Guiltless / Theon Greyjoy

28. Iron or Gold

"You were born on the north side of the wall." Rieka remarked, Osha stared blankly back at her. "That must have been cold, my brother Jon is at the wall and I can't imagine being more north than that." 

"Thats because you are a proper little lady." Osha agreed. 

"Bite me bitch, I'm trying to get to know you." Rieka sassed. 

"I'm a wilding what else is there to know?"

"I'm a Stark, that doesnt tell you the type of person I am." Rieka corrected. 

"It does." Osha corrected. 

''Does it tell you how much I love my brothers? How much I miss my family? Miss Jon at the wall knowing he isnt going to see me again for who knows how long?" Rieka countered. "Does it tell you that I tried to swim in the frozen stream when I was 12 and nearly drowned because the water was so cold and I went into shock? Theon had to jump in, he didnt think twice, he jumped in and pulled me out. I was in bed beside the fire for over a fortnight, the maester thought I was going to lose a few fingers and toes." Rieka remarked. "Does my last name tell you all that?" 

"Did you?" Osha countered. 

"What?" Rieka questioned confused. 

"Lose any fingers or toes?" 

"No." RIeka answered. 

"Then you are less interesting to me once again." Osha sassed before marching off. 

"I will get you to like me Osha." RIeka decided. 

"Good luck with that." 

+

''I need to get to Pyke.'' Theon remarked when he landed.

'I'll find you a horse.'

'I'm heading that way. I can take you there.' Yara remarked riding up to them.

'I bet you can.' Theon remarked.

'Have you been at sea long? Or were there just no women where you came from?' Yara questioned smugly.

''I have a woman back home, I'm going to marry her." Theon corrected. ''Do you know who I am?''

'You think I offer free rides to every man in jewelry, Lord Greyjoy?'' yara countered.

'Have my things sent up to the castle." Theon remarked as they headed off 'You should give me the reins.''

'I'm a better rider than you.'

'I've been on horseback for the past eleven years.' Theon corrected

'Eleven years? Do you still know your way around a ship? Have these hands ever touched a rope?'' Yara questioned touching his hand. 

''Don't you worry about my hands. The sea is in my blood.'' Theon assured his gaze shifting to the water, get the ships and get back to Rieka and be the hero. ''I have a proposal for my father, one that will make him king again, and me after him.'' Theon informed her as he jumped down.

"Riding with the future prince... what a tale to tell." Yara mused as theon headed in.

'Father.'

'Eleven years, is it? They took a frightened boy. What have they given back?'' Baylor Greyjoy remarked sneering down at Theon.

'A man. Your blood and your heir.' Theon corrected

'We shall see.'' Baylor mused. ''Stark had you longer than I did.''

''Lord Stark is gone.'' Theon informed him

'And how do you feel about that?'

''What's done is done.'' Theon informed him, he knew his father wouldn't care for emotion. ''I've brought you a proposal from Robb Stark.'

''Who gave you those clothes? Was it Ned Stark's pleasure to make you his daughter?'' Baylor teased and Theon looked down at his clothes.

''If my clothes offend you, I will change them.''

''You will.'' Baylor agreed. ''That bauble 'round your neck ... did you pay the iron price for it or the gold?'' Theon stared at him. ''I asked a question. Did you pull it from the neck of a corpse you made or did you buy it to match your fine clothes? Iron or gold?''

''Gold.''

''I'll not have my son dressed as a whore.'' He pulled the necklace from Theon neck and threw it to the fire. 'My fears have come true ... the Starks have made you theirs.'

''My blood is salt and iron.'' Theon corrected feeling their chances slipping away by the moment.

''Yet the Stark boy sends you to me like a trained raven clutching his message.''

''The offer he makes is one I proposed.'' Theon corrected

''He heeds your counsel?'' Baylor questioned impressed

''I've lived with him, hunted with him, fought at his side. He thinks of me as a brother.'' Theon informed him.

'' No, not here, not in my hearing. You will not name him brother, this son of the man who put your true brothers to the sword. Or have you forgotten your own blood?' Baylor spat.

'I forget nothing. I remember my brothers. And I remember when my father was a king.'' Theon told him confidently.

''I see. I destroy Robb Stark's enemies for him and he will make me king of the Iron Islands once again.''

'I will lead the attack myself.'' Theon told him

''Oh, you will?''

"Where do you think they are now?" Bran questioned. 

"Probably making camp, getting ready to attack a lannister camp." Rieka offered. "Why, what did you see?" 

"The sea is coming for us Rieka." Bran whispered. 

"Do you think that means Theon is coming home?" Rieka offered. 

"IT's not a nice wave at the gates, its flooding." Bran corrected. Rieka swallowed the lump in her throat. 

'I'm your son, your only living heir. Who else?'' Theon offered as the door swung open and Yara stepped in. ''I told you to wait outside. How did you get past the guards?''

''Anything with a cock is easy to fool.'' She remarked

''My dear.'' Baylor said happily

''Yara?'' Theon questioned.

''So good to see you, brother.''

''She can't lead an attack!' Theon exclaimed

'And why not?' Baylor countered

'You're a woman!' Theon exclaimed

'You're the one in skirts.' Yara mused

'This isn't Winterfell, boy. Your sister took over command of your eldest brother's ship after your new father killed him.' Baylor reminded him

'What's dead may never die.' They repeated on command.

'The only nights she's spent off these islands have been spent on the sea. She's commanded men. She's killed men. She knows who she is.' Baylor told him stubbornly and everything Ned stark had raised him to be flew out into the sea.

''No man gives me a crown. I pay the iron price. I will take my crown, for that is who I am.'' Theon assured, Nova's face crossed his mind for a moment.

''That is who we have always been.''

'You won't stand a chance against the Lannisters on your own.'' Baylor reminded him

''Who said anything about the Lannisters? '' Theon countered.