Flayer

29.Edda

I hated being on my red rose. Not only did I have to wear a cloth between my legs at all times, but all my dresses for days had to be red to not make a mess of my other dresses. And everyone knew about it.

And don't even get me started on the back pains, the feeling you're being stabbed in the stomach repeatedly, the craving for food, the nausea and the heightened feelings.

I switched emotions in a snap. I couldn't even predict myself. And my poor Ramsay did not understand me any better than I did.

He was planning a banquet tomorrow night for my nineteenth birthday while I sat on the bed reading with Lya on my lap. Though she crushed my legs she also kept me warm, and I loved her company.

The story I read was about a princess who fell in love with a dragon. The dragon had taken her prisoner but found her songs and words soothing and so decided not to kill her. Over time the princess realized her affections toward the dragon and tried to give him a kiss, but the dragon didn't interpret her actions correctly and rained fire on her, convinced she meant to kill him.

As I read the part when the dragon realized he had fried the love of his life I started to cry.

Ramsay gave me a look as I hugged Lya, sobbing into her fur. I could feel both my direwolf and my betrothed sharing looks.

Clearing his throat bravely Ramsay asked "My love, is there something wrong?"

I just continued to cry.

Slowly getting up and walking towards me as if I was some dangerous creature he place a hand on my shoulder.

"There,there..." He patted my back.

"Sh-she loved him s-so much and he just didn't u-understand and I-" I couldn't speak clearly through my sobs so I just sat on the bed balling my eyes out.

Lya made a comforting whimper to let me know everything was alright. As she licked the tears off my face Ramsay attempted to sit next to me but Lya growled at him to go away.

I laughed a little too hard "It's okay, Lya, it's only Ramsay-"

She snarled so I shushed her. "Lya!" I snapped my fingers and pointed at her bed on the other side of the chambers. With an angry yap Lya complied to my orders, making her way to her comfy hay bed and curling up.

"W-was that rude of me?" I looked up at Ramsay. I'd felt bad for shooing my pet away.

He raised his eyebrow, laughing mockingly "Rude? It's a direwolf not a human, they don't have emotions they have instincts-"

"THEY FEEL TOO!" I claimed way too loudly.

Ramsay clenched his jaw which made me freeze in sudden terror. Was he annoyed at me? Angry? Oh no...

Kneeling before me with a furrowed brow he asked "You're so sure, then? You're just convinced that you suddenly know more about hounds than I do?"

I smirked. It was so natural and sincere I was honestly astonished by myself "Aye, perhaps I should help you out by reminding you that a town dog is not the same as a wild wolf"

"Town dog?" Ramsay tilted his head to the side, his expression still serious, "You think my hounds are just town dogs?"

"Well, yes," I tried to explain "A town dog is born into a world were people shame him and shoo him away and so he'll obey anyone who offers him food... But direwolves are born with the ability to choose their companion and alpha leader, Ramsay. They choose the human and not the instinctive need to eat anyone and anything. Therefore direwolves think and feel just as we do."

Ramsay glare was overcome with softness. If there was any source of pure love within him it burst through his eyes in vivid color. His crooked smile emerged "You never fail to amaze me, Edda Stark. Truly. Here again I made the mistake of belittling you and once again you've show me something old and turned it new" he chuckled, "Why do you always make everything better?"

Giving him a kiss I giggled "I just said my direwolf had a soul, poet!"

Ramsay laughed at that, his hands placed on either side of my face. "Mine," his forehead rested on mine.

"Who's?" I asked teasingly.

"Mine," Ramsay said more seriously. His hands  traveled drown my neck and arms and held my hands.

I watched him do this and felt a tingly, needy, greedy feeling from within. And so I agreed "Yours"