(Sits in a pillow fort in an effort to hide my blushing face. Notices my readers enter the room.) Oh, hello! Here is the new chapter, all shiny and new! Anyways, how about that season finale though?! I screamed with joy when Jon and Daenerys got together. I might have also screamed 'FUCK YOU JONSA SHIPPERS!'. And holy man buns of steel, Batman! Dat ass though lol. Man, this show is really messing with my morals. XD Anyway, thank you to everyone who reviewed. It made me so happy to see your reactions to Rowtag and bits and pieces about him. Hopefully you can give me your opinions on Seraphine and her life! :) Holy Crap, 50 favorites and 75 follows?! Awww! I love you guys so much.

So here are the ship names as presented by CLTex and darkwolf76: Robelia, Jophelia, and Opheon. Last chapter, I said I wanted you to vote for the best names, but there's only three submissions and for all three ships so...(awkwardly coughs into hand) HERE ARE THE WINNERS! IT WAS A COMBINED EFFORT! YAY! (Throws confetti at CLTex and darkwolf76).

Disclaimer: As always, I own nothing but Ophelia and House Pyralis and Ethaesper!

Warning: Mild Mature Adult Content near the end of this chapter. Shield your innocent eyes if you must! Or don't. Better you learn stuff on fanfiction than in the streets, am I right? (Sees everyone giving me blank stares and weirded out looks.) Ah well, you can't win them all. (Shrugs and goes back in my pillow fort to hide my blushing face).

1st P.O.V. Winterfell

My Lady shut the wooden door behind us and smiled sweetly at me. I scratched the bottomside of my forearm and tucked a piece of stray hair behind my right ear. I looked down in shame.

"I'm sorry for being such a pain, My Lady." I blurted this out loudly and turned my gaze from the stone floor upwards to her pointed face. Her expression turned to one of patience and understaning. "I would never want to hurt you or Lord Stark. You've given me all that I ever needed. You put a roof over my head, food in my stomach, and clothes on my back." My eyes started to sting with that familiar water and I felt my voice quiver upon speaking. "I love you very much, and I ask that you forgive me for acting so unbecoming."

My Lady's face twitched as she held in her own weeps and she pulled me into a strong hug. She stroked my wavy-haired head and said, "Oh Little Bird, there is nothing to forgive." She pulled her red head a way from me and looked me over. My Lady let out a laugh as she saw what I was wearing. "You look so beautiful. Your dress suites you. Though, it was one of your mother's least favorites."

I scrunched my nose up in slight disgust as I examined my clothing. "I can see why. This was a difficult gown to get into, not to mention it is loose in some areas."

Her laughter grew as she guided me to the small round table we usually have our tea at. We sat down and My Lady held my hands. Her voice grew hopeful and sad as she clutched them. She looked at me with those Tully blue eyes and gave me a wistful smile.

"She was carrying you when she commissioned the dress to be made. Oh Little Bird, I have been waiting for years to tell you about your mother."

It was with those words that it hit me. It was probably horribly painful for My Lady to watch the daughter of one of her closest friends grow up. How hurtful it must've been to not be able to tell that girl all about how much she loved her mother or all the memories that involved that girl's mother. How traumatic it must've been to watch that girl grow up, without her mother guiding her.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded. I decided to start with the beginning. "When did you meet my mother?" I asked, wiping my eyes to prevent any tears from escaping. Perhaps the beginning would be the best.

My Lady's face lightened a bit and she sat up, holding my hands with one hand as she wiped tears from her cheeks. Her mouth turned upwards and a small laugh let out from her. 'Well", My Lady began as she put her hand down back on mine, "I can't remember."

I pulled back a bit and looked at her confusedly. "How can you not remember? I though you said she was your closest friend..." My voiced faded at my statement.

My Lady blinked. "She was my closest friend. The reason I don't remember meeting her was because she and I were introduced when we were a year old."

My eyebrows shot up into my hairline and I leaned in. "Why were you introduced at that age?" It was uncommon. Was my mother a Tully? Was she related to My Lady?

My Lady chucked as looked down at the floor then back at me. "Your grandmother died giving birth to your mother. Her father, your grandfather, was incredibly distraught. He locked himself in his Solar for days, not willing to see anybody. You see-", My Lady took a breath as she continued her story, "-your grandmother already had given birth three other times before she managed to bring a living babe into the world. That babe was Analia, your mother's older sister."

I ignored the feelings of disregard towards hearing about other family members. I knew that if it was not essential to my mother's story, My Lady would not tell me about them. Well, my eyes became huge when I heard this piece of information. "My mother had a sister? I had an aunt?!"

My Lady nodded. "Yes, Analia was your aunt. When Analia was born, the Maester confirmed she could not walk. She was born a cripple. Analia...", My Lady's eyes became distant as she remembered my aunt, "she was one of the most kind-hearted people I ever met. She was always sick and was confined to a chair her whole life, but Analia was always smiling...always happy." My Lady tucked a loose piece of hair behind my ear and held her palm to my cheek. "Much like you." I looked down at our hands and gripped them tighter. She out her hand back down and her voice went on with the story of my mother.

"Your grandfather was determined to have a son though. Within a couple months your grandmother was with child. She had your mother and died while birthing her. As I said before, your grandfather was very sad. By the time your mother was ten months old, your grandfather sent a raven to my father and mother asking if they could take her in. He could not bare to look at her. He felt that he had too many worries, with Analia and everything else in his life. My father had a good relationship with the Pyralis family, so he agreed. Your mother arrived at Riverrun on her first nameday."

I looked up at My Lady and my eyebrows shot up as I grasped what she was saying. "You mean to tell me you've known my mother your entire life?"

My Lady's smile faded and her lips became a thin, pink, straight line. "I did...until she died." She looked away and then spoke again. "I had known your mother longer than I have my sister, Lysa."

I squeezed My Lady's hands in reassurance. She looked back at me with her Tully blue eyes and sighed before going on with her story. "I was closer to her than my own sister, and every day I miss her... She was my twin." My Lady let go of me and stood up. She clasped her hands in front of her and walked around the table to stand in front of the warm hearth. Her red hair cascaded down her back in a simple plait and her shoulders moved up and down with every deep breath she took.

I decided to ask her questions, perhaps it would be easier to ask about certain things than have My Lady tell the entire story. "What was your favorite memory of my mother?"

My Lady answered with her back still turned to me. "There are too many to choose from. I could no sooner choose a favorite star in the sky. However, one of the many that does stick out prominently was when we were eleven."

My Lady turned around, her eyes now red and her cheeks wet again, but she was smiling like she had just received very good news. "Lysa became mad at the two of us. She was angry because whenever she wanted to play, she could never find us on the first try. I was either in Sera's room or she was in mine. One day Lysa became so furious she shouted, 'If you are both are so fond of each other, why don't you go and live together?!' It was meant to be an insult, a perverse one, but your mother, she looked at me with great big crimson eyes and said, 'Cat, I think your sister is the smartest person alive!' With a single look we knew what the other was thinking. We both ran to my father, who was in the middle of listening to the troubles of his people in the Great Hall. We did not want to interrupt, so we stood in the back of the line behind some goat farmers."

My Lady laughed through her tears as she said, "When the goat farmers left, my father was shocked to see us in the line of people. He thought we were playing a game, so he asked us, 'What troubles you? What can the Lord of Riverrun do to ease your tribulations?' Your mother marched straight up to my father, her head held high and her back straight, as she looked him in the eyes. She dragged me behind her, for I was too scared to ask my father myself, and said, 'Lord Tully, I ask you that I share a room with your daughter Catelyn, preferably hers because it has a window seat.' My father was highly amused. He pretended to glare at us, then asked, 'And if I refuse this request?' Sera just glared at him back and said, 'Then I would ask for a trial by combat. And if I were to lose, then I will just have Cat move into my room.' My father grinned at us, like a cat that had cream for it's supper, and said 'Well, it seems that I have no choice but to grant your request.' He slammed the gavel on the table to make it final. We were so happy we jumped up and down screaming and laughing, crying out, 'WE DID IT! WE DID IT!' as if we had won a major battle, when in reality, we just wanted Sera to move down the hall. By the end of the day, Sera and I did not move into each other's rooms, but rather, my father gave us one of the larger guest rooms in the far end of the castle to use as our own and he converted our former rooms to guest quarters. Lysa was so furious about it, she did not speak to us for a fortnight, even though we credited that it was her idea to begin."

Laughter bubbled up from chest and rang out with loud volume. "So you shared a room? For how long?"

My Lady beamed in remembrance of the room and the Great Hall and my mother. "Until we left Riverrun to marry."

I smirked as I asked My Lady this next question. "Did my mother leave early to marry Lord Stark?"

My Lady gaped at me in surprise. "You knew about that?"

I giggled. "Lord Stark told me just now in his Solar."

My Lady rolled her eyes. "I didn't think he would ever mention that. No-", My Lady walked back to her chair and sat down, "-they were never formally engaged. At the time, I was engaged to Lord Stark's brother, Brandon, and Seraphine's father was in talks of betrothing her to Ned. I wanted her to marry him, that way we would truly be sisters and she would be able to come up North with me."

"Did they not like each other?" I asked her, sensing there was more to what Lord Stark had previously told me.

My Lady leaned back as she shook her head. "Your mother was excited at first, she thought it was a marvelous idea. Even though she was fostered at Riverrun, for three months every year she would go back to Highgarden to spend time with her father and sister. During one of those months, your father took her to a tourney held at Harrenhal. I'm not sure what happened, but when your mother returned back to Riverrun, she was set on marrying your father."

I gasped as I realized what she said. "You said my mother would go back to Highgarden...I thought Highgarden was the seat of House Pyralis. If she was from another house, why would she go to Highgarden."

My Lady scrunched her red eyebrows in confusion. "Your mother was not from a different house. She was a Pyralis, the same as your father."

My stomach dropped, as did my jaw, at this revelation.

I felt bile raise up into my throat and I swallowed it back down. "Do you mean go tell me that my mother and father were related?!"

"Of course. They were first cousins." My Lady answered this in plainess, as if it were the normality of society.

I shot up from my seat and made a disgusted face. "That's repulsive! Who would marry their relative?"

My Lady gave me a fond smile and replied, "Initially, we were all put off by Seraphine announcing that she was going to marry Rowtag, because she never wanted to participate in her family's practice of inbreeding, but if anyone saw the two together, no one could deny how much love there was between them. Rowtag...he was different. He wasn't like all the other Lords that sought her hand. He rejected her before he married her."

My face fell slightly and I furrowed my eyebrows together. "I thought you said they loved each other?"

"Oh, they did. But Rowtag was very put off by the idea of marrying his younger cousin, though when they did marry it was not unheard of, as it was common knowledge that nearly all members of House Pyralis were practitioners of inbreeding. However, everyone just expected them to marry other people. You see, Little Bird, Rowtag would travel often. He was always somewhere new, somewhere foreign, somewhere exotic. But once a year, every year, he would return to Highgarden for a short period of time. On his way to the Reach, he would make sure to stop at Riverrun and visit Seraphine. Every year he would bring her something from his travels. She would look forward to those visits more than anything." My Lady rubbed her hands together and put them on her lap. She stared off distantly.

"One year, the year before the tourney, Rowtag returned to Highgarden for good. His father had died, and it was his place to become Lord. He was horribly depressed. When Seraphine visited, she managed to get him to cheer up. He began to see her as someone else...someone intelligent and loyal and funny. I remember Seraphine telling me that she admired him because he did not look at the structure of her face, but judged her by the structure of her heart. That's when he began to push her away."

My eyes widened and I scratched my arm in nervousness. "Why did he push her away?"

My Lady sighed. "Rowtag knew of Seraphine's opinions about incest, because he shared those exact sentiments. This was evident when the first person who came from her hand was their cousin, Prince Rhaegar."

"The Prince wanted to marry my mother?!" I exclaimed in shock.

"He did. He was fifteen and she was eleven. He rode to Riverrun with a host of Targaryen men, accompanied by her father, and asked her to marry him when she came of age. Seraphine merely said ,"Cousin, I applaud your efforts in trying to wed me, but frankly, the idea of bedding you makes me want to empty my stomach."

My mouth fell open and My Lady laughed at the memory. "She did not say that!"

My Lady grinned and nodded. "Oh she did! The hall went quiet, and everyone was tense. I remember not being able to let out a breath for fear of what would happen. Then, out of the silence, came a loud laugh. It was Rhaeger. He was highly amused by her reply and had to sit down due to not being able to breathe. Soon, everyone started to laugh as well...except for her father. He walked straight up to Seraphine, pulled her from the room, and shouted at her in the hall to accept the Prince's proposal. Everyone could hear her yelling that she did not want to marry the Prince. Rhaegar soon left to speak to the both of them and all who were present could hear him say, 'If she does not want to marry, I will not force her. I would rather not have a wife that destests me.' That year, your mother did not go to Highgarden. Her father was quite livid with her."

"Why would my mother do that?!" I was surprised that anyone would turn down a royal betrothal, even if it was to their cousin. Though, I could understand her. I would not want to marry anyone I shared blood with nor would I want to be royal in any way. I would be just fine living in peaceful solitude with no eyes on me.

"Your mother was never one to settle for anything less than ideal. She wanted the best of everything, and to her individual perspective, Rhaegar was not the best. That as well as her belief on marrying relatives."

I giggled thinking about how troubling that must have been for my grandfather. "Lord Stark said that she rejected four other suitors before him. Do you know who they were?"

My Lady tapped her chin in thought. "Let me see...first there was the Prince. Despite it being a scandal that she rejected the Prince, she still had others pining for her hand. It was either for her connections to the royal crown, her family's position, or for her looks. The next man she rejected was Oberyn Martell. Seraphine could not stomach the idea of having an unfaithful partner, and as many knew, Oberyn would not stay in one bed. After that there was Stannis Baratheon. Seraphine said she would rather stick her eye out with a knife than marry a codder like Stannis. And the fourth, Jaime Lannister."

"Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer, he wanted to marry my mother?"

"Not as much him, but more Tywin Lannister did. Tywin had originally planned for Jaime to marry my sister, Lysa, but when he heard that a Pyralis was being fostered at Riverrun...he had set his sights on your mother. He knew that the Reach was more wealthy and influential, and that by marrying Jaime to your mother, his son would be in the line of succession, should anything happen to the Royal family."

I felt my face freeze. Something about Tywin Lannister's intentions chilled me to the bone. "And what did my mother have to say about that?"

"She only said one word: No."

"How was she allowed to reject all these men? Surely her father would've made her marry at least one of them."

My Lady's face twisted into one of discomfort. "House Pyralis...they were an odd house to say the least. I generally liked their quirkiness, but others found it unsettling."

I became confused. "Quirkiness? What do you mean?"

"Well...to begin with, very rarely did they have betrothals or arranged marriages. This stemmed from their roots as slaves, as well as from the story of Nuri and Seraphina. Nearly every single Pyralis hated the idea of forcing someone to do something they did not want to do. However, your grandfather, was more traditional. He thought that arranged marriages were advantageous, and since he had no sons and no one wanted to marry Analia, Seraphine was his saving grace. But when word got out that he was in talks with different houses for a marriage to his daughter", My Lady bit her lip in order to keep herself from laughing, "the wrath of the Seven Hells was brought down upon him by his entire family."

I shook my head while chuckling. "And was it so bad that they did not have arranged marriages?"

"It was just not done. It still is not done."

"Ahh...I see. So, what else was 'quirky'?

"Hmm...they never wore shoes. With the exception of your mother, father, and grandfathers, no one wore shoes. Seraphina, the enchantress, never wore shoes, so her family never did. They believed that if you walked barefoot, you could connect to nature more intimately."

I smiled. "That is a bit odd."

My Lady laughed. "It was very odd. Oh, another odd tradition was whenever a Pyralis married, during the ceremony the bride had to wear floral wreaths on her head and a piece of Eyefire somewhere else. Both man and woman would have to decorate each other's face with a unique pattern of ash and would have to leave it there until the bedding ceremony."

"Did my mother and father do that?" I asked eagerly.

My Lady grinned and nodded. "I was there when they were married. They did do that, and it was quite beautiful."

For a moment, just a single solitary moment, I wondered what it would have been like to live the life I was supposed to live. To never wear shoes, to be surrounded by a vast amount of people I could call family. To have a sweet aunt, to have a stern grandfather, to be familiar with the Targaryens. I wondered what it would be like for me, a Northerner by birth, to be Southern and fanciful. To never worry about the harsh cold of Winter, to bask in the warm breezes of Summer, to never work for my keep. Would I have many silk dresses, necklaces made out of pearls, and jewelry of Eyefire? I thought about how nice it must be to have a maternal figure in my life I could actually call Mother, without it being inappropriate and to have a father figure I didn't need to call 'Lord'. I imagined my childhood, running through the halls of Highgarden, my father putting me to bed with his tales abroad, with my mother assuring me that when I grow up, I did not have to worry about going into a forced marriage, that I could marry who I wanted to.

And it made me sad.

I felt like I had been cheated out of an amazing life.

But these thoughts made me take a look at my life in the present. If my parents never died, I would never have met Jon or Theon, though I would probably have met Robb at some point considering how close our mothers would. I probably wouldn't know the value of hard work or how satisfying doing something for yourself could be. I would be blind to the harsh reality of the North. I, myself, would not be a Northerner.

The feelings of being swindled left and I felt immensely thankful.

True, I did not have the riches or grandeur that would have been my life had everything turned out differently. But I loved my life here...and even though I don't have a mother or a father to call my own, I would not trade my living here for anything in the world.

Still, I said the first thought that came to mind.

"I wish I could have known them." I whispered. My Lady gave me a gloomy look. "I wish they could have known you as well."

I stood up from my seat. "My Lady, thank you for telling me about my mother. I cannot tell how how grateful I am...but I am starting to feel overwhelmed with all of this. If you don't mind, I am going to return to my quarters."

She gave me a smile and I curtsied. With my back to her and my hand on the doorknob, I heard her say, "I did not see you this morning in the Great Hall for breakfast. Were you not hungry?"

I turned my head around to glance at her from the side. "I was still asleep, My Lady."

From the corner of my eye I saw her get up from her chair. "I would like you to come to the Great Hall and eat tonight, alright?"

With my hand still on the doorknob, I turned my head around and smiled in agreement. "Alright."

My Lady gave me a once-over with her Tully blue eyes, adding, "I will also send Maester Luwin your way within the hour. You need to get some more bandages on you."

"Alright. I will be in my room."

She nodded and sat down. "See you at supper." I said quietly.

I closed her door and left the study.

I was amazed by how eccentric House Pyralis used to be. I imagined that they were not well liked among some of the more radically traditional Westorsi Houses. I silently pondered if that ever bothered them.

I made my way to the tiltyard, where I saw a mass of curly black hair go towards the stables with a round bale of hay, half his size in length and twice his size in weight.

I stopped walking, looked around to make sure no one was watching, turned heel, and went in the direction of this person.

I lifted up my skirts to my ankles and ran fast. Mud splashed the bottom of my dress and muddied the nice yellow fabric, but I did not care. This would probably be my only chance to talk alone with him for the rest of the day.

I walked into the stables and halted before entering.

I quickly ducked behind some stacked barrels and upright pitchforks. I bent down and spied on Jon through an open crack between two stacked barrels.

I ran my fingers through my wavy hair and scratched my arm. The last time that I was here with him, I called him a 'fucking bastard'. Well, more of yelled it at him if I'm being honest. I was never one for swearing. Ladies do not swear. It was something that was instilled into me by My Lady. It's not something I use in my everyday vernacular, but every now and then, it does slip out. I grimaced at how I not only said a crude word, but yelled it.

My poor mother would probably be rolling in her grave if she knew.

I watched from the entrance of the stables as Jon lifted the enormous hay bale, with no effort, and set it down by the exit. I saw him untie the strings that held it together tightly and I saw him make it come undone. I watched as he took a pitchfork that was hanging up and carried it as he went into an empty stall. Jon removed the old hay and replaced it with the new hay. After a while, he untied his leather doublet and placed it on the wooden gate at the entrance of the stall he was at. Now he was only in a thick cotton top.

Jon staked the pitchfork in the ground, leaned against it, and wiped his brow. After a momentary pause, he called out, "Ophelia, I do not know if you are aware of this, but staring at someone for a period of time can be unnerving."

I yelped in shock at my discovery. It caused me to fall to the side, effectively knocking down both a barrel and the upright pitchforks as well as exposing myself. I laid on the ground with the barrel to my side and the handles of the pitchforks beneath my stomach.

I heard footsteps and I lifted my head to see a pair of boots. All of a sudden, my arms were gripped tightly and I was lifted from the floor.

Shakily standing on my feet, I wobbled a bit as I clutched onto Jon's forearm to steady myself. I was slightly bent over to the right as I dusted off my dress. I looked briefly at Jon through the veil of my long locks and I caught his ever-so-worried expression. I managed to maintain my balance and I let go of his arm. I took a step back, continuing to expel random pieces of hay off of my dress. Shaking my head, I flicked my hair behind me and stood up straight. I glared at Jon (with a great amount of determination, although I felt extremely nervous) and I poked him in the chest. Jon trailed his eyes from my index finger to my face as I poked him.

"How-poke-dare-poke-you-poke-kiss-poke-me-poke-without-poke-any-poke-reason-poke-why!" Every word I said I poked him in the chest and would step forward as Jon took a step back. We ended up with his back to a closed gate of an occupied stall and my finger stopped poking Jon.

He raised an eyebrow at me and chuckled.

My cheeks flamed up and so did my temper.

"Do you think this is funny?! Do you know the troubling state my mind has been in since early dawn?! You have never told, or even hinted, that you held a tender regard for me, or anyone for that matter! And you think it's okay to just kiss a girl without warning?! Why did you do it? Am I some sort of game, someone you can toy with their affections? I apologized to you, AND YOU KISSED ME! WHY DID YOU KISS ME?" I bellowed the last part out. My hands were balled up into fists and were held to the sides of me. I was glared at Jon.

Though I was not angry for him kissing me, I was mad that he took it as a joke.

"I kissed you...", Jon began, his voice growing dark and his eyes lighting up, "because I wanted to. In all candor, for a while now."

My eyes widened and my whole body had goosebumps. My fists released themselves and I started to scratch my arm.

I suddenly lost my nerve.

"Oh...I...I...I am flattered." That was all my peabrain could think to say. I was in a frozen stupor.

Jon gave a step forward and I backed up. He saw my reaction and produced a small smirk.

"Flattered?" Jon rubbed his pale chin in false thought and asked, "What else?" He let go of his chin and took another step forward, slowly starting to close the small gap between us.

My eyes darted to the exit and then back to him. "I...uh...you...ummm what?"

Jon took one more step. "What else do you feel, Ophelia?" I looked down at the floor and then back at him.

"Scared." I whispered. It was true. A part of me was scared where this was heading. As I have said many times before, I was not fond of change and if Jon wanted to start a courtship with me, it would be a big change...one that I was unsure about.

"Why?" He asked, his voice both dark and curious.

"I don't know what we are. I don't want lose you as a friend." Jon stepped closely to me and our chests were now touching. I looked down and he said, "Don't turn your gaze from me." My dark crimson eyes met his Stark grey ones. And they softened as he gently reached for my right hand and put it to his chest, both of his hands covering my own.

Jon leaned in closely to me and he whispered into my ear. "You don't ever have to be afraid of losing me."

We held each other's gaze and slowly started to lean into one another. One of his hands left the other that was holding my own to his chest and it grazed my cheek. My eyes gently closed and I felt his breath near my mouth. I felt his lips slowly about to graze my own, when all of a sudden I heard, "Theon, I do not want to hear what Ros did to your anus the last time you visited her."

Jon and I jumped back from each other as Robb and Theon entered the stables, both laughing and pushing each other around in playful banter. Both boys gradually halted to a stop as they caught sight of me and Jon, both flushed red and looking anywhere but each other.

"Jon, Ophelia." Robb nodded to the both of us. He walked to the middle of where we were. Robb darted his eyes between us and asked in a cautious voice, "Is everything alright?"

"Oh yeah! I was just looking for Jon to apologize and I did."

"Aye. I was only putting in new hay for the stall and Ophelia came to see me."

Our answers were jumbled over with one another. Robb gave us a suspicious look, but his face ended up relaxing and he grinned. He slapped Jon on the back as he walked past him and said, "It's good that you've forgiven her. I thought you were going to be a prat about it."

My eyes went back to Jon, who gave me a look that said, 'GET OUT OF HERE!'. I nodded and silently tried to walk out of the stables. I came near Theon, who was still standing in the entrance analyzing the scene from afar. He held out his left arm blocking my way out.

"Theon", I said, trying to walk by him, "please let me through." He turned his body to the side, leaned into me, and replied in a stoic voice, "Are you good?"

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion and nodded at him.

He narrowed his eyes and reached behind my head. Theon held up a piece of straw in front of my face. "You should be more careful. You had this sticking out from your hair." He flicked it away and sauntered past me towards where the other two boys had gathered.

I gulped.

Theon was onto me.

I knew it.

Or maybe he thought I was being clumsy again.

I honestly didn't know.

I shook off any bad feelings and went to my room. Once inside, I closed the door and was beginning to relax when I noticed something wasn't right.

First, Ethaesper was chirping about on my bed, happy that I came back.

Next, the water basin that served as my bathtub was empty and clean.

After that, I saw my pile of dirty clothes by the tub was gone, indicating that someone took them to the laundress to be cleaned.

And just as I was about to sit down on my bed, I heard a knock on the door.

I groaned in frustration. Maester Luwin was to visit me.

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Despite my previous feelings of wanting to be alone, I found great solace in Maester Luwin. It was nice to talk to him. He did not mention my heritage nor my running off nor my whipping. He talked about healing and taking care of my back and other menial things.

I found it quite refreshing.

After the last bandage was placed, Maester Luwin gave me jar of green soothing paste and left with a smile. I dressed myself in my mother's gown that I wore earlier, though this time I did not put on the yellow piece to it, only leaving the dark red gown on. I had to take it off for Maester Luwin to clean my wounds.

I put my hair into a braided bun and left my room to go to the Godswood. I passed many people and I kept my head down. I had something I needed to do. I went down a grassy path that led it's travellers away from the walls of Winterfell. I ended my trek in front of the Weirwood tree. I sat beneath it's bright red leaves and leaned against it's thick white trunk. I pulled my knees to my chest and put my head down on top of them.

'Please', I prayed, 'Give me the strength to survive this. I have always prayed to you, everyday up until recently, so I ask that you hear my voice. I am sorry for not praying recently, things have been hectic. I need you to guide me through these troubled waters. I need you to show me my path in this world. I love the Starks, and I am on my way to fully forgiving them...but even with this new knowledge about myself...I do not know who I am. I don't think I ever will. I'm scared...please help me to be courageous in my endeavours. Show me the path you wish for me to take and I, your devout follower, will go upon it with no qualms. Just show me what I have to do.'

I always felt a calm come over me whenever I prayed. So, I did it often. I raised my head up and tilted it back to rest against the trunk.

I closed my eyes as I felt the wind picked up and blow past me, rustling the tree leaves, a sign that the Old Gods answered my prayers.

Everything would be okay...at least I hoped it would be.

I stayed in my spot beneath the Weirwood, feeling the calm that the Old Gods brought until it started to become darker. I stood up and put my palm against the trunk. I smiled up at the face engrained in the tree and headed indoors for supper.

As I neared the archway to the Great Hall, I stood up straight and looked forward.

'Don't be nervous.' I spoke inside my head.

I walked in.

It wasn't so bad. No one noticed me. I spied the table that I usually sat at, making my way in that direction. Theon caught sight of me and waved me over. I smiled and waved back.

I was almost there when I heard, "Ophelia."

I turned to see Robb jogging towards me, his dark auburn curls bouncing and a smile lighting up his face.

"Hi!" I said to him, my eyes noticing the food starting to be served at the tables.

His Tully blue eyes looked me up and down, from head to toe.

"I see you changed." I peeked down at the front of my dress and fiddled with the side of my skirt.

"Oh...not really. I only took off the second part of my dress...you know, the yellow part?."

"Oh yes...well, you look nice."

It was a pause, before we both broke into semi-uncomfortable laughs, with me scratching my arm while looking away and with him rubbing the back of his head, grinning a tad bit.

"Anyway, Mother asked for you to join us tonight." He motioned towards the main table where the Starks were sitting. There was an extra seat at their table.

I shook my head furiously.

Robb looked confused. "What is the problem? Are you not hungry?"

"Oh no, I am! It's just that...", I lowered my voice into a whisper and leaned in closely to Robb, "it's not appropriate for me to sit with you. I'm a ward, not a Stark."

Robb leaned in closely to me and said, "Ophelia, no one cares. It's just for one night." He chuckled and stood up straight, lending me his arm to escort me to the main table. I looked over my shoulder to see Theon's waving falter. He gave me a quizzical expression. Theon held up his arms as if to ask, "What's going on?"

I mouthed a quick 'Sorry' to him, and I went to go sit down with the Starks.

For several years now, I have been accustomed to eating in the kitchens after I served Robb and Sansa their meal. The only time I ate at a table was in the morning, so I felt quite uneasy when Robb pulled out a chair for me to sit down in. I locked eyes with him and he gave me an encouraging look.

I steadily sat down and Robb pushed my chair in. He took his seat next to me. I looked around to see that the Starks looked, for the most part, unbothered by my presence. They were all eating. I did catch My Lady giving me a happy facial expression though.

"Hi!" I whipped my head to see that sitting on my left, at the end of the table, was Bran.

I never really spoke to Bran and Rickon. When they were born, I gushed over them as I would with any other baby, but as they grew I became less familiar with them. I was too busy doing my chores to play with either of them.

Bran gave me a toothy smile and said, "Do you like bread?" He reached for a bread roll in a bowl right in front of him, and held it out to me.

I gave the light brown-haired boy a small smile and nodded. I received the roll and put it on my plate as my former roommate Emily came by and served me some meat and vegetables. I caught her glare at me, and I shrinked down in my chair as the curly-headed blonde left me to go serve others.

Bran seemed happy and was bouncing up and down in his chair. "I really wanted for you to sit with us! Sansa didn't want you to, but Arya and me did!"

I was taken aback when a spoonful of mashed potatoes flung across my face and hit Bran right on his nose.

He looked around in shock and wiped the potatoes off his face. I looked to the right and caught a glimpse of Arya who was leaning forward, her eyes aflame, and a wooden spoon in hand. The fiesty little wolf pointed it at her brother.

"You weren't supposed to tell her that, you ninny!"

"I am not a ninny! And it's true." I helplessly looked to Robb for assistance. He caught my look and swallowed the food he was chewing.

"Arya, don't throw food at Bran, lest you want Mother to send you to bed."

Arya rolled her eyes and leaned back in her chair, grumbling under her breath.

I turned back to Bran who was back to his bubbly mood. "Father told us that you're a Pyralis!" I silently nodded as I ate a forkful of meat.

"He said that your family's sigil was a Phoenix!"

I nodded again, stuffing more meat in my cheeks so I wouldn't have to respond.

"And Mother said she knew your mother!"

I was reaching the limit of how much food I could put into my mouth, when Bran stated excitedly, "You're a noble, just like us! That's probably why Mother wants to throw you a party, huh?!"

I choked on my food and struggled to swallow it. "What?!" I managed to get out as I gasped for air. I gave a violent cough.

Robb patted me on the back, not even looking up from his food. My coughing died down and I leaned back in my chair.

I heard a scoff and looked down on Robb's other side to catch sight of Sansa rolling her eyes.

"Bran, don't give Ophelia any false delusions. She's hardly a noble. Her family is dead and had their position in society taken away. She's no more a noble than a scullery maid, which she nearly was."

Robb snapped his head up and glared at his sister. "Sansa, that's a horrible thing to say."

Sansa merely shrugged her shoulders as she gave him a non-caring expression. She cut into her meat, taking off a small piece and popping it into her mouth. "I think it's a good thing that Ophelia discovered who her family is though."

Robb and I exchanged a confused look. He turned back to Sansa and gave her a mildly shocked expression. "You do?"

Sansa nodded as she took another dainty bite. "Of course. That means she won't have to serve me anymore." Sansa gave me a look and earnestly said, "You were quite horrible at your job, so it's good they had someone else replace you. I was begging Mother for months, though she never relented. It's nice to have a more helpful domestic."

She went back to eating.

I suddenly felt very horrible. Did I really do my chores that badly? I always though I did a great job. I never received any complaints. I knew I wasn't Sansa's first choice for help, but I didn't think she disliked me that bad.

Suddenly, Sansa screeched and stood up as a huge glop of mashed potatoes dripped down from her bright red hair to her light blue gown. "Arya! Why would you do that?!"

I could see a clear view of Arya as Sansa stood, and she gave Sansa an angry glare. "Ophelia was not horrible at her job. You're just a lying spoiled brat."

Sansa turned to Robb, who was busy holding in his laughter, and pointed an accusing finger at Arya. "Why are laughing?! You need to put her to bed!"

"You need to put her to bed." Arya mocked in a high-pitched voice, making a mouth puppet with her hand.

Bran started to laugh along with Robb, while the two girls were bickering.

Meanwhile, I put my head down and focused on eating my food.

"Ahem." All of us looked up to see Lord Stark standing up and giving his kids a stern look. Robb and Bran's chuckles died down, Sansa slowly sat back down, and Arya kept quiet.

Suddenly, Little Rickon poked his head out from the opposite end of the table, where he was sitting next to My Lady, and asked in a small curious voice, "Mother, Father, are we really having a party?" He looked up at Lord Stark with wide eyes and Lord Stark sighed. He exchanged a look with My Lady and she nodded.

He sat down, she stood up. "I am thinking about throwing a party for Ophelia's nameday. It would be a good way to introduce her into society and it would lift everyone's spirits, considering the events that have occurred within these past couple of weeks."

My Lady gave me a look and asked, "Ophelia, your thoughts on this?"

Everyone's gaze turned to me, and my eyes darted to the table I usually sit at, to see they were looking at me as well. I cursed under my breath.

'Oh, why can't everyone leave me to eat my food in peace?!" I thought desperately as my cheeks flared up.

"Ophelia?" My Lady called out, looking expectant for an answer.

"I...uhh...I don't really want a party." I mumbled, wishing I could just disappear into thin air.

My Lady looked a bit puzzled. "I thought you liked parties?"

I waved my hands wildly in front of me in a dismissive manner. "I like parties, I just...I...I uhh...", I glanced around the room to see everyone staring at me, "I have no wish to be the center of anyone's attention."

My Lady gave me a considerate expression. "I understand. Please think about it though. Alright?" I nodded, waiting for her to sit down.

But she didn't. Instead she walked over to me and placed a familiar black velvet box in front of me.

"You forgot this in Lord Stark's Solar." She gave me one more smile and sat back down.

"What is that?" Arya asked, leaning forward over Sansa to get a better look at the box.

The heat in my cheeks refused to die down as the four oldest children looked at me.

"Oh...i-i-it's nothing...just a necklace." Arya rolled her eyes again, uninterested at something as frivolous as a necklace. But Sansa perked up all of a sudden and eyed the box. "A necklace? What does it look like?"

I grabbed the box and held it to my chest. "Just some average, old necklace." I was feeling very protective over the piece of jewelry, a vast difference in my feelings from the first time I was gifted it.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Jon wipe the corner of his mouth from his supper and stand up. He caught my eye, gave me a look, and walked out of the hall.

After a short moment of hesitation, I abruptly stood up and said, "Thank you for the meal. I will consider the party!" Clutching my box, I gave the Starks a curtsy and speedily walked out of the Great Hall.

When I was out of sight of everyone, I ran to the tiltyard and turned my head in all directions looking for Jon. The noise of a horse begging caught my attention.

I knew where he was.

A nervous pit rose in my stomach as I walked into the stables, to the stall at the end. The one Jon cleaned out earlier. And there he was, leaning against the back wall of the stall, not at all surprised at seeing me.

I paced myself as the fluttering in my stomach grew. I went into the last stall, staying near the opening of the gate to the stall.

"We need to talk." I told Jon taking a step closer to him. He stepped forward.

"We do." He agreed. My breathing came out shallowly.

There was a momentary pause.

"Do you want to talk now?" I asked him quietly.

Jon came closer, his broad chest only an inch away from mine, and his black-curly haired head leaned down. His face was near mine when he answered, "No."

He kissed me again, this time with less fire and passion, but with more tender and care.

I dropped the box that contained the Eyefire necklace as I hesitantly, wrapped my arms around Jon's neck. I slowly started to move my lips against his slightly chapped ones, and his big, strong arms engulfed my torso, pulling me closer to him .

Jon steadily started to make his way back to the wall he was previously standing near, having me follow him.

I did not break the kiss and neither did he.

He bumped into the wall and shifted us around so I could be leaning against it. I opened my eyes as his lips left my face, making sure that his tender kisses gave my neck some attention.

As Jon's lips attached themselves to the nape of my neck, I started to run my fingers through his thick black hair. Jon groaned and roughly grabbed my left thigh. He hoisted my leg to his hip and connected us even closer.

"Is this wrong?" I whispered to him.

Jon looked up at me with dark lust-filled eyes and shook his head. "Does this feel wrong to you?" He asked gruffly.

I couldn't reply because Jon was kissing my mouth again, harder and with a blazing fire.

I whimpered as he lowered me to the hay covered ground, one hand running up the side of my body, the other going under my skirts feeling the skin on the bare thigh that was hoisted to his hips.

His tounge entered my mouth and we fought for dominance which, without a doubt, he won. My heart was beating so hard I was scared it would come bounding out of my chest. My breaths came in rough shallow pants.

Jon's closed eyes opened up and he attacked my neck again, this time nipping and biting small parts of it. The hand that was running up and down my side, went up to my shoulder and rubbed it, causing the fabric the shimmy down.

Jon caught sight of this and gave out a small growl that made my knees shake and my whimpers became louder. He yanked down the fabric and trailed his lips from the skin of my neck to the skin of my shoulders.

"Oh Gods." I moaned as his kisses became hotter and the grip on my thigh became tighter. Jon held himself up, disconnecting his lips from me and he looked down at me, his eyes searching for something.

"What is it?" I panted out. Why did he stop? Jon's black curls fell to the sides of his head. He traced my lips with his hand.

I closed my eyes, relishing in the warm feeling this brought on. He leaned closely to my ear. "I want to try something." And nibbled at it.

I opened my eyes and turned my face around, causing his teeth to let go the the gentle grasp that held my ear.

He stared at me, our eyes connecting and I whispered, "I trust you, Jon."

He nodded and kissed my lips once more, before going back to my shoulder. He lowered his body down, almost completely covering mine.

Jon looked unsure a bit, but a look of determination crossed over his features. He aligned his fully-clothed privates to my skirt-covered ones, and cautiously ground them against each other.

I gasped and held my arms around his neck tightly as my nerves were set on fire. Noticing my reaction, he brought them closer and at an agonizingly slow pace, he ground his groin to mine.

I squirmed underneath him, as he continued this. His lips left me and his forehead touched mine.

"Don't close your eyes. I want to see you." I leaned up and kissed him tentatively in agreement. He started to grind harder, racking our bodies up and down.

My whimpers grew as did Jon's low groans. He grinding became harder and faster with each pant, whimper, gasp, and groan.

The bundle of nerves in my stomach grew and my face flushed as I felt something foreign come over me.

Jon gave me a look of understanding.

During all of this, his gaze was solely focused on me.

"Jon.." I whimpered. What he was doing felt so good, I didn't want him to stop. With each grinding it felt the same as the tightening of the bundle of nerves in my stomach.

Harder.

Harder.

Harder.

And then, there it was. Jon gave out a loud growl and shut his eyes as he came to a sporadic stop. He put his forehead to mine and I gave out a small scream.

The only sound now was our panting. The stables were dark, the only light was coming from the castle several yards away. The horses that were in the stables started to neigh loudly, annoyed that our noises woke them up.

Then, all of a sudden, I started to giggle. My giggles turned into laughter and Jon pushed himself up off of me. He blanaced his body on one elbow and quirked a dark eyebrow at me.

"Why are you laughing?" He asked in his usual brooding voice. I covered my mouth, trying to contain my grin and giggles.

"I...hahaha...I...haha...I don't know why!" I clutched my sides and started to laugh even more at seeing Jon's confused face. Slowly the expression of confusion turned to a crooked smile and he gradually started to laugh as well. He collapsed on the side of me, lying in his back, and we both laughed at nothing, our bodies shaking.

Eventually our laughter died down to small chuckles and Jon pulled me to his body. I cuddled up next to him, something reminiscent of what we did as children, and I laid on his shoulder. One strong arm was wrapped around my shoulder, the hand from that arm grasping mine. Our hands clasped together, our fingers intertwined.

We stared up at the wood planked ceiling, both quiet.

"Ophelia..." I heard Jon ask. I tilted my head upwards, and looked at him with wide dark crimson eyes.

"Yes, Jon?"

I noticed he was about to say something, but he shook his head changing his mind. "Never mind." I only snuggled closer into him, his hold on me growing tighter and warmer. I wouldn't pester him and ruin this moment.

This wonderfully, beautifully, perfect moment.

I didn't know what we were and I was still confused about Jon's intentions with me, as was I confused about my own feelings, but if whatever this was resulted in more moments like this, I wouldn't mind.

Eventually, we heard the voices of Robb and Theon coming near the stables. Jon quickly sat up and looked at me. He gave a breathless sigh and sat me up as well. Jon closed his Stark grey eyes and leaned his forehead to mine. "I'll see you tomorrow. Get some rest." I nodded.

He pecked my lips and helped me up. Jon stood in the middle of the stables as he watched me leave.. I looked back over my shoulder one more time, gave Jon one more tiny smile, and narrowly avoided Robb and Theon.

I went back to my room and closed the door. I noticed my clothes, (the green dress, nightgown, and makeshift coat) all cleaned and folded on my bed. I also noticed that Ethaesper was in her own birdcage, with a small nest for her at the back of the cage and a bowl of mashed up worms near the front.

I went to the cage and got her out, which made her happy. She nestled in my hands immediately and her eyes closed in a slumber.

I changed out of my mother's gown and into my nightgown. I put another log in the small fire that was blazing in the hearth, and I slugged off to bed.

I had many things to think about, but tomorrow I would worry.

Tonight, all I wanted to do was dream about a pair of parents, an unwanted party, and most of all, a boy with black curly hair and brooding nature.

I wanted to show some more of Seraphine and a bit of history on the odd customs of House Pyralis. Also the barn scene between Jon and 'Felia was a long time coming...kind of like Jon and Dany hahahahahaha. In all honesty though, this was a huge unexpected step forward and well...it might not have the results someone would expected. If we could get this up to 62 reviews, I will love you all so much! :) Next chapter: Ophelia's reply to the Cat's party suggestion, Jon and Ophelia actually talk (I mean it this time), Theon surprises Ophelia, and Cat says something that changes everything.