Ten Towers, Harlaw
Balon sailed into the harbour and secured his boat, ignoring the greetings of his subjects as he went. He never liked coming here, not after Alannys had left him and returned to her ancestral home. Coming here just reminded him of his failure to comfort and keep his wife after the failed rebellion. No matter how he'd humbled himself and cajoled her, Alannys refused to return to Pyke with him, growing so distressed that in the end Rodrik asked him firmly to desist from upsetting her.
"She wants to come home to Ten Towers. She's not happy at Pyke, Lord Balon. Leave her be."
"But she's my wife!" Balon protested, outraged at not getting his way.
"She'll be safe here, I promise you." Rodrik consoled him with a determined look that told he'd not change his mind and if Balon pressed the point he would be forced to defy his liege-lord. With an ill- grace, Balon had to subside.
He'd not chase after her; if she didn't want him then that was her problem! He thought, stubbornly digging his heels in.
"I'm here to see Alannys." He said bluntly- riding roughshod over any objection in his impatience. He didn't have time for this, not when he was expecting word from Asha about the Stark proposal. The Fleet were ready to depart for the Northern territories, as soon as they got the word from her. Gwynesse got on his nerves, always looking down on him as if he was not good enough to associate with her illustrious family. The woman was unconsciously proud with no reason at all- she wasn't the chatelaine of Ten Towers and never would be. He wouldn't have tolerated it personally in a wife, but Rodrik -soft-hearted as he was- indulged her to a perplexing degree.
Alannys stood by the open windows, her arms wrapped around herself, as if huddling for warmth. She was barely dressed in nothing more than her shift, her fair hair unbrushed and hanging down in lank hanks. She had deep dark shadows under her eyes and she could have done with some more colour in her wan cheeks, but she seemed happier and more content than she had in a long while. Hadn't anyone told her he was coming?, He asked himself.
"Balon?" she asked, faintly focusing on him as he approached her. "It is you, isn't it?
Her wide-eyed stare made him uncomfortable. He averted his eyes, unable to meet her blank gaze. "How do ye fare?" he addressed his former wife with a gruff tone, the affection for her well hidden underneath.
She gave him a vague smile. "Very well, Balon. Asha tells me my boy's getting married! That my darling lad's coming home with a bride."
Asha must have come here of her own volition. He hadn't given any orders for her to stop off here before her voyage to the Northern lands.
Why would she have told her mother of the proposed match? It was by no mean a done deal. For all anyone knew he might say nay!
Even as he thought it, Balon knew that he wasn't being entirely honest. The dowry that the Old Wolf Stark and Robert the Lecher had offered was nothing to be sneezed at, even he'd seen that once he's inspected Asha's calculations properly. The girl might be a greenlander but she was high-born, a valuable female and if she was anything like Stark's woman, very beautiful and fruitful with five children to her credit. With the loss of two of his heirs, it was something he would have to consider.
Asha was right. they would have to take the proposal seriously. A man might grow great through his deeds, but if he didn't have a secure line to follow him and carry on his legacy , then all his efforts were for naught. Stark had taken his only heir but had returned him and given his daughter in compensation. Perhaps this could work, if his son had managed to manipulate Stark into giving him the girl and extract the king's ransom from him, maybe he wasn't as useless as he had suspected he was.
"I have a boon to ask of you, my Lord." Alannys asked.
A boon? Are ye not happy here? I thought your brother saw to your needs-" Balon replied. "D'ye lack for anything?"
She shook her head. "I want to go with you."
Of all the things, he expected her to say, that didn't come to mind. "You want to do what?" he echoed.
"- When you go to see the Stark for their wedding. I want to see my boy happy." her face was radiant with happiness as she spoke, envisaging her reunion with her darling boy. "I want to see the girl he chose to bear his children."
Balon had his doubts deep in his heart if Theon had ever chosen her but this wasn't the time to say anything. Despite their estrangement he found he didn't have the heart to deny her request. She was the mother of his children and if he could make her happy in this small way, was it not worth it?
"Please, my Lord. In the name of the affection and respect you once had for me. I ask this of you. Let me see my son happy. Let me go with you to the Greenlands and see him wed."
He nodded, feeling a bit helpless in the face of her desperation and disliking the emotion. "We depart in a day and will stop at Harlaw on our way. You and Rodrik may join the fleet if you wish."
Her eyes filled with grateful tears. "Thank you." she took up his hands and kissed them fervently. Balon tried to withdraw them but her grip was strong, and she wouldn't let him go just yet. "Thank you, my Lord. Thank you, Balon."
"I must go, I have lingered here long enough. I am glad to see you are well, Alannys." he said gruffly withdrawing from her
He left her, lost in dream of reuniting with her boy at last.
WinterfellArya was hanging round the watchtower, talking to the guards and avoiding her septa when she saw one lone rider heading up the road to Winterfell. "Who's that?"
"-You've sharp eyes, little squirrel, have a look for us?"
Arya clambered up to the top of the watch tower and spotted the sable pennant floating behind the rider. The wind stretched it out revealing the golden kraken of the Greyjoy clan.
"She's here. She's coming." she said breathlessly as soon as she got back to the guardroom.
"Who is?"
Arya made an impatient noise. "Theon's sister! She's here about the match. She must have Lord Balon's response."
This was really happening. The appearance of Theon's sister made everything very real to them all. What if Lord Balon said no? They were all far too committed to withdraw now- the Lannisters would be furious if they knew exactly how things had gone. Balon Greyjoy had to agree to the match, he just had to.
"Someone ought to tell Miss Sansa and your father, I'm sure they'd like to know. And your lady mother will want to welcome our guest with all courtesy."
Arya got up from her perch, shaking herself reluctantly. "I will. Although I'm sure Septa Mordane will catch me and drag me back to my lessons."
"I'm here on behalf of Balon Greyjoy to see Lord Stark. Can you tell me where he is?" the woman said as she was stopped by the gate. She took in her surroundings with keen assessing eyes.
"Who asks?" the guard inquired, looking askance at her rough leather jerkin and breeches. She hardly looked like a suitable ambassador for the Lord of the Iron Isles. In fact she looked more like a rough dressed urchin in salt-stained leathers than a lady.
As soon as he saw the smirk lifting the corner of her mouth, her resemblance to Theon Greyjoy was laid bare. "Asha Greyjoy, of Pyke. I have an urgent message for Lord Stark-"
"Lord Stark is expecting you. I shall have you announced forthwith."
"Good." She strode confidently into the castle without another word, cropped head held arrogantly high.
The guardsmen shook their heads as she passed, torn between admiration and bemusement at her bold and unwomanly ways.
"She's the spitting image of him. It gave me quite a turn." muttered Ser Rodrik.
"Of Balon?" a young guard asked
"Aye- and young Greyjoy as well. Pebble doesn't fall too far from the cliff with that lot, does it?"
Ned prepared to meet with Asha Greyjoy to negotiate the settlement for his daughter to marry Theon. Was the old buzzard merely being cautious sending the girl, or was he going to be difficult and play hard to get? The whole thing would fall apart if Balon refused to agree to the terms and allow the match. He was bloody-minded and proud enough to do it, and he had little love for the Starks as it was, after his rebellion and defeat . I've offered him a great deal and Robert has matched it. But will it be enough?
"Asha Greyjoy?" he cleared his throat to announce his arrival.
The girl took her long boot-clad legs off the trestle tale which he thought was probably best. Cat would have a fit if she'd seen that, but she was in the glass gardens tending her plants luckily and hadn't seen their new visitor.
Asha gave him an impudent grin which reminded him so much of the boy once he'd settled into Winterfell and become a terror of the castle.
"Lord Stark-" he tried not to notice the insolence in her tone. We need her co-operation. Her father must trust her judgement if he sends the lass to carry out his business.
"Shall we do this in my office, my lady? I'm sure you understand that time is of the essence and we have much to discuss and arrange-"
Asha rose to follow him. "After you, my Lord." she said brightly.
Asha scattered sand over her missive before looking for a raven to send to her father. She'd had enough time to make her preliminary observations and decide what she thought of the situation.
You could see how desperate they were for her family to agree to the match. Stark and his clan must be frantic to get their girl married off as soon as possible. The arrangements were forging ahead with almost indecent haste. No sooner had they talked in his office, Stark had sent another raven to her father, asking him to consider his proposal.
What interested her was that Theon seemed to be making an effort to woo the girl. He danced attendance on her daily. Nothing was too ridiculous, no little task or request too humble for him to carry out under the indulgent eye of the Starks.
She had wanted to laugh her head off the morning she'd discovered him in the females' solar. Theon listening intently as Sansa played on her high harp, regaling them with a rendition of 'Jenny of Oldstones'. The girl had a sweet enough voice, frail and girlish, delicate and youthful and sweet as spring honey.
Asha leant back in the doorway, her eyes twinkling with mirth. Her mouth twitched with amusement as she regarded the scene in front of her. Sansa came to a stop, her fingers hovering over the strings, harmonies still ringing in the air.
"My Lady Greyjoy?" her voice was polite but chilly as she turned to their visitor. Asha suspected that the girl didn't know what to make of her prospective good-sister, but her politeness forced her to be civil against her own judgement.
"What's this, Theon?" Asha smirked, starting to laugh at the wary looks on their faces. "I never had you down as a music lover?"
He scowled at her, not appreciating the mockery in her voice. "I'm just spending time with my betrothed, there's nothing wrong with that, is there. Sister?"
"Nothing at all...You are certainly keen, aren't ye? Quite the attentive suitor-" She spotted an end of ribbon protruding from the bottom of his doublet and gave it a playful tug. Theon attempted to stop her, twisting away from her, but she was too swift for him, grabbing the end of ribbon and pulling it out.
"What are you doing? Stop that!" he snapped.
It was far too easy to get to him. She danced out of his range, ignoring his annoyance and attempts to regain his prize.
"What is this?" she teased, enjoying the way he gritted his teeth and scowled far too much. "Why are you so very defensive, brother? It's just a little trifle, isn't it?" She took it out and examined the ribbon, running her fingers along the black silk and the embroidered krakens decorating it.
"Give it back!" he snapped, making another unsuccessful grab at it.
"All in good time, once I've had a good look at it?" Asha teased.
The girl had an odd look on her pretty face as she registered what the Greyjoy siblings were squabbling over, half embarrassed and half pleased. "Theon? You kept it?"
He turned to the girl, focusing his attention on her. "Of course I did. You gave it to me, didn't you?" The girl actually beamed at him.
Why was he so keen? Asha asked herself. Did he actually care for the girl or was he so intent on getting back to the Isles and displacing her as heir that he cared not what price he paid? She would have to watch him most carefully, she saw that now. She had no idea that lad was so eager to get home to the Isles - or yet so ambitious. She would have to keep a close eye on him, that was for sure.
She couldn't honestly object. The couple did actually seem to like each other. She'd seen the adoring way Sansa had looked at her brother, all big blue eyes and shy smiles.
Fancy Theon being so sentimental to keep her favour close, like some ridiculous tourney knight! That has got to be Sansa's influence. The defensive way he clung to that bit of embroidered ribbon, the hectic blush on his face as she seized upon it and he tried to get it back from her.
The silly little goose probably thinks he's dashing, dark and handsome. If he's plying her with his charm and his silver tongue - so like his uncle Aeron in his youth from the tales she heard whispered in the taverns- Sansa could easily have had her head turned. That bit of business with the favour was cleverly done, even if the lass didn't see it herself, calculated to appeal to her sentimental heart.
She would say something for the Old Wolf- he was remarkably clever. By insisting that Theon woo his daughter and win her heart he was eradicating any objections to the marriage. It might not have started as a love match but it was starting to develop that way. Her father would look most unreasonable if he were to refuse Lord Stark's request.
It might be worth tackling the girl, finding out what she knows.
"I wondered why your father was so keen to have you married off to Theon? Did he dishonour you or something?" Asha asked, probing for the truth. "He stayed here for long enough."
Sansa blinked in affronted dignity. "I am still a maiden, if you please, Lady Greyjoy. Your brother hasn't touched me."
Her cheeks flamed pink and Asha wondered just how much truth there was to that statement. She wouldn't have credited him with having so much self-control, if she were honest. A Greyjoy that didn't at least attempt to get into a lass's small-clothes as soon as he were able? Asha was somewhat sceptical of the younger girl's claim but she wasn't going to argue it now. She cocked her head, and looked at her askance.
"It's true!" Sansa's voice squeaked in outraged propriety. "I do not lie!"
Asha shrugged, losing interest in baiting the girl."If you say so-"
"I do." she insisted, her eyes fixing her earnestly. "Theon hasn't touched me. He won't do that, not until we are wed."
"Then why does he want to marry you? Excuse me for being so candid but I can't work it out?" Asha asked.
The girl blushed and lowered her head. "Tis Politics. His Grace and my father want peace with yours. His Majesty suggested the match and my father agreed with him."
"-and you are the sacrifice." Asha's voice was almost pitying. "Poor girl. I bet you had hopes for so much more, and now you're given to a bunch of 'crooks and raiders'! You know he'll have you on your back with a child in your belly before the year is out?"
The younger girl bristled at her pity, ignoring the casual insult. "I have agreed to marry your brother, and I am happy to do my duty." she remarked. "As for anything else, that is between your brother and I. For what it's worth, he is kind to me, and that is what I require and more than I hoped. Good day to you, Lady Asha." she swept out of the room, head held high like a princess of the realm.
These Starks with their pride!, thought Asha she headed out shaking her head as she went.
She kept her ears open and heard the talk of her younger brother's amorous exploits, including the rebuke he'd earned from some harlot who'd had the effrontery to come here and berate him for abandoning her for a decent match. She would have given a great deal to see that, thought Asha with a dark dash of amusement. He'd certainly cut a swathe through the serving maids of Winterfell, that was for sure.
Asha wondered whether Sansa was telling the truth. She may not have wanted the union- she could believe that- but why would she accept her father and King Robert's scheme? What was she so afraid of, that Theon was a viable marital option?
Asha hung round the kitchen where the guards took their evening meal. She wanted to hear the common man's opinion of this union. Perhaps they'd seen something that she had so far failed to take into account.
"Greyjoy must have the luck of the damned." said one retainer as he sat by the hearth. "With one stroke he made his fortune."
Asha slid into the shadows, keen to be unnoticed. She noticed that they spoke about him with familiarity but little respect, like he was one of them.
"Aye, marrying far above his station... Sansa was fair enough to have anyone she wanted. Anyone! And yet she marries Greyjoy as soon as Lord Balon stirs his stumps from his rock and makes his way here."
"She didn't want just anyone though, did she?" rejoined the other woman.
"She needed someone who would protect her from that Joffrey." She heard the unmistakable sound of someone spitting on the floor in contempt. "-Say what you want about Theon, he'll protect what is his. Anyone can see they adore each other now. I'll give 'im his due, he wooed her fair and square. I think she even forgave him about the Ros debacle."
"What did I tell you? Luck of the damned, I tell you!"
"His Grace seemed to think it could be the start of a new peace, giving House Greyjoy another chance. After all, what is it they say: When you force a man to bend the knee, you should help him up again. An heir that is obligated to us could be very useful."
Asha frowned. Obligated? Oh, is that Stark's game? A puppet prince for the Isles? She would certainly include that juicy titbit in her report to Father!
"They don't deserve another chance. Crooks, liars and thieves the lot o 'them!" said one man. "They should have hanged every single one o' them from the tops of their towers."
"The girl is better off without Prince Joffrey. Lord Stark knows the game he's playing. If the young lady can bring peace to the Isles and the North, the possibilities are endless. She'd be a true heroine then."
Well this was a turn-up for the books! The girl had the chance of marrying the Crown Prince and becoming Queen of the Seven Kingdoms but they were all so desperate to spare her from that fate that Theon of all people suddenly became a viable prospect. Joffrey must really be a piece of work.
What on earth was Theon going to do with this milk-and -water miss? Asha's lip curled as she thought to herself of her brother's prospective match. If he wanted to return to the Isles and make a good impression on the subjects he would need a consort strong enough to stand by his side.
This Sansa Stark, slender and delicate as a reed, fair as a sunset, prim proper and pretty looks as if she would blow over in a stiff Pyke breeze. Perhaps there is more to her than meets the eyes at first glance.
She tied her message to the Raven's leg, setting free on it's flight.
Go, raven fly free and find my father. The die is cast; the game is afoot.
