly as with Asha's other declarations. The Ironborn struck fiercely to their traditions and were strongly opposed to change. Thus, Asha had to present herself as reforming an old practice so that the Ironborn would be better reavers and warriors.
"Well, that was my idea," whispered Ila's mother Orla "I suggested it to her and her uncles a few days ago. The Damphair took some persuading but in the end he listened."
"Do you think Asha would make a good queen," asked Ila curiously
"It's difficult to say," replied Orla "But the certain thing is that she is a good and wise woman."
As the crowds began to depart, mother and daughter stood up and walked down together.
The End
Endnotes
Given Asha and company's encounter with the vision of the Others, I thought that it would be a good outcome if Asha decided to seek a non-aggression pact with Stannis Baratheon on the basis that he is fighting against the Boltons. Hence, the logic that "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." The lines where she talks about Theon were borrowed from Seasons 3 and 4 of Game of Thrones. I certainly look forward to seeing more of Asha and her family in Season 6. Hopefully, they do bring Victarion Greyjoy along. But more likely, it seems that Asha will assume many of Victarion's roles since Stannis in the show is widely presumed to be dead.