"You do look beautiful."

Rose couldn't even begin to count how many times Sansa Stark had said the same thing to her. It was the eve of her wedding and she had heard nothing from Ramsay. She did wonder if her letter had arrived, but she would never know. He had not sent a raven to her and he had not marched on Winterfell. Of course Rose knew that would be futile. His father would disown him for being naive and the chances of him walking out with Rose were slim.

She couldn't help but think that she was lost without him. She felt nothing. She wondered if there was anything worse than nothingness. She had spent days having a dress fitted for her. At first she had locked her door and refused to let Lady Stark in, but Robb had then whispered to her. She had finally let him in and he had spent a while consoling her.

Robb was the only she trusted in Winterfell. He was the only one who looked at her like he understood what she was going through. Of course, Rose knew that he had no idea. He had never been in love.

"Yes," Catelyn agreed as Rose stood on the pedestal in her room and the seamstress sewed her dress.

Rose remained mute: her eyes ahead and set on the mirror. She had asked Lady Stark who would be in attendance of this wedding. Apparently it was to be an intimate affair with only the surrounding houses attending. It would be held inside of Winterfell and not even her parents would be attending. Rose didn't know how to feel about that. She could scarcely remember what her parents looked like. She wondered if they would even recognise her now.

"I think the ivory colour is a very nice contrast. White would have flushed you out."

"Would it?" Rose mumbled back and Lady Stark pursed her lips.

She had almost grown tired of the girl herself. Rose was nothing but rude when she spoke and full of tears. The girl would have to learn if she was to survive Theon Greyjoy. He was already moaning about her to anyone who would listen. He consoled himself with the thought of her fighting against him when he fucked her. At least she wouldn't be like a limp fish.

"It is rather sheer, but it is the finest lace we had," the seamstress assured the women.

There was a sudden knock on the door and Rose turned her head, hope running through her veins at the sound of the wood. But her hope was soon dashed when she saw that it was only Lord Stark stood at the door.

"Lady Rose," he spoke her name, insisting on formalities. "Theon wishes to escort you on a walk before the feast begins."

Rose almost wanted to scoff and tell Theon where he could go. She kept silent and nodded as Lady Stark glowered at her. The women helped her change into her normal gown of red before the hung her wedding dress up and the seamstress continued to work at it. Rose swept from the room, grabbing her cloak on the way as she wandered the corridors. There were servants rushing around as they tried to prepare the feast in time for that evening.

If she had her way then they wouldn't be bothering with a feast. More to the point, they wouldn't be bothering with this wedding.

...

"And what do you wish for me to say during this walk?" Theon snarled as soon as Robb had told him that he was to escort Rose through the gardens. "The girl has nothing good to say to me. Why should I say anything nice to her?"

"Because you are to wed her tomorrow," Robb replied harshly.

"Perhaps you should wed her," Theon scoffed. "She spends more time with you than me."

"Maybe if you stop calling her a harlot then she might warm to you," Robb urged Theon. "She is not a horrible person. She is scared and you have done nothing to ease her mind. Be gentle with her and show her that you're not an utter prick all of the time."

Theon had no chance to say anything back to Robb as Rose wandered towards them. Her hair was gathered in pins and draped over one of her shoulders. Her cloak was black and her gown was red, the ends dirtied with mud after wandering through the courtyard. Robb smiled to her and Theon remained impassive, folding his arms over his chest and looking to the sky.

"Theon would like to apologise for his discourteous behaviour," Robb informed Rose.

"Is that why you're apologising for him?" Rose wondered back and Theon was almost impressed with her snide comment. "If Theon wishes to apologise to me then he can say so himself. I doubt he will. The iron in his veins makes him too proud."

"Or perhaps you should apologise to me?" Theon wondered. "For being such a spoiled little whore?"

"I have nothing to apologise for," Rose snapped. "How many women have you fucked? Do you think that I don't spot you wandering away from the whorehouse? Why does my virginity matter when yours doesn't?"

"Because I am a man."

"I doubt it," Rose responded hastily.

"I'll prove otherwise tomorrow when I get between those creamy white thighs of yours," Theon leered and Rose balled her hands into fists by her sides and Robb stood between the two of them, looking at them with disappointment.

"You are to marry," Robb informed them. "Do you at least not want to try to hold an amicable conversation?"

"I am not marrying her for conversation," Theon snapped. "I am marrying her so that she can give me an heir for when I become Lord of the Iron Islands. As long as she keeps quiet and remembers her manners then I have no need for conversation."

"Manners?" Rose echoed the word. "And what manners have you shown me since we left the Dreadfort? You've done nothing but insult me and leer at me. Not once have you said that you would forgive me for what I have done."

"And do you want forgiveness from me?"

"I want fuck all from you," Rose said and Robb gaped at her unladylike manners. "But that is not the point."

"Forgive me, but I am still struggling to see the point," Theon responded and Robb wished that he hadn't bothered trying to get the pair of them to see each other on common ground. "I will forgive you if you ask me for forgiveness. You were my betrothed when you went and fucked that bastard. And do you know what he is doing now? He is probably fucking other women."

"Don't lie," Rose demanded from him, taking a step forwards and Robb watched her anger spill into her face as her cheeks tinted red. "Ramsay is not you."

"You're right. I don't rape women like he does...or chase them for sport..."

"Theon," Robb warned him.

"Do you think that I haven't heard those rumours before?" Rose asked; a smirk on her face as she did so. "I know Ramsay more than anyone. Do not think that you can bring concern to me by repeating rumours."

"Do you two intend to walk together?" Robb suddenly sighed, not wishing to speak of the rumours surrounding Ramsay Snow.

"Perhaps when the Seven Hells freezes over," Rose said and she turned on her heel and began to walk away.

Robb looked at Theon, his gaze half pleading and half demanding. Theon shook his head and held his gloved hands up in the air.

"I am not going after her," Theon said and Robb watched him walk in the opposite direction to Rose.

He truly could do nothing right.

...

His father had left for the Twins and he would stay there for a while. That gave Ramsay time to do as he pleased. It was with this time when he realised that he would go to Winterfell. He would journey there and he would attend Rose's wedding feast. He knew that he could do nothing to stop her from marrying Theon. Unless he wanted to end back where he came from. And that was not something Ramsay would even consider.

But he would be able to taunt those he longed to taunt, and the day would come when he had Rose in his bed with him again. He just needed a less obvious time. Of course the thought of Theon Greyjoy being inside of Rose did nothing to help his jealousy. That was why Myranda had accompanied him. Perhaps she could relieve some of his anger.

"Lord Ramsay. We had not thought to find you here," Lord Stark spoke when he saw the Bastard of Bolton climb down from his horse with his entourage behind him.

"My father sent me in his place," Ramsay lied, imagining Roose's anger. But he would not take Rose back to the Dreadfort just yet. Perhaps his father may legitimise him for showing his restraint? Only then would he make Rose his somehow.

"I see," Lord Stark said in a gruff voice. "Well, there are meats and wines in the Great Hall. The feast has only just started."

"Excellent," Ramsay nodded and began to stride through Winterfell, untying his cloak from his shoulders and allowing one of his boys to take hold of it.

Ramsay entered the hall and looked around. There was hardly anyone present. He noted some of the Stark children were already seated and speaking with other children. Some lords and ladies were gossiping and drinking, picking at the food on the tables. Ramsay looked to the head table and saw her sat there. She had her betrothed to the side of her, his hand on her thigh as he leered to her. Ramsay's blood boiled and he longed for her to look up from her lap.

She finally did and her eyes met his as she looked around the hall. Her mouth gaped and Theon followed her stare. He clamped his hand on her thigh then, keeping her sat down in her seat and refusing to let her move.

Rose struggled as Ramsay perched on the edge of a bench. She finally managed to escape Theon's grip and she pushed her chair behind her and moved around the table, her hands trembling as she touched the wood of it and almost tripped down the steps from the platform. Ramsay stood again then, a cup of wine in his hands as Rose stood before him.

"You came," she said, their chests almost brushing and Ramsay felt people staring at them already.

"We cannot speak here," Ramsay whispered down to her. "We need to go somewhere private."

"Where?" Rose wondered and Ramsay bit his tongue as he longed to tell her that he didn't know where. He hadn't lived here for those few days.

"Tonight," he whispered. "Is there a Godswood?"

"What are you doing here?" Theon suddenly interrupted, his fingers curling around Rose's bare arm as he hauled her back from Ramsay. "Have you come to try and steal her from me?"

"Don't be childish," Ramsay said with a glimmer in his orbs. "She is to be your bride. Even I am not foolish enough to try to steal her when all of the Northern houses are here."

Rose's brows furrowed and she wondered why he had said that. Was he trying to play Theon? He had to be here for her. There was no other option.

"Well tomorrow she is mine," Theon said. "So stay away from her."

And with that Theon dragged Rose back to her seat, making her sit down and then placing his hand on her thigh again as everyone went back to their business. Ramsay resumed his seat and raised his cup to those who dared to still watching him with their beady eyes.

He silenced them with an instant look and he knew then how much power he could potentially hold. If they were scared of Roose's bastard then they would be trembling if he was every named as the true Lord of the Dreadfort.

...

"Bring her to me," Ramsay demanded from his men as he stood in the Godswood in the middle of the morning. Rose had not come to him, but he suspected she had been locked in her room. "Kill anyone who stands in your way and dispose of their bodies without hesitance. Say that they abandoned their posts. I do not care."

Ramsay watched the four men wander from him and he looked to the pond in the Godswood. Ramsay had no time for the Gods. He didn't care for them and he never would do. His patience was wearing thin before he saw his men returning with Rose in between them. She had paled and was simply wearing a sheer white nightgown. Ramsay made a clucking noise with his tongue before removing his own cloak from his shoulders.

"Did you not give my sweet Rose time to find a cloak?" he scolded them as he draped the material over her shoulders and she clutched to his shoulders as he wrapped his arms around her.

"There were two men outside of her door, m'lord," one man spoke. "They had drunk too much...flagons of wine found next to them...no doubt they'll remain unconscious for a few hours."

Ramsay's smirk grew as Rose clung to him and he held her tighter in his arms. No doubt his men had knocked the guards out and planted the evidence. Of course Rose didn't need to know that.

"Leave us be," Ramsay demanded them and they trudged off.

"My sweetling," Ramsay crooned as he bent down to look at Rose. "What are these tears?"

"I was so scared," Rose whispered as she clung to him like he was the last man in the world. "I was so scared that you wouldn't come for me, but you're here...please say that you are here to take me from Theon...he is so lurid..."

Ramsay gave her a wet lipped smile and shook his head. He could see all of her emotions on her face. There was horror and shock and pain. There was so much inside of one girl that Ramsay couldn't help but pity her.

"I cannot take you, my love," he said, his hands on her upper arms. "They would know it was me and they would find us and punish us."

"I cannot marry him," Rose sobbed.

"You must," Ramsay nodded to her. "You must marry him and I shall come back for you and bring you home. I cannot take you now. My father would know and he would not be pleased. It is too dangerous for you, my sweet."

"But we could run," Rose pleaded with him. "We could run away and we would find work...I would do something..."

"I cannot put you at risk or subject you to such a life," Ramsay lied. "But I will find you and bring you back."

Did he look like he wanted to work in a field? Gods, Rose truly was stupid.

"How?" Rose sniffed and Ramsay bent down to press his nose to her neck. She smelled like she always did. She was so precious to him. She truly didn't know.

He worked his lips down her neck and she groaned at the motion and Ramsay knew that he could have her right there in the Godswood if he so wished.

"I will find a way," Ramsay said and he continued to kiss along her skin.

She groaned and merely relished the taste of his lips on hers once he kissed her squarely. Slowly, Ramsay lowered her down to the ground and his hands found the bottom of her dress. She moaned lowly once he was inside of her and he knew that she truly was his. He continued to thrust inside of her until he found his pleasure and he made sure she found hers too. He rested on top of her, his breeches undone and around his ankles as he kept his head against her neck.

"I love you," Rose suddenly spoke as she ran her hands through his curls.

"I know, my love," Ramsay promised her with closed eyes. "And you will be mine again."

...

A/N: Thanks to everyone who has reviewed and please do let me know what you think!