Theon Greyjoy
A/N: I'm back! After a rather long hiatus, I've finally been able to return to writing. Hopefully my updates will return to normal, as I've purged a lot of stuff I was writing, and discontinued a few things I was no longer interesting in continuing. So this will be the first update of many! Thank you all for being so patient, and thanks for reading.
Theon let out and angry breath, scowling as the arrow he'd shot hit the target off center. He'd been practicing for hours. But no matter what stance he tried, or how hard he drew back the bow, he couldn't seem to hit his mark. It had been that way since he'd left Winterfell.
"How long have you practiced Archery...Theon is it?" A chill ran down Theon's spine as a cold voice spoke. He turned, finding Lady Miranda standing just behind him. The woman was posed with her arms crossed under her breasts. She smiled snidely, watching him closely.
"Since I was a child" Theon said, notching another arrow and pulling it back as hard as he could. He let out a breath, trying to focus on the target in front of him rather than the woman behind him. He continued feeling her eyes on his back as he released the arrow. It hit the target with a thwack just off center once again.
"Did Eddard Stark teach you how to shoot?" Lady Miranda said, now leaning her full weight against the low stone wall that surrounded the archery targets. "I've heard stories that he taught my husband's daughter to use a bow. And that she was quite the good shot as well."
"She was. A better shot with a short bow than most of the guardsmen." Theon said, turning to grab another practice arrow from the pile that sat on an old oak trunk.
"It's a pity she ran away from you. I would have loved to meet her. She sounds like a lovely young woman" Miranda's voice slid over him again. "Though it seems her manners left much to be desired since she ran away from her betrothal."
"She's always done what she wanted above what she was told to do" Theon said tensely. He set the bow he'd been using on the stump, grabbing the long bow that rested against it. "Catelyn Stark nearly strangled her at least once a week for hiding herself away when she was meant to be doing chores"
"A heathen girl, then" Miranda feigned a look of disgust, wrinkling her nose. "Distasteful if you ask me. I wonder what she's been shacked up with to keep her place in Highgarden."
Theon kept quiet, testing the string of the bow. He knew the woman was trying to get a rise out of him, testing him to see if he was telling the truth about Elyssia running away before she could be married to him. If he snapped or defended his friend in the slightest he had no doubt the woman would go running to her husband. If his father or Lord Thorne knew he'd had a hand in Elyssia's "disappearance" his lordship would fly out the window. Along with his head.
"I suppose she could have seduced old Mace Tyrell. The old goat has that lovely young wife of his, but perhaps he wanted a taste of someone a bit more to his fancy. If whispers can be believed, my dear step-daughter is quite beautiful-"
Theon gritted his teeth, turning on heel and stepping back to the shooting mark. He drew another arrow, taking only a few seconds to gauge his shot before taking it. The arrow hit the target with more force than intended, sending straw into the air as the cloth covering the human shaped target tore. He could feel heat rising to his neck an face as his frustration grew.
"Might be that she wound up in some whorehouse. Would suit her better than the Elder Seat if you ask me" Miranda continued.
Theon snapped. He spun around, glaring at the woman in front of him. "Elyssia Thorne is more of a Lady than you could ever be. Even if she'd ran from marrying me and being Lady of Pyke, it was only to keep her hands untied for when she usurps her father and takes out your lying tongue."
He knew his mistake the moment the chilly smile spread across Miranda's face. Theon's heart fell as she straightened herself, turning and walking away. She must have had someone...one of her husband's nights most likely, hidden within the yard listening to every word that was said.
"I suppose I should go speak to Asha then..." Miranda said, she paused, giving Theon a sneer over her shoulder. "Oh. I mean...Lady Greyjoy"
"No. Wait" Theon said impulsively. "What would make both of us forget that this encounter ever happened?"
"I want a letter" Miranda said, smiling as she turned to face him. "A letter from Elyssia Thorne releasing her claim to Elderbridge in favor of her inheritance to the lordship of Starfall."
"Starfall..."
"Don't flatter yourself boy." Miranda chuffed. "You and your boy king aren't the only ones who can follow a family line. I want that letter. I don't care if she writes that she's in love with the heir to Dorne or the great uncle giving her a castle as long as she revokes her claim to Elderbridge"
"Why do you want it. Alavane only wants to pass Elderbridge to his bastard son." Theon said, exasperated.
She put a hand to her stomach. "Believe me, Lord Greyjoy. I believe I can give him all the motivation he needs to denounce that little rat"
