Ten Towers, Harlaw
Asha set off in one of her smaller boats to Harlaw and her uncle's seat. It had been a while since she'd visited Uncle Rodrik and Mother and she was sure that they would like to know the news as soon as possible. Uncle Rod was a wise man, at least she could discuss the issue without her father's sneering and negativity muddying the waters.
She moored the boat at the harbour, greeting acquaintances with a confident smile as she went and strode up the path to Ten Towers, ignoring One-Tooth who glared at the mud she was tracking into the house.
"Have you seen Uncle Rodrik?" she asked her Aunt Gywnesse who looked down her nose in great disapproval as she entered and made herself at home.
Asha let it roll off her back. Whatever she did Aunt Gywnesse would never be pleased. She doubted she would ever forgive her for her lack of femininity and passivity. For being too much Balon's daughter and his feminine mirror.
"Where he normally is, in his study. He said not to be disturbed except in a dire emergency."
Asha just strode right past her, ignoring her petulant squawking. "Didn't you hear what I told you, insolent child? He's busy-"
"He'll be glad to see me, I warrant." She said airily. Gywnesse scowled, unable to stop her.
"Nuncle Rodd? Are ye busy?" she knocked on the door and waited to be admitted. He raised his head at the sound of her voice, coming out of his word-induced trance. He stretched and yawned in his seat. "Asha, dear, come sit. I had no idea you were coming. I would have ordered a warmer welcome. Have you rested and eaten, lass?"
"It's fine Nuncle, I'm not staying long." She said, dutifully giving him a kiss on the cheek. "I'm on my way to the mainland, on Father's business."
"What are you planning? Doing some reaving alongst the Stony Shore?" he teased, eyes twinkling.
She leaned back in her chair. "Not this time, Nuncle. I'm going to Winterfell."
"Winterfell?" his curious eyes gleamed with newly kindled interest. "What sends you there?"
She settled in the seat opposite him. "Father wants me to see Theon's bride for myself. If we approve, then I suppose he'll want me to negotiate with the Greenlanders-"
"Theon's getting married?" Rodrik raised his eyebrows in surprise. It didn't seem so long ago, the lad had been taken to act as surety for Balon's compliance and now he was getting married. Time flew, all too soon and poor Alannys, his sister, still grieved the loss of her youngest boy and had missed out on so much of his life.
"Aye, the Old Wolf made us an offer. For his eldest daughter. Offered us a king's ransom to take her."
"Really?" he leaned forward with interest.
"As far as I could see he would return here with his bride. They would settle back home here."
"They must value her very much." observed Rodrik. "A king's ransom, eh?"
"Or is it a bribe, I wonder. Why is Eddard Stark so keen to be rid of his daughter. D'ye Theon has already dishonoured her? Perhaps she is already with child? Perhaps the Old Wolf will agree to anything to have his grandchild legitimate.""
"You yourself, said they offered a king's ransom-" Rodrik pointed out, most reasonably. "Would they do that, if she was worthless?"
"What if it's a bribe? What if there's something wrong with her?" Asha fretted.
"You'll find that out when you go there." Rodrik said, "-just keep your eyes open, and send a raven if you can as soon as you know the truth. May I tell your mother of your news? I'm sure she would be glad to hear tiding of her son."
Asha felt as if she had been slightly selfish. Her mother craved news of her boy, even the letters from the Stark reporting on Theon's progress which Uncle Rodrik received from the Stark woman regular as the turn of the moon. her heart always broke a little to see her mother cradling the letters close as if they could be a substitute for the real thing, until one of them took pity and prised them away from her before they got crumpled and creased beyond repair.
"What harm can it do? Tell her what you see fit. I'll write more from Winterfell if I can." Asha stood to take her leave. "I think I'll take you up on that offer of victuals now if you mind not."
He waved her away, returned to the spell of his pages, long neglected. "Of course, lass. Help yourself and make sure you have enough victual to make your journey."
Winterfell
Cat attempted to counsel and comfort her daughter as she came to terms with her new betrothal and marriage.
"I know this is hard for you, darling but you would be doing good." Cat stroked her daughter's hair as rich and bright as hers. "To bring to the North and the Iron Isles. Peace and redemption, that's no small thing, is it?"
Sansa relaxed against her mother, taking comfort from her soothing presence. Cat's gentle hand stroking her fire bright hair. "Is it wrong for me to feel disappointed, mother? I had dreamed of a high match, to be married to a great lord-"
And Theon is not what you dreamed of. I know darling, I know.
"A marriage is more than that. You know Theon. You've known him all your life. And he's not so bad, really, underneath all his bravado." Her voice trailed away hopefully, as if she were trying to convince herself, despite her own misgivings.
Sansa looked at her mother with uncertainty. "Mother, do you think he would be a good husband to me? Better than Joffrey?"
Anyone would be better than Joffrey. The more Cat thought about it the more she was convinced her daughter had a lucky escape from that boy and his mother. There was something about Cersei Lannister Baratheon that set her nerves at edge. If they could keep her girl away from her rapacious grasp then Cat counted that as a victory.
"Make the best of what you have. When I married your father, he was not what I chose. I don't think I have ever told you this, but originally I was to marry his brother Brandon instead. But your father did his duty as I did, and I have never regretted it."
"But you ended up with Papa and you're both happy. I'm going to be Theon's wife-" How does she tell her mother how scared she is of the prospect of being Theon's wife? Of living on the Iron Isles, so different to everything she'd known.
"He might surprise you." Cat said, pressing a kiss to Sansa's temple. "Who knows, you might learn to care for him, even love him one day as I have your father. But you have to give him the chance to do so."
Theon waited for Sansa at the foot of the tower. Robb had suggested they go for a walk and get to know each other that way. he said he would follow them to act as chaperone, but give them enough space for a little privacy. Theon knew he would rather have Robb who was at least a little sympathetic than Jon who still glared at him as if he expected him to dishonour his sister at the first chance he got.
For his part, he was keen to take up the suggestion and get to know her better. He had more than enough of heroic tales of knights and fair ladies. Sitting there with a polite bland face as some endless ballad with a ridiculous amount of verses and chorus was sung and discussed. Arya making faces behind everyone's backs, the little minx and attempting to make him laugh at the most inappropriate times.
He pulled at his best tunic, fingering the embroidered kraken worked in scarlet and gold thread at his breast. If truth be known he was a bit nervy spending time alone with his new betrothed. How was he going to convince Sansa that marrying him was a good idea? He expected her any moment to come to her senses and run screaming from him, his family and what they represented. Frankly he couldn't have blamed her if she did.
She appeared wearing her spring furs and a pretty grey dress he didn't think he'd seen before. Her hair bright as copper underneath her hood was half pulled back He stepped forward and offered her his arm. She flushed with pleasure as she accepted it, cheeks dimpling prettily. Theon thought it made her look young and fresh and too infinitely good for someone like him.
How in all the god's name was he meant to woo her?
"This is pleasant, is it not my lord?" she chirped. "Lovely fresh air and some exercise."
He wasn't quite sure where he was going to take her. He just wanted to get away from Winterfell and the claustrophobic atmosphere of the castle, everyone's eyes on them. They walked, Sansa gliding along elegantly beside him. He wanted to put his arm round her waist and pull her close, but he wondered if that was being too familiar. He was conscious of everyone watching him expecting him to be inappropriate so they could rebuke him. He wasn't going to give them that satisfaction. He would act like a gentleman if it killed him!
"Is it so terrible being given to me?" he asked once they were mostly alone. Robb walked along the path behind them, kicking at clumps of grass and dawdling. "I know 'tis not what you dreamed of, Sansa. You deserve much better, if I am honest."
She blinked at his unguarded moment of honesty. "My father and his Grace decided on the match. I'm sure they have excellent reasons for it." that polite serene mask slid back over her face. For a moment, Theon longed for that honesty and openness back again
"What do you think? I don't want to know what they want. What do you want, Sansa?"
She looked down, her lashes shadowing her cheeks. "You can't ask that of me."
"And yet I do." There was something that made him persist, to find out what she really thought of the arrangement. If she viewed him with distaste, if she really didn't want, he would speak to Lord Eddard, try and persuade him that the union couldn't go on.
She looked right up at him, her blue eyes honest and clear. "I admit 'tis not what I dreamed. You know this ser, but given a choice between Joffrey and you, knowing what I know of him, I'd choose you." She looked surprised to hear herself say that, blinking slightly at her own daring.
"And do you think, that you could ever feel anything more?"
"You want me to love you." She mused, sounding wiser than her years. "Is that what you want, Theon?"
"Is that so very outlandish?" he challenged her, looking her straight in the eyes.
Could you love such a one as I? he seemed to ask her, unspoken.
She smiled gently, tucking her arm under his. He felt a ridiculous surge of hope at her gesture. "Maybe it will come. In time."