Rain had begun to pour down over Winterfell as Theon took hold of Cassandra by the hand. He had assured her that he would keep her and the boys safe. He had promised her of that. He urged her to submit to him in front of his men, wanting for her to keep her life and stay safe. Cassandra had been distanced from him, her eyes set anywhere but his figure. He had leaned in to kiss her before they left, her cheek being offered to him instead of her taut lips.
Theon had watched her intently as she folded her arms over her chest, her gaze looking to the rain as it thrashed against her window. He picked her hand up and led her from the room, his touch gentle in an attempt to calm her.
Cassandra didn't know how to feel. He had come back to her. He had come to keep her safe, she knew that. But he had done it by forcing her to give up Winterfell. Did he have any idea what it meant to her? To the Starks? Winterfell was their home. It had been theirs for many years, and now he asked her to pass it on to the Greyjoys.
"Cassandra!" a voice snapped as soon as they entered the courtyard.
She looked up as Theon kept an arm around her waist, stopping her from moving away to the man who called her. Theon's gaze fell onto the old man and he winced, the thought of Cassandra being married to him a sickening belief. He rushed forwards to her, pulling her from Theon's hold as his hands rested on her cheeks.
"Are you safe?" he asked her. "Did they hurt you?"
"No," Cassandra replied, looking to the ground.
Stevron glanced back up, his gaze locking with Theon's as the two men glared at each other. Cassandra noted Bran and Rickon in a corner, Osha and Hodor by their sides. She pushed past both the men to her brother, Theon watching in disbelief and Stevron watching in horror.
"Cassandra," Rickon spoke as he pulled at her skirts. "What is Theon doing?"
"He is...he is taking Winterfell..." Cassandra whispered to him.
"You cannot yield," Bran snapped at her. "Winterfell is ours."
"Not anymore, Bran," Cassandra muttered back, ruffling his hair after a moment.
"Cassandra!" Theon called her attention back to him as he stood proudly, an air of cockiness surrounding him as he did so. She looked back at him, her cheeks reddening as the rain caused her hair to stick to her skin.
"What do you want, Greyjoy?" Stevron asked him. "What is the purpose of all this?"
"Be quiet, old man," Theon snapped. "This is none of your business."
"I am Lord of Winterfell," Stevron said, his voice one of disbelief as he looked at Theon. He regarded him with disgust as he did so. "This is entirely my business."
"You are a Frey," Theon hissed back, stepping closer to Stevron as Cassandra moved back across. Theon easily towered over Stevron, the elder man short in his old age. "You are no Stark. Winterfell is held by the Starks. I only see Lady Stark here." Theon said, accentuating her name for the old man to understand. Cassandra would never be a Frey, not to Theon.
"Enough," Cassandra snapped as she stood between the two of them. "Theon is right, my Lord. I am a Stark."
"Theon is right?" he checked with her. "Winterfell is as much mine as it is yours."
"It is not," Cassandra shook her head. "Winterfell is my home. You are currently helping me run it, yes. But you are only Lord of Winterfell whilst you keep me here from the Twins." She reminded him.
Stevron said nothing as he regarded her with contempt.
"This is what you wanted, isn't it?" he checked with his wife. "You wanted your precious Greyjoy to come back...just like some back alley whore waiting for her favourite lover."
A gasp escaped Cassandra's lips as the Iron Islanders laughed loudly at his words. Theon glanced down to Cassandra, disgust evident on his face with the words which Stevron had just spoken to her. He wanted to do nothing more than reach out and take her hand in his.
But he had to be strong. Cassandra would understand.
"Enough of the old man," Theon replied without a moment of hesitation. "Send him and his men back to the Twins. I suppose a nice ransom shall be paid for their return."
"My father will send men back here," Stevron promised Theon as men took hold of him by the arms. "You will never be able to keep Winterfell. You will have my wife as a bed warmer for a matter of days...and then she will see who she belongs to."
"No one," Theon replied to him. "Get him out my sight!" he hollered.
Stevron was led away along with his men who wore the Frey colours. Cassandra remained stood by Theon's side, looking on at all the faces who waited for her to say something.
"Yield," Theon reminded her, his voice low and deep. "Cassandra, yield. You have to do it."
She coughed once, turning to look at Theon before her eyes caught sight of the Stark banner behind him. He followed her gaze for a second, watching her with wonder before he saw her turn her attention back to the congregation. Her head held high, she made her declaration.
"I yielded Winterfell to Theon!" Cassandra called out to them.
Murmurs echoed around the groups as Theon rested his hand on the small of her back. He stepped forwards after a moment before she turned her attention back to her brothers.
"You all know me-"
"-Aye, we know you for a steaming sack of shit." A man interrupted Theon's speech.
"Farlen," Cassandra called out, noting the kennelmaster shout out to Theon. "Do not say any more. It will do you no good."
"Listen to your Lady, Farlen," Theon warned him. "She speaks sense. My father has donned the ancient crown of salt and rock. He is King of the Iron Islands. He has claimed the right to the North by right of conquest. You are all his subjects."
"Bugger that," Farlen spoke again. "I serve the Starks. I serve the King in the North. I serve the Lady of Winterfell, the woman you supposedly loved. If you think the North-" he said no more as a man from Theon's group kicked him to the ground.
Cassandra stepped forwards again, moving to Farlen as his daughter helped him from the floor. Cassandra made sure he was stable before she turned her gaze to the man who had pushed him to the dirt.
"You do not come into my home and push around my people," she warned him, the man in the helmet glaring at her. He moved his hand, slapping her across the face as she refused to scream out in pain at the sudden contact. He watched her for a moment as Theon stepped forwards.
"No." Dagmer, Theon's right hand man, spoke. "If you protect her then they will think you are a Stark supporter. And you know what happens to those who support the Starks, don't you? The men will question you. They can overthrow you."
Theon said nothing in response, watching as Cassandra straightened herself out and the rain began to fall in heavy lumps.
"I will serve you as loyal as I can. I will be as good as Lady Cassandra has been to you," he promised the people, his eyes looking on them. He could feel Cassandra's glare on his face. "Betray me, and you will wish you hadn't. Maester Luwin, send a raven to Pyke informing my father of my victory here. And one to Deepwood Motte to my sister. Inform her she is to bring five hundred men to Winterfell."
Cassandra caught the Maester's eye as he looked at her and she nodded.
"You are a maester who is sworn to serve Winterfell, are you not? I am Lord of Winterfell now. You do as I command."
"There is only one ruler of Winterfell," Bran snapped at Theon. "And you are not her."
"Aye!" a commoner called out in agreement. "Lady Cassandra is Lady of Winterfell!"
"Not some Ironborn scum!"
Cassandra looked to Theon, his face not even one of hurt. He didn't look annoyed one little bit. He looked angry. She winced for a moment, noticing that he had advanced forwards towards the congregation. She stood in his way and rested a hand against his chest, stopping him from moving.
"Enough!" Cassandra called out, her eyes glancing into Theon's before she turned to look at the people. "Theon is in control of Winterfell. Do not speak against him; it shall do you no good. He will not listen."
"She is right," Theon said, taking hold of her elbow and dragging her to his side. "Do not fear for the safety of your Lady. She will be kept alive and well. We need some leverage over the North."
He explained his reasons to the people listened, wondering if they believed anything that he was saying. Theon turned on his heel, ready to make his way out of the rain and back inside as Cassandra tried to get away from him.
"What the hell was that about?" she snapped at him, her anger becoming too much for her to handle. She spoke in a hushed tone, waiting for Theon to respond.
"My men need to see that I am taken seriously," Theon said to her. "Or they would never respect me."
"You actually care about their respect?" Cassandra asked from him.
"I care about keeping you alive. This is the best way to do that."
"Prince Theon!" a sudden voice called out. Cassandra watched as Theon turned back around to see Dagmer walking towards him. "We have a Stark loyalist."
Cassandra looked back as Theon released her, leaving her in the parting rows of people. He moved forwards as Ser Rodrik was dragged towards him, blood trickling down his face as two men pushed him.
"We caught this one. He cut down three of our men."
"Ser Rodrik," Theon regarded him. "It grieves me that we meet as foes."
"It grieves me that you've less honour than your own father." Rodrik snapped back at Theon. "You were raised here, under this roof. These people are your people. The Lady of Winterfell was your woman."
"They are not my people," Theon replied. "And the Lady of Winterfell could never have been my woman."
"Lord Robb thought of you as a brother," Rodrik said, the words cutting deep into Theon. No one understood why he did this. He did not do it for Robb. He did it for Cassandra.
"My brothers are dead," Theon replied. "They died fighting Stark men. Men like you."
"Aye, they died fighting a war your father started," Rodrik hollered back at him. "Lord Stark raised you as his own son."
"Among them, but not one of them. I was his hostage...taken from my own home."
Cassandra shook her head, realising what it all stemmed down to. Theon not being a Stark. Theon not being treated like a Stark.
"Winterfell is mine," Theon said.
"I should have put a sword in your belly instead of in your hand," Rodrik snarled.
"You serve this house faithfully, old man. But keep talking-"
Rodrik tired of listening to Theon as he spat at the Greyjoy, the sound echoing through Cassandra. She stood beside Rickon, holding his hand tightly as Osha stood to her side. She could do nothing but watch as Rodrik defied Theon's words.
His men instantly kicked the swordsman to the floor for his act on Theon, pushing him into the mud.
"Stop it!" Cassandra yelled at Theon. "Leave him alone!"
"Take him to the cells, lock him up-"
"-No." Dagmer said. "He disobeyed you. You cannot let him get away with that."
"Lock him in a cell until he-"
"-He has to pay the iron price," Dagmer said as Cassandra rushed forwards, listening to the conversation which was taking place. The towering man leant down to whisper to Theon, his words poisonous as he did so. "No one will respect you while he lives."
"No!" Cassandra snapped, her hand wrapping around one of Theon's. She pressed her body flush against his arm as she looked at him, her eyes full of pleading. "He taught you how to fight...he taught you how to be the archer you are today...Theon...do not do this."
Theon looked down at her, their hands entwined as she continued to beg for the man's life. But Theon needed respect. He commanded it. Without the respect of his men then he was nothing.
"Ser Rodrik, I sentence you to death," Theon declared without a pause for breath.
"No!" Bran yelled out.
"Theon...listen to me...don't do this...don't be a fool...please...you know that this is wrong! You know that you cannot do this!"
"I do this for you," Theon said to her, his hand moving to cup her cheek.
"Don't," Cassandra replied. "I would rather die than see what you become."
Theon looked hurt for a moment, his eyes glazing over as she released her hold of him. Ser Rodrik was dragged forwards, Dagmer in front of him as he drew his sword from its sheath.
"Theon," Cassandra continued to call his name as he moved closer to the scene where the old man was forced to kneel down, his head resting on the stone. "Theon...I beg you...the boys...please...do not do this. Do not kill him. No good shall come of it!"
"He who passes the sentence should swing the sword," Rodrik said, his eyes glaring at Theon.
Cassandra stepped away from Theon, moving back to Bran and Rickon, knowing full well that he wasn't listening to her. She wrapped Rickon into her arms, holding her against him as he buried his head on her shoulder, his tears dampening her dress along with the rain. She picked up Bran's hand in her free one as the boys continued to cry, their eyes never leaving Rodrik.
Theon drew his sword after a moment, holding it above his head.
"No!" Bran yelled out loud. "Don't do it!"
"Hush now, child," Rodrik said. "I'm going to see your father."
Cassandra kept her face emotionless as she watched Theon, his hands shaking as he held the sword.
"Any last words, old man?" Theon wondered from him.
"Gods help you, Theon Greyjoy. Now you are truly lost."
Cassandra shrieked out loud as Theon brought his sword down, hitting against Ser Rodrik's head. The horror continued as the blade struck again and the old man coughed up blood, the rain falling and almost blurring her vision. Unfortunately it did not blur it enough to stop her from seeing Theon kicking his head from his shoulders.
The head rolled into a puddle as Theon looked around, his face wide and a wild expression held on his features. Cassandra watched on as Theon looked to her, the pair of them unable to comprehend what had just happened.
"Osha," Cassandra spoke, her voice breaking as she did so. "Take...take the boys to their chambers...keep them safe..."
"What about you, my Lady?" Osha asked.
"I...Theon is going to want me...and I need...I have to speak to him." She said with determination in her voice.
"Why did he do it?" Rickon asked. "I thought he was our friend...he...he was going to marry you."
"And I will, little Lord," Theon promised Rickon as he came to stand beside Cassandra, his hand taking hold of her wrist. He dragged her away as she laughed; a bitter and twisted sound as they finally made it out of the rain.
She glared at him, fighting in his hold. "Marry you? Do you think I want anything to do with you after that little scene in the courtyard?"
Theon glared down at her, his lips tightly pushed together as he noted some of his men moving through the corridors. He could see them in their pursuit for women, their eyes hungry and their lips smirking. Cassandra's eyes widened as she saw one man with the maid who she had, his hands pinning her to the wall.
"No," Cassandra whispered, pulling her arm from Theon's fingers as she made her way to the small alcove. Theon groaned when he noticed what she was doing.
"Get off of her!" Cassandra roared loudly as the man pulled at his breeches. "Do not touch her. I am the Lady of Winterfell! I command it."
The man turned his head over his shoulder, his eyes raking up and down the Lady of Winterfell before he spat to the ground. Cassandra recoiled as her maid's sobs echoed down the halls.
"I'd take you next if Lord Greyjoy didn't want you for a fuck of his own." The man assured Cassandra.
The gasp which escaped her was a noise she had never heard herself make before. She felt Theon's arm around her once again, turning her body as she pushed against him, determined not to see her maid violated.
"There is nothing you can do," Theon whispered to her, his fingers wrapping around her upper arms as he pulled her away. He took steps backwards down the hall, his eyes never leaving Cassandra' roaming ones. "I can't help her...they wouldn't listen to me, Cassandra."
"You won't even try," she hissed at him.
"What good would it do me?" Theon wondered. "They would turn on me and kill you...obviously not before raping you..."
Cassandra glowered at him, her eyes looking him up and down in disgust as they finally stopped walking. "Since when did you become a coward?"
Her words rang heavy in Theon's ears. He forced himself to open the door to his room behind them before he yelled at her. He pushed her inside, his force strong as he slammed the door shut.
"I am trying to keep you alive!" Theon snapped. "Gods be good, Cassandra, if you want to die then go back out there and tell them that. I assure you that they will be happy to oblige."
She scoffed. "You know that is not what I want. What I want is for you to stop this madness. I would rather die than see you murder innocent people! I would rather die knowing that you did the right thing."
"You're an idiot," Theon assured her. "You're a scared little girl who knows nothing about war."
"And you do?" Cassandra wondered. "You promise Robb ships and you come back here to attack his home? I was not aware that deceit was a part of war."
"I came back for you!" Theon roared at her, his hands gripping her shoulders as he shook her. She pushed against the heavy armour on his chest as he felt the dampness of her dress on his fingertips. "I couldn't go back to Robb...I needed to come here..."
"Did you come here for me, or for your father?" Cassandra asked him. "I know that there is more to this than there seems, Theon. You would never have killed Ser Rodrik like that. He was like family to you."
"My family are the ones who preside over the Iron Islands," Theon told her. "I have never had family here. You know that as well as I."
"No, I do not," Cassandra said. "Robb thought of you like a brother. Father raised you alongside him."
"But I was never a good as him, was I?" Theon replied. "I could never be involved in the Stark family, no matter how much I tried. You claim that they cared for me. I do not see how. I offered to marry you...to save you from a man such as Stevron Frey, and I was not good enough. Lady Stark looked down on me all the time...none of them thought that I was good enough for the precious Cassandra Stark...I can tell you now, they won't be laughing when they hear I have taken Winterfell."
Cassandra regarded him for a moment, her heart beat racing as she pushed herself away from Theon. She moved around his room, looking around it as he watched her.
"You know that is not true," Cassandra warned him. "I have always...Robb..." she stuttered, wondering what she could say. "Mother may not have treated you well. But what of Ser Rodrik? He was the one to help you swordfight. He was the one to give you your first sword. And you killed him, Theon. You killed him to look strong and powerful. Do you feel that now?"
Theon kept silent, moving to his fireplace before filling it with logs of his own. Cassandra watched him, wondering how she could appeal to his better nature. She slid down onto her knees next to her, both of her arms wrapping around one of his as she rested her forehead on his shoulder. He watched as her body shook and he moved a hand to run down her wet hair.
"He did not deserve to die, Theon...Winterfell does not need this...do not become a killer. Do not become one of them." She pleaded with him.
"I am Ironborn."
"That you may be," Cassandra nodded, "but you are also Theon Greyjoy...a cocky...annoying...man, not some heartless bastard who kills because he needs to appease people."
"Do you know what would have happened if I had not killed him?" Theon asked her.
"No, and neither do you," she warned him to keep silent before he could continue with his questions. "He could have been in a cell and alive. Your men would not have thought any different, Theon. They seem too intent on destroying our home."
"It is not my home."
"It is," Cassandra replied, her hand brushing through his wet hair as he closed his eyes and inhaled sharply. "Please, Theon. Stop this." She begged from him. "Take your men...or leave in the middle of the night...go back to Robb..."
"You would have me leave you here?" Theon checked with her. "You would have me leave you to the mercy of my men?"
"If it stops you from becoming any more of a monster, then yes," Cassandra snapped.
Theon stood quickly, pushing her from him as he paced around his room.
"You have no idea," he snapped.
Cassandra stood too, her gaze never leaving Theon's tense form.
"I shall send your husband back to his Frey family for a ransom." Theon concluded. "I should have a septon sent here to annul that marriage and take you for my own."
"Robb would certainly kill you then," Cassandra warned him. "Never mind that the Frey's would be angry too. You need to think before you do anything, Theon."
"I am thinking," he retorted. "I would not have him use you. He is not good enough for you."
"And you think you are at this moment in time?" Cassandra muttered, not quiet enough for her words to go unheard.
"I know I am. I am a Prince, Cassandra."
"Since when?"
"Since I took the Drowned God and Winterfell."
Cassandra shook her head, a look of disbelief on her face as Theon stepped forwards, his hand holding her waist.
"Have you even written to Robb?" Cassandra wondered. "Have you told him that you do this for me? Have you told him of your madness?"
"It is not madness," Theon assured her, his fingers moving to find the lace of her dress which sat at the back of it. She tried to stop him, her attempts half hearted as he pressed his lips to her neck.
"It is," she retorted, remaining stood where she was as she felt her dress loosen around her. "Theon...you need to go...please...don't stay here for me...don't go against Robb."
"How can you ask me such a thing?" he whispered in between placing hot kisses on her bare skin, one hand moving down her back to cup her rear. She groaned, still trying to push him from her as his lips ran along the top of her dress.
"Because this is not you...I worry...what more can you do? Who will suffer your wrath next? I don't want to see that..."
"And I don't want to leave and run away like a coward," Theon said. "My men would not leave now. Winterfell is the castle of Robb Stark. As long as we occupy it then there is nothing more."
His finger curved under her chin, forcing her gaze to him before he kissed her squarely on the lips.
"If I leave then you die," Theon warned her.
"And if I stay...how long do you think it will be until your men revolt against you?" Cassandra asked him. "You cannot trust them, Theon."
"I do," he retorted. "They are under my control."
"So much so that you cannot order them what to do," Cassandra replied. Theon moved his hand to the back of her dress, pushing her lace out of the back and dropping it to the floor. "If you had control then you would have stopped the man out there...you would not have killed Ser Rodrik...you do not have their respect, Theon. You don't need it. You are better than them."
"I am one of them," Theon said.
"You're not." She replied as his fingers travelled up her spine. Tears welled in her eyes as Theon finally pushed his fingers underneath the sleeves of her dress. He pushed it away from her shoulders, watching as the material tumbled to the ground, her bare form once again in front of him.
He stepped back and looked at her; the sight he was greeted with was one of shock as she remained shivering in the cold, dark room. A tear finally fell down her cheek as Theon continued to look at her.
"Who did this to you?" Theon whispered.
"Who do you think?" Cassandra asked him. "He hasn't taken me in a while...he tries to...during the day in places where we are alone. He will try and have me...I always manage to get away from him."
"You're covered in bruises," Theon said to her, moving back to her side, unable to look at the stains on her skin anymore. Her thighs were covered with them along with her breasts. She looked unhealthy. "It is a wonder you are not with child."
"I take moon tea," she whispered. "I take it because I do not want his child. I do not want him. I take it because I want you, Theon...but now...after this...I don't know what I want."
"Cassandra," Theon whispered, moving into his own wardrobe where he found his robe. He wrapped it around her bare, damp form, holding her close against his chest. "You have me."
"The old you?" Cassandra wondered. "Because you are not him anymore, Theon."
"I have had to change."
"Not for the better," Cassandra said.
"I still care for you," Theon said. "Everything I do is for you."
Cassandra nodded in agreement with him as he held her tightly to him. "I know," she whispered. "That's the part that scares me the most."
...
A/N: Thank you to x XRoweenaJAugustineX x, WhatsGoingOn, dudleygirl and duchess 123 for reviewing! Do let me know what y'all think!