Chapter Text
''We are Ironborn !'' Dalton Greyjoy said to his 100 soldiers, with whom he would take the Rock. He thought it best to use a small force to catch the garrison unaware, they might get suspicious if a large amount of troops began to make movements. Besides, Casterly Rock had few defenders...it had never needed many after all.
''We do not sow. But we reap,reave, and rape. The drowned god made us to paint Krakens on our shields and sail the great salt sea. To bring fire and sword to our foes, to spill our seed in their wailing women, to crush their crowns and thrones beneath our feet. We do not toil in the mines, we do not plow the fields. We take what we want, we do not pay with gold, but with Iron. And Today !'' Dalton raised an axe ''TODAY! We reave the Rock! For thousands of years, it has stood, but now it shall fall. And their wealth will be ours to enjoy, their men will be slain, their sons taken as thralls, their daughters and wives will become our prizes. Our names will be writ into song and legend for as long as men have tongues to speak, our names will be chanted in the halls of the god, all his heroes watch us now. Raising ale cups in our honor and cheering at our glory! We will all have a seat by his side, where we will have mermaids to tend to our every need. SO. IRONMEN. FOLLOW ME! FOLLOW ME TO VICTORY! FOLLOW ME TO GLORY! FOLLOW ME TO THE ROCK !''
''THEON''
''THEON''
''THEON''
''THEON''
The troops were ecstatic. Chanting the name whilst hitting the ground with their spears, their shields with their swords and axes, and others hitting their chainmail with their fists.
''WHAT IS DEAD MAY NEVER DIE !'' He shouted
''BUT RISES AGAIN, HARDER AND STRONGER !'' They replied
''THE DROWNED GOD IS WITH US !'' He shouted
''HE BLESSES US WITH STEEL !'' They replied
There was more chanting and Dalton felt a smile form on his lips. These were his folk, and it was with them he would make Tywin Lannister howl with pain. A lion was nothing to a Kraken. His champions, Harras Harlaw and Dagmer Cleftjaw were beside him. As was his sister. Harras did not seem as enthused with the talk of women, though the wish for Glory was there in his eyes, Dalton did not pay him any attention... His sister did not truly care either way, but the Cleftjaw showed the same enthusiasm he did.
''Hehe...You make your nuncle proud, Theon,'' said Dagmer Cleftjaw with one of his crooked smiles.
''High praise'' Dalton said cheerfully ''Coming from King Balon´s best man.''
''Enough cock sucking'' Asha said ''Let´s get this over with.''
''I would concur'' The Harlaw said politely. ''While the troops are in high spirits.''
Dalton understood the point.
They went into the brothel tunnels. Lord Tywin´s beloved castle was to fall...
...
''I will make the Isles great once more...'' Dalton thought as he climbed. The tunnels were narrow and dark, but he had a torch in one hand and climbed with the other. ''We will reclaim our old freedoms, and make a new Kingdom. As glorious as that of the old Driftwood Kings. And it will last for one thousand years. Casterly Rock...this is just the beginning. The West...is just the start. The sunset sea is mine, and every man woman and child will be made to know it. The Reach...Dorne...even farther...they will learn to fear our sails again.'' He grinned to himself ''Are you seeing this Johanna? You bitch. Whore. You lie dead and cold in the ground, burning in those seven hells you Greenlanders spoke so much of. But I am still here. I rose again, harder and stronger, just as he who dwells beneath the waves decreed. You might have gelded my son , but I will end your line, there will not be a single Lannister left. What you did to my Rodrik will be nothing compared to what I will do to your sons and daughters...Mayhaps I´ll even father a Johanna Pyke for you? I am sure you would love it. Bitch.''
The tunnel smelled. It must not have been cleaned in months. Dalton continued his ascent. His sister was right behind him, as were the soldiers, who had to climb squeezing their way through. This discomfort was nothing, however, compared to the glory that awaited them.
''For how long does this go on anyway ?'' Asha whined in annoyance.
''Not much more'' Harlaw replied ''We have been going at it for over 20 minutes. With the blessing of the warrior we will take the Rock in one swift move...'' Harras cleared his throat ''Prince Theon, I must ask, what is to be done with the highborns ?... I already know what your grace´s choice is when it comes to the lowborn...but I would advise restraint with the nobles.''
''We will prove our manlyness'' Dalton said drily ''And kill whomever we can get our hands on.''
''Brother'' Asha said forcefully ''I cannot let you do that. Killing them is useless, but if we keep the wives and children of the Western lords, they will be inclined to submit to us without a fight. Think with your head, not your axe.''
Dalton felt a surge of anger. ''You do not *Allow* me to do anything. Girl. You are my kin, my blood. But I will not have you defying my commands. Mayhaps in the past you were the heir to father, but those days are gone. Your counsel will be taken into account...but not on this. Taking hostages is not the old way, I would see every Lannister dead. I do not care to conquer the West. Only to sack it, our strength is in our ships. Do not delude yourself about holding what we cannot keep.''
Asha stayed quiet. Though Dalton could feel resentment coming from her. Her pride must have been hurt. ''She needed a good humbling'' He thought drily. Asha was brave and seemed smart enough in his view. But he found her attitude tiresome on occasion. Aye , Dalton would and every respectable Ironman would have preferred her on the Seastone chair over the pathetic Theon. But he was not Theon and she was no longer the one in command. It was about time for her to accept that fact.
Dalton could see a trapdoor just up above...they had finally done it. Casterly Rock was just ahead. He felt the tension dissipate as excitement washed over the Ironmen. Dalton smirked and opened it.
It had been covered by an expensive and luxurious crimson carpet. The room it had led to was quite comfortable , with Lannister heraldry scattered all over. Dalton could tell it was an office. He moved around with some slight interest. As lord Reaper , he had not been fond of this type of environment. His place was at the deck of a longship with the whole sea to explore , not trapped by walls and seated at some table. He opened a drawer and chuckled slightily. Letters and such from Lord Tywin. He found them dull.
Once he saw that at least 10 reavers had already made their way up , he smashed down the door with a kick. He was in one of the castle´s hallways. A few servants were nearby , but they had no time to flee , Dalton cut down three men with his axe , only one had managed to beg for mercy before being killed. Though the expression of complete terror in their dead bodies brought him such joy...one of his reavers had managed to pin down a maid and was having his way with her. The man had the sense to cover her mouth at least so as to not have her screams warn the guards.
''Kill her'' Greyjoy said curtly ''This is one is old and ugly. Find yourself a better bedwarmer when it comes time for the sacking. For now we must take the city ''
The idiot did not obey. Dalton tightened his grip on the axe. But Dagmer Cleftjaw did his service for him , cleaving off the man´s head with a swing , and then killing the maid. ''Some men are just born to die'' the Cleftjaw stated without emotion. The other reavers did not seem bothered in the slighest. Idiots died. That was just how things worked.
His Ironborn kept walking down the halls. Even Dalton was impressed by the opulence and wealth...it was all theirs. The Ironborn reached the Throne room. And finally chaos erupted. There were some nobles , servants and bannermen inside.
''Kill them all !'' Dalton shouted.
He swung his axe at a Lannister , who blocked with a shield , but before the man could do anything , Dalton kicked him and had him on the ground. At which point he gouged out his eyes. He died screaming with horror whilst Dalton laughed. He saw his sister perform an impressive throw of her axe , hitting right between the eyes. Dagmer Cleftjaw killed two , though he was wounded on the shoulder , but Harras Harlaw killed five with Nightfall.
''Her thist for blood is quenched'' Dalton thought with satisfaction.
Dalton rushed to a Lannister , who swung his sword , but Dalton ducked and slit open his throat , another came into his range and was felled by Dalton´s axe , with a blow so strong it dug into the skull. Dalton had needed all his strenght to take his axe out of the man´s head afterwards. More came. More died.
Dalton chuckled at the bloodshed happening in front of him. The bannermen had been killed , now it was time for the servants and nobles...mostly Western Women and children. As the slaughter happened , he sat on the throne of Casterly rock. It was an easy seat , with pillows to make it comfortable. The throne itself had some lion decorations he thought looked quite nice. ''Johanna must be simply loving this...'' He thought with delight.
The noises of the fighting must have leaked out to the rest of the city. For some peasants opened the doors to the halls , with confusion at first and then horror. They were as pale as northern snow. Dalton saw the rest of Casterly Rock outside. It looked quite wealthy. His Ironborn seemed quite excited.
''What are you all waiting for ?'' He asked , amused ''BURN IT ALL DOWN !''