The Narrow Sea churned under a blood-red sky, a harbinger of the clash about to unfold. The combined forces of Houses Velaryon and Celtigar had gathered to confront the Triarchy's fleet, which had been ravaging trade routes and asserting dominance over the Stepstones for far too long. This was no mere skirmish; it was a decisive confrontation that would shape the future of maritime power in Westeros.
Corlys Velaryon, known as the Sea Snake, stood on the deck of his flagship, Sea Dragon. His presence radiated confidence, like a man born both for the sea and for battle. Beside him was his younger brother, Vaemond, whose fiery temperament was matched only by his unwavering loyalty to their house. The brothers exchanged a brief glance; both understood what was at stake.
"Signal Celtigar," Corlys ordered firmly despite the tension in the air. "Let them know it's time."
Across the waves, Corwin Celtigar's fleet bore the crimson-and-white banner of Claw Isle. Corwin himself stood at the prow of his flagship, gripping his Valyrian steel axe with silent determination. Beside him, his eldest son, Rhaegar, watched the horizon with a mixture of awe and apprehension. But it was Gael Celtigar, mounted on Dreamfyre high above, who embodied both power and grace. The dragon's sapphire-blue scales shimmered under the setting sun, and her roars echoed across the sea, a challenge to the Triarchy.
Joining the fight was Rhaenys Targaryen, the Queen Who Never Was, riding her dragon, Meleys. The presence of the Red Queen was as imposing as it was terrifying. Flying alongside her was Laenor Velaryon on Seasmoke, their bond evident in their synchronized movements. This was a display of strength the Triarchy could not ignore.
The Initial Clash
The first encounter began at dawn. The Triarchy's fleet, an amalgam of Lysene, Myrish, and Tyroshi ships, stretched across the horizon like a swarm of locusts. Their numbers were intimidating, but Corwin had planned for this.
"Split the fleet into three wings," he ordered, pointing at the map spread before him. "Vaemond, you'll lead the left flank. Hold the line as long as possible. Corlys, take the right and push them toward the center. I'll lead the main assault."
"And the dragons?" Vaemond asked, glancing skyward where the beasts circled.
Corwin smiled. "Let them sow fear in their hearts. Gael and Dreamfyre will support your flank. Laenor and Seasmoke will be with me. Rhaenys and Meleys will do what they do best: create chaos."
Fury at Sea
When the fleets met, the sea erupted into chaos. Arrows rained down from the Triarchy's ships, their flaming tips hissing as they struck the water. Velaryon and Celtigar ships retaliated with fire, their ballistae launching lethal projectiles that shattered masts and tore through hulls.
Above the frenzy, the dragons descended. Dreamfyre unleashed a storm of sapphire-blue fire, engulfing an entire cluster of Lysene ships whose sails turned to ash within moments. Gael guided his dragon with precision, ensuring the flames didn't spread to allied vessels.
In the central flank, Corwin Celtigar demonstrated why he was as feared on the battlefield as in the council chamber. With his Valyrian steel axe in hand, he led boarding parties that struck like lightning, overwhelming the Triarchy's defenders with sheer ferocity. His tactics were unorthodox but devastatingly effective, using the narrow decks of ships to his advantage.
"Push them back!" Corwin roared as he cut down an enemy captain, his axe gleaming with blood. Behind him, Celtigar soldiers fought with equal fervor, inspired by their lord's bravery.
The Dragons' Intervention
The tide of the battle began to turn when Meleys entered the fray. The Red Queen's fire turned the sea into a boiling cauldron, and her thunderous roars shattered the morale of the Triarchy's sailors. Rhaenys, a veteran of countless battles, directed her dragon with the efficiency of experience.
"Target their flagship," she commanded, pointing at the largest ship at the center of the Triarchy's fleet. Meleys obeyed, diving with terrifying speed. The flagship's deck erupted in flames as dragonfire consumed it, and its crew leaped into the sea, their screams drowned by the roaring inferno.
Meanwhile, Laenor and Seasmoke worked in tandem with Corlys's flagship. Seasmoke's agility allowed him to dart among enemy ranks, sowing confusion and destruction wherever he went. Laenor's calm demeanor amid the chaos contrasted with the surrounding turmoil, and his precise attacks crippled several of the Triarchy's key vessels.
The Triarchy's Counterattack
Despite their losses, the Triarchy was far from defeated. Their commanders rallied their forces, deploying fire ships laden with pitch and oil to disrupt the Velaryon fleet. The burning ships created barriers of fire, forcing Corlys to adapt quickly.
"Break formation!" he ordered. "Use the currents to maneuver. And signal Gael—we need Dreamfyre to clear a path."
Above, Gael received the signal. He guided Dreamfyre toward the fire ships, the dragon's sapphire flames countering the inferno and carving a safe passage for the Velaryon ships. But the maneuver was not without risks. As Dreamfyre passed over the burning vessels, a scorpion bolt grazed the dragon's wing.
Gael frowned but maintained control. "Steady, girl," he murmured, stroking Dreamfyre's neck. The dragon responded with a defiant roar, continuing her assault.
The Last Dance on the Stone Steps
The Stone Steps were a boiling cauldron of violence and blood. What remained of the Triarchy had retreated to its final stronghold, a rocky islet battered by the sea and fortified with wooden palisades and sand trenches. There, among the wreckage of their destroyed fleet and the bodies of their fallen soldiers, stood the legendary Crabfeeder. The leader of the corsairs, feared for his cruelty and insatiable thirst for blood, awaited the final confrontation.
Corwin Celtigar, at the head of a detachment of Claw Isle soldiers, landed on the shore. Despite the crushing victory at sea, there was no time to relax. He knew this fight would not be a mere cleanup. The Crabfeeder was not a man who accepted defeat easily, and every step toward his lair was fraught with traps, poisoned arrows, and desperate men.
Alongside him marched Vaemond Velaryon and a handful of the finest Velaryon warriors, while Gael and Dreamfyre flew in circles, watching from the sky. The Crabfeeder had sworn he would not surrender, and Corwin intended to fulfill his promise to rid the seas of this scourge.
A Fortress of Despair
The Crabfeeder's makeshift fortress was filled with corpses: those of his enemies and those of prisoners impaled on the palisades to warn his attackers. Corwin surveyed the scene with a scowl, tightly gripping the hilt of his Valyrian steel axe.
"The man is a beast," Vaemond said, spitting on the ground. "He deserves nothing more than a quick end."
"There will be nothing quick about this," Corwin replied in a deep voice. "He has made torture his art. Today, he will know what it feels like to be the prey of his own cruelty."
With a wave of his hand, he ordered the advance. The soldiers entered the fortress like an unstoppable wave, cutting through the outer defenses with surprising ease. But when they reached the heart of the stronghold, the Crabfeeder's gates opened, and a war cry echoed from within.
The Final Confrontation
The Crabfeeder emerged from the shadows, clad in hardened leather armor adorned with the remains of his victims: bones, teeth, and rusted chains. In his hand, he wielded a long, sharp trident, its tip still stained with the dried blood of the unfortunate souls who had fallen before him.
"Come for me, Celtigar?" he bellowed, his voice hoarse and mocking. "Come, and you'll be food for the crabs like all the others!"
Corwin stepped forward, separating from his men. "There will be no more shouting here. Only yours."
The battle between the two men was fierce. The Crabfeeder's trident moved like a viper, searching for weak points in Corwin's armor. But the lord of Claw Isle was fast and skilled, wielding his Valyrian steel axe with deadly precision.
The sound of metal clashing echoed through the air as soldiers on both sides watched, holding their breath. Corwin blocked each strike with calculated movements, searching for an opening.
When the trident grazed his shoulder, causing a superficial wound, Corwin let out a grunt. "Is that all you have?" he asked with a twisted smile, before countering with a crushing blow that nearly split the trident in half.
The Decision of Fire and Blood
In the heat of battle, a deafening roar filled the air. Dreamfyre descended from the sky, its eyes burning with fury. The Crabfeeder looked up, stunned by the presence of the dragon. That moment of distraction was all Corwin needed.
With a battle cry, Corwin swung his axe with both hands, aiming for the enemy's torso. The Valyrian steel cut through the bone-and-flesh armor as if it were paper, embedding deeply. The Crabfeeder let out an inhuman scream before collapsing to his knees.
"This is your end," Corwin murmured, looking at the man with a mix of contempt and satisfaction.
With one final blow, his axe sank into the Crabfeeder's neck, severing the head from the body. The Triarchy soldiers who were still alive dropped their weapons, their morale shattered at the sight of their leader's fall.
The Silence After the Storm
When it was all over, Corwin lifted the Crabfeeder's head for all to see. "This is the fate of tyrants!" he proclaimed, his voice echoing among the rocks.
Silence filled the air as the Velaryon and Celtigar soldiers celebrated the victory. Gael landed with Dreamfyre nearby, his gaze fixed on the enemy's corpse. "The sea will be calm, at least for a time," he said, his voice quiet but laden with exhaustion.
Corlys Velaryon arrived shortly after, surveying the scene with approval. "A just and necessary victory," he said. "But let us not forget the cost."
Corwin looked at the remains of the prisoners and victims of the Crabfeeder. "I will never forget."
As the allied forces withdrew from the Stone Steps, they knew this victory would be etched in history. The Crabfeeder had fallen, and with him, the shadow that had covered the Narrow Sea. But in the heart of Corwin Celtigar, the echo of the battle would remain forever, a reminder that even victory comes at a price.