𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄 | The Squid

{ Eliza }

✧✦✧

𝕯aily life at Winterfell was finally settling into somewhat of a routine. In the mornings, Eliza would wake up to Greywind lying on top of her. Then, she would be thrust into hours of appointments and accounting, whilst Robb was supposedly busy doing other things. Then, in the afternoon Eliza would either attempt to go riding or spend her time with Bran and Rickon, sewing her dresses or knitting.

Eliza finished lacing up her boots, tightening the strings, before she grabbed her cloak and called Greywind to her side. The large direwolf had taken to following her around, so when Eliza went riding, she took the wolf with her. He could hunt and Eliza could relax.

"Impudent. It means rude." Eliza sighed at the sound of Theon's voice, diverting from the direction of the stables so that she could step into the great hall and stop Theon from harassing some poor girl. "Disrespectful. Do you want to lose that chain?"

"Theon!" The man's head shot up at the sound of Eliza's voice, turning back to stare at her with wide eyes. Eliza shook her head. "You will treat her with respect, just as you would me."

"I thought she was our prisoner." Theon hissed, glaring at Eliza, as she raised her eyebrow. The pair both knew that the other wasn't particularly fond of them, but kept to passive aggressive comments and glares instead of full on arguments.

"Be that as it may, she still deserves some respect." He huffed to himself, before slinking away, back into the depths of the castle, as Eliza turned to smile at the Wildling woman. "I apologize for his childish behaviour. He should know better by now."

"I'm used to worse than him." The Wildling, Osha, smiled at her slightly, before continuing to speak. "I'm used to men who could chew that boy up and pick their teeth with his bones. He does not scare me."

"Well, I'm glad he doesn't." Eliza smiled, before sitting down onto one of the benches and watching Osha, thinking about whether or not to ask the question that had been floating around her brain. In the end, she decided that it would be pressing enough that she should. "Why did you come here? South of the Wall, that is."

"Didn't mean to come here." Osha began, picking the straw bale, that was meant for the stable, back up so that she could take it outside. Eliza grabbed the other end, helping to manoeuvre around the corridors and to the stalls. It would be quicker that way and Eliza was already going in that direction. "Meant to go much further South than this. As far South as South goes, before the long night comes."

"What does that mean?" They had reached the stables, setting the straw down into one of the empty stalls, as Osha turned back to look at Eliza.

"There are things that sleep in the day and hunt during the long night." Osha replied, cryptically. She looked worried and that made Eliza feel uneasy.

"What, like Owls and Shadowcats..." She trailed off, as Osha shook her head at the notion. "The 'things' you speak of, they're fables, told to scare children. They're not real."

"They're very much real." Osha whispered grimly, shaking her head. The air around them seemed to grow colder as time went on. "They were sleeping and they ain't sleeping no more."

There was a pregnant pause, as Eliza's thoughts all began to catch up to her at once. She did not like this.

"I see."

✧✦✧

"Theon tells me that you were questioning him in front of the prisoner..." Robb closed the door to the library behind him, making sure that they were alone.

"Osha." Eliza cut Robb off, continuing to read the book of children's fables. Osha's words were still ringing around her head and Eliza was determined to read up as much as she could remember on it. She could hear Robb sigh from behind her. "Her name's Osha."

"That's not the point. Why don't you like Theon?" Eliza turned to look at him, wondering whether or not she should be straight with him. He was looking at her clothes, which were still slightly muddy from her ride, and Eliza slammed her book closed.

"I do not trust him as far as I can throw him." Eliza shrugged, causing Robb to groan in annoyance. He needed the two of them to get on, otherwise there was going to be a lot of tension between the pair and he did not need that, especially with the threat of a war coming up.

"Why not?" He growled, sitting down opposite her. Eliza realized that she wasn't going to be able to read any more of her book. She placed the book away, turning to face her husband.

"I don't trust him not to go back to his own house and family, that's why." Robb looked confused, as Eliza continued to explain. "He came to Winterfell when he was eight years old, meaning that he remembers his family but not enough to know their true personalities. If he was given the chance to go back home and reclaim his title as heir to the Iron Islands, I'm not sure if he would stay loyal to you."

"Why shouldn't he?" Robb was perplexed.

"Well, as he said, we're not his house. Who knows whether he thinks of us as his friends or his captors?" Eliza rolled her eyes, leaning back against the bookshelf. "I feel like he's too much of a loose cannon to trust with anything, especially with a war coming up. If things go wrong, and he betrays you, then the consequences could be dire."

"He's like a brother to me, we were raised together. I trust him with my life."

"And I respect that." Robb raised an eyebrow, sensing there was a contradiction coming. "But maybe because I was not raised with him, I have a clearer mind when it comes to thinking rationally about whether or not to trust him and I do not."

"That's a ridiculous thought." Robb growled, his temper flaring.

"Is it truly?"

"Yes." Eliza turned to raise an eyebrow at her husband, who was glaring, vehemently at her. "I won't hear any more on this matter. You and Theon are going to try your best to get on with one another, and that'll be all I hear on it."

"Will it now?" Eliza's voice grew colder, and she realized that she and Robb were falling into yet another argument.

"It will." Eliza huffed, standing up and glaring at the man, before deciding to be the bigger person and leave before they could begin yelling at each other.

Hiya,

Eliza just doesn't like Theon, which I think is completely fair. She and Robb are arguing now, which is going to prove to be amusing, but I love her and Greywind's relationship. They're very sweet.

Let me know what you think,

Love Li xx