"Prince Theon!"
Theon stirred in his sleep, wondering who could be waking him up so early as he tightened his grip around the sleeping woman next to him. He stayed where he was for a while as the thumping on the wood continued. He wondered how his men had found him considering he was in Cassandra's bed chamber. The girl groaned as the noises continued, her body too tired to even contemplate moving.
Somehow in the night she had found herself closer to Theon. Her head rested under his chin, her fist balled up and resting on his bare chest. Theon's hand was pressed in the small of her back, his head resting above hers on the pillow.
"Theon," Cassandra mumbled; her voice croaky in the morning. "Go and answer them."
She knew what it was. Someone would have found out that Bran and Rickon had run away. Cassandra was sure of it. She moved out of Theon's clutches, sitting up as he did the same. He moved out of the bed and padded to the door, flinging the wood open before glaring at the man behind him.
"What?" Theon snapped loudly.
"It is Drennan, my Lord," the man spoke. "He has been killed."
"How?" Theon asked. "Who killed him?"
"We do not know," the man said. "It would be for the best if you were to come to the courtyard."
"In a minute," Theon said and slammed the door shut.
He looked to Cassandra as she sat on the edge of the bed. She shrugged at him as he reached for his shirt.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" she wondered. "I was not the one to kill him, was I? I spent my night with you."
"I didn't say anything," Theon replied.
"It was the way you looked at me," Cassandra spoke. "As if you think I have something to do with this."
"I doubt it," Theon snorted, pulling his armour over his body. He ran a hand through his hair once he had finished dressing, his glance turning to look at his reflection in the mirror. He knew he looked a mess. He was well aware of that. He had no time to change his appearance as he glanced back to Cassandra.
"Get dressed," he ordered her. "Don't leave your room. I shall be back soon for you."
"As you wish," Cassandra whispered and watched him leave her be.
She spent her time dressing herself, watching herself in the mirror as she dressed slowly. She changed into her green dress, pulling it over her body and lacing it up at the front. She spent more time than what was necessary brushing her hair and tying it to sit over one shoulder. She set about tidying her room, doing anything to occupy herself before she looked out the window.
Horses were being led to the courtyard by the stable boy. Ironborn men climbed onto them before the howling of wolves was heard. She rested a hand on the window, leaning in closer to see what was happening as her nose pressed against the glass. Surely they couldn't be going after Bran and Rickon.
"Tell me that you had nothing to do with their escape."
She looked behind her as Theon stormed into her room, his voice loud and demanding. She arched a brow, playing innocent as he stormed over to her. He grabbed her by the shoulders, his grip tight as she glared at him. She tried to remain calm and composed, not giving herself away. It didn't work, for Theon shook his head in disbelief, his hands running through his hair.
"You did, didn't you?"
"I was with you-"
"-You spent time in the boys room alone," Theon reminded her. "What did you tell them? Did you do anything, Cassandra? Did you plant the seed?"
"No," she replied. "You did that when you killed Ser Rodrik in front of them. You did that when you chose to take their home from them."
"Gods be good," Theon shook his head. "Do you have any idea what you have done? My men have readied the hounds and horses to go after them. They cannot escape."
"Why?" Cassandra snapped. "You do not need them, Theon. They are young boys."
"We need them because they cannot run away. No one can run from us," Theon responded. "They need to see that."
"And what do you intend to do once you catch them?" Cassandra asked him. "Theon, you cannot hurt them. You cannot do anything to harm them. They are my brothers."
"They disobeyed me, Cass," Theon said. "If I find them then I will not kill them. I will not hurt them for your sake. But they will spend their days locked away in their chambers to make sure that they do not do it again. I also intend never to let you out of my sight again."
"Why can you not leave them be?" Cassandra whispered. "They are scared enough as it is, Theon. You never wanted to hurt them before. You've never wanted to harm them...please...let them go...you have me. Is one Stark not enough?"
"No," Theon replied honestly. "I told you what has happened, Cassandra. I need to go and sort out the mess which you have made."
"No," Cassandra replied as she rushed to the door which Theon was leaving from. He slammed it shut on her as she reached the wood, pulling at the handle. But it was to no prevail. Theon had locked the door, keeping her inside of the room without anything else to do but wait for word of what would happen to her brothers.
...
Theon didn't want to do it. He didn't want to kill anyone. But Dagmer had persuaded him that it was necessary. The people of Winterfell had to be shown what would happen to them if they dared to defy Theon. He had to set precedent. He had to show them that crimes would go punished.
The thought which hurt him the most was the fact that the boys were not the Stark ones. They were two innocent farm boys who he had killed. Theon looked at their burnt bodies as he rode back to Winterfell, a sense of sickness coming over him at what he had done. Never before had he killed two so young. He had killed before, as every Iron Islander should.
But not boys.
"We should bring the Maester and the girl out," Dagmer said as he watched the bodies being hidden from view. Some of the men had gone to gather the locals in the gates of Winterfell; others had gone inside to bring out the serving staff. Theon shook his head with haste.
"No." He said solemnly. "Leave Lady Stark in her room. I shall see to her later."
"If you don't bring her out then people will think you weak," Dagmer warned him. "The men will never appreciate you. They will think that you have turned into a man who does a woman's bidding. Do you expect them to care for your feelings for her? She is a Stark bitch."
"She is to be Lady Greyjoy if I have my way," Theon snapped back. "She is to stay inside."
Dagmer regarded him for a moment, sneering behind his lip. He knew that Theon would never make anything of himself. He was a jumped up little boy. He had no skill and was no Iron Islander.
"As you wish, my Lord," Dagmer said, moving away and into the castle to find the Stark girl out for himself.
Theon stood on the wooden platform, watching with intent as people came to stand in front of him. He held his head high, his footsteps echoing on the wooden floor as he walked back and forth. His patience wore thin as he began to speak.
"I told you what would happen," he said. "All of you. I told you what would happen if you serve me loyal. And what would happen if you did not."
"What are you doing?" Maester Luwin suddenly snapped as he was dragged forwards, his eyes catching Theon's.
"There are some of you who still question if your new Lord means what he says," Theon snapped, his hands held behind his back. "Here is the answer to your question." Theon said; his arm outstretched as he saw her in the distance. His eyes widened and he shook his head as the banner began to move upwards.
"What in the name of Seven Hells are you doing?" Cassandra snapped as Dagmer held her by the arm, pushing her to the front of the congregation. Her eyes landed on Theon as he continued to point to the burnt bodies.
Cassandra' gaze finally moved from him and to the two burnt bodies, her eyes widening with horror. Dagmer smirked from behind her as he finally released her. She didn't stand long as her knees buckled from underneath her. She collapsed to the ground, the mud sticking to her as she felt her body shake. Her anger and sorrow overwhelmed her as she thought of what she had just seen. Her eyes felt betrayed as she bent down, tears falling down her cheeks as she thought of what she had just seen.
Theon watched as she fell to the floor, her body quivering and shaking. He dropped down from the wooden platform to stand beside her. He moved quickly, his arms wrapping around her waist as he hauled her to stand. She didn't even fight against him. He placed his arm around her thighs before tilting her towards him, slinging her over his shoulder as he walked away.
He glared at Dagmer, his gaze harsh as he left the courtyard. Cassandra didn't even fight against him as he kept his arm tightly around her. She continued to sob harshly, unable to comprehend what Theon had even done to her brothers. He had burnt them alive. He had hurt them more than she could comprehend.
He had promised her that he wouldn't. He had promised her that he would bring them back if he found them.
"Put me down," Cassandra suddenly spoke. "Theon, put me down."
He did as she had asked as soon as he reached her room.
"They are not your brothers," Theon blurted out as she stood opposite him. "Your brothers have escaped, Cassandra."
"Then who are they?" Cassandra sniffed, wiping her hand under her nose as she advanced towards Theon. "Who have you killed?"
"Two farm boys," Theon spoke honestly. "The hounds tracked their scents to a farm...Dagmer...he told me that we needed to find them or the people would not respect me."
"They don't respect you anyway!" Cassandra yelled at him, her fists hitting against his armoured covered chest. "They hate you for what you have done! They hate you for everything that you have done! Just like I do."
Theon snapped her wrists into his hands, backing her against the wall and pinning her wrists above her head. She winced at the sudden pain, her head hitting the brick wall as he looked down at her. She moaned as his body crushed against hers, his head bending down to look her in the eye.
"I did not kill your brothers," Theon responded. "I let them go, Cassandra. I let them live."
"And what about the innocent farm boys?" she asked him, trying to fight him off of her. "Did they deserve death?"
"No," Theon admitted to her, his gaze a look of horror. "Do you think that I like knowing that I killed two innocent boys? Do you think it makes me happy?"
She watched him as he bent down to look at her, his hand squeezing her chin as he forced her to look at him. She continued to stare into his eyes, her face one of emptiness as he looked at her pleadingly.
"I didn't want this," Theon said to her. "I didn't want any of this, Cassandra. I never thought that I would have to come back here and kill like I have done. I never thought that I had to be this man."
"You don't have to be," she replied. "You know that, Theon. You chose to do this."
"I know," Theon replied in a whisper. "I have gone too far, Cassandra."
He let go of her, his hands tugging through his hair as he thought about his actions. He thought about the boys who hung outside the castle of Winterfell. He couldn't begin to explain to Cassandra how much he regretted all that had happened. But he couldn't say that to anyone else. He couldn't let them know how much he regretted his actions.
"You know as well as I that this is wrong, Theon," Cassandra pleaded with him. "You know that no one has done anything to deserve any of this."
Theon watched her for a moment, wondering what could have been before shaking his head. He had to do this. He was Ironborn. "I have the blood of iron in my veins, Cassandra. I am not who you think."
"I know that now," Cassandra assured him. "It does not mean that I like it...Theon...please...no more killing...leave Bran and Rickon be...think of what you have done and stop before anything else can happen."
She continued to look at him as he remained silent; his hands pulling at his hair as she finally saw a sense of regret in his actions. She saw how he was suffering. He was suffering as much as she was. He just refused to tell her that.
"I've done a lot of bad things," Theon admitted, sinking down to sit on her stool. "I have done things which I am not proud of."
"I know that," Cassandra whispered, wondering how much longer this would go on for. "I know what you have done, Theon. It hurts me as much as it hurts you. It hurts me to see what you have become."
She moved to kneel beside him, her hands resting on his shoulders as she saw his eyes glisten. She wondered for a moment if he was about to cry before her. She moved a hand to hold onto his, her eyes also watering as a tear fell down her cheek.
"We should leave here," Cassandra whispered softly. "We can go, Theon. We can run away from all of this. Me and you."
"And go where?" Theon asked her. "Where would you have me go, Cassandra? Your brother would have me killed as soon as he saw me. Nowhere is safe now. My sister brings with her men to secure the castle. This is the safest place."
"Is it?" Cassandra whispered, almost choking on her words. "Because...the way I look at it...if we stay here then you will become even more tormented. You will continue to become less like the Theon Greyjoy who I fell in love with. I don't want that, Theon."
Theon moved his hand out and ran it down her cheek, his fingers tickling against her skin as he did so. She said nothing as he bent down to press his lips against her forehead in a soothing manner.
"I will pay for the farm I burnt to be restored," Theon spoke.
"Do you think that makes up for the boys you have killed? Their sons, Theon." Cassandra checked.
"I know it doesn't." Theon said to her. "I know that nothing can make up for what I have done."
Cassandra kept quiet as he kissed her quickly and she let him, her eyes closed as he stood up. He took hold of her hand and pulled her to her feet.
"My sister should be here soon," he informed her. "I need to greet her and not look a snivelling mess. You should come with me."
"Why?" Cassandra wondered. "You don't need me, Theon."
"I think that is where you are wrong," Theon spoke, his lips resting against her forehead. She winced as his stubble ran over her skin. "I need you like you need me."
She said nothing, leaning into him as he kept hold of her. "Stop being a fool, Theon. Stop doing all of this...you have taken everything already, there is nothing more to do. There is no one else to hurt."
Theon said nothing in response to her before taking her by the hand and leading her out of the castle. Cassandra said nothing as he held her hand tightly and led her back to the courtyard. She winced when she saw the boy's bodies hanging by the gate, her eyes threatening to water once more. She kept quiet as Theon stood in the middle of the courtyard, his men surrounding him.
Before he knew it there was the sound of horse's hooves hitting the ground came into his ears. Theon wrapped his arm around Cassandra's waist, holding her tight against his chest as he saw his sister ride up to him. He kept quiet, waiting for Yara to climb off her horse as he kept Cassandra's waist in his hold.
Yara dismounted her horse and glanced at her brother.
"Well, if it isn't the Lord and Lady of Winterfell," she drawled.
"Where all the other men?" Theon snapped at his sister.
Yara regarded the girl who was caught up in her brother's hold and she rolled her eyes. Of course the girl was attractive. She would have to be if she had caused the great Theon Greyjoy to fall for her. Her dress was slightly muddy and her hair was flowing over her pale skin. Her neck was long as she held her head high. Even though she had yielded Winterfell, she still thought she was the Lady of the castle.
Yara despised her already.
"My men require food and water," Yara spoke. "We shall find our own way to the Hall. I expect your royal highnesses shall be joining us soon."
Theon remained bewildered at his sister's sudden temperament but he said nothing about it. He watched as she walked away and Cassandra eyed her with suspicion.
"She's clearly unimpressed," Theon muttered. "Never mind. She shall soon see what I have done."
"What?" Cassandra wondered. "Are you back onto the act again? What happened about earlier?"
"No one else can see me like that," Theon warned her. "They will think me weak, Cassandra. I need to prove to Yara that I am worthy."
"There you go again," Cassandra snapped, pushing at his chest. "You don't need to prove anything to anyone, Theon."
"Not to you," he clarified. "But I do to everyone else. Are you going to come with me, or not?"
Cassandra shook her head, her eyes rolling to the sky above her. She looked back at him, her brow quirked as she did so.
"Do I have a say in this?" she asked from him.
"No," he admitted simply.
The two of them walked into the Great Hall where Yara sat at the head of the table. Her men sat around her, eating and drinking off of Winterfell's hospitality. Cassandra kept silent, biting down on her tongue as she wondered how this had all happened.
"Well, it seems the Lord and Lady have come to join us," Yara said, her voice loud throughout the hall. Cassandra noted the Stark banners had been burned in their too. If history didn't dictate that the Starks owned Winterfell then no one would know it.
"I saw the bodies by the gates," Yara said, her eyes flashing towards Cassandra. Theon kept her on a tight leash, she could see that much. "Which one gave you the tougher fight? The cripple or the six year old?"
Cassandra kept silent, choosing not to say that the bodies were not her brothers. She didn't know what she was doing.
"They disobeyed me."
"They were her brothers," Yara said, sipping on her wine. "I am surprised you had it in you. Tell me, have you married her yet? That was the great plan, wasn't it? Only her husband was in the way."
"They had to be taught a lesson."
"We're Ironborn, baby brother," Yara reminded him. "We take what is ours. You took Winterfell, as is your right. The boys ran away...foolish yes, but courageous, nonetheless."
"So where are the men?" Theon asked lowly. "I told you to bring-"
"-You're not staying in Winterfell," Yara informed him. "You're coming home. The North will fall soon enough. Robb Stark has sent men for his sister. I am sure he will be disappointed when he sees that that his brothers have gone."
"We are not going home," Theon replied.
"Everyone out," Yara demanded.
Cassandra remained stood where she was as the men filtered out the room. She remained in the corner as Theon stepped closer to his sister.
"Winterfell is the heart of the North." He warned his sister.
"Aye, it is," she agreed. "It is also far from the sea and will be under attack soon enough. It will fall."
Theon said nothing in response to her. Yara turned her gaze to Cassandra, eyeing the girl up and down with suspicion.
"You stay here for her," she commented. "You should know better than to do that."
"Your sister is right," Cassandra spoke up. "You should not stay here. Robb will never understand why you have done this. He will keep you captive...others will call for your blood...the North have plenty of allies, Theon."
"No," Theon shook his head. "He will understand why I have done this. He will not let anything happen to me."
"You have burnt his brothers," Yara reminded him. "You stay here for a title. Do you think a title will make father proud of you?"
"I don't care-"
"-Of course you care," Yara interrupted him. "If you stay here then you will die. Is she worth it?"
"No," Cassandra was the one to answer for him. "Northerners want your blood. They want you dead...you have to go..."
"She truly is dedicated to you," Yara drawled with a snort. "You kill her brothers and she still tries to keep you alive."
Cassandra turned away from both of them as they continued to watch her. Theon knew what had happened yet Yara remained confused. Cassandra Stark would not be so lenient on Theon for killing her brothers. That led Yara to think that the boys weren't the Starks. It was possible to burn any boy and name them someone else.
"She knows how to be loyal to her Prince," Theon said, the pompousness back in his voice. Cassandra snorted and shook her head as Yara watched Theon.
"Come home," she warned him. "You know what will happen if you don't, Theon. You won't have Winterfell and she won't be your wife."
Theon shook his head at Yara again, refusing to give in to her commands.
"No," he shook his head. "I will not give it up."
"Then it is your funeral," Yara spoke and pushed past her brother. "We leave in a few minutes. Make your decision and make it quick."
Theon watched the back of his sister as she rushed away. Cassandra moved over to him, her hand gripping onto his arm as she forced him to look down at her.
"She is right," Cassandra warned him. "The Northerners will hate you as soon as they hear of this. You need to leave."
Theon looked down at her, his head shaking back and forth as he did so.
"No," he said, his voice stern. "Cassandra, I have come too far to go back."
"You will die," Cassandra warned him. "They will kill you...for everything you have done...tell them the truth, Theon. If you stay then tell them the truth and they may have mercy on you. It only makes sense for you to leave here."
Theon cupped her cheek gently.
"I cannot go." He said again.
Cassandra groaned as she watched him leave the room, her eyes wide and her face one of pain and longing. She remained in the hall, looking to the Greyjoy banner before she pulled it down and sat on a bench, draining some wine and drowning her sorrows.
...
"I want his head on a spike!"
Robb listened as soon as he had entered the tent to find Stevron Frey stood waiting for him. Catelyn was sat down on the edge of a bed, her legs folded and her eyes wide as she watched Stevron roar about his loss.
"I understand," Robb said. "Lord Bolton has sent his bastard to reclaim Winterfell. My sister should be safe in the hands of Theon Greyjoy."
"Your sister will be stuck to his side," Stevron snapped back. "I intended to ignore the rumours which surrounded her. I intended to make her happy. I told her that she would have to forget about her beloved Greyjoy. Not once did she try to do that. She couldn't even make me an heir."
"My Lord," Catelyn spoke, her voice calm as Robb glowered. "I am sure my daughter will be safe. Once Theon Greyjoy has been taken care of then you will be able to make sure she is still dedicated to you."
"She was never dedicated to me," Stevron snorted. "She said some vows because you made a deal with my father."
"Aye," Robb agreed. "She did not marry for love, but she married all the same. She preformed her duty to you. It is not her fault that Theon took hold of Winterfell. She did not ask him to. No one asked him to."
"She's hardly complaining that he did." Stevron snapped back. "I have done nothing but care for that girl. I knew she was no virgin on our wedding night. I looked over that fact. By now I imagine she is sharing Greyjoy's bed and whoring herself out to him."
"Enough!" Robb was the one to snap, unable to listen to Stevron and any more of his posion. Robb's face scrunched up in anger as he glared at Stevron. "She loved Theon Greyjoy. She probably does still love him. She is a young girl and you are an old man. What did you expect to happen? Asking for her to be happy cannot be an instant thing. It will take time. Even then, I doubt she will ever love you."
"I do not care for love," Stevron said. "I care for an heir. I have had three marriages before and none of them have given me what I need. Cassandra is young with good birthing hips. My father has sent men to Winterfell along with Lord Bolton. Once she is free then I shall be returning her to the Twins with me."
Robb kept quiet as Catelyn nodded solemnly. The Twins would be safe for Cassandra, she was sure of it. Besides, Cassandra was married. She was married to this man. There was nothing more to it.
"Once Cassandra is free then she will be returning here first," Robb declared. "Her, Bran and Rickon. I will be the one to make sure they are safe. No doubt my mother would wish to do the same."
"I would," Catelyn agreed before noticing Stevron's reddening face. She inhaled sharply and forced herself to smile politely. "Of course, it would please us. I hope you can agree with us that Cassandra's safety is paramount in all of this."
Stevron had no option but to agree. "Of course."
"Good," Catelyn said. "I am sure one of Robb's men will take you to a tent. No doubt you need to rest for the evening after a day of travelling."
"That is kind of you," Stevron said, remembering his formalities. Catelyn smiled and motioned to the man stationed outside of the tent.
Robb watched with a held tongue as he left before circling the room and coming to sit down beside his mother on the bed.
"He does not care for her," Robb said. "He intends to use her to breed as many children as possible. We should have told him that he couldn't take her."
"And risk the alliance which we have?" Catelyn checked. "Walder Frey is a dangerous man to cross, Robb. Don't make the mistake of doing that."
Little did his mother know that he was already well on the way to completing that mistake.
...
A/N: Two updates in one day! I hope you enjoyed them enough to let me know what you think!