4. Pyke [S07E02]

Never did Pyke look more somber. Salt waves lashed the shore with fury, but the ironborn themselves looked defeated. When they saw the ships, the small army Euron had left ran to the shores with sword and steel, ready for battle and noble death, until they saw the beasts. Ironborns were fighters at heart, but Daenerys Targaryen’s three dragons made them see sense.

Before long, Dany was standing in the middle of a circle with Yara Greyjoy, Theon, Tyrion and Missandei. Ironborn gathered around them, but none dared attack. Even though Drogon had flown away shortly after they docked, the Dothraki and Unsullied were enough to keep the locals in line. Them, Rhaegal and Viserion.

“You all stand in the presence of Daenerys of the House Targaryen,” Missandei began, “First of Her Name, The Unburnt, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Queen of Meereen, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Protector of the Realm, Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons.”

It seemed to Daenerys that the ironborn only registered the last phrase. It brought groans and grunts from some places, screams from others. “These men are savages,” she thought. “All they understand is savagery.”

“Ironborn,” she began, her voice loud and clear, “Westeros has bled enough. It is ruled by a cruel queen, a queen who cares not for Pyke, who tempted Euron Greyjoy to turn traitor to his own kin. I bring vengeance. I bring peace and prosperity for all.

“We must all do our part. No more raping, no more reaving, no more paying the iron price. Yara Greyjoy will be your new ruler, and I your Queen. Join me today, and we shall step into a better world together. Does anyone stand in defiance?”

There was silence. A man broke the circle to face her. He had a nasty cut across his cheek, and looked smaller than most ironborns, but seemed to command the respect of his folk. “My name is Harrag,” he boomed, “and when Euron left us, I was the one who led my men. I have no problem with Yara taking that place. What I have a problem with is you, the silver-haired hag from nowhere who thinks she can tell us how to live.” He spat at the ground. “You think the Targaryens have been good to us?”

At this point Theon suddenly interjected. “You be good to us, and they – we’ll be good to you.”

Harrag and the others paused. “Little Theon, is that you?” he finally said. “The Mother of Dragons thought Theon Turncloak would persuade us to bend the knee? No wonder she wants to cut our cocks off!” His comment was met with huge roars.

Dany felt her rage boiling. “Are you refusing to obey me?”

“I will not yield to you, nor call you my queen,” said Harrag. “The ironborn are their own ruler!”

“Your Grace,” started Tyrion, but Daenerys had had too much. She looked at Viserion.

It took only a word for the laughter to die. As Harrag burned in front of his friends, yelling for mercy, all he got was a snap from Viserion, who eventually gobbled him in front of a silent audience. It did not take long for everyone to bend the knee to Yara Greyjoy and the Mother of Dragons.

*

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