Time to go
Theon POV
"What a mess."
Robb let out a sigh as he cleaned his sword. I sat nearby, the maester patching up my arrow wound, and listened to Robb. The battle against the Freys was a quick one but very bloody. Only a few Freys were left alive. Robb was holding them as hostages.
"You are overthinking it," I told Robb. "The Freys never intended to support you or Edmure. They just attacked prematurely, and it worked out for us."
"Don't you begin," Robb rolled his eyes. "I already heard of how you treated them and about your duel."
"How many men did the Freys have with them?" I asked, ignoring his comment.
"A little bit more than a thousand."
"And how many could they bring with themselves?"
"Four thousand, maybe five."
"There you go. They only brought a quarter of their men. What do you think they wanted to do with only so many?"
"To put on appearance."
"Exactly, they never would have put their men in danger," I replied. "Now, let's talk about the thousands of sheep, cows, and horses going through Golden Tooth."
"What about it?"
"Should you not have taken the gold? Why the hell did you take the livestock?"
"Not just livestock. I took grain, iron too, and gold, even if it isn't much."
"What the hell happened?" I asked, as I couldn't contain my curiosity.
"Tyrrels sided with the Lannisters."
"You have to be kidding me, so all it was for nothing?"
"It seems so. Once I arrived at the Reach, I discovered that the Tyrells were marching to King's Landing. I don't think they will come to support Stannis, not with Myrcella Baratheon being engaged to Dickon Tarly. I don't know the details, as I didn't dare to move further into the Reach."
"Fuck. Well, I guess Margaery Tyrrel will marry Joffrey," I said. "Still, it doesn't explain the livestock."
"If the war is prolonged, we will need food," He replied. "So will Lannisters, but with their farms burned and livestock being stolen, it won't be easy for them to supply food to their people."
"Your actions won't matter if the Reach supports the Lannisters. They have plenty of food to spare."
"They will support the Lannister, but not for nothing."
"Oh," I understood what he was thinking. "The Tyrrels will use this situation to get more power."
"The lions are prideful, at least the Old lion is. The Tyrrels have too much ambition," Robb explained. "Roses will try to get more power over the lions, especially when they hold most food they need. The lions won't be too happy."
"At best, they will go for each other's throats. At worst, their relationship will be a tense one."
"Exactly, and there wasn't anyone to stop me. Most of the Westerland fighting men were hiding in their castles. It will take time for them to form another host, especially when two hosts were already destroyed."
"And I wanted to ask about it. What happened to Tywin?"
"Tywin split his host," Edmure Tully answered, arriving just now. What good timing. "His injured men and foot went for Casterly Rock while he and the rest of his men went to King's Landing."
"Firstly, this is my chambers," I told him. "Secondly, whom did you chase down?"
"Firstly, the guards are of the Riverlands. Secondly, If I knew at the time of the split, I would have chased Tywin, but I went what was in front of me and took care of the foot. Still, Tywin shouldn't have more than six thousand men with him left."
"I met with uncle Edmure and decided to return as there wasn't anything worth left in the Westerlands," Robb said. "Taking Casterly Rock would be challenging and time-consuming, and going to King's Landing not knowing how Stannis would react to us was too reckless of action."
"So, what now?" I asked.
"We are holding a council with the Riverlands and North lords. We were waiting for you," Edmure answered.
"Well then, let's go," I said.
Both Robb and Edmure nodded as I dressed up. Edmure Tully looked similar to Robb with his red hair and blue eyes. Well, Robb had broader shoulders. Still, if not for Edmure's beard, it would be hard to differentiate them from a distance.
The Great Hall was full of lords from the Riverlands and the North. There were three seats left in front of them. Nobody showed any disagreement with me taking a seat next to Robb and Edmure.
"My Lords and Ladies," Robb greeted them. "We are gathered to discuss our next actions in this war."
"Robb Stark," It was a lord from the Riverlands who spoke first. "As lord of Seagard, I, as many others, are grateful for your assistance fighting against the Lannisters. Still, I cannot support or join you as long as you proclaim yourself King of the North."
And there we go. The first shot was fired. Of course, lord Umber was the loudest in insulting, which I presumed to be lord Mallister. It didn't take long for other lords to get into the yelling contest. Soon enough, everyone was calling everyone craven.
"People had died protecting this castle," I shouted to get everyone's attention. "My friends died. Did they die for you to act like a bunch of children? Lord Mallister, you say you can't support Robb in any way. Are you saying you will fight the North?"
"Of course not. How could I fight our benefactors?"
"What about the Freys?" Robb asked. "It seems they have already proclaimed themselves as my enemy."
"The Freys acted on their own," Edmure replied. "The rest of the Riverlands had nothing to do with them."
"Ser Theon Greyjoy fought for you as he fought for me, yet the Freys almost killed him. Do you think I will accept your answer so simply," Robb said. "Theon Greyjoy captured the Kingslayer, and he agreed to trade him to save you, ser Edmure. Theon Greyjoy saved your life."
"What do you want?"
"I think most, if not everyone, will agree that Golden Tooth belongs to Theon Greyjoy," Some might have wanted to disagree with Robb, but seeing Edmure nod, they kept quiet. "You say that the Riverlands can't support me in further fighting against the Lannisters. Very well, I will leave the Riverlands and go back to the North. But the Twins will be ours to take."
"Robb, that too much," Edmure spoke against.
"You say the Riverlands had nothing to do with the Freys but the North, and I can't forgive them. They are my enemy, and I won't stand them not answering for their actions. Are you going to stand against me?"
"Neither I nor any of the Riverland lords will help you take the Twins," Edmure said. "But if you take the Twins, you will only have control over the bridge. The lands and villages will still belong to the Riverlands."
"Agreed," Robb said. "Then we will leave as soon as possible."
Everyone started to leave the Great Hall, as there was nothing else to say. Only Robb and I were left. We stayed silent for a moment. I could see that Robb was thinking hard about something. Even with his Tully features, I saw Robb resembling his father more and more with each day.
"So, you going back home?" I asked.
"It is better than doing nothing."
"Was it wise to antagonize your uncle?"
"Well, about that. Edmure and I have already agreed on this course of action. The Freys have to go, but Edmure doesn't have a reason to attack them. Ultimately, we decided I would take on them alone in exchange for the Twins. At least with the Twins, I won't come back home empty-handed."
"Many see you as a hero," I told him. "The first King of the North in three hundred years came to the South save the Riverlands and ravaged the Westerlands and then took over the Twins. There will be songs written about you."
"Ha, there are already songs written about you. You saved my siblings, defeated the Kingslayer and the Mountain, took over Golden Tooth, and defended it from two separate hosts. People are calling you the Undying, the Undefeated, and many other things," Robb laughed. "And yet there is nothing much I could give you but your freedom."
"What do you mean? Freedom?"
"I should have done so long ago. You no longer are the Ward of Winterfell. I am not your king, so I can't command you."
"I was a free man long ago, Robb," I told him. "I chose to fight for you. You're right; you are not my king but my little brother. What could you do without me?"
"So, what are you going to do now?" Robb asked. "You can go with me to the North."
"You don't need me to go to my father?"
"There is nothing for me to win in this war anymore. The best action for the North is to return home and fortify our position. The winter is coming. I will try to build my fleet for trade with Esoss. I have to prepare for the winter," Robb explained. "You are welcome to come with me back to the North, or are you staying here in your new castle?"
"No, it is time for me to go home, too," I replied.
"I thought you didn't want to return to the Iron Islands."
"I will need my father's help if I want to conquer the Westerlands."
"What?"
"My friend died from the sword from the Westerlands. I'm a petty and vindictive man, you know. The Westerlands have to pay for his death. So, I will take over the west. If the Reach stands before me, who knows, I might take the Reach too. Maybe even proclaim myself the King of the West."
Robb looked at me, shocked, but after a moment, he started to laugh. He said that if anyone could do it, it would be me. Maybe he didn't take me seriously, but it didn't matter. The Westerlands will be mine. Jalabhar was worth at least that much.