Oldstones

[lordbalorgreyjoy]

The once majestic towers and walls of Oldstones lie shattered and strewn across the field. Thick weeds and grass grow among the ruins, creating a melanchony atmosphere and a sense of a past time of glory, now long forgotten.

[lordbalorgreyjoy]

To the west, the ironborn throng on the beach, cursing and clambering aboard the waiting ships. Bella kicks, shouts and curses as she tries to bring some order to proceedings "No, dung-face! That boat! To your right, not my right, your right!"
Bella closed her eyes briefly uttering prayers to the Drowned God. She would need divine help to get these idiots into line. "Bella!" he heard from behind her and suddenly was engulfed in a bear hug. Startled she reached for her dagger before recognising the voice "Halon?" she grinned "Well, what do you know - prayers do work! How are you, brother?" Halon grinned, breathed in deeply and let out a satisfied sigh "All the better now I can see and smell the sea again. I don't know how these greenlanders can cope without the feel of a ship beneath their feet and the wind in their face" he smiled like a happy child at the thought of it.
"Well, that's for later. The Sea Witch is still at anchor for now. I knew you'd want to ride her back" Bella said, "For the nonce can you help me get these addle-brained lackwits into the boats without capsizing them?" she said folding her arms beneath her bosom angrily. Halon grinned again. Organisation was not his sister's strength, he knew.
He walked up to one of the nearest ironborn struggling to get on board the ship and tapped him on the shoulder. As he turned, he launched a powerfully thrown fist into the man's chin, flinging him back into the surf. As he spluttered in the shallows, the other men looked at him in mild shock "Listen, you scum! When my sister gives you a fucking order, you fucking obey it!" he bellowed, snarling at them "Now pick up your thick-eared friend and go to THAT boat". Grinning toothily, they muttered a few "Aye, milords" and helped their dazed comrade up and onto the other boat. Halon strode cockily back to his sister who could not help but burst into helpless laughter, shaking her head.

Throughout the day, the ironborn loaded themselves onto the waiting longships, which came in from the bay, beached themselves and then where helped back into the ocean by the next band. Soon some hearty ironborn songs were being sung as they happily counted their plunder and recanted their stories of the reaving they had done in the villages and towns around Riverrun. Halon saw Lord Drumm off early in the day, and Bella in Tidebreaker in the late afternoon.

[lordbalorgreyjoy]

The next day, Balor, Lord Harlaw and the carts carrying the bulkier objects of plunder and the wounded came to the beach. He greeted Halon happily. He spotted The Iron Kraken at rest in the bay and smiled at the thought on being aboard her soon.
He ordered Halon to depart in the Sea Witch to escort the next flotilla back to Pyke and soon, grinning a smile as wide as his sails, he saw him at the prow of her, singing happily along with his men as they sailed home.

He supervised the loading of the remainder of Lord Harlaw's men onto now few ships remaining. He went to the cart with the wounded, to make sure that they were being prepared for travel. The seas could be rough this time of year and he did not want to lose men through carelessness. As he spoke with each of them, he kept their spirits up and told them to get well, for their share of plunder was waiting for them. Sadly, he noted a few had died during the night and he feared for a few of the others who seemed to blankly view their surroundings. Then he noticed, among the wounded ironborn, a mailed surcoat on one of them. Puzzled he moved closer and then remembered. Clegane!
"I had forgotten you were still our guest, Clegane" he said convivally to the wounded man. "We will take you back with us to Pyke. You still cannot be left unattended. Your wounds are too severe. How are you feeling?" he cocked his head, awaiting a response.

[The Smith]

Looking up at Balor, Clegane answeres. "All I feel is rage and heat. I have never felt so much hate before. I want to kill so badly, the fact that I can not yet makes me want to weep."

[lordbalorgreyjoy]

Balor smiled "If it's the Lannisters you want revenge against, do not fear. The time will come for your vengence. Rest now & regain your strength. You will need it for what will come"
He patted the wounded man gently on the shoulder and had him put on the Iron Kraken, under the watchful eye of his most skilled healer.
As he sailed away, back to Pyke he said in a whisper to himself "We will return"