Chapter 608

The Iron Fleet had anchored at the mouth of Blackwater Bay for several days. On the first night, they launched a single, calculated strike, ambushing one of Daenerys' patrol ships—a simple but unmistakable declaration of their presence.

From that moment on, they lingered south of Dragonstone, patrolling the "Gullet"—the narrow channel off the Sharp Point peninsula.

This position was perfect.They controlled the main sea route in and out of Blackwater Bay.They blocked Dragonstone’s fleet from reaching King’s Landing.They had an open escape route if needed.

The Iron Fleet had a stranglehold on Daenerys' navy.

And Crow’s Eye had no intention of letting go.

Unless the Dragon Queen agreed to marry him and seal an alliance, Euron had no reason to leave.
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His strategy was simple, brutal, and effective.If Dragonstone sent patrol ships, he would hunt them down, one by one.If Daenerys sent her full navy, he would retreat, bait them, and wait for an opening to strike.If she ignored him and attacked King’s Landing, he would ambush her fleet from the rear when they were most vulnerable.

If Aegor had been privy to Euron’s war council, he would have marveled:

"This bastard isn’t just some madman—he actually understands the art of war!"
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But the Dragonstone fleet reacted swiftly.

After suffering several failed skirmishes, they ceased solo patrols and, on the third morning, finally deployed their entire navy.

Yet, they did not charge south.

Instead, they turned north, circling around Dragonstone, sailing westward toward Duskendale.
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Euron's one good eye narrowed.

He scattered his fleet to track their movements, sending scouts forward—

And soon uncovered two surprising truths.Dragonstone's harbor was abandoned. Even the port garrison had withdrawn into the castle.The fleet was not maneuvering or deceiving him. They were headed straight for Duskendale.

Had Daenerys abandoned Blackwater Bay entirely?

Had she surrendered control of the sea without a fight?

Impossible.

Something wasn't right.
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Sending reconnaissance ships closer, Euron quickly discerned the truth.

Daenerys hadn’t surrendered the seas—she was moving her fleet to Duskendale’s port to reinforce it with land troops.

She was bolstering her navy, preparing for a decisive battle.

A problem? Yes.

Would it make the Dragon Queen’s fleet more dangerous? Certainly.

But Euron grinned.

This was exactly what he wanted.
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He hadn’t sailed halfway around Westeros just to sink a few ships.

His true purpose was to stall Daenerys’ attack on King’s Landing.

Every soldier, weapon, and resource she allocated to her fleet weakened her land offensive.

The Unsullied and Gifted Lands army weren’t infinite.

Their siege potential would diminish as they diverted forces to naval combat.

And Stannis, fool though he was, remained a brilliant defensive commander.

If Euron could ease the pressure on King’s Landing, then Stannis had a real chance of holding the city.

The Reach had retreated, but their strength remained.

The Westerlands and the Vale had yet to fully commit.

If he could stall long enough, the tides would turn in his favor.
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Then came the alarm.

The warning bell rang across the fleet, sending captains scrambling to their spyglasses.

The northern horizon rippled.

A sea of black and red sails.

The Targaryen fleet.

And they were heading south.

Straight for the Iron Fleet.
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Euron turned sharply.

"Signal the fleet—fall back toward Blackwater River, slow speed!"

Flags fluttered.

Orders spread like wildfire.

The Ironborn—rowdy and ill-disciplined on land—were masters of naval combat.

Hundreds of ships turned about in a chaotic storm of movement—

Yet somehow, they maintained perfect formation.

They even left an open path for Silence to lead the retreat.
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And so, the infamous Iron Fleet—

Fled before the Dragon Queen.
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But Euron was not running in fear.

He was baiting them.

Leading them straight into his trap.
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His goal?

To lure the battle into King’s Landing’s eastern waters.

To drag the fight into the shadow of Aegon’s High Hill.
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Stannis' remaining Royal Fleet lurked there, hiding near the docks of the capital.

If Daenerys attacked King’s Landing, Euron would stand back and let them fight.

If Daenerys attacked him directly, then the Baratheon fleet would intervene.

They might not have a formal alliance—

But Stannis knew one thing.

If the Ironborn were crushed, his fleet would be next.
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The chase lasted hours.

The Iron Fleet moved steadily, deliberately retreating.

The Targaryen fleet—determined, relentless—pursued.

As the sun began to dip westward, the ships neared King’s Landing.

The Red Keep loomed in the distance.

The Iron Fleet halted.

Now anchored near Blackwater Bay’s mouth, they began to form a battle line.
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Silence took center position in the first line.

To her left and right were the great warships Leviathan and Night Reaver.

Beyond them lay Thunder, Roaring Beast, and a dozen more hulking longships.

Behind them—the second and third ranks.

And to either flank, an impossibly vast array of smaller ships, forming two deadly wings.
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Meanwhile, Stannis’ Royal Fleet completed their own formation.

At its head—

King Robert’s Hammer, Fury, Sea Stag, Lord Steffon.

The grandest warships of the old royal navy.
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Though smaller than in its prime, the Baratheon fleet still held power.

But compared to the Iron Fleet?

Compared to Euron’s monstrous expansion?

It was nothing.

Yet, they stood.

Waiting.

Watching.

Two fleets—angled at ninety degrees to one another.

Both facing the open sea.
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And then—

In the far horizon—

The Targaryen fleet appeared.

They had arrived.
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Yet, something was off.

Unlike the traditional three-column formations of Euron and Stannis, the Targaryens’ fleet was strange.

Rather than a wide, sweeping battle line, they had arranged in a vertical column.

A narrow, spear-like formation.

Aegor, had he been here, would have recognized the strategy immediately.

But Euron?

Euron stared.

And then—he laughed.
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"Is she insane?"

To attack like this, Daenerys was splitting her fleet in two!

She was letting Stannis trap her right flank while charging straight into the Iron Fleet’s waiting arms!

She was giving him the battle he wanted!

Euron’s laughter boomed across the deck.

"Lower the sails!"

"Ready the oars!"

"Advance—slowly. Hold position until she crashes into Stannis."

"Then we take them all!"
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And so—

As the sun bled across the sky—

The Battle of Blackwater Bay began anew.