ANTEA

"For all the gods, this is hard!" Antea complained as she tried to pull the arrow back to aim. But the movement was difficult to manage. Her back would scream if it could. "How do you make it seem so easy?" she heard Theon chuckle as he moved to get close to her.

"It is easy for me," he said with his usual smirk that she had grown fond to look upon.

"Truly?" Antea asked, observing the arrow resting on the bow in her hands, "Your muscles do not ache afterward? Not even a little?"

Theon chuckled again, "When you have muscles, you get used to feeling them soar." She knew he was mocking her.

"Are you implying that I lack muscles, my lord?" She said, turning to him. "That'd be rude." Antea still had to fight the blush on her cheeks at having him close, but it was a sweet sensation. She longed for his closeness when they were apart.

He leaned forward, his eyes full of playfulness. "It was not my intent." Her lips turned up into a little smile, something that Theon seemed to be able to make her do with ease.

"Oh, so you were just trying to show yourself off," the lady said, fighting the blush from appearing on her cheeks as Theon was observing every corner of her face before tilting his head to one side.

"And if I was?" He asked.

"You'd be cocky," she answered, owning another chuckle from him.

"Is it bad?" He was leaning over, and Antea could see him doing so.

"I'm growing quite fond of your attitude," she admitted before he pecked her lips with a quick kiss. Her grey eyes widened.

"And of my kisses?" He asked, not moving away, "Are you growing fond of them?"

The sun had risen six times since their first kiss in Antea's chamber. And now they had kissed many times, more than Antea cared to count. But she liked to feel him so close. She adored his touch against her skin. And it had become almost impossible not to share a kiss every time they had a chance to be alone.

"You are truly so cocky," she said, her fingers brushing his cheek. Theon smiled, kissing her nose. "It's part of my charm, my lady," then he took her hand, "Come. Let me show you how it's done one more time."

Theon led her so that her back was facing his front. His hands moved to her arms, stopping on her shoulders before pulling them a little. Antea felt her heart beat fast as his hands moved back down, brushing her arms so that he could touch her hands.

"Pull back," he said, helping her pull the arrow, "Now let the feathers brush your lips," Theon was speaking in her ear, and she had to do all she could not blush, but it was difficult. No one had ever been so close to her. "Keep both your eyes open, and focus on the center of the target," she did as he told her, focusing more on not tremble under his touch. She felt him smile, "Now take a deep breath," and she did, "And release." When she did, the arrow brushed her lips, and in just a blink of an eye, it hit the center of the target.

Antea smiled as she turned to Theon. " Do you think I can do it on my own?"

"Why? You got doubt, my lady?" He asked moving away to take another arrow, "That would be unlike you."

Antea lowered her gaze, "Maybe once," she admitted, "Lately, I'm full of doubts," Theon frowned, observing her.

"What troubles your mind?" He asked, his eyes never left her frame.

"You'll grow bored of me," she said shyly, "Always listening to my worries," the girl had not expected him to move closer to take one of her hands in his.

"I'd want for you to share everything with me," he said, the usual smile on his lips, "And after the affection that you are giving me, I could never grow bored of you," she blushed.

"Theon!" Her shyness made him chuckle. Then his hands moved to touch her face.

"Here it is," he said, looking into her eyes, "the smile I was longing for." She felt that her lips had curved up into a wide, genuine smile—a smile that was not burdened by all her worries—just a smile. How could he make her feel so light-hearted?

"Thank you," she said from the bottom of her heart. His lips turned up as he observed her face. His eyes looked at her in a way that made her think of the songs that Sansa loved so much. It made her heart beat fast with a sweet sense of happiness.

But that made her lower her eyes.

"What is it?" He asked as Antea moved back from his touch.

"My heart feels so heavy, Theon," she admitted, turning her back to him. She wanted desperately to feel happiness, but it terrorized her at the same time: " Outside these walls, there's a war. A war that had already taken my father. A war that could take away my brother. Or you…" she blushed at her admission.

"Is my life that makes your heart heavier?" Theon asked, his voice hinting at surprise as if he didn't think she would ever say those words.

"The Blackfish is to return," Antea explained, torturing her hands. If she had had to turn, her shyness would not have let her speak the words of her heart: "You're part of his scouts." She took a heavy breath. "I feel torn. Stuck between knowing that the war has to keep going and wanting all to stop. And feeling ashamed because I'd wish for everything to be over."

"Ashamed?" He asked from behind her.

"My family is my life," she said. Her eyes found her direwolf, who had appeared once again, looking at her with those golden eyes. "I'd do anything for them. But… is it selfish on my part to wish you and my brother away from the battlefield?" Antea heard him take some steps that brought him close to her frame. She closed her eyes when she felt his hands on her arms.

"Battle is a man's duty," that made her turn to look at him.

"And weeping should be a woman's duty, then?" she asked with wide eyes. Theon touched her face.

"Would you weep for me if I was to fall?" She knew he was trying to understand her feelings, but those words filled her with sorrow. The thought of Theon lying on the ground, lifeless.

"You've promised me you'd be with me for many years," she remembered his words when he had held her in his arms after the bloody raven arrived with the words that had changed Antea's life.

"And those words I shall keep," Theon looked her in the eyes, "Antea. I never want to leave you," her fingers went to his chest, loving the feeling of his body under her touch.

"I don't want you to leave as well."

The feelings of his caresses followed during the day when her presence was requested elsewhere and when his duty brought him to the King. Her fingers touched her lips, remembering every kiss that the two of them had shared, and she wished for more time alone with Theon.

"Am I falling in love, girl?" she asked Shadow as she caressed her black fur. She would have liked to speak with Cyel, her dearest friend. They had always shared their secrets and gave counsel to each other. She wondered what her friend, who was soon to become her sister, would have told her.

We all shall do our part, her mother's words echoed in her mind, causing her body to feel cold.

Was she being foolish?

Love was not meant for people like her, her siblings, or Theon. Politics mattered the most, especially in times of war. Antea felt the need to get up from her bed, suddenly nervous. Shadow got up, walking beside her as Antea circled the chamber.

Her own twin brother was to marry a Frey girl. He yet had no idea who his bride would have been.

Was she being delusional?

What if politics brought her away from Theon? Her heart ached at the thought. Antea had made a vow to help her family before anything. But at the same time, she felt so much dread thinking about her being wed to another man. Or watching Theon to be wed to another girl.

Am I in love with Theon Greyjoy?

Love was not something for people like her. She knew it, yet it hurt.

That night, she dreamt of being Shadow again. Running in the gardens with her brother, howling at the moon, and wishing to be outside those walls, hunting. Wanting blood. Lannisters' blood. She liked those dreams. She felt so powerful in those dreams. She knew she should feel ashamed of dreaming of killing. But when she woke up from those dreams, she felt that if she were in front of Cersei Lannister, she would have been able to kill her. And that thought gave her peace.

Would my father feel ashamed of me? She thought saddly.

"Princess Antea," the following morning, the voice of the guard came from outside her door, "The King."

Antea got up to let her brother enter her room. Her brows frowned when she saw that Theon was with him.

"Good morrow, sister," Robb said, kissing her forehead. Grey Wind was quick to run inside to sit next to Shadow.

"Good morrow," she answered, unsure. Then she turned to Theon, who flashed her a smirk before bowing to her.

"My princess," Antea glared at him before turning to her brother.

"What is the matter?" she asked her twin brother. He took her hand, pulling her closer to him. His fingers brushed kindly against hers.

"I have a plan," he started to explain, "I need more people to fight against the Lannisters, so I'm planning on sending Theon to his father, Baelon Greyjoy, to Pyke to rally his family to my side." Antea fought her eyes so as not to move to look at the young Greyjoy. He would have gone for many moons away from the battlefield, and that thought made Antea feel relief. Even if the thought of him being so far away made her feel like a silly little girl wishing for him to be close to her.

"It sounds like a fair plan, Robb," she said, but then a frown formed on her face, "But why tell me?" He was not looking for counsel; he had already decided.

She did not miss the look that her brother and Theon exchanged before her brother turned to look at her.

"I'll agree to Lord Baelon being restored as King in the Iron Islands if he wishes for it," he said again, not making it clearer for Antea to understand. "Theon will succeed him one day, and that day, we'll ensure an alliance between two Kings through a marriage."

Her eyes widened, "Marriage?"

Robb nodded his head, "Yours and Theon's."