Journey to the East

They had finally cleared their pursuers. It was good to know that at least. For far to long had there been that little blot on the horizon, the clear and present danger behind them. But ever since they had cleared the bay proper and taken for more open water, they had gotten further away. Sticking to the coast would have been easier, yes, but he did not know these reefs very well. Plus, being tracked would have been a problem. By losing them first, they could make a beeline to Lys while everyone else thought that they’d be en route to Pyke.

Or to meet up with father, of course. But there was still that one small obstacle with that – namely not knowing at all where the latter currently was. Given his penchant for causing literal and figurative waves, it was likely that most of the Seven Kingdoms knew more about that man’s whereabouts than his own son. Heh. Funny how that had played out.

But for now, he was just happy that they had gotten clear. By the time that the sun rose again, they would finally be free to find a faster and safer route to Lys. Bouncing off from his position at the helm, he offered it to the one actually in charge during the night. After all, the captain had only come to make sure that there was no lone light in the distance, so that he could rest on his somewhat uncomfortable place on the ground. His men would laugh at him if they knew, but he had surrendered the bed to the two ladies. He couldn’t give them the whole room without saving face, but that much had been possible.

Probably, he should pick up something to drink before retreating, too. Or so he thought, at least, until he noticed a slender figure, barely illuminated by the torch’s shine. What little he saw was silver. So she had woken up – and likely the young stag had fallen asleep instead. Otherwise, she’d be there, too.
While lady Tully seemed content just staring at the stars, he could not help it but join her. Dalton did make sure not to sneak up on her though. Scaring her into falling off the ship would have been the absolute stupidest thing that could happen now. And they’d had their share of stupid so far.

“You’re awake,” he noted, as he took place beside her, at a respectful distance. Yeah, it was a bad way to start a conversation. But he really couldn’t think of anything else at that moment, especially given that he was a bit tired.

Barely awake, heh? To be honest, she very often gave that impression, even when she was not waking up from an almost unnaturally long sleep. Of course, his words had actually been borne more of worry about her having taken so long to recuperate. But at least her mind seemed to be in the right place, given that she was already onto the really important questions. He could only imagine how it much have felt to fall unconscious on the streets of king’s Landing, only to wake up in a place like this.

It was good fortune that lady Baratheon had been around, when she woke. Yet, there were still some questions that were his obligation to answer. “We have been on the move for a few days now. Ever since you fell on the streets, we have not been able to rouse you. I trusted that you just needed rest but let truth be told – I was at least a bit worried about you,” he admitted, trying his best not to look at her. If she had somehow died under his watch like this, he would have never been able to forgive himself. Of that, he was sure.
“Father’s gone. Your people are after us and who knows who else. I still have no clue at all what has happened, only that our plan is already in shambles. I’m bringing you to Lys, where I have contacts that might help us find my father. I’ll get you to him, no matter what.”

“I wouldn’t know,” he replied and meant it exactly like that. In fact, he had no idea who Edyn was in the first place. It possibly referred to the Tully leader of the assault, but Dalton had neither seen nor heard of the man, as everyone had just started dying way too fast. They would have to sit down and have a real, detailed talk about these things. But not now. This was neither the time, nor the place for it. The atmosphere was almost serene. Though, to be honest, that was likely just the case because he had been almost obsessed with the ship following them the past few days. Having lost it gave him a peace of mind. Her having woken up properly only added to that, giving more relief.

On the other hand though, the lady was right. Things had changed, substantially. Their original plan almost seemed quaint by now. But on the other hand, what else could they do? To many, he had likely kidnapped two highborn ladies. Even their own words would have a hard time convincing third parties. They had run a long way already. Stopping now was not an option. Though, lacking a clear goal, all they could do for now was to regroup and try to find another way.
“We’re going to do what we’re going to do anyway, aren’t we?” He leaned onto the railing briefly, looking down into the ocean. “Personally, I never think of the odds after I committed to something. Helps no one, only makes you feel nervous and such. For the time being, we will just do what I necessary and see where that goes. Our chances mean little, only the outcome does. And besides, the most dangerous part is over now.”

Well, technically any form of travel was dangerous. Yet, Dalton mostly referred to people wanting to kill them. Father would not try to murder any of them, unlike those soldiers and unlike the royal fleet. They were safe, for a given measure of safety, even once they reached the man. Excessive worry would not help. “And as for Sera, she seems to be doing fine. I tried to explain the importance and danger of the situation to her, but I fear she did not truly grasp those things just yet. And…I am kind of thankful for it. Seeing such a ray of sunshine in human form is kind of rare.”

Oh. Wonderful. The heir to Riverrun was apparently out for their heads. Well, his head anyway. That definitely made everything better. Dalton sighed. Why did everyone else have to make this so much harder? Convincing father would be bothersome enough. He really did not need some hot-blooded redhead to jump in as well. Especially not a male one. Sometimes, redheads jumping in was not bad at all, but that was neither here nor there. Plus, they had actual problems to tend to. Like the rumour mill that was being talked about.

Before addressing that though, he had to chuckle at her flowery language there. She really had a way with words sometimes, hadn’t she? He was not the storm but the wave. Briefly, he wondered if she was making a play concerning the storm god and the drowned god, but discarded that quickly. If past conversations had proved anything, then that she had little clue about Ironborn in general. “I wonder if your analogy includes that the things swept away by the waves usually end up on the ocean floor,” he replied dryly, but added a chuckle. He did know how she had meant it, after all. Still, making a bit of fun of things like this was his way to deal with them.

Right now it did feel as if he had taken those two ladies, after all. “But yes, those rumours will likely persist until I return you.” He sighed, as he leaned deeper onto the railing. “I am already planning to make a stop someplace where you can send ravens. But I guess that will mean little to those who think I abducted you, duress and all. I tried to convince Sera to let me bring her home but she objected because of you. And since she is not my prisoner, I can’t really dictate what she can and cannot do.” Again, a heavy sigh. Then he just casually dropped something else entirely. “Though maybe I should not have kissed her.”

Surprise. Stun. Amusement. That was his progression in reaction, give or take. In the end, he just ended up laughing out at the sea, not really caring about the noise. Then a thump from below reminded him that there were actually people trying to sleep below, not just fishes. So he turned it down a notch, likely the same as his honoured guest there. “So you can get loud after all. I am learning a lot about you lately,” he simply added, both to explain himself and to tease her a little. Given that she had roped him into this adventure, she would just have to deal with it.
Well, maybe they had roped one another in. Or at least reinforced what had already been there. Hard to tell. But the fact of the matter was that they were here now. Taking a deep breath, he once more leaned in, taking a closer look at the two oceans of darkness in front of him, broken by both stars and their reflections.

“She asked me if I would be sad if she married someone else. I figured that I would find that out once we shared a kiss. Plus, she definitely liked it. But don’t worry, I am not going to abuse this situation any more than that. Even if everyone on the mainland probably thinks so. And will think that way, even if we send ravens.” Once more, a deep sigh followed. “If all else fails, I will just seek to marry her properly, just so she does not have to suffer from circumstance. Taking responsibility is kind of what I do, if you have not noticed.”

Another short chuckle followed, but not a loud one. He had learned that lesson at least. But he still took the amusement where he could get it. That was one of his ways to cope with stress. And even though the other ship was gone now, there still was enough of that to go around. Ashe and her current questions were welcome diversions – likely for both of them.
“No, it’s not an Ironborn thing. Well, I do know of a few Ironborn who would kiss a woman when deciding whether to keep her or throw her overboard, but it is obviously nothing like that.” He leaned back briefly, before turning towards her fully once more. “It might be something I have gotten from my mother. A kiss is a good way to find out whether you are compatible or not. I mean, that is the only way to find out if you would ever be able to love another person that way. There are many people whom you would enjoy talking to and spending time with, but wouldn’t want to marry. I will never understand how you Greenlanders can just arrange marriages. I mean I see why you would not want bastards and have a clear lineage. But apart from that? Not really the best way to go about it.”

That was, of course, his honest opinion. If he had grown up in Westeros proper, he might have understood better. But he had grown up with the lord that killed all his wives after they bore him children. That did not lead to a healthy understanding of marriage.
Speaking of, the lady wanted another infusion of Ironborn knowledge. This one actually felt somewhat important, given that it might be applicable to the one they were trying to rescue. “But as for Ironborn marriage, that is complicated. An Ironborn man has but one true wife, a rock wife. However, that wife has to be from the Iron Islands herself, or at least sufficiently Ironborn. That’s why I had to prove myself to be an Ironborn myself to be accepted by my peers. My mother obviously was not from those isles.”

In fact, he was not sure what exactly his mother’s status had been. As far as he knew, father considered her his rock. But how he had convinced others to accept that – and turn his children into trueborn Greyjoys – he’d never know. He shrugged. “I guess he just married her the Westerosi way and was done with it. I think that supersedes Ironborn distinctions anyway. But, yeah, Salt Wives. Those are usually women captured on raids, used for breeding and pleasure. Not whores or slaves, not proper wives as you understand them either. Any man can have as many salt wives as he wants though and it is relatively easy to just declare someone that, since you don’t need the wife’s consent. Just got to drown her. I reckon that most people would think that I took both of you as mine by now.”

“There are, there are,” he replied, not fully waving it off but kind of. Not that one could fault him. The lady just explained in detail just why she had not really been a prime example for this. Ashe had managed to marry without pressure and without expectations, which was massively different from what the young stag had in front of her. Well, technically he could save her from it, if he so desired. But she would have to want it as well. So far, things had not gotten to that point yet. But it was a possibility that he did not outright discount.

The decision was ultimately hers though. The Greyjoy, ironically, found it important that she had all the power in this respect. This trip was in part a chance for the young lady to find both herself and her own path. Being able to decide the most important things for herself was part of that. It would have been easy for him to abuse her desire that night, to claim her fully for himself. But that would have been wrong. And it would have been a waste. True beauty lied in a woman that came onto you, not the other way around.

Still, he could not think about those not present all the time. “I can see why those things would be important, aye. But I also see that an alliance would be stronger if those who married could actually love one another. And you can ask a higher price for someone who is compatible. What kind of children do you get if your parents hate one another? Love….cannot be forced, even if you want it.” He had first-hand experience with that. But that was a story that he told no one and did not like to talk about at all. Maybe, one day. But it was highly unlikely.

For the moment, his mother would suffice. “My mother, I barely know her either. But I did spend quite some time in her home region. A summer islander she was, similar to the Iron Isles but opposite in others. Neither place really fully accepted me at first fully, but I feel at home in both. Much more so than mainland Westeros at least. She’s dead too, so I always travelled with father, learned from him, but tried to be my own person, too.”