King Robert and everyone who had read Lynd's report on the battle must have concluded that Lynd, trapped in Faircastle, was in a dire situation. However, the reality was entirely different—Lynd was completely at ease, as though enjoying a holiday on the island rather than being besieged.
Upon receiving news of Lynd's position, the Iron Islands swiftly dispatched the Iron Fleet to Fair Isle. As soon as the fleet was spotted, Lynd promptly ordered all the longships docked at the pier to be hauled ashore, rendering them inaccessible to the Iron Fleet and preventing their destruction.
Though the Iron Fleet blockaded Fair Isle, it also sent over a thousand Ironborn to land on the island, intending to destroy the longships in Lynd's possession and leave him utterly stranded. But Lynd, having anticipated this move, was fully prepared. In the ensuing battle, his forces annihilated every one of the invaders, leaving no survivors.
The situation now was almost ironic: rather than the Iron Fleet trapping Lynd on Fair Isle, it seemed that Lynd had effectively trapped the Iron Fleet in the straits surrounding it. The fleet dared not withdraw, fearing that Lynd would use the longships to launch a direct attack on the Iron Islands. Even if he chose not to assault their homeland, they knew he could sail back to the Westerlands and reclaim all the wealth they had stored in the Faircastle.
Lynd himself was astonished to uncover the treasure trove hidden in Faircastle during his inspection of the stronghold. To his surprise, the spoils the Ironborn had amassed from their raids on the Westerlands over the years had not been sent back to Pyke but instead consolidated in Faircastle.
Although Lynd couldn't immediately estimate the exact value of the treasure, Jon's initial calculations revealed that the warehouse contained hundreds of thousands of golden dragons, in addition to an abundance of gold and silver jewelry, priceless artifacts, and other valuables. A rough tally suggested the total worth exceeded a million golden dragons.
It was no wonder, then, that the Iron Islands had responded so quickly and decisively to the loss of Fair Isle, deploying their fleet in an attempt to prevent Lynd from transporting their ill-gotten wealth elsewhere.
Lynd, of course, welcomed such an unexpected windfall. Without hesitation, he sent word to Lannisport, where the ship Glory was docked. He instructed its captain to await the outcome of the naval battle in the Fair Isle Channel. If the royal fleet of the Iron Throne emerged victorious, the Glory was to immediately set sail for Faircastle to carry the treasure back to Tumbleton.
Lynd had prepared for such contingencies before leaving Tumbleton. He had previously directed Lys Falwell, who was conducting trade in Oldtown, to dispatch a crew to sail the Glory from Oldtown and Arbor to Lannisport, ready for further instructions.
This precaution now proved invaluable. Remarkably, the crew had only just set out when the Iron Fleet began its blockade of the Fair Isle waters.
Faircastle itself was perched on a prominent promontory, offering an expansive view of the Fair Isle Channel from the balcony of the lord's study. Standing there, Lynd could see the entire blockade—hundreds of longships and warships from the Ironborn fleet, their black sails adorned with kraken sigils, stretching across the sea in a truly formidable display.
Among the ships, a few stood out due to their size. These were unmistakably the warships of House Greyjoy, with their massive hulls and distinctive designs. The largest of them bore a kraken-shaped prow and a battering ram resembling a guillotine. This imposing vessel could only be the flagship of the Iron Fleet: Iron Victory, commanded by Victarion Greyjoy.
At the moment, Lynd wasn't wearing armor but a casual robe, sitting comfortably with a platter of freshly served food nearby. He leisurely ate as he gazed at the Iron Fleet anchored at sea, the faint sound of waves carrying the weight of an impending confrontation.
Nymeria approached him, a glass of water in her hand. As she handed it to him, she asked pointedly, "Just going to sit around and do nothing?"
Lynd took a sip of water, swallowed a mouthful of food, and replied calmly, "We've already done enough. If we push further, we'll become the enemy of everyone in this rebellion."
His words reflected the truth of the situation. The lords and nobles aligned with the counter-rebellion were itching for their moment of glory. Lynd had already reclaimed five castles and decimated twenty thousand rebels, a record that sparked both admiration and jealousy.
Should he destroy the Iron Fleet or, worse, capture Pyke, the lords and nobles would resent him even more. Even King Robert might begin to harbor doubts, his gratitude overshadowed by unease about Lynd's growing renown.
Lynd knew that routing the Iron Fleet wouldn't be difficult. He could covertly infiltrate key ships under the cover of darkness, assassinate their commanders, and leave the fleet leaderless, prompting a retreat. Alternatively, he could use the vast treasures stored in Faircastle to lure the Ironborn ashore and deal with them directly.
When reclaiming Banefort, Nymeria had already suggested a bold plan: striking Pyke directly. The Ironborn on Pyke were unaware of Banefort's liberation, and under the guise of night, Lynd's forces could masquerade as Ironborn and launch a surprise assault. Though tempted, Lynd ultimately chose not to act on her suggestion, deeming it too risky.
The study door opened with a knock, and Jon stepped in, bowing slightly before announcing, "My lord, Lord Paxter has sent word. He and Lord Stannis have already led the royal fleet to the waters near Kayce. They are expected to arrive in the Fair Isle Channel late tonight."
"Did they specify what they want us to do?" Lynd asked, setting his goblet down.
"Only to manage the lighthouse," Jon replied, shaking his head.
Lynd chuckled and turned to Nymeria. "See? They're already worried we'll steal the credit."
Nymeria snorted disdainfully, folding her arms. She had little fondness for Stannis, a sentiment lingering from their encounters in the courtyards of the Red Keep in King's Landing.
Turning back to Jon, Lynd said, "Even if they don't want us involved, we can't just sit idle. Ready the longships. If the battle turns against them, we'll step in to assist. If it goes well, we'll focus on salvaging prisoners."
"As you command, my lord," Jon replied before exiting the room.
Despite the preparations, they would ultimately prove unnecessary. Both Lord Stannis and Lord Paxter were highly adept at naval warfare, far surpassing the skills of the Iron Fleet under House Greyjoy.
The royal fleet indeed arrived at the entrance to the Fair Isle Channel late that night. However, they refrained from entering the narrow waters, instead choosing to remain stationed at the entrance. Their caution suggested a reluctance to engage in a nighttime battle that might risk harming friendly forces.
Unbeknownst to Lynd, the royal fleet had split into two groups. While Stannis's forces waited at the entrance, Lord Paxter led a second fleet from Arbor, maneuvering through the outer waters of Fair Isle to position themselves at the northern end of the channel, near the waters off Kayce.
At this time, Stannis led a fleet primarily composed of ships from the Oldtown fleet, positioning them in a formation at the southern entrance to the strait, intending to divert the Iron Fleet's attention. The tactic proved highly effective. The Iron Fleet's focus shifted entirely to Stannis's force, prompting them to abandon the waters near Faircastle and move southward to confront Stannis at the entrance of the strait.
The strategy culminated in a devastating blow the following morning when a dense sea mist enveloped the area, obscuring visibility. The Iron Fleet was unaware that Lord Paxter's Arbor Fleet was closing in from the north. The surprise was absolute; as Stannis launched a coordinated attack from the south, the Ironborn found themselves surrounded.
When the fog lifted, the aftermath of the battle was revealed: the Iron Islands fleet had been utterly crushed. Two of House Greyjoy's signature black galleys had sunk, and fewer than 20% of the remaining longships had managed to escape. This decisive victory effectively ended any hopes the Iron Islands had of recovering from the naval defeat.
Meanwhile, Lynd, accompanied by Nymeria and others, had traveled to the southern coast of Fair Isle early that morning to observe the battle firsthand. The clash promised to be one of the greatest naval engagements in the history of Westeros, with thousands of ships engaged in combat. Lynd viewed it as an invaluable opportunity to learn, particularly as he planned to build his own fleet in the future.
However, the dense fog thwarted Lynd's hopes of witnessing the event. For the entire duration of the battle, he and his companions saw nothing but the impenetrable mist. This led him to a question that lingered in his mind: how had the fleets coordinated so effectively within such dense fog without mistakenly attacking their allies?
The answer came later from captured Ironborn prisoners. They explained that the fleets had used a system of distinct horn signals to communicate and differentiate between friend and foe, a method reminiscent of Morse code.
Following the battle, the Royal Fleet did not stop at Fair Isle or acknowledge Lynd in Faircastle. Instead, it sailed northward immediately, seemingly intent on striking directly at the Iron Islands. The abrupt departure left Lynd's earlier preparations invaluable, as the Royal Fleet had no time to clear the battlefield.
Lynd deployed his longboats to comb the area, salvaging both survivors and debris. The boats moved tirelessly, retrieving allied sailors who had fallen into the sea, capturing surviving Ironborn prisoners, and recovering what remained of the wrecked ships.
Of particular interest to Lynd were the damaged vessels still floating on the water. While no longer seaworthy due to shredded sails or structural damage, their hulls and keels were largely intact, making them salvageable. Several of the large ships bore only minor breaches in their hulls.
Using ropes, Lynd had these ships hauled to shore. His subordinates, along with surrendered Ironborn and rescued prisoners, were tasked with repairing the vessels. The goal was not to restore them to perfection but merely to make them seaworthy again.
The effort proved fruitful. After some patchwork repairs, Lynd had acquired four large ships, a dozen armed merchant ships, and hundreds of longships. When added to the longships he had previously taken at Seagard, Banefort, The Crag, and Faircastle, his fleet now numbered over 200 vessels. Though many required significant work before they could sail properly.
With such a vast amount of resources now under his control, Lynd made swift and calculated decisions. When Lys Falwell arrived in Faircastle aboard the Glory to transport the treasure, Lynd also instructed Lys to take the large ships, armed merchant vessels, and more than a hundred relatively intact longships. He retained only about seventy damaged longships, sufficient to transport people across the waters surrounding Fair Isle.
Lynd also entrusted Nymeria to oversee the critical task of returning the treasure to Tumbleton.
She was to lead the Tumbleton army, the Guard's Unit, the First and Second Cavalry Patrols, and the majority of the Ironborn who were not originally from the Iron Islands. Nymeria understood the importance of the treasure and agreed without objection, ensuring its safe transport with the necessary protection.
Although Lynd remained behind with only three cavalry patrols and a small contingent of Ironborn, Nymeria was untroubled by his reduced numbers. She trusted in his ability to handle any situation that might arise.
After Nymeria and the others departed, Lynd lingered in Faircastle for nearly half a month. During this time, he kept a watchful eye on the horizon until the Iron Throne's fleet appeared in the distance, approaching from the north. Far from being diminished, the fleet seemed to have grown even larger.
As the fleet passed in front of Faircastle, a group of slightly larger longboats from the Iron Islands broke away and made for the docks. From one of these boats, an old acquaintance of Lynd's stepped ashore.
"Lord Joel, it's been a long time," Lynd greeted the man with a smile as he approached.
The visitor was none other than Joel Flowers, who had been instrumental in helping Lynd escape White Holdfast. Joel had changed little over the past year, though his face bore a few additional scars, some fresh and others faded.
Joel surveyed Lynd, now clad in finely crafted armor, and couldn't help but marvel. "You really are something, my friend. When I heard about 'Chosen One, Lynd,' I thought it must be someone else with the same name. I never imagined it was truly you. Who would have thought that the young hunter from White Holdfast would become such a legendary figure in just over a year?"
Lynd smiled humbly. "You're too kind. In your presence, I'm still the same Lynd from White Holdfast."
Joel, grinning, reached out to clap Lynd on the shoulder as he once had, but he stopped short, realizing that such familiarity might no longer be fitting. He withdrew his hand and stepped aside to introduce the man standing behind him.
"This is Lord Collinder Lannister," Joel said. "He's here to take over Faircastle."
Lynd turned his gaze to the young knight, who looked older than his years. Suspicion laced his voice as he asked, "I thought Fair Isle was the domain of House Farman. Lady Jeyne Farman is still alive, isn't she? Shouldn't she be the one to reclaim Fair Isle?"
The young knight stepped forward and offered an explanation. "Lady Jeyne Farman and I were wed in the presence of His Grace. However, the war has just ended, and the seas remain fraught with Ironborn pirates. It is not yet safe for her to return. She has entrusted me to oversee Fair Isle on her behalf until stability is restored. When the time is right, she will resume her place and inherit House Farman's lands."
Lynd quickly understood the underlying motive: House Lannister was leveraging this marriage to annex Fair Isle. Whatever Lady Jeyne's true wishes were, they had become irrelevant. Smiling faintly, Lynd patted the young knight on the shoulder before escorting him into the castle to handle the handover of its assets.
The process unfolded without complication. The knight appeared unaware that Faircastle had once served as the Ironborn's principal warehouse for looted treasures, nor did he seem particularly interested in anything of value that might still be hidden there. After a cursory inspection, the formalities of the handover were completed.
Once the Lannister soldiers had disembarked and entered the castle, Lynd and his men boarded their ship. They set sail for Lannisport, where King Robert would host a victory banquet to celebrate their triumph.