I DO NOT OWN SILENCE OR GAME OF THRONES.
Secret Cave, Harlaw Island, the Iron Islands. September 18, 296 a.c
Coming to the fourth week since arriving at the Iron Islands, the priest had managed to spread the message of Christ throughout a majority of the eastern Iron Islands. Many thralls who became Christians went to other villages and spread the news of the faith to other thralls, creating multitudes that came to hear the message, Garupe Steadham and Rodrigues could cherish the memories of hopping from Island to Island; from Harlaw to Great Wyk baptizing new Christians, ministering to the faithful, and educating the people on Jesus's teachings, and the mission was going well, but as they expected the persecution started.
But still, dozens upon dozens of thralls converted; even more, some Ironborn also began to convert. Many of the Ironborn who joined were poor or unable or unwilling to pay the Iron price and had made great friends like old Urragon and Robin. Those who did not follow the old ways of pillaging and violence the great blight that had enslaved the Ironborn culture Unfortunately, as more Ironmen converted, the persecutions began. A religion that preached peace, love, and especially betterment and liberty for thralls and the smallfolk, was a direct threat and an antithesis to the ways of the Ironborn and the Drowned God.
When Garupe, Rodrigues, and Steadham had returned from their second trip to Blacktyde, they were greeted with the news that the liege lord of the Iron Islands: Lord Balon Greyjoy, the one who declared himself King and plunged the lands into rebellion and chaos. Had ordered the persecution of the Iron Islands after hearing 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 Ironborn were rejecting the old way in exchange for the teachings of a crucified man who preached love and peace, he was inconsolable and completely enraged and ordered the dead of every Christian man and the enslavement of the women and children.
"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," said grimly Daaraquo as the news while assimilating the news.
"Have they?" Francisco asked, fearing for the souls of his converts, in their trips around the islands they had encountered problems with the authorities but now the persecutions had started they needed to put some plan to protect the converts. Meanwhile, George was lost in thought, he knew they would inevitably suffer from persecution, and he was ready…
"A few have, but most have not and they have been drowned for their refusal to apostatize," Nakillos reported as he went into detail about how the Christian converts had been brutally martyred by Grayjoy troops and the Drowned Priest for refusing to deny Jesus Christ. Some of our brother thralls have begun to violently resist Lord Balon's efforts to crush our faith; which has only increased the brutality of the Greyjoy forces," The priests were greatly distressed by the sufferings of their fellow Christians at the hands of House Greyjoy, but still revolting wasn't the way to go
"What can we do?" Rodrigues asked with fear and anger that he tried desperately to hide, "We have brought this torture onto our fellow believers; we can not forsake them," martyrdom was an honorable fate but they couldn't abandon them to the jaws of the Kraken.
"We need to teach the converts how to celebrate and endure persecution, as we use this cave to avoid the authorities, and as those who hold the faith in Japan, England, and other places where the true faith is persecuted…" continues Steadham, having suffered persecutions by the Elizabethan authorities, so he knew better than Francisco and Sebastiao. "I need to go right now… Urrigon and Harwen haven't returned with the supplies," finished the Englishmen before going to where they had decided to meet in case of problems near where the 'Apostle' was. Seeing him go away from the cave Francisco could only pray for the well-being of their friends and for George to have a safe journey and not be captured, by the Greyjoy forces, returning to the group he waved his hand to signal Sebastiao to bring the map.
A few hours later
In the cave, there were twenty-four people, counting him, Sebastiao, Daaraquo, and Nakilos, there were also other eight thralls some were part of the first group while others were from Wetwater village near the cave, able men but without weapons to defend themselves, the rest were woman and children part of the families of the thralls. Gathering everyone together they began to talk about where they could go and what they should do, before the meal. The cave has been improved to use as a church, the altar, with a central stone cross surrounded with other religious articles for worship and use during mass.
"It won't be long for the ironmen to find the cave, Father, we should move on," said a female thrall pleading, she had been a seamstress and had to deal with the ironmen, they could be so vicious and cruel, and she still had problems with those ironmen who had converted to the faith.
"We could fight them…" said Nakillos with a serious face as had Hiraq proposed in Old Wyk, liberate all thralls and be free, but the Daaraquo whispered to his brother questioning his idea, then as everyone discussed what to do, while Francisco tried to race his voice but couldn't
"Please silence!" said Sebastiao with a powerful voice, getting the attention of those present, and with a pause he let Francisco talk.
"Dear brothers and sisters I know you are worried about our predicament but we must trust the Lord and pray for strength to endure these trials and for those who persecute us so that they realize the error of their ways. Our Lord has not always promised sunny days, but he has promised shelter during the stormy ones." Garupe declared to everyone gathered at the cave. Before anyone could reply and continue the discussion, the sound of a dozen stomping boots was heard by all. The men who were closest to the entrance ran to see what had caused the sound, praying so that their fears would not come true but they saw them. It was a group of soldiers, armed to the teeth with sabers, spears, and axes with black round shields adorned with silver scythes. Their hearts skipped a beat as the rest of the thralls and the priests came, after a few agonizing seconds, the soldiers approached, and from behind they pushed an old man, it was Melchor the old man from the original group of thralls who were converted, he was a convert from the town, beaten and badly injured with parts of his body missing and bleeding out.
"Forgive… me I… was too, weak," apologized Melchor before passing in front of them, he couldn't withstand more of the torture.
"Men from across the Sunset Sea, show yourselves and surrender!" The leader of the group commanded, he was a tall and long-faced man, clad in full armor he had a different sigil a silver scythe on black, and a peacock on cream, leaving behind their fear, Francisco and Sebastiao stepped forward.
"We are they." his friend spoke anxiously, he tried to put on his bravest face, but they were nowhere to escape.
"My name is Sir Harras Harlaw, knight of Grey Garden," said the leader before continuing "And by the order of Rodrik Harlaw, Lord of this isle, you are to be arrested and to be taken to Ten Towers where you shall be judged by his lordship," Sir Harras demanded as his personal guards came forward to arrest the priests.
"You shall not take them!" Nakillos exclaimed as the gathered thralls, eight of them and with his brother rushed the soldiers to to prevent priests from being arrested. The fight was doomed from the start as without weapons the fight was short-lived, and the thralls were badly beaten suffering from cuts and dripping blood but they didn't surrender they would give their lives.
"No one has to die today! We only came for the priests as ordered by his lordship, and no more blood should be shed, but only if you come with us," said Sir Harras, looking into the eyes of the priests, with his blade unsheathed Garupe thought that the sword appeared as if it was made with the legendary Damascus steel, he appeared to be not as bad as other Ironborn that he had meet. And with a sigh, he responded.
"Alright we should come we you and meet your liege, but you shall spare our people," said Francisco, with that said Sir Harras ordered his men to leave the thralls, then Nakillos gathering strength, ran towards them in an attempt to avoid being captured, but his body failed him and he was about to fall when he was caught by Sebastiao.
"Please, padres… you can't do this," said between gasps Nakillos, they couldn't lose them… not to the Ironborn.
"Nakillos you must trust the Lord. He is the one who will give them the strength to endure this persecution," said softly Sebastiao before whispering to his ear, "Find George he will know what to do," then a Harlaw soldier grabbed Nakillos throwing him to the ground and forced Sebastiao to stand as other soldier did the same with Garupe.
"Lord Jesus...as you did with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, please be with us in the furnace of the Ironborn!" Garupe prayed aloud as the priests were bound and marched away from their wounded parishioners to their greatest trial yet.
Ten Towers, seat of House Harlaw. Harlaw Island. The next day.
The priests kept silent all the way to Ten Towers, Lord Harlaw's seat, some soldiers had insulted them from time to time. But Sir Harras had silenced them "We are here to bring justice to these troublemakers save your insults for something more productive," as he wanted this to go smoothly, still sometimes they could see a smirk from their captors, they could only pray that to be brave and not be intimidated by their enemies and thus fulfill the will of the Lord.
As they were led to the main gates of the castle they halted, the castle was more like ten different castles united in one, as the gates opened the priests were dragged in being manhandled by several Harlaw soldiers as they moved to some part of the castle. Fathers Garupe and Rodrigues were then taken to a Great Hall where before them, sat a well-dressed man, he was reading a book without paying attention that they had been brought to him, he appeared to be in charge of these proceedings as he was in the center of the hall, seating in a high chair with two giant silver scythes above him, surrounded by other important-looking men, everyone seated in a half circle, they even could see a drowned priest in the hall as well.
"Now bend the knee to his lordship, Rodrik, lord of house Harlaw and loyal bannerman to the Lord Reaper of Pyke, Balon of House Greyjoy!" Sir Harras declared as everyone in the hall turned to look at them, and the man in the center identified as Rodrik Harlaw closed his book and looked at them meticulously. Francisco and Sebastiao stood silently before Lord Harlaw to the surprise of everyone present, they wouldn't bend the knee.
"Did you not hear Sir Harras command ?" Lord Rodrik asked calmly while standing from his high seat, he was mostly he was curious, some would say these men were bold… or foolish, he wanted to see which of those were the priests.
"Forgive me, your lordship, but we can bend the knee to no one but Jesus," Rodrigues spoke with equal calmness, although it was costume to bend the knee to monarchy in Europe, he wasn't a King nor he was Christian, they wouldn't give him that respect.
"You dog, how dare you disrespect the lord of this island?" A guard exclaimed as he struck Sebastiao across the face, while the other two guards came behind them and struck with the blunt tips of their spears making them fall to their knees, but they remained fixed to the eyes of Rodrik Harlaw still in defiance even with the pain.
"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 Rodrigues 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 all but 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, he now comprehended why the Lord decided that they landed on these islands it was where his word was needed the most.
"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 Rodrigues spoke as he looked fiercely at Harlaw before continuing. "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus… I assure you that even the thralls are freer than thou," This caused an uproar as the council, the drowned priest, and the guards shouted curses and blasphemies; some even withdrew their swords to kill them on the spot.
"Silence!" Lord Rodrick exclaimed with his free hand raised before looking to the priests again. "Some of the poor we interrogated told us that you are learned men, well trained in reading and writing; is this true?" asked the noble, everyone in the hall was silent before Francisco answered.
"It is… your lordship," Father Garupe replied cautiously, what does he want?
"I wish to make a deal with you," Rodrik said as he came closer to the priest as they began to stand, showing them the book he had in his other hand, it looked old and worn as if it had not been taken care of properly. "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 Drowned,"
"You want us...to care for your books?" Sebastiao asked in near disbelief as the council protested and the drowned priest even more, only to be silenced by Sir Harras and the guards, they would let his liege take care of the situation
"Have we a deal?" Lord Harlaw asked as the priests nodded their heads. It was a chance to preserve their lives to continue spreading the faith. They had to take the chance. Getting his answer Lord Harlaw ordered some guards to take them to the Book Tower where they would work for the foreseeable future.
REVIEWS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED.