What is done is done

What is done is done

Theon POV

One more day of riding was left until we reached the Harrenhal. I sat by the bonfire, enjoying the stars high in the sky and thinking of my journey. There was no moon, but the sky was still bright. On the other hand, the ground was engulfed in darkness, and only our camp was lit up. The bonfire was the only light source for miles.

"Theon, you should rest," Jalabhar told me. "I will keep the watch for the night."

"There is no need. I am not tired."

"You have been keeping the watch for the past two nights. I have not seen you sleep yet."

He hasn't seen me sleep because I have not slept. I don't feel any tiredness, nor do I desire to rest. I was concerned; my body didn't tire, but how long would my mind last? Sometimes it feels like my mind is the only thing left of me - the true me, which I can't remember.

"I will rest once we reach the Harrenhal," I told him.

"Very well, if you say so."

It was a lie. Once we reach the Harrenhal, we will have to prepare for the incoming war. Tywin will not stand still when his son is captured. And I, who is responsible for that, will have to face his wrath.

It might be fun. I wonder how he will look when he sees his legacy destroyed, his name tarnished.

After seeing that everyone had gone to sleep, I took my sword and trained. I didn't sleep, and training was the only thing that could clear my mind. So, I swung the bastard sword for hours till the sun rose.

As the sun rose, I cleaned myself up and prepared to ride. I got my horse ready and checked on Jaime to see if he was tied tight and hadn't loosened the ropes when a squirrel landed and took some berries from nearby. I thought it would be my lunch, as I caught it, but I decided to keep it, remembering what that tree man said.

…

"What are you doing with that squirrel?" The Kingslayer asked.

"Something," I answered, not looking at the squirrel squirming. "It isn't any of your concern."

He didn't speak more as our group was nearing the Harrenhal. Everyone looked weirdly at me as I stared into the squirrel's eyes. I had no idea what I was doing. I wanted to connect with it, but it was long until then. Or maybe I don't have the talent to warg.

"Theon, we can see the castle."

Thoros's voice got me out of my thoughts, and I looked up. It was a castle, massive and ruined. To its credit, it still is one hell of a castle. It was nothing that I had ever seen. Winterfell is immense, but it can't be compared to Harrenhal.

Now that I see it, I started to think why Lady Whent yielded it to Tywin. Well, the closer I got, I could see that it needed a lot of men to defend it. Couple hundred men wouldn't be enough. It required thousands to handle the walls.

"Hold, who goes there?" A knight at the gates stopped our progression.

"I am Theon Greyjoy. I ride with Thoros of Myr, Jalabhar of the Summer Islands, Anguy of the Dornish Marches, and Ser Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer."

"Bloody hell, come inside. Lady Shella Whent will see you immediately."

I was surprised at this reaction, but it was only better if we could get inside faster. We rode through the gates to the castle's courtyard. We got off our horses and walked to the Great Hall, where Lady Whent sat on a raised chair.

"Lady Whent, I am Theon Greyjoy."

"I don't care who you are. What is the Kingslayer doing there?" Lady Whent didn't have any patients for me, it seems.

"He is my prisoner."

"You bringing war at my home, boy. Tell me why I should not kick you out?"

"Well, I am trying to bring the war there."

"Ser Willis, escort these guests out," The knight who let us in was hesitant but still followed his lady's words.

"It is too late, my lady," I didn't flinch and quickly replied. "This man killed Lord Eddard Stark, and the word already spread that I come there. Lord Tywin Lannister will come there, as will the North. It doesn't matter if you want it or not."

"Then I should throw you into the same cell as your prisoner."

"I would like that. I wouldn't need to fight when Lannisters come."

"Who said that there would be a fight? I am too old for those things. The first ones who will come can take the Kingslayer and you," Lady Whent didn't like the situation I brought to her.

"My lady," Ser Willis tried to persuade his lady, but it was to no avail.

"I will not participate in this nonsense."

"My lady, it is already too late. The Lannisters will come. They will take what they want and burn everything else, including your castle. Now let's not cry about spilled milk and start preparing for the war," I knew that I should watch my words, but at this point, I didn't care.

"What is there to prepare? I could call for five hundred men. What could they possibly do?" Lady Whent let out a laugh. "They would piss themselves and run away after seeing the Lannister men. Your North is far away, and that foolish Tully's boy will try to face Tywin head-on. I somehow don't believe that boy could defeat the Lannisters, even with Riverlands behind him. So, tell me, what do you want an old woman to do?"

"Well, firstly, I am quite hungry, and The Kingslayer wishes to see your darkest and dirtiest dungeon," Lady Whent laughed at my not-so-polite words. "Call your men, write some letters, and maybe we will be able to defend ourselves. If not, we will die. It is that simple."

"If a boy isn't afraid of death, why should this old woman be? Ser Willis, please escort the Kingslayer to the dungeons. You boy, you said you were hungry? Come eat with me."

Ser Willis smiled at me and took the silent prisoner. I dismissed the rest of my group to do as they wished as I followed Lady Whent to the dining hall. Somehow it was more difficult and, at the same time, simpler to talk with the Lady of the Harrenhal than I thought.

…

I wrote letters to anyone who would read them—explaining the truth of Lord Stark's death and asking for assistance to defend against the Lannisters. I even wrote to the Dragonstone and Storm's End, telling them that Renly was killed by the Kingslayer and the Highgarden, letting them know what the Kingslayer told me.

Now, I could only wait. I don't know what the Lannisters wrote to everyone. I didn't know if anyone besides Robb would listen to my request. What is left is to only hope for the best. Well, what is done, is done. All I could do was wait for the armies to get there, but it wasn't like I would sit tight and do nothing.

I trained with everyone willing, trained the levies in archery—made arrows and bows with the artisans. Some people started to notice that I didn't rest much. So, not wanting stupid rumors to spread, sometimes I distanced myself from the people and trained alone.

"I have to wonder why I even come with you, my friend," Jalabhar commented as we trained the levies.

"Because you had nothing better to do?"

"Ha, maybe because I would miss your rough talk. What is next for our adventure if we survive this."

"Don't be so down. The Lannisters have a lot on their plate. There might not even be an attack, and if there is, it is not like we are all alone fighting. Besides, have you not seen the walls of this castle? The Lannisters won't be able to scale them."

"You put a lot of hope in assumptions, my friend," Jalabhar replied and then looked around for anyone listening to us. "You already died once, I don't know what magic brought you back, but it might not work again. You like to take risks, and I don't like that."

"Maybe you are right, but what is not a risk in this world? Look at Anguy, he thought he would serve me and get riches and fame, but now he has to face Lannister's wrath. Now that I think about it, why has he not run away yet?"

"You might not have realized, but you have jumped at the Kingslayer's sword to save Master Syrio. That is not something many would do, Anguy, and I know that you will do the same for us if the need is there. That is something no gold could buy."

I didn't know how to respond. My instincts instruct most things I do. I know I should think more before doing anything, but a part of me doesn't care about the consequences of my actions. But I can't behave that way anymore. Some people depend on me now, and I am responsible for them.

…

As weeks went by, the news spread that Lannisters were marching to the Riverlands, and Ser Edmure Tully was preparing to meet them. I have sent dozens of letters requesting him to come to the Harrenhal, but he has not responded.

"Lord Greyjoy, riders are approaching." One of the guards informed me late evening as I was prepared to write another letter.

"What banner do they bear?" I asked and went straight to the wall where ser Willis was already standing and waiting.

"It is too dark to see, my lord."

The guards and knights called me a lord out of respect. I trained with everyone, no matter their status, and taught them archery. I was not knighted so they didn't call me ser, but given my status as heir to the Iron Islands, they started to call me a lord.

"Ser Willis, what are your thoughts?" I asked.

"It is hard to tell, but we will keep the gates closed and prepare for the worst."

I could see dozens upon dozens of torches, and I could hear the thundering sound of the horses. There was no way there were more than a few thousands of riders, and it was too soon for the Lannisters to have come. Still, no word came from any Riverlands lord that announced their arrival.

"Who goes there?" Ser Willis shouted as a few riders galloped closer to the gates.

"Ser Walder of the House Frey, I come to assist Lady Whent."

"Bloody hells, and I thought I saw the Mountain in the shadows," Ser Willis exclaims.

"Wait a moment," I tell him before he instructed the guard to open the gates. "Ser Walder Frey, as well known as Black Walder?"

"It is I. Who wants to know?"

"Theon Greyjoy, there is a problem with gates. It wouldn't be a problem for you and yours to wait till morning. It seems some chain was broken. It will take some time to fix it. It is an old castle, after all."

"My men and I are tired of riding to assist in your troubles, and that is how you greet us?"

"You know how the ghosts of the Harrenhal act up sometimes. There's nothing we can't do."

"Are you taking us for fools? Enough of your nonsense, and open the gates," Black Walder was getting angry, and ser Willis was not so keen on my actions, but it just didn't make sense.

"I think, Ser Walder, you are taking us for fools. Why would Lord Walder Frey the Late be the first to answer our call? Why aren't any other lords with you? Where are the other Freys? Maybe behind you is the Mountain, waiting for us to open the gates to slaughter us all. If I am wrong, then wait till the morning, and I, the heir to the Iron Islands, will compensate you for my accusations."

"Ser Willis, are you going to listen to that whelp? We come at Lady's Whent call, and this is how we a welcomed?"

"The gates are closed for tonight," A woman's voice was heard behind me. "This old lady doesn't have the strength to welcome you tonight, ser Walder, so you will have to wait until sunrise."

"There will not be a sunrise for you, Lady Whent, attack." Black Walder yelled and rode back.

I quickly took Lady Whent and ducked as arrows flew over us. Ser Willis quickly shouted instructions to prepare for the defense. I led Lady Whent down the walls and saw a massive man on a horse from the corner of my eye.