JON II

He was going to kill Theon Greyjoy-there was no other way it could end.

Robb and Jon had skipped out on their sword practice with Jory and Ser Rodrick, feigning not feeling well. After giving the slip, both had then taken to searching, as Robb had put it "every shadow" for where Arya might be, eventually ending up exhausted, leaning against a wall behind the entrance to the crypts after an exhaustive search that had included traversing into the most unlikely of places for Arya to hide-the flooded lower levels of the crypt. Once it had grown too damp down there for their torch to hold a flame, they trudged back up to the surface and slumped where they currently were- laying out their boots in the sun to dry and expose their wet and clammy feet in the same warm late summer sun. They had lain there almost on the verge of napping for a long stretch of time when they were disturbed by the sound of voices from nearby, coming from the broken tower. Jon edged his head around just so he could see who was talking, and to his surprise found Arya and Bran were together. Jon then shook Robb awake and with a finger to his mouth told him to be quiet as they both then strained to hear what was being said, Robb's attention being earned when he heard Arya's voice say:

"Bran… what was it like to die?"

This confused and alarmed both Robb and himself, but they remained quiet for the moment, straining now to hear their brother's response to this perplexing of questions.

"Theon never killed me or Rickon."

Jon felt himself freeze in response. Theon had tried to kill Bran and Rickon? When? And he'd almost succeeded to the point where Arya had thought he'd died? That would explain why she was so moody, but how had no one noticed? How had father, let alone Lady Stark failed to notice an attack on the two smallest boys, but Arya had seen it? Perhaps that's why Sansa was acting so motherly towards Rickon, and why Theon had yet to return from wherever it was he was hiding. Jon couldn't stand it anymore, he couldn't just sit here and allow that wretched kraken to continue to breathe, so he rose and made way for the Great Keep, hoping to find Theon in his room.

"Jon! Come back here!" called Robb as he strove to catch up to him.

"Try not to hold me back, Stark, I'm going to kill Greyjoy!"

"You know not what they meant!"

"I thought they spoke rather plainly, and it makes sense if you think about it. Greyjoy makes an attempt on Bran and Rickon-why, the gods only know. Sansa and Arya catch him in act, and he makes a sloppy job of it. It explains everything!"

"Theon would never harm them! He's like another brother to them."

"He's a prisoner of father's to ensure his father's good behavior-or have you forgotten the Greyjoy Rebellion?"

"So you condemn him because of his father and disregard the man he's become?"

"Speak not of Theon like you know him. To you, his equal, he's all japes and fun, but to me… well I'm just a product of our father's sleeping with a salt wife to him. I can't go to the brothels, less I accidentally sleep with my mother!"

Robb didn't respond to this, seeming conflicted and that's what bothered Jon the most about Robb. He only saw what he wanted to see about people, he never took the bad with the good. Jon didn't want to continue discussing Theon anymore. He wanted to choke the life out of the kraken and be done with it-once and for all. Jon turned and continued his

What stopped him from entering was when Robb said, "He's not here."

"Where is he then? Did he flee already to that godforsaken salt crag of an archipelago?"

"We were supposed to sneak out to go to a brothel last night… he hasn't come back yet."

Jon knew what that could only mean. He had meant to kidnap Robb last night, mayhaps take him back to Pyke and subject their father to the same torture his father had endured, pledging to kill his heir if he dared move against his reavers.

"Where are you going now?" asked Robb as Jon changed directions.

"The stables. I'm not giving Greyjoy any more of a head start back to Pyke if I can help it!"

"You're forgetting something."

"What?"

Robb tossed him his now sun-dried stiff boots, and he almost laughed as he had almost considered fighting that damned squid in his bare feet-let alone ride out in his stirrups. After slipping into his boots, Jon continued on his way to the stables, but now with Robb following behind him.

"Where do you think you're going?" asked Jon as they came to the stables.

"With you. You have not the strength alone to face him without getting yourself killed. Speed and nimbleness you have a plenty, but Greyjoy will overpower you without me there to protect you." said Robb as he saddled his own horse.

"No, you should stay here. You're to be the future lord, if he kills you-"

"Then I die. And Bran, mother's favorite, gets to be your future lord."

"She'll blame me. Stay here."

"I would willingly stay here, if you would. But we both know that's not going to happen. So little brother, you're going to have to put up with me for the ride, or aren't you taking a horse?"

By this point Robb had finished saddling his road horse. Jon quickly set about catching up with his own. Robb laughing as he rose to his mount.

"You sure you want to dirty your hands with his blood?" asked Jon, after he finished saddling his horse, trying one last time to dissuade him to come.

"You're not the only one who cares, Snow! And how could I ever look father in the face again if I use you now as my headsman?" said Robb as Jon mounted his horse.

The two brothers shared a grim but warm smile and spurred their horses past the smithy and out the South Gate.