Guiltless / Theon Greyjoy

56. Mama

Rieka leaned into theon and each day with her felt like he was getting back to his old self. As the people came into the throne room rieka leaned against the wall her legs draped over theon. Robbie in his arms they looked like a perfect little family.

"You can't expect Knights of the Vale to side with wildling invaders."

"We didn't invade. We were invited." Tormund corrected.

"Not by me."

"By me maybe?" Rieka agreed. "What? I like the teddy bear with knives." Rieka agreed. "What are we talking about? I was hungry and thinking about food but clearly we have drama and my stomach can wait."

"Observant." Tormund agreed. Jon watched her, he felt a wave of unease but Rieka smiled back at him. He looked good up there, she didnt want to take away from Jon's leadership since most still saw him as a bastard even though Rieka knew that didnt define Jon.

"The free folk, the northerners, and the Knights of the Vale fought bravely, fought together, and we won." Jon reminded everyone. "My father used to say we find our true friends on the battlefield. "

"The Boltons are defeated. The war is over."

"The war is over, who is this idiot?" Rieka countered. Theon hushed her nudging his leg against her, she smiled back at him. "I'm glad you are here." Rieka admitted.

"You are?" Theon rasped. Rieka leaned forward kissing his cheek a smile curved his lips as Rieka grabbed his hand.

"But Winter has come." Jon agreed looking to Rieka.

"If the maesters are right, it'll be the coldest one in a thousand years." Podrick added.

"We should ride home and wait out the coming storms."

"The war is not over." Jon declared. "And I promise you, friend, the true enemy won't wait out the storm. He brings the storm."

"He brings the storm." Rieka repeated, there was a hauntingly eerie look in Jon's eyes. Jon saw the night king, saw the pain and destruction he brought, he didnt want his home to fall not after they just got it back he wanted a place for Rieka and robbie, for sansa and arya if she was still out there.

"Your son was butchered at the Red Wedding, Lord Manderly, but you refused the call" Lyanna Mormont declared. "You swore allegiance to House Stark, Lord Glover, but in their hour of greatest need, you refused the call. And you, Lord Cerwyn, your father was skinned alive by Ramsay Bolton. Still you refused the call. But House Mormont remembers. The North remembers. We know no king but the King in the North whose name is Stark. I don't care if he's a bastard. Ned Stark's blood runs through his veins. He's my king from this day until his last day." Lyanna declared.

"She's the smartest one here." Rieka decided.

"She sounds like you." Theon whispered.

"Maybe thats why i like her." Rieka agreed. "But she looks like a fighter, I'm not a fighter."

"You fought, you kept fighting to get here, to this point." Theon corrected.

"That was Jon." Rieka countered.

"Dont sell yourself short, you have been through more than most could handle and thats my fault-"

"I'm dont blaming you Theon. This is a fresh start," Rieka reminded him.

"I dont deserve your kindness." Theon countered.

"Too bad you get it," RIeka countered nudging him. Theon kissed her cheek wanting to kiss her lips but he hesitated.

"Lady Mormont speaks harshly and truly. My son died for Robb Stark, the Young Wolf. I didn't think we'd find another king in my lifetime. I didn't commit my men to your cause because I didn't want more Manderlys dying for nothing. But I was wrong. Jon Snow avenged the Red Wedding." Manderly declared. "He is the White Wolf. The King in the North."

"I did not fight beside you on the field and I will regret that until my dying day. A man can only admit when he was wrong and ask forgiveness." Cerwyn remarked.

"There's nothing to forgive, my lord" jon corrected.

"Hi... honey," rieka whispered picking up robbie as he reached for her. "Hows my baby boy?"

"The King in the North!" They chanted out.  Jon looked to Rieka as she held up her wine glass. 

"King of the north!" Rieka agreed. But robbie whined out not liking the loud noise from everyone. "Okay okay bed time." Rieka agreed.

+

Jon's smile faltered seeing Theon's arms around rieka as she laughed out, throwing snowballs up for the wolves. Robbie clapped out smiling up at them. He loved rieka and wanted what was best for her and he still wasnt sure that was theon. Rieka had forgiven him but jon didnt understand how or why.

"THEON!" She laughed out.

Avalon nipped at his pant leg but theon only held tighter to Rieka.

"Shes fine. I promise." Theon assured. Avalon ran to ghost tackling him.

"I am still hoping that Ghost and Avalon give us some puppies." Rieka admitted. "WOuldnt that be fun?"

"Then Robbie could have a pup." Theon agreed.

"Yes!" Rieka agreed. "That would be lovely, so much fun, I miss the pups. I remember you boys coming back with puppies," Rieka remembered Theon presenting her with a pup, how much she loved him back then. That smile brought her back.

Theon put a cold hand on Rieka's bare back, slipping it under her shirt, her back arched away. She swatted a hand at him.

"So cold!" Rieka shivered.  She wrapped her arms around him, she pressed a kiss to his cheek and he felt like he had a family again.

" let's go in you're gonna freeze your ass off out here ." Theon requested. Rieka nodded into him. Theon stopped in the doorway when Jon met his gaze.

"I'm not going to strip these families of their ancestral homes because of the crimes of a few reckless sons." Jon hissed.

"So there's no punishment for treason and no reward for loyalty?" Sansa questioned incredulously as the hall went silent. Jon sighed running a hand over his face. Rieka shivered into theon not noticing the tension as she shifted robbie in her arms.

"The punishment for treason is death. Smalljon Umber died on the field of battle. Harald Karstark died on the field of battle." Jon corrected.

"Mama," rieka gasped squealing with delight as she held robbie up. Everything and everyone else disappeared.

"He said mama. He said mama."