The River

[Viea Greyjoy]

Viea stared at him as if he had grown an extra head.

"Do not mock the Gods." She whispered. "They will hear."

[Deleted]

"And yet, here I am. And we're by water too." Mychel said, and then sighed, religion was interesting but also testy, "Forgive me, I did not mean to be disrespectful. We do not share the same gods, as I am sure you know."

[Viea Greyjoy]

"Then you may be forgiven, but it is not wise to push it, my uncle was a priest. He told me these things." Viea said, but she smiled once again.

[Deleted]

"My uncle was not, so I bow to the greater wisdom of yours," mychel said, in a somewhat placating tone. "I can't hide here all day..."

[Viea Greyjoy]

"Hide?" Viea said sounding interested. "Who are you hiding from? Why?"

[Deleted]

"no one... everyone." Mychel said and looked at her with a smile, "I have survived in my family by being around them as little as possible, if I am not there, then I cannot get on the wrong side of my father, it's a system that has mostly worked well," he went on, with a shrug, "but I also can't be accused of doing nothing, because that will also get me into trouble."

[Viea Greyjoy]

"Then say that you were helping a young girl round." She said. "Then you cant be accused of doing nothing can you? If you were helping someone?"

[Deleted]

"I am a Lannister, we don't just help people for the good of our souls, only the good of our purses," Mychel replied with what sounded like a genuine laugh, "Somewhere down the line, it will come back to be useful, or it would have been a waste of time. I enjoy wasting my time though. Saying I was forging ties with the future ruler of the Iron Islands might suffice though."

[Viea Greyjoy]

Viea laughed, a happy sound from the girl.

"Your family seem nice." She said. "How did you turn out nearly normal? And I will rule the whole of the Islands one day."

[Deleted]

"I don't doubt it." He severelt doubted it, "I am far from normal, and I am afraid I am turning out just like them, treasure me for the sweet wide eyed boy you met today, for he is soon to die." he enjoyed the brief lapse into melodrama, ironically he felt like he didn't have to perform with this toddler.

[Viea Greyjoy]

Viea tipped her head and studied him for a while.

"I dont think you will be nasty." She said. "Whatever your family do to you, I think you will be nice and spare the occasional few moments with someone every now and then."

[Deleted]

Mychel looked at her, eyes full of scrunity and suspicion for a moment and then let out a single soft bark of laughter, already knowing she was wrong, "Perhaps you're right, only time will tell. I don't suppose the future leader of the iron islands has time for niceness."

[Viea Greyjoy]

Viea shrugged.

"Only if the person is not a pesky brother." She said

[Deleted]

"I thought your brothers would be dead? Or are you going to take it by force?" he asked, getting to his knees and looking for the way back that would not involve getting wet again, after he just dried off.

[Viea Greyjoy]

"I wouldnt really kill Osger." Viea said wrinkling her nose. "He will be my puppet and do my bidding."

She flicked the crab back to the river where it had just come from.

"If I take it by force it will be much more fun."