Theon looked grimly over the bolton/karstark force that encircled the castle. There were close to seven hundred northerners, no doubt all wanting to see Theon and every ironborn in the castle put to the sword. The self-proclaimed 'Prince of Winterfell' had less than two hundred men, not nearly enough to hold the castle, let alone the great keep.
Dagmer spat over the wall as he walked over to Theon.
"A lot of the bloody bastards," he grumbled.
Theon could only nod, his eyes still trained on the bolton command tent. There was no way Roose Bolton had made it from the Riverlands this far north so quickly. It had to be someone else.
"Have they given their demands?" Theon asked.
Dagmer held up a bloody arrow with a message looped around the shaft, also splattered with blood. "Found this in one of the sentry's throat," he replied. "Whoever is down there, they have good aim."
Theon grabbed the arrow and unwound the message, conscious of the fact that he and Dagmer had to be well within range of whoever shot the arrow. He gave the arrow back to the old raider as he read the message.
The handwriting was horrible, like it had been written by a child who was just learning, but the message was clear enough. There would be no surrender, no terms where the ironborn could walk away freely. Theon and all his men would be put to the sword, put down 'like the dogs they were'. It was the response Theon was expecting.
Theon cursed softly and threw the letter over the parapets, crossing his arms. "We're well and truly fucked."
Dagmer shrugged. "Why don't we give them the Starks." He offered. "They'll never harm 'em."
Theon shook his head. "The Starks could very well be the only thing keeping the northerners back." He countered.
"Are there any ways out of this place?" Dagmer asked.
Theon looked over his shoulder towards the Wolfswood but shook his head again. "The woods would be the safest bet, but they have cavalry. They'd ride us down within minutes."
Dagmer huffed and walked away. "Then you best figure out a way to get us the hell out of here lad," he called over his shoulder as he left.
Theon sighed and resisted the urge to smack himself for his stupidity. It had been one thing after another. First, it was agreeing to his father's mad delusion of kingship, then it was agreeing with his plan to attack the North, an idea that was even more insane. Benfred's death and taking Winterfell were just cherries on top of the colossal fuck-up that Theon had gotten himself into.
Theon Turncloak. That's what Benfred Tallhart had named him, a name that had haunted the son of Balon Greyjoy ever since he had heard it. The northern warrior had been right. Theon had sullied his name in the worst way possible, and he would go down in the history books as a traitor.
Theon shook his head, growling. If he was going to be labeled a traitor, then might as well live up to the name.
Line Break
"Leave us," Theon ordered.
The two raiders looked at each other and shrugged, leaving the cell full of Starks alone for Theon to speak with.
Catelyn stood up, still looking dignified even in a dirty dress and messy hair. She stepped forward, her eyes blazing with hate as she glared at the man who had attacked her home.
"What do you want?" She snapped.
Theon crossed his arms. "There's an army of northmen surrounding the castle," he said simply. "They'll take the castle any day now."
Catelyn crossed her arms as well. "Good."
Theon shook his head, looking around to make sure they were alone before continuing. "I am going to set you free," he said quietly, catching the Lady of Winterfell off guard.
Catelyn actually took a step back, surprised, but then her eyes narrowed once more. "This is some kind of trick." She snarled.
Theon shook his head. "It's not. I swear on my hono….I swear on my life that this is no trick. Please, just hear me out."
Catelyn was about to snap, but a hand from Maester Luwin stopped her. The old man stepped forward, looking grim, but understanding as he looked at Theon.
When Theon had taken Winterfell, he had made sure that the household and the Starks had all been placed in the dungeons. He had done this so that nobody did anything stupid and forced Theon to kill them.
"What do you have in mind?" Luwin asked.
"Soon, I am going to tell my men that they can escape if they hide in the Godswood tonight. I will tell them that I will walk out alone with the starks and hand myself and you all over to the northerners and then they can make their escape through the north gate." Theon explained, hesitating, before going on. "I don't think the northern force can be trusted."
Catelyn snorted. "Of course they can. They are my son's bannermen."
Theon shook his head. "I received a letter from their commander. A man by the name of Ramsay Snow. He said that 'none shall leave Winterfell alive'...I don't think he intends to save you."
"Ramsay Snow?" Luwin asked curiously. "I remember the name. Lord Stark was looking into the boy for the potential murder of Domeric Bolton. There have been terrible tales about the boy."
Theon looked at Lady Stark. "I know you don't trust me, and you have no reason to, but I just have a feeling," he explained. "I will hide my men in the Godswood, allow the children to hide in the crypts. If I'm wrong and they are here to save you, then you can simply collect them after I turn myself and you over to the northern force. If not, then they will be safe."
Catelyn sighed, looking at Maester Luwin, who was staring at Theon with a mixture of sadness and respect. "Why should I not go with my children?" Catelyn asked.
"If you and I walk out, it will make the illusion true. Also, I won't be killed on the spot." Theon explained. "I know I deserve to, but I have much to make up for and I can not do that if I'm dead."
"You will never make up for what you did." Catelyn snarled, unable to help herself.
Theon hung his head. "I know," he said quietly, before raising his head to face Lady Catelyn. "But I can try."
"I believe him," Bran said quietly, Hodor carrying over to where the three were talking. "Whenever Theon talks like this, he's telling the truth."
Luwin nodded. "I agree with Lord Bran. I've seen Theon try and lie many times, especially when trying to explain to Lord Stark why he was sneaking a….friend out of the castle in the morning. He's not lying now."
Theon looked at the three. "Lady Stark, if you truly care for your children, you will hide them in the crypts."
Catelyn looked behind her at the sleeping form of Rickon. Osha and the Reed children were also listening to the conversation, curious to see what Lady Stark would decide.
Finally, she nodded. "Fine, the children, Luwin, and Hodor will hide in the crypts," she said finally. "Tomorrow morning, you and I shall walk out and meet with this Ramsay Snow."
Theon nodded. "Thank you, my lady."
Line Break
Convincing Dagmer and the other ironborn to hide in the Godswood had been easy. Theon had told them that he would have Lady Stark and her children march out towards the northern host while he and the rest of the ironborn slip through the Hunter Gate and head into the Godswood.
Dagmer had been skeptical, but Theon had sworn that he had found old maps with secret trails through the woods that would take them back to their ships on the Stoney Shore. That little lie had been enough to convince the old raider.
Flashback
"You found maps." Dagmer scowled, crossing his arms. Behind him, the rest of Theon's raiders lounged on the tables in the main hall. They too looked as skeptical as the old warrior.
Theon nodded. "I found maps in the maester's library." He said again. "There's a small door just inside the Godswood near the Hunter Gate. You can slip through that in the morning and take the same path back to our ships on the Stony Shore."
"And you'll stay here?" Dagmer stated.
Theon nodded again. "I will. I'll hand over the starks while you all get away."
"No one's stupid enough to just hand themselves over!" One of the raiders jeered from the back of the room.
Theon ignored the man and looked at Dagmer. "Tell my father I died." He said grimly. "I'm sure he won't care."
"You're his bloody heir." Dagmer grunted.
"He has Asha," Theon responded. "You know that's what my father wants. He's been preparing for her to take over for how many years now?"
Dagmer shrugged. He and others knew that Balon favored his daughter over his last remaining son. That's why she had been given the honor of sacking a castle and Theon had been told to essentially bugger off to Bear Island.
"When do you plan to do this?" Dagmer asked finally.
"Tonight," Theon replied firmly. "Take the food, your booty, and hide in the Godswood. In the morning, I'll take Lady Stark to the northern commander and stall while you lot fuck off into the woods."
Dagmer scratched his bushy beard before nodding. "Fine." He grunted. "I think you're fucking stupid."
Theon shrugged. "You're not the first."
Flashback
That evening, Theon forced all ironborn into the woods, making sure they had enough supplies for when they left. After that, Theon had closed the gate and waited an hour, waiting till the sun was gone and the moon had risen a little before retrieving the Starks. He had taken spears and knives from the armory, handing them to Osha and the Reed children before ushering them all towards the crypts, leaving Lady Stark and Theon alone.
The two watched as Maester Luwin was the last to descend into the crypts, giving one last look at the Lady and Prince of Winterfell before following the others.
"Do you truly think Bolton's bastard will try and harm us?" Catelyn asked softly.
Theon sighed, shaking his head. "I don't know," he admitted. "But one of his men put a message arrow through the throat of one of my men. Whoever is out there, they want blood, and they don't seem to particularly care who's."
"But Robb is their king." Catelyn protested, the two walking back towards the Great Hall. "They would never harm his mother or siblings."
Theon nodded. "I agree, but the message didn't mention you, my lady. I was expecting the first line to be 'release the starks and we will allow you to go free', or something similar. The fact that you weren't even mentioned gives me a bad feeling."
Catelyn stopped where she was, looking towards the main gate. "Why don't we go out now and find out?"
Theon raised an eyebrow. "Now?"
Catelyn nodded. "The children are in the crypt, the ironborn are in the Godswood, why not get this over with here and now?"
Theon thought for a moment before shrugging. "Fuck it, let's get this over with."
The two walked towards the main gate, slipping through it before taking a long, slow walk through Winter Town and towards the northern force. Already, shouts could be heard as Theon and Catelyn were noticed.
There was a lot of activity happening at the center of the camp, where a small group of men were mounting up. At their head was a pale, big-boned young man with long, dark hair and odd eyes. Behind him was an old man that Theon couldn't place, but he wore a cloak with the karstark sunburst.
Theon and Catelyn stopped at the entrance to Winter Town, waiting as the small group of riders rode towards them.
"Ramsay Snow," Theon called, gripping Lady Stark's arm. "I have Lady Stark."
The man known as Ramsay Snow nodded casually. "So I see," he commented. "The question is whether I care."
Theon frowned. The man looked far too casual with what was happening. It made Theon feel uneasy.
"I will let you take her if you guarantee me safe passage to my ships."
Ramsay seemed to think for a moment before snapping his fingers. The riders on either side of the bastard dismounted and rushed the two, quickly over-powering them and forcing them to the ground.
"What are you doing!" Catelyn shouted. "I am the Lady of Winterfell!"
Ramsay dismounted and knelt before Catelyn, a harsh smile spreading across his face. "It seems you have not heard, my lady, but King Joffrey has named my father as the new Lord Paramount of the North," he said happily. "He had also ordered the deaths of all Starks and that Winterfell be burned to the ground."
Theon struggled against the big northman holding him down. "You can't do that." He snarled.
Ramsay raised an eyebrow. "Oh, but I can," he said as if it was the most simple thing in the world. "Lady Catelyn here will go to my father, and you, my dear fool, will be my new plaything," he explained with a sadistic glint in his eye.
"You're fucking mad!" Theon roared.
Ramsay stepped forward and kicked Theon hard in the jaw, knocking the ironborn out. "Good, I was getting tired of your voice. I hope your screams are far more pleasant," he said before looking at the karstark man. "Burn it to the ground," he ordered, jerking his thumb towards Winterfell.