The Song of Pyp III. Bravery

The Storm Crow was one of the most impressive war ships that Grenn had seen. It was in fact, the first he visited in his whole life. Its black sails were smaller than he had thought, but the hull was fast and long as an arrow; its two rows of oars were conveniently settled for hard battles against pirates and smugglers, and the entire ship was marked by countless battles, but what impressed Grenn the most was the height of the mast. The first time he went up to the point of it, he could see the entire bay of Seals. It was rocky and steep, and the wind was freezing, but somehow, he liked that place.

This was going to be his first mission as a ranger of Eastwatch. Grenn was used to patrol the forest in the north of the Wall on his trusty horse Yoff; he was equally comfortable walking long distances with Dywen or other men, but ships were new to him. Now, some Thenns had been seen robbing the fishers’ villages. Apparently some wildlings didn’t care about New Lord Commander’s truce, as Old Tattersalt said; he was the captain of the Blackbird, the largest warship of the Watch, and his mission consisted in training the new sailors of the Watch as they bordered the coast.

“You’ll get to be faster and smarter if you want to serve in one of our warships, boy. The Blackbird is the dream of any man here, and from now on, you’ll only board it if I command it” The captain said. For any newcomer, this was just a fat old man with grey greasy hair and a perpetual bad mood, but everyone in Eastwatch knew histories about Tattersalt bravery, and his authority and experience were out of question.

“I will, my lord” Grenn said, using his best military voice. How could he explain that his dream was no ship, but another black brother? Before parting, just three days ago, right before an unending farewell kiss, his sweet Pyp had smiled mischievously, and whispered to his ear “Return soon big boy, so I can keep you warm all night long” Even after all those moons, sharing the most intimate moments with Pyp, Grenn had blushed like a maiden, and the smile in his face persisted for many miles… Well. At least, unlike most recruits, Grenn had not threw up his meal, and his captain was nice enough to give him good advices about sea and ships.

Since no Thenns were found in this part of the bay,  Grenn and the small group of men would return safely to the Wall in some hours more. Grenn rolled discretely his eyes, half disappointed and half relieved, when Old Tattersalt advanced in front of him and looked to the coast through his portable Myrish eye.

“You know, boy? I’m pretty sure our new Lord Commander has gained a bunch of enemies in Castle Black. I know Ser Alliser Thorne, and I understand him quite well. That bastard, and many other men have spent their lives fighting against wildlings. We’ve seen many friends dying because of those stupid bear-eaters, and Lord Snow is about to receive all of them with open arms. I’m pretty sure that’s a bad idea but…” Commander Tattersalt doubted a bit, looking at Grenn directly in the eye, as his voice turned dark and ominous “I’ve also seen a lot of things in this coast, boy. All men here know what comes with the long winter, and wildlings are nor our biggest concern anyway. Maybe, your friend Snow is right.... Maybe”

Suddenly, something shone next to Grenn’s sight, right in the corner of his visual field. The thing was red and approached to them, fast as a flash of lightening. There was no time for doubts or feat. The Aurochs reacted, as fast as he had never done in his whole life, and threw himself on his captain covering him as the second fire arrow, the third and many more started landing on the deck. A red stain appeared in Grenn’s cloak, but he was sure he was not injured.

“The Thenns!! The fucking Thenns are here!!” Grenn yelled as he pressed the captain’s bleeding arm and took him until a safer place, crawling among the projectiles, on the deck. The rest of the rangers appeared from the ground of the ship, already taking his weapons and preparing themselves for the battle. However, most of them were still under the deck maneuvering the oars, or  extinguishing the fire.

However, the ship was still far from the coast, and there was only one way out to protect the ship from arrows, and it was through the rocks.

“The rudder… I can’t!” Old Tattersalt panted, still trying to contain the blood from streaming out from his arm. “The ship, boy!”

Grenn put up his cloak, and ran through the deck, barely, avoiding the rain of arrows. If more projectiles shot on the ship, everything would be lost. The hull was covered with fire resistant lacquer, but fire would spread faster if they spent their time avoiding new projectiles, instead shooting the fire down. He slipped until the bow and took the rudder of the ship. There was no time, and Grenn had never done something like that. He used his whole strength as he maneuvered, praying to all gods to guide him.

“Turn… just turn now… fucking thing!” Grenn murmured, as the bow approached to the rocks. In that moment, he could sense the heat of a fire arrow, almost licking his cheek. He didn’t move a single inch.

A creak… A tense moment. The longest in Grenn’s life.

The ship barely passed right through the pillars, and cot covered by an enormous rock, right in the middle of the bay. In that moment, with his last amount of energy, Old Tattersalt asked for the horn and a young recruit, not older than thirteen years blasted it twice. At least, the sound would alert the brothers in Eastwatch.

The men extinguished the remaining fires on the deck, and one of the oldest rangers attended captain Tattersalt’s wound. However, It was just too soon to claim victory. The ship was still surrounded by the enemy. As long as they were into the bay, his position was vulnerable, and they knew it. Even worse. If the Thenns had catapults or a good amount of canoes, the Storm Crow would not resist. Grenn and the rest of the men just awaited, in a tense silence. A reduced number of archers prepared the first line of attack, and the rest of the rangers draw their swords. Long moments passed. Only the howling wind and the waves, splashing against the hull could be heard.

Grenn filled his lungs with the cold air and prepared himself. He thought about Pyp. His witty, beautiful, loving and brave Pyp. His only one. If Grenn fell there, his little mummer would be all alone in the end of the world, surrounded by danger, and living among fear and sadness every day of his life. That was not what he deserved.  That was not what they had fought for! Grenn felt a rush of uncontainable wrath, and then, out of nothing, he decided he was not about to die, not until the world would be a better place for Pyp. He looked at the blade of his sword, and remembered Jon. He had been the best instructor, a good friend, and he was now his Lord Commander. As the captain had said, Jon was surrounded by enemies, but he was always been brave, and he trusted in Grenn… And suddenly, his heart filled with bravery, and he stepped forward from his position, behind the rudder. “We are men of the Watch, and have nothing to fear from those motherfuckers. Our brothers count on us, and we won’t disappoint them. Shall we?” A unison NO!! merged from the entire crew, and the Aurochs concluded “We won’t just wait for them here. Let´s kill those bags of shit, Brothers!” Grenn yelled, and took the rudder again, ready to lead the fight.

“What do we do now?” One of the youngest recruits asked.

“Let’s take the Thenns to the eastern shore. Our brothers from Eastwatch will await us there”. Grenn was not even sure, but their chances were better that way. A second charge of fire arrows was already shining in the coast. It was easy to recognize the position of their attackers. Gods, if only...

Suddenly, a horn echoed on the coast. As he guided the ship, Grenn looked at the southern border of the forest, and the sight was the most amazing thing he could expect.  The rest of the Night’s Watch float and cavalry had arrived as soon as they got the signal, and they received the Thenns with long swords and crossbows.

*

The battle was brief and the result was irrefutable.  

Grenn was still covered with blood from the enemies, and he was deadly tired, but harmless, just like the vast majority of his black brothers. However, he finally breathed out, and barely whispered. “I did it, Pyp”

*

The red woman stared the flames and her eyes seemed to share the color of the fire.

“Tell me. What did you see?” Stannis Baratheon’s voice behind her ear was hard and cold as steel

“The great victory of life over dead will happen, but it won’t come alone. I see more sacrifice and death than this world has seen.”

“I know it. Victories always have a cost, and the greatest heroes must accept it.”

“All of us must make sacrifices.” The eyes of the sorceress looked directly into their king’s with a deep sadness inside “I saw something more. I’m not expecting you to understand it yet, but sometimes, the small ones must face the greatest challenges, and their sacrifice will be decisive in this war, my lord. Some victories will be achieved, not by sword, but by love.”