far from the sea

My lord father tells the people that I have run to King's Landing with my tail between my legs, but he could not be more wrong. I have come to tame the lion, the stag - the dragon - so that one day I might take back what's mine from my brother and return...

[dragxnrhaegar-blog]

A chuckle followed the Princess’s proclamations; the girl now claiming a chance to defeat the slimy squid of which Rodrik spoke. If the rest of Rodrik’s clan did come to visit, however, the last place he would let his daughter be was in their presence. For trusting Rodrik was much different than the rest, and the child he loved dearly did not need to face the kraken’s wrath.

“Everything okay?”

The dragon grimaced. Rhaegar could not recall when anything ever had been. There was always a thick mask of worry, and a deathly ghost settled through hallways he trailed. Now more than ever, the thought of Rebellion was leaving its phantomed form. “Daughter,” the prince relayed, “a respectable Knight tends to their own steed.” And just as soon as she’d arrived, the girl kissed her uncle’s cheek, hugged father, and vanished toward the stables.

“No,” the dragon sighed, though kept defeat from breaching his firm tone, “nothing at all. But promise me something. I consider you my blood, and blood protects family. So if I die, dear brother, protect them.” Them. Rhaenys. Aegon. Elyria. The people.

[krakenrodrik]

Rodrik ruffled Rhaenys’ hair as she wandered away to tend to her steed, and watched her with fondness. He truly believed her his niece, blood or no blood, and he would protect her with his life if need be, the same as he would do for her father. The Greyjoy had been taught all his life to hate dragons but there was only one dragon to hate, the others - the ones who weren’t mad - were as noble as any would be. 

Rodrik caught the grimace, not that he blamed Rhaegar for making it. Nothing was ever really ‘okay’ but the kraken wanted to know what especially was on the dragon’s mind today so that he could make an attempt to fix it. Rodrik used to be fun, before he’d come here and the weight of his problems had stamped that out, but now at least if he couldn’t cheer Rhaegar up he could try and convince him that things were going to get better. 

“You know I would, as best I could. More than I would protect most of my own.” Rodrik said, clenching his jaw. He couldn’t imagine life without Rhaegar, he didn’t want to imagine life without Rhaegar. “But you’re not going anywhere any time soon, dragon prince. You have a King to unseat, a rebellion to lead, and a throne to reclaim.” 

[genna-thelioness-deactivated202]

“It doesn’t matter if you are a Greyjoy, a Lannister, a Stark, a Mormont, a Dayne, peasant, or even a Targaryen. Everyone’s future rests on the shoulders of others. Being uneasy about that fact means you aren’t a fool.”

Genna gave a genuine laugh at the idea of Tywin’s face if she were to run off with Rodrik. “There you go again, putting terribly wicked thoughts in my head of how best to torment my brother. Though somehow I doubt he’d really put that much effort into going after me. Now if you were to run off with Cersei, that would be a completely different affair.” Genna could not help the wicked grin she gave the younger Lord.

[krakenrodrik]

“You’re right, but I guess I’m just not used to being on the bottom of the food chain. Back home I’d be the one promising people things, I’m just not used to being somewhere not as isolated as the Iron Islands I think.” He shrugged and laughed along with Genna at the thought of Tywin coming to the realisation his sister had run off with one of his least favourite people in all of Westeros. 

“As satisfying as it would be to see the look on Tywin’s face, I don’t think anyone could pay me enough that I would willingly run off with your niece, no offence. Plus, I’m sure she’d cause me grievous harm if I tried to take her away from the Prince.” Rodrik chuckled, looking out over the harbour before looking back to Genna with a mischievous glint in his eye as he had an idea. “Hey, you want to do something fun? Try to forget our shitty problems for the night?”

[krakenrodrik]

simpler times {flashback} || alannys & rodrik

[queenoftheiron-islands-deactiva]

Even in high summer, Pyke  was a cold place.As she stared into the fogs and mists,she was thinking about her past. The crash of the sea had resounded over the castle until no man or woman within could sleep,including Alannys.

’’Rodrik!My dear boy.’’ She kissed his forehead , again feeling tears choking at the back of her throat. ‘’I’m sure Balon loves you very,very much.And perhaps he was just drunk.’’ Alannys looked troubled.The thought about the raid made her blood run cold. ’’You’re the smartest and the bravest boy.And one day you will be cunning and charming,just like your father.’’

His real father.She was stiffening her mind and heart against the first thought about Euron. I do not, she thought, even remember his face.Yet every time she saw Rodrik,she realized how much they looked alike.

Her hands touched the small blue stone around her neck.She had forgotten, or remembered only in dreams, how much he loved her. ‘’Whenever you look at this necklace i want you to remember me.’’ She took off the necklace,and she gave it to Rodrik.

[krakenrodrik]

Rodrik pulled a disgusted face as she told him he would be like his father. He didn’t want to be like Lord Balon, in fact, he wanted to be the complete opposite of Lord Balon. The young lord was only just that, young, but even he could see that there was little to admire in the Lord of the Iron Islands. It frustrated him sometimes, that Maron couldn’t see that, and the two often fought when Rodrik claimed he would rather be like their uncles when he grew up. 

“He wasn’t drunk. For once.” Rodrik scowled, though his heart swelled with pride at being called smart and brave. That was all he ever wanted to be. “He really thinks I should go. He said I need to earn the title of Ironborn and looked ready to kill me in front of everyone when I didn’t seem  eager.” He nervously fidgeted with the ends of his sleeves, there was no denying he was scared. “It’s okay though, Uncle Victarion said he’d look after me, and maybe Uncle Euron will come too?” He said hopefully, but with a shaky voice, trying not to sound so terrified. He was to be the Lord Reaper one day, and Lord Reapers weren’t supposed to be scared. 

Rodrik’s storm grey eyes leapt to the blue stone around his mother’s neck and then to her own eyes, so like his own. “Are you sure, mama? You always wear it... it must be special to you.” He said, as he took it from his lady mother and looked at it. It was beautiful and reminded him of the sea on clear days, the sky after a storm and for some odd reason, the mischievous glint in his Uncle Euron’s good eye before he did something Rodrik’s father wouldn’t approve of. 

[bericdondarrion]

game of thrones meme » [2/3] locations » Iron Islands

Set apart from Westeros proper by the grey-green waters of the sea, the islands remain a realm unto themselves. The sea is always moving, always changing, the ironborn like to say, and yet it remains, eternal, boundless, never the same and always the same. So it is with the ironborn themselves, the people of the sea. “You may dress an ironman in silks and velvets, teach him to read and write and give him books, instruct him in chivalry and courtesy and the mysteries of the Faith,” writes Archmaester Haereg, “but when you look into his eyes, the sea will still be there, cold and grey and cruel.”

[genna-thelioness-deactivated202]

She nodded at his predictable answer. Of course he would wish to go home; home is where she would want to go and wasn’t even kicked out. Genna could not imagine how homesick that could make a person, nor did she wish to learn.

“Perhaps you’re wrong. Circumstances can alter easily. And who knows, maybe when Rhaegar becomes King he will name you Lord of the Iron Islands. Naturally that would be met with some struggle, but all you need to succeed are some friends in high places,” she remarked.

“As safe as I would feel back home in Casterly Rock, I think I’d want to get out of Westeros for a little while. I could spend a bit of time in each of the free cities. I could liberate myself of some of the stress of being seen as nothing more than a Lannister. I take pride in my blood, but it can be daunting sometimes.”

[krakenrodrik]

“I feel like that’s a long time coming. Plus, it makes me uneasy that my future rests on the shoulders of others, especially said people in high places. .” Rodrik shrugged, knowing he should at least be grateful for Rhaegar’s friendship and promise of patronage when he became king. 

Rodrik smiled and nodded at her unexpected answer. He’d have been willing to bet she was going to say home too, but she wasn’t a predictable woman and he realised he shouldn’t have been so presumptuous. “The Free Cities are good for feeling liberated, and for leaving behind Westeros family names and everything that comes with them.” He smirked, remembering the time he’d spent in Essos in the past. 

“As much as I would like to steal a ship and take you there, I very much like my head on my shoulders and I’m not sure Tywin would appreciate me running off with his sister.” He laughed, slightly flirtatiously. 

[genna-thelioness-deactivated202]

At the sound of a familiar friendly voice, Genna did smile. She opened her eyes and turned to face the younger lord.

“I’m afraid the feeling is mutual, my lord. Though I am made gladder for having your company.” She almost curtsied before remembering that such trivial pleasantries were not required of her around him, and for that she was thankful; she was not certain if she could muster up the courage for such falsehood pleasantness at the moment. Instead she looked him in his eyes and asked, “How often to you contemplate jumping on one of those ships and leaving this shit and blood soaked city? Where would you go if you could choose?”

[krakenrodrik]

The sight of the smile on Genna’s lips made Rodrik feel a little better, but her words did not help much. The honestly of Genna’s question surprised him a little, they did not know each other that well, apart from fleeting run-ins at the Red Keep, but it was clear they’d caught each other in similar states of distress. 

“I’d go straight home to Pyke.” He said, without taking a moment to think. “Technically I’m not allowed there but I think I could get by for a while if I laid low.” Rodrik sighed, crossing his arms across his chest. “That’s wishful thinking though, it’ll never happen... What about you?”

[roxy-robert]

Prince Rhaegar’s wife, Elyria, had once been as thin as Cersei - at least, that’s what the young lioness told herself whenever she saw the pair of Targaryens prancing about the halls of the Red Keep with their brats clinging to their arms like leeches. Cersei took note of the way Rhaegar would hold her teeny-tiny waist, and how a single arm of his wrapped nearly around the girth of her womanly figure.

In an attempt to best the dragon mother in a game she never knew was being played, Cersei had begun to starve herself, not extensively, of course, but just enough so that she’d be able to trim down her already shapely figure. For the past several weeks, she’d been giving her maidservants her meals rather than eating them herself, claiming that it came only from the generosity in her heart. If anyone who knew her could have heard it, they’d know much better than to believe in her silly talk.

Walking along the market stalls, poking around for fabrics she’d like for a new dress, the lioness felt a sudden pang at her stomach, followed by a throb in her head. With a pained grunt, Cersei doubled over, and began to fall back. She had fainted for a few moments, feeling a pair of hands catch her before she cracked her pretty skull open in the road.

[krakenrodrik]

Rodrik didn’t trust the younger lions, not even slightly. Especially Cersei. Her interest in the prince - the married prince- and the scheming glint that had pride of place in her eye were enough to make the kraken wary. She had a way of turning up where she wasn’t wanted and he doubted she was the kind of girl to give up before she got what she wanted. 

Rhaegar had surprisingly enough become Rodrik’s friend here at court, and the two had become close as brothers in the short time they’d known each other. They often laughed about the Lady Cersei in their cups, As far as Rodrik was concerned, he had more chance of marrying Rhaegar than Cersei did, but nothing seemed to stop her fawning over him and fluttering her eyelashes when Elyria wasn’t around. 

Still, as much as he disliked the lioness, she was still vastly recognisable amongst the sheer plainness of the people around her in the marketplace, the young Jewel of the West seemed to command attention wherever she went. He was minding his own business at one of the stalls when he saw her double over in the corner of his eye. Instinctively, he took a few steps towards her and just in time, managed to catch her before she collapsed on the hard ground. Cersei was coming round again as Rodrik frowned at her, wondering what had caused her spell. “My lady.” He said, tone flat and altogether unfeeling despite her state. “Are you feeling alright?”

[genna-thelioness-deactivated202]

Gazing out over the Blackwater Bay from her stance above the docks, Genna briefly wondered how much it would cost her to hire a ship to take her back home, back to relative safety. She knew she could easily just ask her brother to arrange her return to Casterly Rock, but she also knew there would be consequences to those actions; it could potentially be seen as a tactic on Lord Tywin’s part, a move to get his family out of the way before starting a war. Of course it was a far fetched notion, but those were the sort the Mad King excelled in as of late. Genna knew she could never ask her brother to take any such risk for her, especially if it could endanger him and his children.

Genna felt trapped. If she were to stay in Kings Landing, she was a prime target to be used against Tywin. But if she were to leave, she would be opening that position up to her niece and nephews. They were her family and the closest thing she had to children of her own. How could she abandon them?

The lioness closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. She could almost pretend she were home, standing atop the cliffs on a peaceful summer day. And she nearly smiled.

[krakenrodrik]

Rodrik liked to come here sometimes too, it seemed it was the only place where he could see the harbour and the city below as well as the open ocean. The smell was better here too, more salt less shit. If he shut his eyes the yelling from the people of King’s Landing could be the yelling of the people of Pyke, and if he willed it hard enough he was back home where he was supposed to be, surrounding by iron and salt and steel.

Ships were what he was good at, too, and if he hadn’t landed himself here he probably be commanding part of his father’s fleet on raids. It made him calmer, to be here amongst things he understood, and he found the taverns near the docks particularly good to visit since he nearly always found the odd Iron Islander huddled up in a corner from whom he could figure out what was going on at home. That was where he was headed now, to the taverns. Getting pretty drunk usually helped him forget the fact he was miserable and confused here in the capital.

On his way down to the docks themselves he spied someone dressed far nicer than most were here. Even he had on the less elaborate clothes he had brought with him from the Isle and a worn black cloak over the top. The woman, almost instantly, he recognised as Genna Lannister, and he pulled his hood off as he approached her so as not to startle her. “Well, you look about as fuckin’ miserable as I feel.” He laughed, running a hand through his inky black curls to get them out of his eyes. 

[queenshaena]

The King’s face turned into an ugly scowl as Rodrik intervened. Allyria kept her head low, staring at the grout in between the marble floor. Her lavender eyes scanned the area for Arthur, but she did not see him. Where was her brother? As her eyes searched for Prince Rhaegar at court, she realized that her brother was most likely guarding the prince. The one should be King, Allyria thought to herself.

She didn’t notice what Rodrik was doing until after she felt the heavy clock around her back. It smelled of salt and sea, almost like the Summer Sea, but harsher. Allyria’s head turned towards Rodrik when he spoke gently to her, but she was unable to allow her eyes to meet his. Allyria felt humiliation pool around her, and she refused to look anyone in the eye. Everyone else at court watched like a child during a siege- carefully and frightened. Allyria realized that Rodrik’s interjection shocked everyone else more so than what Aerys was doing to her., and Rodrik was able to say what the other men of the small council could not.

“My sweet Lady Allyria,” The king mused, running his index finger underneath his worm-like lips. “None of my councilmen support my actions, it seems.” His cold, relaxed tone of voice made him sound like a different person. “You wer my wive’s lady-in-waiting, for a time. I suppose that slipped my mind- a king has so many things to attend to.. Aye, you remind me one of my mistresses, Dianna. One of the queen’s servants as well, but she was no high born lady. Poor girl found herself drowned in the Blackwater Bay.” Allyria cursed herself for convincing her parents to allow her and her sister to go to the capital as the king rambled on about a former whore. A fat, bearded man who Allyria did not recognize leaned over and whispered to the king. After light conversation, King Aerys turned his eyes to Allyria. “My men have spoke reason to me. I suppose your trial and the accusations are not important enough compared to my other duties as king.” Allyria’s eyes slowly looked up at King Aerys, hoping for it all to be over. “Court is dismissed, including this one..” King Aerys long finger nail pointed to Allyria.

Allyria stood up carefully, still trying to maintain some grace. She looked to Rodrik to thank him, but she paused, knowing if she thanked him, she would have to acknowledge what had just happened. Allyria pulled the cloak tigher around her, hoping to give herself some modesty as the people emptied out of court. “My lord, I’m going to my chambers. You may escourt me, if you like.”

[krakenrodrik]

Rodrik felt chilled to his core under the spiteful gaze of the King. He couldn’t imagine what Allyria was feeling as the object of his ridicule and torment. But, while the King’s eyes were on her, the rest of the court’s eyes were on him. Once again he had become the center of attention, the name on everyones lips that they would whisper about and scowl at when they though he didn’t notice. Except, none of that seemed to matter because Allyria’s reputation mattered far more than his own. He was already the slimy Greyjoy lordling who was slithering around the capital, and if all went to plan he would be gone from King’s Landing soon anyway. Allyria was a Southern noblewoman, her life depended on finding a good match for marriage and getting away from the Capital - away from the King, and she couldn’t do that with a reputation sullied by the Aerys’ madness. 

He understood Allyria’s inability to make eye contact with him, if he were in her place it would have been the same. Instead he turned his attention to the men whispering in the King’s ear. Men of the Small Council, who were supposed to be tasked in advising the king of the good of he people. Surrounded by Kingsguard, all knights sworn to protect those who could not protect themselves. Yet they all stood by, afraid; as if Aerys was a dragon instead of just a man.

The kraken released a breath he hadn’t realised he’d been holding when the King finally heeded advice and dismissed the court. This wouldn’t be the last they heard of this, but at least it was over for now. The Mad King descended from his iron perch and walked out of the throne room with his advisors following behind him ever so loyally, but it wasn’t like Aerys to leave him unscathed in all that. “You had better watch yourself, Greyjoy. I’m sure if there was to be a trial, I would be able to find you guilty of something too.” The King addressed him with a tone that told him that any trust that had been there was now gone and it was plain Rodrik needed to watch his back more than ever. 

Rodrik did not reply, shifting his eyes to the ground and wishing he had brought his axe with him. The King’s head would make for an excellent target. Pushing the thought, no matter how appealing, out of his mind, he directed his attention towards the girl at his feet. Rodrik offered her his hand but when he saw her attempting to stand by herself he redacted it. Allyria would want some independence after her ordeal. 

“Of course.” Rodrik said, with a solemn nod. The young lord hadn’t expected a thank you, that wasn’t why he’d done this. There were a few stragglers left in the hall but the looks Rodrik gave them quickly cleared them out. Again, he offered her his arm, she looked shaky and he didn’t want her to fall on the way back to her chambers. “Are you all right? Is this the first time he’s done something like this? I-i don’t need to know what he said or did to you if you don’t want me to, but I don’t want this to happen to you again, my lady.” He said, his voice hushed and his brow furrowed. “I hope his gods and mine damn him to the farthest corner of hell.” He cursed under his breath, not intending it to be loud enough for Allyria to hear, but failing on that front. 

[queenshaena]

Allyria couldn’t feel anything besides the harrowing, endless pit of fear in her stomach. Her lavender dress was torn; her mother’s amethyst stones from the necklace she was were strewn across the ground around her. A shiver went down her spine as she let go of the breath she had been holding and turned around to see the other people at court. Were they as disgusted as she was? As shocked as she was? 

Some ladies turned around and faced the other direction, while other men stared over King Aerys’ head with their jaw locked and their hand on their sword. Allyria was sure that at least half the court saw the side of her bosom when the knight ripped the back of her gown off. People shrieked then, but now the throne room was so quiet, you could hear King Aerys’ fingernail tapping on the iron throne as he debated. Tick, tick, tick, the sound only made Allyria tremble more. She took her eyes away from Aerys and tried to shift her dress to cover more of her body. Just as the lady was making progress, her soul nearly jumped out of her body when King Aerys shouted, “Do not dare take your eyes off of me, I am your King! You are my subject- you all are my subjects!” His eyes feverishly looked at the disgusted subjects in the throne room, demanding respect and attention. His eyes turned back to Allyria.

“My men say that you are a respectful young lady..” Allyria nodded, trying to hide her fear by giving him her attention and straightening her back. King Aerys slouched and rested his elbow on the throne arm, placing his hand in it. “But many say otherwise about your sister, who’s no longer at court.” Allyria did not know what to say. “Princess Elia no longer needed her service,” She said in a tight, gentle voice. 

“I’ve heard she’s with child. Your sister.. that seductress. Perhaps you Dayne woman are sorcerers, tempting men to put their seed in you,” Allyria’s head turned away at the insulting accusation. 

“That is blasphemous,” Allyria could no longer hold her tongue. “I am a noble woman, your grace.” She tried hard to hide the disgust in her voice, but was faltering as she went on. “And a maiden, at that!” King Aerys laughed while his councilmen stiffened and whispered to one another. 

“You stand accused of adultery, Lady Allyria.” Her eyes widened.

 “Your grace, I am a maiden, truly.” The despair in Allyria’s voice traveled through the room. “How must I prove that you? I don’t know, but please, you need not to shame me any further.” King Aerys tapped his nail on the throne again. 

“We have a maester here,” He said in all too opportunist tone. “Perhaps the maester can decide..” Allyria’s eyebrow raised, unsure of what he was suggesting. “Here.” The king said stoutly. She pulled her gown’s material around her tighter, trying to think of something to say. Does he mean for him to look at me here? Luckily, his men decided to speak instead of her. 

Just when it seemed as if King Aerys was done tormenting her, he looked back to Allyria, almost as looking a smug as Tywin Lannister himself. “You wouldn’t mind Maester Pycelle taking a look, would you, my lady? There’s nothing to be afraid of,” Her violet eyes traveled across the room at prying eyes, almost as big as hers were. “If you are the maiden you say you are, you musn’t have a problem with it.” Horror struck through Allyria like a knife in the gut. “I..” She did not know what to say. 

“Your grace, I will submit to whatever you will me to do, but I do not understand why my maidenhead is of importance to you, or anyone else in this court!” Her eyes stung with tears as they darted to the left King Aerys to see Maester Pycelle rise from his seat. “Please, if you will only allow me to-” Air swept into the throne room as the doors opened, followed by heavy steps that sounded like a horse in the silence of the room.

“What is the meaning of this?!” A voice demanded. Allyria quickly turned around to see the ironborn Rodrik, being so bold as to challenge the king.

[krakenrodrik]

Rodrik had been out of the city for a few weeks sailing with a group of Braavosi traders who had been so desperate for an extra crew-member that they hadn’t cared who it was. After his trip to Harrenhal he realised he needed to get out of King’s Landing more often and without thinking he had joined the voyage to Braavos, only telling Rhaegar where he was going and when he’d be back. 

Upon arriving back at the Red Keep one of the guards informed him that Aerys’ court was in session and though still in his travelling clothes Rodrik knew he should go and make amends to the King for disappearing so suddenly. Aerys’ screams reached his ears before he got anywhere near the throne room, but thankfully the smell of burning flesh did not accompany it as it sometimes did these days. From the sounds of the yelling, some poor maiden was being made an example of in front of anyone and he cursed the tides and his Drowned God for bringing him home on a day when the Mad King was particularly mad. 

The ironborn wanted to make a quiet, subtle entrance - but then again he hadn’t been raised to be quiet or subtle - plus the massive doors of the throne room did not allow for anything of the sort. 

“If you are the maiden you say you are, you musn’t have a problem with it.” The booming words of the King flooded his ears and he left a silent prayer to the Drowned God for whichever poor maiden was knelt at the steps of the Iron Throne. He couldn’t see over the sea of heads who it was but he didn’t think he wanted to... until... he heard a frighteningly familiar voice of Allyria Dayne, the violet-eyed Dornishwoman who had snuck her way into thoughts since their first meeting. 

Suddenly, all the courtesy that he adapted for court was whisked away and he brusquely pushed his way through the sea of shocked courtiers the way his ships had once ploughed through the actual waves. 

His Uncle Victarion’s words played through his head. Never let a King take from you what you care for. Did he care for the Lady Allyria? Why was he risking so much for a woman he hardly knew? Both questions he had little in way of answers to, but it didn’t matter. He was already opening his mouth in protest and striding towards the king who could end him with only a few words. 

“I come from a place far rougher than this, as you so often like to point out, your grace.” Rodrik said, his tone harsh like water drumming on the stones of Pyke. “But even in the Iron Islands we do not resort to treating highborn women like Lady Dayne in a manner like this.” 

As he broke through the wall of courtiers separating him from the King and Allyria his breath hitched in his throat. Her lavender dress had been torn and tears were running down her cheeks. Rodrik was no knight in shining armour, nor did he ever pretend to be, but even under the furious eye of the Mad King, the ironborn knew he had to do something for Allyria. 

Though his travelling cloak smelt of the sea he had just come off, and was meagre next to the delicate silk of the dress that had been ripped, it would fit for now. Pulling it off with haste, Rodrik wrapped it around her shoulders and kept his arms around her to keep it in place. It was strange, he thought, to see Allyria Dayne with the kraken of Greyjoy wrapped around her. “It’s alright. I’m going to get out of here.” He whispered to her, before urging his storm grey eyes to meet the King’s mad purple ones, heart in his throat. This could very well be his undoing. 

[lancelotfan-deactivated20151018]

You’re bold. You’re a fine soldier.

[dragxnrhaegar-blog]

The kraken was his family. Rhaegar forged him into both brother and ally. And Rhaenys, well, the princess brought out both warrior’s lighter sides. For around her Rhaegar was more at ease than he could ever have believed imaginable. With Rodrik sharing that presence, the Prince was sure of all purpose he fought daily for.

Rhaegar studied the two in silence. With another, he may have made a move to eventually tone down his daughter’s adventurous exaggerations. Rodrik, however, was one of the ones who could share delight in each tale. Better yet, the man could play into them. “And she can surely defeat any men who dare oppose her.” The dragon added in kind, allowing the boasting of the princess to elevate further. “She keeps our Guards on edge.”

“Aye, and she is your niece.” He countered teasingly. The grin his daughter produced only lengthened his own, and for a moment life was simple. She stole away all doubts of the world; the turmoil plagued and disasters to be solved. Solved on his accord, as Aerys’ purpose was to unbalance Westeros further.

Despite the beloved individuals with him, Rhaegar’s eyes mirrored a sadness few could catch. It glimmered brighter than the indigo of his orbs. Its shine strengthened each passing hour, and the kraken was the only one he knew ever caught it.

[krakenrodrik]

“Well, in that case, I’m glad that there’s someone keeping them on their toes.” He said scrunching up his nose at Rhaenys and earning a little giggle from the warrior princess. Rodrik was so glad that Rhaegar had sort of assimilated him into his family. He was, after all, missing out on seeing Asha and Theon grow up and being part of the princess’ childhood was the next best thing. 

Seeing her run through the palace, guards and her mother chasing after her was one of the only things that could still make him genuinely smile. And, seeing her put a smile on her father’s face was even better. 

“If only it were so.” Rodrik said, his chest swelling with pride at the look on both the dragons’ faces at the proposition. “Being your father’s brother would be far better than being brothers with my real one. He’s the kind of slimy squid who needs a few whacks from your sword, princess.” He said before directing his attention back to the prince.

The prince so rarely smiled, it worried Rodrik. Not that he had any right to, he hardly did so himself anymore. But the problems the Greyjoy was facing were insignificant next to Rhaegar’s and he wished there was more he could do to make his friend happier. “Everything okay?” He asked, doubtful of the answer being reassuring in the slightest. 

[eurxn-blog]

Seeing his nephew visibly riled gave Euron an intense sense of satisfaction, and one he was not eager to be quiet about. “Very true,” Euron allowed with a gesture of his hand in place of a nod. It would be a lie to say he had spent much time on Pyke in many years. “They don’t much care about that here, though. Personal achievement means very little compared to a name people recognise, and what name is so familiar as Greyjoy? If you’ve managed to hang onto it as you say, I’m sure you’ve already heard what they have to say about our family. Stirring stuff,” he remarked with clear disdain.

“Sorry to hear you and my brother haven’t kept in touch,” he added, just on the off chance his stream of insults was becoming too impersonal.

[krakenrodrik]

“A name I’m trying to untaint for myself, so if you’d kindly not completely fuck it up during your stay here I would very much appreciate that, Uncle Euron.” He spat the last two words with malice. It was then that Rodrik realised why Euron’s presence had unsettled him so greatly. He missed home. He missed the roughness of the people, and the raids along the coast and the constant sound of waves smashing the rocks below Pyke. This just made Rodrik resent his uncle more as he was so secure in having all these things yet he chose to spend all his time away. “But yes, I have heard. They don’t like us very much, obviously. Though a certain amount of flirting and flattery gets me everywhere with these people.” 

When Euron made a jab at his relationship with his father Rodrik had to restrain himself from actually hitting out at him. “I’m sorry to hear that you and your brother haven’t stayed in touch. Maybe that way you might have reached a tipping point with each other and someone might be in the Drowned God’s halls by now and out of my fucking way.” He muttered the second sentence but not quite quiet enough that Euron couldn’t hear. 

[thedragon-aerys]

Aerys glared at the kraken that stood in front of him. He was always wondering around as if he owned the place. As if he belonged in the Red Keep. The Targaryen king had little trust for this boy, especially since his own father had exiled him. But they were all savages on the Iron Isles, all rebellious and in Aerys’ opinion, all good for nothings. “Well, aren’t you a little boot licker.” Aerys told the boy, letting out a howl of cruel laughter. “I will not see my cousin tonight. I am busy.” He continued, waving his hand lazily in the air, he was not busy, he just did not want to talk about ships, when he could go and look at some dragon skulls, and imagine burning whole towns down if he had a dragon.

“I find it interesting… boy.” Aerys said, after a moment of looking at the boy’s face, trying to remember his name. “That my cousin Steffon allows you to do the things his own sons should be doing. I believe he has two sons of an age to help with his work. Why you?” Aerys had intended this to be a cruel jape, but sadly it sounded more genuine. He snarled at himself, for saying something in the wrong tone, and began to walk over to the full wine bottle someone had brought him earlier. He poured the Greyjoy a drink and handed him the cup, watching him intensely. Let’s see if it is poison. For Aerys, it was no matter if the boy lived or died.

[krakenrodrik]

Rodrik clenched his jaw at the king’s insult but did not respond, instead taking the cup offered to him with a grateful nod. He wished more than anything that this was not a man with so much power so that he could return the comment with an equally scathing remark, but alas, that was not the case, and he risked the flames if he wanted to speak out anyway. Usually he wouldn’t fear poisoning or anything of the like, he was hated, but by the kind of men that would rather slit his throat than slip something into his drink. But this was the king’s wine, and it passed his lips with an accompanied prayer to the Drowned God that today was not the day Aerys’ opposers had decided to kill him. 

Surely enough, his prayer reached the sea and his face wasn’t turning the same colour of the wine, and he focused on the King’s word more completely. “Lord Robert is busy at the Eyrie, I imagine, and though Lord Stannis is apparently very capable, he’s still 17.” Rodrik tried not to be unnerved by the lack of scathing tone in the King’s voice, but suspected there was more to his words than genuine inquiry. “I suspect your Master of Ships is just looking for someone who has interest in the things that he knows, to teach until his sons find reason to come here. Plus, your son, Prince Rhaegar, has been extremely accommodating to me, and has put in good words for me with Lord Steffon.” 

[krakenrodrik]

simpler times {flashback} || alannys & rodrik

Wide storm grey eyes poked out from behind Lady Alannys' chamber door. Rodrik's whole body was trembling and his lip hurt where he had bitten it to keep back the tears that his father deemed weak. Everyone here hated him; he was too young, too curious, too outspoken and too ambitious for the likes of his father and his uncles and there only seemed to be one person in all of Pyke that he knew loved him. His lady mother. 

"Mama?" He asked, checking quickly to see that Lord Balon wasn't here before closing the heavy doors behind him. "Father wants me to raid with him within the week. I-I don't think I'm ready, but he says I have to..."

Rodrik was terrified, to say the least. He had only seen 11 name days yet his father thought that his ability to hold an axe qualified him for the raids along the coast. It wasn’t as if he didn’t want to raid, or course he did, he was ironborn and ever since he was old enough to understand the importance of the Old Way had been reinforced by his father and uncles, who he so desperately wanted to please, but even Rodrik could see that he was far too young for such things. 

[the-hopeless-beast]

[theothertullygirl]

‘’I know who you are.’’ Lysa nodded. ’’The kraken on your robe is very obvious,Rodrik.’’ Lysa gestured at the embroiled golden kraken on his shoulder.

Lysa ignored the tone of the question.She looked up at him.He was taller and stronger than her,but she wasn’t frightened. ’’Yes,Catelyn is my sister.’’ She started pacing again as she went on. ‘’The perfect Tully.The most beautiful Tully. ’’Catelyn was always better than Lysa. ‘’Everybody loves Catelyn.’’ Lysa sighed.The room was silent for a moment. ’’Can I tell you a secret?She’s not perfect.Actually,she’s very boring.’’

[krakenrodrik]

Rodrik looked down at the clothes he was dressed in, remembering that the golden kraken embroidered on his doublet rather gave him away, as she had said, and he couldn’t quite resist a small smile at his absentness. “I suppose it is...”

There was something fearless in Lysa’s gaze. She obviously did not fear him, no matter how brusque he was with her, and he thought she might be more than she looked. Rodrik’s eyebrows shot up at her sighing about Catelyn; it seemed there was another with a severe case of sibling rivalry. “I know how you feel, living in the shadow of a sibling. But I’ll tell you something you’ll have to pretend I didn’t, but I kind of noticed.” This time Rodrik’s tone was slightly more friendly, a crooked half-smile appearing on his face. “In fact, I’d say half the stories I’d heard were underwhelming.”