AN: I don't believe Theon will die. I read the sample chapter. Whatever happens at the tree, I think he gets out of it. I'm certain Asha will use Theon to overturn the kingsmoot (by the way, I personally hate the whole Iron Islands chapters). I'm not so sure Arya would spare Theon but she does know he didn't kill her brothers or burn Winterfell.

What I have done with the Boltons in the chapter is probably wrong but I had to guess and this is my AU. I blame GRRM for making us wait to find out lol

Apologies if this is too creepy

Chapter 19: Theon

Theon was alive. He had escaped being burned alive when it had come out that Ramsey was responsible for the burning of Winterfell and the death of the children. He was not relieved. He wished he was dead.

They had spared his life but he was in the dungeons of Winterfell. A few cells away Ramsey Bolton sat. Ramsey might be in a cell but he was not afraid. Theon heard him, calling himself Lord of Winterfell and of the Dreadfort. Roose had died but Ramsey still lived. Yes, Theon wished he was dead. Death held no fears for Theon anymore. He knew there were worse things in life.

He heard Ramsey's voice calling him. He wanted his Reek back. Theon was sure he was going to get him too. Reek, Reek it rhymes with meek. He finally knew his name and it was going to be taken again. There was talk Ramsey was to be executed but it had not happened yet. While Ramsey lived, Theon feared.

The guards said Arya was coming back. I rescued her Theon thought helplessly. He didn't understand why she was coming back. They called her Arya. Her bastard brother must not have seen her. He would have seen through the charade at once. Jeyne, her name is Jeyne it rhymes with pain.

The guards came each day and tossed meagre rations of food to the prisoners. They called Theon turncloak. At first he corrected them. "My name is Theon. You must know your name". Once Ramsey was installed nearby he stopped saying anything.

It was worse when they got to Ramsey's cell. They spit in his food before tossing it to him. "Here you are bastard".

No, Theon thought. No you mustn't call him that.

Days had come and gone. It was difficult to tell night from day in the dungeons. Theon saw Asha sometimes. Her visits were horrible. She looked at him with pity in her eyes.

Even down in the dungeons he heard Arya's return. The men were loud, they were joyous at the return of the Stark girl. The guards in the dungeons even smiled sinister smiles after her return, letting the prisoners know that there was a Stark in Winterfell again. Jeyne, her name is Jeyne.

Theon never slept well. Even so, the shadow was almost on him by the time he stirred and saw her. There had been no footsteps to be heard and suddenly she was facing him, looking through the bars. He squinted in the darkness before a torch was produced. The girl was studying him. He could not tell what she was thinking at first, then her mouth twisted a little.

"You were like a brother Theon"

You're dead was his first thought. He looked closely. The girl he had known was long faced, skinny, always dirty. Arya Underfoot, Arya Horseface. This girl was slim, taller but still small, she had filled out. Her hair fell just past her shoulders, it was dark brown. What struck Theon the most was her eyes. They were grey, Stark grey. There was a wildness to her, it was oddly very attractive. Theon tittered.

Her eyes narrowed. "What do you find funny?"

"You're her" he crowed triumphantly. "Now they finally will kill me".

"You want to die?" she asked incredulously.

Theon nodded, another giggle forcing its way past his throat. "Lord Ramsey can't hurt me if I'm dead".

"Valar morghulus" Arya replied. "You should die"

The cell door was opened and shut and she was suddenly there with him, a blade in hand. Despite Theon's wish to die, his hands seemed to come up automatically to shield himself. Arya paused and he saw her looking at them.

"He did this to you?" she asked.

"I... deserved it. I made him angry".

Her face became expressionless. "What else did he do?"

Theon stammered and stumbled. He did not know how she did it, she had some queer power. He found himself telling her and what he didn't tell her she seemed to already know. She began to put the knife away.

"No" he whimpered.

She opened the cell door and grabbed hold of his arm. "We're going to visit the bastard".

Theon shrieked, "No, you mustn't call him that. He'll hurt you".

Arya smiled. It was one of the most frightening things Theon had seen. It reminded him somehow of Ramsey. It was a smile which spoke of pain to come. Theon stumbled, Arya half dragging him along until they stopped in front of Ramsey's cell. Ramsey smiled when he saw them, one of his wet lipped smiles. His queerly pale eyes glinted in the poor lighting.

"My Reek has come for a visit".

Theon was now a mess. He looked from Arya to Ramsey. He began to shiver violently and it had nothing to do with cold.

"Calm yourself Theon" Arya said tonelessly. "The bastard can't hurt you".

"Don't call him that"

Ramsey's smile was now gone and Theon could see he was angry. Arya did not seem to care.

"He lives because the Lannisters have demanded his return. Most want him dead but a few resist. They will eventually kill him I'm sure but for now they stall". Arya leaned close to the bars. "Do you know who I am?"

Ramsey looked her up and down and licked his lips. He shook his head.

"Don't you know your own lady wife?" Arya smirked. "You are supposed to have wedded and bedded me".

She turned to Theon. "What did she look like?"

Theon hesitated but Arya was insistent. He finally gave a description, ending it with "Jeyne Poole".

He saw a flash of anger cross her face but it was gone almost as soon as it appeared. Arya cocked her head to the side and bit her lip. Right in front of Theon's eyes her face changed.

"Is that better?" she said sweetly. "Am I more like her now?"

Theon was too horrified to answer. He dumbly nodded.

"Go back to your cell Theon".

Theon didn't hesitate.

He sat in the corner of his cell, his knees drawn up to his chest. He heard Ramsey talking, then pleading and finally a scream. All went silent. He kept his eyes closed until he heard the key in the door of his cell. The girl locking it had a face he'd never seen before yet he knew it was the girl from before.

"I thought you were Arya but you're not are you" he whispered. "Who are you?"

She smiled. "No one".