Theon Greyjoy
"Theon Greyjoy you take that back or I'll have your head" Theon smirked as Elyssia whirled around to send him a nasty glare.
"And what will you take it with, my little star-crossed traitor?" He teased as she puffed up, her cheeks turning pink.
"I told you I'm no traitor" The girl shot back. "If anything you're the traitor here, Greyjoy. It was your father that started the rebellion."
"And yours whose swords made him a threat to the crown. Just as it was your pulling that raised the black Shadowcat of the Danes and the Painted Heart of the Morrays. Just as they did when your Thornes marched against the Starks during the war." Theon wanted to laugh at the comical way the girl was facing him. One fist clenched at her hip, the other crossing her breasts. He loved goading her this way if only to see the furious expression on her face. "My mother did always say, the Thornes born of a Dane were always more Shadowcat than Elderoak."
"You couldn't remember your mother saying that" The fight was turning nasty now. "You don't remember your parents anymore than I do"
"That's enough you two" Theon looked over his shoulder as the new voice spoke, surprised to find none other than Lord Stark standing there. The lord's arms were crossed over his chest as he looked at the two of them. "Are you comparing war stories of battles you'd never remember"
"No" If Lord Stark noticed Elyssia bite her lip he didn't say anything. Theon, on the other hand, had grown up alongside her and noticed immediately. A fellow hostage of the warden of the north. Of course, Elyssia seemed to have fit in much better than he could have. But that was to be expected. She was the heir to Elderbridge, a great castle that could match Casterly Rock coin for coin and still have half their treasury full. She knew all about her lands, her people, who she was meant to be when she was shipped back to Alavane Thorne with whatever husband Eddard Stark chose to guide her. Theon had come to accept that while Lady Elyssia Thorne, heiress to Elderbridge, would one day go home; he would not. Theon Greyjoy was far too great a pawn to be released back to his father.
"What are you doing out here anyway?" Eddard Stark asked. "Theon, I know I told you to meet me in the stables just earlier. I didn't expect you to be here, taunting Lady Elyssia."
"I forgot, my Lord" Theon hung his head for a moment. "Is it time to punish the crow?"
"Yes" His foster father nodded.
"While you're off to see a beheading I'll help myself to your bow-" Elyssia got in one final jab as he walked away. He spun on heel, ready to snarl at her when Lord Stark interrupted.
"Lady Elyssia. I've decided you'll come along as well" The man said, motioning for her to come along.
"But Lord Stark!" Elyssai protested, much to Theon's amusement. "Lady Catelyn said we're not supposed to see the killings. She said no young lady would witness it"
"That may hold true for most of the Ladies in the seven kingdoms." Lord Stark's eyes were sparkling as he smiled slyly at her. "But need we remind you over and over that you are not just any Lady. You are heiress to Elderbridge. And in your father's lands gender does not decide the heir. A leader must carry out his own justice lest killing become too easy. A lesson that cannot be taught too many times."
"I am no leader here and the crow who fled is not under my justice" Elyssia said defiantly.
The lord turned on heel, waling toward the stables. " Well by your good graces I trust you'll come and witness mine"
Elyssia Thorne
Curse that damn Greyjoy. Elyssia thought to herself as she rode, nudging her horse to stay in step with young Brandon Stark's. The ten year old was morose, more so than either of his brothers or Theon Greyjoy should have been. The three older boys were laughing and jesting as if they weren't on their way to see a man killed. The very thought of it set uneasiness through Elyssia's stomach. This is all Greyjoy's fault. If he hadn't teased me I wouldn't be here. She clenched her fists tighter around the reigns.
"Lys-I mean Lady Elyssia, are you alright?" Elyssia looked up as Bran corrected himself as a knight rode past them. "You look a bit sick."
"Why wouldn't she be ill?" Theon called back. "She's about to see a traitor as black as her father beheaded"
"Theon!" The thought made Elyssai feel worse as Jon Snow and Robb Stark scolded Theon, their voices mixing in with a few others telling him not to taunt her.
You can do this. She told herself. You are Elyssia Thorne. Youngest daughter of Alavane Thorne and Lady Lucine of House Dane. Heir to the high seat of Elderbridge. Named for the noble princess Elia, child of Dorne. If anyone can handle a simple beheading it is you.
"Since you're so keen on making this worse for her, I suppose you can catch her when she faints?" She caught the words coming from Robb.
Theon glowered at the other boy before making his response. "You heard Lord Stark. She's heir to Elderbridge. And if she can't carry out it's justice without making a fool of herself then how is she fit to lead?
"She may best you with a bow, Theon. But she cannot swung the headsman's axe. It's as big as she is, our Lady of the Wind" Robb joked.
Elyssia felt her face heat at the jest. The Thornes were typically short and stocky, with broad shoulders. Her sisters had been this way, with think shoulders and pretty faces. Built like mountains of women. They were the heirs people expected for Elderbridge. An heir they would not get with her as their Lady. Though people said she was her father's ghost in looks, she knew she'd gotten her slender, willowy build from House Dane. The others often made jests at calling her "Lady of the Wind" as they thought she'd blow away with a good huff from a war horse. To hear Robb speak such insult surprise her.
She bit her tongue hard, tasting the irony bitterness of blood.. She could feel the brief glances and harsh stares. Bran's gaze was evident as he watched for her reaction. One she couldn't give. Courtesy was a lady's armor...or so Lady Catelyn had told her. If she could not suffer a jest from her "brothers" then she would never survive a court. To react strongly would be to prove to Eddard Stark that when she finally be sent to Elderbridge, she be sent with a husband to manage her lands in her name.
"See how he bites her tongue?" Theon asked, nudging Robb. "The little wind lady wants so badly to feed us our tongues" He laughed.
"Goad her much more and you might taste yours yet" A man of Lord Stark's said, giving Theon a stern look. "None of us have forgotten your wailing when you ran bawling to Lady Catelyn screaming bout the wicked she-witch that tried to kill you"
"What did she say to him?" Another knight laughed with the others.
"Told him she was going to give him a gift and let him meet his Drowned God earlier than expected" The men laughed as Jory, one of the few Elyssia recognized, smiled at Theon.
The Greyjoy boy was blushing fiercely as the men laughed at him. Bran looked from Elyssia to Theon in mild supripse.
"What's the matter, Bran?" Jon asked, turning to look at his half brother. "Can't believe our sweet Lady Elyssia would ever so much as lay on a finger on her dear foster brother?"
"Did you really tell him you were going to send him to the Drowned God?" Bran asked quietly.
"She did indeed boy. More than once. They weren't always so sweet to each other" A man behind them called.
Elyssia blushed and opened her mouth to speak, but Theon beat her too it.
"Who would ever be so sweat to a traitorous cow?" He snapped, glaring at her. His eyes widened when he'd realized what had come out of his mouth. "I didn't mean that"
She narrowed her eyes at him coldly. "You did Theon. And you'd say it again whether I were in earshot or not" She said sharply. "But just remember, Theon Greyjoy, great Kraken of the north. You're not the only one whose hard has been chilled by the bristling winds of Winterfell."
