Theon thought he was being clever.

The thing in front of Theon, the thing that claimed it was a god, told him it would grant any wish, no matter what it might be, and send him back to the world of the living, as long as Theon agreed not to deliberately alter the course of history. The only events he could freely change were those he caused directly. And how he chose to live his life was up to him, but anything beyond that was forbidden. He'd die if he interfered in any other way, and sent to hell…All of them.

Theon wanted to refuse. What was the point of going back only to watch everyone he cared for die horribly? He was just supposed to sit back and watch Robb die? Let Sansa be taken by the Lannisters then sold Ramsey and brutalized? No, he couldn't. If he didn't agree if he lied to the demon before him—and it was a demon—and change things anyway, would it know?

It grinned as the thought of lying went through Theon's mind.

Fuck.

Think, you colossal fool! Think! There has to be a way to change things. Even by only a little!

The sky of fire flickered and an ocean of lava and roiled around Theon's boots as if he stood on the shore of volcano sprung up from the seafloor, and the tide was coming in. He clasped his hands into fists and desperately tried to will an intelligent idea to come into his mind.

Well, maybe, Theon thought after what felt like an eternity passed, maybe just not betraying Robb would be enough.

He couldn't save Lord Stark—Theon was sure he couldn't do that even if he'd been allowed to—or keep Sansa from Lannister clutches, but didn't everything fall to shit, truly, because he took Winterfell and captured Bran and Rickon? Murdered Ser Rodrick and those boys to save face before men who would only then turn on him? If not for Theon's foolish, heinous actions, wouldn't Robb have survived the Frays and Boltons, and maybe even have won the war?

Maybe—

The demon laughed. Its handsome face was a jester's mask as it laughed and laughed at Theon. Its mouth flashing perfect white teeth. Theon didn't care how handsome it made itself, it could not hide what it was. Theon had seen those eyes before. Had those sharp blue eyes peer at him like he was meat that needed to be carved and shaped. Eyes that had never and would never recognize kindness, nor pity.

"Why—?"

Theon was going to ask why it would send him back only to tie his hands, but the demon answered before Theon could launch his question.

"Oh, but did you not stand with the living? Did you not practically offer your guts to the Night King? Do you not deserve a second chance. Are you not a good man?"

It said 'man' as if it were spitting at Theon's feet.

"Then… Then you really are granting me a new life?" Theon asked. "You aren't trying to trick me?"

"Trick?" the demon laughed. "Why should I do such a thing? You think a god need outwit a mote of dust?"

Fuck you.

The demon laughed.

"And if I accept, if I make the wish to return, I can live my life as I see fit? You won't interfere?"

"Live your eye-blink of existence. But if you alter anything besides your destiny—"

"I will suffer your wrath?" Theon smirked, invoking the arrogance and carelessness of the boy he used to be before Ramsey.

Theon stumbled back when the demon, in all its crimson armored glory suddenly towered mere inches in front of him. It looked down at Theon with a mouth no longer filled with white, straight teeth, but fangs. Rows and rows of black, razor-sharp fangs that dripped with glowing lava.

"You will burn. Forever."

Theon blinked, and it had returned to its throne of black rock and magma, staring at Theon with a toothy smile on its staggeringly handsome face.

"Understand?" It said.

Theon was dead he didn't need to breathe, yet he could not catch his breath. Finally, Theon nodded, and the demon's smile grew.

"Is this really a reward?" Theon asked timidly, shame burning through him as he recognized the cringing, craven tone Ramsey required from him in his voice.

"What greater reward than to live? Isn't that what you bags of blood and shit care most about? To cling to your miserable lives?" The demon's smile thinned. "Isn't that what you clung to?"

Theon dropped his gaze and stared at the heat-less lava around his knees.

The demon let out a vicious laugh.

"Now, make your wish."

Theon did want to live again. He wanted it so desperately he was willing to ignore every instinct he had that was screaming not to trust the demon before him. It was Ramsey and the two boys all over again, Theon felt it in his bones.

But to enjoy all of what living offered with gusto and without inhibition. Without resentment or envy—to ignore all the shit and just be happy, truly happy. Yet, if he accepted the terms of the demon's wish and followed destiny's bloody path to war and tragedy, how long would he survive? Was it possible to spot the daggers waiting in the dark and not say anything before throats were cut, and hearts were pierced?

I'll finally be able to die with Robb, Theon thought with sudden calmness.

But… Why? Why die with Robb? To want only a swift, guiltless death at Robb's side—it wasn't enough anymore. Theon wanted Robb to live!

"No," the demon said. Theon looked at it. "Any fate you try to spare him, I will undo. Then I will make you watch as he suffers in ways beyond even your imagining.

"And your end will follow." The demon licked its lips. "I will ensure every aspect of your death will be legendary in all seven hells."

The lava was up to Theon's waist, right where the Night King drove the spear through Theon's chest plate. The bright orange lava was starting to feel hotter. Just below what Theon would consider tolerable to bathe in.

"Hurry. When the lava reaches your head, I will own you. Oh, do I have such sights to show you!"

The demon laughed and spread its arms wide, and its fingers for just an instance were tipped with long, black claws.

Maybe there's a chance. Maybe if I stand by him it will change everything. This thing is no god! It doesn't know everything—

The demon howled with laughter.

I will… I will…

Theon screamed. The lava was up to his throat now. His skin was starting to peel and slough from his neck and his flesh was roasting inside his armor.

"Soon. Make your wish soon, speck."

So hard to think. Hurts—

Reek, are you trying to be clever? You think I don't know? I need you to be sincere. And you can't be truthful if you try to think. Here. This will stop any unnecessary notions from you, my Reek. Pain is what you need. It will keep you honest…

Theon screamed as his brain began to boil inside his skull.

"I want to be reborn a woman!" Theon shouted through clenched teeth.

The scalding lava creeping over his chin vanished. Relieved of the pain, Theon nearly fell to his knees. He might have if the demon hadn't grabbed his neck with its immense hand. No, the demon's hands weren't shaped like a man's anymore, they were made of black rock that could still somehow bend like flesh. The demon lifted Theon up and snarled in his face. The demon's armor and flesh were just black rock now. If its dark hide was skin, then it was cracked and pitted, and lava poured out like waterfalls of blood.

"Worthless, primordial… Slime!" The demons roared. "How dare you—"

Theon laughed. His laughter grew louder and more mocking because the demon's grip didn't hurt, and there was no pressure around Theon's throat. The demon couldn't hurt him.

Not anymore.

The demon flung Theon to the ground. It discarded its guise and showed its true self. A massive man-shaped thing made of obsidian and magma like its throne. Its head was the only vaguely human feature it had. It had two burning red eyes, two black holes at the center of its face for nostrils, and a slit for a mouth. The rest of it was made of jagged, shattered black stone and oozing lava.

"You will pay for this," it said.

"You can't hurt me, and you cannot interfere unless I change anyone's fate except my own, and I will not." Theon looked up at the demon and grinned triumphantly. "Now, grant my wish, you massive cunt."

Theon began slowly sinking down into the lava like it was quicksand. Just before his eyes and ears sank below the surface and he disappeared from the demon's view, it said:

"I will remember you well. Yes. When we meet here again," it sneered, "and I know we shall—I will tear your soul apart!"

Theon sank and sank into the darkness. He felt like he'd won. He would never see Winterfell or Robb again, but he changed things. He changed everything! After all, what greater change is there than removing the man he was from the path of destiny?

Becoming a woman meant he'd never be taken from the Iron Islands. He wouldn't be taken from his mother and his sister. And—and maybe without Theon around Robb will make different choices and survive.

Maybe they'll all survive!