The Return Home

[sabastiangreyjoy]

Sabastian watched Pyke grow larger, as if the castle itself rose out of the sea. He hadn't seen his home in almost seven years, not since that day when his father had taken him down to the harbor and left him there with captain Reogar of The Silent Tracker. He had told him that in order to become his heir, he needed to learn the ways of the ironborn.

"I learned the ways of our ancestors on board ships, not spending time being pampered in a castle, boy. So stop your whining."

Those were that last words his father had said to him, before leaving him there. He had spent three years with The Silent Tracker, before the captain had been killed in a tavern brawl. Since then served on board The Vicious Knave. He had made a name for himself among the crew, Young Seagull, because he always managed to find his way to land, no matter the weather.

He was abruptly swept back to the present as a voice cut through the air.

"So, does it look as you remember it, Sabastian?"

Sabastian turned and looked at the boy, who had come up to stand beside him. Varcen Pyke had served with Sabastian for the last two years, and the two had quickly become friends, mostly because they were around the same age.

"In some ways, but I remember it being bigger back then" He grinned "I was seven last time I saw it, a lot was bigger back then"

They stood there watching the island grew bigger.

As the ship made it's way to land, Sabastian paced back and forth, to restless to do anything to help. He didn't think his father would be there to greet him, but at least he would have sent someone to meet him.

[lordbalorgreyjoy]

Bella toyed with her axe as the Vicious Knave pulled in to the harbour. She caught the tossed rope and quickly and expertly tied it up.
"Bella Blacktyde as I live and breathe! I thought your brother would have had you married off by now!" bellowed a large man with a bristling black beard standing at the prow. He grinned toothily at her, his blackened teeth barely visible through the wire-brush hair.
"I haven't found anyone as handsome as you to warm my sheets yet, Rurick!" she shouted back at him, grinning "I thought you'd be singing with the Drowned God by now, you can't sail worth spit!"
He laughed heartily at her "Ah, I've missed you lass. Maybe I'll just claim you myself" he said, winking at her. She smiled and replied "Ah, I know Helga too well. She'd gut me like a fish in a second"
She smiled again "Anyway, rumour has it you have a little squid aboard these days?"
Rurick nodded "Aye lass, and a fine help he's been too. I'll be sad to lose him to tell the truth. Sebastian! Sebastian, lad. Come here!"

[sabastiangreyjoy]

He was busy helping one of the crew men, when he heard the captain's voice cut through the air. He nodded to the man he helped, finishing what he started before heading over to the captain.

"Yes, captain?

He stood beside the captain, eyeing the woman that stood on the docks. He didn't recognize her, but he was pretty sure she was one of her father's men. His heart started to beat a little faster. Soon he would be home again. He wanted to run be off as soon as possible, but he had learned that the captain decided when one could leave the ship. He looked around for Vercen, and he found him leaning towards the railing, talking to one of the men. Their eyes met, and a silent goodbye in the form of a nod to each other was all that the two friends shared, before the captain told Sabastian it was time to leave the ship. The boy took the few steps and was soon on homeland once again.

[lordbalorgreyjoy]

Bella eyed the young man as he disembarked. "So you're Balor's get then, eh?" she said, grabbing his chin and looking closely at his face, turning it this way and that "Aye, you have his look about you, apart from the odd coloured eyes of course" she nodded to herself "Well, times a-wasting and no doubt you'll be anxious to see your lord father. Follow me" she stalked off towards the keep without a further backward glance

ooc: this character is also RP'd by Lillith Royce as well, so don't be startled if you see her speaking as Bella as well
Which of course, is an invitation to say your hello's to the new Greyjoy as well, Lillith

[sabastiangreyjoy]

He stood still for a while, not really sure what to make of the woman who had just treated him like a little child. He shrugged, turning one last time to have a look at the ship that had been his home for the last four years. When he realized that she wasn't waiting for him, he hurried after her until he came up beside her.

"So, who are you exactly" He smiled, hoping she wouldn't be offended by the blunt question.

He looked around him, not really all that comfortable being on land. He walked in silence for a while, not sure what to make of the stranger beside him.

"How is my father doing?" He finally asked.

[lordbalorgreyjoy]

Bella smiled at the questions. She supposed if she'd been away so long, she'd be full of questions too.
"I am Bella Blacktyde, your father's cousin as it happens. My brother Halon is the closest thing Balor has to a friend. We were always playing together as children before he was shipped off to learn the ways of the sea by his father, much as you have been". She looked at the skies and sucked her teeth a little before answering his second question. "As to how he is? Well, your lord father's always been hard to read that way. He keeps his thoughts to himself mostly. He seems well enough" she shrugged

[sabastiangreyjoy]

He nodded slightly at her when she told him of his father. Much hasn't changed in the way of his father during his years away, at least if Bella was telling him the truth. He couldn't be to sure he realized then, for even if he was Balor's heir, these people didn't know him and he didn't know them, so he couldn't really trust them. He looked back to the harbor once more, thinking maybe it wasn't to late to go back, but that thought disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. He was ironborn, this was his home, he had learned the ways of the ironborn, now he wanted to see his father's plans for him.

Maybe he could get a ship of his own to command. That thought brought a smile to his lips.

[Lilith Royce]

"Of course your pa is as liable to bite the back leg off a mule as welcome you home," Bella grinned, "But don't let that intimidate you. He's really all soft and mushy inside." She belted Sabastian on the back and let out a loud barking laugh.

[sabastiangreyjoy]

He smiled, to excited to laugh, at her obvious way to make him feel a bit more comfortable. Still he didn't trust her. He only trusted two things in his life, himself and the drowned god.

"If my father is all soft and mushy much have changed since I last saw him" He said with yet another smile "Rurick has thought me a lot, I have much of my knowledge to thank him for"

He really didn't have that high opinion of the man, but as a captain he was one of the best he had served with. Not saying much, as the first had been a really lousy captain.

"So, how much further until we are there"

[lordbalorgreyjoy]

ooc: Sorry Lillith/Sebastian. I deleted my post when I realised you'd come in. It was similar to your but I also had Bella enquire as to his time with Rurick

[Lilith Royce]

ooc: Pity, that was a funny conversation...but we will muddle through! ;D

"Just up the hill," said Bella, "Don't have your land legs back yet, do ya? You'll need 'em when we go out raiding. Balor seems to be contemplating some action. If you make all tough and krakeny, maybe he'll let you play."

[sabastiangreyjoy]

He nodded slightly to answer her question, not wanting to spoil the moment when he had a closer look at the place where he'd been born. He wished he could call it home, but that was too soon, a lot of it depended on the man he called his father.

He smiled at the thought of seeing some action, it had been to long. He had spent the last few months travelling from Braavos, and they hadn't made for land except when they had to seek shelter in a cove away from a vicious storm.

Now they stood on the top of the hill and Sabastian took in the sight of his birthright. The castle seemed smaller than he first thought, but still there was something about it that filled his heart with pride. He just stood there, not moving, trying to sort out the thoughts that was going trough his mind.