Have you ever felt weak? Ever felt truly weak? Truly weak because of love? As if you couldn't do anything. As if you couldn't breathe. Couldn't think, sleep, eat, or even live if that person wasn't with you. That they were your reason to live. Well, that was how Roose felt.

Many would say that it was impossible for the usually cautious, ruthless, calm and calculating Lord of the Dreadfort to feel emotions such as love. That a man known to be capable of unspeakable cruelty. A man that was never publicly seen to express anger, happiness, or sadness. Could, under all that sadism and cruelty, actually even have a heart. A heart that he had lost.

Roose sat in the hall, looking out of the window onto what was left of Winterfell. Completely ignoring whatever Walda was talking about now. Roose had only agreed to marry Walder Frey's granddaughter, so that he could attempt to guarantee his alliance with House Frey, as well as secure her weight in silver. He didn't love her. He knew that he would never love her. The only thing that the large woman was giving him, was a legitimate child. A child, that if it were a son, would mean that House Bolton didn't just have to look to Ramsay to help maintain themselves as one of the great houses of Westeros.

Most of the time, Roose found his young wife boring, irritating. The lord disliking even being in her presence. He knew that others spoke about the match, as well as about Walda, with some hilarity. Everyone, apart seemingly from Walda herself, knowing full well why the Lord of the Dreadfort would even contemplate looking at such a woman. But what no one knew was that the lords heart lay elsewhere. With a woman that was not of a great house. A woman whose family were not rich and powerful. A woman that was a simple servant. A woman that he would always take with him when he ventured from the Dreadfort. The lord needing to ensure that nothing would ever happen to her.

"Ah (Y/n). There you are." Walda suddenly said. The sound of his true loves name making Roose turn, so that he could lay eyes on the woman that made his heart beat. The woman that made his life worth living yet was still to forgiven him for marrying Walda. Still to forgive him for giving her a child. And still to forgive him for giving her to the woman that (Y/n) had referred to as an overfilled, ugly sack of stinking horse shit, as a maid.

"My lady?" (Y/n) enquired softly. Doing her best to ignore the man she loved, as well as try not slap the face of the woman in front of her. (Y/n) hating the weak, meek and foolish creature that smiled up at her. The woman that she felt had usurped her place in Roose's affections.

Roose got to his feet, making his way to his bride's side. Not wanting to be near her, but to be near the beautiful creature that had snubbed him since she found out about his marriage.

"I wish to bathe. Will you prepare my bath, please?" Walda replied. A smile pulling at her lips as she drew her husbands' arm around her shoulder. Walda failing to notice that Roose didn't care whether she was there or not. His only thoughts on the woman that refused to look him in the eye. The woman that he wanted to take there and then. The woman's whose body he craved more than air.

"Yes, of course my lady." (Y/n) said as politely as she could. Curtsying respectfully. Her eyes momentarily meeting Roose's before she turned to leave the room.

Roose could see the tears behind (Y/n)'s eyes. He could see the pain she felt. It was the same pain that he himself felt, about not being able to be near her. By not being able to curl up under the furs, with her in his arms, and whisper sweet words that no one would believe he was capable of saying.

"I don't think that she likes me." Walda said quietly, as she looked up at her husband, whose eyes were still focused on the door through which (Y/n) had just left.

"Nonsense. (Y/n) is a loyal servant to House Bolton. That is why I gave her to you as a marriage gift. Who better to look after the mother of my child than a woman that has been with me for years? And she may seem a little cold, but it is just her way. She will warm to you over time." Roose tried to reassure, as he pulled his hand away from Walda's grasp and made his way back over to the window.

Making (Y/n), Walda's handmaiden, was Roose's best way to keep his lover close. To have her next to him without his wife suspecting anything. Now, if he could just get (Y/n) to forgive him. He would once again, be able to have his world in his arms.

                                                             >>------------------------------<<

(Y/n) made sure that the bath was prepared, cursing at Walda as she angrily splashed the water onto the floor. Hoping that the liquid would cause the foolish creature to slip and break her neck. She hated Walda more than she could ever have thought. Hated that Roose had lowered himself so far, as to marry the meek woman. He had tried to explain to her why he had done it. That the marriage was for the silver that Walder had offered as a dowry. That the only reason that she was with child, was that it was expected. And that he had no feelings for his bride. Yet even though part of her believed him. Part of her accepted his reasoning. (Y/n) still felt as though he had betrayed their love. That in fact, Roose had never loved her and had just used her. But (Y/n) knew that she couldn't continue to live without him. She knew that she missed her lover. She missed his smell. She missed his arms wrapped tightly around her. His fingers caressing her bare flesh. His lips kissing her neck. His absence from her life making even the smallest task, seem impossible.

"A woman as beautiful as you shouldn't call people names like that. Ya know that don't ya, (Y/n)?" A cool, wicked voice asked with a chuckle. (Y/n) turning to see Ramsay standing in the doorway, smiling at her.

"I don't know what you mean. I wasn't calling anyone anything." (Y/n) scoffed as she finished with the bath.

"Please, (Y/n). I heard all those terrible things that ya were calling my new mother. Anyone would think ya didn't like her. You shouldn't say such things about ya betters." Ramsay continued. His smile broadening as (Y/n) glared at him.

"That........that......sow, is not my better. Just because she had the Frey name, doesn't mean that she is better than me." (Y/n) scoffed as she made for the door. Trying to push past Ramsay, only to find her arm caught in his hand.

"Ya know, (Y/n). You look a little sad. A little in need of something. I am sure that if you would like, I could make you happy. I'm sure that we could make one another very happy." Ramsay cooed, as he brushed his fingers across (Y/n)'s cheek.

"I don't need you to make me happy. Thank you." (Y/n) replied, struggling as Ramsay pulled her close and began to kiss her neck.

"Ramsay!" An angry voice called out. Ramsay and (Y/n) turning to see an irate looking Roose escorting Walda to the bathhouse.

"(Y/n) why don't you take my wife to her bath, while I deal with this." Roose continued. (Y/n) nodding as she moved over to a shocked Walda. The lady grateful to be taken from the situation.

"If you ever touch (Y/n) again, I will make sure that your life isn't worth living. Now get out of my sight." Roose threatened. Ramsay turning and scurrying off with his tail between his legs.

                                                         >>-------------------------------<<

"Are you alright, (Y/n)?" Roose asked softly as (Y/n) finally appeared from the bathhouse. Thankfully able to leave Walda to wallow in the water.

"I'm fine, thank you my lord. Your wife will be finished soon. I am sure that you miss her when she is not by your side." (Y/n) replied, trying to leave but finding her caged between Roose's arms.

"I don't want her, (Y/n). I want you. I can't breathe without you. I can't sleep without you in my arms. I am going insane at the thought of losing you. You are the only woman I want. I will get down on my knees and beg if that will make you forgive me." Roose cooed into (Y/n)'s ear. An exquisite shiver going down her spine as he pushed her up against the wall. His body pressed firmly up against hers.

"Roose........I.........I........" (Y/n) began. Unable to find any more words as Roose kissed and bit at the flesh on her neck. Her body jolting as he felt his large hand move up her skirt. His fingers ghosting up the inside of her thigh. The lord smiling as he felt the affect that he was having on her body.

"Tell me that you want me, (Y/n). That you love me as much as I love you. Tell me that you want to feel me inside of you." Roose hummed. His own body reacting as he heard his lover moan.

"(Y/n). I'm finished." A weak voice called out. The sound of Walda's tone making Roose and (Y/n) reluctantly part.

"Coming, my lady."

"I want you Roose. I love you. I need you. Come to my room later, and I will show my lord just how much I want him." (Y/n) replied, giving Roose one last kiss before she slipped back into the bathhouse. Roose knowing that he finally had back his reason to live.