The scales of a fish
Davos POV
Seeing most of the Redwyne fleet being destroyed gave me chills. The Ironborn fought bravely and brutally. I could hear the screams from even over here. The ships burned brightly in the night sky. Those who managed to sail away from this massacre were lucky and probably prayed for the Ironborn not to chase.
I held no pity for the Redwyne fleet. How cruel were they when they made Stannis starve in Robert's rebellion? I still remember how Stannis' men devoured the onions I had brought to them. To them, it was food from the gods. But even then, Stannis controlled his tired, starving, and half-mad men.
Back then, Stannis was still just a boy in my eyes. Not even twenty years of age. He was so thin, with only skin and bones, yet he stood taller than me or anyone else. He ate last and less than his men. He was uncompromising as he is now. Yet all the glory went to Robert and Lord Eddard Stark, who lifted the siege of Storm's end. Nobody remembers the suffering Stannis had to endure.
"This is why I didn't want to make enemies of Theon Greyjoy," Lord Edmure Tully stood next to me and commented.
"The Black King had an element of surprise," I replied.
"Black King?" Edmure asked.
"That was what he is called," I answered. "The name suits him. He felt dark."
"I guess you are right, ser Davos. But even with an element of surprise, he broke the fleet so quickly and effortlessly like a spear through the rotten wooden shield," Lord Edmure said with narrowed eyes. "He has not lost once, and I am starting to fear him more with each victory he achieves."
"Even though he is our ally?" I asked.
"I don't know much about King Stannis, but I know he won't let a usurper do as he wishes."
Lord Edmure wasn't wrong. King Stannis couldn't stomach another calling himself a King, no matter who he was. It probably took a lot to let Theon Greyjoy help him this once. Well, even I could see that we weren't in a situation where we could choose a different path. Still, I was thankful I didn't need to face the Black King. Something about him felt unnatural, ominous.
"How is the situation at the walls?" I asked, trying to switch to a different topic.
"The Tyrells are content to set up their tents and start to build siege engines."
"They probably think that with the Redwyne fleet, they have cornered us," I replied.
"Even without a Redwyne fleet, they have more than fifty thousand men. To them, a victory is within their hands."
"I wouldn't know," I responded. "I am no warrior nor a strategist."
"You know, a year ago, I wouldn't be talking with you. I would think you beneath my station."
"And now?" I asked, surprised. Lord Edmure was courteous to me and others if nothing else.
"Now I have seen people cut apart, gored, and bleeding out before my eyes. We are all the same inside, made of blood and bones," Lord Edmure replied. "I am no warrior either nor a strategist."
"Surely you couldn't compare yourself to someone like me," I said.
"I might be worse. I tried to face Tywin Lannister and failed miserably. I had to watch how the Lannister killed and tortured my men to their heart content. As I traveled as his prisoner, I watched as he burned my lands and killed my people. Innocent, defenseless people," I could see Lord Edmure's anger and frustration at his weakness. "I had to be saved, traded with the Kingslayer. I was furious, so I raised another host when I gained my freedom. I chased Tywin Lannister only to be tricked by him and waste a perfect opportunity to end this war. Now the Riverlands will drown in bloodshed once more."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Do you think the Lannister or the Tyrells will let us in peace once we reach Seagard? Once we join the forces of the Vale, they will send all their men to the Riverlands to stop us from planning to take the Iron Throne. And even if we win, I don't think King Stannis will let my nephew claim the title of King of the North."
"Can I ask why didn't you join your nephew, King Robb Stark, if you are so worried about him?"
"I would only be a burden to him," Lord Edmure replied. "If only I were more studious, more hard-working. If only I didn't like to ride to my friends' keeps and castles to drink with them. Only now do I realize how pathetic I am. The North can't protect my lands, nor can they afford to fight for us whenever we are invaded."
I could feel regret in the young lord's voice. Maybe he wanted to talk to someone, so I listened and didn't comment. Lord Edmure Tully was a tall and broad man, but I could see that his responsibilities weighed down on him. Yet it only showed how much he cared. He was so different from Stannis in many ways, but Lord Edmure Tully held strength he didn't realize having.
"I am sorry for your loss," That was all I could think to say.
"I am torn apart. I wonder every day what my father would do," Lord Edmure said. "I get letters from my sisters. One pleaded with me not to ride to another war, to stay home as she couldn't bring herself to lose another family member. My other sister told me to kill all the Lannisters and that we shouldn't rest until they were all dead. I have not seen both of them for many years. I can barely remember how they look. And I can't listen to either of them."
"My wife knelt before me and begged not to go, to not bring my sons with me," I replied. "Part of me almost did so, but I have a duty to my king. Now I think we are selfish men leaving women to suffer, not knowing if their husbands or sons are still alive."
…
Seagard was probably bewildered as the Ironbron landed on the harbor. The last time the Ironborn were here, they came to pillage and ravage. Now they sailed King Stannis and his men. As promised, Lannisport was Theon Greyjoy's to manage. The Black king only laughed and said he would let the Tyrells have it. But he would return to collect the iron price from them later.
A sea of banners met us, the most prevalent being the silver eagle of House Mallister, yet there were plenty of other Riverland banners and Vale banners. In the center stood the blue falcon from House Arryn. I could already imagine the armies standing behind the walls of Seagard.
"The one that is coming to meet us is Lord Jason Mallister. Behind him is his son, ser Patrek Mallister," Lord Edmure Tully informed me as he walked past me. "Don't speak about the Ironborn or the Greyjoys in front of Lord Mallister. He doesn't like them and doesn't trust them. It will only anger him. I already can see him sharing his mind about our alliance with the Greyjoys with the King."
A headache was already upon me. Sometimes I wondered if we could leave the past of our ancestors be, would it make a better world? Yet again, then titles and the lands the lords possessed would mean nothing if the world worked like that. There was no perfect world. We had to do with what we had.
Before I could say thanks for the advice and explanation, Lord Edmure Tully walked toward King Stannis. Lord Mallister, with his son, was kneeling to King Stannis, proclaiming their services and loyalty. I saw a knight with a trout on his armor rushing towards Lord Edmure. He hugged the young lord and then checked if he was fine. When I walked up to the King, Lord Edmure introduced me to his uncle Brynden Tully.
"Gather all the men to the port," King Stannis said. "I will accept the pledges of the lords here and now."
"Should we not go to the keep first?" Lord Edmure asked.
"I want everyone here before my men leave the ships."
The King's words were final. Even the red woman frowned upon the king's words. Even if I wanted to question the King, I couldn't, as in front of us stood many men. It already would be disrespectful to question your king, but a low-born questioning the King before the realm's lords would only weaken the King's position.
…
"I don't like it," Lord Edmure said as he stood near me with ser Patrek.
"The King wants to show his might before the Ironborn," Ser Patrek replied. "It is politics."
"How well politics work with Theon Greyjoy?" Lord Edmure asked but didn't wait for an answer. "Ser Davos, what do you think?"
"I had no chance to talk with king Stannis, my apologies."
Lord Edmure didn't mind my ignorance as he watched as the last of King Stannis' men walked from the Greyjoy ships to the port. Lord Mallister ensured everyone knew he would not let a single Ironborn upon his lands beyond the dock. Even Ser Patrek was forbidden to get any near the Greyjoy ships.
"There he comes," Ser Patrek said as a group of men walked toward King Stannis.
"Let's go," Lord Edmure led us to join the King.
Even without him saying so, I still would have walked to the King's side. Lord Edmure kept me company for whatever reason. Part of me believed that he wanted to make friends, but another, more cynical part thought that he wanted to get some information from me. Yet it was hard to believe he would open his heart for such a reason.
"Lord Edmure, ser Patrek, ser Davos," Lord Beric Dondarrion greeted us. "Do you know why there are tens of thousands of knights of the Vale behind us?"
"I know nothing but that it was the King's order," I replied. Ser Brynden Tully brought more than thirty thousand knights of the Vale. More than twenty thousand stood behind us, and those that wouldn't fit were outside Seagard. Apart from the men of the Vale, there were men from the Riverlands and King's men.
"So many people for poor old me?" The Black King asked as he moved in his all-black and gold armor. He had a hand on his sword hilt. "I know I am not welcomed to your little town Lord Mallister, but this seems to be a bit out of bounds, don't you think?"
"Theon Greyjoy," King Stannis' voice was demanding. "I command you to kneel. Once you pledge your service to me, I will make you my Warden of the West and Master of the Ships."
"You command me?" The joking tone was gone in a second from Theon Greyjoy. "Who the fuck do you think you are?"
"A rightful king to the Seven Kingdoms."
"The one who calls himself a king is no true king," Theon replied. "You think you will scare me with the men behind you? Then you are mistaken, as behind me is the Sunset Sea. You didn't take action while on my ships, so I will warn you now. Next time we will meet, I will drown you all."
King Stannis let Theon Greyjoy return to his ships. I knew that his grace didn't expect Theon to kneel. I guessed that King Stannis wanted to alienate himself from the Ironborn as soon as possible. It wouldn't be good for his cause if the realm believed he worked together with the Greyjoys. Many didn't trust them, and many even hated them. The rest feared them.
"Is this a reason you gathered us here, your grace? To threaten Theon Greyjoy?" Lord Edmure looked furious as Theon Greyjoy left.
"It has to be done," His grace said. "I will not tolerate a usurper."
"That usurper will come back. And it will be my lands that they will reave just like the Lannister did before," Lord Edmure replied. "Will you be here to defend my lands? Like you did before?"
"Are you questioning me, Lord Tully?" His grace asked in a cold voice.
"I am," Lord Edmure answered.
"You pledged your loyalty to me."
"I did. I knelt to you and vowed to serve you, and I will. I will serve you with my lords and knights from the Riverlands as your loyal subject, Your Grace."
Lord Edmure turned away from the King, not waiting for a response. His uncle tried to stop the young lord, but even I could feel his anger. King Stannis might have made a mistake by not informing others of his actions. I understood that what he did was for the greater good, and Lord Edmure did too, but to him, it was the greater good for the price of his lands and people.