Chapter Fourteen
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In her entire life, Delianah has never seen a real life naval battle. Sure the muggles have a lot of movies about ship warfare, but in her entire career of battles, duels and even once, open warfare, Delianah has never been in one. The closest she got on fighting in a ship is wrestling Gregory Goyle Jr., Dark Lord wannabe from an escape boat after ramming it with a yacht. It is a very different experience watching hundreds of ships duke it out in open water.
After her taking of Old Wyk and the Ten Towers, the Royal Fleet is basically given a free passage to sail right into Pyke's waters. This of course prompted the Iron Fleet scattered all over Westeros to return home lest they risk the downfall of their newly declared capital. Due to their skill in sailing and naturally knowing every nook and cranny of these waters, the ships of the Iron Fleet managed to muster a large number of themselves in defense. The rest of their ships too far to make it back in time, grouped themselves into small wolfpacks that nipped the flanks of their attackers. Compared to them, the Royal fleet is large, cumbersome, an assortment of vessels from every house with most, manned by Green boys who never experienced sailing. However what it lacks in skill and severity, it makes up for it in numbers. The Iron Fleet is outnumbered three to one before the battle is joined.
Delianah personally wonders whether the commanders of the Iron Fleet are either dumb or too overconfident as they face the much larger and more equipped force directly. She has to give credit to the Ironborn though. Their reputation is well-earned about sea battles. The entirety of the vanguard of the Royal Fleet buckles hard as ships go down by the dozens on the first salvo of the attack, either rammed or boarded before left to sink with their crews dead in moments.
It is plain however that the Royal Fleet is just too large for the Iron Fleet to tackle by itself. Like the jaws of an alligator closing around, the rest of the forces of King Robert surrounds the Iron Fleet stuck fighting the vanguard at the middle before closing in for the kill.
Of course things might have different if Delianah did not manage to capture Old Wyk and the Ten Towers. The Royal Fleet would be harassed to pieces by even more wolfpacks and will need to spend life and resources to taking down the two islands before facing the Iron Fleet which would lead to even more casualties on the final battle, even the possibility of defeat.
The only thing that the Iron Fleet can do to prevent the defeat into an utter disaster is to break through the already weakened vanguard which they of course are now doing. It is the moment that Delianah has been waiting for. With a wave of her hand, the horn sounds and out of the gloom of Old Wyk, the black sails of a hundred longboats are opened wide showing the silver sigil of House Tully in full display. The hundred ships sail directly at battered ships of the vanguard and Delianah smirks.
She has not been after all idle after her taking of Old Wyk and the Ten Towers. The latter she ordered burned to prevent any usage after clapping its inhabitants in chains(at least those that surrendered), before retreating here at Old Wyk. Of course seeing the danger that she poses and the advantage of regaining back the castle, a large number of Ironborn from Pyke sailed using small boats to retake the castle in "King Greyjoy's honor" Suffice it to say that they get a complete reenactment of D-Day as they are peppered by arrows, spears and large missiles thanks to Delianah's forces commandeering the ballistae available at the towers of Old Wyk. Dragon Shit and the Unsullied under his command had even created a makeshift trebuchet which they used to great effect.
Of course Delianah added her own special touch. She discreetly enchanted the sandbar that they landed at beforehand with a mild sticking charm. Suffice it to say that moving in in would be like moving your legs in jelly. Not exactly a prescribed method when you have enemies hailing arrows of death at your head.
Suffice it to say, the result is a lot of dead Ironborn who did not even make it to the castle. There are no more attacks after that. Whoever it must be that is commanding the Ironborn realizes that he must save his men for the battle against the Royal Fleet than wasting them trying to take back a castle that they can simply assault later once they're done with the Royal Fleet.
Joke's on them at that one. Delianah has hidden her own fleet in the dark caverns of Old Wyk just for this very moment.
As she and her ships however rushes towards the panicking Ironborn ships at the sudden emergence of another fleet bearing down against them, Delianah frowns at something she just is noticing. The king she hears, loves a good fight always. That's the reason why he hosts such extravagant tourneys, it reminds him of the battlefield that put him in the throne.
So why in the world is the king's ship standing so far away from the battle? And are those Ironborn ships sailing from the fog behind the king's ship?
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Robert Baratheon's Ship
No one can ever doubt that Robert Baratheon is a great warrior and a seasoned commander. He after all challenged and brought down a dynasty that ruled for centuries on the first try. However right now, he sits on the "Throne" of his ship by his own volition and even personally gave the order that the king's vessel be far away from the battle as possible. There is good reason for that. After all, even the best and proudest of warriors would never dare put themselves in harm's way if there is any telltale sign that their children would be put in danger also alongside them.
Thus here Robert sits watching the Royal Fleet commanded by his brother Stannis clamp the Iron Fleet with the jaws of his own ships. Her personally would have preferred also fighting beside him, he is a Stormlander after all and doesn't have Sea-Legs that most Westerosi Lords suffer from when fighting in the sea. It would give him joy, to finally be able to swing his hammer, but he would not, he could not and for good reason.
He stares at the small figure of his daughter sitting beside him in the small chair provided for her as the battle in front rages on. To say that Robert is livid would be an understatement. Even with all his chubbiness, Robert Baratheon's wrath is a scene to behold as one of the captains of the Stormlander ships brought to him his wayward daughter. Apparently she hid in one of the empty barrels used basically for storing fresh water in the last of the Stormlander ships that docked in King's Landing for resupply before sailing here to reinforce the Royal Fleet.
"Next time I see that boy, I'm going to give him a belting that he won't forget!" Robert thinks to himself darkly. The reason that Myrcella hid herself away in one of the ships is apparently in order to get away from Joffrey. Robert even in his few moments of soberness, noticed this trend, not really putting an effort on discipline his son. It doesn't help that Cersei's insistence that her golden lion is just "testing his paws" convinced even him of his son's cruel behavior. He plans to do something about it. It must be bad if Myrcella prefers to sail away to a battlefield rather than stay one more minute at the Red Keep.
While part of him is terrified for the safety of his daughter, part of him is proud. As he observes her now, he can't help but nod in silent approval. Despite being deathly afraid (she is six year old after all), she doesn't shy away from the sights and the sounds of the battlefield. A true Baratheon indeed, if she is born a man, he might have been someone that Robert would groom personally. Alas, she's a girl and despite how much he loved her, she would never inherit the throne.
Robert's musings however is broken when the alarm bells sound from the top of his ship. Alarm immediately courses through him. An alarm like that can only mean one thing.
"Where are we under attack?!" he roars grabbing his hefty warhammer as he stands up from his throne. The Kingsguard around him also leapt into action drawing their swords. The rest of the Lord Paramounts or their representatives also stand alert.
"At the rear your grace! Five Ironborn ships are spotted coming out of the fog! It bears the symbol of House-Aaaaaaarggghhh!" the lookout atop the crow's nest never finished his words as a giant ballista bolt snaps into the prow snapping it like a twig.
"To arms! Protect the king!" the booming voice of Ned Stark shouts and every available soul inside the ship rush to grab anything that they could use as a weapon. Robert turns however at Ser Barristan.
"Bring my daughter to my personal cabin and lock the door! Protect her at all cost!" he booms out.
The old Kingsguard looks ready to protest before a stern countenance fell upon him.
"Yes your grace! I will guard her with my life," he says with a bow before calling two men-at-arms to help him carry the princess royal to the safest part of the ship.
Robert on the other hand simply readies his warhammer as he stands beside Ned and the rest of the Lord Paramounts. "Just like the good old days eh Ned?" he chuckles confidently despite his personal feelings. Robert more than anyone after all knows that he is not the same warrior as he is before after his chubbiness evolution. The Wolf Lord simply nods in grim silence as he readies his greatsword, Ice.
It does not take long for them to encounter their foes. Five Ironborn ships emerge from the fog, two rushing and trapping the two ships guarding the King's Ship while the rest tackles the king's vessel with ropes and grappling hooks. The first of the ramp connects.
Two Baratheon sailers rush immediately to try and push it away but they never manage it as a screaming man bisects them with a crazed look in his eyes. Robert knows who he is immediately, Euron Greyjoy, the unhinged madman of a brother of the current king of the Iron Islands. With the felling of the two guards, the rest is a mad rush as Ironborn spill into the ship hacking and screaming at anyone that is not them.
With a war cry, Robert rushes forward warhammer swinging over his head with the High Lords of Westeros behind him. Fat or not, the strength that made Robert kill the Dragon Prince is not fully gone. The first two Ironborn who is his target lasted seconds as his warhammer bashes their brains out like a piñata. He blocks a slash from another Ironborn before kicking him in the chest that sent him overboard. One tried to get up close and personal but with a headbutt, he fell down screaming, clutching his bloody nose before his chest is caved in by Robert's Warhammer.
His instinct makes Robert react to the ironborn ready to impale him with a dirk from behind. He moves too late and he thought himself a goner before the form of Eddard Stark appears cutting the man's head in two, covering the king's rear. His bodyguards also appear reinforcing the king. Robert smiles at his friend grimly before charging in once more to battle but this time with Eddard Stark's support.
All around the ship is chaos as Ironborn struggles against the people inside the King's ship. Renly is being protected by five of his guards and Tywin is fighting two with the rest of the Tyrell bannermen he rallied. The Lord of Highgarden is lying on the side, his face all blue and purple, courtesy of an ironborn that punched repeatedly a soft, very punchable face. The rest of the Lannister guard are dead alongside one of Robert's Kingsguard. The Martell representative is also dead with his head being carried around by Euron Greyjoy while the rest of the ship's crew and guard are being rallied by Lord Viktor and Brynden Tully with Lord Royce currently missing after an Ironborn kicked him overboard.
With a mighty roar Robert once more bashed three people aside before hooking a battleaxe with the heft of his warhammer before pulling the unfortunate user closer to him. Up close and personal Robert punched his face before stepping on his balls. With a pained squeal, he raised his hand protectively before the end of his life as Robert smashed his brains out.
Taking a breather Robert looks around and know that they are in deep trouble. He is already tired from this small skirmish, his years of debauchery doing him no favors. The rest of the ship's defenders are being overwhelmed one by one with the only strongest groups remaining belonging to his, Lord Tywin's reinforced by Renly and his men, Sery Brynden and those black clad bodyguards of Lord Viktor, and his alongside with Lord Starks. More Ironborn are pouring in from the three ships, fresh while they are already bloody and soaked.
"FAT KING!" the sudden shout and insult from Euron Greyjoy makes Robert turn his attention to the madman. He immediately wishes he didn't though for the pirate lord is there standing bloody with his men while at the same time holding aloft on one army a crying Myrcella. One of his men is hauling a bloody form of Ser Barristan, badly wounded, unconscious and his golden armor rent in many places.
"DON'T YOU DARE LAY HANDS ON MY DAUGHTER!" booms Robert ready to charge but pauses as Euiron draws a dagger over the crying six year old's throat. Already the fighting around them is coming to a pause as everyone starts to slowly realize that Euron has the king's daughter in hand.
"JAIMIE NO!" an angry grunt from Tywin Lannister makes Robert turn his attention to the Kingslayer red at the face in anger, being stopped by two of the Baratheon guards of Renly and his father.
"Put down your weapons or the girl gets it!" orders Euron Greyjoy with a mad sneer putting his dagger on the cheek of the sobbing princess.
"PUT DOWN MY DAUGHTER YOU FUCKING-!"
"NOW!" with an angry yell, Robert drops his hammer with a loud thud before looking at the rest of the defenders angrily.
"PUT DOWN YOUR WEAPONS DAMNIT!" he roars at them. With reluctant movements, one by one the weapons are thrown done with Tywin Lannister being the last.
A triumphant grin now adorns Euron Greyjoy's face. "Look at that. The fat stag and his animals all now my prisoners, I finished something that my dumb brother at the throne could not. I brought down the King of the Seven Kingdoms and all his lords,"
"PUT MY DAUGHTER DOWN NOW DAMNIT!" roars Robert moving forward only to be whacked by the flat side of an iron born axe sending him sprawling on the mast.
"Why would I do that fat king? After all, your daughter would make a fine salt wife for me," answers Euron with a sneer before slowly ripping the small dress of Myrcella Baratheon from her small sleeves.
"BASTAARD!" the shout comes from the Kingslayer but a thud made him pause as a crossbow bolt is shot through his shins making him sprawl on his face.
Robert tries once more to stand and charge but an Ironborn brained him a second time before forcing his head to look at Euron slowly tearing through the sleeves of his daughter who is crying for him to help her.
"I'LL KILL YOU FOR THIS! I'LL KILL YOU FOR THIS DAMNIT!" Robert curses despite the blood on his face.
"Right, now for the final part, the grand unrevealing," the pirate raises his knife to cut through the center of the small princess' dress when a flaming whip out of nowhere cut through his wrist making the Greyjoy squeal as his arm is cut off through the wrist making him drop the crying princess who immediately rushes toward him as he rolls on the ground in agony.
To his credit, his best friend moves fast. The moment the scream from Greyjoy starts, he picked up his weapon, Ice at the ground and cuts off three Ironborn heads with one strike. The rest of the defenders also moves at the sudden change in the air as they fight back, some even with bare hands.
Not one of them however is fast enough to stop one of the Ironborn grabbing the Princess halfway through her run before making a dash for one of the ships entangled with the King's Vessel.
"BASTAAARD!" Robert roars forgetting his warhammer as he charges instead with his hunting knife in pursuit. Unfortunately his weight goes against him and he watches in trepidation as the man makes it to the side.
Only to be stopped by that very same fire whip that separated his head from his body. He drops the crying Myrcella to the ground which Robert rushes towards unto. He is however beaten by the figure of a twelve year old girl that appears from the side of the ship hugging the princess to herself. Other than her, black clad figures of Unsullied also jumps from the side of the ships attacking the Ironborn with silent efficiency and driving them off from the defenders.
Robert however cares for nothing of that as he approaches the figure hugging Myrella who is clinging like a wart to her, wailing loudly.
"F-Fwho are yu?" huffs Robert, his words barely understandable through the few minutes of panic and beatdown.
The twelve year old looks at him straight without any sign of fear or wonder, streaks of red adorning her black hair.
"Delianah Tully your Grace, Lady of Harrenhal,"
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Author's Note: Sorry for the late update. Hope ya Enjoy this chapter.