The silence

Edmure POV

I enjoyed the Dornish food. The spices always brought something new and unexpected. While I enjoyed my lunch with ser Willas Tyrell, Patrek was preparing the ships to leave. The wedding of Jaehaerys and Margaery was coming soon, and I should attend it as a hand of the King.

Willas seemed to enjoy the food too. As we ate in silence, I looked at Doran Martell's sons, that sat at the dinner table. Quentyn and Trystane didn't look alike at all. While Quentyn was the oldest, he seemed as naïve as his little brother. Doran didn't attend the dinner as he was resting at the Water Gardens.

"It smells amazing," Patrek broke the silence as he came in and sat in front of me. "Too bad I still am not accustomed to the spices."

"Have you finished with preparations?" I asked as Patrek poured himself a cup of wine.

"Aye, we can leave at any time."

"It saddens me that you must leave soon," Willas commented.

"What about you?" I asked. "Aren't you going to your sister's wedding?"

"I should, but I can't," Willas replied. "I have a lot to do at Highgarden. Afterward, I will come to King's Landing."

"I will be awaiting you."

Quentyn and Trystane weren't very comfortable around us. Even though I was their good brother, they barely knew anything about me. The age difference didn't help, as did Oberyn's open dislike of everyone who isn't from Dorne. So, when they finished eating, they quickly left. I should take Trystane to foster at Riverrun soon. It should deepen the relations between our families.

…

Prince Doran didn't show up to say his farewells to me, but he gifted me plenty of dornish wine and oranges to enjoy during the journey. Patrek was happy to have more wine, while I enjoyed oranges, especially the fresh ones. As my three ships left the port of Sunspear, I enjoyed the view of the city in all its glory.

Soon enough, we were sailing too far to see the land. Patrek was already enjoying the dornish wine, with a few sailors joining him. Of course, it only took one look from me to send them back to work. A few of my knights awkwardly took away the wine from Patrek, who came to me to complain.

"Why do you have to torture me so, Edmure?" Patrek whined at me.

"It isn't even midday. You are setting a bad example for the rest of the men," I explained to him.

"But there's nothing to do," Patrek cried.

"Have an orange and enjoy the wind. If I let you do as you wish, I would have to bring a corpse to your father. I don't want him to look at me with eyes of disappointment," I said.

"But it will take at least a few weeks to get to King's Landing."

"Exactly, and if you keep drinking like this, there won't be any wine left by the journey's end."

"Fine, I will only drink when you are not looking," Patrek responded.

"What was that? I didn't quite hear it," Patrek quickly ran away from my stare.

I was getting worried about him. He drank and joked more than usual. I thought sailing for a bit would clear his mind and let him relax, but it seems he only settles at the bottom of the wine barrel. All I could do for him was stay by his side until he put himself together. The burning of King's Landing still was on his mind most of the time.

…

It was a silent night when I found Patrek feeding the hawk he gifted me when I left Seagard from my fostering. Styx was probably tired of being locked inside his cage, and even I felt sad for the bird, but if I let him go, he would fly back to King's Landing, where his partner stayed.

"Styx is still young. He shouldn't be caged up like this," Patrek said.

"When we return to King's Landing, I will let him fly as he likes."

"Good, I have decided to return home after the wedding," Patrek suddenly said. "Only now did I realize I have a child I had not had a chance to see. My wife will probably kill me."

"You will be fine. I still remember when you slept with her sister. Jennelyn almost has your balls cut off."

"Hey, I was drunk, and Jayne looks just like Jennelyn. It wasn't my fault."

"To Jennelyn, it didn't seem so."

"Damn, if I didn't need an heir, I would be done for. Even my father couldn't save me."

"He could, but I don't think he would want to. He loves Jennelyn as she is her daughter."

"Maybe I shouldn't return. I am useless to both of them now that I have a son. I wouldn't be surprised if I were disposed of."

"Don't be dramatic. Your son is not even a month old. Jennelyn wants her child to have a father."

"That's what I am afraid of. I don't think I will be a good father."

"You will be better than me," I told him. "You will return home and spend your time with little Ed. You will play with him, tell him stories and teach him how to use a sword. He will grow as a good man and feared for his sword skills, respected for his honor, and envied for his good luck with women."

"Aye, he will grow to be a great lord. A lord I could never be."

We stayed in the cabin longer, discussing the future and reminiscing about our journeys and battles. In the end, we played a game for every time we helped each other, we would drink a cup of dornish wine. We both were dead drunk by the morning. Neither of us could get up for the rest of the day.

…

I will never drink with Patrek again. Only after three days did I get over the hangover. The banging of the waves against the ship didn't help my churning stomach. I couldn't hold anything in my stomach for days. Patrek wasn't in any better situation, but he got better faster. Still, it was nice to get drunk with my friend.

"My lord," The captain of the ship yelled out for me. "Ships ahead."

"What banner do they bear?" I asked, getting to him.

"My lord, it is Golden Kraken on the black field."

"How many ships?" I asked, settling my hand on my sword.

"Dozen, at least," He said and gave me a far-eye to look for myself.

The first ship sailing straight for us had a golden Kraken on its sails. The rest ships didn't have any banners and didn't look like Ironborn ships. It could be remnants of Iron Islands or some lord wanting to get revenge on me. Or it could be anyone thinking we were an easy target. Yet I didn't believe it was a coincidence.

"Can we outrun them?" I asked.

"By the time we turn, they would be upon us, my lord."

"So, the fight is inevitable?"

"Yes, my lord."

"All hands prepare for battle," I shouted out my orders, and everyone started to run to put on their armor and swords.

They outnumbered us four to one. It will be a tough battle. The ships were getting closer, and by the time I wore my armor, it was obvious that they would intercept us. The first ships sailed straight to us while the rest encircled our little fleet. The wind was on their side, so they would catch up to us no matter where we sailed.

"Notch, aim," I yelled out orders as we were nearing each other. "Loose."

The arrows flew and hit the ship, but unsurprisingly it didn't stop, not even after a few more volleys of arrows. Patrek was next to me when the Ironborn ship rammed at us. Then men boarded our ship. They showed no fear as they rushed at us, but the weirdest thing was that they didn't let out a sound even when I cut them down.

They would lose a leg or an arm and still wouldn't scream at the pain. Their silence was unnerving. My men started to lose morale when I killed the fifth silent man. Still, I didn't stop fighting and stood before my men. Using my shield to block an axe and then cutting the enemy's head with my Valyrian steel sword, I showed that there was nothing to be afraid of.

We stood our ground until another ship rammed at us. While the men from the first ship wore black armor, the men from the second ship wore golden armor. Their fighting styles were different too. The ones in black fought, not caring if they died or not. There was no order. They just rushed at us.

The men in golden armor fought orderly. With shield walls surrounding them, they pushed forward calmly. Soon we were overrun by them, surrounded by two sides, and a third ship was not far aiming for us. Yet I showed no fear and cut and stabbed anyone who got close to me. Arms, legs, and heads flew as they met my sword. The deck was red from all the blood.

"Edmure, this is bad," Patrek said, stabbing a man coming from behind me.

"It is," I agreed.

"What do we do?" He asked.

"We fight," I replied.

"And we die," Patrek laughed.

"Then we will die together, but before, let's take these bastards to the seven hells."

Everyone heard my words, and with renewed vigor, we pushed forward. With my lead, we put the men in black armor at the edge of our deck before starting to throw them to the sea. Patrek had my back and blocked the men in gold. As I was almost done with the men in black, a third ship rammed at us, and I could feel our ship sinking.

"As I thought, without me, my men are useless," I heard a voice.

The new men came aboard our ship, and the battle turned from bad to worse. We were overwhelmed quickly my men fell, unable to hold on for long. It didn't take long until only a group of us were left surrounded on the slowly sinking ship. Patrek was breathing heavily next to me. He as I was covered in blood and countless cuts.

"Lord Edmure Tully," A sweet, almost feminine voice greeted me.

"Varys," I recognized the man.

"And me," A man with black hair, blue lips, and one eye announced himself. "Euron Greyjoy at your service."

"Never heard of you," Patrek laughed. "My family killed so many of you that it is hard to keep up."

"We only need Tully alive," Euron Greyjoy said.

I knew I had no chance of winning, so I looked into Patrek's eyes and threw myself at Euron. Before I could reach them, I was cut and stabbed, but I ignored the pain in my last effort. Euron looked amused as he stopped my sword with his own. I looked at his eye before headbutting him in the head.

"It is futile," Euron laughed as he punched me.

"We shall see," Patrek yelled, almost cutting Euron's neck. "Now, Edmure."

With this distraction, I threw my sword at Varys, who stood a bit far away from the rest of us. A man got in between my sword and Varys. Not giving up, I pushed Patrek at Varys and tackled Euron. They wanted me alive, so I knew I could buy some time for Patrek. Patrek lost one of his hands before he managed to cut Varys.

"That's why I said I should do it alone," Euron complained as he threw me aside, of course not before kicking me a few times. "Bring him to the warlocks. It would be troublesome if he died."

"What about this one?" A man in golden armor asked, dragging half-dead Patrek.

"We were asked to bring only Tully," Euron said, picking up my Valyrian sword. "The others can die."

With one swing, he cut Patrek's head off his shoulders before throwing him at sea. I knew we would die, so it wasn't shocking to me, yet rage still gripped me tightly. So, with the last push, I threw men aside and rushed at Euron. At least I wanted to take him with me to satisfy my anger and hatred. But before I could take a few steps, three men tackled me to the ground and held me down.

A.N. Merry Christmas. I hope you all are feeling good. For those wondering why I didn't upload in the past two weeks, it was because my laptop died, but because of the Gigachads that supported me, I bought a new one, even if it took some time to be delivered. Sorry for the dark chapter at Christmas. It wasn't intentional.

As always, If you want more, up to five advanced chapters, you can support me on pa treon. com \ ironwolf852