Chapter 18

I wonder if they think that I chose this Palace at random. I didn't really. It is sort of random, set among the middle of the thousands of massive structures I've had my army of wights building for the past two millennia. But there was a reason I went with this Palace, or at the very least, this TYPE of Palace in particular.

Put bluntly, it had a cushion on the throne. It was one of the few types that did. So many fantasy castles and palaces and what not from my old world had jagged thrones of metal or stone or ice. The cold didn't bother me, certainly… but nobody likes to sit on a hard surface for any long period of time. I'd always been a creature of comfort in my old life. Now was no different as I shifted slightly in my seat. The cushion beneath me was packed with goose down and covered in a lair of soft snow bear fur.

It was quite comfortable and I was going to need every ounce of that to get through this, I could tell already. The throne room was silent for a moment, despite there being a number of people besides me within it. Everyone was quiet, probably waiting for me to speak. My pregnant Queen sat at my right side in an equally comfortable, though slightly less ostentatious throne. Her hand was atop mine, and her thumb was slowly circling along my blue skin. Off to my left and slightly behind me stood Rickar, the boy smart enough not to say a word given the situation.

His hands clasped behind his back, all Rickar did was stare… mostly at Lady Lyanna Stark, who stood all by her lonesome off to the side the great hall. She didn't notice my son's near obsessive stares in her direction, mostly because her eyes were zeroed in on her brother where my daughter had him kneeling in the center of the hall.

Theon Stark knelt before me, Ayla's hand, sans one finger, pushing down on his shoulder to keep him in place. Unlike everyone else, he was not one to stare at one person for too long. The Hungry Wolf glanced from face to face, a myriad of emotions splashing across his features as he glanced to Rickar, to me, to my Queen, to his sister. The Stark King was bent, but not quite broken. I was a little impressed, given the things he must have seen on the way here.

Unfortunately, the silence cannot last forever, no matter how much I want it to. I'd have been happy to sit for a little while longer, brooding and what not upon my throne. But my darling Queen, perhaps the only one who can get away with it, decides that enough is enough. The pregnant woman stands and her glowing blue eyes zero in on Theon Stark and our daughter.

"Well? What do you have to say for yourself King Stark?"

Theon looks to my Queen blankly. After a moment, he speaks earnestly.

"I am glad to see my sister unharmed. If you will relinquish her into my custody and give us enough supplies to reach the Wall, you will never hear from either of us ever again."

… I like him. I can see why Rickar got along with this Stark King. Of course, now my son is outraged at the mere mention of his 'bride' going anywhere. I resist the urge to rub my temple with my fingertips as Rickar takes a step forward and opens his mouth angrily. Luckily, my darling Queen is on top of things today. She twists to give Rickar a glare that stops him in his tracks and my son shuts his mouth and steps back without a word.

Then, my Lyanna's glowing blue eyes are once again on Theon Stark's face.

"You maimed my daughter. There must be recompense."

My Queen's tone is quite menacing. As such, I'm impressed when Theon is not even remotely cowed by her words. He shrugs a shoulder and glances back at Ayla, who's still holding him in place.

"She raped me in my bed before I took her finger. Do the two actions not equal each other out?"

There's a pause and though I cannot see my Queen's face from here, I can tell from her body posture and Ayla's alarmed gaze that she's turned her glare from Theon to our daughter. Ayla squirms under her mother's look and in the end, her defense is about as weak as it could get.

"I… he enjoyed it well enough!"

My Queen doesn't give our daughter a response, at least not a verbal one. Instead she turns away from Ayla, walks back to her throne, and sits, placing her face in one hand. Ah, if only I too could facepalm right now. Lucky bitch… that I love very much. Ahem. Right. I suppose it was my turn, if that wasn't a parental baton toss I didn't know what the hell was.

And yet… I needed a bit more time before I was going to deal with Ayla or Rickar.

"Theon Stark. Come forward."

The human man looks surprised when I finally speak, while my daughter drags him to his feet and prepares to frog march him towards me. I stop her with a raised palm.

"The man can walk under his own power Ayla. Release him."

Ayla looks a bit betrayed and it shows in how forcefully she pushes Theon out of her grasp. The bound Stark stumbles but manages to keep his footing as he slowly walks towards me. He's a tad more nervous now, but at the same time he still holds himself as a King should. Eventually, he stops about twenty feet from my throne and holds his head high as he looks me in the eye.

"I assume you're supposed to be the Old God."

My nostrils flare and I look to my son for a brief moment. To his credit, Rickar at least has enough sense to look sheepish, glancing down at the floor in silence. That little bit of rewriting lore on the fly may very well have set my plans for the North back by centuries. Then again, this whole situation, with Theon Stark and Lyanna Stark beyond the Wall and in my clutches had the potential to do far more damage than that.

Turning back to the Stark King, I shake my head.

"No. My son… misinformed you. I am the Night King and I am a White Walker. I have lived on this world for six thousand years, no more, no less. My name is gone, as is my identity. But I was born a man, much like yourself. I was among the First Men who first arrived on Westeros. We aimed to cut down the weirwoods, to use their unnatural bark for construction, to build great works. The Children of the Forest did not approve and they took me and many others and made us what you see before you today."

Theon is incredulous.

"The Children of the Forest made YOU? Why the hell would they do that?"

I smile sardonically and shrug my shoulders.

"Out of fear of course. You must know your histories King Stark. The Children and the First Men fought for millennia before finally finding peace. I was their weapon against your ancestors, my own kin. And once they had no need for me or mine, they sent us to this cold and forgotten place, locked us away in the ice, and did their best to erase us from time itself. But we would not stay silent forever. I would not stay silent forever."

I pause, but to my surprise, Theon is actually listening to me.

"The White Walkers rose up and the Long Night came yes, because I wanted revenge. I killed the Children of the Forest where ever I found them, wiped out their villages and their communities. I destroyed them… and along the way I killed some humans too, because I was angry and cruel and without patience. If something got in the way of my vengeance, I removed it."

"And you took Lyanna Stark, Brandon the Builder's sister."

The words catch me slightly by surprise and my gaze follow's Theon as he looks to my Queen beside me. Still, there is no denying it.

"Yes. Yes, I did. Because of this, my children seem to have seen fit to follow my example. For that Theon Stark, I apologize."

"Wha-?"

"Fath-!"

"Quiet!"

Both of my children try to speak up, but I silence them with a word. Unfortunately, it is clear to me that I can no longer ignore either of their actions.

"Go to your sister King Stark. Understand that wights roam the halls and you and Lyanna should not attempt to leave this room."

Theon looks surprised, but he takes advantage of my gracious offer nonetheless, turning and walking to where Lyanna stands. There's a nice cutesy moment where they hug and she sobs into his shoulder, but I spare it no mind as I call to my children.

"Rickar, Ayla. Come forward."

Son and daughter, brother and sister, the twins move to stand side by side, looking to me, where I have yet to move from my throne. It's comfortable. I stare at them both for a long moment in silence before speaking.

"Tell me what you would have me do Rickar."

My son startles before glancing over his shoulder at where the two Starks are embracing. He looks back at me and for a moment, I believe he will make the right choice, say the right words. Unfortunately, he does not.

"I would have Lady Stark as my bride father, if you will allow it."

"No."

I feel like he should have seen it coming, but my son looks gut-punched nonetheless.

"N-No?"

Shaking my head back and forth to make it clearer, I reaffirm my answer.

"No. I will not allow it Rickar. You will not take Lady Stark as your bride. Ayla, tell me what you would have me do."

Despite my rejection of her brother, Ayla has her head held high and her chin jutting out as she answers me.

"I would have you do nothing father. I claim Theon Stark by right of conquest. He is mine and I intend to keep him."

"No."

Unlike Rickar, Ayla doesn't look shocked or dismayed, she simply looks angry.

"What right do you have to deny me father? I took the Stark King in his bed, I captured him, I brought him before you!"

I'm a bad father. If this is what my children are like, I suddenly regret allowing my Queen to have more. Leaning forward, I grasp the arms of my throne and stare into my daughter's eyes, trying to make her understand, even as I lay waste to her argument.

"You raped a married man my child. It was MY Night's Watch that captured Theon Stark after he very nearly killed you. And you brought him before me because you knew you would need my approval to keep him in MY lands. I do not give it Ayla. You will not be allowed to take the Stark King as a husband or a pet or a concubine, no matter what you wish."

She opens her mouth to say something else, and that's when I rise. As hoped, it has the intended effect. Ayla's mouth clicks shut even as I walk down from my throne to stand before my two children. I soften my tone just a bit, but it is no less absolute.

"My decision is final Ayla."

My daughter stays silent, but Rickar does not.

"Father… how can YOU deny us this? Are we not to follow in our parents' footsteps?"

Fuck this is getting so damn somber. And my next words sound cheesy as hell, but I'm going to say them anyways because just maybe they'll get through to my children.

"Rickar, Ayla… I will not condemn nor condone… but nonetheless, it was never my wish for you to grow up to be like me. I want you to be better than me. My mistakes must not be your mistakes. I will not allow you to repeat what I did to your mother."

We have a moment, I can totally tell. My children soften and their anger and confusion and dismay melt away as they nod in acceptance of my decision. I smile and place my hands on their shoulders, drawing them in close for a three-way hug. Hug, hug, hug… c'mon Theon, we're done talking, that's your cue.

"So then… we can go?"

Aha, there he is! I plaster a regretful look on my face as I pull away from my children, moving between them to look towards the two humans in the room.

"Unfortunately, no. Not as you are."

My children stiffen behind me, as does my Queen. Theon looks alarmed and Lyanna is outright petrified. Hm, I wonder if my 'regretful' face needs some work. Am I accidentally doing intimidating at the moment. I continue on after only a brief pause.

"You ARE needed in Winterfell King Stark. There must always be a Stark in Winterfell, and with the two of you here, I fear it stands empty."

"It doesn't."

The words slip free from Theon's lips automatically and then he immediately clams up as he realizes what he's said. I just smile softly.

"Ah yes. Your wife is pregnant. Regardless of if it's a boy or a girl, I'm sure they will make you as proud as my children have made me over the centuries, despite their occasional misstep. Why, I-."

"What are you planning on doing with us White Walker?"

Any trace of civility is gone as Theon cuts me off and glares at me heatedly. If only his eyes were dragonglass, I'd be dead on the spot. Chuckling softly, I get down to business.

"Theon. Lyanna. Expose your arms to me."

There's hesitation, understandable but I'm getting annoyed. This whole debacle has gone on far, far too long. My lips curl into a snarl and I expose rows of sharp teeth as stare down the two Starks.

"Your arms, now! Either that or I march below the Wall now and add the whole of your precious North to my domain! I am TRYING to be kind!"

My threat works. Theon practically rips his sleeve up and while Lyanna takes a second longer, she manages to expose her skin to my eyes as well. The Stark King and his Lady sister stand before me with their arms bared. I smile appreciatively and then I lash out, my hands closing around their naked flesh. Brother and sister cry out in unison as I mark them, but I do not let go as quickly as I do with my Chosen.

Instead, I hold onto the pair and work my magic a bit more. The bond I create with Theon and Lyanna is a bit more special. By the time I'm done, Lyanna is sobbing and Theon's face is red as he grits his teeth in pain. Pulling back, I allow them to draw away from me physically, even as I reach out and touch them mentally. The Stark siblings cradle their arms, staring down at the imprint of my palm and fingers in their flesh in horror. Neither seems to notice my presence in their minds though, so I make it known.

Theon Stark. Lyanna Stark. Welcome to my service.

Their eyes snap up to me and Theon snarls angrily.

"I will NEVER serve you. I am King in the North! I bend the knee to no man."

I just smile outwardly, while inwardly I continue to project directly into their minds. My family knows what I am doing but has no access, leaving them only able to listen in on one half of the conversation.

Luckily for you Theon Stark, I am no man, so you will not be made a liar. Still, I will give you a choice once more. Now that we are bonded, I can show you this. If the two of you do not wish to serve, this is what awaits the North.

I show them my army. The real one, not the Night's Watch or the Free Folk or the rotted wights and skeletons that patrol the Haunted Forest. Lyanna and Theon Stark get a nice front row seat through the eyes of one of the original White Walkers as a whole row of castles is built by millions upon millions of cold, dead hands.

Just something to keep in mind while the two of you make your decision. I find many people overlook the fact that the dead far outnumber the living."

Theon shudders violently, while Lyanna looks beyond dismayed. Have I broken these two? Perhaps, but what's done is done. Knowing that I have them both, I return to speaking out loud.

"Kneel."

Slowly but surely, the King in the North and his sister descend to their knees before me, heads bowed low. I let out a low breath and smile. Everything is right in the world.

"Now the two of you may go. You will be supplied most richly and you will be given an escort back to the Wall. The Night's Watch helped you find your sister and kill the White Walker who took her. In the end, my son's words were the ramblings of a mad man and you saw no sign of any other White Walkers in the Land of Always Winter, though you won't doubt we still exist. The Free Folk have no city and are in fact still the warring tribes you think them to be. These are the truths you will lay out to your people. These are the North's truths."

"… How do you intend to have us serve you?"

I smile wider at that.

"Live. That is all I expect of the two of you. Live and lead. Fight your wars, win your battles. Be the King in the North… and do not stray beyond the Wall again."

Theon looks incredulous. He sounds incredulous too.

"That's it?"

I snort derisively.

"Do not look a gift horse in the mouth, Theon Stark. What I demand of you will be in no way easy. You have battles ahead of you that will be much more difficult now that you have wasted so much of your strength and your good will on this foolish errand into my lands. But, you are the Hungry Wolf and I have heard great things about you. Prove me right and save the North from damnation a little while longer. For know this truth as well Theon Stark. When there are no more Starks in Winterfell, then I will descend upon the North and take it as my own. Do you understand me?"

The human swallows hard and nods.

"I do."

My smile widens just a tad more.

"Good, then go."

He does as I tell him, turning to leave with Lyanna at his side. It's Rickar who calls out and brings their departure to a halt.

"Theon! Lady Stark!"

I stay quiet, allowing this to play out. The siblings turn to face the cause of pretty much all of their current problems. Rickar has the good grace to look chagrinned as they both stare at him.

"I… I apologize for my actions. I wronged you both."

Theon stares some more, but then his sister leans in close and murmurs in her ear. Of course, given we're White Walkers, everyone in the room hears her words.

"He is not a bad man brother… merely mistaught."

Ouch, fuck you too bitch. I keep my smile on my face, but it's a bit more brittle as Theon nods slowly and looks Rickar in the eye.

"You did. We forgive you."

And that's that, the Stark children turn and depart without another word and despite getting the bluntest forgiveness ever, Rickar looks over the moon. I really need to get that boy more friends. I turn and look to my family, letting out a rueful sigh and shaking my head. And of course, Ayla can't help herself.

"Perhaps I should escort them to the Wall father. Make sure they get back to Winterfell safely."

I give her a look and then a wide smile spreads across my face.

"I don't think so Ayla. In fact, I do believe both you and Rickar are staying right here with your mother and I. You see, she's very close to giving birth. We'll need you both here to help out with your new sibling, or siblings. It's entirely possible your mother is having triplets this time around."

"WHAT?!"

I laugh as my Queen's shriek fills the hall. Rickar and Ayla look on amused but slightly bewildered. Of course, they don't know just how much control I have over my darling Queen. As dumb as it probably was of me to do it, just for this joke… Lyanna is definitely having triplets.

As I valiantly run from a screeching pregnant White Walker, carefree laughter on my lips, I reflect on the amount of work I just put into everything, just for the sake of canon. And really, what do I expect at this point? Canon can't possibly look the same anymore, yet here I am anyways, pretending to have heartfelt conversations with my children about their kidnapping habits, just to get them to let go of two of the more important pieces on the board.

I didn't let Theon and Lyanna go home because of some silly moral reasons. I didn't admonish Rickar and Ayla because I truly want them to be better than me or all that rot. I just… I just want toys I'm at least somewhat familiar with down the line. Is that so bad? I don't think so. If I can keep Westeros even half-intact by the time canon rolls around, I'll have considered my job done.

Still… look what two of my children got up to in just two thousand years… and we had another six thousand to go. This wasn't going to be easy.

-x-X-x-

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