Flayer

9.Edda

"Come on, milady, you can't stay in here forever!" Wylla insisted, massaging my shoulder as I sat on the bed, shaking in terror at the thought of Ramsay's intricate marks on the dead man's skin "It's been almost two days, and the sun is finally gone-"

"It's no use, Wylla," Myranda snapped, pulling her away from me "Make the kitchen wenches heat her some sleeping soup on their rusty cauldron and leave her to me"

Please don't leave, I thought as Wylla did as Myranda said, leaving me alone with someone I swore wanted me dead.

She poured some sort of tea into a cup, offering it to me "To help you sleep"

I shook my head, hugging my knees tighter "No thank you"

Myranda smirked, putting down the cup and sitting right next to me "You're scared of him, aren't you?"

I clenched my jaw, not responding.

"I don't blame you... But he won't hurt you, no, not unless you bore him. If you become ill, you bore him, if you don't submit, you bore him, if you become pregnant, well..." She chuckled "And you must already know what happens to those who bore him, of course?"

"W... What happens to those who bore him?" I asked, fearing the answer.

She looked over at her bow and arrow across the room, her eyes lighting up with madness "My... He takes them on a hunt with his great hounds, only you would not be the hunter, you would be the prey"

My eyes widened with fear.

"He'll let you run first. And you'd run through the forest as fast as you can, trying not to trip over the roots popping out of the soil. Then, he'll aim an arrow at you, slowing you down. But it will not be fatal, just a wound through the leg. And then his hounds will come, ah, and that's when it's all over. Four hounds or more will tear at your flesh while you're still breathing, eating you alive as you scream and holler, begging for death-"

Suddenly, the door slammed open, and he was right there.

I almost screamed, pushing myself against the headboard.

He flashed that crooked smile at me, "My bride," then looked down at Myranda "Will you leave us?"

She hesitated, giving him a dirty look, and then stomped out of the room.

Ramsay carefully closed the door, and I looked away from him. He shook off the snow from his shoulders, taking off his cloak and placing it on my table.

"It's very cold outside," the Flayer said, going over to the window and closing it. He turned to me, and I scrambled onto my feet, straightening my dress. I didn't want to know the price of impoliteness.

"I'm... Sorry about my attire" I forced myself to speak, looking down at my feet.

He laughed, "It's alright! I've come in the middle of the night to see you, I do not expect you to wear the finest dress you have"

I watched as I shifted my feet around nervously "St-still it's bad etiquette to present yourself in your-eh-nightgown-"

"Edda" He stopped me.

I glanced up at him and then back down at my feet.

"No, Edda," he walked over to me as I stood frozen in fear. "Look. At. Me"

He lifted my head, and I did. I looked at him. He was struggling with something.

"I..." He had trouble speaking, clearing his throat and forcing a smile "Edda, I want to tell you something... Would you like to hear it?"

"... Y-yes my lord Ramsay," I lied, my body trembling.

Ramsay placed his hands on my shoulders, making the trembling stop. "I... I am-Well, hah, I am very...Truly... I..." He paused, scrunching his nose and starting over "I am very sorry, Edda Stark. Truly. You must understand I only meant to show you that you were safe from everyone, not the next victim to my blade... I want you to know I'd never flay you. Ever... That last bit sounded wrong didn't it?"

I stared at him in silence for a while, and then... Suddenly... I smiled. I still hated him, but hearing those words made me feel a little better. I felt a sense of relief, in fact, even if I knew he most likely was lying.

"You're... Smiling?" He smiled as well. It wasn't crooked this time, and for some reason me being happy made him calmer. The grip on my shoulders became a soft grab, and his brow relaxed.

I hugged him, not saying a word. He didn't react quickly and it took him some time to realize what I'd done. He slowly put his arms around me, holding me for a little while.

This is it, I told myself, if you act as if you weren't afraid of him, as if you loved him... He won't hurt you, and you might even get to control him!

His hand wandered to the back of my head, sinking his fingers in my blood red hair, resting his chin on my head.

"Ramsay?" I almost whispered, not believing I was actually going to say this.

"My lady?" He looked down at me, a calm expression on his face.

"Will you stay with me tonight?"

He was so confused. His eyes widened, and he asked "My... My lady, we are not married yet-"

"I know," I muttered, pretending to look sad.

"B-but if it pleases you I will stay at your side, Edda. I don't want you to have nightmares, or be cold-"

"Good!" I smiled, opening the bed and quickly tucking myself in. Ramsay laughed, taking off everything but his undergarments and laying next to me. Wylla tried to come in with the soup, but Ramsay shooed her away.

I repressed my every instinct to scream, to cry, to tremble and jump out of the window as I snuggled close to him, and he put his arm under me. I felt like a lamb who had put on wolf's skin and went to lay next to the hungry alpha of the clan.

As I dozed to sleep, I felt his warm breathing through his nose warming my forehead. For the first time since my father left to Kings Landing, I did not fall asleep afraid.