So Close I Can Taste It.

Part 3

"Lady Y/N," Euron stood up and gestured for you to sit down at his top table as you entered for your evening meal.

There were few chairs at the top table, a space for Euron of course, a comfortable guest chair for yourself, a large gap on either side then chairs for the small council.

"Lord Greyjoy,"

"Euron, please. If we are to become allies, why the formalities, Y/N?" he smiled and for a moment, you felt your skin prickle again.

The food was served within moments of you taking your seat and it allowed you time to think whilst you ate.

"Lor- Euron, how long have you been back on the Iron Islands for, I understand you were away for some years,"

He took a large sip of wine "That is true, I left after the failed rebellion, after my brother bent the knee, and I arrived the day before I killed him. Whilst he was fucking everything over, I was establishing myself as the greatest ship captain in the known world, and trust me, I've seen a lot of it,"

"So I've heard," you'd sent your handmaiden out to gather information for you whilst you bathed alone. She'd came back only to tell you he was the commander of the Iron Fleet and had sailed around Westeros and Essos for years. The largest ship was called the Silence. Named so because Euron had personally removed the tongues of his crew. It wasn't much to go on but to be fair, you had given her a little under an hour to find information before you'd needed her back.

"What else have you heard?" he asked. It was like he could read you and you didn't quite know if that was a good thing.

You decided to speak boldly "I've heard they call your ship the Silence, I've heard... it's called so because you cut out your crew members tongues,"

Euron didn't look at all fazed "Its true," he pushed his finished plate away. "I needed the silence, I needed quiet,"

"And if they refused?" You asked. It was unlikely men would volunteer for a maiming.

"I gave them a choice, stay loyal to me and have their tongues removed. Or betray me, and die," he opened his arms wide. "I bet you can guess what option most of them chose. At sea, there is only the Iron Fleet, everything else pales in comparison. No man with a brain would try their hand against my ships,"

You gestured for the server to refill your now empty goblet and composed yourself, rather glad you'd managed to find some information on him. There was a part of you, oddly impressed. There wasn't many a man who could maim his crew and still have a crew willing to serve under him.

"That is...very reassuring to hear, we need a strong navy... with a captain they will remain loyal to in times of war,"

Euron smiled, somewhat pleased with your reaction "And what do we get from this alliance?"

You had had time to think on this whilst at sea. Deep down, you knew that should the dragon girl come west and wage war, the late Walder Frey would not turn up he was sure of a Lannister/Baratheon victory. He'd switch alliance at a moments notice. You'd never trusted him. Had it been you sitting on the Iron Throne, you'd have handed his castles in the Riverlands and at Twins to the Ironborn after the war was won just to see the look on his face.

You bit your lip. "I have what I believe would be a sufficient offer, however I require King Tommen's approval. Due to the short notice of the trip, I have not been able to consult with him,"

Eurons gaze fell on your lips and you released it from your bite. "Mores the pity, I think I'd like to hear your offer,".

In your head, you knew you probably shouldn't advise what you'd give, when there is a chance Tommen, sweet and gentle Tommen, would come back with a much less interesting proposal.