Ella Snow and her twin brother are outsiders in the house of their father, Lord Eddard Stark. Ella has no one else in the world, except her brother Jon. Join Ella on her journey as she uncovers truths that could destroy her and those she loves.
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Ella's eyes fluttered open as the low sun beams from the winter sky peeped through her room. She sat straight up, remembering the strange dream she had about her parents. Her real parents. Though Ella wasn't entirely sure it was a dream. It felt too real.
Ella rolled over, hoping to come face to face with her wildling beast, but the space next to her remained empty. Ella exhaled, then rolled over once more. She closed her eyes, blocking out the sunlight. Thoughts and images of last night filled her mind. Ella hummed a soft tune, drifting off to sleep as images of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark flooded her mind.
The lone wolf kept to herself as days passed slowly. Jon was busy preparing for the journey South. Sansa tended to the repairs of Winterfell after the Great War ended. Bran spent his time lost invisions. Arya was either sparring or tucked away in the blacksmith shop. And Tormund, well Ella hadn't seen Tormund in awhile. He was too busy preparing the Free Folk's journey home.
And then there was Ella. She would occupy her time either in the library, the forests surrounding Winterfell, or the crypts.
One particular morning, Ella did not move from her bed. Ella had locked herself in her room for about three days before someone checked on her.
"Okay, my love," Tormund's voice boomed as he threw the wooden door open. He gently closed it behind him and stared at his raven-haired beauty from across the room.
"Enough of this," Tormund grunted. "We all miss you, Ella. Jon misses you. Your ginger sister, your beast. Hell, even the Dragon Queen has noticed your absence around this place."
"No, they haven't," Ella sighed. "They're all too busy moving on with their lives to even think about me. No one cares about me or what I have been struggling with."
"Now you know that's not true, little crow," Tormund huffed.
"Yes it is," Ella closed her eyes, ignoring the glares from the towering giant. "No one has even been by to see me. If they cared, they would have."
"You have to get out of bed, Ella!" Tormund sighed. "I may not know a lot, but I know you cannot live like this. This moping and crying for days on end has to end. You have to get out of this room and live. I want to help you with whatever is wrong, my dear, I truly do. But, I cannot help you if you are just going to lie there for the rest of your life."
"That's the thing," Ella whispered. "I don't know what my life is going to be like now."
The small girl rose from her bed, strolling to her wildling lover. "I'm stuck, Tormund. I can't figure out where my life is headed. It isn't here, and it isn't King's Landing."
"You have other options, my love," Tormund said. "You just have to follow the best path for you."
"And what am I supposed to do Tormund, huh?" Ella exclaimed. "Please tell me that! I I can't stay here in Winterfell. Everything about my family, both good and bad, is here. I can't bring myself to stay around and be reminded that I truly don't belong here. I don't want to go South and fight for a cause that has nothing to do with me! Plus, I'm frightened, no terrified, out of my wits to be there when Daenerys becomes queen! Sure, she's going to make a great one, there's no doubt about that. But what is she going to do with Jon? What'll happen to him?"
"Ella," Tormund slipped his hands into her's, but Ella pulled away.
"Everything is happening so fast," Ella croaked as a single tear fell down her face. She looked out the window as a fresh layer of snow fell upon Winterfell's courtyard.
"What do you propose I do?" Ella sighed. She turned to the bearded giant as he rose from her bed. He strolled over to her, taking her small hands in his. "I feel like my whole world is turning upside down. The past few days have been great over the last few days, and now, everything from my entire life is catching up to me. It's all too much. I can't, no, I don't know what to do anymore."
"You can take me as your husband," his swimming eyes met her pale blue ones. "Tonight."
