Risen From Ashes

by snowflake2410

House Pyralis, Relatives to the Targaryens. Just as House Reyne, every Pyralis has been turned into nothing but mere ash and memory. All except one. Ophelia never knew who she was but when is revealed as the last Pyralis, she is soon thrust into a new world of deceit and limitations. As the saying goes: You can try to burn a Phoenix, but they always manage to survive.

8. Chapter 8

Hello! So, as promised here is the song list for the shippers out there! Lol usually I don't listen to pop songs when writing a story, so a couple of the songs listed below are instrumental pieces. Also, a little side note: Just as Ramsay Bolton said "If you think this has a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention." This is under the drama section (as well as romance) and it will have some lighthearted moments, but some pretty dark ones as well. This means that just because my OC is paired up with someone, doesn't mean that pairing will last. I already have the endgame in mind for her but I want you, as readers, to keep that in mind. And regarding a Guest review: I'm so happy that you're reading my story, but I have it formatted to focus on the past as much as the present because it's crucial to Ophelia's journey. If one doesn't know the past, how can they understand the future?

With that being said, thanks to all those who reviewed! I am so happy every time I see a new review, it brings me tears of happiness and squeals of delight! So here is the song list for the shippers out there:

RobbxOphelia: To Sheila- by Smashing Pumpkins, (just type this in and click in the first video) Celtic Romance- Letters to a lost love, and My Funny Valentine-by Frank Sinatra

JonxOphelia: Fade Into You- by Mazzy Star, Celtic Music-Moonsong, and Vera & Roland- These I Send to You (Testament of Youth)

TheonxOphelia: Pirate Love Song-Black Heart, Lust for Life-by Lana Del Rey, and Let Me Go- by Three Doors Down.

Anyway, as always I do not own anything except for Ophelia and her slaughtered family.

1st P.O.V. Winterfell

I woke up the next morning to find My Lady gone from the room. I laid my hand down on her part of the bed to feel that it was cold, meaning that she had been gone for a while. Honestly, I didn't mind it so much. I was taking up a mass amount of her time, what with her attending to my injured self, and she had more important duties to attend to, such as running the household.

Even though my position is not really clear in this place, I like being within and without. I have a vast amount of knowledge that pertains to being a Lady in court, but I don't ever get to use it (which is no big loss on my part). I have a couple nice objects that I possess, but nothing too grand as it would be overwhelming. I have the love of a noble Lord and Lady but since they are not focusing their attention on me, I get to do things that Lady Sansa or Lady Arya would never be able to, like going to Wintertown by myself. Yes, it does make me feel odd at times and like an outsider all of the time, but it's what I've gotten used to. One of my biggest annoyances is change. I don't mind, for example, little change. I enjoy having a shakeup in my routine every now and then, but huge change I'm opposed to.

However, life doesn't give you what you want. To fate, my life was ultimately a routine. And it decided that it needed a shakeup.

When I woke up without My Lady that morning, I laid in bed. It still hurt to get up, but it was the sort of hurt one feels after carrying something on their back for a while. As I wiggled about trying to find a comfortable position, my bandages rubbed up against my slowly healed wounds. I then realized that My Lady changed my bandages before leaving. It was nice to know that even as she had many more jobs to attend to she still had time to change my dresssings.

Then it came to mind that if My Lady left me, I was probably fit enough to be by myself. Which to an extent meant that I was well enough to go back to work.

I smiled and nearly jumped out of bed in excitement. FINALLY! No more being stuck in bed. No more lounging about. No more having My Lady help me use the chamber pot.

I shuddered as I thought about how uncomfortable that was.

I got up and looked around the room. None of my clothes were in here, only a wool brown robe I've been using if it got cold at night. Still, it was better than nothing.

I walked to the pole that held the robe and put it on, making sure to fasten it around my waist tightly.

I looked under the bed and in the wardrobe for some shoes, but there were none.

Perhaps my dress was given to the laundress to clean it? I didn't have very many dresses and the yellow one I usually wore was my working dress and my absolute favorite.

That still didn't explain where my shoes were though.

Shrugging, I stepped out of the room, barefoot, for the first time in a long while. There was no one in the corridor and the stones that made up the floor were so cold that I had to lift my feet off of the ground several times to get used to the chill.

I looked both left and right, and after seeing that no one was in the hall I made my way down the left side stairs, which would inevitably take me to the washroom.

I arrived to the familiar stone archway that was the entrance and soon a wave of steam hit my face. I poked my head inwards to see the group of ladies working, all clad in dirty white robes with head and mouth coverings to protect themselves. They were all chattering, probably about the latest gossip, and were busy enough that they didn't see me.

I cleared my throat so they would be aware of my presence.

They didn't even turn my way and kept chattering.

I huffed and crossed my arms. I don't like speaking in front of large groups of people, especially if I wasn't too friendly or familiar with those I was speaking in front of, but it seemed as if I had no choice now. I uncrossed my arms and dropped them by my sides, balling my hands up into sweaty, nervous fists.

"Hello?" I called out.

At least a dozen eyes turned to me and all the chattering ceased.

Taking a huge breath and disregarding my red cheeks to the heat coming from giant wooden washbins full of hot water, I paced myself to the head of this workcrew.

"I was wondering if you happened to have a yellow dress? I don't know if it's been sent to the wash or not."

Everyone kept staring at me as if I just announced that I like to kill babies in my pastime.

Why were they all staring at me?

Crossing my arms and looking down at the ground, I shifted my bare féet on the warm ground of the washroom uncomfortably.

The eldest of the women coughed, and I looked up to see her shake her head.

"I'm sorry. Lady Stark asked us to throw it away. There was too much blood that could not be taken out."

I widened my eyes in shock and tilted my head in confusion. " It's been thrown out?! Well, what about my red coat?"

One of the ladies from the back who was holding a damp sheet piped up. "We haven't received a red coat M'La- ummm Miss."

I raised my eyebrow at her comment. I shook my head. I didn't run in the same gossip circles these women obviously did, so I didn't know them. I did spend my time with Theon and Jon a lot, so maybe they assumed I was a Lady. Highly unlikely, but perhaps it was a possibility.

I smiled curtly and nodded my head despite my inner disappointment.

"Thank you for your time." I turned and left the room, only to hear them all group together and start talking. I crossed my arms together and went on my way.

Well, I had one other dress to wear that wasn't my nice dress. I just needed to make it to my room to retrieve it. I walked down the hall and climbed up the stairs to get to the servants' quarters.

As I was bounding up the stairs I bumped into the side of somebody who was walking in front of me.

I looked up with wide eyes to see the person I bumped into.

And I was hoping someone wouldn't see me in my nightgown and robe. Out of all the people I could bump into in this castle, it had to be him! Why was he up this early? No one besides Lord Stark, My Lady, and the servants are up this early.

With my arms still crossed I bowed to the man I smacked myself into.

"Good morning, Lord Robb."

The Young Wolf looked at me with his usual stoic expression but there was a twinkle of amusement in his eyes when he saw me clad in my nightclothes. Usually, this would be the part where he would ignore me but he turned fully towards me.

"Why aren't you wearing shoes?" He questioned me. Wow, he was really jumping right to the point, wasn't he?

"They weren't in the room I've been staying in."

"And I suppose your clothes are also missing?" He asked me his voice dripping with sarcasm, while folding his arms in front of his chest.

"No", I said in a much quieter voice, "The launderess threw my dress out. Too much blood she said."

He sighed as he looked around the surrounding area. His Tully blue eyes looked me up and down as he took in my homely appearance and he ran his hand through his curls in frustration.

He looked around one more time and without warning, he picked me up putting his right arm under my legs and his left arm around my mid-back. He started to walk, ignoring my disbelieving look and scarlet face.

I wiggled a bit (whilst ignoring the pain of him putting his hand on my freshly healed wounds) and mildly beat my hands against his broad chest.

"Excuse me?! This is highly inappropriate. I ask that you let me go!" I continued to wiggle around a bit until he came to a full stop and looked at me with his steely expression.

"Ophelia, shut up. I'm not about to let you walk barefoot. You'd get a cold and Mother would kill me if she knew that I didn't help you out."

"I don't need help!"

He ignored me until he came to the servants' quarters where we passed some people who looked at us with scandalized expressions.

The Young Wolf came to my door and set me down on my feet in front of my door. I looked at the door then back at him, furrowing my eyebrows in confusion.

"How did you know where my room is?"

A moment's pause then he said "Emily lives here. Theon usually pays this room a visit when you aren't present."

Eww.

As he started to turn away I quickly put my hand on his arm.

"Robb wait!"

He turned back at me with his eyebrows raised in surprise that I addressed him in such an informal matter, the first time in years. Yet, he did not correct me. Come to think of it, he's never corrected me on how to address him.

I blushed and quickly took my hand off of his arm and started to fiddle with my hands.

"I just...I umm...uhh.."

Frustration crossed Robb's features as he rolled his eyes.

"Spit out whatever you are going to say, I've got some tasks that need attending to."

I pushed down any embarrassment and looked him in the eyes. Then I bowed saying, " I heard you tried to go after the man who caused my whipping. I wanted to say thank you for putting forth the effort in trying to find him."

I looked up to see him with a blank expression on his face.

"It was father's instruction that I was following. I did not go after him by my own volition."

With that being said, he walked away.

I stared at his retreating back until it was gone completely from my sight.

I lamented about our past as children and closed my eyes, putting my forehead to the door.

I was such a stupid child.

I opened my eyes and went into my room.

I walked over to my chest and lifted the lid. I retrieved my only other work dress and and a spare pair of leather shoes.

My dress was one that I made myself. It was dark green and floor length. It has an even darker shade of green for a trim, and if one looked closely enough, it had an elaborate embroidery pattern on it. On the sleeves, there were strings that zig-zagged across each other that were used to tight the long sleeves on the dress.

I quickly shed my robe and carefully pulled on the dress, barely tightening the back laces. I unbraided my hair and looked into the cracked mirror by Katherine's bed to fix my hair into it's usual braided bun. I sat on my bed and just as I was about to pull on my shoes I heard a voice say, "What hour is it?"

I yelped and scooched back to the wall next to my bed and looked at the person with wide eyes.

"Theon?!"

I stared at the Iron Islander with wide eyes as he sat up in Emily's bed, the blanket falling off of him to reveal his bare chest. He rubbed his tired eyes with his right hand and looked around after opening them.

He turned his head to look at me across the way and gave me a lopsided grin.

"Well that was a good night."

My eyes basically popped outside of my skull as he stood up.

I covered my eyes just in time to hear him chuckle when the blanket fell on the floor, a sound that was deep, loud, and resonated to my mind the mortifying situation I was in.

"I was hoping to wake up to Em' but here I find you instead."

"Theon, can you please leave?! These are not your quarters."

I heard some rustling of clothes as they slid on his body and the fastening of his belt. I looked up to see him pull on his shirt. He was giving me his famous mischievous grin as his short went over his face and onto his chest.

"They may as well be with how much time I spend in here." He sat down on Emily's bed and started to pull on his socks and boots.

Theon looked at me, his stormy blue eyes and fun-loving grin slowly melting away as his gaze hardened as he stared at me. And in all seriousness and concern that a person could have for their friend, he said, "I'm glad to see that you are feeling better. That you are able to walk about."

My mortified expression gradually turned to one of thankfulness. I slid back to the edge of my bed, where I was originally sitting, and I gave Theon a small smile as I put my hand on his knee.

"Thank you. For everything. Words cannot express the gratitude that I feel towards you and everyone that has helped me."

I pulled my hand back as Theon stared at his knee and looked back at me.

"Are you fully healed?" He questioned as he saw me fiddling my hands.

"Barely. But My Lady wasn't with me this morning like she had been with the other days. I supposed this was her way of telling me that it was okay for me to go about my normal routine."

Theon looked skeptical but shrugged it off. He glanced over at my shoes and then to me.

"Why aren't your shoes on?"

"I was just about to put them on when I saw you in bed. It was probably going to take a while for me to put them on anyway. It still hurts to bend over and I..." I trailed off as I saw the disapproving look that crossed Theon's features.

"Don't over exert yourself, Ophelia! Allow me to help you."

Before I could protest he was already in front of me, strapping on my left shoe.

I turned bright red for the umpteenth time today and shook my head.

"You don't have to do this. I can do it myself, really!"

Without looking up Theon Greyjoy said, " This is what friends do for each other. And next time, just say thank you."

I nodded in gratitude as he helped me up to my feet. We both exited the room walking side by side. I made sure to shut the door before walking with Theon.

"I know this is none of my business and you have no obligation to tell me anything, but doesn't Emily usually go to your room?" I asked the Kraken looking into his stormy blue eyes.

His trademark smirk slid back into place as he rubbed his chin, pretending to think. He looked back at me and put his arms behind his head, making sure to flex his upper arms as he responded to my question.

"Aye, she does sneak into my room. But during supper she kept on smiling at me and touchin' me. I ended up leaving early before that other girl could get into the room."

I playfully smacked his chest and laughed a bit as he rubbed the part where I hit, pretending to look upset.

"It's not polite to hit, Missy!" He poked me in the forehead. I swatted his hand away.

"It's not polite to lock other's out of their room. And for your information, that other girl's name happens to be Katherine."

He shrugged as we walked around a left corner.

"Doesn't matter to me. She's not the one I'm fucking, but it's not for lack of trying." Theon added in quickly.

I shivered with disgust.

"Why can't you just fornicate with girls who don't share the same room with me?"

He paused his movements and gave me a odd look.

I stopped walking and glanced back at him, putting my hands on my hips, impatient that we stopped walking when I needed to fetch my apron from the kitchen before looking for truffles.

"What?"

Theon started to laugh and he shook his head. He strolled past me.

"You're far too innocent for your own good."

My cheeks flared up.

"I am not!"

"Are too!"

I shook my head in denial.

Theon decides to prove me wrong.

"How many guys have you fucked then?" I fully turned towards him, our bodies almost touching, my eyes wide at his audacious questions.

"What?! You can not ask a woman that sort of thing."

He cocked his head to his side, a knowing look gracing his features.

"Well any woman who's been thoroughly fucked would've answered the question."

I gave Theon a very mild glare and punched his shoulder lightly.

"Not all people lack the decorum that you so obviously lack, Theon."

He poked my side again and chuckled at my expense. "You're a maid. A sweet, rosy-cheeked, innocent maid who will undoubtedly be deflowered on her wedding night."

I threw my hands up in the air in exasperation. "That isn't a bad thing. I have no names or titles or anything else to protect me. All I have is...well...that. And if I can't even stay one, then I'll be nothing but a spinster because no man, not even the lowest of the low, would want me."

"You have the Starks to protect you." Theon pointed out.

I froze.

I thought about his statement.

It was true that the Starks would protect me, my whipping proved that much. I certainly loved them and I knew that Lord Stark and My Lady, at the very least, cared for me. But when push comes to shove, would they protect me above their very own kin?

I shook my head as these demons came hurling my way, making a grand entrance into my thoughts.

Despite how much I adored everyone who held the Stark name, even Bran and Rickon who I rarely speak to, I'm not a Stark.

No...I'm just the girl who serves them food.

I mentally slapped myself and shooed away the darkness that was occupying my mind.

What use was there to think these bad thoughts? What good would it do for me, or anyone? All it would do is cause a row and that was something no one needed at the moment. This was the North, not the South. There is no room for drama and petty complaints when we're the first to be hit by winter storms. There's too much to do and not enough room for the menial whines of one person.

I peered up at Theon, who went silent.

"I know that look. We'll talk about it later." He patted his hand on my shoulder shortly before leaving in the direction we came.

I groaned and hit my palm to my forehead.

Am I that easily readable?

I made my way to the kitchens where the cook was starting to heat up the fires.

"Hello!" I stated loudly, smiling at the prospect of working again.

The cook turned around, startled by my sudden appearance, and looked at me warily. He shifted his eyes and backed away from me, as if I had greyscale or smallpox.

And the look he was giving me...

It was the same exact look the laundress and other ladies gave me down in the washroom.

My smile dimmed slightly as I pushed the cook's odd behavior out of mind.

Maybe he was just having a bad day.

I glanced behind him noticing that he was starting the fire. Oh, so that was it! No one stoked the fire last night and it died completely. Someone was supposed to make sure that there were at last embers glowing, if not then starting a whole new fire would have to be made and would make anyone annoyed.

I walked past him and went to grab my apron, still hanging on the hook from the last time I used it.

My forearm was grabbed before I could even grasp the fabric of my apron.

I looked at the portly man, whose hairy arm was attached to mine. His brown eyes and bushy eyebrows were focused on me intently.

"I am no longer in need of your assistance. Please refrain from stepping foot in this kitchen in the upcoming future."

Wait...what? Did I hear him right?

I turned my gaze towards him as his look held one of determination.

The determination of letting me go from my serving position within this household.

I wretched my arm from his grasp and rubbed the part where his hand had grabbed me.

"I'm sorry...but I don't understand. Did I do anything wrong?" I looked at him.

He just stared at me. It seemed like an eternity until he admitted, "No. But Emily will be taking over your tasks from now on, including your duities pertaining to Lady Sansa."

I probably seemed really stupid, just standing there slack-jawed.

"Emily?! But I have chores to do and Emily doesn't know how I do them! How will I earn my keep? Did I do something wrong?!"

"I've informed her of your routine and how you go about doing your job. She took it into account. You did not do anything wrong, and as for earning your keep, that's something for you to figure out on your own."

My chest constricted and tears welled up in my eyes. The cook went back to attending the fire and I still stood there.

Quickly grabbing my apron, I quickly walked out of the kitchens and made my way into the tilt yard.

I turned my head all directions and looked around. He wasn't here.

I was angry.

How dare they let me go?! I did nothing wrong and I enjoyed working. I did everything the way people told me to, I never talked back, I was efficient in my work...

Why let me go?

And what would I tell Lord Stark? He was the one who sent me to work in the first place...he would be disappointed to find out that I was no longer needed.

Furiously wiping my leaking eyes, I saw the person I was looking for.

"Theon!" I called out to him.

He was walking towards my direction, presumably to set up the weapons for later, when he saw me.

"Hey, aren't you supposed to be working?"

"Nah, they wanted me to take more time off." I lied looking away from him.

I couldn't let him know.

All I needed was a distraction, and Theon Greyjoy was a great one. I knew that if I was feeling well enough, then I could go to lessons today, but I didn't want to study. My mind wouldn't be focused on learning anyway. It would be on me being let go.

"So, will you be going back to bed?" Theon asked in earnest as I tied my apron to my dress

I shook my head.

"Actually, since I'm feeling better, I was wondering if you wanted to take the day off with me."

His eyes widened and he looked around. In a low voice he asked, " Are you sure? Lord Stark will have my head if I'm not here."

I raised a skeptical eyebrow at him.

"Since when do you pass up an opportunity to make a little mischief, Theon Greyjoy?"

He looked thoughtful for a bit.

"Good point. Meet me outside the kitchens in ten."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

"Get out of my kitchen, you wretched boy!"

I watched with wide eyes as Theon, holding a knapsack ladden food, sprint out of the kitchens as a pan came hurling towards his head.

I quickly ducked and covered my own head to avoid getting hit as the pan flew above my head, hitting the wall behind me with a huge noise resonating throughout the vicinity.

I stood up and uncovered myself as Theon came rushing towards me.

"What did you do?!"

Theon ran past me, grabbing my hand as a ladle came towards him hitting the wooden beam above our heads. We ran hand in hand to the stables where after opening the gate, he attached the knapsack to his saddle bag.

"Made the cook angry. I suppose he wants to make mincemeat out of me now."

He climbed up on his saddle and offered his hand. I took it and climbed behind him, grabbing his waist tightly.

He ushered the horse forward, when I noticed something was off.

"Theon", I called out to the man who was sitting in front of me, "doesn't this horse belong to J-"

"Oi!" A voice rang out cutting off my sentence. "That's my horse, Greyjoy!"

I turned to see a fuming Jon, who for a moment looked shocked to see me out of bed, but continued to glare nonetheless.

"Sorry!" I mouthed to him. I did feel a bit bad for doing this, especially since he helped with everything, but as I said before I needed the distraction.

Jon glared at the both of us.

"Ophelia, don't go anywhere with him. Get off the horse right now." He commanded raising his arms in preparation to help me get down.

"Fuck off, Snow!" yelled Theon, grinning that he got caught 'borrowing' Jon's horse. Theon lived for the thrill of the edge. He soared at the thought of getting caught doing something he shouldn't be doing. Usually, I'm not one for these types of schemes. But Theon's charismatic energy was infectious and I really wanted to embrace some of it into my own being.

I widened my eyes and looked back at Jon who looked like he was ready to throttle Theon.

The immature part of me started to laugh at the look on Jon's face as Theon raced the horse forward to the Hunter's Gate, where upon seeing us, the guards lifted up the gate and let us pass through.

Theon steered the horse in the direction of the Wolfswood.

We rode for about a half hour by horseback until we got a decent distance away from the castle. Theon hopped down from the horse, helped me down, and untied the knapsack from the saddle bag.

I smiled at him apologetically.

"I'm sorry you missed breakfast."

He waved me off and turned towards me, holding up the bag.

"What do you think this was for?"

I giggled as he handed me the knapsack and we started to walk side by side.

I glanced into the bag at the meat pies.

"How did you manage to get meat pies when the cook hadn't prepared anything?" I asked.

Theon chuckled and reached over into the bag grabbing a pie for himself. With a mouth full of food from a huge bite he replied, "They're from last night. There were a couple still left so I grabbed whatever remained along with some carrots."

My mouth watered. I immediately grabbed a carrot and started to munch on it.

"So why the Wolfswood?" I asked after swallowing my first bite of the orange vegetable.

Theon kicked a rock and led the horse above a raised tree root.

"I thought you might not have wanted to go to Wintertown so soon after what occurred there on our last visit."

I took another bite of my carrot (as if the vegetable would give me sudden courage) effectively finishing it off, and looked at the Kraken with regretful eyes.

"I am so sorry", I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper, "I acted like a child. I know how you like to spend your time it's just that..."

Theon stopped the horse and looked at me.

"Yeah?"

I took a deep breath and began to speak what has been occupying the back of my mind since I woke up from my short-lived slumber after the whipping. "I was jealous. I thought that maybe I wasn't good enough for you to spend time with anymore, that maybe my company was below that of a whore's. And I thought that if I'm not even good enough company for you, my closest friend, how low must I really be..."

Theon continued to stare at me. He sighed and walked over to a low hanging branch and tied the horse's reins to it. He climbed on top of the horse and leapt up to catch the branch above his head. He pulled himself up and began climbing up more and more until I could only see the soles of his boots.

Did I say something to scare him away?

"ARE YOU COMING?" I heard his voice yell from the tree tops.

Grinning, I slung the bag across my body and copied Theon's movements. I hiked up my dress a bit to climb better and soon I saw Theon sitting on a huge branch at the very near top.

Hearing me come up, he looked down and extended his hand which I graciously took and with his help, he pulled me up to his branch. There was enough room for the two of us to sit next to the trunk of the tree. We were safe as we were not on the outer part of the branch with nothing to lean against. I wobbled a bit, slightly swaying back and forth on the branch but I found my balance soon enough and my lips turned up into a breathless smile at Theon.

We were looking overhead at the rest of the forest, staring at the vast amount of trees extending for miles in all directions. Towards the East, if you squinted hard enough, you could faintly make out the top of Winterfell's towers in the distance.

It was beautiful and peaceful.

"Do you know what I see?" asked Theon quietly, not even looking in my direction.

"What?"

"I see birds and squirrels and chipmunks. I also see how the roots of some trees show, while others do not."

My face scrunched up in confusion.

"What do you mean?" I asked him. What did a tree have to do with anything? I needed the clarification from him, because frankly, this threw me off guard.

Theon tore his gaze from the forest to me and said, "The birds go south, the squirrels will sleep, and the chipmunks will die. The leaves fall and the tree becomes bare. Yet, these living things eventually return because they depend on the tree. Even though the tree might look weak with it's roots showing, there's no telling how strong the might of it can really be. But to be a forest, there cannot be one tree alone. All the trees depend on one another to create the Wolfswood and in return, all the critters that scurry and fly depend upon the trees."

He sighed and looked me in the eyes. And for a moment I did not see The Kraken who was famous among the women in the North and who was a mischievous troublemaker. I saw Theon Greyjoy, the scared boy who arrived to a foreign place because he was a prisoner of war.

"It may not seem like it but I depend on you...for so much in my life, I depend on you. And if something happened...I don't think I could go on. The Starks, they depend on you as well. I saw your look earlier, and yes you might serve them wine at their meals and empty out their chamber pots, but they care for you. Any fool could see that."

My stomach bounced about and I smiled towards my friend. I patted him on his head and said, "There, there. I depend upon you as well."

Then the small boy who ghosted behind the veils of Theon's eyes faded away and the cocky man returned.

He snorted and tussled my now unbraided hair. "Leave it to you to make any situation awkward."

I thought back to what he said earlier. The Starks depended on me...but did they value me, or were they scared to anger someone who would so willingly help them with any of their needs?

As I munched on my meat pie that I grabbed from the knapsack, Theon asked, "Are you still upset your position within the household was given to Emily?"

I swallowed the crust and bits of steak I was chewing on and said, "To an extent, yes but you have really helped in cheering me..." My voice trailed off as I whipped my head to the side to see Theon with his knowing smirk. He tapped the side of his noggin and chuckled, " You really are too easy to read. I put together what happened as soon as I saw you and I had the cook confirm the rest...well before I snatched up the pies."

I looked down in defeat and took another bite of my pie.

"Lord Stark will not be pleased." I murmered.

Theon turned his gaze to me and scooched in closer.

"Who was the one that had you do those chores in the first place?" He asked me, although we both already knew the answer.

"Lord Stark." I said.

"Mmm-hmm. And who gave you the list of chores for you to do?"

I finished off the rest of my pie before answering. "Well there is a double answer for that question. Lord Stark and My Lady asked what I would be comfortable doing and then they assigned me my schedule. They told the rest of the household and everyone had to adjust their daily routines to accommodate mine, especially the cook. Though, to be honest, I didn't start actually helping out with Lady Sansa and Lady Arya until two years ago."

He nodded and started to speak slowly, as if I couldn't comprehend what he was to say next

"So if everyone takes orders from the Starks, who do you think gave the cook orders to let you go?"

My eyes widened in realization.

"Lord Stark did! But...why?" I asked a bit startled by Theon's deduction of my unemployment.

"I don't know, but I think it's a good thing." He said staring off into the distance again.

"How is being without a job a good thing? How will I pay my dues?"

He sighed in frustration and looked at me.

"Don't you see how lucky you are?! To be lowborn, to be free?! You being let go could be the Stark's way of saying that you are no longer indebted to them. That's the beauty of not being noble. Even Jon Snow to some degree has duties to attend to that are linked to him having noble blood. But you...you can go anywhere in the world and not have any obligations to anyone but yourself. You should see the world while you're still young and go explore. Some of us aren't as lucky as you..."

Theon turned away from me and leaned the back of his head against the tree and shut his eyes tightly.

I never realized how hard it must have been for Theon to be in a glass prison. He could see the outside world, and it could see him, but what was so plainly in his view was forever out of reach. And that anger and frustration that must have been building up over the years was definitely threatening to spill out.

I didn't want to see what happens when an Iron Islander is drowned by something other than water.

I decided to steer the subject into a more lightly matter.

"I've always wanted to go the the Summer Isles." I stated, hooking my arm through Theon's. He tilted his head back into an upright position and opened his eyes.

"Why there?" He asked in a blunt yet curious voice.

He took the bait.

I smiled and fiddled with my fingers.

"They have good fruit over there."

Theon opened his mouth to say something, but suddenly a drop of water landed on his nose. He took his hand and wiped the drop off of his skin. His stormy blue eyes looked upwards and a couple more droplets of water hit his face as well as mine.

It was starting to rain again.

"Time to go!" He said quickly. Grabbing my arms, he helped lure me back down to the horse and swiftly followed. We rapidly got down to the forest floor and I tied the knapsack to the saddle bag as Theon untied the reins to Jon's horse.

I climbed onto the back of the saddle as Theon got on the front and we went off, back towards the direction of Winterfell.

Needless to say, we were slightly damp but not too wet when we passed through the Hunter's Gate. We rode the horse back to his own stall where, Theon unsaddled it and fed it some oats.

"Thanks for the good time." I told Theon as he unbuckled the saddle to go put it away

He grinned at me. "Any time."

Out of good spirits, I kissed him on his cheek as he was still holding the saddle. His grin got even wider and he left to go put it away.

Turning around with the knapsack in hand, I saw at the end of the row of stables was Jon, who had his arms crossed and looked, daresay, livid.

His nose was scrunched up in a snarl, his arms were crossed against his chest, his fist were balled up tightly, and he glared at Theon's retreating back.

Then he turned his glare to me.

Laughing nervously, I tried to walk past him but he stuck his arm out, preventing me from going anywhere.

"I'm sorry about what Theon said earlier", I said quickly, "and for borrowing your horse without your permission. But this will be the first and last time it will happen. As you can see the horse is fine and-"

"What were you doing in the Wolfswood, alone with him?" Jon interuppted, narrowing his eyes at me.

"Just spending some time together."

"How so?" He asked angrily.

I raised an eyebrow at him and crossed my arms.

"We ate some food and climbed a tree. Is that so bad?" I asked defensively.

"You know as well as I the reputation Theon Greyjoy has. Going off alone with him into the woods would look bad. He brings girls he intends to lay with to the Wolfswood." Jon unfolded his arms and took a step closer to me.

I furrowed my eyebrows at him. "And YOU know as well as I that this isn't the first time me and him have gone some place alone together. He took me to the Wolfswood because he thought that I might not want to go back into town, so soon after 'the incident' that occurred on our last visit. Or did you forget?" I snapped at him.

Jon's righteous anger died and he looked at me with repentance.

"Forgive me, Ophelia. I know you're not like those other girls, but things are different now and you have to be more careful about yourself." He said in earnest. My annoyance fizzled away.

"There's nothing to forgive, Jon. You were just worried, which is quite alright."

There was a pause between us and I took a step forward. I grabbed his hand in both of mine. I looked up to him and said, "I...I wanted to say thank you. I already thanked Theon and Robb but have yet to thank you for helping me. I am forever grateful to you and I am honored to have someone like you in my life."

Jon blushed a cherry red and removed his hand from my grasp.

"I did as any man would do in that situation."

I giggled and leaned up and kissed his cheek. "Here you go, for your troubles." I handed him the knapsack that had one more meat pie in it as well as a couple of carrots and started to head out of the stables.

"Ophelia, wait!" I turned to see Jon jogging up to me me, clutching the bag. "The reason I was waiting for you was because Father and Lady Stark were searching for you. They said that if anyone sees you to tell you to go to them immediately in Lord Stark's Solar.

Oh no. They probably thought the same thing Jon had when I arrived with Theon. Or maybe they're worried why I was not in bed. The most plausible reason was them giving me a new work schedule to abide by.

I linked my arm in his and said, "Let's go. It seems like I have some explaining to do."

Jon looked away from me, looking a bit guilty, and said, "I think it may be the other way around."

I nodded even though I didn't know what he meant by that and we rushed into the castle to avoid the pouring rain.

We climbed up the stairs to the Solar and arrived at the empty corridor.

Jon unlinked his arm from mine and gave me a small smile. "Should you need me, I will be outside in the tilt yard."

"You're practicing, in this weather?" I said, laughing a bit.

Jon nodded. "Bad weather does not stop a brother of the Night's Watch and it can not stop me."

My laughter died down as I looked at Jon Snow.

And that's all I did, was look. I took in his curly dark hair and stoic face, and grey eyes.

He began to shift from one foot to another and said, "I think you need to stop delaying and speak to Father." He retreated down the stairs and I was left standing alone in a dim hall.

With a sigh, I knocked on Lord Stark's door.

"Come in." I heard a voice call. I twisted the doorknob and let myself in.

You know, the thing about conversations that change your life is that they rarely take place on some grand podium or with some eloquent speech. It usually happens in a room with somebody you love and you merely speak to one another, just as you always do.

So I opened the door to see My Lady standing next to Lord Stark, who was sitting down at his desk looking at several pieces of parchment, his face ridden with conflict, his hand rubbing the temple of his head.

My Lady looked up to see me and smiled, slight wrinkles crinklng around her eyes. She stepped around Lord Stark's desk and walked over to me, arms stretched out wide.

"Ophelia." She said in her usual caring voice, and she hugged me. I was still standing in the middle of the doorway and was holding onto the doorknob still.

I hugged her back and she held onto my shoulders, inspecting me. "Are you doing well today? I am sorry about not helping you this morning, but I had some things that needed attending to."

I awkwardly laughed a bit. "It's quite alright. I am doing well, so thank you for asking."

"I'm glad to hear." I beamed at her and she tucked a piece of stray hair behind my ears.

Lord Stark, who was watching the both of us, stopped rubbing his temple and gestured to the seat in front of his desk.

"Ophelia, please sit down ." His voice, though always serious, was grave.

I looked to My Lady, who nodded in agreement, and walked me over to the seat after shutting the door.

Despite the comforting nature of My Lady, my arm hairs started to raise and I had a knot forming in my stomach.

"Is there something wrong, My Lord?" I asked slowly with caution.

In a pause, Lord Stark and My Lady exchanged a glance. My Lady nodded at him.

He stood up and walked in front of me, sitting on the front edge of his desk as My Lady knelt down by my left side.

Lord Stark looked at me and said, "Your nameday is coming up."

I laughed in relief.

The Stark and the Tully gave me incredulous looks.

"I'm sorry for laughing. I thought I was in trouble for some reason, but I couldn't wrap my mind around if I had done anything wrong."

My Lady grabbed my left hand in her palms and tightly squeezed. Her Tully blue eyes met my dark crimson ones.

"You have done nothing wrong." The knot, that was slowly receding away, returned full force.

I tore my gaze away from her and back to Lord Stark.

"Alright. Yes, I do suppose my nameday is up and coming. Why do you ask?"

"I have something for you, an early birthday gift."

Lord Stark turned around slightly and produced a black velvet box and handed it over to me.

I was surprised, but graciously accepted it anyway.

"Oh! I was not expecting this.. thank you."

He gave me a small sad smile and waved his hand, signaling that I should open it.

I turned to My Lady who maintained the same comforting expression from earlier and nodded to me.

I opened the box to reveal a grand necklace, one of beauty that would not be seen on anyone from the North.

This necklace was obviously Southern.

The pearls that made up the chain were white and in between the space of each pearl, one could see bits of the golden chain that held them together. In the center of the necklace was a metal pendant that four pearls surrounding the jewel in the middle, one pearl on top, one pearl on the bottom, and two on each side. In the middle of the pendant was a red stone that I had never seen before. It was captivating in it's mysteriousness. On the bottom of the pendant were three rows of hanging pearls, each row containing two pearls.

This necklace was the most extravagant thing I had been given, even more than the red coat Theon had given me.

I touched the necklace for a second, but pulled my hand away. I was afraid that if I had felt it any longer it would shatter.

I shut the box and looked up at Lord Stark, who was analyzing how I was reacting to everything.

"I can't accept this...it's too extravagant, though I am grateful for being given this. Perhaps Lady Sansa would better appreciate a gift like this." I tried to give the box back to Lord Stark, but he would not take it.

"It is not for my daughter, it is for you." He stated firmly.

I put the box onto my lap and said, "Oh...alright."

"Do you know what stone that was in the middle?" asked Lord Stark.

I shook my head. "I can't say that I do."

He sighed. "It's called Eyefire. The stone cannot be mined in any place for it is created."

This peaked my curiosity. "A jewel being created? How so?"

"When Dragonglass is mixed the ashes of a reborn Phoenix and a dragon breathes fire onto it, it creates a stone, more valuable than all of the gold mines in Westeros." He answered.

I suddenly felt uneasy holding this box that contained the necklace. Laughing nervously I asked, "Why would you give Eyefire to me?"

A moment's hesitation passed before Lord Stark started to speak.

"Years ago, Targaryens would wear jewelry made of Eyefire. It was sign of status and wealth. No one in the Seven Kingdom's could even afford a sliver of Eyefire, not even nobles as wealthy as the Lannisters. However, the Targaryen's could not make Eyefire without the help of another house...House Pyralis."

I recognized the name. "House Pyralis?" I looked at My Lady then back to Lord Stark. "House Pyralis, as in that story from last night? The one about Nuri and Aegon."

"Yes that Pyralis, Little Bird." answered My Lady.

Lord Stark went on. "When the dragon's died three hundred years ago, so did the production of Eyefire, which made it all the more valuable. Yet, neither the Targaryen's nor the Pyralis' would give up their stones. The stone was so much more than a show of status, it was a sign of love and friendship between the Dragon and the Phoenix. Near the end of Robert's Rebellion, King Robert had House Pyralis slaughtered. With the killings, he gave the Pyralis' home of Highgarden to House Tyrell and had any reminder of the Phoenix destroyed, including Eyefire. This necklace is perhaps the only one of it's kind in existence."

I furrowed my eyebrows at his story. "Was House Pyralis a Great House?" I asked Lord Stark.

"Yes...they were once rulers of the Reach and Wardens of the South."

I pinched the bridge of my nose and let go of it. Why was he telling me all of this? What did this have to do with me holding a piece of expensive jewelry?

"Lord Stark, if these people were so elevated, why have I never heard of them before, other than last night? Surely, I would've heard about them in history lessons. What does this have to do with me receiving Eyefire as a gift?"

"It was the King's order."

I titled my head to the side and felt my left hand being held once again by My Lady.

"It was the King's order...to give me Eyefire?" I asked in confusion. Why would the King care about a serving girl? Why would he give her Eyefire? This made no sense to me.

"No, it was the King's order to keep you from knowing about your heritage until your sixteenth nameday. This is why some days you were allowed to not attend history lessons, to prevent you from knowing. The older servants were under my orders not to inform you of anything regarding House Pyralis."

My breath got caught in my throat. My eyes widened slightly and darted between the two Starks.

"My...heritage?!" I squeaked out. My heart started to race and it felt like my dress was constricting me all of a sudden. No...Lord Stark couldn't mean...

"You are not just some girl that Lady Stark found outside the gates of Winterfell. You were born inside these walls. Eyefire belongs to a Dragon or a Phoenix, thus it rightfully belongs to you. This necklace is one of the few things that remains of your parents...Ophelia, you are the daughter of Rowtag and Seraphine Pyralis."

The room started to tilt around me. I shot out of my seat, ripping my hand from My Lady's and held onto the chair. The box containing the necklace fell to the ground creating a loud clattering sound. My stomach felt queasy and was sloshing around inside of me. I started to sweat profusely.

I shook my head rapidly. "No, no, no..." I denied. It couldn't be true.

"Little Bird, everything will be-"

"NO! DO NOT TOUCH ME!" I yelled. I clutched my stomach and backed away from the Starks.

They stared at me, perhaps they were expecting this reaction. I certainly wasn't. How could one predict their own reaction if they were unaware they their world was going to be flipped upside down.

"YOU LIED TO ME!" I started to hyperventilate. I could barely breathe. I was drowning without ever setting foot in a body of water. I had to be dreaming...this couldn't be real.

My Lady looked at me, her Tully blue eyes becoming even more blue as they watered up with tears.

"Ophelia, we did what we could to protect you. We had to lie."

"You told me you found me when I was a child, so forgive me if I'm not exactly happy that you kept something like this from me throughout my life." I snapped in a sarcastic tone. I never spoke to her like this before. Nevertheless, I continued. "If I am who you say I am, why did you send me to work?"

"To teach you humility." answered Lord Stark, stood next to his wife putting his arms around her. "I thought you would be more protected if you started to work, but after what happened in Wintertown..." His voice, which was beginning to get thick, trailed off. "It made me realize that even as servant, you'd still be in danger from people."

"Humility?! I am not humble. I do what I am told because YOU asked me to! I loved the both of you and you betrayed me!" My voice was hoarse and hot tears made paths down my face. I held my stomach tightly in attempt to settle the uneasiness in it.

My Lady removed herself from her husband and took a step towards me. "Little Bird, I would never betray you. I loved your mother as if she were my own sister and you are her only child..." She started to cry and Lord Stark stepped up to her, holding her once again.

Her treatment of me...it all made sense now. She wouldn't be this way with any other girl, otherwise Katherine and Emily would be doted upon by her. She loved me because of her love for my mother...wait my mother...my parents...

"What of my parents?" I demanded. "Where are my parents? Do they know about me, are they alive, or did they not care about me?!"

My Lady shook her head. "No! Your mother loved you so much. She couldn't wait to meet you."

"WHERE IS SHE?!" I screamed.

"Her death, and your father's, is my own fault." Lord Stark stated abruptly.

I felt the breath being punched out of me.

Lord Stark, someone who looked out for me as if I was one of his own was the reason I had no family...

"No..." I was hiccuping and sobbing now. "Please tell me it's not true..." I pleaded looking at him.

Lord Stark, a man of high honor, actually looked down in shame. "Forgive me, Ophelia."

I backed away from them and bumped into the door, my barely healed back yelling at me to be more careful.

The room was growing smaller and smaller. I needed to leave.

My hand felt the door behind me, turned the knob, and opened the door

I ran out into the hall only to see all five of the Stark children, plus Theon, outside the Solar. Robb and Theon were leaning against the opposing walls of the hall. Theon was biting his thumb in worry and Robb had his hands crossed in front of his chest, looking at the floor. Sansa was sitting in a chair by the window, looking unbothered, embroidering a handkerchief. Little Rickon was sitting on the arm of her chair looking sleepy, while Arya and Bran were sitting on the floor, throwing bits of whatever they could find at each other.

All looked up when I ran out of the Solar.

"Ophelia, I just heard the news...are you alright?" asked Theon, who came over to me.

I shook my head.

"You would have been told last night, had you not gone to bed so early." replied Sansa without looking up.

"You all knew?" I asked them, breathing heavily.

"After supper, Father called a meeting among everyone in the castle. He informed all who were in attendance of your heritage and politely asked they not say anything until him and Mother spoke to you about it first. He also informed us that you would no longer be working amongst the servants." replied Robb, who uncrossed his arms and came a bit closer.

I felt dizzy and like someone was choking me.

The walls of the corridor were growing closer and closer together.

"No...I need to leave..." I turned heel and ran down the stairs faster than I ever had. I could hear my name being called but I didn't care. I ran in the rain and mud until I reached my destination: the stables. Throwing open the door to the stables, I went to the first horse I could find.

"Don't run." A voice said.

I screamed and looked behind me to see a soaking wet Jon Snow.

I shook my head as I walked to the side of the horse. He bounded over to me and grabbed my shoulders roughly, and held me.

I started to sob.

"They lied...they lied..." Was all I could say.

He put his chin on the top of my head and held me to his chest. "I know. But you need to face this head on, you cannot run away."

Suddenly the feeling came back. The feeling of suffocation. I wiggled and shoved him back.

"I don't think facing this will help...I need to go."

He grabbed my hand and said, "Ophelia, don't leave! Please...I don't know what you must be going through, but-"

I whipped back to him and wretched my hand from his grasp. I glared at him. Jon, even though he was trying to help, faced the full might of my present anger.

"THAT'S RIGHT...YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I FEEL. I JUST FOUND OUT THAT EVERYTHING ABOUT MYSELF HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A LIE. YOUR OWN FATHER IS THE REASON MY FATHER AND MOTHER ARE DEAD...YOU COULDN'T POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND MY PAIN BECAUSE YOU'RE NOTHING BUT A FUCKING BASTARD!"

I covered my mouth as soon as I had said it.

Never in my life, have I ever called Jon Snow a bastard despite that being what he was.

The rage, that was burning white hot through my bones, was immediately doused as I saw the slack-jawed look on his face as he staggered back, as if I had just struck him across the face. Jon stood frozen.

"Jon..I..please understand..." I reached out to him but he dodged me, like I was something evil. And the way he looked at me...I hadn't seen him like that since we were children. His face was contorted from the shock of me screaming at him.

"Jon...I have to go." Without the saddle, I struggled to get on the horse but eventually mounted it. I sat on it's back and grabbed it's hair as way to improvise reins. I made it go forward and I left a frozen Jon, my friend who was only trying to help, still standing as frozen as a stone in the stables.

I trotted the horse to the Hunter's Gate and went through it after the guards opened it for me

I needed to be away from the walls of Winterfell and how they seemed to close around me. I raced into the woods, with the rain pelting me, and rode for several hours.

I needed to get away.

Aanyways, there you have it! Please review, it honestly makes my day seeing them. I love seeing your thoughts and what you think about the story, ships, character interactions, etc.,ect.,ext., Next chapter-Ophelia makes a new friend and the aftermath of the Reveal. If we could get this up to 34 reviews, that would make my day! Please read, review, and rest easy! :)