So Close I Can Taste It.

Part 2

Your dress was much heavier and warmer than the clothes you'd usually wear in Kings Landing and the wind lifted your cape up as you walked from your ship to greet the guards waiting to escort you to the castle. One of them held the reins to a horse, you expected was your ride.

It had been a long journey and a part of you was glad to be back on solid ground. You'd sailed before, of course, but never for that long.

When you reached them, the man holding the reins handed them over wordlessly and pointed at the castle ahead, nodding at your accompanying guards to take another horse each.

The wordless man rode just ahead on your short journey to the castle and upon reaching the castle, he lead you across a small bridge, up some stairs and to doors you assumed lead to the main hall. He signalled for your guards to wait outside, and you nodded in agreement. This was fairly common practice. "Wait here," you agreed. "I should be fine,"

The wordless man knocked twice on the door, then opened the door and extended his arm in a gesture telling you to enter. As soon as you had, you heard the heavy wooden door creak shut behind you.

"Lady Baratheon, you must be tired from your journey," a mans voice came from the chair in front of the fireplace.

"I was expecting someone from Kings Landing. I've heard usually they send an old councilman, instead they've sent me a beautiful Lady to speak with," he smiled widely.

You had never met Lord Balon Greyjoy but you knew instantly this man was not him. Lord Balon was a greying, aging man. The man sat in the chair was dark haired, blue eyed and tall. He was older than you, but not considerably so. He wore a driftwood crown and you had to fight yourself from sighing out loud. What was it with the Northerners and the Iron Islanders proclaiming their Lords were Kings?

You smiled at his typical Lordly comment, loaded with flattery. "And will Lord Balon Greyjoy be joining us whilst we speak?" You questioned.

The dark haired mans lips curled slightly in a semblance of a smile. "It'd be hard for him. He's dead," He spoke as nonchalantly as if he was telling you what the kitchen staff would be preparing for your evening meal. "Fell from the rope bridge during a storm"

You shook your head in disbelief "Forgive me- I was not aware of-,"

"A lots happened since you've been at sea, Lady Baratheon," he stood up and approached you.

"So...Who might you be...Lord....?" You questioned.

"Euron Greyjoy, King of the Iron Islands and the greatest ship captain of the fourteen seas," he reached out, took your wrist and kissed your hand. "And you are Lady Y/N, Robert Baratheon's true born daughter, of course,"

You glanced him over, pausing carefully before speaking "The news had clearly not reached us whilst we were at sea, I am sorry to hear of your loss, my Lord," you spoke politely, observing your well-rehearsed manners, but inwardly wondering if this meant you would walk out of the castle and back to your ship and sail home.

Euron shrugged "Don't be, I was the one who pushed him," he brought his other hand to his face and gestured at a fresh cut over his cheek "Got this for my troubles,"

You had to bite hard on your tongue to prevent your natural reaction to his words showing on your face, although you were positive he could read it in your eyes if he looked close enough. You were not the type of shock easily, having grown up in Kings Landing, and you knew the Ironborn often carried a rather...ruthless reputation but openly attempting kinslaying was something unheard of.

"Forgive me, I've never been here before, Is kinslaying common practice on Pyke?" You

replied as neutrally as possible, attempting to suppress your shock at how brazenly Euron had admitted his crime to a stranger.