As night fell Reek knocked on the door to my tower. I told Wylla, who started to scold him for coming so late to pick up our dinner, to go to her room. I needed to speak with him alone.

He stood there, shivering and unable to meet my gaze.

"...Theon," I mumbled as I helped him take a seat. He kept his eyes away from me so I lifted his head.

"I... I'm sorry" he stuttered, "I'm sorry for all I've done-"

I shook my head "I don't care, just listen to me"

He nodded.

"You need to help me, Theon. You have to! I cannot marry Roose Bolton, and we know he'll try to kill Ramsay. I need you to find out if one of the Bolton soldiers is going to be payed to end my betrothed on the battlefield"

"... I'll be punished-"

"Then you will tell them I sent you!" I insisted.

Theon grabbed my wrists tightly "He'll hurt you!"

I kissed his forehead to calm him "I will not let Ramsay harm me or you, Theon-"

"Reek..." He muttered though his fingers calmed their grip on my wrists "You cannot stop Ramsay from hurting you, Edda"

I took his face in my hands and held him up firmly, for I though Theon's broken pieces might slip through my fingers.

"I'm here to protect you as much as you are to protect me," I promised him, "You will be untouchable while I am around"

"I can't protect you from Lord Bolton-"

"As long as Ramsay is alive Roose will not lay a hand on me," I assured him, getting frustrated "Just please help me, Theon-"

"Reek!" He yelled, "My name is Reek-"

"SHUT UP!" I slapped him. After I realized what I had done, I felt terrible. He'd been tortured, shamed, stripped of his home and his humanity... And here I was inflicting more pain on him.

I pulled him into my arms, his tears pouring down his face. About a year ago I would've stabbed him with Robb's sword if he had let me, but now he was all I had.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry Th-" I started to cry as well, "I'm so sorry, Reek, I can't do this without you! I won't make it out alive. You're my only hope!"

He looked up at me as I cried. Something changed in his eyes. They livened.

"I will not let you down Lady Stark," he wiped his nose and stood up "I will not let you die"

With that he stumbled out of my tower. I sat down on my table, staring down at the fine wood as I tried to stop my tears of shame and sorrow.

...

After a while I picked up a knife from the uncleared dinner and started to carve a flower on the table when a second person knocked on my door.

"Come in," I dried my tears.

Ramsay came in with a stack of parchment paper. "I'm so sorry I haven't visited all day I was writing the invitations to our wedding, and I need you to help me make a special-"

He paused, "What's the matter my sweet wolf?"

I forced a smile "I'm alright-"

Ramsay dropped the parchment on the table, walked over to me, and knelt by my side "Who is the reason you cry?"

"I'm not-"

"Who?"

"... You" I mumbled.

Ramsay gave me a look, "Me?" He took my hands from my lap and into his cold fingers, stained with blood "What have I done to make you so miserable?"

"It's not you in that sense," I tried to explain. I realized that if there was a time for me to tell him about the letter the time was now, "I... I'm scared for your life"

Ramsay hesitated before laughing "My beautiful, caring bride. I've survived many a battle against higher odds. When the day comes I'll battle Stannis in the morning and be at your side at night to keep you warm"

I smiled at that, "I don't doubt it. But it is not your courage and strength in battle that I am afraid of"

"Then by all means let me prove to you that whatever it is it will never hurt me," Ramsay kissed my hands and looked up at me with menacing eyes.

My tongue was tied. Somehow I couldn't find a way to tell him. And so I showed him.

I led him up the stairs of the tower and into my bedroom. Locking the door behind me I pulled open my closet.

"... Edda?" Ramsay's eyes followed me closely as I pulled out the key to my drawer from a box in my closet and went towards it in order to unlock it. When I did, I simply stared down at the letter. With shaky hands I picked it up, folded and with the flayed man symbol on it, and handed it to Ramsay.

He looked down at my hands as I offered it to him. Furrowing his brow at me he took it from me and opened it.

Ramsay's eyes widened as he read, and read, and paused... And re-read quicker and with confusion.

He shot me a look, gripping so hard onto the letter I thought he'd break it. "W-who gave you this?"

I looked over at my open window and immediately went to close it. After I did I turned to him once more and explained "Reek found it on Roose's desk no doubt when he was giving him breakfast. I was the first person he saw and so he gave it to me-"

He was clearly in shock, his anger leaking as he scoffed "Why would he give it to you? What can you do to protect me?"

I clenched my jaw "Is that really all that matters right now?"

His angry chuckles made me nervous "It's a relevant point isn't it-"

"HE IS PLANNING TO MURDER YOU RAMSAY! TO RAPE AND KILL ME!" I shouted without thinking.

He was taken by the power of my voice. For a while all the Flayer could do was stare at me. Stare as the tears that had formed in my eyes started to pour down again. Stare as I sat on my bed and buried my face in my hands.

I hated him, I swore I hated him! But yet I didn't want him to die. I couldn't... I rather have him than Roose, even if he's a monster. I was almost certain he was in love with me, and he at least tried to be gentle. Roose would not treat me this way.

I felt his arm go around me. Looking up at him I noticed his eyes were the slightest bit teary as well. I'd never seen him like that.

"Oh my little queen," Ramsay stroked my face, "You've done so well. I apologize for my reaction I was a bit in shock after that whole revelation. I guess I must have been a fool to trust my father,"

He kissed the side of my face. "... W-will you stay cautious?" I asked.

"Extremely," he insisted, "I'll know even when a fly enters the room at night as I sleep!"

He dried my tears with his thumbs and with his kisses. And as he kissed my face I suddenly felt a jolt of joy. I took him into my arms, rolling on top of him on my bed. Nose-to-nose I promised him "I will not marry anyone but you, Ramsay"

His smirk grew wide and he kissed me, pulling me off him and onto the bed. As he towered over me, he whispered "Good. Because I'll murder anyone who tries to take you from me"

He kissed me and I liked it. Gods damn my soul, I loved it! I felt as if all my problems had been solved, even though he was the problem. It's curious how the feeling of this heaven made me feel as if I was going to the worst of the seven hells.

Afraid of what I felt I insisted "I'm tired, Ramsay... B-but that doesn't mean you have to leave!" (For his eyes that once were filled with warm fire were suddenly put out). "Stay with me tonight, Ramsay"

The fire started once more in his eyes "As my lady commands!"