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There we are. It has been, as Theon would say, one hell of a ride. Thank you, all of you, who stuck with me for the long months it took to write, edit, and post this fic. I am deeply ashamed that I made you wait for updates so many times. On the other hand, if I had not posted this as a WIP, it would probably not have been finished at all. Knowing that I had an obligation to finish it really helped me write the ending.
That being said, I would like to add a few notes concerning the ending and the fic as a whole.
The premise of the fic was a plot bunny that refused to leave me alone until I started writing. I never intended to end up with a fic of almost 130 k. I know that many people were squicked by the premise, because they thought canon!Stannis would never act this way. I agree; he wouldn’t. But I don’t regret anything.
I hope that the majority of you will like the ending. It is as happy as I could, with a good conscience, make it, and I hope it is not too sugary to be believable (within the framework of my OOC premise). A lot of issues remain unresolved, and I truly cannot say with conviction that everything will turn out well in the long run. It is a Song of Ice and Fire after all.
I feel the need to distance myself a little from many views and opinions that the characters express throughout the fic, and clarify some points.
This fic has issues. Tons of them. Rape, torture, forced consent, abuse. While they were downplayed toward the end, where the focus shifted in favor of the polyamorous relationship, they are still there. Theon may have found some kind of balance, but that does not mean that everything is well.
First of all, Theon, as we see him here, is a lot saner than George R. R. Martin depicts him in ADWD and the TWOW sample chapter. He also recovers relatively well, and I doubt that would be possible in reality/book canon.
Then, the relationship between him and Stannis is not exactly a healthy one. I would not want you to leave here with the impression I am unaware of that fact.
The main issue is obvious – a severe case of Stockholm syndrome, as we tend to call it. Falling in love with your rapist and coming to see him as your savior are not good things.
In chapter XIV, where Stannis openly states that he raped Theon, I originally had included a line where Theon said, “You forced me, that much is true. One might call that rape, or not.”
My beta reader, gods bless him, told me very frankly that this was kind of a no go. Consequently I cut that line. It really should not appear in any fic of mine, ever. But what I originally intended to show at that point was that Theon, despite knowing that Stannis mistreated him, fails to understand that he is in truth still a victim, and that what Stannis did to him was no better than what Ramsay did. Stannis is at least partly aware of that, but Theon is not. For Theon, the difference is huge, simply because what he suffered at Ramsay’s hands went above and beyond imagination and included a dimension of psychological torture that one fails to grasp in its consequence.
But it is not a difference that we, as the audience, can take as an excuse for what Stannis did. Rape is rape. Forced consent is rape.
As I said, their relationship is dysfunctional. But I think that in this context, in this universe, it is one that might work for both of them – maybe not in the long run, but for a while. And within its stipulations, Theon might have time to recover, and find happiness. Since psychological therapy is not exactly available in Westeros, the characters have to cope with war trauma and rape and torture one way or another. The decision to stay with Stannis is Theon’s choice, and while it is messed-up on many levels, it is also his way to cope with the ordeal he survived. A far cry from healthy, yes, but not necessarily the worst decision he could have made. And while he’s toying with the idea of leaving and being on his own, I don’t think he is strong enough at this point.
This fic, however, is not merely about Theon. It is also about Stannis. No, canon!Stannis would likely never rape someone. But he is not the saint that some people make him either; he has a thirst for power and, blinded by Melisandre’s promise to help him win the throne, commits some rather questionable acts. He would have sacrificed Edric, if it hadn’t been for Davos. He chose to belief he was not to blame for Renly’s death when he clearly knew better. He did condone human sacrifices.
This fic is, in a way, Stannis’ fall and redemption arc at once, and his character development is just as important as Theon’s recovery. I want to believe that both Stannis and Theon come out of it changed, and not for the worse.
In comparison, the introduction of Jon as the third POV character was more of a plot device. While he has his own arc, it is not as important to the fic. He played a major part in Theon’s healing process, and I think that Jon’s understanding and forgiveness were essential to the positive outcome. But the threesome could only work because Theon and Stannis resolved their issues first. It is ultimately Theon who brings the three of them together. The stag within the fiery heart and the direwolf, bound by tendrils of gold – the Greyjoy kraken. Just in case you have been wondering what Melisandre’s vision meant.
If you to want to talk to me, tell me your opinion about the ending, or ask any questions, please leave a review, I will try to respond in time. I would very much like to know whether you liked it or not, and concrit is always welcome. I am also on tumblr as uniwolfwerecorn , in case you are interested in fandom rambling, meta posts, and other stuff.