Chapter 1: Ramsay Bolton
Lyrianna's heart pounded when they finally reached Winterfell.
The Boltons and their households greeted her, Sansa and Littlefinger. But as Lyrianna stared into the eyes of Roose Bolton all she wanted to do was drive a dagger into his heart.
"Lady Lyrianna." He greeted her with an expressionless face.
After a tense moment, she graciously accepted his welcome, putting on the armour of politeness that protected her and her sister in King's Landing. "Lord Bolton."
He nodded. "May I introduce my son, Ramsay Bolton."
She tensed slightly as he approached her and gently took her hand in his. "It's an honor to meet you, my lady." He smiled yet his cold eyes stared back at her almost hungrily.
Later, Lyrianna was bought back to her old chambers. The sixteen year old girl couldn't help but smile slightly when she saw it.
It had been a very long time since she'd stepped foot there and to her it was almost relaxing. Even though deep down she knew it'd never be the same without her father, mother, Arya and her brothers. Sansa was all she had now and she wouldn't let anyone take her away, even if her life depended on it.
She looked around her, noticing that very few things had changed in her room since the last time she saw it. Her jewellery was still put away neatly by her dresser, and the brush her mother used to comb her hair with lay on it's wooden surface.
Picking it up as she sat down, Lyrianna sighed, brushing through her beautiful waves. She missed her family, and to be marrying the son of the man who betrayed her family almost ruined her.
The poor girl frowned slightly, remembering how the last time her mother did her hair Lyrianna had begged her to let her marry Joeffry, the stupid monster who had her father beheaded. "Silly girl." She whispered to herself as she stood up.
Yawning, she started to unfasten the laces on her dress. However, she barely had time to undo it when there was a knock on her door. She sighed in frustration. "Yes?"
The door opened to reveal Ramsay Bolton and her stomach churned uncomfortably. "My lady." He greeted her with a smile as he closed the wooden door behind him.
"What are you doing here?" She asked him, a little worried.
He smirked at her. "Am I not allowed to visit my future wife?" He drawled.
She rolled her eyes mentally, but put on her 'brave' face as she learnt to do in Kings Landing "Forgive me. I'm so tired, I just expected to be left alone this evening. I wasn't expecting any... Visitors."
Ramsay chuckled. "Indeed. You're very beautiful." He stated, changing the subject. "The rumours were true."
Her eyes widened slightly and she couldn't help but blush a little. "Th-thank you, my lord."
"Ramsay." He corrected her. "You're my betrothed. There's no need for such formalities, Lyrianna."
She nodded. "You can call me Lyria. My friends call me- called me that before I went to Kings Landing."
"Are they not your friends anymore... Lyria?" He asked, making his way to sit on her large bed.
He gestured for her to sit beside him, and she did. "I haven't seen them for years... I didn't see them when we arrived here today."
"A lot has happened since you were last here." He stated.
Lyria was quiet for a second, until she felt Ramsay's hand on her thigh, gradually moving upwards. "Uh... Maybe you should go." She sighed. "I'm very tired and-"
"Does my presence not please you, my lady?" He sneered, almost mockingly.
Her eyes widened. "N-no! It's not that... I-I'm just so tired."
He laughed. "You would go to sleep this early in the day? Without eating first?"
"I-"
"We're having a welcome feast this evening for you, your sister and Lord Baelish. We can't welcome you if you're not there." He grinned. "We've got the whole afternoon together until then."
"Ramsay, I've been riding for hours... I-"
He shushed her. "You'll be fine. Come walk with me." He held out his hand for her to take. Lyria took it hesitantly and her future husband took her out side.
They strolled the castle grounds for a while just talking about their houses. Lyria knew about the old Bolton tradition and had to know if the rumours she'd heard about him were true or not.
"I've heard things about you, you know." She started, unsure if she was doing the right thing. He cocked his head as though waiting for her to continue. "Horrible things. Is it true that you flay people living? That you hunt down girls then..."
He smirked. "Are you afraid of me, Lyria?" He asked her, his cold eyes piercing into her own.
She shivered slightly. "I-"
Before she could reply, she was interrupted by her uncle. "Ramsay, I'd like to speak with you, if you don't mind."
Ramsay nodded, waiting for the Lord to speak, but Petyr glanced at Lyria. "Alone, if you will."
Lyrianna smiled politely, grateful for his timing and retired to her chambers to get a little sleep before the feast started.
"She really is lovely." Ramsay started, as they watched her walk away.
Ramsay noticed his servant, Reek not to far, trying to hide from Lyrianna. Reek, well Theon really, grew up with her but he also betrayed her entire family.
The Greyjoy prince had turned on the Starks and joined Lord Balon in his campaign to seize the North. He took over Winterfell for a short while and installed himself as Prince of Winterfell until he was betrayed by his own crew and delivered to Ramsay at the Dreadfort shortly after.
As his prisonner, Theon had been subjected to physical and psychological torture and mockingly renamed as 'Reek'. Ramsay considered him a pet more than anything.
He sighed, "I hope I can make her happy."
Petyr nodded, "I hope so too." He admitted, almost trying to warn him. "I've become quite fond of Lady Lyrianna during our travels together. She and her sister have suffered enough."
"I'll never hurt her." Ramsay promised, getting the hint. "You have my word."
"I've heard very little about you." Petyr stated. "Which makes you quite a rare thing, as lords go."
Ramsay sighed. "I haven't been a lord very long. I was a bastard-"
"And you're not anymore." His father, Roose stated from behind them. "Allow me a moment alone with Lord Baelish."
"Yes, father. And thank you, Lord Baelish. I'm forever in your debt." And with that, Ramsay left.
Roose and Petyr were left alone. "He seems pleased." Lord Baelish stated.
Lord Bolton frowned."Shouldn't he be?"
"I assure you she's still a virgin." He promised. "Tyrion never consummated the marriage. By the law of the land, she's no man's wife. Inspect her, if you must."
Roose scoffed. "I leave that to the brothel keeper. It's her name I need, not her virtue."
"Then I have delivered everything I've promised."
"And you prepared for the consequences?" Roose assumed. "When the Lannisters hear I've wed Lyrianna Stark to Ramsay."
Petyr nodded. "The Lannister name doesn't mean what it once did. Tywin is dead. He kept his house in power through sheer will. Without him, Jaime has one hand and no allies, Tommen is a soft boy, not a king to fear."
"The Queen will be enraged." Roose reminded him.
"Queen Margaery adores her, and Sansa too. They became good friends in Kings landing. Cersei is Queen Mother, a title whose importance wanes with each passing day."
"And yet she still has friends, men in important places, whom she can ask for favours." He stated, as he pulled out a piece of paper. "A message for you, from Cersei Lannister. A rider arrived from Eyrie, shortly before dawn. Apparently, she thinks you're still in the Vale."
"A message for me, you say." Petyr inspected the letter with interest, "Strange that the seal is broken."
"I'm sure you understand my position, Lord Baelish. If you received word in the night from the Queen Mother, it does make me question our new alliance. Lannisters made you one of the great lords of Westeros.
Yet, here you are in the North, undermining gamble with your position?"
"Every ambitious move is a gamble." Petyr explained. "You gambled when you drove a dagger into Robb Stark's heart. It appears that your gamble paid off. You're Warden of the North."
"I had Tywin Lannister backing." Roose pointed out. "Who supports me now? You?"
"The Eyrie is mine. The last time the lords of the Eyrie formed an alliance with the lords of the North, they brought down the greatest dynasty this world has ever known... I'd like to borrow one of your birds. Cersei will expect a reply."
"I'd like to read the reply." Roose stated. "This evening there shall be a feast to welcome you and the Stark girls. I'll have a servant sent to your rooms if you need anything."
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