Just a heads up this is addressing some of the reviews for the story. If you would like to you can scroll past and get right into the story. Thank you everyone for all the support and I hope you enjoy the newest chapter.

Guest: Darren will be a skinchanger. In this chapter it will show his ability alongside which animal he skinchanges into.

The Three Stoogies: I am glad you really like the story. I really appreciate the support. And to answer your question I do have plans for House Stormbreaker in the Riverlands. I do not want to say anymore since it will ruin the surprise.

Coldblue2015: I am happy you are like the idea. And to address your concern there will be more famous/legendary members of House Stormbreaker after Darren. I plan on the structure being like one of my favorite fanfictions. It is called Land of the King - Arnor in Westeros by Tertius711. I would recommend giving it a read. My story will focus on different points of House Stormbreakers history from the Age of Heros up to Aegon's Conquest. And you hit the nail on the head since House Stormbreaker will seek refuge in the Riverlands. And I swear you are a mind reader because I did ponder the idea of House Stormbreaker and their subjects using war paint in battle. It is interesting because the Celts of Britain used war paint more often than their continental cousins. And Ivar and Roland will form their own houses under House Stormbreaker. I do like a lot of your ideas since I can see myself incorporating a lot of them. I plan to talk more about some of these ideas in my author's note and I hope you continue to share some of these ideas.

Now on with the Story!

Chapter 5: A Declaration of War

First Men Encampment

Darren along with the refugees from Harlaw soon arrived at his makeshift camp. He could see the tension leave his warriors as they looked upon the incoming flood of women, children, and elders as they moved into the camp. Ivar had taken priority of gathering the First Men smallfolk while his own warriors sacrificed themselves to enable them to escape. The thought of their sacrifice brought back Darren's rage to a simmering boil.

He clenched his fist as his frustration at the thought of good men dying to the Ironborn. His nails dung furiously into the palm of his hand almost to the point of drawing blood. His frustration only grew as he saw the haggard faces of the warriors who remained moving past him. In total there were less than 40 warriors who had fled with Ivar. Darren remained still as his heart ached at the loss while his blood continued to boil. He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he did not notice Rolly approaching him.

"Darren…Darren… Oye Darren," said Rolly worriedly as he looked at his friend's icy face.

Darren was shaken out of his grim thoughts when his eyes began to regain clarity at Rollys words.

"Oh, Rolly sorry I had something on my mind," said Darren.

Darren could still feel his blood and rage burning but regained control of it. It was a challenge for him as he felt at any moment the rage-filled beast would escape his control. He had let it out when confronting Blacktyde and now their house was nothing but dust in the wind. He could only pray to the Old Gods to help simmer his anger and temper it with the hope he felt. There was a chance other First Men still resisted the Drowned God and Ironborn. And he would be there to help them.

"What is our next move Darren? The men are growing restless after we roused them for battle."

"I will think of something Rolly. Order the men to be ready and help Ivar and those who followed him settle into camp. I must see to a different matter."

Rolly's eyes grew wide in understanding. He slowly bowed his head to Darren as he made his way to the gathered warriors and refugees to see to his task. Rolly slowed his way to the gathered men and relayed the orders. His gaze left the assembled men as they directed the refugees with to the other smallfolk. He knew what Darren was about to do and swore to himself we would keep his secret for a while more.

Darren's Tent

Darren slowly entered through the cloth flaps of his tent. He could feel the soft breeze against his back before the flaps of the tent closed behind him. With a hidden purpose he slowly made his way to the animal skin bedroll that laid near his chest. He slowly unfurled the bedroll till it touched the edge of the chest. Darren slowly settled upon it as he felt the fur tickle his exposed neck and parts of his lower arms as laid down upon it. With a deep breath Darren prepared himself to skinchange.

With one final look around his tent, he moved his mind to feel for the connection with his bonded animal. He could feel the cord between them as he slowly waited for his bonded animal to allow their minds to meld. If anyone were in the tent alongside Darren they would see his sapphire eyes roll into the back of head till only the whites of his eyes were shown.

Darren was one of the few skinchangers left on the entirety of the Iron Islands. They had once been in abundance before the rise of the Drowned God and the Ironborn. Along with the rest of the First Men they were seen as abominations by the Ironborn and were a prized sacrifice for the Drowned God. Only a few people knew he was a skinchanger. Among them was Rolly and the late Lord Blacktyde.

Darren could feel the connection open as he felt himself leave his body into that of his seagull. He could feel his soul rejoice at the freedom of flying. He could feel the wind beneath his wings as he flew higher and higher till the island of Blacktyde looked like a speck. His jubilation of flying grew as he moved farther and farther away yet something in the back of his mind beckoned him to return. He tried to ignore this feeling, but it only grew more vexing. It was until he was amongst the clouds that he finally regained control over his bird.

He slowly willed the bird to head back to island as he had to continuously fight off the instinct to fly away. It was known amongst skinchangers that skin changing into any type of bird was one of the most dangerous things to do. Many had gotten lost into the feeling of flying and the instincts of the birds themselves. It took an iron will to ignore this to become proficient at using any type of birds.

With the resurgence of control, he directed the seagull back towards Blacktyde island. He implanted the desire to land back at his tent and slowly withdrew his presence back to his physical body. As soon as his consciousness returned Darren gasped out in a panic. The urge to fly away bombarded his mind as he began to lose himself. His breathing grew erratic at the split thoughts continued to battle in his mind. Trying to calm down with a few deep breaths he slowly regained some semblance of calm as he began to become drenched in sweat. He could feel the cold sweat clinging to his clothes as his eyes roamed around the tent aimlessly.

He could only lay still against the bedroll as his panic lessened with each new breath. After what seemed like an eternity Darren found his sense of self. He could feel the bond between him, and his seagull got stronger as it flew closer back to the encampment.

Darren could only lay there as he questioned why he had this gift. It is said that one out of one thousand people had the potential to become skinchangers. It was a rare gift even on the Iron Islands as few were born with the gift. He had heard that House Farwynd had the gift as it was said they could change skins with seals and even other aquatic life. Others he had heard were able to gain tutelage from a family member or even someone else who had changed skin. He did not have this luxury as most of the skinchangers were persecuted and he did not know anyone to teach him.

With a herculean effort Darren arose from his position and taking in a few more deep breaths he to calmed his still beating heart. He would master his ability no matter how much time it took. Right now, though he had a campaign to plan out. He arose fully and walking on lightly shaking legs he called out for someone to call for Rolly.

"Someone call for Rolly I have much to discuss with him," said Darren.

Finally overcoming his shaking he sat down upon the grassy ground as he awaited the return of his friend. It seemed he did not have to wait long as Rolly emerged through the flaps of the tent yet with a guest as well. The form of Ivar followed Rolly into his tent.

"Ivar has some news for you Darren. I feel that he will be valuable with whatever you have planned," said Rolly.

Darren was not opposed to having Ivar with them, but he still felt unsure of having a Harlaw here. He felt an immense respect for what Ivar did. Many would not betray their family and save those who his father had ordered killed. Even more so when Ivar planned and succeeded in having the last First Men population depart from Harlaw itself. Yet a part of him was still unsure of Ivar's intentions with joining him. Maybe he was being paranoid these were trying times and he could not overlook the value Ivar held.

With a cold look upon his scarred face he spoke to Ivar, "Speak Ivar what information do you know that is so important."

With a shaking breath Ivar gazed into those cold sapphire eyes and stated, "Upon fleeing from Harlaw we were not impended. Even when were drew closer to Orkmont as the wind was not in our favor. We sailed past them and continued our journey till we saw the smoke."

Darren looked upon Ivar as he processed the information. If they were unimpeded Ivar must have had the luck of the gods. Or there was something brewing on the islands to have drawn away the attention of both House Tawney and House Orkwood.

"Was there any sign of ships or forces of either Houses Tawney or Orkwood," said Darren, "It is most fortuitous that you did not draw attention from either of them."

"Aye I thought so too but I have an idea of what this happened. Before I left I overheard some news from my father's solar," Ivar grew excited as he leaned closer, "There is news of House Greyiron making a move for the Driftwood Crown."

Both Rolly and Darren grew intrigued at this development. It was known throughout the isles that House Greyiron along with many other Houses claimed descendant from the famed Grey King. Usually there would be a king's moot held at Old Wyk to decide the King of Iron Islands. If the Greyirons were seeking the crown through war then this presented an opportunity for their cause.

Rolly grinned at the news and soon with great gusto said, "Darren with this we may be able to strike out against some of the Ironborn."

Darren grinned as well at the thought of gutting some of the fishmen. Yet where would they strike? The closest islands to Blacktyde were Old Wyk and Orkmont. His eyes soon sparkled as an idea formed in his mind.

"Ivar you mentioned that Orkmont you did not see any forces of Houses Tawney and Orkwood correct," questioned Darren.

"Aye we did not see any ships and what we saw mostly was smallfolk and maybe even some small forces left on the island," said Ivar.

Ivar's eyes soon light up ass he began to see what Darren was purposing. With a smirk upon his lips he said, "If I add my ships to yours we may be able to strike at Orkmont."

Rolly soon understood what the two were planning. His back straightened at the thought of them striking their luck at Orkmont.

"You have four ships while at the most we have between two or three we could use. The others we have taken from Blacktydes fleet are being used to fish," said Rolly thoughtfully.

Darren could see the cogs turning in both their minds as a plan formed in his. Currently their forces numbered around 700 to 800 warriors alongside the 40 Ivar had. With the use of even four or even five of their ships they could strike out at Orkmont. The ships could hold between 80 to 100 people with some room for supplies. If they took around 400 to 500 men they could cause some chaos.

"Ivar would you be willing to let us use your ships to strike out at Orkmont," said Darren hopefully.

With the addition of extra ships and even the small amount of men they could plan a raid against both House Tawney and House Orkwood. Darren would not plan to take over the island as they had too few men and supplies. But the raid could cause some chaos on the islands themselves and even deal a significant blow against both houses.

Ivar stood straight and his light blue eyes met the mesmerizing ones of Darrens as he said, "Aye I have pledged myself and my people to you. You have my ships, my men, and my loyalty."

Darren was a bit taken back by Ivar's words, but he could sense the honesty in them. He had not only gained more ships and men but hopefully a loyal friend as well. With a genuine smile coming to his face he said, "Rolly and Ivar we have a plan now we must strike down these fishborn scum."

The energy in the tent was palpable as Darren felt invigorated. He could scout out the position of what forces and ships the island of Orkmont had with his seagull. And from there they could deliver retribution on the heathens. He could finally start to uphold his oath to the Old Gods. He would not rest till the Ironborn were annihilated and were nothing but food for weirwoods.

Author's Note: As discussed during the War Council the first battle of Darren's Uprising will be the Raid on Orkmont. I plan for the first few 'battles' of the rebellion against the Ironborn to be more skirmishes/raids. Darren does not have the current forces or even supplies to have a pitched battle yet. There will be some time before he has established himself as a component general and has obtained the supplies and armaments for a prolonged campaign. As in the last excerpt from Maester Riddick his forces will primarily focus on fast movement and skirmishing units before he can support a larger force. I later plan on in the future to have House Stormbreaker utilize a mixed force of light and heavy infantry alongside skirmishing units. I think a force of slingers would be ideal to use as shown by the success of the Balearic slingers in antiquity. They will of course be phased out especially during the Andal invasions later in the story. Something else Coldblue2015 also mentioned in there review was including parts of the story being focused on both famous/infamous men and women of House Stormbreaker. I will implement this in my story later. It is just now the story is focusing on Darren since he is the founding member of House Stormbreaker. My plan is to have their history be told from the Age of Heros to Aegon's Conquest. The next chapter will be predominantly focusing on the Raid of Orkmont and maybe some of the reactions of surrounding Ironborn leaders as well.