I DO NOT OWN GAME OF THRONES OR SILENCE. SHOUTOUT TO EVERYONE WHO CARES ABOUR THIS STORY.
FACE CLAIMS
LORD RODRIK HARLAW- MATTHEW BRODERICK
Harlaw Island, the Iron Islands. 4 weeks later.
Over the next 4 weeks, the padres had managed to spread the message of Christ throughout a majority of the Iron Islands. Many thralls who became Christians went to other villiages and spread the news of the faith to other thralls. Garupe and Rodriquez began hopping from Island to Island; baptizing new Christians, ministering to the faithful, and educating the people on Jesus's teachings.
So enough, dozens upon dozens of thralls converted; even more, some Iron born deer also began to convert. Many of the Iron born that joined were poor or unable or unwilling to pay the Iron price. Those who did not follow the old ways of pillaging and violence. Unfortunately, as more Ironborn converted, persecutions began. A religion that preached peace, love, and especially liberty to slaves, was a direct threat to the ways of the Iron born and the Drowned God.
When Father Garupe and Father Rodriquez had returned to Harlaw Island, they were greeted with the news that the liege lord of the Iron Islands: Lord Balon Greyjoy, had heard of the new faith and had reacted angrily. Ignorant Thralls talking comfort in this strange faith was one thing, but when word reached him that some Iron born were rejecting the old way in exchange for the teachings of a crucified man who preached love and peace, he was inconsolable.
"Lord Balon has been rooting out our brother and sister Christians." Daaraquo said as he brought the grim tidings to the Jesuit priests. "In Great Wyk, Old Wyk, Saltcliffe, Blacktyde, and Orkmont, the Greyjoy soldiers have been arresting them and taking them to the capital of Pyke and using means of torture to make them renounce the faith."
"Have they?" Father Garupe asked, fearing for the souls of his converts.
"A few have, but most have not and they have been killed for their refusal to apostatize." Nakillos reported as he went into detail about how the Christian converts had been brutally martyred by Grayjoy troops for refusing to deny Jesus Christ. Some of our brother thralls have began to violently resist Lord Balon's efforts to crush our faith; which has only increased the brutality of the Greyjoy forces." The padres were greatly distressed by the sufferings of their fellow Christians at the hands of House Greyjoy.
"What can we do?" Father Rodriques asked with fear and an anger that he tried desperately to hide. "We have brought this torture onto our fellow believers; we can not forsake them."
"We must pray for strength to endure these trials. Our Lord has not always promised sunny days, but he has promised shelter during the stormy ones." Garupe declared to everyone gatherered at the cave. Before anyone could reply, the sound of a dozen stomping boots was heard by all. The Christian thralls turned to see a group of soldiers, armed to the teeth with sabers and black shields adorned with silver scythes. Everyone's heart skipped a beat as the soldiers approached.
"Francisco Garupe and Sebastian Rodriquez, show yourselves!" The leader of the group commanded as the priests, after a moment, stepped forward.
"We are they." Rodriquez spoke anxiously.
"By the order of Rodrik Harlaw, Lord of this isle, you are to be arrested and to be taken henceforth to Ten Towers where you shall be judged by his lordship." The leader demanded as guards came forward to arrest the padres.
"You shall not take them!" Nakillos exclaimed as the gathered thralls, about 8 in number, rushed the soldiers and began to fight. The fight was short lived as without weapons, the thralls were badly beaten.
"Lord Jesus...as you did with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, please be with us in the furnace of House Greyjoy!" Garupe prayed aloud as the priests were bound and marched away from their wounded parishioners to their first trial.
Ten Towers, seat of House Harlaw. Harlaw Island. The next day.
The padres kept silent as they were led to the gates of Ten Towers. The gates were opened as the priests were dragged in and manhandled by several Harlaw soldiers. Fathers Garupe and Rodriquez were then taken to the main chamber were before them, sat a well dressed man who appeared to be in charge of these proceedings, surrounded by other important looking men.
"Bend the knee to his lordship: Rodrik, lord of house Harlaw and loyal banner man to his supreme lordship: Balon of House Greyjoy!" The herald decreed. Francisco and Sebastian stood silently before Lord Harlaw to the surprise of his small council.
"Did you not hear my herald command you to bend the knee?" Lord Rodrik asked calmly.
"Forgive me, your lordship, but we can bend the knee to no one but Jesus." Rodriquez spoke with equal calmness.
"You dog, how dare you disrespect the lord of this fast?" A guard exclaimed as he struck Sebastian across the face.
"Lord Balon Greyjoy is angered by your son of God, the teachings of this Jesus spit in the face of our ways. The Iron born are taught to pillage and rape and kill and to pay the iron price in blood; the honor of conquest." Rodrik explained as Rodriquez held his throbbing cheek.
"Your lordship, you speak of honor, but in the same breath, you speak of atrocities. What honor is there in taking what is not yours, what honor is there in sexual violence, what honor is there in taking innocent people as slaves, what honor is there in murder and destroying lives so you can pay this iron price?" Garupe asked angrily as he heard the men defend such a wicked lifestyle.
"You have been inspiring thralls around the islands to disobey their masters and pursue their freedom!" Another man shouted angrily.
"For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." Father Rodriquez spoke as he looked Harlaw in the eye. "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." This cussed an uproar as the small council and guards shouted curses and verbal abuse; some even withdrew their swords to kill them on the spot.
"Silence!" Lord Rodrick exclaimed with a raised hand before looking to the priests. "Some of the poor we interrogated told us that you are learned men, well trained in reading and writing; is this true?"
"It is, your lordship." Father Garupe replied curiously.
"I wish to make a deal with you." Rodrik said as he stood up and grabbed a sheet of papers. "I am a lover of books, but sadly, many Iron born do not share my passion. It is hard to find a decent preserver of the written word. Therefore, I will keep you here as my...guests. So that you can tend to my library and preserve my tomes. If you refuse, I will send you straight to Pyke and Lord Balon will have you both keelhauled."
"You want us...to care for your books?" Sebastian asked in near disbelief as the small Council protested, only to be silenced.
"Have we a deal?" Lord Harlaw asked as the padres nodded their heads. It was a chance to preserve their lives to continue spreading the faith. They had to take the chance.
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