The Iron Queen

Now, I don’t want a harp nor a halo, not me. Just give me a breeze and a good rolling sea. I’ll play me old squeeze-box as we sail along, with the wind in the rigging to sing me a song.

[queenofiron]

The peace once settled between the families was all but dissolved years ago but now, with Robert Baratheon dead under suspicious circumstances, the city of Westeros finds itself on the brink of all-out war and many families are looking to come out on top. Some fight for revenge or money, others for power or honour - still others fight just to live another day. There’s a king in every corner these days - where do you stand?

Armed All The Children, a modern-day Game of Thrones AU, seeks Theon Greyjoy

The youngest child of notorious mobster Balon Greyjoy, Theon never felt like there was attention enough for him. When his brothers were murdered when he was 12, Theon thought maybe his time had come, but Balon remained focused on his sister, Asha. These days, Theon is all but estranged from his family, a cop in the Westerosi police department with lifelong best friend Robb Stark. But the tides are changing, and there is saltwater in his blood--will Theon remain loyal to his honorary Greenlander family, the Starks, or will he attempt to get into his father's good graces for the first time in his life?

With an active Asha Greyjoy and Robb Stark on site, Theon will definitely have people to RP with!

WANT AD // MAIN SITE

[queenofiron]

ASHA AND THEON GREYJOY SEEK OTHER IRONBORN FOR RP

In Armed All The Children, a Modern AU Game of Thrones jcink-based roleplay, the city  of Westeros has fallen into chaos following Police Commissioner Eddard Stark being found guilty of the murder of city leader Robert Baratheon.

The Pyke - a collection of islands in Ironman's Bay in the northeast of the city - is the home to the Greyjoy family. It is one of the shadier parts of Westeros, second only to the Eyrie, and its citizens are generally known to be merciless and cruel. The Greyjoys own most of the dock access in the city and are well known smugglers and drug producers. They are frequently the subjects of police investigations, but the main family themselves always seem to get off, with their lackeys taking the fall if need be. Of all the families in the city, the Greyjoys are the ones who seem to have the most animosity with those of the rest of the city, and are quick to stir up trouble. They seem to resent the Starks most of all, however - especially since Theon Greyjoy (a player character), Balon Greyjoy's only remaining son, joined the police force rather than following in his father's footsteps. His sister Asha Greyjoy (a player character), however, is more than making up for Theon's absence in her role as Balon's heir apparent.

And Asha is seeking her bff/right-hand-man/friends-with-benefits Qarl "the Maid" Bettley:

Qarl Bettley is a very attractive man, with classic good looks and an eternally clean-shaven face (which has earned him the nickname "Qarl the Maid") that might make you assume he's a vain pretty-boy weakling, but that assumption would be false. Fierce, smart, and utterly fearless, he's actually quite the force to be reckoned with. (faceclaim open)

More at Qarl's want ad here.

And Asha and Theon together are seeking their uncles: Euron Greyjoy, Victarion Greyjoy, and Aeron Greyjoy.

Euron Greyjoy is a merciless man who left Westeros three years ago, the night his brother's wife died. But rumor has it he's been spotted in the city again, and it can't mean anything good for the Greyjoys. (face claim open)

Victarion Greyjoy has been a loyal lieutenant to his brother his entire life. But with neither of Balon's surviving children impressing him much, Victarion has been thinking about taking things into his own hands. (face claim open)

A wild, carefree young man until his actions led to the death of his older brother Urrigon, Aeron is now the high priest of the Drowned Men, the religious order of the religion practiced in most of the Pyke. He doesn't care for Balon's children either, but would be especially upset to hear about Euron coming back. (face claim open)

More at the brothers' want ads here.

[wolfbloodking]

Marching south || Asha & Rickon

[wolfbloodking]

It was nothing more but a sudden sharp pain just below his ribs. On the side, just where the armor he is wearing is most vulnerable. He clenched his teeth and tried to ignore the stabbing pain, caused by the arrow sticking out of his side. Rickon’s hand was stained red with blood when he held it against the fresh wound. As he stumbled to a corner, he swore softly. That such a little nonentity could cause such pain. Rickon sunk down through his knees as he reached the corner of the courtyard, sheltered from the violence around him. Two of is men who saw their king getting injured came running into his direction. One thing was certain, they had to get rid of the arrow.

With much effort the men brought their wounded king back to their camp as the others continued fighting. “Get it out.” Rickon hissed through his teeth, referring to the arrow sticking out of his body. One of the men who had brought him back to the camp has limited medical knowledge but nodded slowly. This was not a difficult procedure, even a man without any medical knowledge could succeed. In one smooth movement he pulled the arrow out of Rickon’s body and blood ran out of the wound. The pain was horrific, but Rickon remained calm.

"We do not know if the point of the arrow was poisoned, you Grace." Rickon looked at the arrow but remained silence. ”It is important we keep the wound clean, but our resources here are limited.” The king could tell his man hadn’t completely finished talking yet. He saw he was struggling. "Speak." Rickon said firmly. The man looked down at his king and let out a soft sigh. “There is a possibility you get a fever, your Grace. If you do, the chance you will survive is naught. Your life is in the hands of the gods, your Grace.”

In the distance he could hear his men and the Greyjoy’s continuing the battle at the Twins. Rickon wants to be there, he has to be there. But the arrow changed everything. ”Bring me home.” He said after a long time. ”If I have to, I rather die at Winterfell than here.”  His men nodded slowly before the began to arrange their trip back to the North. 

[queenofiron]

It is during a lull in the action that young Elilif Sharp, a cabin boy on Black Wind and something approximating her squire, finds his way to Asha's side. "King Rickon is injured, Captain," he tells her. "How badly?" she asks. "He is withdrawing from the battle," Elilif replies. "Keep me updated," she orders, and Elilif nods and runs back into battle. She has no way of knowing how much time has passed save by the number of men she has felled with her axe--seven--when rumors begin circulating that Rickon has left the battle entirely. "Withdrawn to camp," Asha corrects the nearest of her soldiers, Ogn Goodbrother, called Ogn the Hammer's Daughter. Ogn shakes her head. "To Winterfell, 'tis the rumor," she replies. "He has left with two of his men." "I saw them ride away," pipes up Elilif at her side once more. Asha grits her teeth at the ruin of her alliance, at what must now be the last battle of the Riverlands. The Northern bannermen are in too deep to stop fighting now, but tomorrow, after they tend to their wounded and bury their dead, they will be without a leader to keep them from slinking home to their castles, and Asha is a realist and knows she cannot take Riverrun without them. But a Frey-dedicated sword aimed at her head is reminder enough that she must focus on the present. She parries it aside, and dives her blade deep into the man's shoulder. He screams as she wrests it free. As he falls to a knee, she kicks him in the chest, knocking him down entirely. "Keep fighting!" she bellows. "We will take this castle, and punish the Freys for their betrayals!" The Northborn cheer for bringing the Freys to justice, and her Ironborn cheer to pay the Iron Price, and both cheer for the bloodlust of battle that has them in its hold. Both will continue to follow her today until the castle is won. But she turns to Elilif. "Spread the word," she tells him. "It is my order that there is to be no more special consideration for capturing Frey prisoners. Fighters can be put to the blade, and anyone not carrying a weapon taken to thrall, just like any other." If Stark's lust for revenge is not strong enough to keep him in battle, then it is not strong enough to be of concern to her. Elilif scurries back into the crowd, nimbly avoiding the fighting around him. With a swing of her axe, she finishes the man who swung at her. She has no way of knowing how much time has passed save by the number of men she has felled with her axe--an additional seven--when there are no more men left to kill. Her Ironborn raid the store houses, as she settles into the arched throne once occupied by the Late Walder Frey, "late" in truth and not just in jest anymore. She will give this chair to one of her captains in the morning--probably Benton Blacktyde, she thinks, younger brother of her spy and occasional lover Beric Blacktyde, the Blacktyde family heretic worshippers of the Greenland Gods, making Benton the captain among her Fleet the Riverfolk would find easiest to stomach as Lord--but for now she allows herself to savor what she won with her blade and her leadership. She is not immune to the bloodlust of battle herself, and this victory has made her bold--well, bolder. She leans back in the throne and composes a scathing letter to Rickon the Child King in her head, and considers to what advantage she might put in the situation now before her. She props her feet up on the Late Walder Frey's body, and pulls his shirt closer to her to clean the blood off her blade.

[wolfbloodking]

Marching south || Asha & Rickon

[wolfbloodking]

Especially not against two very strong kingdoms. It was clear as water he won’t stand a chance against the Stark and Greyjoy armies. He was glad to hear Asha already had a few people imprisoned. “Sounds like I can start straight away.” A grin curled up around his lips. His sword was hungry for some blood. Frey blood. Rickon watched how Asha turned around and strode away to rouse her men. The place where the Greyjoy’s kept the Frey men captive wasn’t far from their camp. By observing their faces he could tell the man sitting on the ground in front of him are not the Frey lords he was looking for. Most of them aren’t even a Frey by name. Rickon had promised himself not to kill innocent souls. But then again, every friend to Walder Frey was an enemy to him.

Rickon gave these people a quick and painless death, they were not worthy of his time. Time was precious now. Rickon and his men joined the Greyjoy army once the deed was done. The sun broke through the thick layer of grey clouds. It was a beautiful day. A beautiful day that was ruined by the sound of heavy armor and steel. The two armies assail the heavy wooden gates of the Twins. Rickon slid the throat of the first guard he came across. No one at the Twins was prepared for this attack. Some of their men made their way over the walls into the castle. It all went far too easy.

”Remember, every Frey you come across is mine!” Rickon roared as he looked at Asha. It was her responsibility no Frey would be killed by a Greyjoy sword. Once the reached the courtyard of the castle, Rickon told his men to split up and some others to follow him. His men knew what he expected from them. Asha knew what he expected from her and thus Rickon didn’t bother about her men. They weren’t his responsibility. While he and his men tried to get further into the castle, guards appear out of nothing, waving their swords at them. It made him wonder where these bastards came from. Arrows flew right past their heads. Rickon fought his way through the crowd, up the stairs further into the castle. His men and the Greyjoys would take care of mess outside on the courtyard while he and a select group of men went searching for any Frey.

[queenofiron]

Asha watched Rickon behead the prisoners. He didn't even flinch as he did it. It was a quality she admired in an ally: she'd had to kill like that before, outside of the heat of battle. They were forged out of the same metal, more so than any of the Southron Kings and Queens. He'd be either her greatest ally or her strongest weakness and she was grateful he was her ally. And then they rode into battle. Rickon disappeared into the castle with his squadron of men. A strong, precise force, with a strong, precise task. But that wasn't the objective of her troops. Ironborn didn't do well in formations. The Northerners around them tried to fight in groups, shields raised, protecting the flank, vangard and all of that nonsense. But not Ironborn. They were chaos. They were the relentless wave. They were the storm. Asha hefted her axe. Her husband. Asha the Axewed, how they'd remember her name if she died today. But, of course, she had no intention of dying. None of her Ironborn wanted to die today, away from the sea, but that didn't make them afraid, it made them fight fiercer. She charged the courtyard, swinging against every man in Frey colors. They'd take the courtyard, they'd take the towers. They'd take the bridge, and the river. They'd take it all, and Rickon would have his revenge, and Asha would have her towers.

[wolfbloodking]

Marching south || Asha & Rickon

The moment had finally come. The moment he had dreamed ever since he was just a little boy. Rickon had lived for this moment, nothing else. Since the feast at Highgarden, Rickon only had been at Winterfell to prepare his army to march South and capture the Twins, to have his well deserved vengeance.  As the darkness fell, Rickon allowed his forces to rest at Moat Cailin. They set up several campfire just outside the city to keep themselves warm. Even though Spring had chased Winter away, the nights were still chilly up in the North. Luckily the blood of him and his men ran cold and thus is was quite comfortable for them around the campfire. It was only a short journey from Moat Cailin to the Twins and bit of rest would do them all good. They would leave before sunrise and arrive at the Twins before sunset. At least, if everything went according to plan.

Rickon rested his head against Shaggydog’s soft, furry stomach. It reminded him a lot of the times when he was on the road with Osha, Hodor and his brother Bran. Even though he could not remember much, he did remember how he always used to lay with Shaggydog exactly like this. While Rickon looked up at the starry sky his thoughts drifted off to Winterfell, to Lyra and his unborn heir. For the first time he doubted the decision he made, but he wouldn’t crawl back behind the safe walls of Winterfell like a frightened wolf pup. His chance to slaughter the men he hated most lays right in front of him, and he was taking it eagerly with both hands. All he could hope for was to be able to return home before his wife gave birth to their first son or daughter.

Long before dawn, Rickon was sitting on his horse again, followed by his men. Without setbacks they crossed the border with the Vale. Rain was pouring down by the time they reached the Twins that very evening. Asha told him she would be waiting for him north of the Twins, which is exactly where he was at. His eyes scanned the environment when he heard a female voice greeting him. It caused him to grin as he lay his eyes on Asha.

"Good to see you survived your journey from Seagard." Rickon turned around, looking up at the shapes of the Twins in the distance once he got off his horse. It felt right. This was the right night to make it happen

[queenofiron]

"We've had a fun several days," she said, and it was true. In that time her Ironborn had raided the coast, bringing down the bell of Seagard and capturing many thralls and iron goods. She'd solidified her Queendom more in the last few days at Seagard than she had since placing the Driftwood Crown on her head, her raiders easily won over by a Queen who gave them lands to raid and led them into the battle.

She glanced back toward the sea, a low hill shielding her view of the main camp of her warriors, a great army of men and more than a few women, armed to the teeth with stolen weapons. "As we suspected, Frey sent troops to aid Mallister, and we've killed many of his soldiers. He's not at full strength anymore, especially not to come against two kingdoms." She couldn't see them, but she could hear them, the crackle of so many fighters and the low roar of voices. "We also captured thirteen lords who claimed relation to Walder Frey in an attempt for mercy. We took them captive, awaiting your sword. You can kill them now, when I go back to our encampment to rouse my men."

***

When the deed was done, day was just beginning to dawn.The grey morning peace was shattered by the sound of two armies roaring into battle, one driven to bloodlust by the thought of revenge, undoing a great wrong, the other by a simple love of mayhem. Bound together in this strange alliance, they descended upon the castle.

The Battle of the Twins has begun.

[queenofiron]

A LETTER TO PRINCESS ALAANA GREYJOY OF THE IRON ISLANDS [PRIVATE--though tbh a maester probably reads it]

My dear Cousin:

It is past due time that I prepare you to be my successor in the Iron Islands. Who I chose to marry is not a card I can count on playing more than once, and so I must choose carefully. There will be no heir of my body for quite some time, and no guarantee that I will live long enough to forge the child into a leader.

In our lands, Ironborn look only to rulers they trust to lead. Cousin of my blood you may be, but hereditary rule is a greenlander trait that will not help you if something befalls me before you are ready.

It is for this reason that I require you to join me at my side, to learn what you can of paying the Iron Price. I know you have been visiting with Lady Roslin of Fairmarket--give her your apologies, but inform her that your Queen requests your presence. She need not know anything else. I am presently with the Iron Fleet in Seagard, and will expect to see you in less than two days' time.

Signed,

Queen Asha Greyjoy, The Third of Her Name Since the Grey King, Queen of the Iron Islands, Lady Reaper of Pyke, Captain of Black Wind, Bearer of the Driftwood Crown, Queen of Salt and Rock 

[queenofiron]

The Captain Queen

Asha folded up the letter from Rickon and tore it into tiny pieces. She cast the pieces into the sea, an offering for the Drowned God, and looked up to the captains she had assembled on her flagship.

"Begin reaving the shore," she ordered. "Any Frey lords you find, capture alive. What is dead may never die!" she shouted.

"But rises again, harder and stronger!" they replied.

[queenofiron]

[PRIVATE]

I hereby write you the promised letter. We have recently passed through Cerwyn and will arrive at Winterfell soon.  Start your raiding. I and my men will join you on short term.  Best regards, 

[mjolnir15-deactivated20140502]

How terrifying would it be if the Greyjoys had squid and octopus pets like the stark children or Daenerys and her dragons?

[saramcsorley]

[queenofiron]

*plops a squid in ur inbox*

[queenofiron]

Unlikely Allies | Asha & Rickon [PRIVATE]

[wolfbloodking]

Rickon was sure Asha was the one who would betray him sooner or later. The Twins is very important to the North. It lies directly athwart the main route from Winterfell to Riverrun. It is an important route for merchants and travelers. Asha is no fool and possesses this important information. The Freys have grown wealthy by charging a heavy toll on all those who had to cross, a little did he know Asha would do the exact same one day. Rickon disliked to give in. He loathed it when people didn’t do as he told them to.  A deep sigh escaped his lips as she shook his head a little. ”Fine..” He eventually said. ”You can have your castle, as long as you provide my people free passage at all times. This includes everyone from the North and merchants traveling to the North.” His eyebrows rose as he observed the queens face. This was a fair deal, this way they both got exactly what they wanted. 

Rickon may be young, but he wasn’t fatuous. He cared for his land, for his people. His people should be able to travel from and to their homes without having to make  a lengthy detour of hundreds miles. ”May it be clear this is my final offer. If you do not agree, I am afraid you will not get your precious princess castle.” Rickon would get the vengeance he had been longing for so long, even if it will be the last thing he does.

[queenofiron]

"I have no need for your greenlander gold," she scoffed. "We Greyjoys pay only the Iron Price." In truth, she had been planning on using the Twins as a choke point for merchants, if to extort goods rather than gold. It suited her to control two of the three ways of travelling north--first the western sea and now overland. But nevermind. She was a pirate, but she'd live by her word, and losing the Twins' material advantage did not diminish its tactical one.

"I'll grant any citizen of your country free and safe passage, as well as merchants traveling to the North," she promised. "This I promise you. Now, we should leave here. Travel back to the North and raise your armies. When you are three days away, send me a raven and I will begin the attack on Seagard."

Behind her, Iarl and Myio began preparing the tender for its return to her flagship.

[flowermargaery]

I do hope we have something like the Spring Festival soon, it was such a pleasure to have people here.

Though, I do not miss not all who were there.

[queenofiron]

Maybe I'll show up to the next one. 

It'd be a pity if I weren't invited.

[queenofiron]

Hello there! Just a anon that thinks your writing is amazing ;)

Thanks, anon! That’s so sweet of you! :) I really love being a part of this rp.

[queenofiron]

Unlikely Allies | Asha & Rickon [PRIVATE]

[wolfbloodking]

Rickon knew he shouldn’t underestimate her. She may be a woman, but he certainly wouldn’t treat her like one. It hadn’t been his intention to point out he was king and Asha only a queen, it didn’t matter. The Iron queen had the strength of a king, only a fool would deny that. A grin curled up around his lips as he created more space between them. He hadn’t thought of approaching the other houses in Westeros for an alliance, but a little did he know they all would refuse.

"Why waste my time on something fiddling as other house when I already know you would be more than willing to be my ally?" More importantly, his relationships with the majority of the houses in Westeros was very poor. Rickon wasn’t very fond of any of them. Asha knew nothing about the strength of his North, this no one knew. It ensured him, the odds would always be in his favor. The strength of the North would surprise his enemies. Rickon sensed how his behavior made the man besides her feel uncomfortable, but I didn’t understand why. Why would he hurt his new ally already? To do them both a pleasure, he returned to his spot besides his direwolf and patted him on is head.  When Asha explained him the ideas she had, he nodded slowly. Rickon had to admit it was all very logical. Yet, he was unable to answer the question which Frey he would kill first. The order in which they will get slaughter is completely unimportant. They will all die a painful death. ”Black Walder..” Rickon hissed through his teeth, his hatred for his was probably the greatest.  ”Fine, but I’ll install one ofMYcaptains to stay at the Twins so you and I can begin our march south, agreed?”  Rickon already nodded, as if he was ending the discussion that hadn’t even started yet. This was how it would go, discussing about it would be quite unnecessarily. ”Well, if we got it all settled, it is still a long journey back to Winterfell..”

[queenofiron]

She folded her arms, amused at the boldness of the young king. He reminded her a bit of Theon, actually, so petulant and acting like any lands he thought to claim as his own were automatically his by right. "I appreciate you negotiating now, rather than betraying me later," she said. "It shows that we are allies able to discuss our problems openly. But my price for working with you and not against you is the Twins. The Northern Riverlands are the only part of the Rivers that border Ironman's Bay. Without them, I would have no chance at holding Riverrun, and so going south would be useless for me. Ironborn have a reputation for being quick to battle, but do not think this means I will risk my people for the sake of your revenge with no gains for me. So you can have your castle, or you can have my aid in spilling the blood of the men who killed your mother. You cannot have both. What is your decision?"

[queenofiron]

Unlikely Allies | Asha & Rickon [PRIVATE]

[wolfbloodking]

She was clever, very clever. Even Rickon saw no point in denying it. But he didn’t care whether the Riverlands should have been granted to Asha instead of Harrold Arryn. The Twins have caught his interest. It always has been major barrier for travelers and merchants traveling from the North to the western Riverlands and back. It lies directly on the main route from Winterfell to Riverrun. When trying to avoid the Twins a long detour of hundreds of miles is requierd. In times of war, it would take more time for the enemy to reach the North, reach Winterfell. Having the Twins as a part of the North had enough benefits for Rickon to fight for it.

The direwolf made a soft but threatening growling sound while showing his razor sharp teeth when Asha only stroked the handle of her ax. It was a warning, her first and most likely her last. It would be a shame if their meeting took such desperate turn, especially now they were getting along so well. A humorless smirk escaped his lips as he shook his head. “You would only do me a great favor with that, Asha. You capture the Twins and I will take it from you. It would safe me some precious time.” His grin slowly faded away when the woman spoke of taking the Freys to Castle Pyke to serve her. Now that would be a terrible mistake.

Rickon didn’t even listen to the fool’s story about a man called Cobb and the ship he captained. He couldn’t care less about it. Without even knowing whether the man had finished his little fairy tale, he took a step closer towards Asha, looking down at her as he pinched his eyes. “You do not want to make that mistake.” Rickon spoke soft, but firmly. Shaggydog got up, as if he was ready to attack any moment but remained at his spot. “I will have my revenge.” Rickon started. “I will cross the bay if I have to. I will slaughter you along with the Freys if you leave me with no other choice.” His icy blue eyes pierced right through yours. “Remember, this is not a threat, its a promise.” That said, Rickon gave the men beside you a look before he took a step back, petting Shaggydog’s head.

"Honest allies.." He repeated her words rather sarcastically, but eventually nodded. "You assist me on capturing Riverrun and when I have finished my business there, I will help you getting the land that should have been granted to you in the first place.” It was a fair deal. Rickon would get his vengeance and Asha her land. 

[queenofiron]

Asha did not appreciate how close Rickon got to her, his face tilted down, his winter eyes cold. She needed no reminder that he was taller, that he was a King and she a Queen.  Still, she'd been underestimated for being a woman her entire life, and she was not about to back down from this man now. Not when what she wanted was so close. Not when their wants aligned so nicely.

"You might try to get to them," Asha said. "You might think the North's navy has a chance against Pyke's,  given your father's victory over mine long ago. But remember that took the combined naval strength of every Great House in Westeros except Martell, and if you had the ability to rally them to your cause now, you would be discussing this plan with them, not me. But that's a moot point, because I plan to gift the Freys to you."

Myio really didn't appreciate Rickon being so close, and behind her, Asha could hear his low tone of discomfort. She nodded her head back slight, reassurance for him to be at ease. She felt confident, alive: this was war, the glory of leading men in reaving, all she had ever known. She had enough strength in her arms, wits in her head, and courage in her blood to pay the Iron Price for the Rivers.

"Riverrun?" she asked. "Would you go after Tywin Frey first, or Black Walder? The Twins are a much closer target, and not taking it first would leave us both vulnerable to being cut off from reinforcements." A mistake made in the War of Five Kings, she knew he knew all too well. "My proposal is, I'll send some of my Ironborn to harass the Riverlands' western shore, drawing out the Freys and leaving the Twins defenseless, which is when we unleash upon them my remaining forces combined with yours. My reavers will have orders to capture alive any Frey they find on the coast, which I will hand over to you, in addition to whomever we capture in their castle. You'll sate your sword's thirst on Frey blood. Then the next morning when you awake after sleeping soundly for the first time since you were a babe, I'll install one of my captains to stay at the Twins so that you and I can begin our march south, to capture more lands for me and ferret out more Frey spawn for you. Is this agreeable?"

[queenofiron]

Unlikely Allies | Asha & Rickon [PRIVATE]

[wolfbloodking]

Because of what she said, Rickon concluded Asha was very serious about this alliance. Rickon could tell Asha was more than willing to raid the land. Owning more land than he already did wasn’t a point of interest for him. All Rickon cares about is his revenge. When Asha mentioned he could capture the Twins within the fortnight. It gave him something to think about. The Twins lays very close to the Northern border, it could work in his favor to own this part of The Vale.

”It sounds like you have given this much thought already.” Rickon said once she seems to have finished her little speech. A small grin curled up around his lips as he observed the Iron Queen’s face. He had not expected their meeting to be like this. It felt right and he appreciated Asha’s disclosure. ”But within the fortnight? Capturing the Twins is not that much effort, my Lady.” Rickon caught her gazing at the fairly large direwolf beside him. Shaggydog was calm, but didn’t advert his eyes for one second. Ever since they found the pups in the woods, Shaggy and Rickon are inseparable. As king, he could not wish for a better guard. Its as if they are attuned to each other. Shaggydog was completely harmless, to a certain extent but Rickon could tell his presence made Asha feel uneasy. ”No, I won’t.” He repeated her words, smiling. ‘'I have no interest in the Twins. I am only interested in the Freys.” Rickon paused. Even when he only spoke of the Freys he was already boiling with anger. ”Its my only wish to make sure they suffer a slow, painful dead. I want to see how the light in their eyes disappears.” He will enjoy watching them die, his revenge will taste sweeter than sweet.  ”Allow me to make you an offer, my Lady.” Rickon looked at the two men at her side, one more laughable than the other. ”I will help you raiding the land you want to be yours.” He turned sideways, observing the environment. Rickon couldn’t remember whether he had been here before, but it sounded unlikely. Even when he took a step forward, his direwolf only had eyes for the woman, serving as the king’s eyes. ”I will even allow you to have it. In return, I want you to assist me on my vengeance and Arryn, if he decides to be foolish and interfere with my business.” 

[queenofiron]

"The Vale has never before controlled the Riverlands, but until Aegon the Conqueror, the Ironborn lived on island shores and riverbanks both. By all rights, when we re-divided Westeros into Seven, the Riverlands should have been granted to me, not Arryn," she said evenly. It was unnerving how he didn't look at her as he spoke, equally unnerving that the beast did. She'd heard rumors about the connection between the two...

"So I'm glad that you'll let me keep the Twins. If I hadn't felt as though you were offering me something I wanted, well..." she said, her voice low with warning as her fingers lightly stroked the handle of her ax, but keeping her eyes on the beast, "my Iron Fleet is very close. By the time you could rally your bannermen, even the crannogmen, I could be inside the Twins' walls myself. I have no personal reason to care if Walder Frey lives or dies, and we Ironmen like taking thralls. I could take every Frey who had a hand in your brother and mother's murder as mine, to serve me within the walls of Castle Pyke, where your navy could not reach them. I'm well-reputed for treating my thralls kindly, and their children would be given freedom if they choose to be anointed to the Drowned God." She shrugged. "A hundred years ago, a man called Codd was brought to the Iron Islands as a thrall." She looked back to Iarl. "Left-Hand Lucas Codd," she asked, "what ship did he captain?"

"Vile Omen under King Euron's flag," he said. Cheekily, he added: "And Bloodless Tom Codd captained Lamentation for Lord Captain Victarion."

"A hundred years from now, you think the same could be said of Freys?"

"Maybe less," Iarl replied. "They certainly have the instincts of pirates."

She turned back to Rickon and his beast. "Of course, my problem is that while no House will help the Freys, neither will they abide a Greyjoy taking any greenlands. Before I've even finished raising twin Kraken standards on the towers, Stark or Arryn or Tyrell or some combined force will be conspiring to pull those standards down. And then neither of us will have what we want, neither you your vengeance nor I my castle, which would be such a waste of both our efforts."

"So I am very glad that we are agreeing to be honest allies against our common enemies." She let go of her ax, and spread her hands: open, empty. "Shall we discuss the details of a joint attack? I have a few ideas."