Arya didn't like that several of the bandits managed to escape. She wanted to jump on her horse and ride after them because they nearly hurt the people she cares about, but Gendry gave her a look that stopped her. Both Sansa and Theon were unhurt, but there was something between them that Arya didn't quite understand just yet. They were still half a day from the next village, but they decided it was best to ride through the night. They couldn't risk the bandits coming back and getting a lucky shot on someone. They were fortunate that no one was seriously injured or killed. They left the bodies on the ground, and while Arya hadn't seen them, she knew that Nymeria's pack was nearby. They would want fresh meat.
She rode next to Gendry as they headed toward the shoreline, but Arya kept looking over her shoulder at the carriage. She wanted to ask what was going on with Theon and Sansa but now didn't seem like the right time. They had to focus, and it was the lack of focus that made them vulnerable to an attack. It was so unfocused that Gendry reaching over to take and squeeze her hand made Arya jump. She smiled at him, and they continued down the roads until they got to the village where they might be safe. There was an inn at least and somewhere they could rest if they got there at a decent hour.
The rest of the trip was uneventful, which was what Arya wanted. She still wanted to run away and chase those bandits down, but she stopped herself. She couldn't stop thinking about them and how they didn't look like what she expected. They were a day away from the port, setting up their final campsite, and Arya was deep in thought as she rested in her tent. Gendry finally joined her, and she was glad to be in his arms.
"Those bandits. There was something about them that I didn't like," Arya said.
"They looked like bandits to me," Gendry said with a shrug. "Bandits that we've been fighting for many, many years, they weren't even that much more talented than the guys that were running around the Westerlands." Arya frowned as she tried to put together the thing that was bothering her, and it finally hit her.
"Yes, they did look like bandits we've seen before," Arya said. "Bandits that live in the North should look like the Free Folk. Instead, those men looked like someone we would have fought in the Riverlands or the south. I don't think they were Northern bandits; I think they managed to cross our border from the Riverlands to the North."
"The border is open, but you are supposed to go through at checkpoints," Gendry said, and she nodded. "So you think they snuck across for some reason."
"It also means that they probably ran back to the Riverlands as soon as they realized that they weren't going to win," Arya said. "If Jon sends his people out, I don't think they're going to find them. If they were willing to attack a royal group, there's no telling what they are going to do to the smallfolk or any of the smaller villages close to the border. Edmure likely isn't paying attention to the villages that are the furthest north from him."
"Jon isn't going to let us go on a trip to the Riverlands," Gendry said. "Not after we were just gone to go on a visit to the Iron Isles."
"So we'll go ourselves," Arya said with a shrug. "We can get in and out within two days. We'll just say that we're going on a camping trip to get away and decompress after the Iron Isles, which I know Jon will accept." She moved, so she was straddling Gendry's waist and looked down at him with a smirk. "You're not going to let me go deal with those bandits all by myself, are you?"
"You're an evil woman, and I don't know why I love you," Gendry replied. Arya squealed a little when he suddenly flipped them over and pinned down on their bedroll. She wanted him, but they would have a bed and room on the ship tomorrow, and Arya wanted some privacy. Instead, she kissed him, and they spent the night wrapped in each other's arms. She was looking forward to getting home so they could go south, and she could get a little revenge for the frightened look that the bandits left on Sansa and Theon's faces.
The port was tiny, so they would have to take small rowboats out to the ship that was waiting further out to sea. Arya was able to send the raven that she knew Jon was going to lose his mind over, but it needed to be said. Theon and Sansa were holding each other's hands as they looked out to the ship in the water. Arya knew that Theon hadn't been on a boat since he lost his leg, and no one really knew how he was going to react to the waves. They stumbled to try and get Theon into the ship, but Gendry stepped in, silently, and helped. Arya could tell that drawing attention to it to the Ironborn that were nearby would be a bad thing. They knew that their prince was hurt, but it was apparent none of them were expecting this.
They left their horses in the tiny stable with enough coin to keep the woman who owned it happy until they got back. The guards all climbed in as well, and before long, they were on their way to the ship. The waves were harsh, and on more than one occasion, Arya thought their entire ship was about to get overthrown. The water was also cold, and Gendry started shivering almost right away. She put an arm around his shoulders and held onto him, but it didn't seem to help much. They were all cold, uncomfortable, and damp by the time they got to the ship. There was a ladder going up, but it became pretty clear that Theon could climb it. The sailors were quick to make a small bench that they could pull him up on. They lowered the seat again for Sansa, and she gladly accepted it. Arya climbed up herself but accepted the hand of an Ironborn sailor as he helped her up.
The ship was bigger than anything they crossed the sunset sea for and even bigger than the ship they took to Lyse to get Edric. This was a ship made for long crossings and rough water. It was fascinating, and Arya wanted to see every inch of it as fast as she could. The captain, a man named Bruno, looked a little puzzled by her questions but humored her.
"Prince Theon," Bruno said. "We are thrilled that you are finally coming home and bringing your beautiful bride with you."
"Visiting," Theon said with a small smile, and he nearly lost his balance as the ship began to move. Sansa tightened her grip on his arm and held on tightly. "We're coming for a visit I'm afraid, Captain, but thank you. I haven't seen the Iron Isles in a long time, and I look forward to it."
"Your home is happy to see you are coming back again," Bruno said, and Arya could see that there was something about that statement that bothered Theon. She had talked to him before about how he felt about the North and Winterfell. That even though it was a place that made him nervous, that he lived in fear for so many years, he didn't resent it. Theon said that the North and Winterfell were his home, not the Iron Isles, but debating that was probably not the best idea. Bruno turned to Gendry and grinned. "You the blacksmith? The one who made a new crown for our Queen?"
"I didn't have anything to draw inspiration from, but Prince Theon helped me with the details and the design," Gendry said. "I hope it's to Queen Yara's and all your liking." Bruno laughed and slapped Gendry on the back hard enough that Arya saw him wince.
"I heard you were a lowborn bastard, but you sound just like the rest of them," Bruno said, and Arya had no idea if they were just insulted or not. "Princesses, it's lovely to meet you both. My Queen speaks highly of you both. She says Princess Sansa is one of the best politicians she's ever met, and Princess Arya could beat any of us in combat. The Ironborn are looking forward to the Northern Princesses seeing our home and bringing back great tales of it."
"I'm looking forward to seeing the place that gave me my betrothed," Sansa said with that smile she used when she was trying not to bear her teeth at someone she didn't like. The ship rocked again, and Theon nearly stumbled. All of the Ironborn were looking at him every time that it happened, and Arya didn't like it.
"That's all true," Arya said, and she smiled with plenty of teeth. "Theon is like a brother to me, so I would do anything to keep him safe. I'm looking forward to seeing your home." All of the men on the ship blinked as they processed her not so subtle threat. Gendry was smirking, Sansa stood a little taller, and Theon was staring like he didn't quite believe that she declared that.
"I believe the journey has left me rather tired," Sansa said after a beat of silence from everyone. "Prince Theon and I will retire to our chambers." Bruno looked like he wanted to argue about Sansa and Theon sharing a room, but everyone involved save for Theon glared at him. The captain wisely closed his mouth and let everyone do as they pleased.
Arya enjoyed walking around the ship and looked out to the west. The horizon looked like it went on for forever, but she wondered what was beyond it. What lay beyond that horizon and was there more of the world that they hadn't explored before. When she was little, Arya thought about being an explorer. She thought about going out into the world and discovering something new. Now, she was a princess married to a knight, and she had duties. She had things that needed to be done and responsibilities she couldn't turn her back on. Gendry walked over and joined her as they looked out.
"I wonder what's out there," Arya said.
"We could ask Yara. If anyone would know it would be the Queen of the Iron Isles," Gendry said. "If she doesn't know, maybe she knows somewhere or someone who could tell us."
"Maybe," Arya said, and she watched the ocean. There weren't any monsters lurking beneath, and no pirates would try to attack a fully armed Ironborn ship. The sun went down, and the sky looked more massive than anything she had ever seen before. Arya could have spent the night out under the stars to watch them, but Gendry took her arm and dragged her to their chambers. They were both still tired and cold. Bruno gave them some dinner, and Arya fell asleep in Gendry's arms. The rocking of the ship put her to sleep, and while it wasn't exactly comforting, it didn't keep her awake either. She liked sailing, and maybe in another life, she got the chance to go and do some more exploring. That wasn't her life now, but Arya was still content.
Sansa didn't like the way the Ironborn looked at Theon as they continued their journey. He would stumble, and she would be there to help him walk, but they were always looking at him oddly like they didn't know what to do with him. He was their prince, and he was a prince that was essentially lost to them for many years. Theon was a hero that helped save their Queen and fought in the battle against the dead. Sansa thought they would have more respect but, instead, it was like they didn't trust him. She didn't trust them either, and she stayed close for a reason.
The Iron Isles took about a sennight to get to, and when a man cried out that land was approaching, Arya rushed to the side of the ship. Sansa didn't know what she was expecting, but there didn't appear to be a lot with the Iron Isles or the city of Lordsport on the island of Pyke where they were landing. The castle seemed to be built into the high rocks of the island, and bridges were connecting one piece of the castle to another. Sansa could see Theon tense up as he looked at the islands. It was another reminder that while Winterfell and the North were home to her, they weren't home to him.
The ship docked, and they all walked. Sansa could feel that Theon was still unsteady on his feet, and she remained close to him. Yara was waiting for them on the dock, and she grinned as she walked over and slapped Theon on the back somewhat hard.
"My brother has finally come home," she said. Sansa took a step away and let Theon clasp hands with Yara, and they leaned forward, so their foreheads were touching. It was a sweet gesture and one that she had seen the Greyjoy siblings do the last time Yara came to visit Winterfell. "And you managed to convince Sansa to marry you. I can't believe it."
"You should hear the story of how they got engaged," Arya said with a smirk, and Sansa tried her best not to blush. "You're involved."
"Am I now?" Yara said, and she smiled. "Very well, let's go. We're going to have a feast tonight so Gendry can present me with my new crown. I hope you didn't leave it alone with those thieving bastards that you sailed with." Bruno yelled out something that sounded like a swear word that Sansa hadn't even heard of, and Yara laughed. She guided them to a small carriage and a group of horses. Theon helped her into the carriage, and then Sansa helped him. The road was rough, and she took his hand into hers as they traveled.
"So Yara, what can I do while I'm visiting?" Arya asked. "I want to see all the Iron Isles have to offer."
"This is it," Theon muttered. "If your sister wanted adventure, I would have told her to stay home. There isn't anything to see around here." Sansa was about to say that there had to be something for them to do when Yara laughed.
"Oh, dear girl, there isn't anything to see around here," Yara replied. "You've seen all there is to see. Nothing but a bunch of ports and small fishing villages. We don't have much out here to see." Theon raised an eyebrow, and Sansa buried her face in his neck to hide her shaking laughter.
It was evening by the time they got to Pyke Castle, and everyone got settled into their rooms. Sansa was a little warm in her Northern clothes but changed into something rather simple but elegant. She was braiding her hair when Theon limped into the room in an outfit with his house's crest on the front. Sansa smiled as she stood up and touched the Kraken sewed into the front.
"I don't know about this," Theon said, and Sansa leaned forward to kiss his cheek.
"We're going to be fine," Sansa reassured. She finished braiding her hair, and they walked to the great hall together. Arya and Gendry were waiting for them, and Gendry had the box in his hand, which must contain Yara's new crown. Sansa hadn't seen it before, but she could only assume it was beautiful. Everything that Gendry seemed to make was beautiful.
The doors to the hall opened, and Sansa walked through with her head held high like the princess that she was. Theon did his best to hide his limp, but that also meant he was leaning on her a bit more than usual. He hadn't brought his cane for reasons that Sansa more or less understood. Strength was essential to the Ironborn and needing a cane did not project strength.
"My people!" Yara said. She was wearing a crown that looked like it was made of wood on her head that didn't look regal or comfortable. Sansa understood why she commissioned a new one; she couldn't imagine something like that lasting very long. "May I present my brother, Prince Theon Greyjoy and his betrothed, Princess Sansa Stark of Winterfell!" The people around them cheered as they walked across the great hall to the front. They turned, and both bowed to the best of their abilities. Yara nodded, and they made their way over to their seats. "May I also present Princess Arya Stark and her husband Ser Gendry Stark, the man who has crafted a new crown for the new age of the Iron Isles!" Arya and Gendry both walked out, they bowed together, and Arya went to take her seat while Gendry stayed.
The last time he did this, Arya told her that he didn't have an audience. Now he had all of the Iron Isles watching him as Yara rose from her seat and walked around to him.
"Queen Yara, I would like to present you with this crown crafted from my own hands," Gendry said. He set the box down and removed the crown. It shimmered in the candlelight, and it looked like it was made from pure silver. Sansa didn't know what he added to the metal to make it shine like that, but it was beautiful. It looked similar to the driftwood crown that Yara was already wearing, but it was styled and fit for a Queen. Yara grinned as she looked at the crown in Gendry's hands.
"Remarkable, it even looks like driftwood cast in silver," she said.
"Your brother was involved with making sure that I got the design right, so he must get some of the credit for that," Gendry said. Yara glanced over her shoulder and smiled at Theon. It was a small smile, but Sansa knew the private smiles that the Greyjoy's shared when they were really trying to communicate with each other without words. Theon nodded, and Yara turned back to Gendry. She handed her driftwood crown off to one of her advisors, and she knelt down in front of Gendry.
Arya spoke about how surreal it was to see a man that looked like Robert Baratheon crown, a kneeling woman who could not look more like a Targaryen. Sansa imagined that this was a similar feeling as seeing the son of Robert Baratheon crowned the daughter of Balon Greyjoy. Yara stood and looked more like a Queen than she ever had in Sansa's presence before. She took Gendry's hand and squeezed it tightly.
"Thank you," she said just loud enough that the people at the head table could hear. "Thank you for giving me something that is mine."
"It was my honor," Gendry replied. The feast began, and Sansa smiled as she watched Theon and Yara talk quietly to one another as the night went on. While the Iron Isles weren't home to Theon anymore, Yara was still family.
It turned out that Yara was very much, not kidding when she said there wasn't much to do on the Iron Isles, but Sansa was thankful that she was aware of it. That is why Sansa was glad when Yara told them that they didn't need to stay longer than a few days, which meant this trip that she initially thought was going to be several moons was probably going to be a moon or so. Sansa didn't mind Yara taking her and Theon around to show them off; their Alliance was important, and Yara seemed legitimately happy that her brother was happy. Theon, however, was not taking it as well. It was much more traveling and walking than he was used to, and by the end of the third day, he was in considerable pain. Sansa helped him soak in a hot bath and rubbed his shoulders before they went down for dinner. They were leaving the next day, and she was happy to go home.
Arya and Gendry found various ways to keep themselves occupied. Arya let some of the Ironborn teach them their fighting style so she could see if there was anything useful. As for Gendry, Sansa was not at all surprised to find him chatting with Iron Isles blacksmiths about weapons and metal because, of course, he was. Sansa loved her good brother; so many people assumed that Gendry was a simple man, but he had his interests, and he studied them diligently. If anyone could figure out how to reforge Valyrian Steel, it would be him.
Theon needed his cane as they went down to dinner that night, and Sansa could feel all eyes on them. She ignored it to the best of her ability, but Theon seemed to shrink under their stares. Arya and Gendry were up in their rooms already asleep after a day of going around Pyke to see all of the sights that they could. The meal was going well, and Sansa felt like she might be able to let her guard down when someone turned to them.
"So when are you coming back for the wedding? And coming home with your beautiful bride for good?" someone asked, and Sansa blinked. She had always assumed they would get married in Winterfell and didn't even ask if Theon would want to get married on the Iron Isles.
"Oh, no, we won't be getting married here," Theon said. "Sansa is Hand to the King in the North so she couldn't leave. We'll be getting married in Winterfell, and I'll be staying there." The room went oddly silent, and Sansa narrowed her eyes as she watched all of the men stare at them.
"You're our prince," another man said. "You and your bride belong here." Sansa reached over and took Theon's hand into hers, and she could feel him trembling already.
"Theon and I have decided to remain at Winterfell for as long as my duties require me to be there," Sansa said as she stared these men down. "Perhaps when the next generation of Stark's take the crown, and I am no longer needed as Hand, we could look into spending more time here." That wasn't what she wanted, but it was a sacrifice she would make to keep Theon happy. However, that mere suggestion made him pale a little.
"The boy thinks he's one of the wolves," a drunk man slurred, and Yara stood. "He doesn't think he's one of us anymore, so maybe we don't need a prince anymore." Some other men muttered their agreement, and Yara snarled.
"My brother is the son of Balon Greyjoy and your prince," she snapped, and Sansa could feel Theon's tension coming off of him in waves. They needed to get out of here. "He is Ironborn no matter where he rests his head."
"Maybe we don't want a prince that hides in the snow," a man said, and the agreements got louder.
"Then the North will claim him as one of their own," Sansa snapped, and she bared her teeth at all of them. She was the Red Wolf, and she would not stand for these drunk men insulting the man she loved like this. "If the Ironborn are so callous to throw their brave and selfless prince away, then the North will claim from now on." Sansa stood and helped Theon to his feet. "Queen Yara, if you will excuse me, we have an early day tomorrow, and we should get some rest."
"Of course," Yara said, and she turned her fearsome glare on the men in the room. "It appears I have some issues to deal with on my own." Sansa didn't wait to see what would happen. She got Theon out of the room and up to their chambers as fast as she could. He was having trouble catching a breath by the time she closed and latched the door. Theon collapsed onto the bed and buried his face in his hands. Sansa knelt in front of him and waited until he looked up and could see her sitting there.
"They're right," he said after a long time, and his shaking had stopped, and his breathing had evened out. "I'm not a Kraken anymore. I couldn't even stand on the ship, and what kind of Ironborn can't even walk on a ship?"
"Maybe you aren't Ironborn anymore," Sansa whispered, and she reached forward to touch his cheek when he looked up at her. "But you are a wolf, a warrior of the North, and mine. Tomorrow we're going home, our home, and if we never return here? Then we never return here. We have our home, and it's in Winterfell, together." Theon stared at her for a moment, and Sansa was unsure if he heard a word she said. Then he all but fell forward and into her arms. They stumbled a bit to get to their feet a crawl into bed together. This time, Sansa wrapped her arms around Theon and held him through the night, and closed her eyes.
Those men downstairs should have counted themselves lucky she was unarmed.
