Pyke

[sabastiangreyjoy]

He grinned slightly and in his mind he relaxed a bit, as he looked upon the lord sitting on his father's chair. Dickon Harlaw was someone that Sabastian felt he could trust, as much as he trusted other people at least, maybe he wouldn't have to rule in his father's absence.

He almost lost his breath as he was hugged by the man, and Sabastian exhaled when Dickon let him go. Sabastian had grown since last year, now standing almost as tall as his father. That wasn't the only thing that had changed his apperance. The time he spent working as a house slave had made him more slim and his muscles tighter in a way that the life on a ship couldn't. Sabastian still kept his head shaved, and that made some of the ironborn look at him strangely.

Sabastian ignored the others in the main hall, smiling and began telling the story about how he washed up on Summer Islands and then coming to Braavos, but he carefully left out the part of Elane, keeping that encounter to himself.

The taste of the salty fish, which he hadn't eaten for a year, tasted foul at first, but after some time he found that he liked it.

[Lilith Royce]

Bella saw Sebastian and cheerfully swotted him hullo. "Drowned God coughed you up, did he?"

[sabastiangreyjoy]

He laughed and grinned at her.

"He told me I tasted like your cooking, so he wanted me out of the sea as quickly as possible"

[Lilith Royce]

Bella gave a great seal bark of a laugh. "He's been fed many a pot of my fish eye stew so probably knows it well!"

[sabastiangreyjoy]

When Sabastian felt that he had enough of food, he told Bella and Dickon that he wanted to be alone for a little while and then he left the main hall. He climbed some stairs, and after some time he found himself standing high in one of the towers, and looked out across the sea. He felt the wind touch his face, and in the distance he saw the ship that had escorted him here leaving for home. He wished he was travelling back to Braavos or more exactly to Elane. She visited in his dreams almost always, in one way or the other.

The common prayer of The Drowned God said: what is dead can never die, but rises again, harder and stronger

Then why don't I feel that way he thought to himself. He didn't feel strong at all for the moment, and the only hardness that came to him was when he thought of Elane.

He stood there when he heard someone come up behind him.

[lordbalorgreyjoy]

Maester Grimon climbed up the steps slowly. "I see you're back, young Greyjoy. I knew you hadn't died at sea. I have a nose for these things, not that anyone believes an old crank like me" he smiled and his eyes twinkled in his weathered face.

"So I hear you've had quite the adventure! Been all the way to Braavos and the Summer Islands, yes? Must have been a daunting place on your own, especially with your head injury. Speaking of which, how is that?" he shuffled forward, grabbing Sabastian's head and examining it "Hmm, good work here" he muttered "Nice even stitching, you can hardly make out the scar at all. You hear we're at war with Braavos now haven't you?" he said casually. "Quite why the Sealord has gotten involved in our politics I'm sure I'll never know. How do you feel about that boy? Do you feel up to fighting your rescuers?" he said quietly, looking intently at Sabastian's face.

[sabastiangreyjoy]

He gave the old man a quick look before he answered. He knew he was treading on dangerous ground, the answer could lead to losing the respect of the ironborn or him gaining the power he needed in his father's absence. He made a silent prayer for his father's fast return before he answered.

"I have visited the halls of the drowned god and returned, so I'll do anything to honor that trust. The way of the ironborn is to reave, and nothing comes in the way of that. But I hear there are spoil closer than that at the moment, but I promise that if the Braavosi ever come close to these waters, we'll show them what we're made of."

He nodded to Grimon and turned to watch the sea once more, waiting for the words of response from the old man. He felt that he was one man with two souls, belonging to neither. The ironborn part longed for the way of reaving and fighting while the other part, the one that was Mashuda, longed for peace and solitude. None of his thoughts showed on his face, but that wouldn't last forever.

[lordbalorgreyjoy]

As Balor entered the keep, he was met at the gate by Lord Harlaw. After a quickly muttered conversation, Balor's face paled and he hurried off towards the towers. Passing Grimon on the stairs he rushed up and came to a sudden stop at the bald young man peering out to sea.
He stood, disbelievingly looking. The hair was gone, the skin was more tanned and weathered than he remembered and he had filled out but still....
"Sabastian?" he said quietly, in a querulous voice.

[sabastiangreyjoy]

He heard his father's voice and turned away from the scenery to look upon his father for the second time in two years. He smiled at his father, a big smile that showed that he cared about his father a lot. He had realized the importance of his father during the journey back from Braavos. He embraced his father in a big hug, then he released him and said.

"Yes, father. It's me" He found it hard to find the words to say.

He stood there waiting to see how his father reacted afterwards.

[lordbalorgreyjoy]

Balor stands there in shock and stiffly receives his son's bear hug without any movement. He stepped back and looked again at his son. Shock, anger and joy all mingled together on his face until, with supreme effort, he smoothed his face over and said "It....it is good to see you have survived, my son. It seems I owe a debt to this Lady Royce for bringing you back to me. I..." Balor was interrupted as a small girl with wild brown hair streaming behind her leapt past him, clattering into Sabastian and bearing him to the ground.
"You....you..." she punched him hard on the shoulder "We thought you were dead!" Meera wailed. Balor turned and saw his lady wife standing quietly behind him, tears rolling down her face. He held out an arm to her and she came up and gently embraced him, sobbing softly.

[sabastiangreyjoy]

He found himself on the ground with Meera, and he couldn't help to smile.

"I'm sorry, little sister. I promise that it won't happen for a long time"

He raises and lifts up and swings her up and hugs her hard.

"Thank you for those words, father. I know it was hard saying them."

When his mother comes up and embraces his father, he with Meera in his arms, moves closer and they embrace their mother and father for a short while. Then he puts Meera on the ground and looks at his father and asks

"So what are we to do about this threat from Braavos?"

[lordbalorgreyjoy]

Balor looks at his son oddly "They are no threat to me. Dragonstone is on the other side of Westeros. I'm sure Callen has a different idea about our involvement but I have faced the Sealord's forces before and they are no fat merchant vessels to pick off. For now I am content to leave them be and, as we have other matters to attend too in the North, I shall go there to finish them. Once Wull is dead any local support Braavos has in Westeros shall be destroyed and any secrets Wull may have will go to his grave with him" he said grimly.

[sabastiangreyjoy]

He nodded, even if he didn't agree with that they should just leave it alone, but he didn't want to argue with his father. But there was a feeling in him, that told him that something in him had changed. He walked over to the the tower wall, putting his hand on it and leaning out towards the sea. He had an opinion that the ironborn should stop thinking about themselves and help Westeros. He then realized something, he turned and looked at his mother and father.

"Where's Urri?"

[lordbalorgreyjoy]

Balor's jaw clenched. "He's on the way to Kings Landing. A "guest" of the King at the Red Keep. Such was the price needed to keep the Blackwoods from convincing all the other kingdoms to assault Pyke"

[sabastiangreyjoy]

He nodded with a sad look upon his face. He understood why his father was reluctant to help Callen with Braavos now, he had lost a son to the greenlanders.

Maybe two the voice inside his head told him. He hated that insecurity that was inside of him now, that thing that made him question himself and everything around him.

"May I come with you, father"

He didn't want to be left behind, because that meant that his father would leave him in charge.