Risen From Ashes

by snowflake2410

House Pyralis, Relatives to the Targaryens. Just as House Reyne, every Pyralis has been turned into nothing but mere ash and memory. All except one. Ophelia never knew who she was but when is revealed as the last Pyralis, she is soon thrust into a new world of deceit and limitations. As the saying goes: You can try to burn a Phoenix, but they always manage to survive.

16. Chapter 16

Thank you to all who reviewed! It made me so happy to see all of you who reviewed, favorites, and followed this story! Thank you for being so kind and giving this story a chance! Also, Sophie Turner is engaged as well! How cool is that?! :D I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Sorry for waiting so long to update. School's been hectic.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything but Ophelia and any other OC I make up. :)

3rd P.O.V. Winterfell

There was once a time where the dark scared Jon Snow.

It was when he was little.

Jon was at a constant unease by the shadows that danced and played at night. He hated how they lurked when the day ended and how ominous it made everything become. Jon never told anyone the extent of his fear, for he kept it hidden close to his chest.

Yet, like most childhood fears, he had overcome it. The nights and shadows that it brings no longer bothers him.

How can one fear the darkness, when the light is a constant presence?

Jon Snow found his sun in Ophelia Pyralis.

"Jon! Jon!" An eight year old Jon Snow looked up from his book to see a yellow blur running towards him. It launched itself on his lap, knocking the book from his hands.

Ophelia smiled as she clutched Nova tightly. "Will you play with me? Robb got in trouble."

Jon blushed and looked away. "I-I-I don't want to. I was reading."

Ophelia's bright smile died down a notch and Jon's stomach dropped instantly, feeling guilty. Suddenly, it lit back up.

"Why don't we read together?"

Jon's face went red and he nodded. "That sounds wonderful."

Ophelia giggled and ran to one of the shelves in the library, grabbing a book thrice the size of her weight. "I just love reading! Don't you?" She asked as she wobbled back a couple steps, with both the book and Nova in her hand.

Jon nodded. Ophelia stumbled back into the shelf, hit her head, and fell down. "Owie." She rubbed her red-brown hair and gave a big goofy smile. "At least I'm not dead!"

Jon laughed and got up from his chair to help his friend up.

But what transpired between the both of them caused the sun in to flee away.

Now, Jon Snow's life was nothing but the cold and darkness.

He could feel himself sinking deeper and deeper into this grevious abyss. Jon put less effort into his lessons. He couldn't care less which sigil belonged to what house. It was all utter nonsense to him

Jon did get all of his pent up energies into a sword though, even though he was tired. Every night he could not sleep, because of the stress and picture of her fleeing from Jon woke him up, not letting him rest afterwords.

Within one week alone, he decimated five dummies.

"Jon, guess what?!" A twelve year old Ophelia ran towards Jon, clad in a yellow working dress and a dirty apron.

Jon, who was busy doing schoolwork, didn't look up as he asked, "What?"

Ophelia poked his shoulder until he saw her excited smile. His throat constricted and his palms began to get sweaty. Ophelia dug into her apron pocket and produced several black truffles. "I found these today! I asked Maester Luwin if they were edible and he said they were! I get to pick them in the morning now. "

Jon swallowed and gave her a small smile. "That's great 'Felia."

Ophelia widened her eyes in wonder as she stared at the mushrooms lovingly. "I can't believe I found these." She looked back to Jon and placed the truffles in front of him. "Here, I wanted you to have the first ones. Theon doesn't like mushrooms much, but I know you do!"

Jon's mouth went dry as he opened and closed it several times before nodding his head. "Thank you, Ophelia. I will enjoy them."

A beat passed and Ophelia still stood there, smiling as always.

"Do you need something?" Asked Jon. He instantly regretted it as Ophelia's smile died down. "Oh...I, uh...just, tell me how they are, 'kay?" She gave him one last smile and left the room.

Jon cursed as he recalled his earlier words. How someone could be so uncouth, he didn't know.

All he could think about when he repeatedly struck the dummy was look on Ophelia's face. How it looked as if she'd been stabbed by him. He could still vividly see her dark crimson eyes water with images of tears and how she carried herself as if she were in physical pain.

To make matters worse was when Theon Greyjoy, out of all people, came at him several hours later while he was putting fresh hay in the stables. Theon knew of everything. Ophelia had told him.

Jon could only roll his eyes at that.

Of course she would tell him. Besides him, Theon was one of the few friends that Ophelia had. Theon though, was angry on her behalf.

The Kraken scorned him about what he did and even when Jon told him that he didn't understand any of it and to leave well enough alone, Theon wouldn't have it. He took the first swing.

All of Jon's pent up frustrations from that morning and the night before rushed out like a flood.

"WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT IT?! WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT ANYTHING?!" He had yelled. With every word he gave Theon a punch.

"Jon!" Jon looked back to see Ophelia running towards him. She was wearing a bright red coat over her usual yellow frock, carrying a basket. He turned away from her and looked down at his plate, watching the Kitchen Staff rushing back and forth.

He was sitting in a corner, eating breakfast.

Ophelia knelt before him and put a hand in his knee, beaming up at him. "My Lady was out of line this morning, and was quite rude. I don't want your day to be ruined, so I was wondering...would you like to come to Wintertown with me and Theon?"

Jon focused on his plate. "I don't know...I don't want to be a burden."

Ophelia snapped her fingers in front of his face to get his attention and she gave him a softer smile. "You've never been a burden to me. Besides, it'll get you out of the castle for a while. What do you say?"

Jon thought it over for a moment, then he nodded. "Alright."

Ophelia stood up and put a loose strand of her mahogany hair behind her ear. "Great! I'll see you outside in ten." She didn't walk, but skipped out of the Kitchens.

Jon's heart skipped with her.

Theon however was angrier.

"SHE IS NOTHING BUT GOOD TO EITHER OF US AND YOU FUCKED HER OVER!" Theon grabbed Jon by his shirt and threw him hard against the wall next to to entrance of the stables. It winded Jon, and when he finally took a breath, Theon launched himself at Jon, causing the both of them to go through the wall and tumble into the tiltyard.

They didn't care though.

Both got up and went at each other as if they were on opposing forces of a battle. Robb and Ser Rodrick were standing by, witnessing the entire debacle, and weren't doing a thing to stop it.

That was until Theon took one of the broken wooden planks from the barn and took a swing at Jon. Robb, in all of his good intentions and level-headedness, stepped in between them to put an end to things.

"Alright, boys. You had your fun, why don't we put those away and-" Robb ducked as Theon ignored him and took a swing at Jon.

Jon, jumped back, and eyed the object behind him. He needed something to use. He spotted an empty barrel. He reached over and picked up the barrel sideways, causing the lid to slide off. He lifted it over his head and threw it at Theon, who was dodged it by laying low to the ground. The barrel hit the ground and tumbled off.

Robb stood up and glared at his brother and best friend. "Oi! That's enough. Why don't we just talk-" Robb didn't finish his sentence because he was out cold from the wooden lid of the barrel Jon had thrown at Theon.

Dismissing his feeling of guilt, Jon side stepped his brother and knocked his head into Theon's stomach.

Their fight went on for a couple more hours, until Lord Stark came into view. Robb by then had already awoken, and Ser Rodrick, seeing that they weren't going to let up anytime soon (even though he was impressed by both of the young mens' stamina. Ahh...to be young) sent one of the stableboys to fetch Lord Stark. A crowd of spectators had surrounded the tiltyard, with some people taking bets in who would give the final blow.

When Ned arrived, he eyed the two bloodied up fools and walked over to See Rodrick.

"How long has this been going on?"

"For several hours, My Lord."

Ned shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. "And why was I not informed of this earlier?"

Ser Rodrick turned a pale pink under his white braided beard. "We thought it would fizzle out, My Lord. But as you can see", Both men eyed the two teenagers as they simultaneously hit each other in the face, "neither one was willing to let up. I thought that if they let out their aggressions, it would be alright. But now...I'm not sure if that was the right course of descion."

"Indeed it was not." Ser Rodrick bowed his head and stepped back as Ned calmly walked over to the both of them and cleared his throat. The boys took no notice and Ned could only roll his eyes. He walked over to Jon and yanked him off of Theon. "That is enough." Ned growled out.

Both boys stepped back from one another and glared away.

"Theon, go to your chambers. Jon, my Solar...Now."

Jon shoved Theon aside as he stalked off to Ned's Solar.

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Ned entered the room to see a seething boy. Jon had irritation all across his facial features and was slumped down in the the chair. When Ned came into to the room and closed the door behind him, Jon didn't even look his way.

"It wasn't my fault." Jon muttered. "Theon charged at me first."

"Aye, I do not doubt that."

"So why am I here?!" Jon snapped., turning his face to the Lord of Winterfell.

"Because you should have ended it by walking away. Instead you prolonged it by engaging with him. You need to pick your battles, Jon." With every word spoken, Ned took a step until he was standing in front of the curly-headed boy.

Jon scoffed and looked away.

Ned raised an eyebrow. "You think that advice is nonsense?"

"I think it's pig shit."

Ned rolled his eyes and his mind went to Lyanna. Jon was most definitely taking after his mother in this moment.

"Well since you seem to be so fond of pig shit, you can shovel the pens and clean them out."

"With Theon?" Jon growled out, clenching the arms of the chair so tightly his knuckles turned white.

"With Theon." Ned confirmed.

That was it. Jon stood up and started to yell. "THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT! I WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN INTO A FIGHT WITH THEON IF YOU HADN'T OF MADE ME END MY RELATIONSHIP WITH OPHELIA. SHE DESERVES BETTER THAN A BROKEN HEART! BUT YOU DON'T CARE, DO YOU?! YOU'VE NEVER LOVED ANYBODY BESIDES YOUR WIFE."

Jon's fists were clenched and his body was tense. His grey eyes were wild and his chest puffed up and down in deep breaths.

Ned patiently observed Jon and after a minute, asked, "Are you done?"

Jon didn't answer but Ned did. "You're wrong."

"What about?" Jon snapped.

"Being in love..."

Jon widened his eyes a bit but did not let up his stance. "What are you talking about?"

Ned sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. He would need a good drink after this. He walked around to sit in his chair. "I was a bit older than you. Maybe by a year or two. I was at a tourney, with my siblings...all of them. That night, I caught a glimpse of something so enchanting, it took my breath away..." Ned's eyes turned wistful as the reels of the past began to play in his mind.

Jon slowly unclenched his fists and steadily sat down. Was he about to hear of his mother? "Who was she?"

Ned took a long shuddered breath and he stared up at his son. "What I am about to tell you, you will never repeat again. Understand?"

Jon nodded and Ned continued. "Her name was Ashara...Ashara Dayne. And I loved her." Ned spoke as simply as he could.

"I remember seeing her for the first time. She was a friend of Elia Martell, and was present at this tourney, and the celebration afterwards. She was the first woman to take my breath away. The room, which was so cold and unfeeling, turned lively once she walked in. She was the most magnificent creature I had ever seen." Ned's concentrated face turned to a small smile as he remembered how Ashara gracefully entered the hall, adorned in her purple dress, and how it seemed everything began to brighten.

"I was too isolated into myself to ask her for a dance. My older brother saw this, and he danced with her, then asked her to dance with me. When she came up to me, I was acting like a stupid foolish boy. I could not even think straight. But she, in all her radiance, calmed me down and we danced. We talked and talked and then we...we..." Ned turned a tinge pink and coughed into his hand and looked away.

Jon could feel his eyes pop out of his skull. His father had relations with some other woman.

"When the tourney ended, everyone went their own way and I took it upon myself to send letters to her. She responded every time, and we soon made unofficial plans to wed." Ned's smile slowly started to die down as the demons from the past entered into his thoughts. "Several of months passed, and my sister was missing, my father and brother were dead, and I, being next in line, became Lord of Winterfell. It was my duty to fulfill any promise my father had made to Hosue Tully. A marriage was needed, so I stepped in my brother's place and married Catelyn. When the war was over, I went to Starfall to return Ser Arthur Dayne's sword to his family...there I found out that Ashara was brokenhearted. Her brother, whom she loved very dearly, was killed by me, the only man she professed to have loved." Ned stood up and walked in front of the hearth, his back turned to Jon, who stood as well. "She had a baby...our baby...a little girl. She was born dead. In the end, Ashara jumped out of a tower and died in the sea. Her grief was too much to bare."

Jon felt his mouth go dry and he took a cautious step forward. "Was..was she my mother?"

Ned turned around sharply and said, "We are not here to discuss you mother. I know what you are going through...but you need to remind yourself that duty comes before pleasure. Your path of duty will be different from that of Ophelia's. Do what is right, and in the end it will pay off."

Jon nodded, feeling a kindred spirit in his father as the two bonded over their lost loves and the duty that caused those women to be unattainable.

"I understand and I will not speak a word of anything you have said to me."

Jon ignored the girl that he loved...it was the right thing to do. The sun would find him eventually, but it would not be in the form of Ophelia Pyralis.

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1st P.O.V. Wintertown-Winterfell

"Ophelia, dearest friend!" I stood up from the table I was sitting at and embraced my red-haired friend who hugged me tightly with open arms.

After a while of hearing noises come from the other room, I politely excused myself from Nadyea's presence and kindly asked of her to inform Ros that I would be at the tavern.

I was waiting for about an hour when Ros made herself available.

As I hugged her, I noticed that she smelled musky, somewhat familiar, as well as rosy, from the bath.

I leaned back and observed her with a small smile. "Hello! I see you weren't flattering me...that bath really does work."

Rod nodded and we sat down at the table together. "Aye it does. My clients seem to like it."

I blushed and looked down into my cup.

Rod cleared her throat and said, "Madame, after giving me a new bottle of Rose Bath, told me that my friend Sera was waiting for me...and I was wondering...do I know a Sera? But then she informed me how you squeeked like a mouse upon hearing some noises from the other room and I knew it had to be you!"

I let out an uncomfortable laugh. "I guess I'm not that much of an expert when it comes to disguises."

I looked up to see Ros with a slight look of hurt on her face. "Are...are you ashamed to be seen with me? Is that why you needed a new name?"

My eyes widened and I shook my head fiercely. "Of course not! I don't care if someone sees me with you, you're my friend! But Theon wanted me to keep to the shadows, away from anyone's attentions."

Ros rolled her eyes and signaled the barmaid for an ale, who quickly came and placed the mug in front of ger. "Of course it was Theon. I should have know. You know, " A smirk placed itself on her lips as she hid her mouth in cup, "it seems that he cares for you quite a bit."

I shrugged and I sipped my mug of water. "I know he does. He's one of the few friends I have...he cares a lot because he cherishes our friendship."

Ros drank a bit of her ale and set down the cup. "No, silly girl. I'm not talking about friendship." She leaned forward and said, "In my line of work, I need to know how a man works, better than I know myself. I have to pick up what he likes, what he doesn't...you know, that sort of thing."

I nodded, taking a sip from my drink and she continued. "From what I pick up with Theon is that he cares about you...in a romantic manner."

I choked on my water and spat it out to the side. "What?!" From the corner of my eye I could see the barmaid glaring at me for making a mess that she would have to clean up, and I shrunk down under her glare.

"That's preposterous! Theon is just a friend. I mean you must have males that are just friends, right?!" I saw Ros giving me an amused look and I became flustered. "Besides, he still sees me as a little girl and I know he does, or else he wouldn't be as protective of me."

Ros snorted into her cup and laughed. She placed a hand over her heart and grinned. "That is a shit answer."

I shook my head, vehemonously denying her claims. "No it's not. If he really did care for me that way, he wouldn't be laying with some other woman right now."

Ros rolled her eyes again. "You virgins often misconstrue things. Love is one things, sex is another. A man could love a woman, but lay with another, yet it would not affect his relationship with the one he loves. It's quite simple actually."

I crossed my arms. "It's not that simple actually. If a man loves a woman, he would only lay with her and not anyone else. Besides, you know Theon just as well as I. If he sees something he wants, would he pursue it?"

Ros scrunched her red eyebrows together as she started to think about what I asked. "I suppose he would."

I increased my hand and gave her a triumphant smile. "Good. Now that we have that fact established, if he really wanted me, in a romantic way, why hasn't he pursued me in his usual 'I'm an Iron Islander, Fall Into My Bed, For I Will Be The Best Lover You Will Ever Have" routine?"

Ros actually seemed stumped as she took a sip of ale. "You know, I don't actually know."

I smiled brightly as I showed her the discrepancy in her theory. "It's because he doesn't want me in that way."

Ros waved me off and giggled. "Fine, fine. You're right. But mark my words, one day a boy will take notice of you and make his feelings known."

I felt a sharp stab of pain in my heart as she said that. I looked down into my cup, my smile slowly dying.

"Ophelia...what's wrong? Was it something I said?"

I looked up and pushed down any tears that threatened to spill out. "No...of course not. I just...I have been having some trouble with a bit, but not of the Greyjoy variety."

Ros reached over across the table and clutched her hand in mine. "What can I do to help?"

I grasped her hand tightly and I shrugged. "I have no idea. I can barely help myself most days? Most of the days, I just feel numb...or overwhelmingly sad."

Rod stayed quiet for a moment. Then she said, "When I'm sad, I like to come here to see if any musicians are playing. I rather like music."

I perked up when she said that. "I know! Why don't you come to my nameday party?! There will be music there, as well as dancing, food, and other nice things."

Ros suddenly seemed unsure as she let go of my hand. "I don't really know..."

"Oh please!", I begged her, "The party will be filled with people I don't even know. It would be fun to have someone I enjoy there, to make it a little more bearable!"

Ros twirled a strand of hair in thought. "I don't have anything nice to wear though."

I waved her off. "Never mind that, I'll find something for you. Oh please say you'll come! You could be escorted by Theon even, I'm sure he won't mind."

Ros' dark blue eyes seemed to question me. "Will I have to lay with him after?"

I felt a look of disgust cross my features. "Eww, no. Why would you ask that? All you need to do is attend and have fun. So would you? You know, like to come?"

Ros actually seemed bashful as she hesitantly nodded. "All right. I'll come."

I grinned widely.

Ros was coming.

If Ros would be there, and Theon, what could possibly go wrong?

A thought suddenly struck me.

"Ros, do you know of any girls who would like to try out the baths that I will be making? I need three girls, each one different."

Ros looked confused. "Different? How so?"

"Well, I'd like my baths to work for each of you, for it to be versatile. I need one girl with oily skin, one with dry skin, and one with delicate skin. Do you know of any girls like this?"

Ros tapped her chin with her index finger until her blue eyes lit up. "Anya had oily skin. She's our least requested lady because of it. Ana has dry skin, she's constantly rubbing water on it. And there's me."

"You?"

Ros pulled up her sleeve and stroked her arm gently while looking at it longingly. "My skin is so fickle, if it's too sunny it burns and if it's too cold it becomes all red and splotchy!"

"Perfect! I'll make the sampler and have you three test the baths. Alright?"

Ros pulled down her sleeve and giggled. "Why, I never expected this is a million years. Parties and luxury baths? I feel like the most privileged girl in all of the Seven Kingdoms."

Despite everything else in my life, I giggled at how infectious Ros' optimism was as I clinked my mug with hers.

Soon enough, Ros had to go back to work. She had another client expecting her, but she told me that she would inform the girls about testing my product. After hugging me goodbye, she told me that she would get Theon to take me home.

I went outside to wait by the horse, when I heard a withered old voice.

"Oh, why isn't it the nice girl who gave me her fruit!" I turned to see the old crime that I met the day I was whipped.

I took a cautious step back. "Hello." My voice was warbled as the woman stood in front of me. She gave me a grin of teeth and gaps.

She gave me a once over. "My, do you not take heed to warnings? Now you've gone and fallen into a relationship with someone you should not have."

I felt my heart stop. "Wha-what do you mean by that?"

The woman circled around me, inspecting me as she did so. Finally, she stood in front of me and said in a dark voice, "I will only tell you once more, so listen carefully this time as it will not be repeated. Events are to cause a change in your life. You will find the answers in the past, and resolves in the distance. There will be four paths. The red one, the yellow one, the grey one, the purple one. Go down grey, and see your heart's dismay. Go down yellow, and be trapped by creatures of darkness. Go down red and see history come alive. Go down purple, and be immersed in honesty. The choice is coming up soon. Two but not the same. Two of noble name. Two to play the game."

I groaned in confusion. "I don't know what you mean! Paths, events...when will it start?!"

The old woman grabbed my face, her fingernails digging into my skin, and she pulled me down to her eye level. "The events have already taken place. The paths have already been set. It is all a chess game from here in out, and soon, you will need to make your position known."

I jerked out of her grasp and rubbed my chin. "I don't know my position or what it is! And chess?! What does a silly game have to do with anything?"

The woman shook her head and looked at me with sad eyes. "If you cannot see the game for what it is, I fear you already have lost."

"Ophelia! I'm all finished up, we can get going." Theon bounded over to me with a satisfied smirk on his face. I turned to see the old woman was gone and for a moment, I thought I had imagined all of it.

"Oh by the Drowned God! Where did you recieve those scratches?" I felt Theon's fingers run over my chin and cheeks, and his worried face came into my line of sight.

My blood ran cold and I stuttered. "I-I-I don't really know what happened."

Theon sighed and helped me onto the horse. "I'll take a better look once we've arrived at Winterfell." I nodded and we set off.

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I think I'm a jinx.

Trouble before the party started with a sneeze.

It came from Bran.

I was passing him with a crate of candles in my hands when I heard him sneeze. Usually, I would have dismissed this, but then came a cough.

I set down the crate and I walked over to Bran.

I bent down to his eye level and studied his face. It was flushed red, his eyes had goop in them, and his nose was drippy. "Bran", I asked him with caution, "are you feeling alright?"

Bran nodded as he wiped his nose on his sleeve. "I am, I'm just a bit tired."

My eyes narrowed. "Don't lie to me just because you're afraid you'll miss the party. Now tell me, are you feeling alright?"

Bran's widened in fear and he nodded. "Yup. I feel as healthy as an ox."

"Mmm-hmm." I lifted up my hand. "Tell me, how many fingers am I holding up?"

"Lemon?"

I stuffed my laugh down my throat. "Two. The answer is two. Lemon is not a number. Come on you." I picked him up and carried him up to Maester Luwin's tower. I knocked on the door with my foot.

Maester Luwin answered it and gave me a surprised look. "Ophelia, why aren't you down in the Great Hall helping set up the tables?"

I nodded my head to the boy in my arms. "I ran into a detour along the way. He isn't feeling well."

I let myself in and placed Bran on the medical table. "He was sneezing a lot, he has goop in his eyes, and when I asked him how many fingers I was holding up, he told me Lemon."

Maester Luwin gave me a comical look. "Lemon?"

I nodded in confirmation. "Lemon. As in the fruit."

The Maester felt Bran's forehead. "He seems to have a fever, which is probably making him delirious. If he isn't well by tomorrow night, he won't be able to attend the party, for he might still be ill."

Bran, hearing this, sat up. "I'm fine. I can climb a boat on a mountain! You'll see."

Luwin and I looked at each other as Bran then passed out on the table.

Oh dear.

Upin seeing Bran collapse, I rushed down the tower to find My Lady.

I ran to the Great Hall, where My Lady was ordering some male servants how to place the tables around the room. "My Lady! My Lady, Bran is sick, he's in Maester Luwin's tower!" My Lady stopped giving orders as she gave me a shocked look.

"What? Are you sure?"

"Yes! I took him there because I noticed how unwell he seemed. When we got to Maester Luwin's tower, he ended up passing out on the table. My Lady, I'm worried...he has a fever and was spouting off nonsense about lemons, boats, and mountains."

My Lady heard no more as she picked up her skirts and took off to see to her child. I smiled thinking that was our only problem.

Well, when I went with My Lady to put Bran to bed, Arya came to the door to snicker at her brother.

"I think it's funny." She sniffed as she leaned against the door frame. I glared at the little wolf girl as I helped take off Bran's boots.

"Arya, your brother getting sick is no laughing matter. You should be thankful I caught it this early, or else some other unfortunate soul should have fallen ill."

Arya rolled her eyes and sniffed. "I only think it's funny because he was bragging about how all the Lords would only talk to him, because he's a boy."

My Lady was tucking Bran in as I turned around to exit the room. "It wasn't nice for him to say that, but it also wasn't nice for you to think of your brother's affliction as funny." As I rumpled Arya's hair on my way out, my fingers brushed against her forehead. It was hot.

I backtracked and stood in front of the girl who looked at me defiantly. "Arya...you're sick too...aren't you?"

Her eyes went wide and she shook her head. "No I'm not."

I knelt down in front of her and took notice of her red nose, goopy eyes, and the heat that was emitting from her skin.

"My Lady, I think Arya may have fallen ill as well!"

"I am not ill!"

My Lady came over and took in Arya's appearance. "Arya, go to your room and lay down. I'll send some tea up your way in a bit."

Arya crossed her arms and glared away. "I am not sick! I feel fine."

I bent down to her eye level and whispered in her ear, "If you do this, you can get out of the rest of your sewing lessons for today."

Arya's eyes widened and she uncrossed her arms, reluctantly relenting her resolve to be stubborn. "Fine. But I'm not very sick...just a bit under the weather." I rolled my eyes as she turned away to go to her room.

I strided next to My Lady as we made out way back to the Great Hall. I could tell she was worried about this sickness spreading, so I linked my arm through hers and gave her a reassuring smile. "Do not worry, My Lady. It was only two people. Everything will be fine."

Now, to those reading this, I should let you know...I need to learn to keep my mouth shut.

Within several hours of me uttering those words, half the castle had gone under. Most of the servants who usually could be seen going to and fro, were gone. Even Katherine, who never fell ill, could not help but become susceptible to the grasp of this mysterious illness. Maester Luwin was locked up in his Study brewing every remedy known to man. My Lady also shot an icy look at me when we were informed about the sickness that infected half of the castle's inhabitants. I gave her a sheepish look in return and mumbled, "Well...it's only a sickness. Nothing else has gone wrong."

It was when I said this, the Gods decided to have fun with me. Robb and Theon ran into the Great Hall soon after, out of breath, and stressed out.

"Mother, there's been a problem!" My Lady, who was finishing up the tables, walked over to her son. "Yes?"

Robb seemed to try to find the right words to say, so Theon jumped in instead. "Lady Stark, there's been a problem with the man who was to bring salted pork and beef. He was robbed by Wildlings and was killed. They took all the food that he had with him. We have no meat for the party! And with half the castle sick, there's not enough staff to cook the party's feast. The head cook is out of his mind, trying to do everything with only four other people. They need an extra set of hands, but no one is available."

Then Sansa came in and said, "The seamstress fell ill, my dress isn't done for the party!"

Just as My Lady was about to answer these grievances, Lord Stark came in. "Wife, there's been a problem with the roads. Some of our Northern guests have to delay their journey due to flooding."

"What?! Are you certain?"

"I was received several ravens just now."

"What about my dress?"

"Forget the dress! There will be no party if we have nothing to feed our guests."

"Well there will barely be any guests, because half of them are unable to make the journey!"

"Should we cancel the party?"

"Are you daft! We can't cancel it!"

Everyone's voices overlapped the others and I felt myself compacting smaller and smaller, the room around me getting tight.

Then, it exploded.

"WILL ALL OF YOU SHUT UP?!"

It was silent. All pairs of eyes focused on me and I felt myself shrinking.

"I am so tired of hearing about what's wrong! I want to know what we can do to fix it." There was moment of shocked silence, and then I said, "Fine, no one will give me a solution?! Here's one: " I pointed to the Robb and Theon, "You two. Grab Jon, Jory and a couple other people who aren't sick. Go out hunting for some rabbit, venison, and quail." I looked over at Lord Stark. "My Lord, you know the North better than anyone! Find a different route for the Northern families who have been faced with a delay. Take Sansa and you two send word out, but do this quickly as you don't have much time." I turned to My Lady. "My Lady, finish up Sansa's dress. These decorations can wait, but an unfinished formal gown will take a long time to put togther. Get Septa Mordane and the both of you finish Sansa's dress."

Everyone kept staring until Lord Stark said, "Well...you heard Ophelia. Everyone has a job, I suggest we get to it." He gave me a proud smile and I let out a breath of relief as everyone scattered to go do their job.

Before I left, Robb pulled me aside and looked at me seriously. "When should we get back?"

Without a missed beat, I answered. "In three days will be the party. You need to be back by that morning." Rob nodded and left to gather up some men.

As I made my way to the Kitchens, I noticed Little Rickon kicking a rock, all by himself.

I went over to him. "Rickon, I'm heading to the Kitchens to help cook the feast. Would you like to join me?"

Rickon seemed happy that someone was actually paying attention to him and he nodded. "I would love that!"

I grinned and took him by the hand. We had work to do.

Alright, here's it was! Next chapter will be Ophelia helping out in the Kitchens, Final dealings with the brothel, and the Party! :D Please, please review! If we could get this up to 83 reviews, it would make my day! Anyways read, review, and rest easy! :)