'Darling, our Master wants to talk to all of us, now.'

'Yes, Helàna, I'm coming.'

I rush down the stairs of the gloomy Dreadfort, wondering what the hell could be happening. Did we do something wrong? Does he want to get rid of one of us? I really have no idea. I'm the last to arrive downstairs: all the servants are already gathered in front of Roose and the bastard, who both glance at me when I finally join them. I look down, slightly intimidated. They all look so serious.

Roose is in his armour, a fierce look on his severe face. The bastard stands next to him, looking really full of himself –more than usually, if that is even possible.

'As you know,' begins Roose, 'there's a war out there, and it's time for me to take action. Winter is coming, and when it comes it will find a divided, unprepared kingdom: more than a fool has declared himself the legitimate king and it's time for me to do what needs to be done. I am leaving tonight,' and as he says so I nearly drop my jaw. I look around, eyes wide shut, and I notice that the bastard is already staring at me, ready to check my reaction. After all, he had said that it might have happened, but I didn't believe him. He won't be always here to protect you, he had threatened. I stare back with hate.

'And Ramsay will be in charge,' he keeps going. 'I want you to respect him as you respect me, behave,' and he looks at me as he says so, 'and serve the Dreadfort as usual. My bastard and I will exchange correspondence so I will find out very soon if something goes wrong, and there will be consequences. Thank you,' and he steps back, abandoning the room, leaving us in front of Ramsay who simply dismisses us with his hand.

I go to Alfie, pouting and letting out a heavy sigh.

'I know,' he mumbles, taking my hand and dragging me to the kitchen. 'Hard times are ahead.'

'I can't believe he is going,' I stomp my foot. 'I can't believe he's letting him in charge!'

'We can't do anything about it, but you,' raising a finger right on my face, 'you'd better behave as Roose says.' He offers me a bit of leftovers from yesterday's dinner.

'So now when the bell rings I have to go to the bastard?!'

'Yes, Aileen, yes,' he rolls his eyes, 'and for the hundredth time, stop calling him a bastard, especially now that he is in charge.'

'I don't want Roose to go,' I moan, chewing the bread and potato pudding.

'You have always thought Roose is a good man and would help you out if needed, but believe me-'

'Well, he did! He got me out of an awkward situation.'

'That doesn't make him a good man.'

'And he is with the Starks. And I don't care if he's a good man in general, as long as he's good to me.'

'I don't know, maybe he is kind with you cause you remind him of the girl he raped when he was younger?'

'Pfff, you believe everything people say.'

'And you don' believe when true people try to warn you about something! Where did you think the bastard came from?' A serious look in his eyes. He shrugs his shoulders, 'Also, this is war now. You are still a child, sometimes.'

'A child who can beat you with a sword,' I correct him, raising an eyebrow.

'Yes,' he smiles, 'but still a child.'

…

I stroke the dark horse's head, dully. I don't want Roose to go, and yet I have to saddle his horse.

'Aileen.'

'My Lord,' I bow as he gets closer, passing the bridle.

I'm trying to look natural, but I think he notices the sadness in my eyes because he is studying me.

'How old are you?'

I raise my face. 'Eighteen, my Lord.'

'Do you miss your family?'

Sometimes, yeah. I simply nod.

'If you are homesick while I'm away, ask my bastard the permission to visit them for a couple of days.'

I smile. Take this, Alfie! Not only he has been nice, but he even called his son a bastard. 'Thank you, my Lord. You are kind to me.'

He doesn't answer back, so I just watch him disappear on the horse, on the narrow bridge that crosses the river in the mist. I can't help but watch the coat of arms, moved by the wind, red like a flame. I can't believe I'm stuck in such a place. But at least my parents won't have to worry about food so much.

A hand slips on my hip. I shiver, turning around on the spot.

The bastard.

For all the gods, already?

'My Lord,' I spit out, stepping back.

He is dressed in black as usual, well shaven, his chest full of pride.

'I told you,' he smiles, raising his elbow to offer me his arm. 'I told you he wouldn't have always been here to protect you.'

I reluctantly grab his arm, walking next to him.

'I don't need protection, my Lord,' I hiss, 'I can look after myself.'

'Can you?' he's holding back a laugh. 'You know why I'm so curious about you?'

'No, and I don't really care,' he stares at me with his icy eyes, 'my Lord,' I add.

'It's because,' he continues, ignoring my reply, 'you think you are so clever, don't you? And you think you can be as funny and spontaneous as you fancy. You are not scared, even when you should. But you seem to forget your place too often.'

'I'm well aware of my place,' I roll my eyes, forcing myself to add another 'my Lord.'

'Are you?' he corners me to the stalls, with a quick movement that causes one of the horses to neigh. 'Then why do you have this attitude? Talking with sarcasm, not showing respect, running around like a child…?'

'And why do you always have to annoy people?'

'You see?' he gets me to step back until I hit the wall with my back, 'That's exactly what I meant. You can't stay in your place and you always forget who you are talking to.' He traces my profile with a finger, as I look away in disgust. 'Who are you talking to, Aileen?'

He gets even closer: this guy has no idea of the importance of personal space. 'With Roose Bolton's…' I bite my tongue, trying not to say the other word, 'son.'

'And what am I ruling over, now?'

I raise my eyes, not worrying about all the hate he can perceive in them. 'The Dreadfort.'

'And where do you work, Aileen?' his fingers rest on my chin, forcing me to look at him.

'The Dreadfort.'

'So who do I rule over, little one?'

I breathe out loud in anger, annoyed, wishing I could just slap his arrogant face.

'Answer, Aileen.'

I still can't. All I want to say is that I'm here to serve the Boltons, not a Snow, and I'm afraid that if I open my lips it's gonna come out.

'We could be friends,' he smiles, a fake smile, 'and your life here could be much easier. But you are just too proud, aren't you?' He strokes my cheek. 'Why is that? You are just a servant, little one, or do you think you are a princess?'

Half, I think. We have the same amount of royal blood, bloody bastard.

'No, my Lord.'

'Then, answer: who-do I-rule-over?' his blue eyes don't allow me to look away, so at least I don't have to focus on his strong hand on my hip and his fingers on my chin.

I just stare back.

He shakes his head. 'No improvements here, mmh? Things are gonna change,' he promises, forcing me to look at him as I try and turn my head on the side. 'Also, Helàna is getting older, don't you think she needs some rest?' he gets even closer, his lips just an inch away from mine. 'From now on, she will only be in charge of some housework, and you will look after my needs as you were doing with my father,' he presses his body against mine, 'or more, if you don't learn some manners, do you understand?' I look away, as I feel his manhood pressing against my gown, just below my hips. Out, I wanna get out of here! 'Things I would certainly not ask or do to Helàna, do you understand?' he repeats softly but firmly, leaning on my ear.

'Unfortunately I understand,' I spit out in despise, stepping away from him, 'Now I beg your pardon, but I feel the urge to throw up,' putting back a lock of hair behind my ear, 'my Lord.'

Good afternoon, people of Westeros!

Thanks for the support you are showing me (I'll get Alfie to cook something nice for all of you), thank you Aleesha for your review (and good luck with college), to Hcguntert, ADanceWithRebekah, Righ-brainer, IndigoChild624 and jcvampirebat for starting to follow my crazy fiction, and to the mysterious guest who suggested that I should write a duel scene between Aileen and Ramsay. You know, this sounds like a really good idea and I am thinking to add such a scene later on in the story ^^

I hope you liked this last chapter. Impressions? Advice?

See you soon, and behave! Because Ramsay is now in charge!

xxx

Sunshine Hamilton