Chapter ten
Robb
"Are you ready to leave, my Lord?" A squire asked him as he looked around the courtyard of Winterfell, trying to convince himself that it won't be long before he would see his home and family again, reunited and all.
He sighed as he watched Lyanna saying goodbye to their brothers. "Yes, one moment, please."
"Of course, m'lord," the young boy said as he nodded towards Robb and left.
Robb walked over towards Lyanna and their brothers. He could see that Rickon was in tears. Brandon, however, didn't show much of his emotions.
"Don't worry, Rickon! You will see us again soon, I promise!" Lyanna tried to comfort their youngest brother, but he only cried harder instead.
"You are only saying that to make me feel better! I won't see you all back, I won't see father ever again!" Rickon shouted towards her.
Robb tried to help her. "Rickon, come on," he said as he started to eye him, "I haven't called all the banners to drink tea with the Lannisters! We will return and you will see father, Sansa and Arya again very soon. Like Lyanna, I promise. And besides: mother will shortly return."
It was true that his mother would return to Winterfell. She had sent a raven from the Eyrie telling him that she would take care of the boys as they were marching south. She didn't mention anything about Lyanna's marriage and that could only say one thing: that she didn't agree to it.
Rickon still sobbed as Robb told him that he and Brandon needed to be strong and bold now, now that he, Jon and Theon were gone. He needed to become a strong warrior and protect Brandon from anything. That did cheer up the boy somewhat, as Robb started to say goodbye to the rest of his family.
From out of the corner of his eye, he could see Theon directing Lyanna to one of the carriages. She seemed contempt with it, but he was curious why she would suddenly change her mind about that.
As he had said his goodbyes to all of his friends and family, he, Theon and Rodrik took their horses as they marched out of Winterfell, going South to set his family free.
…..
Theon
They have traveled for several hours now as they were on the Kingsroad. Theon started to get quite boring already: if someone thought that a march was exciting, it was everything but from that.
Sure, it was nice to talk to his friends, but after a few hours the conversation had stopped as they have talked about anything except for one thing: Lyanna.
As soon as Rodrik asked about Lyanna, Robb would start and talk about something else. About one of his strategic masterplans that he had discussed with Lord Karstark at his wedding feast. Well, he was a little pre-occupied at that moment.
As the silence held longer and longer, and Theon was so bored that he started to think about how nice the weather was, he saw that Robb eyed him.
"Yes?" Theon asked him.
Robb narrowed his eyes as he looked at him suspiciously. He thought for a moment, as he shook his head and stared in front of him again.
"Oh come on, Robb! What is it?" Theon insisted.
Rodrik started to pay attention now as well as Robb eyed him once more and rolled his eyes.
"Alright, why is my sister in a carriage?" He asked him.
Theon snorted as he looked to Rodrik. He winked at him as he could see that Rodrik understood what he was saying as Rodrik started to snort as well.
"Your sister wasn't feeling capable enough to sit on a horse-saddle." He said as he and Rodrik bursted out in laughter.
He laughed so hard, he could not see that Robb could not laugh about this situation. Theon stopped as he saw how angry Robb was looking.
"Oh come on, Robb, you really need to get used to the fact that this prick is married to your sister." Rodrik said as he slapped Theon on the shoulder.
Robb however, Theon observed, wasn't paying attention towards them as he held his horse to a halt as he shouted to the people in the back of them: "We hold camp here!"
He gave Theon one more nasty look as he took his horse to the carriage where Lyanna was sitting in.
….
He was just reaching for a glass of ale in their tent as Lyanna and Winter stormed in.
He could see that Lyanna was angry with him and he didn't mind: the look on her face made him want her even more.
"Gods, really Theon? Do you have to mock Robb with me every time you have the chance?" She shouted at him.
Theon grinned as he handed his wife a glass of wine. She gladly took it as she sat herself in one of the chairs the men have put in their tent.
"Make yourself at home, love," Theon smirked as he opened his arms to show her their new home, "it's not much, surely, but we'll have a larger and comfortable home soon enough."
"Theon…." Lyanna sighed.
"Yes, I am mocking him, Lyanna, big deal. That's what men do. He really needs to get used to the fact that we are with each other now. It has been months since he knows." He spat out a little irritated.
Lyanna sighed once more as she sipped from her wine. "I know, Theon, I know. You are right at some point. But he is my twin-brother. We have a special bond together. He doesn't like to know that his best friend is fucking his twin-sister now."
Theon smiled to himself. He loved it when she talked a little rude. This was the wild-side of Lyanna that he always had known she had in her.
Lyanna, though, was a little shocked by what she had just said as her cheeks started to flush red as she put a hand to her mouth. "Sorry." She said to him as she looked to the ground.
"Don't be," Theon said as he took a large sip of his ale, "I like the Lyanna that is herself and not the Lady people want her to pretend to be."
Lyanna looked up at him and smiled. "Thank you, love. But promise me one thing…"
Theon rolled his eyes. "Well?"
"Please don't mock Robb about us. He needs you as his friend now." She said as she looked at him with her big, blue eyes.
Theon sighed as he could not resist that look from her. He didn't want to show her, so he tried to make a game out of it instead.
"Make me." He said as he smirked to her.
Theon expected her to blush again, but she smirked back at him as she finished her wine and walked over to him. She pushed him on the edge of their bed as she sat down on top of him.
"Lady Lyanna Greyjoy," he said as he licked his lips as he admired the initiative of his wife, "Are you sure? I will make sure that you can't ride a horse again tomorrow. Lord Robb won't be pleased with that." He joked.
She slapped him jokingly as she moved her mouth to his ear as she bit his earlobe. "Guess I'll have to ride you instead." She whispered as she turned Theon on immediately.
'This is going to be a short night,' Theon thought to himself as he smiled to his wife and pulled her on the bed.
….
Lyanna
They were all sitting in the main tent: the tent where Robb held his war councils with Theon, the Lords Karstark, Umber, Bolton, Glover, Forrester, and so on and the Lady Mormont.
Theon didn't let her come much to this tent: he thought that Lyanna did not know anything about battles and war and he undermined her a little bit, which was slightly annoying her: she had her lessons from Maester Luwin in warcraft just as much as Theon and Robb had. But she did as her Lord husband obeyed her to, well, that was what Theon was thinking.
When there was no-one around, Robb would visit her as Rodrik had made Theon come with him for some idiotic excuse, to ask for her suggestions and ideas. It was her idea to leave for Moat Cailin as soon as possible and reside at the Gatehouse Tower. It was for her own good as well: a warcamp was not a comfortable place to be in, especially when you are newlywed, and she was sick of the Stark-men smirking at her as soon as she left their tent each morning, telling her that they've all heard how she and Theon were doing what every young couple in love would do.
The men in the tent were drinking the ale in high speed as she observed Theon. He was having a good time with Rodrik.
"Did he let you out of your tent?" Lady Mormont asked her as the woman sat next to her.
Lyanna looked up to the woman which she admired. Maege Mormont could be short and stout, but she was also known to be a fearless warrior. Theon still trained Lyanna with archery every now and then, but it became less and less since they were married. She hoped that maybe Lady Mormont could teach her some of her skills.
Lyanna smirked. "I don't even think he knows that I am here."
"Of course he does, child. Didn't you see the look on his face when you've entered?" Lady Mormont snorted.
Lyanna tried to eye Theon, but he was very cockily looking the other way. Maybe Lady Mormont had a point.
"Let me teach you a lesson, dear. Men are all the same: fools who try to show each other how good and strong they are. Yet they get intimidated by a woman so easily. Don't let him intimidate you: Robb wanted you here for him, so be there. Don't make me regret the decision that I've named my daughter after you and your aunt." She winked as she walked away.
Lyanna thought for a moment about what the Lady was saying: was Theon intimidated by her? Theon knew that Robb took her advice by heart as it came down to it. Was he jealous because of it?
She listened to how the men boasted plans to Robb as to how to go to Kings Landing as soon as possible and kill every Lannister that got in their way.
She grimaced to herself to how foolish men could be: were they actually serious? Did they actually think that Joffrey would keep her father and sisters alive when they would slaughter every men in their way like pigs?
Lyanna felt how something cold and furry came from behind her as she saw Winter and Grey Wind return from their hunt. The big direwolfs waked over to their masters. As Grey Wind reached Robb, she saw that Robb was looking up at Lyanna. He smiled to her as she smiled back and rolled her eyes to show him that she didn't agree with the Lords.
"Perhaps we should ask my sister of what her vision is on this matter." Robb suggested.
"Lady Greyjoy? A woman?" Greatjon Umber remarked.
Lyanna felt how Winter stood up next to her as she showed her teeth to the Greatjon Umber. She snarled towards the man as the men started to laugh.
"Careful there." Lady Mormont warned the Greatjon.
"I wouldn't show disrespect to the ladies in this tent, Lord Umber, if you don't want to lose another pair of fingers." Robb said as he raised an eyebrow.
"I-…" The Greatjon said as he looked for someone to support him. When he saw that no-one did, he continued with a sigh. "Of course, Lady Greyjoy.."
Lyanna turned red as she saw all those men staring at her. The grey eyes of Lord Bolton pierced through hers as she searched for Theon's eyes. He nodded, as she decided to start.
"It's a folly to simply march south and to think that the Lannisters will let us into Kings Landing. We need more men. We will pass the Riverlands, but before that, we need to pass the Twins. The Twins have a bridge that will give us passage to the Riverlands and join our forces with the Tully's. House Frey has about four thousand men that will be able to fight, if we can convince them to join our cause…" She started.
Umber snorted. "And how will you do that? The Freys are not known for their trustworthy."
Lyanna ignored him and continued. "The Freys have sworn loyalty to House Tully," she turned to Robb now, "Robb, if we could only convince our mother to go and talk to Lord Frey, then we can cross the river and have more men. Mother is still travelling from the Eyrie, we will probably cross her at the Twins if we send her a raven."
The tent fell in silence as some of the men nodded.
She saw Robb thinking for a moment as he decided what to do. "My sister is right, my Lords. If we want to attack Kings Landing, we need more men and we need to cross the river as well to reach my family. We need the Freys. We will leave for the Twins tomorrow." He said as he finished as he stood up and left the tent to his private one, with Grey Wind following him closely.
Lyanna searched for Lady Mormont's eye. When she saw her, the woman nodded approving.
….
Catelyn
She would see her eldest children again.
Her heart beat faster and faster in her chest when she thought of the moment her children would arrive.
She was already waiting outside of the Twins with Ser Rodrik Cassel, as she thought of what she would see.
Her sweet Lyanna wouldn't be a Stark anymore, but a Greyjoy-woman. Would that have changed her? Would she already be with child? Gods, she hoped not, but she knew well enough herself that there was a chance that Lyanna could be with child.
The weather was sunny as a fresh breeze waved through Catelyn's auburn hair. The wind was refreshing, as she tried to not to think of all the things that worried her: her husband, that still was in chains, her father, that was seriously ill, and her children, for whom she prayed to the Mother every day to pray for their safety.
It has been too long since she had visited the Riverlands, her homelands, and she had hoped it could be under better conditions. She enjoyed the sound of the fresh water streaming through the green, hilly lands as she smelled the air of spring. The sound of birds that were trying to seek some of the fish in the waters, the friendly people who still knew her because of her appearance… Gods, she should've visit more often.
She looked at the castle that waited for her in front of her. The Twins were not as pretty or magical as Winterfell or Riverrun was to her, but she could not deny that it was a majestic one. It consisted of two identical stone castles, as it had high curtain walls, deep moats, and a barbican and portcullis in each. Catelyn did not like to visit the Freys, for she did not like the family, but for the sake of her children, she would.
Lord Frey would not be happy to see her at first, she thought, for that she and her father Hoster Tully did not attend the latest Frey-wedding, due to his illness. She knew that she needed to please Walder Frey if she wanted him to give his men to her son Robb. She was still trying to figure out how…
"My Lady?" Ser Rodrik said as he rode to her on his horse, "The men are approaching. Your children are in front."
Catelyn looked up in excitement as she waited hopefully to see her children. The men would've camped a little further from hear, she thought, as she heard the footsteps from about seven horses.
And there they were, coming from out of the forest: Robb, Lyanna, Theon, Rodrik and the two wolves that she had mistaken for horses, but were immense by now.
She smiled widely as she saw how happy her children were to see her. Robb was growing more handsome by the day, as she saw that he was growing a beard now. Lyanna had a more feminine look over her, as Catelyn couldn't see any signs of pregnancy.
"Thank the Gods," she whispered to herself, as Ser Rodrik smirked to her.
She got off her horse as she ran towards her children. The tears filled her eyes as she smelled the trusted scent of her children.
"Robb, Lyanna…" She cried.
"Mother!" They both said as they held her in their embrace.
Catelyn looked at the Greyjoy-boy who smiled to her. She looked at Lyanna again to see that her daughter truly looked happy and in love with him. She sighed, as she nodded and smiled to the Greyjoy-boy.
'He makes her happy, Cat,' she thought to herself, but as she did she added quickly, 'but that doesn't mean that you can trust the Greyjoy's now.'
…
It was already dusky when she was riding her horse to her son's war camp. She heard the men talking about their plans, so she decided to go to her daughter instead. It had been so long since she last saw her.
The tent was not far away from Robb's. The tent was slightly bigger, since Lyanna and Theon were both sleeping in it.
It was such a strange idea that her eldest daughter was already married. She felt sorry for that she couldn't be there, but she understood that Lyanna, Robb and Theon had to act fast.
She got off her horse as she approached the tent's opening. She was shocked when a creature stood up.
"Seven Gods!" Catelyn said when she held her hand to her heart.
The creature was Winter, who was already as big as a pony now. Winter didn't do her any harm, and leaned down when she saw that her master's mother was afraid of her.
Catelyn walked pass Winter quickly. She smiled as she entered the tent. Lyanna was swinging softly in her chair as there was a table full with candles next to her. She was still wearing the direwolf-hairpin she once gave to her.
Catelyn walked softly to her as she saw that Lyanna did not hear her. As she looked over her shoulder, she could see that Lyanna was embroidering a golden kraken on a black piece of cotton. Lyanna was not as good as Sansa in her needlework, but Catelyn had to admit: her daughter was good at it as well.
She smiled as she held a hand on her shoulder as she could feel Lyanna freeze. Lyanna turned around quickly, showing her big blue eyes, as she relaxed when she saw her mother.
Lyanna stood up as she embraced her mother. Catelyn closed her eyes as she smelled her daughter's hair. Gods, she had missed her.
"Mother!" Lyanna said as she smiled to her mother once more.
Catelyn observed her quickly: Lyanna wasn't with child, but her body was changing since she last saw her. Her body was starting to get more feminine as her breasts were starting to get bigger and her hips were getting wider. Catelyn didn't want to think about it, but she was sure that her daughter would give the Greyjoy boy many healthy sons.
"Mom, stop observing me, I'm not with child yet," Lyanna said as she rolled her eyes, "do you want some wine?" she said as she walked over to the table where two goblets were standing.
Catelyn nodded as she seated herself in the chair at the opposite of Lyanna. Catelyn was trying to imagine to see Lyanna and Theon sitting here together, talking and fuzzing about things she used to do with Eddard..
"What did Lord Frey tell you?" Lyanna asked her as she walked over to her. She gave Catelyn the wine and seated herself in her chair again.
Catelyn snapped out of her imagination. She sighed as she started to talk. "Well, he agrees to open his gates for us."
Lyanna looked quite impressed, Catelyn could see, so she continued. "Don't get too excited. He wants his son Olyvar Frey as Robb's personal squire. He's expecting a knighthood," she said as she could see that Lyanna still looked impressed. "Oh Gods, Lyanna, Arya and Robb both have to marry a Frey to cross the Crossing." She finished.
Lyanna almost choked in her wine as she laughed. Catelyn sighed: Lyanna truly didn't understand how serious this was.
"Lyanna, please stop. He wanted you for one of his sons at first. He hadn't heard that you've married the Greyjoy-boy.."
"Theon." Lyanna interrupted her as she raised an eyebrow.
"Theon," Catelyn corrected herself as she continued, "He was first angry that he wasn't invited to the wedding. When I told him that I wasn't even there myself, he suggested that Arya shall marry one of his younger sons and Robb one of his daughters."
They were both silent for a moment. Catelyn saw that Lyanna was biting on her lip: a sign that she was thinking very hard.
"I want you to come with me as I tell him." She said to her daughter. "I might need your help."
Lyanna nodded her head. "Of course, mother," She said to her, "do you want to leave now?"
Catelyn nodded as well. "Better tell him now. We need to march as soon as possible if we ever want to see your father again."
….
Eddard
He was still limping from the wound in his leg as the two soldiers took him from his cell and supported him to the people in the crowd.
He could hear the people scream and yell at him, but he had only eye for one thing: his youngest daughter Arya, sitting on the sculpture of Baelor in the middle of the crowd. He didn't want her to be alone, to let her see him confess the crimes he did not commit.
The soldiers moved him through the crowd as he saw the Brother in Black Yoren in the crowd.
"Baelor!" He said to him as he hoped he understood well enough what he was talking about.
The soldiers continued to move him as he saw his other daughter Sansa standing on the platform with Cersei, Joffrey, Petyr Baelish and Varys. Sansa was smiling to him, as she thought that everything was going to be alright. Eddard was thinking opposite…
Varys gave him a quick nod, telling him that his other daughter Lyanna had married Theon Greyjoy in Winterfell.
The soldiers let him stand in front of the crowd as the bells rang. Eddard looked in front of him, to the crowd.
What he was about to do, was only for his family. To see his wife, sons and daughter again, who might give him grandchildren soon. It was his duty, as a father and as the head of the Stark family.
"I am Eddard Stark," he started, "Lord of Winterfell and Hand of the King."
He paused for a moment to swallow. He turned around to see his beautiful daughter Sansa, who looked so much like Catelyn in her younger years. Sansa nodded hopefully, waiting for him to continue. He looked to the crowd again.
"I come before you, to confess my treason, in the sight of Gods and men. I've betrayed the faith of my King, and the trust of my friend Robert. I swore to protect and defend his children, but before his blood was cold, I've plotted to murder his son, and seize the Throne for myself."
A cold bitterness filled from within him: he was no liar. He sighed as the crowd started to yell at him, but he continued anyway.
"Let the High Septon and Baelor the Blessed bear witness to what I say. Joffrey Baratheon is the one true heir to the Iron Throne. By the grace of all the Gods, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and protector of the Realm." He stopped as he looked to the ground.
He could not face Sansa nor Arya now. He waited for someone to continue, as he could hear Grand Maester Pycelle speak up.
"As we sin, so do we suffer. This man has confessed his crimes, in sight of Gods and men. The Gods are just, but beloved Baelor tortures, but can also be merciful. What is to be done with this traitor, your Grace?"
Eddard waited as his face still faced the ground. The crowd started to yell and some of them even cheered, before the boy Joffrey spoke up.
"My mother wishes me to let Lord Eddard join the Nights Watch. Stripped of all titles and power, he would serve the Realm in permanent exile. And my Lady Sansa, she has begged mercy for his father's exile. But they've the soft hearts of women. So long as I am your King, treason shall never go unpunished. Ser Illyn? Bring me his head."
Eddard didn't realize what he just had heard as the crowd started to cheer and yell again. In the far distance, he could hear Cersei Lannister and Sansa talk reason into Joffrey, followed by Varys. He looked up at the young boy with the golden crown on his head, as he saw how Sansa was being moved away from him by a Kingsguard.
Two Kingsguards put him down to his knees, as Cersei and Varys tried their best to talk the young boy out of it. Ser Illyn Payne was already putting his black hood on.
He had no time to waste, as he thought of all the people he loved. His parents, Rickard and Lyarra, his brothers and sister, Brandon, Benjen and Lyanna… His children: Robb, Lyanna, Jon, Sansa, Arya, Brandon and Rickon. And his sweet Cat, the woman that he had loved for long and who was the mother to his children, his heirs.
'Can a man still be brave when he is afraid?' Bran had asked him for not a long time ago.
'That is the only time a man can be brave.' He had answered. He had to be brave, for his little girls.
He could hear the sword Ice was getting out of his sheath as he watched how Sansa was protesting and trying to get out of the grip of the Kingsguard.
He saw her screaming, although he could not hear what she was saying. He tried to speak, telling her that it would be alright, but he had lost his words.
He faced the crowd for one last time, as he could see how nearly all of them cheered for his head. He tried to spot Yoren, but he could not see him. His eyes moved to the sculpture to see if Arya was still watching, but luckily, she wasn't there anymore.
He closed his eyes as he put his head down. The last thing that he heard, was the sound of the sword swooshing through the air as the cold steel touched his neck.
He would never know that miles away from him, two direwolves were crying for his death.
…..
Theon
"Lyanna…." He sighed as he entered their tent.
Lyanna turned around and looked at him happily, like she always did when he showed up. When she saw that he could not return her smile, she started to look suspicious.
"Theon?" She asked. "Is everything alright?"
He could not lie to her, not about this. Robb already ran away into the woods with Grey Wind and he knew the twins needed each other now.
"It's your father…" He started, but he did not know what to say.
"What? What about him?" She said as she started panicking as tears filled her eyes. "Theon please tell me!"
He sighed. He never did anything that was so hard as this.
"He lost his head in Kings Landing." He said as he looked at her.
The color in her face was gone. Her eyes were big and tears were streaming down her cheeks. She did not make any noise, but he could see that his body was trembling.
"Where's Robb?" She asked him.
He did not even try to comfort her. He understood that she needed to be with her twin-brother now.
He walked over to her as he dried the tears from her face with his fingers.
"He's in the woods. Grey Wind's with him. Go love, I will see you when you're ready." He gave her a kiss on her forehead as he watched his wife running out of their tent, followed by her direwolf Winter.
….
Lyanna
She ran through the war camp as her heart was rapidly beating in her chest.
Her father, her dear father, was gone. Murdered. She would never see him again. She would never talk to him again, listening to his sweet words and wise counsel.
The Stark-men all spoke their condolences to her, but she could not hear them. All that mattered now, was to reach Robb. They had to be together now.
She reached the woods as she could hear some noise a little further. She followed it as some of the breeches cut the skin of her cheeks, arms and ankles, but she did not mind or even feel it.
In a far distance, she could see her brother, mother and Grey Wind. Winter moved forward to go to Grey Wind, as Lyanna ran towards Robb.
"Robb, stop it! Listen to me!" Her mother said, broken, but strong.
Her brother, though, did not listen to her. He was beating his sword into a tree as bits of bark flew through the air.
Robb shouted as he lunged for the tree again.
"Robb!" Lyanna yelled, as she looked at him.
Robb stopped moving as soon as he heard her voice. He turned around and looked her in the eye.
He looked broken, just like her. Their eyes that looked so much like each other, connected and with one look, they've had enough to know that they were there for each other.
"Lyanna.." Robb whispered.
He let go of his sword as they ran towards each other. They've held each other in a firm embrace as they cried into each other's arms. For what felt like minutes, they stood there, before Lyanna held her head out of his arms and looked at him. Fury streamed through her body. She took his head in her arms as she spoke to him.
"Show them how it feels, to lose what they love."
…..
A/N: What a shitty way to finish a chapter. Eddard was always one of my favorite Starks as it was hard to write his beheading.
Anyway, I hope you still have enjoyed this chapter, apart from the last part.
The next one will be more cheerful for Lyanna and Theon, but you'll have to wait and see
Thanks and welcome to all my new follows and favorites!
See you in the next one.