Author's Note: This has been the hardest chapter to write so far. And thanks again everyone for reading.

To jodaneze, SemiraEris, joaaana, and my French Speaking reviewer: I know that last chapter was a difficult one to read. I'm so, so sorry. Just trust me okay!

To Jaz, ConsistentlyRandom21, and mina: Thank you so much for your praise. It seriously means a lot to me.

Chapter 12

The weeks that followed were strange for Arya and Theon. They had made good on their promise to each other to try and not let their feelings make things complicated. For awhile it seemed to work. When they were around others they could put on a pretense that things were okay between them. They kept their banter light, but to those that knew them, like Bran and Luwin, they could tell that it was forced.

It could be seen when Arya and Theon were in the same room, they would subconsciously be drawn to each other. Like they needed to be near each other, but if one of their hands brushed against the other's, they would jump apart like they'd been burned. There would be stolen glances when one of them thought that the other wasn't looking. And if their gazes happened to cross, they averted their eyes so they wouldn't have to acknowledge the hurt and sadness that they both felt.

They rarely found themselves alone together anymore, and when they were it would be awkward.. It seemed like both of them were afraid of what might happen if they were in a situation where it was just the two of them. They missed each other terribly. Sure they saw each other, and talked about trivial things, but everything seemed so…polite, like they were just passing acquaintances. Not the friends that they had become, not two people who had so recently admitted to each other just how much they meant to each other.

Arya had started to lose sleep. She had too many thoughts floating around in her mind. Thoughts of a future with a man she didn't know left her unsettled. There was still an anger that lingered within her that was directed at her mother and Robb for making her marry someone she didn't love. She tried to push that resentment aside, arguing with her own thoughts that they did what they had to do. And it wasn't as if Robb was asking her to do something that he himself wasn't doing. She tried not to think of Theon, but he was always there in the back of her mind, reminding her of a possible future she had lost. When she did sleep, she had dreams that were unsettling and that never made sense to her.

One morning after a particularly bad night of sleep, Arya found her way down to the great hall. It was mostly empty, only one person sat at a table nearest the hearth breaking his fast. Since her day was already starting out badly, of course that one person was Theon. She was tired, and didn't know if she the strength to keep up the pretense of everything being fine with them that morning. She contemplated turning around and going back up to her room. Maybe she could have a servant bring up her breakfast, spend the day in her room , and feign sickness.

Theon must have heard her enter the room. He didn't look up from his food, but he seemed to have an idea in his mind about what she was thinking. "You can stay Arya, I'm not going to bite."

Her brow furrowed in annoyance. "I know that." She snapped. She sighed regretting her harsh tone as soon as she uttered the words. "Sorry, I didn't sleep well last night." She said as she made her way to the table. She sat down on the bench across from him.

He gave her a glance and instantly knew she was telling the truth. There were dark circles around her eyes and she looked exhausted. "It's okay. I think I understand." He answered her with sympathy, of course he would understand her state of mind, probably better than anyone.

She kept her eyes averted from his, but she could feel him watching her. She tried to ignore it, as she helped herself to some of the breakfast the servants had set out. "Where is everyone?" It seemed like a safe topic for them.

Theon noticed that she was purposely not looking at him, but he continued to watch her. He was tired of trying to avoid her, of pretending that they didn't mean anything to each other. He thought that maybe if he stared at her hard enough, she would look back at him. And he didn't know, maybe they could figure things out, or work it out enough that they could go back to the way things had been before. "Rickon wanted to go outside and play with Shaggydog and I think Maester Luwin took Bran to the crypts. Probably to teach him some lesson about your ancestors, or something."

Still feeling his eyes on her, she reluctantly looked to him. She wanted to glare at him and to yell at him to stop being so gods damned annoying, but when he mentioned that Bran had gone down to the crypts, she shuddered a little.

Of course he noticed her reaction. "What is it?" He asked, concern coloring his tone. It wasn't like her to get nervous over such a trivial thing as Winterfell's crypts. He knew for a fact that she had played down their when she was younger along with her older siblings.

"It's nothing." She muttered and then looked down at the food in front of her that she hadn't yet touched. She wasn't very hungry, she realized.

Almost hesitantly Theon reached out across the table to rest his hand on top of hers. He felt her moving to pull it away from him, but he tightened his grip on it. They were acting stupid, being scared of touching each other, being scared of their feelings for each other, especially when it was so obvious that she needed him right now. "I told you, I was always going to be here for you." He said, and with those words he managed to get her to look at him again. "Something is wrong. Tell me."

For a moment, it seemed as if she didn't want to say, in her mind, the reason for her unease was not logical. They were just dreams and she was worried that he wouldn't take her seriously. But when she looked into his eyes, she knew that he would, he was worried for her. His hand upon hers was warm and filled with reassurance. He made her feel safe. She let out a small sigh. "These past few nights, I've had dreams. Dreams of dark places, that I couldn't really identify. They felt familiar, but everything was so dark that I couldn't tell where I was."

"You think the dreams are of the crypts?" Theon asked holding on to her gaze.

"Last night, everything seemed to become clear." Arya nodded quietly. "My father was there."

"I…I can see where that might be a bit unsettling." He muttered.

"He told me not to be afraid." Arya shrugged a little. "It kind of seemed like a good bye."

He squeezed her hand lightly, again hoping to lend her a little reassurance and strength. "It was just a dream. You've had too many shocks and too much on your mind these past few weeks. I wouldn't worry about it too much."

"You've had dreams too?" Bran asked anxiously. Theon and Arya turned to see Bran, being carried by Osha, with Rickon by her side. Behind them Maester Luwin stood, a deep frown on his face. They must have come into the hall unnoticed by the two of them and heard them talking.

"What do you mean, too?" Asked Theon, worry clearly playing in his eyes.

"The little Lords have been dreamin'." Osha said, clearly meaning Bran and Rickon.

"About Father?" Arya asked, first looked at Rickon, who said nothing, but clearly looked scared.

She looked to Bran and he simply nodded his head. Then added, "He was in the crypts."

Later that evening, when everyone seemed to have moved on from the shock that the three Stark children left at Winterfell had similar dreams, Theon found himself in the Maester's tower, knocking on Luwin's door. The Maester had tried to assure them all that the dreams were simply a coincidence. That he was surprised more people hadn't had similar dreams. There was too much tension and worry among everyone at Winterfell, that of course people would have nightmares. But Theon could tell, that even as the man was trying to reassure him, he didn't completely believe his own words. Theon wanted to talk to the man by himself, when he didn't have to keep Arya and the boys calm. He wanted truths.

The Maester must not have heard his first knock, because he didn't answer. Theon's knock became a bit more forceful. "Maester Luwin?" He called through the door.

"Come in, Theon." Luwin's voice called out, and even through the wooden door Theon could tell that his voice was strained.

Theon opened the door with trepidation. When he saw the Maester's ashen colored face, he knew immediately that something was wrong. "What is it?" He asked as soon as he stepped through the room's threshold.

Luwin motioned toward the chair that was across from his own at the desk. "Sit." He knew Theon would need to sit down before he heard the news. Theon did as he was told, the fear sitting cold in his stomach. For a moment neither of them said anything. Luwin didn't know how to break the news to the young man before him. He didn't know what the reaction would be. He watched as Theon became more agitated, and he knew that he had to say something.

"Lord Robb has won his first victory." Luwin started. "He managed to break the siege at Riverrun, and Jaime Lannister is now enjoying Robb's hospitality." Luwin noticed that Theon's demeanor became less tense, and he could tell that the boy was about to crack a bit of a smile. He wished that was the only news he had to break to the boy. He held up a hand, to keep Theon from talking. "That's not all." And Theon's worry came back almost instantly. "But it was too late."

"What was too late," Theon finally broke in, his voice dripping in concern.

Again, Luwin remained silent as he tried to come up with a way to deliver the news that still had him in shock. The ravens had only come in an hour ago. He still couldn't believe the news that they had brought. It didn't seem real. He supposed there was no way to soften the blow. So he looked carefully at Theon. "King Joffery," He paused, it seemed a lot harder to get the words out then Luwin thought it would be. Probably because he knew that once he said the words it would become real. "King Joffery sentenced Lord Stark to death. He's dead, Theon."

For a moment, to Theon, it seemed like all the air had been sucked out of the room. There was a loud, blaring sound rushing in his ears and he didn't think he could speak. Even if he knew what to say. The man who had raised him, was dead. His life taken from him, by a spoilt boy King, who probably had no idea what taking Eddard Stark's life would actually mean. Robb had no choice now. This meant war. Gods Robb…what must he be going through? Lady Catelyn she must be inconsolable. And what was Theon doing? Sitting here like an idiot gapping at Maester Luwin.

"Do Bran and Rickon know? Does Arya know?" He was worried about all the Starks, but Arya, she always came first. Especially because this would be the time where she would do something crazy, and he wasn't sure he could do enough to stop her.

The Maester shook his head. "You're the first person I have told." For the first time Theon had ever known, Luwin seemed lost, like he didn't know what to do and it shook Theon. The man always seemed to be a rock, a center of strength and wisdom. "I don't know how to do it. I was hoping you would go to Arya. I don't think anyone else can talk to her."

"I…" Theon started and then almost seemed to choke on his words. The King had killed Eddard Stark. It was like he couldn't stop thinking those words, like he couldn't wrap his mind around them. "I can try." His voice sounded hollow in his ears.

"Theon, you have to get it through her head what this means. What the King has done, it's going to mean war. Robb and the North cannot allow this to go unanswered. King Joffery went too far." Luwin said seriously. "She cannot leave Winterfell, it's too dangerous. Robb shouldn't have to worry about his little sister."

"What of his other sister, is Sansa okay?" Theon asked dully. The poor girl must have been terrified. She was alone in King's Landing with no one to watch over her. Arya was not going to like that.

"Still a ward of the Crown." Luwin's voice was just as dull. "Still denouncing her brother's actions and calling him traitor."

"And still to marry the King?" Theon asked. It seemed like the thing to ask, but he was pretty much doing things automatically. He wasn't really thinking, he had a feeling that if he gave anything too much thought he might break down completely.

Having Theon there to ask questions seemed to be helping Luwin along too, he seemed to be gathering what little strength he had left. He would need it to help him get through the next few hours. "Unfortunately she is."

"Did Robb have the Kingslayer before or after the execution?" Theon asked brittlely.

"As far as I know, the Battle of Whispering Woods happened before the execution. But I don't think word reached King's Landing that Jaime had been captured until after." Luwin sighed and closed his tired eyes. "If it had, Ned might have been saved. There could have been a treaty."

Theon felt himself gritting his teeth, everything seemed to be working against the Starks. "Robb won't trade Jaime for Sansa. Even if he wanted to, the Northern Lords would never agree to it. Jaime Lannister is a valuable prize." Theon looked down at the floor. "For all the good it's going to do Robb now. I hope he knows what he's doing."

"He does." Luwin said.

"For House Stark, I hope you're right. I fear what will happen to them, to Bran and Rickon, to Arya, if Robb dies." Theon shook his head, not wanting to think about the consequences. He needed to change the subject. His voice becoming quiet as he stood up. He needed to get out of this room, he needed a moment alone. "I'll talk to Arya. Do you want me to tell the boys too?"

"No," Luwin looked at Theon, he was concerned for him. He knew that Theon had promised Robb to look after his youngest siblings. No one knew that they would have to deal with something this devastating. He probably felt like he had a huge weight upon his shoulders. "I'll take care of it. You just worry about Lady Arya, she's going to need you."

For a moment Theon stood there still and silent. Finally one single thought came to his mind. That Arya, Bran, Rickon, they already knew Lord Stark was going to die. Or at least they did subconsciously. "Their dreams…"

"I know." Luwin said quietly.

"What does it all mean." Theon asked a hint of fear coming through in his words.

"That, I do not know." The Maester said, his own worries about the issue bothering him as well.

Theon nodded his head. He didn't know what else to say, all words seemed to be escaping him. He walked quietly to the door. On the very short walk to the threshold all the grief and anger that he was trying to suppress seemed to come welling up inside of him. In one brief moment he just wanted to let out one act of aggression, so he didn't have to feel so helpless. So he did the only thing he could do, before stepped outside of the Maester's office room, he balled his hand into a fist and punched the stone wall by the door. With a loud curse he winced, because of course the wall hurt him, while he did no damage to the wall. His knuckles were split, and there was a small amount of blood, not to mention that his hand sung with pain. But he didn't mind, it would help him to keep his mind focused.

Theon looked to the Maester with a blank face. "Sorry about that."

Luwin shook his head, "no I quite understand the sentiment. Will your hand be okay, would you like me to treat it."

Theon looked down at his hand. He opened his fist and the closed it again, it hurt to move his fingers, but he didn't think anything was broken. "I'll be fine." Then he slipped out of the room, trying to mentally prepare himself for the conversation he was about to have.

Theon stood at Arya's door staring blankly at it for probably about ten minutes. He had come straight from Luwin's rooms, his hand still throbbing and his mind still empty. He had no idea how he was going to tell Arya. So many thoughts rattled in his brain. Why had he agreed to be the one to tell her? It was a stupid question, even when he asked himself. He knew the exact reason why it was him. He didn't think she could bear it if anyone but him told her. He needed to be strong for her. How was he going to be strong for her? Finally with his good hand he knocked on the door.

"Yes?" He heard her call out. He took a deep breath and then slowly opened the door.

It had been later then what he had realized and she must have been getting ready to turn in for the night. Her hair was down and she wore a modest dressing gown. He frowned, he knew that she hadn't been sleeping well and he was going to ruin any chance of sleep she would get tonight. When she saw him standing there, she knew almost instantly that something was wrong. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"What happened?" Was all she asked. There were so many possibilities of something going wrong somewhere that she simply didn't know who or what to ask about. All the words Theon wanted to say seemed to have been caught in his throat. He felt like a fool, standing there in her doorway, his mouth open hopelessly as no words would come. "Theon," She snapped his name, panic starting to tinge her thoughts.

Finally the words croaked out of his mouth, "your Father…"

It was all he got out, all he seemed to be able to say, but she knew exactly what he was saying. Her body went completely rigid, as if it would hurt her to move. "No," was her simple refusal to believe what he was saying.

"Arya…" He stepped further into her room, wanting to go her. He still couldn't think of what to say, so instead he reached out to her with his good hand, taking her arm intending to pull her into his arms in a comforting embrace. But before he could she pulled away from him.

"No," she said a bit more emphatically. "I don't believe you."

He pushed back the brief flash of hurt that he felt at her accusation that he would lie to her. He knew that she was hurting and denial was her only protection from it. "Arya," he said again, this time getting a firmer grip on her arm. "I wouldn't lie about something like this."

Arya looked up at him, he saw the unshed tears swimming in her eyes and he knew that she knew her father was gone, she just wasn't ready to accept it. "I know you wouldn't, but the information you got must be wrong. He can't be…" She couldn't say the word, so she just let it hang in the air unsaid. Her eyes seemed to be pleading with him to tell her that it was all a mistake.

His heart broke all over again, he wished he could give her what she wanted, but that wasn't within his power. So he did the only thing he could do, he gathered her into his arms and held on to her tightly. Once she buried her face into his chest, he felt her body shudder into sobs. It was the first time he had actually seen her cry in years. He knew there was nothing he could say to make it better, so he stayed quiet, just letting her grieve. He didn't know how long they stayed that way, it was probably minutes, but it felt like hours. He hated feeling this helpless.

Finally, her sobs seemed to still and she lifted her head to look at him. She looked exhausted and her cheeks were tear stained, but there was determination in her eyes and Theon's heart dropped. He knew what was coming before she even spoke the words. "We have to go." She said simply and pushed herself out of his embrace. For a moment she looked around the room as if trying to figure out what she was going to do next. Her gaze settled on where she kept Needle, and she started to move towards it.

Theon quickly grabbed hold of her arm again. "Go where, exactly?" He practically growled at her.

She tried to pull out of his grasp, but he held on tight. "You promised me that if things got worse, you would go with me." Her tone was accusing, like she knew he was going to protest against them going anywhere right now.

"I also told you Robb was going to act if the situation escalated." Theon countered. "What King Joffery did to your father, Robb is going to counter. Do you know what that means?"

"War." Arya said defiantly. "And what does that mean for Sansa? They have her, and Robb has no way of getting her back! If Robb does anything the Crown doesn't like, they can take it out on her."

Theon had known that this would push Arya to want to act. He would be lying if he said he didn't want to act with her. But she wasn't being smart right now. "Do you know what lies between you and King's Landing right now? Do you understand how Westeros is going to be over the next few months, or years even?"

"I don't care." She answered before she even had a chance to think about it.

"Well, you should." He snapped. "Most of the men who keep the order of their lands are going to be called to fight. The King's Road will be dangerous, bandits will take advantage, anyone who travels will be at risk. Especially if there are only one or two people are traveling. It will be worse for women. Not to mention the Lannister army stands between you and Sansa. How will you sneak through that? We still don't know where Stannis or Renly stand in all of this mess. That could be two more armies that stand in your way. Trust that Robb can can get her back."

"Like he's gotten everything else right?" Arya asked, anger coloring her words. "He made that damn deal with the Frey's and it has done nothing to help. We have no leverage to get Sansa back, does he have enough men to deal with that Lannister army you mentioned?"

"He's already dealt them a blow." Theon said, hoping that would appease her concerns about her brother being able to handle the Lannisters. "He has Jaime Lannister hostage. So, you see, there is a very good reason for Joffery to keep your sister safe."

That seemed to give her some pause, she had wanted to ask about how her brother had managed to catch the Kingslayer. But, her sister was her first worry at the moment, she still wasn't ready to give up. "But she's alone Theon! Do you know what my father always said? 'When winter comes, the lone wolf dies, but a pack survives.'" She seemed desperate now, to make him see her way. She grasped on to his shirt, pleading with him. "Winter is coming, Theon. And my sister, she is alone. What if my brother cannot get to her in time."

"And what if he loses you too, because you set off on some impossible task." He asked quietly, he lifted his hand to brush a stray strand from her eyes. He looked at her, willing her to see reason, to think about what might happen. "What would that do to your mother? Think of what she has lost, it would hurt her so much to lose another person she loved. And what if the Lannisters found you? You would give them another hostage?" He could tell that she wanted to say something, to fight his words, but he could tell from the way that she looked at him, that he was starting to make sense to her. So he went on, not letting her talk. "I know how you feel. Your father, he raised me. I want to fight them too. I want to make them pay. But I promised your brother I would keep you and Bran and Rickon safe. Help me do that. Please." It was his turn to plead.

She kept their gazes locked, she could see the fear in his eyes. She realized he was scared for her and that tugged at her heart. She knew he felt the same grief that she did, maybe not as intense as she felt it, but she knew that her Father had meant something to him. But here he was, taking care of her, ignoring his own grief for the time being. It seemed to remind her that she was very dear to him. She tried to think what she would do if he decided to try and take on King's Landing all by himself. She shuddered at the thought of what might happen to him. What could happen to him, because he would go with her if she went. Finally, "I'll stay put for now." She whispered her promise. She could keep him safe too.

He felt his body ease of a tension he didn't know it had been holding. At least some of his worry was taken away from him. He pulled her into another embrace, and he closed his eyes as he inhaled the scent of her hair. "Thank you," was his own whispered reply. He could feel Arya nod her head as if to say you're welcome.

After a few moments of silence she turned to look at the bed that had been unused since that morning, when she had awoken from the nightmare that was now coming true. "I knew this was coming." She could feel the tears starting to well in her eyes again. This time she fought to keep them back.

"The dream." Theon said quietly.

Arya nodded her head again. "What if I dream again?" She looked up at him, her eyes teary, but also filled with a determined defiance. "I don't want to dream again."

"It could have been a coincidence," the words sounded ridiculous even to him, but he had no explanations for her and neither did Luwin. Whatever was going on with Arya, Bran and Rickon, it was beyond the comprehension of even the Maester. She didn't even bother to answer him. Instead he just went on, "maybe you won't dream." He said helplessly.

"Maybe." She said.

"Arya, your dream didn't make this happen." He said, noticing how fatigued she looked, the lack of sleep and the sobbing had taken a toll on her. She needed to rest.

"I know, but I still don't want to dream." Arya said.

"I could go get something from Maester Luwin," Theon said, "to help you sleep. You need your rest."

Arya shook her head at the offer. "I'm not sure I can sleep. I'm not sure I want to sleep."

"Then just lie down and rest then." Theon suggested.

She glanced up at him hopefully, "will you stay with me?"

He blinked down at her in surprise and found himself speechless. He was certain the request was innocent, but she would have to know how that would look to everyone else. "Arya, I don't think that would be a good idea."

Arya just shook her head. "I don't care how it will look. You and I both know that nothing can happen. But I need you Theon, I cannot be alone tonight and I don't want to be around anyone else. Who knows, maybe you can keep the dreams away. Please?"

There were about a million reasons why he shouldn't stay with her, couldn't stay with her. And not one of them mattered when she had said that she needed him. Her father had had just been killed. He was feeling that loss too. The truth was he didn't want to be alone either, this night was going to be long and he needed her just as much as she needed him. She must have seen in his eyes that he would consent to the arrangement, she reached out and grabbed his injured hand without realizing it. He hissed in pain as she came into contact with his cuts.

She immediately took her hand away from his and looked down at his. She frowned and then looked up at him. "What happened?"

"I got angry and punched a wall." He shrugged it off as if it was nothing.

"Does it hurt?" She knew that that anger had been because of the loss of her father.

"The reason I'm angry hurts more." He said simply.

She nodded her head stiffly, she understood him perfectly. "Did it help? Hitting the wall I mean."

"No." He answered her honestly. "I don't think anything will." He knew that for whatever he was feeling, she was feeling it ten times worse. He leaned forward and kissed her gently on the forehead, knowing it was a small comfort to her. "You need to rest, you're going to need all your strength over the next few days."

He got her settled in, went about extinguishing the candles so that the only light came from the fireplace, and then moved to sit down on an uncomfortable chair that she used whenever she used her writing desk. Before he could though she reached out and grabbed his arm. "What do you think you're doing?" She asked quietly. "You need to gather your strength too, and you're not going to do that by sitting in that chair. There's plenty of room on the bed." She was matter of fact, and her tone implied that it was no use fighting about it.

"Again, that would not be wise." Theon tried.

"And I'll say again, that I don't care. Besides, you told my brother that you would keep me safe, and I don't think I'll feel safe tonight unless I'm in your arms. You'll be fully clothed, I'll be fully clothed. Nothing can happen. Please, just humor me." She said.

"I don't think this is what Robb had in mind." He muttered helplessly. But the gave in to her, he could deny her nothing. He slid into the bed next to her. She turned so that her back was to him. He moved closer to her and slid his arm around her tentatively. She was warm, and she was right, it felt safer being near each other, so he pulled her closer to him and held on to her like she was his anchor.

"Theon?" she whispered quietly.

"Hmm?" He asked.

"Good night."

"Good, night Arya."