Chapter X:
"-Lost in thoughts again, cousin?"
"-Aye. Dark ones this time."
"-Surprise me just for once, please."
Theomore could not take his eyes from the frozen shores. Landfall was two hours away from what he could tell.
"We are closing. You want me to order the men to get ready?"
"-Yes. Is the oil ready for the bonfire?"
"-Yes my king. They will see it from miles away. I guarantee that."
"-Good, but before you give the order I want to have a word with you. Lets go inside, its freezing out here."
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"-What is bothering your mind this time?"
"-I cant stop thinking about the civil war on the south."
"-Really? We are close to facing Death himself at these shores, and your mind is traveling south?"
"-Think about the situation. The war's in its conclusive stage. Brandon has sent his armies south to rescue his son, Whether the outcome of his plans, someone is gonna win this."
"-Yes, and then the victor is gonna march north, either at Winterfell first and then here, or directly here. But they will be late because we will be sailing back victorious from here, or dead."
"-I said conclusive, but not final. Their war is gonna last for long. But that's not what bothers me. Its the Iron Islands who are menless right now."
"-How in hell is our home threatened by this situation cousin?"
"-Lets analyze the possible outcomes of this civil war, shall we?"
"-First of all, I'm not betting any gold on Kenning and that Tommen of Yunkai guy. He has only some houses of the westerlands with him on this and seeing a fleet landing armies from Yunkai will surprise me more than when I saw the white walker's head for the first time."
"-I share your thoughts on this. Lythene has with her the other half of the Westerlands with the Cleganes and the full force of the Crownlands, which is at least the double number of Kenning's force. Most probably the cripple Stark is gonna win this. The other two are fighting for more than a year now against each other and he will come from the North with its full host plus the Riverland's."
"-And then, he will come here, why would he assault the Iron Isles?"
"-No, if he wins the Westerlands back for his son and Elyanna Lannister, then his attention will turn for Kings Landing itself, which will by then be left alone with only its garrison. Conducting a siege on the capital will take a lot of time, which will leave us here without valuable reinforcements, as we are going to suffer heavy loses."
"-Who knows, maybe during that time the cravens of Dorne and the Vale may follow the example of the other lords and come to the Bastard of Winterfell's aid."
"-They didn't till now, they wont. Some books say that there's magic on the wall, and it is enough to keep the Others at bay. They simply don't want to spend soldiers, gold and supplies for a war that they will get nothing in return."
"-Again, how's that a threat to us?"
"-That was the best possible outcome for us. What if the throne finds a way and win this war?"
"-Bugger me with a bloody spear! How is she going to win a war against the untouched, combined might of the North and Riverlands without any damn ally? Your imagination is running wild here."
"-We have to be prepared Dale. The Others are not our only enemy here, and the men who are on the same side of the wall are not exactly our allies, you said that too."
"-Lets presume then, that somehow, the cub of the Iron Throne finds a way to come out victorious. Who knows, maybe she found a way to resurrect both her great-grandfather Tywin and the Dragons of the Red Keep from the dead, she and her dumb husband then rides the dragons to battle and fries alive the Stark Host. Then what?"
"-Stop it Dale! I'm just saying. Few decades ago most would put their gold on the Young Wolf's side, but he didn't at all win the war. Now, a man would put his gold on the North again but it is his smaller brother who is fighting the somehow same war and he is not the undefeated Young Wolf, he is a damned cripple. If the Iron Throne wins, is going to be at the best place to start punishing rebels, both old and new. The Iron Isles, the Riverlands and the North are left without men after the Queens victory. No matter where she directs her retaliation, directly or indirectly we will be harmed, as The North is providing most of the supplies to the Wall right now."
"-Phew, it must be a true hell living in your brains cousin. There's only one solution to all these."
"-Enlighten me Dale, surprise me."
"-We finish our job quickly here, so that after this, we are either dead or quick enough to be at the Iron Isles."
"-Truth be told, this is the only thing we can do for now. But there's something here. Something is not right..."
"-Wear your armor and take your axes. That's what I say, and leave the schemes for now. Though I would recommend leaving one of them behind and taking a shield instead. Only Stormcaller is gonna help you against them."
"-You are not my teacher anymore Dale, I know how I want to fight."
"-You're lucky you're my King now, differently I would take that ing shield and shoved it up your arse."
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As the Howl approached the shore, Theomore was geared up, with his two axes in hand. The young king was the first one to touch the ground, he wanted to lead his army personally. The men and the captains would never follow a man who has never been in a battle before and sit back and watch. I have to do this.
After him, the ironborn jumped out too. They were used to land and then rush to the villages or the castles of the people they intended to raid, but this was different, the shore was empty. They walked and looked around, with fear clear in their eyes.
"What are you waiting for? You know your orders! Light up the bonfire! The rest, get your groups and follow me to the woods. I am not gonna give any inspiring speech here, lets get this done!"
Theomore didn't have in mind the value of keeping his men's morale high by that time, and that was justified, as he was also scared of the things he was about to see. How could he give courage to his men when he was fear-struck than them?
"I have to do this. I have to" He kept telling to himself.
The men were preparing the bonfires, and the groups were already spread into the woods. The plan was to assault small bands of White Walkers, and if they would encounter groups even at the same size as theirs they had to run back to the longships.
Theomore didn't have to wait for long to encounter the first one. The brothers informed his that the Others somehow could sense them.
Theomore too felt him before he saw him. The cold instantly became heavier. Even breathing at the Other's presence was causing a heavy pain in his lungs. The cold struck Theomore and his group and they standed there like frozen statues.
The Walker's eyes were stuck at Theomore, and was moving towards him. An arrow flied next to him, missing. The next one found the Walker's right hand, but he didn't seem to even notice it.
"-Are you deaf? You weren't listening when they told you that only flaming arrows are supposed to hurt them?" Theomore yelled at the soldier.
The Other kept walking towards the Ironborn, but he was not in rush, as like he was sure that they could not run to save themselves. As he was walking to them, they were taking steps behind trying to keep a distance.
Theomore said to himself one more time "I have to do this". He grinded his teeth and prepared to assault the White Walker. The same moment, another bursted upon them from the right.
At he sight of the second white walker, a soldier threw his axe on the snow and run away.
"Useless !" Theomore erupted.
"Stand your ground! I'll take the first one, you try and set the other ablaze"
Theomore rushed to the one in front of him, and as he took the first step he realized that a shield was something that he wanted more than anything in he world now.
He raised his left axe first and landed a blow on the walker's high left side. the Other parried with ease, and then Theomore swung Stormcaller with his right arm under his left, trying to startle the Other. He wasn't surprised; he saw the axe coning to his stomach, but he didn't took a step back. Theomore was the one surprised; at first at least.
"Why-"
The White Walker did not take a step back and Stormcaller landed on him with Theomore's full force.
Theomore was speechless. He didn't expect at all that Valyrian Steel was that effective against them. His eyes were stuck at the puddle for some moments. A hand touched him on the back and Theomore turned around frightened. He saw a Drowned Man, almost a head shorter than him but with arms that grabbed him and felt like pincers.
"You are blessed by the Drowned God my King. You're His scourge that will banish the Others from this world, Now go and show to your men that you are the one chosen. Show them."
As he said those words the priest poured a flask of sea water on Theomore's head. The water instantly turned to ice on his hair, and the ice shocked him. Without saying a single word, only letting out a warcry Theomore rushed to the remaining Other and jumped on him like a fierce beast. The men stood and watched as their King landed one blow after another on the Other. Theomore's foe parried every single strike with ease.
After a series of blows, Theomore took a step back. His heart was now beating faster than when he crossed the first one, his head was hurting from the priest's water that had now turned to ice. Drops of sweat flowed from his forehead to his lips, melting the ice crystals and relieved steam around him. The drops reached his lips. Salt. That was it, the salt of the sea was pouring from his body.
"I AM THE KING OF SALT AND ROCK! I AM THE DROWNED GOD'S SCOURGE"
The Other was not intimidated by the young man's shouts. For the first time he grabbed his icy sword with both hands and attacked by dropping it towards Theomore's head from his right side. That was the opening Theomore needed; he rolled to his left, dodging the strike and instantly retaliated with his right hand, the one which held Stormcaller.
Words of the Iron King's heroic battle reached the ears of every man in his host. Urzen, the Drowned Man who was present made sure of it. Once his party came back where the ships were, he started orating, telling the story and also claimed that the young king was the Ironborn's hope against the darkness.
He also blessed Theomore in a ritual held in front of the whole army to see.