My name is Asha Greyjoy they call me “Yara” it means “Lady of the water” fitting, I think.

Skipping across the the large stone wall that surrounding Ten Towers, this place was my home, far more than Pyke. I felt at peace here, my nuncle was more of a father to me then my own. I could hear the gulls squabbling over fish, or was it my nuncle saying, Asha, don’t go. Nuncle, ~I whispered to the sea birds~ I am a kraken! The kraken, fears not a fish or a wolf~. Today was cold, as if winter was creeping across the ocean, preparing for attack. I needed a good wind in order to depart, looks like I’m going to get what I want ~I smirked~. Deepwood Motte, was my destination. Thirty long ships all at my command, I had a war to win. I had always wanted my own castle,Deepwood had a fine castle, though heading north would not have been my choice -the Sea Stone chair is where I belonged. My father, has yet again set his sights on the unattainable, the north is no place for a Kraken, not even by way of the Riverlands.

A raven arrived one morn with news from my brother, he had taken Winterfell ~taken Winterfell, is he mad?~. He wishes me to send five hundred soldiers to aide him. After nine years, I had forgotten his face, his voice and how much I had missed him.  Though the “man” Theon had become, was not more than the weak little boy who left us.

Upon our arrival, Winterfell’s welcome us, with the sight of two tiny bodies, flanked by dire-wolf banners ~what has he done?~. The sound of his voice echoed in my ears, his incessant bitching about the lack of troops, and how he could never hold Winterfell, with less than five hundred men…on and on he went. Those little boys, so small their bodies blackened with tar, I have never been one to cry, but it took everything in me to hold back my tears ~I felt so sorry for them, was I becoming soft? I wanted no children, but their mother did, my mother did. Ironborn… I, that we are, does that mean we are made of iron? Or that a child should have to pay the “iron price” for a failed venture? I don’t understand, I thought he loved them as brothers. My father was always the salesman, when it came to selling death, deceit and lies, Theon was an easy sale.

We ate in the great hall, large carvings of dire-wolves watching us eat every bite, what would Lord Stark, think of this? I wondered. Theon had been boasting, no doubt, trying to show me how he was truly the heir to the Sea Stone Chair, ~hmm, he is just such a disappointment and that makes him dangerous. When I become Queen, he will be either removed or marooned~.  Little brother, tell me something, which of the boys gave you the most trouble, the cripple or the six year old?
“I treated Bran and Rickon generously,” Theon replied, seemingly upset at my question. “They brought their fate on themselves.” As do we all, little brother, well you certainly showed all of Winterfell what a cunt you really are. You have no idea how valuable those little boys were, or how all of the north will rise against you….and when Robb finds out.  Theon stopped me “Robb will not find out, I have killed all the ravens and nobody has left the castle or the grounds” “Asha, if I had let those boys live, they…the north would think me weak, not a Prince, but a traitor”.  Theon, you are weak and you are a traitor.  My little brother,slammed a fist down on the table, his eyes like daggers “I’m warning you, don’t make me…” he said nervously. Well go on then, warn me! Theon, I’m waiting.  He dropped his face in his hands, letting out a long sigh. I walked over to him, he stood up, as if he thought I might challenge him. Theon, you’re my blood. We both loved our mother, we both endured our father. Come home with me – don’t die here alone. Theon looked at me with his huge blue eyes and said “I don’t intend on dying, sister”. You were a terrible baby, do you know that? Bawling all the time, never sleeping.  One night you just wouldn’t stop… screaming like a dying pig.  I walked over to your crib, I looked down at you. I wanted to strangle you.  You looked up at me and you stopped and smiled at me…at me, you smiled. ~I felt like my mother again. I quickly pulled myself together, and looked at Theon intently~   Don’t die so far from the sea.

I had to leave, then and there, I knew he had sealed his fate…in blood. I left him only ten men, I would never waste good sailors, on such a fruitless endeavor. Would it be my fault if he lost Winterfell? Could he hold it with more men? I, he might for a time, a short time. Now Theon would pay the “iron price” ~tears filled my eyes and I began to cry. I’m sorry little brother.~.  Men, back to Deepwood. I dug my heels into my horse, leaving Winterfell , Theon and those little boys, far behind.

*two of the quotes used are directly from the HBO series “Game of Thrones”*