video; 001

[reek]

[ The video begins with a deep sigh as a somewhat disheveled Theon Greyjoy. He's gotten himself all angry and frustrated just by struggling with the device. He's responded to others, but never had to record his own message. Now that he's gotten it figured all out, he's angrier than he normally would be and his voice comes out in a hiss. ]

Would someone care to tell me what I'm supposed to do with this?

[ He slams an open hand against the wall behind him, perhaps with a little too much vigor. When he lifts his hand, the image of a fearsome golden kraken is emblazoned onto the wall. He looks annoyed. Clearly, he has not yet seen its full potential. Merchandising, Theon. Merchandising. ]

It's the sigil my House, House Greyjoy. The rulers of the Iron Islands. Great seafarers and archers, and once great kings. [ The typical spiel, but definitely the cliff's notes version. ] Every time I touch something with too much force, the same thing happens.

[ He slaps another kraken onto the wall, just to prove his point. As proud as he is and as willing as he is to fluff up his House's reputation a bit, this is ridiculous. ]

What point is there to this? What use is it to me?

Comments

voice. private.

[jalan]

[ There's a pause. A decision, silently made. ]

My name is Daenerys Stormborn, of the House Targaryen. I know you to be a scion of House Greyjoy, Theon.

What I wish to know is what you recall last, of our world.

voice. private.

[reek]

[ He’s surprised, certainly, but he has no reason not to believe her. Who would want to pass themselves off as a Targaryen? A bloodline prone to madness, a ruined house with little support left in the North. He laughs. ]

Before Robert Baratheon’s rebellion, the ironborn were supporters of house Targaryen. If the histories are anything to judge by, I believe we have a common enemy.

[ He knows well enough what happened. When Robert took the throne, he took everything from Daenerys and her brother. Aerys had been mad, but Theon can sympathize, truly. He knows what it’s like to lose home. The Northmen took his away as well, and he’s wondered every day since how his life might have been different if he’d never been sent to Winterfell.

As for her question, he hesitates. He takes no pride in what he’s done. He turned his cloak on his best friend and if he had found Bran and Rickon—what would he truly have done? He lost himself in his siege on Winterfell, and now he has no opportunity to repair his mistakes. ]

The last I recall, I was still in Winterfell.

[ It’s not a lie. It’s just not entirely the truth. ]

voice. private.

[jalan]

[ It's truth enough to confirm what she needs to know, even if her approximation of when he is from is a rough one at best, narrowed thanks to his remarks as to common enemies.

That, and his whole manner. So different. Capable of laughter, for instance.

It means she must be wary, anyway. The Theon she met was himself a new quality. This one is entirely unknown to her, and, judging by Tyrion's assessment of his character, one she can't simply trust. All the same-- ]

And is Winterfell your destiny?

voice. private.

[reek]

[ Theon Greyjoy isn’t a bad man, but he is a lost soul. Beyond a title and a name and handful of “should-have-been”s, he doesn’t know who he is. His lack of a proper identity causes his pride to be hurt so easily and leads him to make the decisions he does. He doesn’t know where he fits, but he tries to force himself in a role that isn’t truly him.

He falls silent for a moment as he considers Dany’s question. Winterfell was the only home he’d ever truly known, but it was never truly his. ]

No.

[ Another pause, as he debates how much more information to give away. What harm can it do now? Robb is already dead. Jon Snow told him as much. ]

Winterfell has been destroyed. Set to the torch. House Bolton holds it now.

voice. private.

[jalan]

It will be a wonder if there are any strongholds left standing by the time my ships make your shores. Equally -- my shores, and your ships.

[ This Theon has a ways to go before he is the Theon that stood before her in Meereen, and there's no sense in attempting to convince him of this truth. But she might as well light the way, while there are so few of them, and so many of everyone else. ]

If the histories are anything to judge by, [ she adds, an echo. ]

voice. private.

[reek]

Wise men take strongholds. They don’t destroy them.

[ For someone who talks so big, Theon really is somewhat sensitive. Why else would he build himself up so far? Both of Dany’s statements serve as a bit of a sting. They are not my ships, he wants to say, and they are not my shores. They should be mine, but they’re not. His pride won’t allow him to speak these words, so he tries to work around them. ]

My uncle holds the Iron Fleet, and he’s taken the main strength of it to Moat Cailin. Where he intends to take it afterwards, I know not.

[ He seems to understand what she’s implying, but he hasn’t quite grasped the full of it. Maybe he doesn’t want to. Floundering and living in doubt and confusion isn’t his favorite way of doing things. ]

You’re welcome to speak to him of such matters should he ever make it to your shores.