Alright, so I actually had this written out yesterday but I got so busy I forgot to post it!
ZabuzasGirl: Thank you!
Padfootette: I'm glad you liked it!
DullReign82: But is she really trustworthy? You'll have to read to find out.
fire1: They certainly trust her, but is she really trustworthy? And I am doing better!
10868letsgo: Your feeling may be correct...
Raging Raven: That would be an interesting way to let the story play out. I'm not sure if I'm going to take the story in that direction. I'm still working out some things as far as canon is concerned, so you'll just have to wait and see what happens.
Bella-swan11: Don't worry, things are going to become more clear to everyone as the story goes on. Jon can't keep things secret for too long.
Guest: It is hypocritical. But, of course, Robb still thinks he can trust Theon. Which of course will play out later on. And as far as the dagger goes...well...you'll see!
Ella is playing with Rickon when Jon finds her. He had left early that morning, and she hadn't seen him since. Judging by the look on his face it's nothing good. Ella kisses Rickon's head, leaving him to play under the supervision of a maid before she approaches Jon.
"Ella, I need you to come with me." Jon says, grabbing her hand with no explanation.
"What's going on? Jon, I want to know what's going on."
He stops, stepping close to her face, speaking in a hushed voice. "We have to go somewhere more private to talk about it. Something has happened."
Ella doesn't ask any more questions as Jon leads her away from the Keep towards the Godswood. Jon moves hastily, Ella practically having to run to keep up. Whatever had happened, it was bad enough to cause this kind of urgency.
Jon leads her towards the heart tree, slowing his pace as he passes it by. He leads her to where a small group is gathered. Lady Stark, Maester Luwin, Ser Rodrik, Robb and Theon all have eyes on her as Jon leads her forward.
"Ellyana, we brought you here because Jon has complete trust in you, that you will be honest with us and not share what you are about to hear with anyone." Ella gulps, nodding. "Last night, an attempt was made on Bran's life." Ella feels her breath leave her lungs in a gasp. "He is alright, and the assassin has been taken care of. But this action has led us to believe that Bran saw something he should not have in that tower the day he fell. We also think he may have been thrown from the tower. Whoever was in the tower that day must not have wanted any witnesses to what they were doing and sent a man to kill Bran. The man was carrying this dagger."
Ser Rodrik turns to her then, holding out the dagger. "It's Valyrian steel with a dragonbone handle. Too fine a blade for the man carrying it."
Ella takes the dagger, hiding her hands from shaking. "You think it someone from King's Landing. And you want to know if I recognize it." She looks up at Lady Stark.
Lady Stark nods. "Yes. If we can identify the owner of the blade, then we can bring justice for Bran's attempted murder."
Ella nods, looking back at the dagger. Memories flood through her mind as she holds it. Joffrey had a tourney for his last nameday celebration at King's Landing. She remembers that day, her father had placed a bet on Loras Tyrell when he had gone against her Uncle Jaime. He had won the dagger from Petyr Baelish when Loras had unseated her Uncle. But why would her father want to kill Bran? She can't imagine it had been her father that had been the one to send the assassin. Ella's fingers start to go cold as she holds the dagger, her knuckles aching as she holds it from the cold. She knows it's not just the cool air causing it. "I don't remember ever seeing a dagger like this before. It's not like the ones the Kingsguard carry, and I've never seen anyone openly carrying a blade like this." She hands the dagger back to Ser Rodrik.
Lady Stark nods. "Thank you, Ellyana. I will ride South to Kings Landing then. See if I cannot find answers there."
"What about Bran?" Robb asks.
"I have prayed to the Seven for more than a month. He is in their hands now."
Ella's hands still feel cold as she makes her way back to the Keep. While she had been honest with Lady Stark, she hadn't told them what she had felt while holding the dagger. Perhaps it had just been the news of what had happened, the gravity of the situation, but as she had held the dagger she had felt sick. It was like it was pulling the very life out of her. Her head is still reeling from the sensation, her stomach churning.
"Ella!" She stops when she hears her name being called. She turns, finding Jon jogging towards her. "I've been calling your name since you passed the training grounds." He says once he's caught up to her.
She shakes her head. "Sorry. I was lost in thought."
Jon takes her hand in his, frowning at how cold it is. "Your hands are freezing. Come on, let's get you inside."
Jon wraps his arm around her, leading her into the Keep. He's warm like he always is. Jon never seemed to get cold to Ella. His body was always warm to the touch, even when he had spent the day outside. On those days he seemed to be warmer. Jon walks with her up to their room, sitting her on their bed when they get there. He kneels in front of her, taking her hands again. They're ice cold but she's red in the face.
He leans up, kissing her forehead. "Are you catching a fever?"
Ella smiles at him, shaking her head. "No. I feel fine. Just shaken."
Jon nods, pulling her close. He had missed being able to spend time with her. They had been busy since the king had left and hardly had time to spend together. Jon breathes her in as he holds her. She smells faintly like lavender and something sweet. He can't help himself as he presses his lips to her neck, tasting her skin. He feels her shiver in his arms, her head tilting back to give him more space. He nips at her neck, soothing the skin with his tongue. His arms wrap around her, lifting her as he climbs onto the bed himself. He sets her further up on the bed, her head on the pillows. He presses his lips to hers as he hovers over her. He hadn't gotten to touch her like this in over a week. They had both been too tired.
Jon pushes her skirts up, his hand dipping to the wetness between her legs. He runs his fingers along her folds for a moment before undoing the laces of his pants. There's not enough time for them to be slow, even to undress but neither of them care. Jon presses into her, her slick passage taking him in easily. He will never forget how she feels around him, slick and hot and tight. He leans over her, slowly rocking his hips as his lips trace her neck again. Her hands are in his hair, silky strands tangled around her fingers.
There's no love making this time, not like they had shared during the time after their wedding. This is quick rutting, desperation to feel each other once again. It had been too long for both of them, their new busy schedule had been driving a wedge between them and this was the start of forcing it back. Jon's thrusts are short and deep, his hand between their bodies pushing her closer to the edge. He feels himself nearing, wanting her to be the one to push him over with her.
He presses his lips to hers to swallow her cries of pleasure. At night they did not bother to hide them, but the castle is awake now. No doubt he would get no end of grief for sneaking off to fuck his wife in the middle of the day if anyone heard them. He groans against her lips as he releases inside of her, a weight coming off his shoulders. Perhaps Theon had been right in that a woman could ease the heavy weight of duty off one's shoulders.
Jon stills over Ella, leaning down to press his forehead against hers. She cups his face, looking up into his eyes. "I missed you."
He kisses her softly for a moment. "I missed you too."
She smiles, kissing his nose before he rolls off of her. He grabs a wet cloth, cleaning her before cleaning himself, tying himself back into his pants. She watches him, smiling softly. He kneels in front of her once again, cupping her cheek. "I'm going to find Robb. Tonight I'm going to take my time with you. Make every inch of your body tremble before I'm finished." He nips playfully at her bottom lip before standing, heading for the door. Ella trembles already in anticipation, knowing she should get up to find Lady Stark, but she must compose herself again.
Bran wakes that night. Lady Stark delays her departure for a day in order to be with Bran for the first few hours. He remembers nothing yet, which of course is no help to Lady Stark's quest to find the owner of the dagger. She's still intent ongoing South despite Bran being awake. Ella knows Bran and Rickon will be upset when she leaves, but Ella will be there for them until Lady Stark returns.
Robb enlists the help of the stableboy Hodor, a giant of a man, but a gentle, simple-minded one, to help Bran move about the castle and get some air after being cooped up for over a month in bed. Ella can tell he's upset about his mother leaving him so soon after he woke up. She had been determined though, the urgency of the situation clear, but not to a degree that Ella could understand. She knows there's more that's going on that she hasn't been told about, but she can't be too upset. She had lied to their faces after they had put their trust in her enough to tell her about the assassin. She knows if they ever find out, they'll never forgive her. But she has to risk it. She has to figure some things out before the truth comes out.