CHAPTER 8 | FAMILY, DUTY, HONOR

BRAN missed his mother terribly. He couldn't blame for her departure; he knew it was to save his family. But he also wanted her back. He didn't like that she left him in her time of need.

Maester Luwin laid out a map of Westeros in front of him and a book, teaching him his lessons for the day. Theon and Freya Greyjoy practiced their archery skills on a straw target. Freya had practiced so much that day that her arms were burning, so she stuck to holding the bag of arrows for her brother. She sat on the table where the maester and Bran spoke, listening in on their conversation.

"Straighten your back, Theon," Freya instructed to her brother. "That's why your missing the bullseye."

Theon, despite having to be taught by his sister, did as she commanded. He straightened his back and let the arrow fly. It immediately hit the bullseye, and Theon smiled her way as she handed him another arrow.

"Bran," Maester Luwin called, noticing the boy was distracted. He tapped his wooden pointer on the map in front of them.

Bran dug a silver fish mold into the table. "The Iron Islands," he said when the maester tapped to said place on the map. "Sigil – a kraken. Words – 'we do not sow.'"

Freya glanced over her shoulder at the young boy. "Very good, Bran."

Bran beamed at the compliment before Luwin asked, "Lords?"

"The Greyjoys."

Theon spun to face the maester and Bran. "Famed for their skills at archery, navigation and lovemaking." He chuckled at his own joke.

Freya frowned at her brother. "Can you – for once – not make a joke in that nature towards a young boy?"

Theon rolled his eyes and plucked another arrow from her bag. Luwin added, "And failed rebellions."

"Debatable," Freya muttered, causing Bran to laugh.

Maester Luwin tapped on another place. "Sigil – a stag – a crowned stag, now that Robert's king."

"Good," Luwin commented.

"Words – 'ours is the fury.' Lords – the Baratheons."

The maester nodded, watching Bran carve out a design into the table. He tapped the area of Lannisport. "The Westerlands. Sigil – a lion. Words – 'a Lannister always pays his debts.'"

"No," Luwin shook his head. "A common saying, but not their official motto."

Bran ignored him. "Lords – the Lannisters."

"We're still on their words."

"I don't know them."

Maester Luwin urged him forward. "You do know them. Think."

"'Unbowed, unbent, unbroken.'"

Freya furrowed her brow. "I believe those are the words of House Martell."

"'Righteous in wrath.'"

"House Hornwood."

"'Family, duty, honor.'"

Luwin was skeptical. "Those are Tully words ... your mother's. Are we playing a game?"

"'Family, duty, honor. Is that the right order?"

Freya nodded, "Indeed."

Bran viewed at the Greyjoy girl, who handed her brother another arrow. "Family comes first, right, Lady Freya?"

"In House Greyjoy, yes." She answered. "Family always comes first, except in the area of treason."

Luwin understood what he was getting at. "Your mother had to leave Winterfell to protect the family."

"How can she protect the family," Bran asked, "if she's not with her family?"

Freya looked at her hands before glancing back at Bran. "Catelyn sat by your bedside for almost a month while you were unconscious. She was heartbroken, Bran."

Bran hit his fist on the wood. "And then she left!"

"When you were born, I was the one who pulled you from your mother. I placed you in her arms." The maester explained. "From that moment until the moment she dies, she will love you. Absolutely. Fiercely."

"Why did she leave?"

Luwin sighed. "I still can't tell you, but she will be home soon."

"But you don't know where she is," Bran snapped. "How can you promise me she'll be home soon?"

Freya kicked a few rocks to ruin her brother's shot, which she did. Luwin chuckled softly, "Sometimes I worry you're too smart for your own good."

Bran took a moment to watch Theon's stance, and then the arrow flew from his fingertips and into the target. "I'll never be able to shoot another arrow."

"And who says this?" Freya replied.

"You need legs to work a bow."

Maester Luwin shook his head. "If the saddle Lord Tyrion designed actually works, you could learn to shoot a bow from horseback."

Bran began to grin. "Really?"

"Dothraki boys learn when they're four years old." Luwin smiled back. "Why shouldn't you?"

•••

The noises in the next room were driving her insane.

Freya was in the midst of blowing out a candle, but the sounds of her brother and some tavern whore continued in his bedroom right across from her own. Freya sighed, "Who does he think he is?" She looked down at her handmaiden, who sat angrily in the corner of her chambers. "You look distraught."

Selene glanced up, a smile suddenly engulfing her features. "Me? I am fine, m'lady."

Freya furrowed her brow, but cast out any false theories she had in her head. The noises stopped for a moment, but began all over again. Freya was tired of this, and all she wanted was sleep. Not only that, but just the sound of sex reminded her of her new problem, and she'd very kindly like to imagine her visit with Maester Luwin never happened.

She walked into the hallway that connected their rooms and banged her fist on the door. Theon continued inside. Freya pulled at the doorknob – unlocked. She didn't care about his privacy as she barged her way into the room. Theon was kissing the whore as she sat at his vanity, and Freya made her presence known when she snorted.

Theon looked up, a mask of horror on his face at the sight of his sister. He grabbed for a sheet and covered himself, but the whore, Ros, only turned. She wasn't ashamed of her bareness in the slightest. "What do you think you're doing?" Freya exclaimed, closing the door. "You're not supposed to have whores in the fucking castle!"

"Care to knock the next time?!" Theon scoffed, wrapping the sheet tighter around himself.

Freya frowned. "You act like you weren't running around naked in Pyke when you were a child."

"Can you shut up?"

"I will when you get the whore out of here."

The woman in between them suddenly shot up her hand. "Gladly. Care to pay me?"

They heard a pair of footsteps approach the door, and Theon's eyes met Selene's. He hesitated, not knowing what to say. "Theon Greyjoy," she spoke sternly, "m'lady has given you an order. You best fulfill it."

Theon swallowed down the lump in his throatbefore sliding a sack of coins in Ros' hand.

•••

A/N: Surprise!!! The updating schedule for this story has now changed to TWICE a week! Specifically, on Mondays and Thursdays (just like "Stranger," when Season 7 finally comes back). I have this story pre-written pretty far back, so updates twice a week shouldn't be a problem!