First, we'll start off with a bit of a flashback to a conversation between Theon and Arthur, then we will get back to the present.
Now, I do hope you all enjoy this chapter of reunions in all places. Please enjoy!
Chapter 27: You're A Greyjoy, And You're A Stark
Arthur
Arthur glared at Theon who was literately shaking and looking in all directions.
"You know I should kill you, I should skewer your head and put it on a spike like you supposedly did to Bran and Rickon," Theon said nothing back, just gave him more silence. "Robb and I missed you, at the battles before you betrayed us." He added and Theon stopped shaking for a moment, looking him in the eye.
"I'm sorry, Arthur, I'm so sorry." Yes, he knows that, the fools been saying sorry for the last half-hour.
He remembers the raven, the message about Bran and Rickon's death. He and Robb swore they would carve Theon in two. When he got his hands on the man who he thought a brother he would tear him apart.
The Theon before him is but a husk, pale and broken beyond repair.
This Theon is nothing but a body, the soul was ripped and warped into whatever Ramsay wanted him to be.
"... Bring a horse, we go back to Winterfell. Bring that 'thing' with." He told some men and walked away, fighting the emotions he was feeling.
That was a week ago, Theon was brought back to Winterfell. He wanted to punish him, break him... But he couldn't. It won't bring back the days before with happiness and peace, it won't raise all those who died when Winterfell was taken, and it won't make what happened at the Twins and in the battle against Ramsay any different than what occurred.
Theon's mind is, complicated, he has the new Maester sent from the Citadel watching over him for the moment. Arya wanted him killed for killing Bran and Rickon, that was, until she learned the truth and was a little mad at him for not saying anything.
A sigh escaped his lips as he leaned back, looking at what used to be his father's study, it was where the Warden of the North and Lord of Winterfell did his work. Coin, food, soldiers, annual allowances that the nearby territories would petition for, it's all his responsibility and he remembers something his father once told his sons, even Theon who was more a son than he was to Balon Greyjoy.
When you rule a castle, lord over villages and farms, you owe the people under you to be the best you can be. Responsible for their health like you would your own children, for to a Lord, everyone is your child to protect and raise. He thought and covered his face, wiping away some tears before brushing himself back to the real world.
"Brother." He turned and saw Arya enter, she looked bruised up and that made it no different than the times she got into fights years ago.
"What is it, Arya, need more people for your training?" They both laughed as he turned away from all the works of a Lord, letters that came from all corners of the North and one from the Wall.
Arya seemed reluctant to continue and had two ravens in her hands, "Which one is the bad news?" He asked and he held up her right hand, "I'll take the good news first." She handed him the scroll on her left, he unrolled it and felt like jumping for joy.
It was from Galbart Glover, he employed a night attack using the newly arrived sellsword company led by Asher Forrester, he remembers him, not as fondly as his older brother but just so, he is glad. He read on, the Motte was taken from within and the Ironborn were overrun by the time the gates opened. Asha Greyjoy is captured.
Other news informed him that Ironrath was liberated, Gryff Whitehill was slain in the fighting and Highpoint opened its gates, Lady Gwyn surrendered.
"The North is ours again, Arya, all of it." He told his sister who smiled slightly, she still mourns for Rickon. As do I, some days. He thought and set the scroll down. "Let's get the other one then," Arya gave him pity and handed him the other scroll.
This one was from the Wall, the assistant to Castle Blacks Maester, "This is a call to arms, a large force of Wildlings are marching on the Wall, a raiding party have crossed and will be hitting from the South while the largest hits from the North." He whispered and Arya immediately said what they should do.
"Jon is there, we need to help him." He nodded and told the guards to gather all the commanders, they need to hurry this along and move North.
The Lords and Ladies gathered in the great hall, the place has been under repair and he was happy for it started to look like it used to. The faint memories came and went about the name-day feasts and even breakfast in the morning.
Now it is a place where he holds court, where he sentences people to the Wall, or Death, or promotes and demotes his Lords which he expects to do less since the Lords of the North are now firmly behind him in all matters.
"I received this scroll not long ago, it is from Castle Black. The Wildlings are marching on the Wall, sooner than we realized, they already have raiding parties across the border and attacking nearby villages." There was some outrage from the court, especially from House Umber and the Mountain Clans who only arrived a few days ago.
The border Houses have been fending off bands of Wildlings for generations, the Umbers most of all. The Greatjon's uncle Mors daughter was taken by Wildlings, so to say that the hatred is justified is an understatement.
"Over the last several weeks, we've gathered a good number of men. 3000 men are returning from pacifying the Wolfswood, Deepwood Motte, and Highpoint. Winterfell has begun to gather many soldiers, 8000 men from all corners of the North." They need the men from the Wolfswood and will have 13,700 men and a strong host. "They say there is 100,000 in this Wildling army, the North has broken greater forces and they were disciplined men." The men and women laughed, "Tomorrow we take the 8000 and march to Castle Black, rest well for tonight, everyone."
The room cleared and Arya left with Edric and Dacey Mormont. He was alone for a moment until Howland entered the hall, he looked pensive.
"What do you need, Lord Reed." He spoke to the older veteran of the Rebellion.
"Have you decided on what to do with what I told you, will you tell him?" He hasn't thought about since the Battle of the Last River, in fact, he was glad to have not given it much thought but Lord Reed wants an answer.
"What am I doing if I do tell him, Jon isn't a King, I'm not even a King because I don't know what I'm doing half the time... What will telling him cost?" It was a question he wants to be answered before he decides to say a single word to Jon, yes, he planned to do something when he first found out but that was because it was fresh in his mind, his brother who isn't his brother is the heir to the Iron Throne.
"I can't see the future, Arthur, but I know that Ned trusted me to know and I told you because Lady Dayne would have helped you figure it out." So Howland chose to tell the truth instead of him figuring it out by himself, he crossed his arms and wanted to be angry but he wasn't, just confused about what he must do.
He can tell Jon and see if he chooses to become King, or if it is fruitless when Jon says no considering his vows to the Night's Watch.
His father kept this secret for so long, perhaps he shouldn't but could he go on, lying to Jon who will find out by himself if not from the man he thought his twin, his brother.
"Fine, I know what to do." He left and prepared for his journey to the Wall, he was changing his clothes when he heard his door open and he saw a soldier enter his room. "What is it now?" He asked and the man who cleared his throat.
"Umm, you have a dignitary waiting at the gates, my King." Who in the Seven hells wants to come North? He sighed and walked out despite only wearing a shirt and pants.
The Winter air touched his skin as he walked out of the castle and found a guest of soldiers waiting at the gate, they had the banners of House Arryn on their two flags.
House Arryn stayed out of the war, even when Robb personally wrote to his aunt for assistance. He fully expected them to remain away from the conflict between him and the Lannister's.
"What is your business in the North? I assumed the Vale will remain out of our war." He said to the men and noticed they were escorting a wheelhouse, he walked forward and the house opened its door and out came someone he recognized. "... Baelish." He seethed and remembers him from the time he was in King's Landing.
He would have ordered for the fool to be seized for betraying his family, he would have if not for the person he helped out of the wheelhouse... Sansa Stark.
She saw him and he just stared at her, she stared at him until she suddenly shot towards him and crashed into his arms. He couldn't believe she is here of all places and not in the care of the Lannisters. He cupped her cheeks and met her eyes, "Is that really you?" He asked and she started to cry.
"Yes, I'm so sorry, Arthur, so so sorry!" She cried into his shirt and he turned his eyes from her for one more moment, only to glare at Petyr Baelish.
This isn't over, not at all.
Gerold
Today was the hour before this trial by combat. He was excited for his fight with Oberyn Martell.
When the Queen came to his chambers, asking him to fight on behalf of the Crown. He accepted, but not in the way she promised him the sword.
He's always been the wildest of House Dayne, untrustworthy, uncaring to his many cousins at High Hermitage and Starfall. He is a chaotic person, he enjoys being cruel to others, he enjoys being on top and in this fight with Oberyn.
Against his companion one on one, he won't last seven strikes. Oberyn is a man of poison, it's what he enjoys to use against his opponents so he decided to do the same.
"It's a shame it has come to this, I do wonder what the Queen offered you," Oberyn said and he smirked, holding his sword out to the sun.
"Nothing, she asked for my help, and I said yes." His reply made Oberyn smirk.
In fact, there was one reason he took up the offer if he was being very specific.
He envies his late cousin, Arthur Dayne. His jealousy reaches far for the famous and beloved knight of the Kingsguard, Arthur Dayne was the hero, was what the women loved, was what made everyone so damned proud within their family.
This singular hatred drove him to despise Arthur, so much that he gave Ned Stark the exact location where the She-Wolf was. His cousin was killed, he laughed and went back for Dawn but the Northern bastard had taken it to Ashara Dayne, another of their House that he despised.
Dawn was later lost and he grew bitter for it, he became the Darkstar, the dark side of House Dayne where the brightest were those of Ashara and Arthur.
Now, with the newest piece of information from Cersei Lannister, courtesy of the Master of Whispers tell of Dawn being seen in the North, and Ashara seemingly back from the dead.
First, he'll kill Oberyn and then... He'll go North.
The two were turned from each other when the bells wrung, the duel begins. "Good luck, Prince Oberyn. I wish you good fortune in your vengeance." He told his opponent and Oberyn smirked from ear to ear before taking a sip from his wine, the Imp insisted on his champion not drinking.
Both men gathered in the arena and waited, the Hand of the King announced for the fight to begin.
He stayed on the defense, his longsword swiping away all of Oberyn's strikes and taking special care for his weak spots. Ten minutes later, Oberyn began to slow and his eyes were frustrated and he looked especially awful.
As he said, he isn't beating Oberyn in a straight fight, no. He slipped something in his wine jug the night he accepted the Queen's offer, kissing his paramour surely killed Ellaria as well. Tyrion helped the woman take a seat as he clashed against Oberyn and got close, close enough to speak.
"I will deal will Tywin for you, Oberyn. I swear to take care of your daughters." He said with a chuckle, a dark and sinister smirk.
Oberyn was angry and swiped at him weakly, the Queen was practically jumping for joy while the others waited for the Red Viper to make his mistake against the Darkstar.
It happened when Oberyn loosened his grip, he disarmed the Dornish Prince, sliced him on the chest and kicked Oberyn to the ground. He kicked his opponents spear away as Ellaria weakly yelled for him to stop. He smirked and stood over the Prince and plunged his sword down on Oberyn's throat.
He won, now he gets his prize.
AN: So ends Chapter 27, I can tell some will be angry at how Oberyn went out but as one of you stated, Darkstar would never win against Oberyn in a straight fight and the poison used by Darkstar was a combo of Nightshade and Wolfsbane, to wear him down to kill.
Sketchywolf, I hope he has, he's been through some hell.
Hear My Fury, Yep, Stannis, Baelish (for now) and Gerold. The North has united and now, the Starks of Winterfell must live on with what they suffered.
CEW, Deepwood Motte falls. The three armies (wildlings, Stannis, and Arthur) will meet. Yes, House Lannister won't be much of a problem for a while. He will be hurt, but he won't find out until very later on. Sansa will be slightly angry but being home sort of trumps that. Arya has been training with Edric, Dacey and soon enough, Ashara.
Lord Villarreal of house Grand, Yes, I agree, Darkstar wouldn't beat Oberyn in a straight fight but poisoning his opponent before the fight? A win, dishonorable, but still win considering that Oberyn spiked his weapon with Manticore Venom.
246vili, It will get more so with Gerold coming for his sword. Petyr will most definitely get what he deserves, very soon I expect.