Eddmina wasn't entirely sure as to when her father told her other siblings about the impending Tyrell visit, but she knew he'd not mentioned her upcoming betrothal to any of them. If he had, Winterfell would have been in chaos. No, Eddmina knew that her match with Willas Tyrell was a secret that existed only between herself, her father, her mother, the maester, and the Tyrells themselves. 

Except Eddmina didn't like keeping secrets from her siblings, especially her brothers. Secrets, to her, were just like lying, and she hated liars. She knew that she needed to tell Robb and Jon about it all before the Tyrells got to Winterfell, as they'd soon see through the visit for it's true purpose, and she knew that she had to tell Theon most of all. 

She wondered how they'd react. They all knew it would come at some point, but it didn't mean they had to like it. Eddmina was extremely close to the three of them, and she knew that if the thought of leaving them hurt her, it would be just as bad for them. 

Especially Theon. She had no idea what his reaction would be. She'd come to accept it, that whatever was between her and her father's ward had to come to an end, and all she could do was hope that Theon would accept it too. They were never official, she knew he always used to go straight to the brothels after his visits to her to get out any frustrations she left him with, so he had other options, unlike Eddmina. All she had was her husband, and that might not be for years. 

Either way, she needed to tell Theon first, before her brothers, and that was how she found herself welcoming Theon into her chambers for the last time, the boy immediately moving to kiss her as if nothing had changed. 

"I need to talk to you," Eddmina said quietly, putting her hand on Theon's chest gently, pushing him away before he could kiss her. 

"What is it?" he asked seriously, seeing her face, knowing whatever it was wasn't a joke. 

"We can't do this anymore," she told him bluntly. He immediately dropped his hands from her waist, stepping away. 

"Why not?" Theon asked, sounding almost demanding. 

He didn't like rejection, especially from someone he cared about so much. Ever since they had been twelve, he'd seen Eddmina in a different light. The two had always been close, ever since he first came to Winterfell, and when they were fourteen and first began fooling around with each other, it was as if, to him, their relationship had become what it always should have been. Theon liked visiting Eddmina, even more than he liked visiting his 'other' women, and to hear that she wanted to call it off, Theon couldn't quite wrap his head around it. 

"Because I have to go and get married soon," she told him, looking at the floor. Eddmina never looked at the floor, Theon knew. She always looked people in the eye. 

"You're lying," he said, though he knew she never lied. He knew it was the truth, just didn't want ot believe it. "Edda, please, tell me you're lying," 

"Why do you think the Tyrells are coming to visit?" she asked him, using her tone to make him feel stupid, as if he should have seen it coming. "They want me to marry the eldest, Willas," 

"Willas Tyrell?" Theon exclaimed, almost angrily. Maybe if she was becoming betrothed so someone he'd never heard of before he might feel better, but he' heard that man's name before, and he'd heard the stories about him. "Willas fucking Tyrell? He's ten years older than you, not to mention a cripple! That's who your father has chosen?" 

"Don't call him that," Eddmina snapped firmly, meeting his eye at last. 

"Why, defending him already? Already playing the role of his good lady wife?" Theon teased almost maliciously. 

Eddmina glared at him, setting her jaw angrily. She couldn't quite believe he was teasing her over it all. She knew he wouldn't like the situation, but to insult her future husband before either of them had met him, as well as mock her for defending him, was out of order. It didn't matter what they'd been doing with each other, Theon was meant to be her best friend and look out for her, not make her feel awful. Before she could stop herself, her hand had lashed out and slapped him across the cheek. It wasn't too hard of a slap, but she'd shocked him. He gasped slightly, before grabbing hold of her hand harshly. 

"Don't hit me," he practically growled at her. 

"Don't insult me," she snapped back, and the two locked gaze angrily. "You knew this was how it would end," 

"It shouldn't end," Theon shook his head. "He doesn't deserve you,"

"Theon we've not even met the man," Eddmina tried to defend  him. 

"He doesn't deserve you," he repeated, squeezing her hand slightly before dropping it, instead taking hold of her waist, throwing her down on her bed as he had done only a week before. This time, however, it seemed less romantic and passionate, more possessive and forceful. "He doesn't deserve you. I do," 

They had done this before. Theon throwing her down on the bed, sitting on top of her, or even her sitting on top of him, but it had always been flirtatious and a gesture out of desire. Now, Eddmina felt threatened, uncomfortable, and she just wanted to get away from him. She wasn't used to feeling that way around him, but she knew that even if she had a choice regarding their relationship, she didn't want him around her like that again.

"Let me go," she spoke firmly, but Theon didn't move, sitting on her hips to pin her down. "Theon, get off me!" 

"No," he said, leaning down to kiss her. Instead he was met by her fist. He let out a sharp groan of pain, rolling off of her and she pushed him away, getting up off the bed quickly before he could get to her again.

"Don't you dare try anything like that again," she warned him, watching as he sat up, both hands holding his jaw. "I'm sorry for hitting you, but you should know. We can't meet up like this again. No more kissing, or touching. It's over, " 

"Why does it have to be?" Theon asked. "You still aren't' a proper woman, they can't sell you off to the cripple until you are. Can't I have you until then?" 

"You never had me, I'm not something to be owned," Eddmina sighed. "But no, no more, Theon. I'm sorry. I really do like you, and I like what we do together, but when the Tyrells come, I can't be seen to be romantic with anyone else. I could ruin house Stark's name. I have to be honourable, like my father,"

"Your father that ran away with another woman and fathered a bastard? How honourable," Theon muttered, getting up off the bed, shooting her a slight glare. 

"What's going on?" Robb's voice called from the doorway, and she turned to see both Jon and Robb waiting to come into her room. 

"Come in, both of you," she invited them, hoping they would react better to her news than Theon did.

Robb and Jon recognised the tension in the room immediately, and it was tension unlike anything they'd ever felt between Eddmina and Theon. Eddmina was pacing slightly, clenching and unclenching her fists out of nerves, whist Theon was still sat on her bed, scowling.

"What's wrong with him?" Jon pointed to Theon, frowning at the Greyoy who was still holding his jaw, his cheek turning bright red. 

"I hit him," Eddmina shrugged. "But that's not important, what's important is the fact that the Tyrells are coming to Winterfell to arrange a marriage between me and Willas Tyrell," 

"The cripple," Theon muttered darkly, shooting Eddmina one last glare before storming out. 

Out of habit, Eddmina turned to watch him leave. She had gotten so used to watching Theon, wanting him, almost loving him, that now it was hard to accept the way he was acting. Except at the same time, she was furious at him, for the way he treated her, the way he talked about her future betrothed, and how he took all of the focus away from the moment at hand. How could she tell her brother's about her betrothal if Theon was making it all about him? 

However, she'd bluntly told them anyway, and despite Theon storming out, the two seemed entirely focused on her, both of them looking on in shock. Jon seemed more confused, almost in denial, whilst Robb appeared more upset, as if she told him she was dying.

"Are you serious?" Robb exclaimed, his face falling instantly. 

"You're going to get married?" Jon asked, sounding as if he refused to believe it. 

"Do you think I want to? I wouldn't lie about this, about being sent away down south," Eddmina grimaced. 

"Father cant do that to you, he can't send you so far away," Robb shook his head, pacing the room. 

"It was the king who's arranged it," Eddmina shrugged, trying to seem casual when really she was falling apart. "And it won't be for a while, or at least not until... well, I have time, it's just theyre coming to arrange it all and for me to meet Willas. I thought you deserved to know before they got here. I tried telling Theon but..." 

"He didn't seem to take it very well," Jon noted. "Edda, are you alright with this?" 

"I have to be," she nodded. "I'm a Stark of Winterfell, nothing can change that, but I have to do what's right for the family, and apparently this marriage is what is right," 

Robb sighed, knowing that no matter what she said, no matter how much she put it down to her duty, Eddmina wasn't alright. Even if on the surface she was fine, deep down, she really didn't want this for her life, and Robb didn't want it for her either. Eddmina was his twin sister, practically his other half, and he couldn't imagine life without her. The two had always been inseparable, even as small children, and even when he had lessons with the boys and the septa took her for lessons, she never changed, always being his Edda. She was being taught how to be a lady, and he was being taught how to be a lord, but nothing changed between the two. 

But now everything was changing. Soon, Eddmina wouldn't be in Winterfell, wouldn't even be in the north. For her to move so far away, Robb couldn't imagine it. Part of him wanted to run straight to his father and tell him he was stupid to send her so far away, but he knew there was a reason his father hadn't told the rest of them about the real reason behind the Tyrell visit, knowing he'd kick off about it all. He also knew that his father probably didn't want it to happen either, considering Eddmina had told them that the King had arranged the suitors. 

It wasn't something that any of them really wanted, but he knew it was unstoppable, so Robb stayed quiet. Theon had caused enough grief for Eddmina about it all, seeing that although she remained stoic, her emotions were running wild behind her façade. She never cried, never really expressed any serious emotions, but he could tell how upset she really was about Theon's reaction. He wasn't going to cause her anymore hurt. 

Instead, Robb moved closer to her, pulling her into a tight hug. Eddmina gasped slightly, as if she was expecting him to go mad about it just like Theon had, before she relaxed into his hold, biting her lip slightly as she savoured the embrace of her brother. Looking over his shoulder, Eddmina saw Jon, hovering awkwardly in the corner of the room, looking at her in dismay, as if she was about to just disappear. 

"Jon," she called, pulling one hand away from Robb, holding it out to beckon her bastard brother closer to her. 

With a small sigh, Jon took her hand as she pulled him into their group hug. Eddmina had other siblings, of course, but Jon and Robb had grown up being her best friends. Their support meant more than anything to her. To know that, although they weren't happy with what was happening, they had her back.

"Nothing has to change, not yet," she told them both as they pulled away, though she still held onto Jon's hand tightly. Both boys were unsure as to whether she was reassuring them or herself. "The wedding won't be for ages, nothing's changed," 

Eddmina knew her words were a lie. Everything had already changed. 

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