Failing before even trying

Failing before even trying

Theon POV

Robb stared at the Kingslayer. I could see through his eyes, that Robb wanted to kill him right here and right now. Grey Wind growled next to Robb, and I stood behind him. The Kingslayer looked back at Robb, not fazed by the direwolf.

"We got a letter from your father," I broke the silence. "Well, I did. Release my son. I will reward you with enough gold to drown in it. If you fail to comply, I will ensure that you and your family receive due punishment for your aggression against my family."

"It sounds like my father," The Kingslayer sneered.

"Yes, yet there was nothing about Lord Brax," I commented. "It is like he doesn't care about anyone but you."

"What's your point, boy?" The Kingslayer asked.

"Boy? It was a long time since someone called me that."

"What? Is it insulting?"

"No, it proves that the greatest swordsman in the Seven Kingdoms only fights weak old men and children. You are nothing, Kingslayer. What would you have if I do happen to take your sword hand? What would you be?"

"Enough, Theon," Robb interrupted. "You are lucky, Kingslayer. You are only alive because your father has my uncle. Still, I want you to know that if something might happen to my uncle, the same will happen to you."

"Just like your father was no great warrior. Your uncle is a meek man, too," The Kingslayer snorted. "You know, your father didn't put into much of a fight when I stabbed him. He kept muttering about some promise as he died."

"He was a greater man than you will ever be," I replied instead of Robb. "Soon, you will realize how fucked up your situation is. Soon, you will understand what kind of mistake you made. Your children will be the first to pay the price of your actions. Sweet Myrcella and little Tommen will die because of you."

"I will kill you, as I did before. This time I will make sure you stay down."

I laughed at his contorted face. Robb and I left, not wanting to speak with the Kingslayer anymore. It was clear that Robb didn't want to be near him. Once I told Robb what I knew, he instantly tried to kill the Kingslayer. It was hard to stop him.

"What did he mean when he said that he killed you?" Robb stopped at the entrance of the dungeons and asked.

"He made a mistake and didn't finish me," I answered, not wanting to speak the truth.

"Arya and Bran said you died for them," Robb didn't let it go.

"Imagination of children. I was merely injured."

"Yoren of the Watch didn't want to say anything, but he seemed to agree with my siblings."

"The Night's Watch doesn't concern themselves with the rest of the world."

"Stop lying, Theon. Tell me what happened."

"Nothing happened, nothing at all."

I didn't want to speak of it, so we left the dungeons in silence in the late evening. We continued to walk toward the Great Hall. There awaited us the lords of the North and some of the Riverlands. Everyone quieted down once we entered.

"My lords," Robb called them out. "I now know why my father died. Theon, please tell them what you told me."

"As some of you know, I am Theon Greyjoy. Ward of Winterfell, I came to the south with late Lord Eddard Stark. There Lord Stark has discovered that the children of King Robert were not his but the Kingslayers."

Of course, there were many exclamations. Robb stood once more and silenced everyone. It was surprising how much respect Robb had earned. People listened to him, and I could see that the lords looked up to him. I don't remember him earning so much respect so early, but I am starting to forget many things. My memory might not be so reliable anymore.

"Once Lord Stark discovered the truth, he ordered me to take his children and go to the North. He feared that his children would be used against him. I did as he asked me, and the rest, you know."

"Thank you, Theon, for your service towards House Stark," Robb said with a loud and proud voice. "The rest we know, the Kingslayer killed my father and Lord Renly, the King's brother. As much as we know, he might have killed the King, too. After all, it wouldn't be the first time for him."

"If what you say is the truth, Lord Stannis is the rightful King of the Seven Kingdoms."

It was Lord Mooton who spoke first. He wasn't with Edmure Tully, and I wondered why he followed Robb. From his expression, I could say that he was afraid of Robb. I would need to ask about it later.

"Should we proclaim for King Stannis then?" Lord Glover asked uncertainly. I didn't like where this was going.

"Stannis Baratheon," Lord Umber said in a loud voice. "Tell me, Theon, when Lord Eddard and Lord Renly tried to tell the King the truth, where was he?"

"I don't know," I didn't know what to say, and just as I was trying to think of something, Greatjon continued.

"Tell me where he was when The Kingslayer chased down lord Eddard's children. Where was he when the Mountain tried to kill you once the Kingslayers cutthroats failed? Tell me where King Stannis is now, as Lannisters are burning the Riverlands. King of the Seven Kingdoms is not there when one of his kingdoms needs him."

"What are you trying to say, Lord Umber?" Robb asked, but I knew where this was going.

"The North doesn't need a King who sits in a flowery seat far in the South, who doesn't know of the cold of the winter, who doesn't know of the hardships of the Night Watch. I don't know Stannis, but I see a King that the North deserves. Starks have ruled the North for thousands of years, and they should rule as kings once more. The only king I will bend my knee to sits there, King of the North."

No, I still didn't have my pitch of how good it would be to serve Stannis. At least give me a chance to fail. I looked at Robb, but I was stunned once again when he stood up and drew his sword. He didn't look disturbed, just surprised.

"If you proclaim me your king, then as the King of the North, I swear war upon Tywin Lannister and his kin. Will you follow me in my wrath towards my family's injustice?"

"King of the North!"

Every single lord of the North knelt to Robb. This isn't how it is supposed to happen. Yet, I knelt too with them. All I could do was follow the flow.

…

Once Robb and I were left alone, I couldn't contain myself and forced him to listen to me. He looked surprised that I would confront him like this. I was astonished that he didn't say anything about being the King.

"Robb, this is bad. Very bad."

"Whatever you mean, Theon?"

"What…" I was about to throw a table at him but calmed down. "Stannis, a rightful king of the Seven Kingdoms. He will see you as a traitor to the realm."

"I found out that my father died from a letter sent by Joffrey. He has written that my father was a traitor and died like a traitor. If I wanted to see my siblings, I would go knee to him, begging for his mercy. Only then will he consider letting them live?"

"Joffrey didn't have your siblings."

"I didn't know it then. I only knew that my father had died, and Joffrey did as he wished with Sansa, Arya, and Bran. I gathered all the men I could from Winterfell and called for other lords to meet me. I was desperate. I met with Sansa, Arya, and Bran when the Freys didn't let me through. I was relieved, and yet you were not with them."

"I was…" I couldn't finish before Robb interrupted me.

"You were in danger, ser Andar explained to me of your situation. I knew that I needed to help you. I started to march with twelve thousand men, I was thankful that I could gather that much, and the weather let us march quickly," Robb said with a frustrated look. "I heard that Tywin was fighting with the Riverland lords. I thought that it would be better to join them. Yet Lord Frey refused passage, proclaiming loyalty to the Iron Throne. I don't know what happened to me, but I promised Lord Frey that I would destroy him and kill those who bear his last name if he doesn't let me pass."

"Robb," Again, he didn't let me finish my words about how bad it was.

"I had no choice but to move south along the King's Road. Then I heard that the Mountain was besieging Harrenhal. I knew with the way we moved. We will not reach you in time. I sent Lord Karstard and the best cavalry to help you."

"They arrived in time," I told him.

"I heard. Before arriving at Harrenhal, I decided to meet with Lord Mooton, who had not joined the war against the Lannisters. He is a coward, Theon. He tried to weasel the way of his duty. At that time, I realized there was honor in the South."

"You were angry that nobody would help you," I understood what he was thinking.

"I was angry at myself for believing that the lords would come and proclaim their support for my cause. I realized that I could not depend on anyone else but myself. So, when Lord Mooton refused to lend me his men, I let Grey Wind bite off the hand of one of his sons. When he wanted to retaliate, I told him that he would die there as a traitor. I told him that I would seize his castle and lands if he didn't raise his men to my cause."

"You shouldn't have done so," I let a sigh. "What were you thinking?"

"Yet it worked. It is power and fear that people care for. They do not respect anything else."

He said it like it was something to be proud of. I slapped him across the face. He looked at me, stunned at my actions. I hit him a second time as he was about to say something else.

"Where is your power now?" I asked. "Power is just an illusion. It won't protect you. Fear won't last forever. It will turn into hatred. Don't be delusional, Robb. Indeed, honor is not as valued as Lord Stark taught us, but we shouldn't throw it away. We are better than that. We have each other. If you need strength, I will give it to you."

"I never thought you listened to my father," Robb replied, rubbing his cheek. "I am sorry. It was just hard. I did not know if I would ever see my siblings ever again. Then not know if I would see you ever again. I felt like I was alone, abandoned. There was no one I could rely on. I should have done something; if I were better, maybe father wouldn't have to die."

"If you want something to blame, blame me," I told him. "If I had not taken your siblings away, the Lannisters might not have realized your father's plan. He might have succeeded."

"And if he didn't, Sansa, Arya, and Bran might be dead," Robb replied.

"We should think of what do to. You becoming a King is a mistake. We should support Stannis."

"Why?"

"What do you mean, why? He is the King."

"I have to agree with Lord Umber. I don't know him. He was not there when my father needed help, he wasn't there when my siblings needed help, and he wasn't there when you needed help or when the Lannisters were burning Riverlands. How could I trust such a man? Tell me why I should kneel to him and support him."

"Danm it, Robb, what can I say when you put it this way. It is not like I know him personally or anything. Fine, if that's your choice, who I am to tell you what do to," I gave up. How can I tell him to serve a man I didn't know? "But, if we are going do to this, we will do it properly. Don't think that the lords of the North chose you as their king just out of respect."

"Don't take me for a fool, Theon," Robb replied, now his face became stern and cold. "Greatjon didn't show any respect to me until now. He is a sly one. He found an opportunity and didn't want to let it slip. This decision was too hasty. It is good that the most powerful lords of the North were there. Others will find it harder to reject it."

"You should be careful of the quiet ones more, I didn't see anyone from house Ryswell, Dustin, or many other houses, and those who came with you should have brought more men with them."

"You can't blame them. I could only bring a little more than half of what Winterfell can offer. No one had time to prepare. It was still a miracle that we gathered twelve thousand men, mostly cavalry. I left mother to gather the rest in Winterfell and prepare them to join us."

"Still, keep a close eye on Bolton, keep him close, and don't give him time to betray you," I was concerned. Robb wasn't in a good situation. That damn Umber and his schemes. "We will need allies. Offer alliance with Stannis to support him if he grants the North its independence. His daughter should be of similar age to Bran."

"If he doesn't have a son, Bran could inherit the Iron Throne. If he does, he still has Storm's End. It is a good match."

"Yes, now you should offer Tyrells alliance too, propose them to marry Lord Mace Tyrell's daughter."

"It is a good match. But will they agree?"

"The other option is for them to marry Joffrey. If you manage to get an alliance with Stannis, they will have no choice but to accept you."

"Very well, I will write them first thing in the morning, yet why should they not ally with Lannisters?" Robb asked. I didn't know. I could only hope they didn't want to. "What of the Iron Islands?"

"No, my father hates the North."

"But if you could convince him to join me, we would have a fleet."

"No, my father doesn't care for me. I do not influence the Iron Islands in any way. No, it won't work," I replied hastily. I didn't want him to have any hope of working with my father. "On the topic, I suggest you reinforce Moat Cailin and Torrhen's Square."

"Your father would attack the North? Even when you are with us?"

"By now, the word has spread how I saved your sibling. He is probably considering me as a Stark rather than a Greyjoy. My father hates Starks."

"You will have to go to Iron Islands."

"As I said, it won't change anything."

"If your father attacks the North while you are with me. I will have to kill you."

"Oh,"

I have not thought about it, but it is the truth. I am still a hostage. Now especially, Robb would have to do his duty. A king can't show weakness.

"We should rest for tonight," Robb said, sounding beyond his years. "I will send you to the Iron Islands as a messenger when I get a chance."

Robb was not a fool. But he is still not experienced. I don't know if I could leave him alone. Yet, what could I do? I should find Thoros and others and have some drinks.