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[IRON ISLANDS, INSIDE PYKE]
[Balon sits in front of a fireplace. Theon enters the room.]
Theon sat straighter. His father... he hadn't seen the man in so long, forgotten so much about him too. Balon Greyjoy was always a tough man, even to his children. Yara's words rang in him, how would his father react to his return?
"Nine years, is it? They took a frightened boy. What have they given back?"
"A man. Your blood and your heir."
"We shall see. Stark had you longer than I did."
Theon flinched at the reminder.
"Lord Stark is gone."
"And how do you feel about that?"
"What's done is done. I've brought you a proposal from Robb Stark."
Yara whistled. "Wrong move brother."
Theon said nothing, the nerves now showing on his face.
"Who gave you those clothes? Was it Ned Stark's pleasure to make you his daughter?"
Theon flinched violently. It was going to get worse from here.
"If my clothes offend you, I will change them."
"It will. That bauble around your neck. Did you pay the iron price for it or the gold? I asked a question. Did you pull it from the neck of a corpse you made or did you buy it to match your fine clothes? Iron or gold?"
"Gold."
[Balon reaches out and rips the bauble off. Theon's cloak falls to the ground.]
"I'll not have my son dressed as a whore. My fears have come true. The Starks have made you theirs."
"My blood is salt and iron."
Ned's eyes shifted to Theon. He knew the boy well enough to know he was about to do something stupid.
"Yet, the Stark boy sends you to me like a trained raven, clutching his message."
"The offer he makes is one I proposed."
"He heeds your counsel?"
"I've lived with him, hunted with him, fought at his side, he thinks of me as a brother."
"Oh Theon" Yara winced. That was a sore spot for their father, who lost three sons to the stranger and one to the Starks because of that rebellion.
"No, not here. Not in my hearing, you will not name him brother. This son of the man who put your true brothers to the sword. Or have you forgotten your own blood?"
"I forget nothing. I remember my brothers. And I remember when my father was a king."
[Theon holds a letter out. Balon takes it and turns around. He then unfurls it and reads it.]
"I see. I destroy Robb Stark's enemies for him and he will make me King of the Iron Islands once again."
"Is that how you worded it?" Yara asked in stunned surprise. "Are you certain you remember him at all? Because you made it sound like Robb is doing him a favour, giving him charity. And that is exactly what he hates."
"You don't know if I wrote that" The argument was weak because Theon knew only he'd want to and allow himself to write that.
Yara's scoff meant even she knew that.
"I will lead the attack myself."
"Oh, you will?"
"I'm your son. Your only living heir. Who else?"
[Someone enters the room. Balon looks behind Theon, and he turns to look as well.]
"I told you to wait outside. How did you get past the guards?"
"Anything with a cock is easy to fool."
[Balon puts his arm around her.]
"My dear."
"Yara?"
"So good to see you, brother. This is a homecoming I'll tell my grandchildren about."
"She can't lead an attack!"
"And why not?"
"You're a woman!"
"This isn't Winterfell, boy. Your sister took over command of your eldest brother's ship after your new father killed him."
Theon and a few others look at Yara with surprise.
Yara smiled at them all and leaned back.
"The only night she's spent off these islands has been spent on the sea. She's commanded men. She's killed men. She knows who she is.
[Balon leans down and burns the letter in the fire. Yara smirks at Theon.]
"No man gives me a crown. I pay the iron price. I will take my crown. That is who I am. That is who we have always been."
"That idiot" Ned muttered darkly. The years have done nothing to fade the Greyjoy's arrogance and sense of entitlement.
[Balon walks away. Yara follows him. Theon turns around to watch them leave.]
"You won't stand a chance against the Lannisters on your own."
"Who said anything about the Lannisters?"
Ned inhaled sharply. He had an idea... but Balon Greyjoy couldn't be that stupid.
Except he could.
He could be exactly that stupid.
[KING'S LANDING, TYRION'S ROOM]
[Tyrion sits at a table with a cup of wine. Cersei paces in front of him.]
"Well, that's a sight I never thought I'd see. Cersei in my bedroom" Tyrion commented.
Jaime beside him snorted, only to sober up when he realized Myrcella was frowning at them.
"Tyrion-"
"I know I know."
Myrcella's expression seemed to only darken at his interfering.
"Lord Janos Slynt was Commander of the City Watch. You had no right to exile him."
"I have every right. I am the King's Hand."
"I must say, Lord Tyrion, perhaps ridding yourself of that man was a mistake."
"He is a corrupt man who only looks out for his gains."
"Much like the man you installed as the new Lord Commander Varys pointed out. "Perhaps, as a Lannister, your status could have influenced Janos Slynt's allegiance. Especially seeing as the Queen is slowly losing support in court with your interference."
"I have no need for men like those" Tyrion snarled, inhaling deeply to collect himself after.
"You're serving as the King's Hand until Father gets here. I am Queen Regent."
"She overestimates herself" Renly muttered, "especially seeing how she pushed Joffrey away with that slap. She's nothing but a figurehead now."
"Try telling my sister that" Tyrion snorted.
"And have to endure her voice? I'd rather not" Renly chuckled, Tyrion joining him.
"Listen to me, Queen Regent, you're losing the people. Do you hear me?"
"Ha, the people. You think I care?"
"You might find it difficult to rule over millions who want you dead. Half the city will starve when winter comes. The other half will plot to overthrow you. And your gold-plated thugs just gave them the rallying cry, "The Queen slaughters babies." You don't even have the decency to deny it."
[Cersei looks down and walks toward the window. Tyrion looks down, and then up at her.]
"It wasn't you who gave the order, was it? Joffrey didn't even tell you. Or did he tell you? I imagine that would be even worse."
"He did what needed to be done. You want to be the Hand of the King? You want to rule? This is what ruling is! Lying on a bed of weeds, ripping them out by the root one by one before they strangle you in your sleep."
"That can't be what she truly believes" Catelyn asked in surprise. That wasn't what the duties of a Lady were, and the Queen was the Lady of a whole Kingdom in a sense.
"I believe that is exactly what she believes" Ned muttered.
"I'm no king, but I think there's more to ruling than that."
"I don't care what you think!"
"Maybe you should. Would save you a lot of trouble" Tyrion muttered in boredom.
"You've never taken it seriously. You haven't, Jaime hasn't. It's all fallen on me."
Tyrion couldn't help the laugh.
"As has Jaime repeatedly, according to Stannis Baratheon."
"You're funny. You've always been funny. But none of your jokes will ever match the first one, will they? You remember... back when you ripped my mother open on your way out of her and she bled to death."
"ן–"
"I had to be cut out of you because I was born in the wrong way" Tyrion explained quickly and did not take any follow-up questions.
Luckily there were none.