Chapter Text
The wind roared and the rain hissed, the cold easily entering the kennels and consuming his body, his mind, his soul.
He shivered in his cage and clutched the thin rags he wore, arms wrapped tight across his chest.
What remained of his rotting teeth clacked together as he let out fast and stuttered breaths, muttering to himself about being good and loyal, silent and bearing.
Fleeting memories of cold, harsh islands suddenly entered his mind as he listened to the wind and the rain, almost hearing a crashing sea that wasn’t there.
Soon after these memories, new ones formed, memories of snow covered grass, whistling storm and creaking trees...
‘No,’ His scattered brain scolded himself, ‘Not there. Here. Not there, here. Here. Here I am- Reek is. Here Reek belongs. Always.’
The kennels. Dreadfort.
He had to remember. He had to grasp.
He nodded fiercely to himself, whispering over and over…
Perhaps he would die.
Pass in the night, the cold completely taking him, and he, surrendering.
The thought made him sob with relief, but quickly his sobs were replaced with those of confusion.
Should he die, he would leave his master.
How could one be loyal when dead?
Conflicting thoughts filled his mind as he continued to quietly sob and whisper and shiver in the cold.
He was alone, shaking in his cage.
The dogs had been taken away somewhere, likely to keep them warm and alive.
The darkness was large and frightening, surrounding him and stretching to every corner, looming and threatening.
The wind and rain almost sounded like some great beast outside. Some monster warning him, letting him know he was to be eaten.
For a second a memory flickered into his head again, this time of a girl, frowning grumpily, calling him a baby as he tucked himself into her bed and whispered about monsters wanting to eat him up.
Then, a memory of a boy with bright red hair, sheepishly asking to sleep beside him, not because he was scared, oh no, just weary.
‘No,’ His voice bellowed desperately inside his head as he flinched, his muttering increasing and his cold hands pulling at his matted hair, ‘Please... Please stop. Not him. Not there. Not...them. Just Reek. Just here. Just master. Good. Cold and alone and good. Always good. Please. Just Reek, just Reek. Yes. Yes.’
Tears rolled down his cheeks and ever so slightly warmed them.
He closed his eyes and rocked back and forth, trying to fall asleep but trying to stay awake. To sleep would increase the possibility of cold, icy death.
But to stay awake would be for more torture, more exhaustion, more-
The doors suddenly bashed open, and Reek almost screamed in pure fright, half expecting to see the great big monster from outside at the entrance.
He sat up, eyes wide, and saw a different monster, his monster- Master! Not monster.
His master was kind, fair, true, all consuming.
His master was no monster, no, no. Master.
Master.
“Hello Reek.” Ramsay spoke softly, almost too softly to hear over the wind and rain.
Reek moved himself to sit on his knees, and he stared, silent and shaking.
“My, you look very cold,” His master swaggered closer until he looked down into the small cage, “Poor thing. Shivering like a babe in the snow.”
His smile slithered quickly onto his face as he looked down at his creature.
Reek looked up at his master, though could only stare at his chin. Staring into his eyes would surely leave his breeches soiled.
Lord Ramsay was possibly more terrifying surrounded by the darkness.
“I was rather cold myself,” His master then knelt down to Reek’s level, staring at him through the cage door, “All alone in my chambers. This night is not a night for being by oneself, is it?”
Reek swallowed, unsure of what to say.
“Well?” His master’s smile never faltered, but his eyebrows raised in impatient expectance and Reek shook harder with fear.
“Yes m’lord,” Reek replied as quickly as he could, “I mean- No, m’lord.”
Ramsay chuckled through his nose.
“I think some time together is due, don’t you? In my chambers. Company can be so warm, I find. As can my furs. A nice, warm bed would be wonderful for you, wouldn’t it?”
Reek opened his mouth, then closed it. Then opened it again. He continued to shiver.
“Hm?” Ramsay’s smile was teasing.
“Wh-Whatever pleases you, m’lord.” Reek mustered, his dirty, bitten nails digging into his palms.
“Very good. Come on then,” His master took out his key and unlocked the little door, swinging it open, before standing back and watching, “Up you get.”
Reek pushed himself up off the ground and out of the cage.
He stood hunched and timid as he awaited further commands.
“Don’t look so sad,” Ramsay’s voice was mocking as he came forward and wrapped an arm around his creature’s shoulders, “You should be happy. Being allowed to spend the cruel night in your master’s sweet chambers, mm? Doesn’t that sound lovely?”
“Yes, master.” Reek quietly replied, looking down to the ground.
His master gave his shoulders a squeeze.
“Go on then, give your master a smile. Show me how happy you are. How grateful you are. A nice, sweet smile.”
Smiles were distant and foreign to Reek.
He felt as if he might’ve enjoyed them, at some point, long ago.
But, surely not. His lips were cracked (and now blue from the cold) and his teeth were damaged and stained. His smile was an ugly one.
But he tried to do as his master commanded, his lips forming into a shape slightly reminiscent of a smile, the tips of his mouth shyly turned upwards.
It was timid, and he did not show teeth, but thankfully it satisfied his master.
Ramsay chuckled and gave his shoulders another squeeze.
“There we are. Well done, Reek. Now, off we go!”
And so he pulled his creature along, leaving the kennels and journeying to his chambers.
Reek’s heart pounded against his chest so hard it seemed to ring in his ears louder than the howling wind, unrelenting in the night.