AN: I thank all the reviewers of my story, for this story wouldn't be here without encouragement. Thank you.
There seems to be a problem with reviews though - I can see them on my e-mail perfectly fine but in the site itself? Nothing. I think that I might cross-post this with AO3 or SB but I'm not sure. Thoughts? Both of those platforms are far more intuitive about user response than Fanfiction is (especially since SB is essentially a forum) and I'll improve easier with more consistent criticism and advice.
A few responses though, to clear things up or just to say my piece.
goldenkraken123: She was mostly taken because Robert and Stannis wanted some form of revenge on Balon, Ned didn't want another Aegon and Rhaenys situation, and Stannis didn't want two innocent kids dead on his hands. Robert had to make do with killing all of Balon's brothers (including Euron and Victarion, unfortunately, or fortunately depending on your opinion of them), starving the Iron Islands of their main resource: their sailing capabilities, and keeping Balon of his kids.
It's a mixture of revenge and pragmatism, which are both perfect blends of Robert and Stannis.
Borys: I have to admit, I have no idea what you mean by "losses come from the green guys". Could you elaborate on that, please?
Basker: If you think about it, Jon and Theon in canon should have been friends, or at least, more friendly than they were in canon. They're both outsiders in some way among the Starks, which should've been a rather instant connection between them, especially since I don't think that Catelyn treated Theon much better than Jon. He's a dickhead maybe, but we all have dickhead friends in our groups of friends, right? That friendship could have stopped Theon from betraying the Starks, or at least, make him stop before he does the idiotic thing of taking over Winterfell, and permanently tarnishing his reputation by pretending to kill Rickon and Bran.
Theon in canon was a highborn dick, but he could've restrained himself if he had realized what he and Jon had in common. Or maybe, I'm placing too much faith in Theon's canon intelligence and social know-how.
Did George do that on purpose? If he did, that's incredibly sad. That friendship that could've stopped Theon from making the worst mistake of the POV characters in ASOIAF, and that friendship that could've made Jon less uptight, and more friendly/open with his underlings, which might have stopped him being killed for bringing the wildlings over to stop the Others from gathering more corpses for their army. It might have made his relations with Stannis a bit tenser, but it'd have been worth it.
Catelyn is only really letting Jon take care of Sansa because she knows underneath all her paranoia of him usurping Robb, that he does genuinely care for his siblings, and isn't likely to usurp them... At the moment.
Cool to know that you're a she. It's pretty annoying writing down he/she when I'm not sure of somebody's gender, hahaha.
Options and Opportunities
Chapter IV
Winterfell
The first thing that came to me when I woke for the first time, was the fact that I had constricting bandages around my side, and shoulder, along with the fact that somebody had the rather embarrassing or familiar (depending on their age) task of changing my bloody clothes into some trousers and a tunic that was slightly too big for me. My sword was on the right side of the cot.
I managed to get myself seated, ignoring the twinge in my shoulder and side. I was the only one conscious at the moment, and the morning had barely started, so either I stayed in bed, or I started walking around. Only my body had been hurt during the fight - my legs were uninjured.
The door opened, and a small old man with a wool robe wrapped around him, and two boys whose major difference were their hair, and a small auburn-haired girl nestled in the arms of the brown-haired boy. Hang on, a minute.
"You're awake, child." The kind old man said. Wait a minute... "I am Maester Luwin, and the menaces are Robb, Jon, and little Sansa." I should have recognized them immediately. Hang on. Isn't Arya supposed to have been born by now?
"Me not be a menace!" Sansa retorted, with a pout, as Luwin chuckled.
"Shhh," Robb whispered to the little girl, with a small grin himself.
"I'm Theon Greyjoy," I replied, feeling slightly bad for interrupting the banter. "How's your father? Is he alright?"
"Lord Eddard Stark is perfectly fine, thanks to you." The Maester answered, kindness radiating from him. "He is speaking with Lady Catelyn. I shall inform him of you waking."
"Thank you, Maester," I said respectfully. I liked Luwin, I decided. "Could you find out where my sister is? I want to talk to her."
He nodded in reply and left the room, leaving me alone with the children of the North.
"Hey," Robb said to interrupt the silence that had filtered the room. "I have an idea."
"What idea?" Jon and I asked simultaneously. Sansa giggled, the bastard flushed and I smirked at the poor guy's embarrassment.
The heir of Winterfell grinned. "A tour of Winterfell for Theon."
"That's... A pretty good idea." I commented my approval. "Lead the way."
"Fe-fe..." Sansa babbled, struggling to pronounce the name. "On."
"Yes, I am Feon, Sansa." I said kindly. I was pretty good with kids if I could be bothered to be.
Jon shot me a wide smile, which quickly became sullen for some reason.
"Mother, father," Robb said, warmth in his voice. "I was just showing Winterfell to Theon. Is that okay?"
I looked up at the two adults that I admired. They should be an inspiration for any parent. "Thank you for the hospitality, Lord Stark, Lady Stark. I know that the war was long, and I apologize for my father's foolishness."
"Do not apologize for the past," Lord Ned Stark pronounced, after taking a few furtive glances at his lady wife. "Children should never be punished for the father's mistakes, even in wartime."
"I thank you for your mercy then, my lord," I said again, surprising them again. "I know that you, my lord, were the one to call for mercy. You are famous for speaking against the King about the same matter a few years back."
Eddard Stark merely put his hand on my shoulder, an appreciative glance in his eyes, for having the decency not to mention Aegon and Rhaenys in front of his young, impressionable kids. "It is nothing, Theon. We shall be having breakfast in five minutes or so, you are welcome to join us, but, we need to talk about your sister in my solar."
Oh no, oh no, oh no... Suddenly, I felt even colder then I had before, underneath my wool tunic and trousers despite the fact that it had even felt slightly warm before. Asha, oh god.
A small warm hand grabbed my own cold one, and I felt myself calm down. She was going to be fine, I just had to believe.
"Feon be okay?" Sansa asked, her hand the culprit.
"Yes, I am, little Sansa," I replied, giving the small hand a squeeze, without an ounce of strength behind it. "Thank you."
I needed that. I had to stay focused at the moment.
I turned to the boys who shared both confused but concerned looks. Was I already their friend? That's surprising, but not unexpected for kids their age. "I'm sorry, Robb, Jon. But, I need to speak with your father. We'll go on our tour afterward, okay?"
"You promise?" Robb asked, a childlike innocence to what he said.
"I promise." I swore.
"Your sister disappeared during the fighting with the wildlings," Eddard Stark revealed, his tone stoic but sympathetic. "I have organized for my men to scour the woods, and have sent letters to my bannermen asking them to search as well."
"I thank you, my lord. May I ask you something, my lord?"
"Yes? What is it, Theon?" The Lord of Winterfell said.
"May I join the hunting parties? Asha is unlikely to bring herself back with your men looking for her. I mean no offense, of course, my lord." I asked, my eyes burning.
"Yes," Ned replied, his eyes sympathetic, but grieving. "I know of that feeling myself. Of powerlessness."
"I... I should be going, my lord." I answered, unable to stand the raw grief in the man's eyes. Lyanna Stark was so dear to that man.
The man said nothing as I left, closing the door behind me.
I needed to find Asha. Before it was too late.
Otherwise, I'd know what Eddard Stark had felt for the past six years, and that he would know for many more.
Notes: To be honest, I originally planned for Asha to come right as Ned said that she had disappeared, but...
I felt like being more sadistic on poor Theon. He's been winning too often recently, and I don't like protagonists that win constantly without suffering at least a tiny bit.
You know, pain always comes before victory. Theon hasn't really felt that apart from his mother.
Thoughts on the interactions between the Starks and Greyjoy heir? I thought of making Cat say something harsh to Jon, but I realized that it'd be nearing bashing territory and that Cat's first proper interaction with Theon be more appropriate than that. For now, unfortunately, she remains nothing more than a name with important connotations. She'll definitely get her spotlight though.