Chapter 4: A Stroll in the Godswood

Lyria couldn't help but be a little relieved as Ramsay led her away from the Hunter's Gate. As he took her into towards the Godswood she couldn't help but wonder what his intentions were.

To anyone who knew the forest like Lyria, thought it was disturbingly beautiful and inviting during the daylight, yet gloomy and creepy at fog seen afar, brought a vision of cataracts to your eyes. Every sound made back and forth made you turn and rotate till you were driven with insanity.

As she trudged along the soft, damp moss of the forest path, She remembered how the tree's soft whisper against the wind used to be like a lullaby, soothing and warm. It had been so welcoming and calm. Lyrianna had spent a lot of time there before she had gone to Kings Landing. The feeling of security was once all around but walking in the morning mist with Ramsay by her side, everything had abruptly changed.

Her once light smooth steps, turned to rough ridged stomps on the tough, rock path filled with twigs as Ramsay practically dragged her with him. She could no longer hear the tree's swaying movements with the breeze. They had been replaced by the snapping sound of twigs being crushed underneath their feet.

Reek had started muttering again and Lyria jerked her head to get a quick glimpse of him. "Reek, it rhymes weak."

She frowned at him, her gaze a mixture of anger, hatred and also pity. Ramsay, of course, noticed. "Are you still angry with him after he... what he did?" He seemed almost kind until she looked into his eyes, which were smiling back at her mockingly. "Don't worry. The North remembers. He's not ironborn anymore. He's a new man. A new person, anyway. Aren't you, Reek?"

"Yes, master." Reek answered without hesitation.

Lyria glared at Ramsay. "Why did you bring me here?" She demanded. "And why did he have to join us?"

"Because Reek has something to say to you, don't you Reek?" Ramsay sneered as they arrived in very center of the forest, where there was a small, dark, and cold pool with an ancient weirwood heart tree right beside it.

The bark was as white as bone and it's dark red leaves shifted slightly in the wind. It's long and melancholy face carved in the bark stared back at them with deep-cut eyes, red with dried sap. "An apology."

He sat on a broken log beside the pool, gesturing for Lyria to do the same. "Apologize to Lady Lyrianna for what you did. Apologize for murdering her two brothers." Lyria's heart twisted at his choice words.

Reek looked to his feet and said in a quiet whisper, "I'm sorry." She could tell he meant it.

"Look at her, Reek." Ramsay ordered. "An apology doesn't mean anything if you're not looking the person in the eye."

Reek stared at her, his eyes looking right through her. Lyria's eyes were glassy with forming tears. "I'm sorry." He repeated.

"Sorry about what?" Ramsay urged.

"F-for killing your brothers." he whispered. Lyria frowned, her eyes wide and shining with forming tears that she didn't hesitate to brush away. Ramsay was pressuring her, and she could tell he was doing it on purpose as he grinned triumphantly at them both. "There, over and done with! Doesn't everyone feel better? I do. That was getting very tense. Whew." He chuckled. "You know what, my lady? What with him having murdered your brothers and the rest of your family gone, Reek here is the nearest thing to living kin that you have left, apart from your sister of course, but she can't give you away."

Her eyes widened when she realized what he was saying. "Reek. You will give away the bride. Someone has to. What better person? Good?" He looked over at Lyria, who opened her mouth to protest but she could barley bring herself to do it. So he just took her almost pleading silence for a yes. "Good."

"We should go now, everyone will be having breakfast by now." Lyria stated, her eyes watering still.

Ramsay smirked, taking her arm in his as he led her back towards the castle and into the dining hall as Reek had scurried off to the kitchens.

Ramsay stepped in first with a grin on his face as Lyria followed him towards the table. "Good morning everyone." He greeted politely.

Sansa sat between Roose Bolton and his wife Walda, a round pink butterball of a girl, with watery eyes, a huge bosom and limp dark hair.

Lyria sat beside him and his father where Walda sat opposite her, staring at her with a questioning gaze that Lyria simply ignored. Sansa gave her a sad smile at the other end of the stone table, as though she could guess how her sister was feeling.

The long silence lasted a while until Roose decided to brake it. "I trust you find your chamber suitable, my lady?" He asked her, not unkindly.

She nodded, using her false smile for the second time that day. For a moment she wondered how long she'd have to keep up the act. "Yes, thank you, my lord."

"Allow me." Ramsay took her goblet and poured some water into it. "Mother?"

Lady Walda gave him a genuine smile as he filled her goblet as well. But Lyria could tell it wasn't because of that that she had thanked him... No it was because he had called her 'mother'. Even Roose had seemed surprised. "Thank you, Ramsay." She gave him a genuine smile.

"My ladies, we are all a family, we northerners." Ramsay told Lyria and Sansa as he stood, goblet in hand. "Our blood ties go back thousands of years. So I'd like to drink to our wedding." He glanced at Lyria who stared back at him emotionlessly. "May our happiness spread from Moat Cailin to the Last Hearth."

"To your wedding." Walda, Roose and himself drank the water but Sansa saw the look on her sister's face and decided against it.

"It must be difficult for you two girls being in a strange place-" Walda started.

Lyria frowned. "This isn't a strange place. This is our home. It's the people who are strange."

She instantly regretted her words when she noticed Walda's large cheeks turn red.

"You're right." Ramsay smirked. "Very strange... Father, Lady Lyrianna and I went for a walk this morning in the Godswood. We've decided who should give her away a our wedding."

"Is that so?" Roose Bolton raised an eyebrow. "And who shall have that honor?"

Ramsay grinned. "Reek. He is the closest man she has to family, after all."

Roose turned his head towards her. "And you've met him, have you?"

She nodded. "I-it was a bit of a shock at first, my lord." She admitted.

Sansa frowned in confusion. "Who is Reek?" She asked innocently.

"Theon." Lyrianna whispered. "Theon Greyjoy."

Her eyes widened in utter shock. "You're going to let him give you away?"

Lyria nodded, her eyes pleading with her sister to stay calm. "Yes. He has apologized for what he has done, and he has had enough punishment for it."

Ramsay chuckled. "Well, I don't know about that, but he is defiantly fit for the job. What do you think father? Good?"

Lord Bolton nodded his approval. "Walda and I have some good news as well, since we're all together." He stated.

He gave his wife the honor of telling them. "We're going to have a baby." She beamed.

Lyria almost cheered, but she knew that'd be a bad idea, especially when she saw the look of horror and anger on Ramsay's face, no more smugness visible in his eyes. "I'm very happy for you."

"From the way she's carrying, Maester Wolkan says it looks like a boy."

Please review! I'll update at 10 reviews. I like to know what my readers want! :) So please! I've already got 4 so only 6 more! ;) Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Don't worry the wedding won't be long. That's where the real shit is gonna happen!

- Lyrisa xoxoxoxo