Ramsay remained on the damp ground with Rose balancing in his arms. She had her head on his chest, her hand holding his as it rested on his stomach. He had closed his eyes once he had dressed himself and helped Rose to fix her nightgown over her body. She had a small smile on her face as his thumb ran over her knuckles in a soothing motion.
"Will you be at the wedding tomorrow?" Rose asked Ramsay and he kept his eyes closed, wondering if he could ignore her by pretending to be asleep. He doubted it. She was rather fussy.
"I shall be," he nodded, resting one arm behind his head. "But you have to do your duty Rose. I know that it seems as though this is the end of everything, but I promise it is not. It is only the beginning."
"I believe you," Rose promised him, moving to straddle his waist.
Ramsay opened his orbs then when he saw her dangling from his hips. He moved his hand to cup her cheek. He didn't know how he could change when he was around her. He was so gentle with her. He handled her as though she was the most precious creature in Westeros. And she was to him...well...for the time being.
"I want it to end, Ramsay," she whispered in a soft voice. "I want so very much to be back with you at the Dreadfort. Winterfell is horrid...it is so cold and...the little Stark children all look at me as though I am some witch...Sansa sits and croons over my wedding but I have heard her speak of me behind my back. Robb is the only one who takes the time to speak with me without scolding me like I am some petulant child."
"Robb?" Ramsay cocked a brow as Rose moved further down his body, her cheek on his chest as he kept his arms around her, running his hands up and down her back. "He is the eldest Stark, is he not?"
"Yes," Rose confirmed. "He is the only one who looks at me with some kindness. Lady and Lord Stark are hospitable, but they continue to tell me how my fortune shall soon change and I shall be happy with Theon eventually. Sometimes they scold me for being rude."
"Rude?" Ramsay echoed. "My sweet Rose, when have you ever been rude?"
"Numerous times since I arrived here," she pouted to Ramsay. "I do not mean to be, but no one understands."
"I understand," Ramsay assured her, his hands moving down her back until he groped at her backside and she squirmed against him then. He relished the feeling of her slim body pressing against his as he continued to knead her backside. "I am the only one who understands you, Rose."
"Yes," Rose said in a small whimper as Ramsay rolled their bodies over until he was on top of her.
No one was allowed to understand her. No one was allowed to pretend that they knew her. She was his and that was all there was to it. She was his until he grew bored of her pretty face and her stupid brain. Everyone would understand that soon enough. Robb Stark had no claim to her. Theon Greyjoy could stake his claim but Ramsay would destroy that.
"I am the only one you want, Rose," Ramsay whispered into her ear as he pulled her nightgown up her legs and she felt his hips move to meet hers and he continued to kiss down her neck. "The Starks pretend to be nice to you...but they are not me...especially not this Robb Stark...he doesn't understand you..."
"No," Rose whimpered as Ramsay sucked at her neck and he knew that she was putty in his hands.
He slowly unlaced his breeches once more and then moved quickly, thrusting into her again as he grabbed her thighs to hold them at his waist as he thrust inside of her. She kept her hands above her head as she tilted her hips to meet Ramsay's thrusts and he slowly moved to kiss her. Only then did she tangle her fingers in his curls and hold his lips against hers. She really was too foolish.
...
Robb had been the one to rise early that morning. He had scarcely slept the night before after arguing with a drunken Theon and then listening to Jon's worries about whether or not he should attend the wedding. There had been so much which had kept his mind occupied that he knew he would not gain sleep.
In the end he had dressed early and decided to wander around Winterfell. Perhaps he could practice his archery for a while. He moved through the courtyard before he saw the sight in the rising sun. He stood still as she snuck in through the west gate, a cloak firmly covering her body. Her hair was covered in leaves and some twigs clung to her cloak. She looked a mess.
She looked around and only then did she spot Robb and note that he was watching her. She kept her head held high as he stormed over to her, disappointment and annoyance evident on his features. Rose remained still, allowing her eyes to meet his as he finally stood before her.
"What are you doing out here so early?" he hissed. "And why are you covered in dirt? You are luck no one else is out here."
"I was only in the Godswood," Rose responded. "Do you not go there to pray?"
"I go there to pray," Robb agreed, taking her by her arm softly. "But I don't come back covered in dirt. Do you think I am stupid, Rose? I've been your only friend here."
Rose kept her gaze lowered as they walked past the rising sun and she took hold of Robb by his arm then, stopping him from walking as she looked to the sun. He followed her gaze and kept his arm over hers.
"Have you ever admired how beautiful a sunrise is?" Rose whispered and Robb shook his head.
"Never," he admitted.
He supposed that he couldn't deny that the rising sun was lovely to look at. It glowed over the hills and flowed into the courtyard. The orange colour was deep and for once Robb didn't feel the cold of Winterfell. He looked down to Rose again as she continued to stare at it as if it was the most magical thing she had seen in her life. It was then when he moved his hand to her cheek and urged her to look him in the eye.
"You were with Ramsay," he stated.
Rose knew that he wasn't asking her. She knew that he knew where she had been. Robb was no fool and her mussed up hair and dirtied nightgown practically gave her away.
"For one night," Rose confessed.
"You need moon tea then," Robb sighed and Rose shook her head.
"It doesn't matter. By tonight Theon will have had me."
"And if your babe comes out with dark curls and grey eyes?" Robb warned her and she bit down on her bottom lip before he nodded again. "I will secure you some moon tea before the ceremony. Why do you do this, Rose? Why do you insist on being so reckless?"
Rose rolled her eyes then as Robb began to walk again and she had no choice but to go along with him. He kept his arm tightly around her arm; almost as if he was scared she would run away from him. He had no reason to fret. She was going nowhere.
"It was my final night with him," Rose responded. "Surely you can try to understand me?"
"I try," Robb grumbled. "But I sometimes find it difficult."
"Maybe you will if you ever fall in love," Rose suggested and Robb gulped.
He never thought that would happen.
...
"You need to sit still," Catelyn urged Rose as she stood behind her at the vanity table, pulling the girl's curls into her hands and trying to pin it to her head. "Rose."
"I am trying," Rose assured her. "I'm just...I don't know...I think I'm nervous..."
Catelyn sighed and nodded at her. "I understand that, but I need to finish placing these pins into your hair."
Rose sighed and did as she was asked. Catelyn had asked her about Ramsay coming to her the previous day and Rose had assured her that she had not seen him apart from their time together in the hall. She seemed pleased, but she suspected Rose wasn't telling the full truth. She was well aware of that. But she didn't push her.
"Robb has offered to walk you down the aisle," Catelyn informed her. "Usually it would Ned who would do that, but Robb has become very protective over you that he asked to have the responsibility. I think he sees you as his friend."
"Your son is kind," Rose said truthfully. "He has shown me nothing but kindness ever since I arrived in Winterfell. I do thank him for that. He will make a good lord one day."
Catelyn sighed and smiled sadly. Perhaps Rose and Robb could have been a good match if the circumstances had been different. Catelyn had no doubt that her son would have made a better husband to her than Theon ever would. Robb would treat her well and he would respect her. He would not dare insult her nor would he ever use her for his own gain. Theon was not Robb. Catelyn couldn't quite understand how he could class Greyjoy as one of his best friends.
"There," Catelyn finally said when she had finished pinning Rose's curls on the top of her head.
Some of them cascaded down her back, but the majority were held back from her face. She wore her ivory wedding gown on her body and she had to admit that it was a stunning creation. She only wished the circumstances had been different. She took every step slowly, doing her best not to turn and run as they wandered towards the Godswood. She wanted to do nothing more than run and beg for Ramsay to go with her.
But he had promised to win her back one day. It was that promise she clung onto.
Robb was stood at the edge of the Godswood, his hands behind his back as he waited for his mother and Rose. Catelyn nodded to her son and Rose took hold of Rob's offered arm.
"How are you feeling?" he wondered from her and he pulled a small flagon from inside his jerkin's pocket.
"Well enough," she said.
"Drink this before we go," he urged her and she did so, sensing the taste of moon tea. She almost choked as Robb took the flagon from her and hid it once more. He smiled at her and nodded sternly.
"Faking a smile is always difficult," Robb said to her as they made their way closer to where the congregation sat on wooden benches which had been laid out for them. "But you have to try, Rose."
"Easier said than done," Rose whispered, her lips faltering when she noted that Ramsay was sat near the back of the congregation, a woman with long brown curls next to him. He looked to her and she tried to read the expression on his face.
Ramsay couldn't help but feel his mouth gape at the sight of Rose. She was far more attractive than any woman he had chased through the Dreadfort. The gown she wore reminded him of the one she wore the night he had taken her virginity, but her hair was piled on top of her head to keep them neat and tidy. Her eyes were watering as she stared at him and he watched her continue to walk with Robb.
Theon stood at the front, a cloak in his hands as he waited for his bride to appear. He had to admit that she did look much prettier than usual in her fine gown with her well kept hair. He brought her under his cloak with haste and longed for the ceremony to be finished with quickly so that he could go back to drinking and then fuck his wife.
"Does it make you jealous?"
Ramsay almost jumped when he heard her whisper into his ear. Her hand was hidden under his cloak dangerously high on his thigh.
"That she is his now...that he will be fucking her before the night is through...but you have me now...and I can please you in ways she never could. I bet she simply lies on her back and lets you ravage her..."
Ramsay gulped as Myranda continued her whispers in his ear. She was smirking as she looked around and made sure that no one was watching her. Ramsay then looked down to her and she knew that she was slowly running Rose from his mind. But then he bent down to whisper to her.
"Watch yourself," he warned her. "I may not chase Rose through the forest just yet...but chasing you would bring me joy..."
Myranda gulped and smirked as Ramsay looked away from her in time to see Theon grab Rose by her cheeks and kiss her deeply. Myranda knew that she was dispensable at that moment in time, but she would soon change that.
...
A/N: Thank you to everyone reading and to those who reviewed. Do let me know what you think!
