Author's Note: This chapter is a little different, I wanted to show what was going on with Robb and Bran briefly. I have also decided after much thinking that story may go AU at a certain point, maybe. Thank you for all the follows and favorites.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Game of Thrones, or A song of Ice and Fire. I own Anna. Lyrics from Safe and Sound by civil wars.
"I remember tears streaming down your face
when I said I'll never let you go
When all those shadows almost killed your light."
Chapter 6: There is no going back now.
Robb
"Tell your son to give pardon to any Ironborn that surrender and agrees to return home." Roose Bolton tried to argue with him. "Except for Theon Greyjoy, he has betrayed our cause and he has turned his back on us. You will bring him to me so I may kill him myself, if not, I want his head."
Robb Stark was going to have Theon Greyjoy's head, and he would prefer to take it himself. His anger was fueled by more than the taking of his home. He had received word from his sister, a short letter that spilled secrets she had held for years. He did not blame her, he did not condemn her, she was his sister. He lay the blame on Theon, he was the man, he should have spoken to Robb as a man. Theon was a man without honor, and Robb had to wonder if the man ever had any.
Anna had loved Theon Greyjoy for years, and Robb was not blind. He had seen the warning signs, he had seen the looks between the two. He never wanted to address it, never wanted to accept what was right in front of him. He loved his twin, Anna was his other half. They been together almost every minute of their short lives, annoying each other, and loving each other. No man would have ever been good enough for her, and Theon Greyjoy would defiently never be good enough.
He had not told his mother of the letter he had received she had enough on her plate. She let the King Slayer go, leaving Robb with no choice but to keep her under guard. She was no longer his mother but a prisoner for treason. Everyone was betraying him and he was stuck in the middle. He wanted to be home, he should have been home. He tried to save his father and failed, but he continued to fight to save everyone else. He longed to be innocent again, sparring with Jon in the courtyard. He longed for the day were he would play with Anna, they would laugh as their pups tried to kill each other.
He needed her to be safe, he told Roose Bolton that his son was to make sure his siblings were safe at any cost. His brothers, his twin, were the priority. He would get his revenge once his family was safe. He could only hope they could hold out a little longer.
He knew his siblings were strong, he knew they were fighters but he did not know what was taking place in the halls of his home. He knew Rodrik Cassel was dead, a public execution. He did not doubt his brothers had witnessed the act, and he did not doubt Anna had tried to stop it. The image sent fire into his blood, he could only imagine what his sister was doing. She was no doubt fighting her hardest to keep them safe. She loved Theon, he knew that now, but he knew she loved her family more. He had to believe that she too would not betray him, that she would not let her love win her over. She was his twin, she had to believe that mattered more than the love for the traitor.
If not, he would lose yet another person he trusted.
"No one can hurt you now,come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound"
Bran.
Brandon Stark,
You were named after a very valiant man, a very brave and honorable man. Our Uncle Brandon died trying to saving his father, and his sister. You need to borrow that bravery, you need to be brave. I don't know what is to come, but no matter what you are a Stark. You are just as brave, and honorable as anyone of our blood. Never give up fighting, I know you won't. You are the strongest boy I know. I love you Bran, I love you very much. When Theon is gone from here everything will be back to the way it was, I will see you soon.
Anna.
Bran held the letter in his hand, his sister had written it before she knew of their plan. She had told him to be brave before he ran away like a scared child, but she knew of that. She knew that they were escaping and yet she stayed behind. He wanted to go back for her, he had to, but he could not because he could not walk. He had to be carried, if he was better he could have saved her.
They were in the crypt, he was close enough to hear her screams. Osha said they were dead, that everyone thought they were dead. so they hid in the crypts. They hid among the dead, among the ghosts of his family. Even buried deep under the ground Bran could swear he heard his sisters screams. He knew she was breaking, knew their death would have killed her spirit. He also knew she was strong, built like her father and mother, she would rise again.
He cursed Theon Greyjoy for what he had done, cursed him for killing the innocent farmers children. But he too was partly to blame for the death of the children. He cursed Greyjoy for going back on his honor, for betraying their family and for hurting his sister. Bran was young but he was not stupid. He had seen Theon once kiss his sister, it was wen he could still climb. He never told a soul, he knew what would have happened, and he did not doubt the betrayal was hurting Anna more than he knew.
"He is going to pay."
Bran did not know if anyone was listening to him, it was just him, Rickon and Hodor in the dark. Osha had gone to fetch food, they had not dared the first night. He spoke only to himself in the dark without his wildling friend.
"I want mother."
"I know, Rickon, we will see her soon. I promise."
"Anna promised too and she isn't even here."
Bran just pat his brother upon the head. He knew Anna wasn't there, he knew his mother wasn't there. He knew father was dead, he knew his brother fought in a war, and his other sisters were held captive. Bran was aware of everything that going on around them, but he could not change any of it. He was eleven, he was helpless. All he could do is try. All he could do was try and be brave for Rickon, and for Anna. He would avenge what ever harm fell to her, even if he himself could not do it. He knew Robb would, he knew Robb would save them all.
Theon.
He screams would ring through Winterfell for the decades to come, and as she screamed the wolf of hers began to howl with her. He had to have her dragged from the courtyard after she butchered four of his men. Some how she had managed to get a dagger and stash it in her boot. When she was shown the bodies, she managed to kill four of his men before anyone could stop her.
When he found her in her chambers she was facing the door with a deadpan look upon her face. She did not speak, did not move, but when he came close to her he could see the dried tears upon her face.
It was not until Theon pulled Anna into his arms that she made any sound. It was a wretched sound, one that would be burned into his ears for years to come. She was screaming, a blood curdling scream that broke his heart. He wanted to tell her the truth, wanted to tell her they weren't her brothers but he didn't. He held her, and rocked her in his arms.
She cursed his name, cursed his house and threatened to burn his home into the sea. She threatened to kill him in his sleep, she promised to never carry his children and with each word Theon knew he had gone too far. Dagmer had told him it would bee a good idea, fake the deaths of the Stark boys, it would gain the support of his men. He regretted killing the farmers boys, and the rest of the lot. He killed them all just to cover up a sick little lie.
"You didn't have to, you didn't have to kill them." She pushed him from her, and in his shock he almost fell from her bed. "You bastard, you bastard. Those were my brothers, my blood. I lied to them for years for you, lied to everyone. My father died never knowing that his daughter had found the love of her life, my brothers died at the hands of a man who I wanted to marry."
He did not say a word he just let her speak, he knew she was right.
"I should have killed you and I couldn't. Now everything you have done is on my hands. Ser Rodrik, my brothers, they are all on my hands. All because I thought there was some hope left, some sliver of love inside of you, but I was wrong. My love for you cost me something I didn't intend to pay. I never thought my siblings would pay the price for my folly, for my idiocy."
"Anna.."
"No, you don't get to speak you don't get to talk. You have done enough. You have killed my innocent, little brothers. My innocent sweet little brothers. I hate you. I hate you."
She fell into his arms, and she cried. She laid in his arms, without a real word. She just stayed there. He held her until she finally fell asleep, her sobbing giving way to slumber.
When his sister arrived the following day he dragged Anna from her chambers, his sister was belittling him about the children. Telling him he had screwed himself out of the North but that was not true, he had Anna. The hall was empty,save Yara, when they entered it. Anna dragged her feet the whole way, cursing his name. But she had no strength in her, he could see it on her face.
"Yara, meet my future wife, Anna Stark."
"So you kill the babes, but keep the bitch."
Theon did not like the tone in his sister's voice. She had been nice to him when she told him to leave, spoke of their mother and now her voice had turned sour again.
"Bitch?" Anna stood on her own accord next to Theon, he could see a strength growing back in her. "Don't speak of me or my brothers, you cunt. This is all your damn fault, you and bastard king father. Should have stayed on your island, bitch, your God can't save you here."
Theon did not expect the words to come from Anna's mouth, she was wild but he had never heard her use such language. His surprise came again as Anna launched herself toward his sister knocking her to the ground.
"I will fucking kill you, you bitch." Anna hit Yara in the face, and Theon could see the look of pain on Anna's face. He was sure she had never punched anyone before. "It's your fault they are all dead, you bitch. It's all your fault."
Theon pulled Anna off his sister before anymore damage could be done. When Yara stood up, Theon watched her wipe blood from her lip. He expected Yara to hit Anna back, to say something harsh back but she just looked at Theon.
"Seems like you got yourself a wild one."
"Don't talk about me like I am not here, you bitch. I swear I will kill you, I will burn your life to the ground. You took him from me, and gave me back a monster. I loved your brother when you and your father fucking forgot about him. He was the love of my life, you bitch. You fucking ruined him."
"I just helped my brother become who he truly always was, little girl. He is Ironborn,it's in his blood."
Theon had to drag Anna from the Hall, her yelling filling the halls of Winterfell. He deposited her back in her room before he went to find his own peace of mind. His soon to be wife had finally fallen into madness and he was to blame. She would have been better if he had not broken her, if he had told her the truth of her brothers he did not doubt she would have felt better. He could not risk her telling the men, he could not risk his lie coming out. Theon found himself wandering the courtyard, his mind full.
He could tell her the truth, and run the risk of losing everything or he could continue with the plan to keep Winterfell. Yara was urging him to return home, trying to convince him to join her back at the sea. But the sea was not his home, the sea had not been his home in many years. His home was the stone walls of Winterfell, the hot springs, the Wolfswood, and the girl who lay screaming in her chambers. Anna was his home, the Starks were his home, and he ruined it. He let his desire for acceptance in his family cloud his judgment. He let his desperate desire to marry Anna ruin him. He knew if he went back to camp without ships he would never win her, but taking her home was a sure fire way to get her to marry him. He just had not factored in her wolf spirit.
She had dealt with his infidelity, and his lack of saying I love you. She allowed it to be a secret, she lied to her family for him. What had he done for her in return? He had taken her home, and in her eyes, murdered her brothers. She was right, he was a monster. He had become the very thing he hated. In his walk Theon found his way to the Godswood, a place he never belonged. A place where his prayers would go without answer. But even so he found his way to the Heart tree in the middle of the wood, the tree Lord Stark would sit at for hours. The tree where he would watch the woman he loved pray for her family. He knew she was strong in her faith, and for a moment he thought of letting her from her room to pray. He was sure she would wish to pray for Robb, and even Theon thought of praying for his forgotten brother.
"I never thought I would find you here." It was his sister's voice again.
"Leave me, Yara, I do not wish to deal with you."
But he did not hear her feet retreat, but instead she drew closer.
"Your woman busted my lip open brother." He did not care. "She really loved you once didn't she? Did you love her too?"
Theon did not feel the desire to answer his sister, it was none of her concern if he loved Anna. He continued to stare at the old Weirwood tree, sadness creeping into his long since stone heart.
"I doubt you did, she must have been another conquest for you. I mean if you loved her why would you take her home, take her hostage, kill her brothers, betray her family and try to fuck your own sister."
"Shut your mouth." Theon had fire in his eyes. "You don't speak on matters you don't understand. I am not that little babe who stopped screaming and smiled at you. I am not the same brother you lost when I was taken away, I am trying to be but I am not Yara. I do love her, more than you could ever understand and I ruined it for you and for father."
"Leave Winterfell, come with me home. Give this time to calm down, and then come find her again. I am giving you my advice as a woman, and this will be the only time you get it."
Theon did not say a word to her, he watched his sister walk away. He knew she was right, he knew he could go home with her. He could not hold Winterfell forever, not with twenty men, not even with a marriage to Anna. He could return to the sea, return the Iron Islands and await his assent to King. But he would lose Anna forever if he just left, he knew she would never find a way to forgive him. She watched him murder a man as she begged him not to, he had shown her the burnt bodies of her little brothers. There was no salvaging what was left of their love. He could run away like a coward or live out the last of his days being the man she thought he had become. At least if he stayed in Winterfell he could be near her, be with her for a few more weeks.
Theon left the Godswood, his stone heart heavy in his chest. He was so torn between being the Ironbron Prince and being her Theon Greyjoy. He had gone too far to go back, somethings could not be taken back. He walked through the courtyard, his sister's men lingering around no doubt getting ready to ride out. He ignored everyone and made his way to her chambers, dismissing the guards outside the door.
"Anna."
When he entered he saw her sitting at the edge of her bed. She was looking down at her hands, which were bloody.
"Anna, what did you do?"
Theon rushed to her, taking her hands in his. He knew it was her blood this time, and he held her hands lightly. She winced as he touched her knuckles which were raw, bloody and no doubt broken. He knew it was not from punching his sister once and as he looked around the room he found the red blood on her stone wall.
"Anna." But she did not speak. "Anna, look at me."
She did not look at him, and Theon felt his worry grow. He never wanted her to be hurt, it was his job to protect her. Theon Greyjoy loved her, and he wanted nothing more than to keep her safe. He failed her, over and over again.
"I was mad, I am mad,my love, I have gone mad." Her voice was soft.
"I am going to get Maester Luwin, just don't move."
As he went to leave her felt her slippery hand upon his. He looked back at her, her blue eyes cold and dead.
"Why have you done this to me, Theon? Didn't you ever love me? Was I foolish, was I blind?"
He did not answer her, her words stung like Bran's had the night he took Winterfell. He did love her and she was not foolish. He was foolish, he was foolish to think he could have everything he wanted. Life did not work that way, and the Gods cursed him. It took him not time to find the Maester, and he sent the old man to Anna. Theon did not follow, he found himself in his chambers, the ones he once held as a ward of Winterfell. Sitting in his old bed he began to remember the first time he made love to her, the night he had taken her as his own.
She had been so afraid, she was barley fifteen at the time and she afraid of the pain. He remembered holding her after they made love, holding her as tears fell from her blue eyes. He remembered calming her down, holding her close and whispering he loved her. He never knew if she had heard him, but it was the one and only time he had told her such words. He regretted not telling her it more. He knew that soon he would never be able to say it to her again.