The weight of a crown.
Summary: Catelyn goes with Theon to Pyke when Robb sends him to negotiate with his father. She manages to escape and warn Robb of the impending invasion. Things take a different turn as the Stark army has to march North instead of South. Arya is still lost and Sansa is still in King's Landing.
1. On the way to Pyke
At Riverrun, Catelyn has asked his son Robb, King Robb, to trade the Kingslayer (captured in battle) for Sansa and Arya, who are still in King's Landing. But Robb is adamant. They are keeping the Kingslayer. Robb intends to send Theon to Pyke to rally his father's men to their cause.
"I would sooner you sent someone else to Pyke, and kept Theon close to you" his mother said.
"Who better to treat with Balon Greyjoy than his son?"
"Jason Mallister" offered Catelyn. "Tytos Blackwood. Stevron Frey. Anyone .. but not Theon."
"Theon's fought bravely for us. I told you how he saved Bran from those wildlings in the wolfswood. If the Lannisters won't make peace, I'll have need of Lord Greyjoy's longships".
"You'll have them sooner if you keep his son as hostage."
"He's been a hostage half his life"
"For good reason" Catelyn said. "Balon Greyjoy is not a man to be trusted. He wore a crown himself, remember, if only for a season. He may aspire to wear one again."
"I will not grudge him that, if I'm King in the North, let him be King of the Iron Islands, if that's his desire. I'll give him a crown gladly, so long as he helps us bring down the Lannisters"
"Robb -"
"I'm sending Theon"
"Well, then in that case, I'm going with him" she said firmly.
.
They set off early following morning. First they went by land to Seagard, accompanying the Mallisters who were escorting some prisoners. At Seagard Theon and Catelyn boarded a ship to Pyke.
"So, Lady Stark, have you ever been to the Iron Islands?" asked Theon standing proudly on the deck as if he were the captain of the ship.
"No, I can't say I have" she said noncommittally.
"Why are you here? You don't trust me, do you? You never have"
"I'm here as an envoy for Robb, that is all" she said calmly.
.
Ever since they left Riverrun Theon had been raving non stop about the Iron Islands and the Iron Men. About his father Balon Greyjoy. The Greyjoy family line. Pyke. About the welcome he would get as soon as they set foot on Pyke. About the feasts and parties they would have in his name. About the girls he would have at his feet, just like the captain's daughter. The poor girl thought she could have a future with him and started to get friendly with Theon. But Theon never planned on taking this girl with him, let alone marrying her. She was just a distraction on the ship.
Theon boasted about most things to Lady Stark, but he kept his most secret thoughts to himself. He was not going to rally his father's men to help Robb. He would take this opportunity to rally his own men. Theon Greyjoy's men. King Theon. King of the Iron Islasnds. He would make his father proud. He would honour the great traditions of the Iron Islands. The world would learn about King Theon. They would learn to respect him, to fear him. And as his thoughts expanded and grew, so did he, and he climaxed inside the girl.
"Did I please you milord?" the girl asked.
"Yes" he said coldly. "Now make sure I'm clean, I don't want to soil my clothes. How often do you get to enjoy a Lord? Not very often, do you?"
"Can you take me with you? I can be your wife"
"What are you? Fourteen? Your place is here, with your father. Isn't is your job to entertain your father's guests?
"No, milord"
"Well, it should be, You're good at it" and with that he put his clothes on and went on the deck.
.
"Milord, we'll be ashore shortly" the captain announced.
"Where are all the men, all the banners?" Theon asked looking at the empty harbour. "Maybe they're waiting for me inside"
No one was waiting for them at the harbour. Maybe his father never got the ravens, he thought. As soon as they set foot on land a man approached him.
"Theon Greyjoy?" he said
"That depends, who are you?"
"Your father sends me. Come. And the woman too." He said pointing at Lady Stark.
"Who are you?" asked Theon again.
"Your uncle. I will take you to your father".
.
As they reached a stream his uncle asked "Do you pray to the wolf gods now?
"Ned Stark prayed to a tree. No, I care nothing for the Starks' gods."
"Good. Kneel"
"Uncle, I .."
"Kneel! Or are you too proud now, a lordling of the green lands come among us?"
"No" Theon said as he knelt.
"Bow your head" said his uncle and he pushed Theon's head under water.
As the seconds ticked by and this man showed no signs of letting Theon go, Lady Stark was about to interfere. "You stay where you are woman. You do not belong here. You do not understand" the uncle said before finally releasing Theon. "Let Theon, your servant be born again from the sea, as you were. Bless him with salt, bless him with stone, bless him with steel. Nephew, do you still know the words?"
"What is dead may never die" shouted Theon proudly.
"What is dead may never die" his uncle echoed, " but rises again, harder and stronger."
"I'm a Greyjoy and an Iron man and I never ceased to be so" he said thumping his chest with his fist. "I may have been away for a few years and not by my choice. But now I'm back, uncle."
TBC