Chapter 2: The Maid and The Feast
Lyrianna stirred as she finally opened her pale green eyes after her peaceful two hour long nap.
She sighed as got out of her bed, and stared out of her window, looking up at the sky to stare at the passing gray clouds. They were moving lazily across the blue evening sky, when she looked down she saw the castle grounds.
The Stark girl couldn't help but remember how Winterfell used to be so peaceful when her father had been Lord of Winterfell.
Winterfell was a huge castle, surrounded by two massive walls and a village located just outside called the Winter Town. Winterfell itself had been built around an ancient godswood and over natural hot springs. The water was piped through walls and chambers to heat them, making Winterfell more comfortable than other castles during the harsh northern winters.
But Lyrianna doubted that it would ever be the same now, knowing how it had almost been destroyed. Inside the walls, there are dozens of courtyards and small open spaces. Weapons training and practice take place in those yards.
She smiled at the thought of her brothers training long before she went south to Kings Landing. Every morning they had trained together, since they were big enough to walk; Snow and Stark, spinning, slashing shouting and laughing, sometimes crying when there was no one else to see.
They were not little boys when they fought, but knights and mighty heroes. She let a small tear fall from her eye then, knowing that she'd unlikely see her siblings again.
She looked away from the window and made her way to her case, where she had put all of her clothes. One by one she took them out, placing them into her old and empty wardrobe.
The last gown was neatly folded like all of the others, she drew it out of the suitcase and shook it out, revealing its true glory as she took in the beauty of it. It was an elaborate dress that swept the floor with dramatic elegant long sleeves, pearl accents, an empire waist, and a beautiful flowery pattern.
When she had just about finished lacing the back of it up, there was a sudden knock on the door. "Come in!" She called.
Inside her room, entered a small girl, she couldn't have been older than fourteen. "Milady." She greeted her. "I-I was sent by Lord Bolton to help you prepare for tonight's feast."
Lyrianna smiled at the girl kindly. "That was very kind of him." She stated, almost coldly unable to control her hate towards the man. "But I'm afraid your services are not required. I have already prepared myself."
The maid looked a little worried, as if she didn't know what to do. Lyria sighed softly. "But a bit of good company would be nice... I you don't have any other duties...?"
"Myla." The girl introduced herself. "I haven't been a maid for long, Milady. I started a week ago."
Lyria nodded. "You are very young. Shouldn't you be at home helping your mother-?"
She bowed her head sadly, her raven black hair covering most of her face as she did so.. "N-no. My mother and father are dead."
"Oh my. I'm so sorry!" Of course, she knew exactly how that felt. "My parents are too."
Myla nodded sadly. "Forgive me Milady... I-I shouldn't be talking to you like th-"
"It's okay." She assured her. "I-I think we both need a friend now, don't you? Now, tell me... Myla. Why are you working here? For the Boltons?"
There was a pause, and Myla's deep brown eyes were wide. "My father used to be a farmer, and one night, one of Ramsay's men set our farm alight. He was drunk, see..." Lyria nodded, listening to her story with interest. "My father loved our farm, and out of instinct he attacked. The man ran away and we managed to put out the fire. The next morning... Ramsay came, with a dozen men. He flayed my mother first forcing me and my father to watch."
Lyrianna's heart beat accelerated. "That's barbaric!" She almost yelled.
"It was awful, Milady. Then he did the same to my father... He then set the house and the farm aflame. I lost everything. Ramsay said I'd be useful to him in the castle... Ever since then I've been a maid." She said sadly.
"I can't believe I have to do this." Lyrianna whispered, her eyes glassy with tears.
"Do what, Milady?"
Lyria frowned. "D-don't you know? Why I'm here?"
"You're Lyrianna Stark, this was where you grew up. It's your home." But the young girl didn't seem to understand.
Lyria nodded, her eyes full of fear and sadness. "I guess that servants don't get to know the news until the rumours spread. I-I have to marry him... I have to marry Ramsay Bolton."
Myla's eyes widened. "I'm so sorry, Milady. I-I shouldn't have told you those things! Please don't tell him. He'll kill me!"
It shocked the Stark girl to see someone fear a person as much as this, and that only made her dread her wedding day more. "I-I won't! You're my friend. I swear to the old gods and the new that I won't tell a soul. You're in no danger, Myla."
"I-if we're friends, then I should warn you, Milady. Ramsay Bolton likes getting his,own way... If you displease him he will find a way to punish you. I haven't know him that long but I've seen him angry enough times to know."
Lyrianna thought long and hard about Myla's warning, as she made her way to the great hall.
The great hall was very grand. On the outside it is enclosed with grey stone and covered with banners... They used to be Starks banners, hers. She glared when she saw how the Bolton's had put up their own beside each side of the oak and iron door.
Inside it can hold eight long rows of trestle tables, four to each side of the central aisle, and can seat at least five hundred people, tonight there were no empty seats. There was also a raised platform for noble guests, that's where she sat now.
She was on the right side of the table, next to Ramsay, then Roose, Petyr and Sansa. At that moment she felt so alone. "You seem a little nervous tonight, Lyria." He purred. "Something on your mind?"
"It's nothing." She replied coldly.
He wasn't convinced. "Really? I spoke to your sister earlier. You know what she told me?"
"What did she tell you?"
"She said that you liked hunting with your brothers before, is that true? It's very unladylike." He sneered.
Lyria almost sighed in relief, who knows what Sansa would've said. It's not like her to spread rumours. "My brother, Robb," She resisted the urge to give Roose a glare. "He taught me and Ayra how to use a bow... I haven't had the chance to for ages."
"You know, I like hunting." He whispered to her, his breath touching her skin. He was mocking her and she knew it. "It's a lot of fun... Maybe I'll take you one day."
Her eyes widened slightly, remembering the rumours she'd heard. She answered him with the first excuse that came to mind. "I don't think I'd like to do it without my brother."
He chuckled. "What about your sister?"
Lyria frowned, "She hates hunting." Surely if he talked about that with Sansa then he would know just how much she disapproved.
"Indeed, she does. She told me. But I never said she'd have to hunt." He smirked.
What did he mean by that? "Y-you never answered my question before... When we walked this afternoon."
"Nor you, mine." He retorted, his smirk widening.
Lyria sighed. "I asked you first."
"I asked you second." He replied playfully. "You want to know if the rumours are true? Come with me after the feast. I'd like to show you something."
Lyrianna bit her lip, unsure if that would be a good idea. "Actually I was going to the crypts with my sister... We're going to light the candles again. I doubt they've been lit for a while now."
Ramsay scoffed. "The dead don't need light, Lyria. You'd be wasting your time."
She had to resist narrowing her eyes at him. "Members of my family are buried down there." She almost snapped.
He shrugged. "Fine, go mourn the dead." He all but mocked her. "Join me tomorrow morning. I'll have a maid wake you up."
Lyria glared at him, remembering everything Myla had told her. "Alright. But please don't wake me too early, I've had a rather long day."
He nodded. "Very well. You know, you still haven't answered my question. Are you afraid?" He grinned.
"I'd be stupid not to be." She retorted.
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