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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On the last week of the King's stay, Ella stood on the grounds of Winterfell, playing a game of hide and seek with Bran and their direwolves. Ella wanted to spend her time in the library, but the little Stark insisted. Ella felt a wave of uneasiness wash over her. She tried to convince Bran not to play, but Ella caved in.
Bran hid, while Ella counted to twenty. Her eyes scanned the area, only to land on the broken tower about fifty feet from where she stood. She saw Summer sitting at the base of the tower. Smiling to herself, Ella dashed to the tower with Asena at her heels.
The girl gazed up the stone building, watching as her brother climbed up the tower. He made it to the window, and did not move. Something caught the attention of the little lord.
"Brandon Stark, this isn't fun anymore," Ella shouted. Worry filled her voice as her brother continued to ignore her. "It's getting dark, we should get inside the castle!"
Bran ignored the shouts from his sister. Ella soon realized that something caught his attention. "What is it, Bran?" Ella called to her brother.
But he did not answer. The little lord poked his head through the window. Ella thought maybe Bran found a mother cat with her kittens. Bran was always distracted by animals.
"Bran, your mother is going to be furious if she sees that you climbed up there." Ella shouted. "Especially after you promised her that you would not climb anymore."
Bran still would not listen to his sister. Summer and Asena began to circle the base of the tower, whimpering for the little lord.
"Bran, you need to come back down!" Ella shouted louder, her voice filled with anxiety.
Ella sighed, then rolled up the sleeves of her dress. She grabbed onto a protruding brick and readied herself to climb the tower.
Before she began her climb, Ella glanced up to see Bran falling from the tower. Ella screamed an earpiercing shriek as she watched Bran fall to the ground. She stumbled back and tried to catch the boy, but failed. He fell at such a speed that the girl could not get to him in time.
Bran's body hit the ground with a hard thud, and the boy remainrd still. Ella shouted for help as tears spilled from her eyes. She was unsure of what to do, so she sent Asena and Summer for help.
Ella fell to Bran's side, clutching his small hands as she cried out for her little brother. Ella buried her head into his little chest, sobbing as his heart beat was faint.
Ella lifted her head after she heard shuffling from behind her. Jory, Hodor, and Maestar Luwin ran towards the pair with the wolves close behind. Maestar Luwin instructed Hodor to gently pick up the boy so he could examine him.
Jory scooped Ella from the ground and carried her inside the castle. Once they reached her chambers, Ella ran to the window and threw up the contents of her stomach. She would never be able to get the image of Bran falling out of her memory.
Tears continues to pour down her cheeks as she wiped her mouth on the sleeve of her dress. Jory pulled the girl over to her bed, and he wrapped an arm around her shoulder, allowing her to cry.
Once Ella collected herself, she turned to her father's captain. Her puffy blue eyes met his. Jory took her hand in his and ran his thumb across her knuckles.
"What happened to Bran?" He asked in a hushed tone.
"We were playing a game, and he climbed up the broken tower," she sobbed. "He poked his head through the window, and I thought that maybe he saw a cat with her kittens. I called his name several times, but he did not answer. So I decided to climb the tower. Then I realized he was falling. I was too late to help him. This is all my fault."
"It is not," Jory reassured her. "He's a climber, and he just slipped. Accidents like this do happen, even to prominent families."
Ella shoom her head. "I didn't see him slip. It looked as though someone pushed him."
"Who would push a ten year old boy from a tower?" Jory asked.
"Someone who wants to harm the Stark family," Ella replied.
"I believe you are just shaken up from this, Miss Ella," Jory reassured the girl. "Now come. A night's sleep is what you need. I'll have Maestat Luwin bring you Essence of Nightshade to help you sleep."
Ella shook her head and allowed Jory to escort her to her room before Lady Catelyn arrived. Having the Lady of Winterfell was the last thing Ella needed right now.
A couple days after Bran's fall, Ella entered his room to see her brother. Maestar Luwin informed everyone that the crucial time is over, and all there is to do is wait and pray to the gods.
Ella instantly saw the red hair of Catelyn Stark. The woman sat at the foot of her son's bed, clutching the blanket as tears streaked her face. Ella walked to the side of Bran's bed and looked at his unmoving body.
"Lady Stark," she turned her head to the woman. "I am so deeply sorry for what happened to Bran. Had it not been for me, this would have never happened."
"You're absolutely right," she scoffed. "Had it not been for you being born, my family would be whole and happy. Bran would not be in this bed, and my husband would only have five children, not seven. But, the gods have punished me. First by bringing two bastard children into my home, and the second being that one of those bastards almost had one of my children killed."
"Lady Catelyn, I tried to save him," Ella pleaded. "Please believe me!"
"Do not speak to me that way!" Catelyn shouted.
Lady Stark rose from her seat and backed Ella into a corner. Her blue eyes, filled with sadness and rage, flickered over Ella's small face.
"You have caused nothing but pain and suffering for my family ever since you were brought to this castle seventeen years ago!" She shouted, causing Ella's hands to tremble in fear.
"I'll never understand why Ned brought you here. He should have left you and your brother to fend for yourselves. I want you ton know that you and that brother of yours will never find love. Your mother was a whore. She did not want you. Even she did not love you. No one could ever love you. Not a high born, not a man of the Night's Watch. Not even a wildling. You will die alone. Why don't you do us all a favor and end your life now? You should be the one lying in bed unconscious. Not my son. Not my boy! Now, out with you!" Catelyn shouted at the girl. Lady Catelyn raised her hand and struck Ella across the face.
Ella felt tears fall down her face at the words from Catelyn Stark. She turned on her heel and was met with the worried face of her father. She pushed past him, ignoring his calls and ran out of Bran's room. She disappeared into the kennels and found Asena curled into a small bundle in the corner. Curling up next to her wolf, Ella cried herself to sleep. And not for the first time, Ella was all alone, and no one bothered to check on her. Not Jon. Not Jory. Not even her father.
