A/N: Well, here is chapter two!

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Chapter two : And yet, Here I Stand.

It's been six, almost seven years since that wedding feast. Lynesse clearly wasn't cut out for life on an island in a land that was almost perpetually in winter. She hated the fact that after singing lessons, Jor took me out hunting to practice my archery. She hated that after I had needlepoint, I had tactical and strategic reading with Maester Blondwin, and I vastly disliked anyone mussing my hair.

I had grown – to a the age where marriage would be next for me, but then something awful happened. Well, technically, a lot of awful things happened. We had a raven. I was in Master Blondwin's solar, and he asked me to read it for him. He said it must have come from Winterfell, and he and Maester Luwin were agreeable counterparts. I opened the parchment, and was flying through the solar door before the parchment hit the ground.

I stomped to Jorah's study and threw the door open. "What have you done?!" I bellowed at him. Jorah blinked owlishly at me, obviously unawares at the reasons of my ire. I then realised that Father was there. Father scowled at me, disapprovingly.

"Jeorelle, we do not stomp, and ladies certainly do not demand answers such as this!" he commanded. Immediately I nodded, bringing my hands together in front of my waist and bowing my head apologetically. "Well?" he barked out. He was every inch the Old Bear now. Old Bears are known for their ferocity. They are more territorial and more aggressive as they age. I stared at Jorah and father wide-eyed, now realising what I had done.

"Ellie! Ellie! We must discuss the raven about your brother! Do not go shouting Child!" Maester Blondwin's loud voice carried to us all in the room, and the atmosphere froze. I stared at Jorah, begging him to understand as father cleared his throat and gripped my upper arms.

"Tell me, Child. Now." He commanded.

"We have had a Raven from Lord Stark, Father." I stated, my voice and body now numb. "Lord Stark has sentenced Jorah to death for s-s-slave trading. He is to report to Winterfell within the fortnight." I said. My voice shook over the last sentence. My beloved brother had been trading humans for money. It sickened me to my stomach. He had lost weight recently. He was gaunt. Dishevelled. Haunted.

"Well? What does your Lady Wife think of your new pastime?" father barked out, humourlessly. Jorah paled and placed his head on the desk. "She has left me. She is now living in Lys." He sighed and bit his lip, his hand scratching the whiskers growing on his cheek.

"I have been maintaining her lifestyle and adding to ours with the money." He stated. Father's grip on my arms tightened, so much that I winced. "You are a disgrace." He breathed. I stared up at father, my eyes showing the shock and disbelief etched on my face. "You are no longer fit for this House. Get out. Creature. And go to Stark! You are NOT my SON!" he shouted. I flinched and slid to the floor, tears falling freely from my face as Jorah fled the room. What have I done?

I looked up at my father and he sighed and sat at the desk. "It seems things are worse than I first thought." He said. I backed from the room before he could dismiss me and fled. I ran to Jorah's chambers, but he wasn't there, so I ran to the armoury, and all I saw was Aunt Maege berating Dacey for not holding her training sword correctly again, and so I prayed to the Old Gods that he would be in the stables.

He stood, his breath coming out in short pants, as his shoulders rose and fell rapidly, his back to the door. I realised then that this was all my fault. His disowning. His fight with father, all because I opened my big fat mouth. I held in a choked sob, but he must have heard me, as he turned. His glassy, beautiful blue eyes locked onto my rapidly filling brown ones, and he was there, immediately.

He took me in his arms and clutched me close, soothing my sobs, and loving me, even for being the monster that I am. "Don't worry, Little Bear. I will be alright." He said. I shook my head against his shoulder. "You are going to Lord Stark aren't you?" I asked him. He nodded once and I felt my blood freeze. "I know that is what you intend, but please, Jor. Do not. I will not stand by as you go to your death. I will not lose you." He hugged me closer, rubbing circles on my back, attempting to calm both me and himself.

"I am sorry Jor. It is all my fault. Please forgive me. I just got so upset by the raven that I had to see you. Do not go to Winterfell!" I pleaded. The tear tracks soiled my pale face, and I am sure my dress must have been shocking. Jorah merely held me. Like a big brother would. Like a father.

"Would you think less of me if I fled the country?" he asked me, his eyes holding my gaze. I met his stare head on and held my shoulders straight. I would not lie to him. "No. in fact, I urge you to." I answered. He sighed again. "You would brand me a coward then?" he asked me. I could see this was hurting him. He was a solemn sworn knight. And now he was a disgrace. A coward.

"Run, Jor. You are worth more to me alive than dead. Go and see Lynesse. She might be able to offer you a place to stay. Resume your life in Lys." I urged, putting my hands on his shoulders. "You are wise for a girl of six and ten, Little Bear." He said, smiling wanly. "Look after yourself. Keep learning." He lectured me sternly, and I smiled.

"Jorah?" I asked timidly. I wondered whether I resembled my ten year old self. He looked me up and down as though to remind himself that I, in fact, wasn't ten years old anymore. "Don't forget me, alright?" I begged. He hugged me again, so tightly that he squashed the air from my body.

"I love you Ellie. You made this hell worth living in." he said softly in my ear, and then he was gone. He mounted his horse and he was gone. I sat on the floor of the stables a sobbed for a good two hours, before aunt Maege came and fetched me. I was brought before my father in the Hall. "So he has fled like a coward then?" he sneered. I stared at him defiantly.

"He is not a coward. He has tried to do what is best for Bear Island. It might not have been what was actually best, but he has tried." I said. Father tilted his head as though seeing me for the first time. "You would do well to be obedient, little bear. I will not tolerate this attitude of yours." He waved a hand, and Dacey took my hand, leading me from the hall.

"You mustn't upset Uncle. He is planning on going to look for your brother and take him to Winterfell for this treason." She stated. I shook my head and fought her all the way back to my chambers, but still, I was secured in my rooms, totally alone.

I awoke the next morning to Jorelle sitting at the foot of my bed. "Something has happened." She stated drily. I sat bolt upright and dragged her back onto the furs. "Tell me." I demanded. She nodded, and swept her mass of shaggy brown curls from her face. "Your father went after Jorah late last night. He killed someone who refused to tell him where Jorah got a ship to. He was arrested and brought to Winterfell, where Lord Stark has offered him death or the Wall."

My mouth hung open and I shook my head. This wasn't supposed to happen. I was supposed to enjoy winding my brother up about his snobbish wife, and ride horses and sail boats, and shoot birds with my brother. He was supposed to tease me mercilessly about boys, and he not father, was meant to choose an appropriate match for me.

I was supposed to be annoying to my father, and he was supposed to teach me good from bad. Not ignore me. Not resent me. Not distance himself from me. Though, the thought of him on the Wall almost made no impact to my life now. Whether he was here on Bear Island, or at the Wall – he would still be as distant as ever. I shook my head and stood from my furs, changing behind my privacy screen into a plain green dress.

"Well, look at you, the new Heir to Bear island. You have come into your inheritance early, lass!" Jorelle smiled. She was the only one who did not covet the holding. She was the only genuine friend I had. "Ma will be your regent, so to speak. An Acting Lady of Bear Island while you come into your title. Like an advisor." She explained, touching my shoulder gently. I shook my head.

"I wish for Aunt Maege to be an advisor, not an acting Lady. There is no time like the present to become what is needed." I said. My voice was like steel. Snow. Cold. Unforgiving. I walked to the Hearth Hall and seated myself in the Lord's chair as breakfast was brought. As soon as both Jorelle and I were seated, the other women of my family entered, and we stood.

"Come now, ladies," Aunt Maege said softly, her voice completely unmatching to her countenance. Her brown hair, streaked with grey was pulled into an unforgiving bun, causing her features to look severe. Her wrinkled brow furrowed as she regarded my seating place. "Well, we do not normally stand on ceremony here, Little Bear, but how fitting it is to see you there." She smiled and nodded.

"Thank you Aunt." I said. Dacey and Lyra snickered spitefully. "I don't think she's ready," Lyra said a little too loudly. I sneered at her, my face showing my complete distaste for the whole debacle as I straightened my posture and stood tall. I was a Mormont of Bear Island. I opened my mouth easily causing her to shrink back as I proclaimed each word with finality; "And yet, Here. I. Stand."