Guiltless / Theon Greyjoy

24. Just a Dream

After the news of Ned Starks death everyone else was absolutely miserable. Robb sobbed at the death of his father then he got angry needing to hit someone, to kill every last Lannister. He swung his sword mercilessly at a tree trunk, tears flowing down his face. Catelyn heard his grunts and sobs as he smashed away.

'Robb... Robb..' Catelyn called he was smashing mercilessly at a tree trunk tears in his eyes when he looked up to her. 'you have ruined your sword my love.' he dropped it at his feet before collapsing into her.

'I'll kill them all.' he said sobbing into Catelyn 'every one of them I'll kill them all.' she held him close

'They have your sisters we have to get the girls back and then we will kill them all.' Catelyn agreed.

Rieka screamed when the news of her fathers death met her ears. She screamed herself hoarse, the birds in the trees flew off scared by the noise as she collapsed into the snow choking for breath, her eyes spilled out tears. Rieka hoped this was a dream, her father couldnt be dead. 

She held to her little brothers and promised them justice. Promised them redemption. Promised vengeance. They cried each other to sleep that night and the next knowing there was nothing they could do. It was too late to save their father. 

'It is clear if we join forces with Renly Baratheon then he will help us get justice.''

'But Renly is not the king.' Robb remarked

''You cannot bend the knee to Joffrey my Lord he put your father to death!''

'That does not make Renly King, he is Robert's youngest brother.' Robb told them 'if Brandon can't be Lord of Winterfell before me Renly cannot become king before Stannis.''

''Do you mean to tell me that you stand with Stannis?'

'Renly is not right!' Theon looked around the outraged men before stepping forward a united front with Robb. They started bickering amongst themselves agreeing and disagreeing who would be a better king who should they follow who would win? Theon wanted to be there for Rieka, he knew she would be a mess and he wanted to be the one to hold her. Tell her everything would be alright. 

'My Lord my Lord there are two kings here is what I have to say about that!' Umber spit on the ground 'Renly Baratheon means nothing to me. Stannis either!'

'why should they rule over me and mine from some flowery seat in the south? what do they know of the war? Of the Wolfwood? Maybe the gods are wrong. Why shouldn't we rule ourselves again as it was during the time of the dragons.'

'Now the dragons are dead!' he sheathed sword 'There is only one King I need to bend my knee to.' Umber said pointing at Robb 'the king of the north!' he declared kneeling before Robb.

'I will have peace on those terms.' another man agreed

'They can keep the red castle and their iron chair too. The king in the north.' he agreed bowing before Robb as well

'I am your brother, now and always.' Theon said confidently. Once he married Rieka he would really be his brother.

'Now and always.' Robb agreed.

'My sword is yours the victory and defeat.' Theon said 'to this day until my last day.'

'The king of the north'

'The king of the north'

'The king of the north!' they repeated as they all bow down before Robb laying their swords at his feet.

'King of the north,' Theon cheered happily.

+

'Every night it's the same I am walking I am running but... I'm not... I'm not me. I'm running through the woods, sniffing the dirt tasting blood in my mouth when I've made a fresh kill... howling... Old Nan used to tell me stories about magical people that could live inside stags birds wolves.' Bran remarked.

'That's exactly what they are stories, old nan likes to tell stories.' The maester told Bran. Rieka peered in, she had just tucked Rickon in, Shaggy dog lay at the base of his bed, protecting him. Avalon followed behind Rieka. She took slow steps. Everything felt slow recently while it felt like her heart was failing. 

'So she was lying? They don't exist' Bran questioned, Rieka looked to maester Lewin. She silently begged him to say yes. The monsters Old nan spoke of were false. He didnt need any more nightmares. 

'Well they may have but they're gone from the world.' the maester told him 'along with much else these are dreams Bran nothing more.''

''No my dreams are different.' Bran told him 'mine are true I dreamt of my father dying and Rickon had the same dream.''

'What about all the dreams you had that didn't come true?'

"It was strange." Rieka agreed coming in. "They both had it, before the news even broke." Rieka reminded Lewin. "It was unlike anything, the exact same dream."

"Just a dream..." Lewin offered kindly. 

"What if it..." Rieka countered. 

"It was just a dream, my lady." Lewin assured. "Get some sleep, the both of you had a stressful few days." Rieka nodded sitting beside Bran. 

"You okay Rie?" 

"I should be asking you that." Rieka countered. "How are you Bran?"

"It's not just a dream." Bran whispered before closing his eyes. 

"I hate to agree... but I think you are right."