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      The Lannister girl groaned and plopped her own peeled potato into a pale of water. "But why? What could be so bad that he thinks it'll make me hate him? I mean - besides not wanting to leave me - the last time we spoke, he seemed completely fine."

      Celesse shrugged. "Maybe she's still alive."

      Malaeya stopped her actions and glanced at her friend. At first, she had intentions to scold her for saying something like that. But then, she couldn't help but let the doubt creep in.

      Despite her being a born a bastard, she was still born into privilege, and Malaeya knew that. She was born into the richest family in Westeros, and as such, there was not a thing in the world that she could not have. She had grown up in a castle amongst royalty and now she had moved from one castle into another. But even still, the two things that Malaeya never had were the freedom to leave the keep and a mother. Both of them were things that she would have done anything to have. She would trade it all to have both her mother and father be with her.

      If her mother were alive, and Jaime knew it, that would severely anger her. It would mean that he had chosen to have her miss out on a life, a childhood, a bond with her mother. In fact, just thinking about it made her anger flare up.

      Malaeya shook her head and cleared her throat "That's not it." She didn't know if she were convincing Celesse or herself. "He wouldn't do that to me."

       Celesse nodded along with her. "It was just a suggestion. But look on the bright side. I don't see what else could be so bad. If she isn't alive, then whatever he has to tell you won't change how you feel about him or your mother."

      She wanted to believe that direly. But she couldn't be certain until her father answered her letters.

      Malaeya sighed heavily and placed her potato down. She didn't have to help prepare the food. She had chosen to. Rickon was in his lessons with Maester Luwin and as such she had nothing to do. But now she was far too stuck in her thoughts to properly handle a knife. 

      "I'm going to my chambers." Malaeya didn't wait for a reply before she turned on her heels and exited, leaving her friend to look after her with a frown of confusion. 

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      "Why is she named Star?"

      Malaeya smiled over her shoulder at Rickon. His light hair shone in the candlelight as he rubbed her lion which sprawled out over his lap in a stretch. "You see the little dots across her nose?" she asked him.

      Rickon glanced down at the feline and nodded. 

      "Those are freckles, shaped like stars. I had initially planned on naming her 'Freckles' but Star just fit." Malaeya glanced back down at the letter she wrote. She knew he wouldn't answer if she talked about his secret, so instead, she would ask him about her cousins. She hoped that they weren't doing awful without her. 

      "I named my wolf 'Shaggydog'. Malaeya already knew that, but she feigned interest as the boy continued. "It's because of his shaggy black fur. Arya named hers Nymeria after a Targryn."

      Malaeya smiled at his adorable mispronunciation, but she noticed his saddened expression and lowered her smile. "What's the matter?" She rolled her letter up and turned to face him.