As Cersei Lannister was preparing to head west to marry her dragon and be crowned at Rhaegar Targaryen's side, another man was preparing to be a king. As the great lords of the west headed east for the wedding and the smaller lords followed in their footsteps, another man was calling his banners to him.
In the Sunset Sea sit seven islands, barely inhabitable stony masses surrounded by a raging ocean. The people are fierce and strong, they take what they need, they are made of iron and they always pay the iron price. These are the ironborn inhabitants of the Iron Islands.
As the lords of the west moved south and east to the capital the ironborn were gathering on Old Wyk. They gathered on Nagga's hill where ages ago the great sea dragon Nagga had died. Now only her ribs remained, coming out of the ground like immense white trees. In past when there was still a kingsmoot to choose the kings of the islands they held the ceremony here. Today they were here for a very similar reason.
Balon Greyjoy, lord of the Iron Islands was crowning himself king. He had decided to rise up against the Iron throne, the Targaryen dynasty, and the new way. For him the royal wedding was the perfect opportunity. All the Western lords were flocking to Kings Landing at the command of Tywin Lannister, the coast was virtually undefended.
After Harrenhal Lord Greyjoy had spent many hours secluded with his most loyal men as well as his brothers and sons. To them this was the only chance they would get for many years. They had lived to long in the yoke of Targaryen control, they vowed they would return their homeland to the old ways.
As Balon Greyjoy knelt before Tarle the thrice-drowned, priest of the Drowned God, and was crowned with the driftwood crown, the ironborn cheered. They had a King, a true King who would sit on the Sea Stone chair and rule using the old way. They were free again.
Within an hour his fleet was in motion, preparing to launch the attack, and a raven had been sent to Kings Landing proclaiming that the Iron Islands would no longer kneel before the Iron throne.
Rhaegar was in a meeting with his father when Grand Maester Pycelle entered. He turned from his father as the old Maester entered watching as Lords Rickard Stark, Hoster Tully, Tywin Lannister, Robert Baratheon, and Mace Tyrell hurried into the room after them. Varys and Littlefinger were not far behind. Rhaegar rose and watched the men.
It was clear to him that all but Varys where confused as to what was going on. Even Littlefinger looked uncharacteristically nervous. Rhaegar's eyes narrowed as he beheld the spider. Whatever had caused Pycelle to interrupt this meeting must be very bad, and Rhaegar had a sneaking suspicion that the spider already knew, and had chosen not to tell.
Maester Pycelle presented the King with several letters he had received, all in the last hour. Aerys glanced at them suspiciously as he took them although his eyes widened a moment later, his surprise at the words apparent. He handed them to Rhaegar and the Prince felt a stone settle in his stomach.
Rhaegar cleared his throat and raised his head to the assembled men, "It's a good thing my wedding isn't scheduled for another six months." he said, attempting a joke, which fell flat. "It appears that Balon Greyjoy has declared himself King, claiming that the Iron born would only be ruled by Iron born and that they would once more result to the old way." Rhaegar did not miss the look that passed between Tywin Lannister and Rickard Stark. These men had lands closest to the islands and stood to lose the most if the old way was taken up again.
"Lets strike them back!" Robert yelled, thumping his fist down on the table. It shook with the impact and an inkpot fell over.
Tywin Lannister ground his teeth. "And how do you propose to do that Lord Baratheon? The Iron Islanders are raiding up and down the coast as we speak. I doubt they will leave the ships in Lannisport safe in their harbors."
Robert rolled his eyes, "That doesn't matter, the point is we strike back, we don't let them get away with this." He looked to Rhaegar for support. As much as he disliked the man, Rhaegar had to agree with him.
"Lord Tywin," Rhaegar interrupted before a fight could escalate, "You know as well as I do that the Westerlands will be ravaged by this war should the Iron Islanders be left free to roam as they will. I agree with Lord Baratheon, we cannot allow this dissent to go unmet. I suggest you write home and set in place defenses as quickly as possible."
Tywin nodded swiftly, "I will also tell my men in the capital to make their way home at once. Our lands are largely undefended right now. Our men returning will be very helpful."
Rhaegar nodded, then he turned to look at the other men, and "I suggest the rest of you write your bannermen, we must prepare for war."
As the men left Aerys spoke for the first time, so only Pycelle and Rhaegar heard him. He whispered in a hoarse voice, like that of a dying man, speaking in tongues more befitting of snakes. "Burn them," he hissed, "Burn them all."
Victarion Greyjoy truly began the war, burning the ships in harbor at Lannisport. It put the throne at a disadvantage as they had planned on using the fleet to attack the Iron Islands. With the Lannister Lord and Host in the capitol, there was little that could be done to prevent such action, and they should have known it was coming.
Aerys received the raven from Lannisport and flew into a rage. All across the Red Keep people could hear him yelling, calling Rhaegar a fool, saying they should have attacked faster, and calling Owen Merryweather the worst hand to have ever lived for not warning him of the dissent on the islands.
That night Owen Merryweather was given to the flames and Jaime was forced to listen again as Queen Rhaella was raped. The Kings rages were well known throughout the kingdoms, the rumors of his madness spreading far faster than the fears of war. The death of the Hand would only fuel these fires, the threat of destruction, implosion, strengthening in the minds of the people.
The next day Jon Connington was made Hand of the King and Rhaella flew to Dragonstone with Viserys to protect the babe she carried.
Rhaegar and Tywin were quick to regroup. They ordered Mace Tyrell to bring ships from the Reach, Doran Martell also sent as many as he could, albeit reluctantly. Less than a week after the letter was received the war plan was finalized. Rhaegar and Tywin would lead the war while Lord Stark would take care of the van with Lord Baratheon.
Rickard had often thought that if Rhaegar and Tywin ever worked together they would be an unstoppable force, which would hopefully prove to be true. By the time the men were marching to the Westerlands where they would all gather, Balon Greyjoy had launched another attack.
The iron fleet had been raiding up and down the coasts since the burning of the fleet in Lannisport. They took freely from the Riverlands, the Westerlands, and the Stoney shore. Now Balon was ready for a new assault to be launched, he sent his son and heir, Rodrick Greyjoy, to the town of Seagard in the Riverlands.
Brandon Stark had been visiting his bride-to-be Catelyn Tully in the Riverlands before they made their way to the Red Keep. When the news of the rebellion reached Riverrun, Brandon rode with his bannermen to Seagard to defend the coast from the reavers.
He reached the castle at noon two days after the fleet burned in Lannisport with 500 men at his back. They were quickly stationed throughout the town. With the added forces Jason Mallister didn't believe that the ironborn would be able to touch them. Still they waited, watching the ocean waiting for signs of longships coming over the waves.
They had their test just one day later when Rodrick Greyjoy, son arrived with a fleet of ironborn to take the town. Seagard was the gate to the interior of the Riverlands, Balon knew that if he seized it quickly and could keep it, he had a good shot of holding off the River Lords.
The great bell that hung in the town, the Booming tower, was rung for the first time in nearly a hundred years. The Ironborn cheered as they heard it carried over the waves, laughing as the greenlanders flew from them. They did not expect to find the town well defended.
The reavers surged ashore and were able to push their way up to the walls of the castle. Just before the battle Jason had the Stark men back to the castle walls so that they would surprise the islanders once they were ashore.
When the Reavers reached the castle and saw the Stark banners, it did not slow their approach, they rushed on anyway, into a wall of glistening northern spears as the battle was joined.
The battle was fierce and all three of the commanders fought through in search of their rivals. Brandon and Rodrik met first. Both were skilled fighters and they seemed to be evenly matched, they fought for several minutes trading blows back and forth but never able to draw blood. Brandon had always had the wolf blood in him, which is why his men had met the reavers in battle; he felt he could beat the Iron born.
But as Brandon stepped back to avoid a potentially finishing blow he slipped in a rather blood soaked patch of grass and fell. Jason Mallister saw Rodrik's sword arch through the air like a snake. Brandon's neck opened the same as any other man's would.
Jason saw Brandon's death and chased Rodrik through the battle and they met just before the gate. Rodrik was a strong fighter but his skill was on the ocean and beneath the walls of the castle, on dry land, Jason held the upper hand.
They fought before the gates for several minutes, until eventually Rodrik began to tire. His sword became heavier to lift with every swing. By the time Jason delivered the death blow through his stomach it felt through every swing of the sword was him lifting a ship over his head.
After Rodriks death the remaining ironborn fled into the ocean and returned to their islands.
Lord Hoster heard of Brandon's death, he immediately demanded that Eddard Stark marry his daughter to uphold the alliance, Rickard wanted to protect his southern interests and agreed before even once asking his son.
Then Rickard swore revenge on those who had killed his son.
After Tywin smashed the majority of the ironborn at Fair Isle, the commanders sailed to the Iron Islands themselves. Ser Barristen, newly commander of the kingsguard and Stannis Baratheon subdued the majority of the islands. All that was left was Pyke and its castle within the walls of which Balon Greyjoy and his two remaining sons were hiding.
The night of the final siege, Rhaegar called a war council. When Robert Baratheon heard he headed for the commanders tent, but a pretty redhead caught his eye and before he knew it he was running late. He was learning that the Iron born women were more fun than many he had met. He checked off yet another kingdom on his list, he wished to bed a girl from all seven kingdoms and the riverlands, he only had Dorne left.
His thoughts did not turn to Lyanna as he hurried along the cliffs to the commander's tent. He was now running a good half hour late. He smiled as he gazed out at the rough ocean, and where it met the stars in the distance. Looking at the darkness his thoughts wandered back to the Vale, he wondered how his daughter was. He couldn't remember her name for the life of him, but he remembered her hair. As black as night, with Baratheon blue eyes. He decided after the wedding he would go to visit her.
He entered the tent and was met with Rhaegar Targaryen icy gaze. From the way the men around the table were looking at him he knew that they knew exactly where he had been. He moved to sit by his friends but found that his best friend, Eddard Stark was sitting in between his father lord Rickard and Tywin Lannister. Robert missed the glare in Eddard's and Rickard's eyes as they watched Robert return from his infidelity. They sat to Rhaegar's right with Tywin sitting directly next to him.
To the princes left sat lord Hoster Tully along with Mace Tyrell and Jason Mallister. At the foot of the table to Roberts left and right were his younger brother Stannis and Ser Barristen. Both men had distinguished themselves early on and earned a place of honour. Robert resented his brother for the glory he was receiving, as the older sibling the glory should have been given to him. Robert grumbled under his breath as he was forced to take the seat directly opposite Rhaegar and looking right into his haunting purple eyes.
Rhaegar leaned back and folded his arms, his smirk the most sinister that Robert had ever seen it. "I hope you left the poor girl with something for her troubles, Baratheon. Or did you take after the ironborn and leave her nothing but another one of your bastards?"
Robert glared, had it been anyone other than the crown prince he would have said something. The other lords around the table were all smirking other than Tywin and the Starks. Robert hopped it was because of their affection for him and his bride, Ned's little sister, but he guessed it was because all three of those men were too serious for the jest.
"Now," said Rhaegar, leaning forward, "To business. I have decided Baratheon that you shall lead the van tomorrow in breaching the wall along with Lord Rickard. I suggest that you lead the men themselves and Rickard you take care of the catapults."
Lord Rickard shook his head, "My prince, if you don't mind, these men killed my eldest son. I loved him dearly and I would like to lead the men through the breach if possible."
Rhaegar gave the lord a long glace, sizing him up carefully. Rickard was aging, though he had once been a capable warrior. Rhaegar however was more concerned about letting Robert man the catapults. In the end, however, Rhaegar could not deny the man his wish.
"You are a capable warrior, and if Robert doesn't mind than I have no trouble with that," he told him.
Had it been any other situation Robert would have argued, but looking at the Stark man's face, he could tell that both men were mourning the loss of their family member. The Starks may be icy men, but there was a fire within them that was burning bright.
The rest of the meeting spent talking about various points of strategy both for the breach as well as for other battles they anticipated. Robert wasn't paying any attention, he was thinking about the girl he had just fucked and how magnificent her breasts had been.
The next day the siege on Pyke began. The van battled their way up to where they were just under the walls, to the right of where the breach was supposed to occur. Rickard stood closest to the soon to be breach and it would have ended well if Robert had bothered to pay attention the night before. As it was Robert misaimed the catapult and the rubble fell not in front of Rickard but right on top of him and a few of the men who had been most eager to go through the breach. As Jorah Mormont watched his liege lord disappear under a pile of rubble all he could think was how large a weight was about to fall on Eddard Starks shoulders. Then he realized the wall had been breached and he was running to enter intot he castle.
Jorah burst into the courtyard right behind Thoros of Myr whose sword was on fire. He battled fiercily and many a good man fell before this young squire. At some point he met a powerful ironborn, the fiercest he had yet to meet who wielded and axe with terrifying power. Though Jorah did not know it he was facing Maron Greyjoy, Balon's second son and heir. Ser Barristen witnessed the battle and later told Rhaegar it was as if the gods had given the young man the courage of a dragon. He fought Maron's axe with his sword until he slipped past the man's guard and severed his head from the rest of his body in one smooth stroke. Thus Balon lost his second son leaving only his youngest Theon, and thus Jorah Mormont earned his knighthood.
The battle was won shortly after. Jorah received his knighthood kneeling before Prince Rhaegar himself. Balon Greyjoy swore fealty before Lord Tywin Lannister and Prince Rhaegar Targaryen with Lord Eddard Stark standing by. Lord Eddard was given Theon as a ward and hostage to ensure that the Iron islands would remain loyal to the crown.
But one thing had changed on the winning side of the battle. Eddard Stark would never trust Robert Baratheon again. He knew that it was Roberts fault that his father had died and he would never forgive him for that. The Lannisters and the Targaryens had also realized that Robert was not a man to ever be given command again. Thus the first rift between the Baratheons and the other houses was born.
The men all made their own ways home. The Northern men as well as those from the Riverlands and the Vale of Arryn made their way home via Seagard. The Northerners stopped in Riverrun to witness the marriage between Lord Eddard and Catelyn Tully, whom he had agreed to marry after his brother's death.
Those from the Reach and Dorne sailed the farthest south to their homes while those from the Stormlands, Crownlands, and Westerlands sailed to Lannisport and made their own way home. But in Kings Landing there was no rest for the weary. There was a wedding to prepare for.