Author's Note
I do not own Game of Thrones.
The next set of fosterlings were Alys and Eddard Karstark, which finally gave Theon a companion close to his own age. The two, however, were only to be fostered for a year, and then Robb would return with them to foster at Karhold for a year.
Theon's first advice to Eddard (Edd, as Alys called him) was, "Don't try to mess with Stark kids."
Edd laughed. "And why not?"
Theon shrugged. "Bad shit happens when you do."
Edd, of course, had to try it and promptly picked a fight with Robb in the training yard. The next day, he found his training equipment muddied and scattered across the courtyard.
"Vindictive lot, aren't they?" he commented. "Wouldn't have thought it of Starks."
"Not them," Theon replied. "Sara and Cregan."
"Sara and Cregan?"
"Snow's invisible friends. They're… vicious."
In the morning, Edd made a point of directly insulting Sara and Cregan and knocking the plate in front of Cregan's seat to the floor.
Halfway through his break fast, his own plate was hurled across the hall, slamming into the wall at the other side.
Theon cackled with laughter.
"Cregan, that was rude," said Lord Stark.
Snow glanced at Cregan's chair. "Cregan says Karstark was rude."
Lord Stark sighed. "Eddard, apologise to Cregan."
Red faced, Edd did so.
The waters sufficiently tested, Edd didn't try to mess with Snow's unseen siblings again, no matter how much Theon tried to dare him.